For higher education leaders—particularly those in community colleges—there is much to be optimistic about in President Joe Biden’s “Plan for Education Beyond High School.” The plan is designed to make postsecondary education more accessible and more affordable in order to help millions of Americans obtain the skills and training needed to secure living-wage jobs and...
From the editor: We’re growing our team — led by longtime San Josean
After celebrating our two-year anniversary in January, San José Spotlight is growing its news team and kicking off 2021 with an experienced leader at the helm. Leslie Griffy, a longtime San Josean and veteran journalist and editor, is our new managing editor and newsroom leader. She replaces Simar Khanna, who stepped down in December. Leslie,...
Staedler: Insights from this year’s State of the Valley
Joint Venture Silicon Valley hosted its yearly State of the Valley conference virtually last week that discusses regional issues and the realities that our region has faced from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges such as the regional economic drivers. The organization also released its 2021 Silicon Valley Index. One of the topics it discusses...
Collins: Has the 2021 housing market lived up to the hype so far?
Even though we only have one full month of sales in the books, I wanted to look at the stats and check in with some of our local experts to see if the housing market had indeed kept up with those rosy predictions we were seeing at the end of last year. I also wanted...
Cortez, Velasquez: California’s next attorney general — not Rosen
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen has premised his bid to be appointed Attorney General of California on the false notion that he is a progressive prosecutor. What’s true is that Rosen would be the wrong person for the job. Governor Gavin Newsom will appoint a new attorney general soon, following Xavier Becerra’s expected...
Kremen, Santos, Varela: Valley Water gathering public feedback on proposed expansion of Pacheco Reservoir
The first few months of this rainfall season were below average across California, with drought conditions evident statewide. Although the Golden State received a much-needed soaking in late January, moderate drought conditions remain across Santa Clara County. Valley Water remains focused on preparing for future wet and dry years through various projects and programs, including...
Martin: Coming to terms with mental illness, addiction, homelessness
Mental illness is not always hereditary. It’s usually a combination of genetic changes and environmental factors that determines if someone will develop a disorder — and this is true for homeless people. Research and cellular biology has shown that about 5% of diseases are genetically determined, whereas the remaining 95% are environmentally based. This makes...
Levitt: Electronic billboards may work for Denver but they should not define San Jose
In 2015, city leaders seeking to define the future of San Jose went on a junket to Denver and became mesmerized by the digital signs that Rocky Mountain city decided would make its downtown Theater District more “exciting.” The bright, shiny digital billboards and seductive promise to Denver’s government of revenue from advertising started a...
Funk: All school employees need COVID-19 vaccines — not just teachers — before reopening
The pressure is mounting across the country for schools to reopen. The Federal Government has provided financial resources to schools to help pay for the personal protective equipment needed to provide a safe environment for employees and students to return. Gov. Gavin Newsom presented a financial incentive in his January budget proposal for schools to...
Rocha, Yamamoto: San Jose was intentionally planned as a racially segregated city
San Jose was intentionally planned as a racially segregated city. Single-family zoning, which originated in Berkeley, Calif. in 1916, reserved exclusive communities for wealthier and whiter neighbors and deliberately excluded hardworking people of color. This practice spread to other cities. Today, because we know better, we are held accountable to dismantle this racist planning tool...