Homelessness can be extremely isolating and people experiencing it are commonly disconnected from family, friends and support systems. Their primary way of communicating may be just a sign that states an immediate need—Hungry! Cold! Anything helps! They may rest on the sidewalk or sleep somewhere out of sight from the public. Days may pass without...
Gere: The case for investing in our water infrastructure
Infrastructure is rightly enjoying its spot in the national limelight these days, with the Biden Administration busily unveiling its plans. However, being well intentioned is as important as being pragmatic. After all, the warning signs have been there for all to see when it comes to lack of investment in infrastructure—impacting communities from Los Gatos...
Peralez: Santa Clara County needs Laura’s Law
In San José’s latest homeless census, over 40% of our unhoused residents reported suffering from a form of mental illness. Within that population, those with severe mental illness are often shuffled in and out of jails and hospital beds. Our most vulnerable are criminalized or left to languish on the street, sometimes causing harm to...
Bui, Schultz and Tapia: Respect Us!
At the start of the pandemic, we asked for help immediately for fear of spreading COVID-19 to our loved ones at home. People were getting sick, and management was still not supporting us. PPE (personal protective equipment) was not being offered while the department’s public health policy was unclear and changed constantly, making it difficult...
Eckhart: People with lived experience can help end homelessness
You may have noticed that I have been away for a short period. And during my time away recovering from a mishap, I was able to take a little time to look at how we as a community act toward the homeless population. I recognize some neighborhoods reach out and I’ve seen groups of people...
Nguyen: My Asian last name translates to workplace discrimination
“Yes, he knows English,” a paralegal I worked with at a small law firm answered resentfully. At least once a week, a client would ask the paralegal if I knew English once they learned “Richard Nguyen” was their assigned attorney. Unbeknownst to these clients, the paralegal was also Vietnamese American. They assumed he was white....
Zimmerman: Generation Z pushes for climate action through education in Santa Clara County
Elected officials or political pundits often refer to “future generations” when debating the negative social, political and economic consequences of climate change. This completely ignores the fact that climate change has been impacting us for years. And we know it. Levels of eco- or climate anxiety have risen sharply in all age ranges, but most...
Sanchez, Krey and Oberhelman: Crisis intervention training for law enforcement
Recently, several law enforcement agencies in Santa Clara County have unveiled specialized units designed to de-escalate interactions with citizens who may be in mental health crisis. San Jose PD launched a one-year pilot program in October 2020 that links specially trained officers with clinicians from the County’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS). BHS has been active...
Funk: How my successor can succeed by focusing on equity
The East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees last month announced that Glenn Vander Zee would be the next superintendent of schools for the district. Currently, he is my associate superintendent for human resources. I am very grateful that the board decided to hire a homegrown person to be East Side’s next superintendent....
Waite: Abandon the Eastridge light rail extension project
This scathing commentary on Valley Transportation Authority’s light rail system comes from the report “Inquiry into Governance of the Valley Transportation Authority,” issued by the Civil Grand Jury of Santa Clara County in June 2019: “The (Eastridge extension) project makes no financial sense and survives only because powerful political forces continue to support it. VTA...