Holidays became meaningless to me some time ago when I became homeless—especially the heavily commercialized ones. I saw them as glorified weekends that unrelentingly remind the homeless of what they’ve lost or what they don’t have. Thanksgiving to remind you of not having family or friends to break bread with. Christmas to remind you of...
Zimmerman: San Jose needs your help tackling climate change
San Jose recently announced that it is aiming for carbon neutrality in 2030, instead of a goal for 2050 as other cities are setting. This gives the city eight short years to change habits and policies that people have developed over many decades. Unsurprisingly, when asked if I thought this goal was achievable, I answered “no.”...
Bramson: The bridge from shelter to home
In the midst of a crisis that has left thousands of people without a home in our community, I have to admit the recent discussions about homelessness seem a bit odd to me. Instead of keeping up the spirit of collaboration that’s housed more than 20,000 people over the past several years, some of us...
Op-ed: Litigation will be common if San Jose allows digital billboards on public property
Billboard companies consider litigation a cost of doing business. Just Google “billboard litigation” to see that billboard companies are constantly involved in lawsuits with municipalities across the country. Accordingly, it’s time for city officials to acknowledge that getting San Jose into the billboard business is a risk that could ultimately cost the city much more...
Staedler: San Jose’s 62,200 housing unit question
San Jose has moved past a crossroads and now faces a staggering housing cliff. On Dec. 16, 2021, the Association of Bay Area Governments adopted the final Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) and the California Housing Community Development Department has determined San Jose must plan for 62,200 housing units from 2023 to 2031. The Bay...
Zisser: Ignorance and arrogance prevail in vote to build jail
The vote by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors last week to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into jail construction elicited collective head-scratching and gasps from the hundreds of community members who showed up to advocate for a different path. “What the heck just happened?” people asked one another. The folly After all, the...
Philbrick: Transportation’s fight against human trafficking
A teenage girl approaches the truck’s cabin. The rest area is dimly lit, but the driver can still see the purple encircling her eye. When he asks if she needs help, she glances behind her and shakes her head. The driver watches her hurry away to the next truck. He grabs his phone and dials...
Rodríguez: Drop in college enrollment threatens our economy
Recent reports have brought to national attention what many in higher education have been concerned about since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: we are experiencing a higher education enrollment crisis in the United States. Based on a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse, nearly 1 million fewer students were enrolled in college in...
Op-ed: COPA is an idea whose time has come
San Jose is experiencing a devastating displacement crisis. Low-income communities, primarily people of color, are being torn apart as rents and home values continue to rise, even during the pandemic. Over a million and a half people have moved out of the Bay Area in recent years, the overwhelming majority of them because they could...
Collins: Will the housing market slow down in 2022?
Overall, 2021 was one of the hottest years for the housing market in a decade. Low-interest rates were the key driver of the market and consumers redefined what “home” meant to them. The pandemic continues to have a lasting impact on the real estate market. We see consumers’ desire for more space and larger homes....