Politics is a sector fraught with unsavory decisions, hypocrisy and many actors who make us all at some point say: How the hell did that person get into office? On this last point, we had a moment just recently in San Jose where a group of councilmembers and political staffers were caught venerating Tammany Hall,...
Editorial: Immigrants are the backbone of Santa Clara County
Nearly 40 years ago, two parents clutched their frightened daughters’ hands to make a treacherous overnight escape from war-torn Iran in the 1980s. The family couldn’t carry more than a suitcase of family photos and mementos. They narrowly fled air bombs dropped by Saddam Hussein’s regime on their country, fleeing buildings and hospitals where tarps...
Gonzales: Closing Silicon Valley’s digital divide is a moral and economic imperative
Silicon Valley has earned its reputation as the epicenter of global innovation. This region has consistently pushed boundaries and opened doors, from artificial intelligence breakthroughs to world-changing startups. As president of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, I’ve seen firsthand how access to technology and opportunity can transform lives, especially for our youth pursuing high-demand...
Khamis: ADA reform bill can stop legal shakedown that’s hurting Californians
Californians are paying a steep price — not just in courtrooms, but at the cash register — because of a broken civil justice system that allows systemic abuse of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Small businesses, the backbone of our neighborhoods, are under siege from waves of lawsuits often filed over minor, technical violations....
Silver Taube: Militarized workplace immigration raids batter the economy
In recent days, we have seen an escalation and militarization of workplace raids as the Trump administration has grown frustrated at the pace of deportations. One ICE official told the Washington Examiner last month that Stephen Miller asked ICE staff: ‘Why aren’t you at Home Depot? Why aren’t you at 7-Eleven?’ On June 6, ICE...
Op-ed: Don’t arrest us — listen to us first
Individuals who received emergency financial assistance were 81% less likely to become homeless within six months, according to a major study from the University of Notre Dame. But instead of investing in real prevention, San Jose is moving to arrest, cite and displace people for being poor — policies that hurt far more than they...
Bramson: Finding common ground in Silicon Valley
Megan lives in a small apartment in San Jose that costs her more than $2,850 a month. She shares it with her two kids and elderly mother. Rent eats up nearly 80% of her monthly income — and that’s when her hours at work don’t get cut. Every first of the month, she holds her...
Philbrick: Preparing local transit for the Super Bowl and World Cup
As California prepares to host several of the world’s most high-profile sporting events — including Super Bowl 60, the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics — the pressure is on to move millions of visiting and local fans, athletes, coaches, officials and everyday commuters safely and efficiently. These mega-events promise economic...
Urbanowski: San Jose celebrates summer with the arts
It’s been a trying spring, with so many challenges and setbacks in our local community. From federal funding cuts, whiplash federal policy shifts and local government budget pressures, to economic volatility and layers of uncertainty in safety net services — we are feeling tired and overwhelmed. The arts can provide both a respite from this...
Paz-Cedillos: We can’t change the world without changing how we lead
Last week, I sat in a Stanford classroom with nonprofit leaders from Brazil, Australia, Canada, Morocco and the U.S. Sixty of us gathered from around the world, each facing different realities but asking the same questions: How do we lead through dysfunction? How do we design for lasting change? And, most critically, how do we...