As I discussed in my December column, the Charter Review Commission (CRC) recommended establishing an oversight entity that can investigate allegations of officer misconduct. An outside group of experts, the OIR Group, conducted a review of San Jose Police Department’s response to the May-June 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. That...
Mallon: VTA governance is only a distraction
In 2019, the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury did a report on VTA’s board of directors. Since then, governance reform discussions have taken place and multiple governance bills have been introduced and killed. Recently, Assemblymember Marc Berman introduced AB 2181, a placeholder bill for governance reform. So for the fourth year in a row,...
Rodríguez: Attention spans are shrinking
It is something many of us have felt for years; an issue perhaps created by the invention of the television and exacerbated by the smartphone. And now, the research is finally catching up with what many of us—particularly those of a certain age—have long sensed to be true: attention spans are shrinking. A recent study...
Kovacevich: Rep. Lofgren is right—tech policy should focus on protecting consumers
In Washington, D.C., many policymakers are taking a “ready, fire, aim” approach to tech policy. In a misguided attempt to cross “regulate Big Tech” off their agenda before the midterm elections, they’ve decided to overlook how new laws would hurt consumers and what voters want. It’s become a badge of honor to see who can...
Sandoval: Let’s make homelessness history in the Black community
Across California, PATH employees of all backgrounds and identities are working to end homelessness. This month, to honor Black History Month, PATH is elevating the voices and experiences of PATH staff members and highlighting the disparities that exist in the Black community when it comes to homelessness and housing affordability. From sharing resources, to supporting...
Editorial: Santa Clara County’s one-size solution fails homeless residents
Rats. Trash. Desperation. Mental illness. Humanitarian crisis. These words define the conditions at the sprawling Columbus Park homeless encampment in San Jose. No matter how many millions of dollars San Jose and Santa Clara County throw at homelessness, if the premise to the solution is flawed, then the problem cannot be fixed. And therein lies the...
Poeschel: Sierra Club sues San Jose over riverside development
The Sierra Club was forced to file a lawsuit against San Jose. By approving a plan from Boston Properties, Inc. to build a massive glass facade office building—16 stories, 283 feet high, 800 feet long and with three levels of underground parking that egregiously provides no setback buffer between the building and the steep banks...
Collins: Why aren’t more homeowners selling?
Santa Clara County saw one of the hottest housing markets in a decade last year, but 2022 has started out with some of the lowest available inventory ever. This month, we will be taking a dive into the reasons that homeowners are not selling and why turning over housing stock is critical to maintaining vibrant neighborhoods....
Robinson: San Jose’s new congressional boundaries mean more national clout
The new congressional lines drawn by an independent committee have given San Jose new political clout. Instead of two representatives, the city will enjoy the clout of four—all with different, but complimentary strengths. Rep. Zoe Lofgren will remain dean of the delegation and her power has never been greater. A close ally of House Speaker...
Dewan: Santa Clara County schools face impacts of declining enrollment
Schools across Santa Clara County have seen a consistent decline in student enrollment over the past seven years. There were 21,323 fewer K-12 students enrolled last school year than in the 2015-16 school year. The California Department of Finance (DOF) is projecting the trend of declining enrollments will continue well into the next decade statewide....