On May 1, the Mexican Heritage Plaza held more than one kind of gathering. That morning, we welcomed community leaders, partners and stakeholders for a breakfast — an opportunity to reflect and share where we are headed. Outside, the streets grew louder. More than 400 students marched toward us. By the time they arrived, La...
Collins: Listing a property today? You have options
In a challenging housing market like the one we are experiencing, some real estate brokers are offering sellers a new proposition: test the market quietly, with limited exposure. At first glance, that approach can sound strategic, especially for homeowners who value privacy or want to avoid the pressure of public price reductions. However, this strategy...
Op-ed: Say no to commercial advertising on San Jose’s downtown sidewalks
Who earns a living pretending that smart phones don’t exist? Well, consider Orange Barrel Media, whose quintessential smartphone denial takes the form of so-called wayfinding signs — more accurately identified as commercial billboards — designed to be placed on public sidewalks. These up to eight-foot-tall kiosks ostensibly provide directions to restaurants, theaters, museums and other...
Hutchins-Knowles: Three ways to protect the environment this Earth Day
The headlines today — “Modern agriculture is collapsing under climate change” and “California’s snowpack is disappearing” — aren’t stories from a dystopian future. They reflect our current reality: a climate emergency. Locally, we face wildfires, drought, extreme heat, flooding and rising seas — which harm health, end lives and increase prices. This Earth Day, here...
Beall: Valley Water celebrates volunteers during National Volunteer Week
In Santa Clara County, you might see a Valley Water volunteer picking up litter from a creek or helping neighbors understand local water issues. These actions add up. In 2025, our volunteers contributed more than 9,200 hours. They removed tens of thousands of pounds of trash and served their communities as water ambassadors. Volunteers are...
Editorial: South Bay school district boards should move to term limits
As school districts in Santa Clara County transition from at-large elections to specific trustee areas, it may also be time to consider shifting to term limits. The county has 31 school districts that serve about 265,000 students. Only one district, Palo Alto Unified School District, established board term limits in 2018, capping it at two,...
Op-ed: Public safety and fairness are not expendable budget items
On paper, the latest Santa Clara County budget cuts may seem like another depressing day in modern American governance: County leaders have established preliminary budget reduction targets of $18.5 million for the District Attorney’s Office and $4.5 million for the Public Defender’s Office. Both offices have addressed their respective targets with a set of tiered,...
Di Salvo: How will California’s gubernatorial candidates improve education?
On June 2, California voters will cast primary ballots to choose their top two candidates for governor. One of those two will become the next governor-elect in November. As a retired trustee on the Santa Clara County Board of Education, former teacher, principal and adjunct professor, I am weighing the candidate field on their education...
Bramson: 20,000 people housed — and still not enough
There’s a number that should fundamentally change how we talk about homelessness in Santa Clara County: 20,000. That’s how many people are no longer homeless — now housed — as a result of the community’s coordinated effort under the Community Plan to End Homelessness since 2020. It’s a remarkable milestone, and yet if you listen...
Flaherty: Veterans deserve generational healing in their own community
This year, thousands of Vietnam War veterans will cross into the 65+ population, a demographic shift that carries both honor and urgency. These men and women served our country decades ago. Today, many need us to serve them. In Mountain View, 12% of residents are age 65 and older, and more than 1,400 veterans call...