It’s over. We emerge from our homes. For two years, we were commanded to wear masks, stay socially-distanced and wash our hands raw. Those states that relaxed these demands too soon saw infections explode. Americans returned back to their homes for months. The enemy’s power was two-fold: It spread at an unprecedented rate and our...
Bustamante: Black and brown families can’t afford another giveaway to developers
Today, the San José City Council faces a choice: Will they create thousands of much-needed affordable homes or will they hand yet another giveaway to corporate developers that write big campaign checks? Right now, San Jose is the only major city in Santa Clara County that doesn’t have a commercial linkage fee — a fee...
Enfantino: Taxagedon continues with commercial linkage fee
Focused on making San Jose the best city in the country to start and grow a local business, the Business San Jose Chamber PAC is the only San Jose-based organization focused exclusively on improving the business climate for small and medium enterprises and the only one 100% founded and run by local businesspeople. That is...
Collins: Why residential real estate in South Bay is red hot despite the pandemic
The shelter-in-place order issued by Santa Clara County on March 17 led to weeks of confusion about how the real estate industry was to comply. We had people in the middle of transactions left in limbo. Would the seller really move out? Are banks still willing to loan? How would inspections occur and title companies...
Letter to the editor: Reid-Hillview article lacked balance
We write in response to your most recent article regarding Reid-Hillview Airport. The article, while informative, took an unbalanced look at a very serious issue that is impacting our community. Those of us who reside in this community face possible consequences that no other community in the Bay Area has to face. We write to...
Roberts: How a piece of paper can help end homelessness
Several years ago, long before a deadly pandemic swept across Silicon Valley and the rest of the world, Frank lost his job, then his home, and sadly, ended up being homeless. He didn’t look like the stereotypical image of a homeless man. In fact, he looked more like a middle-aged uncle who fell on hard...
Torres: The role community colleges play in increasing economic mobility
Silicon Valley is seen by many as a place where job opportunities are plentiful, that is true depending on one’s background and skill set. However, for many who have not had the opportunity to develop certain skills to access the tech sector, those opportunities become scarce. One of the most evident aspects of an equitable...
Eckhart: The painful path to homelessness
I was asked to write a short story about my experience in the military and then take that experience and write a quick couple of paragraphs on my experience as a homeless vet. I can’t do that easily because we are talking about two different times in my life. I went into the military right...
Cruz: Community college initiative is not the way to improve education for Latinos
In response to the opinion piece New initiative promises improved educational outcomes for East San Jose residents, there were ambiguous statements made about the National Hispanic University (now the Foundation for Hispanic Education), an institution that was founded by my late father, Dr. B. Roberto Cruz. The San Jose/Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD) initiative should...
Funk: Distance learning in East San Jose requires everyone to step up
For thirty years, the night before school opens is a restless night of sleep because of the anticipation of going back to school. This year was no exception. However, what was different about visiting schools on the first day, Aug. 11, was that instead of experiencing excitement and nervous energy that emanates from school campuses,...