Mar 11, 2014
Have you read a book today? Waiting to the last minute, the San Jose City Council approved a resolution to place on the June ballot a Measure to extend the Library Parcel Tax. Surprisingly, the vote was unanimous. Perhaps that should be the headline from our partisan, divided, “I wanna be Mayor” City Council. Regardless, it’s good to see the…
Mar 10, 2014
On March 4th, 2014, Billionaire Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings delivered the keynote speech to the California Charter School Association’s annual conference. In that keynote speech, Mr. Hastings made a shocking statement: Democratically elected school board members are the problem with education, and they must be replaced by privately held corporations in the next 20-30 years. Tweet
Mar 10, 2014
As an active member of the Movement for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, I firmly believe that only comprehensive reform is the right solution to the human problem represented by the nearly 11 million undocumented workers living in our country. Therefore, I categorically condemn and disapprove the approach and strategy of the “principles for immigration reform” issued by the House Republicans on…
Mar 7, 2014
While the Silicon Valley economy is sizzling hot with corporate profits in the billions, middle-class families are hurting from stagnant wages and a rising cost of living. Between 2000 and 2012, Apple profits grew by a whopping 5,209 percent to more than $41 billion. Meanwhile, median worker income in Silicon Valley actually shrank by 12 percent. In Silicon Valley there…
Mar 7, 2014
On February 25th, the Washington Post decided to wade into San Jose’s pension wars with a major article by Michael K. Fletcher. Alas, the venerable Post apparently did not even do minimal research or fact-checking before putting pen to paper. The result is a disappointing mega-whopper. Tweet
Mar 6, 2014
Acknowledging the extremes of poverty and wealth in Silicon Valley may have been radical 15 years ago, but today even the business community issues reports highlighting the social and economic problems generated by the growing hourglass economy. The question is no longer “Is the hourglass economy real?” We know that a third of households in the Valley do not earn…
Mar 5, 2014
A new internal poll shows Sheriff Laurie Smith is headed for reelection in June. The news comes as no surprise as Smith has long been the most popular countywide elected official for years. The latest research was conducted by EMC Research whose analysis was clear; “Sheriff Laurie Smith is in an extremely strong position heading into the election year and…
Mar 4, 2014
As an active member of the Movement for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, I firmly believe that only comprehensive reform is the right solution to the human problem represented by the nearly 11 million undocumented workers living in our country. Therefore, I categorically condemn and disapprove the approach and strategy of the “principles for immigration reform” issued by the House Republicans on…
Mar 3, 2014
As city employee unions quietly work with city leaders to fix Mayor Reed’s illegal pension measure, which is driving away police, some city council members are playing political games with public safety. Tuesday, Council Member Pierluigi Oliverio will bring this recommendation (item 3.6 on the agenda) to the Council, to set aside 40% of the City General Fund for police…
Mar 3, 2014
While local school districts are implementing a new budgeting system and a new set of standards, the Santa Clara County Board of Education will spend the rest of the school year searching for a new superintendent and dealing with a lawsuit based on a 2012 vote. On March 5, the Ysleta School Board will announce that Dr. Xavier De La…