Lately, the media has reported extensively on a slowdown in housing sales, but what is really happening here in Santa Clara County? This month, I dig deeper into the market data and what it means for homebuyers. If we are experiencing a slowdown in housing sales, then a slowing market should lead to an increase...
Robinson: The elephants in the room
San Jose mayoral candidate Matt Mahan, county supervisorial candidate Johnny Khamis and sheriff candidate Kevin Jensen are all actively courting Republican voters in their quest for public office. Khamis and Jensen were once Republicans, while Mahan is not. Khamis publicly left the party in 2018, while Jensen—a registered Republican since 1988—changed his status to no party preference...
Davis: Five ways Cindy Chavez can improve the office of San Jose mayor
First, a confession. I figured when I endorsed Cindy Chavez for mayor I’d get a lot of reaction from my District 6 constituents and supporters. But I have to acknowledge being pleasantly surprised at the thoughtful, constructive nature of the feedback, whether supportive or critical. I am so proud to represent San Jose’s D6. And...
Olson: Feds giving small businesses short end of the stick
Everyone — from the biggest government agencies that often smother small businesses with red tape to the biggest businesses which often suffocate small businesses with monopoly power — likes to say that they support small businesses. Indeed, one of the country’s biggest defense contractors testified at a deposition that small businesses are “the backbone of...
Op-ed: Stop the political attacks on Silicon Valley nonprofits
Given the role local nonprofits have played on the front lines of pandemic response— distributing food to homebound seniors, providing childcare for essential workers, strengthening families through mental health services and door-to-door wellness checks, and vaccinating thousands of vulnerable residents—we are surprised that multiple San Jose candidates for elected office have disparaged the value of...
Shaw: The value of sleep
How much value can you put on a restful night’s sleep? If you feel more tired today than yesterday, there are ways to remedy that. You can take a nap or go to sleep earlier to get your body to adjust itself. But what happens when this tiredness continues day after day? How do you get...
Zimmerman: San Jose needs to stand up for its climate goals
Almost two years ago, the San Jose City Council passed landmark legislation banning the use of natural gas in new residences, becoming the largest city in the nation to do so. Shortly after, councilmembers considered additional legislation banning natural gas in commercial properties. In the eleventh hour, at the behest of Bloom Energy, an exemption...
Op-ed: Matt Mahan’s performative allyship
It’s time for San Jose Councilmember Matt Mahan to put his money where his mouth is. Supporting reproductive rights includes making decisions in your life that align with your values. Saying that you support a person’s right to choose while having founded and led a company to abstain from taking a stand on abortion is performative...
Dewan: Schools respond to increasing fentanyl overdose deaths
Last May, I wrote about the need to raise awareness and prevent fentanyl related deaths, especially among our youth. At that time, the first ever National Fentanyl Awareness Day was launched. An important goal of that campaign was to ensure communities knew about fentanyl and the dangers of illegally made counterfeit pills and other drugs...
Rodriguez: How the San Jose Downtown Association was actually founded
In 1986, a family from the Pacific Islands converted downtown’s notorious Five Star Bar into a venue that would go on to showcase an unknown band from Seattle: Nirvana. They had trouble, however, getting the city to approve an awning over its front window, a key piece needed to complete the renovation. The red tape...