For 10 years, I have been privileged to bring diverse groups of residents together on a sunny autumn day to connect with vital resources, enjoy local entertainment and fun activities, ride in kayaks, pick out pumpkins and savor free food at Alviso Marina County Park. As with many traditional and annual events, the Day on...
Funk: Literacy program at Oak Grove making difference for English learners
In education, we preach the seven keys to college readiness. They include advanced reading in grades K-2, advanced reading in grades 3-8, advanced math in grade 5, Algebra 1 by grade 8 with a C or higher, Algebra 2 by grade 11 with a C or higher, 3 on Advance Placement (AP) exam or a...
Rienzo, Bolotina: Making the case for mass transit and Measure RR
This year’s extreme heat waves and unprecedented fire season should shred any remaining doubt that climate change is here. If carbon emissions and the attendant temperature increases continue to increase unchecked, extreme weather will become more frequent and intense. Reducing California’s carbon output will be challenging because most of it now comes from transportation. According...
Moore, Esparza, Su: Why Measure S is vital for clean water, quality of life
The pandemic has taught us the importance and the need for public services. To keep our safe, reliable drinking water, it’s incumbent upon us to not take risks now or into the future. Safe, reliable water supply is crucial to sustaining our economy and quality of life, and because of that we are urging your...
Shaw: Santa Clara County needs sober shelters
This summer, I was fortunate to be chosen to be on the Unhoused Task Force, whose purpose is to formulate emergency solutions to aid with the homeless crisis Santa Clara County is facing. Improving the quality of life for individuals who are living unsheltered — those in encampments, on the street, in parks, under freeways,...
Enfantino: Lawsuits related to COVID-19 are next threat to small business
As the Business San Jose Chamber PAC continues to advocate for the safe reopening of our local economy, let’s not forget the challenges that have existed for years for our local business owners: abusive lawsuits. Our community needs protection against what could be a wave of COVID-19 lawsuits aimed at shaking down mom-and-pop businesses, and...
Ackemann: Caltrain finally asks for its fair share
Vote yes on Measure RR today, and I promise I’ll never ask you to #SaveCaltrain again. In the past 20 years, I’ve probably turned — hat in hand — to the public asking for help rescuing Caltrain a half dozen times in my various roles. At the heart of each request was the same ongoing...
Bramson: When ballots open doors
With the election season now crashing down upon us, it’s a good time to think about how your vote might open – or close – some doors for your fellow residents in the days ahead. Oddly, despite a housing crisis of epic proportions, a tsunami of anticipated evictions and hundreds of thousands of people seeking...
Vargas: When churches provide public services, they should follow the law
In June, the Supreme Court ruled LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, in a decision that is likely to have dramatic ripple effects for decades to come. Next month, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in another case that could rip a massive hole in that hard-won...
Baker: Measure RR is the right move to rescue Caltrain
Our country is divided over a lot of issues these days. Without much to agree on, it’s nice to find an issue that has near universal support among our elected officials across the Bay Area. It seems that we can all agree that our community is better off with Caltrain than without it. It’s a...