The ribbon of land stretching along the southeast edge of Palo Alto’s wastewater plant has little to offer at first glance, but plenty on the second or third. It stretches between two critical environmental habitats, the Baylands Harbor Marsh on its northern end and the Emly Renzel Wetlands to the south. When Palo Alto voters...
San Jose kicks ranked choice voting down the road
The San Jose City Council has punted on a proposal that could have introduced ranked choice voting to certain city elections. Councilmembers on Tuesday voted 8-2 — with Vice Mayor Pam Foley and District 10 Councilmember George Casey voting against, and District 5 Councilmember Peter Ortiz absent — to advance a ballot measure that would...
Melillo: San Jose school district’s move to buy condos is betrayal of voter trust
A school district exists for one reason — its students. Every decision it makes should be measured by a single question: does it benefit the children in our classrooms? San Jose Unified School District’s recent move toward buying condos in downtown San Jose fails that test. Right now, students across our district are learning in...
Silicon Valley lawmakers want to prepare students for AI workforce
Two Silicon Valley lawmakers want to reshape the AI narrative by connecting students with cutting-edge careers. Congressmembers Sam Liccardo and Jimmy Panetta have co-authored a bill that would award tax credits to companies partnering with colleges to train students in technologies such as artificial intelligence. Liccardo unveiled the Supporting Knowledge through Industry-Led Learning (SKILL) Act...
Santa Clara County balances budget without severe service cuts
Santa Clara County has closed its multimillion-dollar deficit while preserving essential services amid one of its most challenging budget years in decades. The Board of Supervisors on June 18 unanimously voted to adopt the $14.7 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1. Despite previously facing a $787 million deficit, the county’s budget...
A San Jose artist who chose to serve artists
When Erin Salazar walked into a Knight Foundation networking event back in 2012 wearing paint-covered work coveralls, she wasn’t expecting to launch a nonprofit. At the time, Salazar was a working artist in San Jose with a simple idea: The city had plenty of talented artists and plenty of blank walls. What it lacked were...
Parcel tax helps preserve Santa Clara County open space
A group that works to preserve open space in Santa Clara County will receive millions of dollars every year toward its efforts, following the approval of a parcel tax. Measure D will generate $17 million annually through a two-cent-per-square-foot of building area parcel tax to fund creek and water restoration, land stewardship, expansion of open...
San Jose Vietnamese community reeling following statue theft
San Jose leaders are pledging a swift response following the brazen weekend theft of a portion of a war memorial housed at the Vietnamese Heritage Garden. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan, whose district includes the garden located in the Kelley Park neighborhood, and several police officials gathered at the site...
Mountain View to launch Makers Market this fall
Mountain View’s downtown pedestrian mall is set to become a testing ground for local artists, makers and small businesses this fall, as the city prepares to launch a new Makers Market on Castro Street. The pilot series will bring vendors to the 300 block of Castro Street on four Fridays: Sept. 18, Oct. 23, Nov. 20 and...