Every 10 years, political district maps are redrawn at the congressional, state and local levels to account for shifts in population. The 2020 census data shows there are significant shifts in population throughout Santa Clara County. The county Board of Supervisors directed its administration to establish a 15-member Advisory Redistricting Commission to hold public hearings,...
Seaver: ADA reform needed to protect small businesses
As advocates for small business, the San Jose Chamber of Commerce continues to work on the safe reopening of our economy so we can get our residents, neighbors and friends back to work. San Jose businesses have been hit hard by the economic slowdown related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and those challenges continue, but...
Shaw: Words are powerful
Words are powerful. They transform everything about us, through us. I remember hearing the phrase “keeping your word” when I was a kid, and that used to really mean something. If you agreed to do something, then you did it, no matter the circumstances. But nowadays, words seem to just be a means of expressing...
Collins: How do school ratings impact real estate?
Homebuyers conduct a considerable amount of research before they ever contact a real estate agent. One of the criteria high on a buyers’ list is the quality of neighborhood schools and how those schools rank against other districts. Just last week, Lupe Silva of Silva Real Estate Group had a buyer who was initially searching...
Op-ed: Airport Commission should not rubber stamp digital billboards at SJC
For 36 years San Jose has prohibited new billboards, but soon we may see new super-sized billboards at Mineta San Jose International Airport near Highway 101 and the Guadalupe River Trail, as well as on other city properties. While the Airport Commission often approves proposals suggested by staff, its value is in exercising independent judgment...
Sandoval: Back to school brings new challenges, hopes for unhoused students
With the return of in-person learning, familiar challenges emerge for families experiencing homelessness. School registration can be complicated due to the loss of critical documents that may have been lost upon becoming homeless. Youth may be reassigned from their former schools (and friend groups) if their address changed while their family temporarily relocated in order...
Maciel: Moving forward in one of America’s most welcoming cities—our own
Last year, San Jose was named among the country’s top 10 most welcoming and inclusive cities in the New American Economy Cities Index, which examines the relationship between welcoming immigration policies and municipal economic health. As the index found, proactive welcoming plans make cities more competitive for business and economic investment. While we take great pride in being...
Robinson: The heroes of our youth
Judy Rickard and Karin Bogliolo are reluctant local heroes. They just wanted to be married and live their lives in blissful happiness. For most of us, it seems like a fairly simple principle. But like Rosa Parks, who refused to give her seat up on a bus—they had to endure the unreasoned bigotry of our...
Dewan: Why we need wellness centers for schools
The last 18 plus months have been challenging for students, families and all school personnel due to pandemic-related circumstances. There was a crisis of youth mental health looming and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people having thoughts of suicide and experiencing depression has...
Ortiz: We need police-free schools
Safety is the top concern of any parent with children in our community. When I became a mom I finally understood that protective “mama bear” instinct that everyone kept talking about. When you have a child, you grow to love that little human more than you ever thought was possible, and of course, you want...