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On Sept. 29, 1960, the most infamous Santa Clara City Council vote in the history of the city took place. One month before, the San Jose Mercury News reported that, “Illegal closed door Council meetings were occurring without Santa Clara citizens present.” Surveys of Santa Clara business owners showed 82.7% wanted the downtown saved. Citizens...
Editorial: San Jose primary voters could shape city government
The door for filing to run in the March 2024 primary election closed mid-December, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has just one little-known challenger. His reelection to a four-year term should be a lock, even though his political sway may not be. That’s because the mayor is only one of 11 votes on the...
Collins: A year of market challenges
The local housing market had its share of challenges this year. Mortgage rates topped 8% while inventory was at an all-time low. Shortage of inventory led to higher housing prices as local demand remained strong. These contributing factors, combined with higher mortgage rates, led to decreased affordability, making it exceedingly challenging for potential homeowners. Overall,...
Robinson: Past results, current predictions
As a political consultant, people ask me what I believe is going to happen. Mostly, I don’t know. But when I have opined on politics it has often proven true. I’ve also been wrong in the past, but I’m more than 75% correct. For instance, I predicted Donald Trump would be the Republican nominee in...
Stettinski: Protecting San Jose’s small businesses from frivolous ADA lawsuits
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law with the intention of eliminating discrimination against people with disabilities. This law is critical to provide access to those with disabilities, a law that the San Jose Downtown Association fully supports. We also support actions taken to ensure spaces currently not compliant are made...
Rawson: Now is the time to invest in Plaza de Cesar Chavez
Cities across the country are currently investing in parks and outdoor public gathering spaces as part of economic recovery strategies for their pandemic hammered downtowns. In San Jose, we have a similar opportunity that should not be wasted. The centenary birthday of Cesar Chavez, March 31, 2027, should serve as a call to action to...
Dewan: Addressing youth homelessness in Santa Clara County schools
Children’s education and wellness are directly impacted by their access to basic needs, including having a stable home. As the colder months are upon us, it is important to draw attention to the unique needs of our unhoused youth. November was National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. On Oct. 18, the Santa Clara County Board of...
Yu: Our housing problem is turning into a health care problem
Affordable housing has made local headlines in recent months—and for good reason. The statewide moratorium on evictions during the pandemic expired in June 2022, and other protectants phased out earlier this year. Despite the spike in evictions already documented, reports suggest more renters are still on the brink of losing their homes. California already has...
Silver Taube: San Jose tackles wage theft and workplace abuses
There are two important ordinances in San Jose that will impact workers. The first, the Responsible Construction Ordinance, was passed unanimously in concept on Dec. 12 with the San Jose City Council set to return to the ordinance on Jan. 23. The council directed staff to conduct more extensive outreach to developers, contractors and lenders...
Ritchie: Will it happen again?
Starting quietly around 2010, extending wildly into 2019 and ending with a dull splat post-pandemic, there were a series of absolutely astounding flips of Bay Area commercial real estate assets that made investors unheard of returns no one expected or had seen before. Those days are entirely over for the time being, as we are...