Oct 24, 2014
In politics, bringing different points of view together can sometimes be like herding cats. But after two years of pushing, pulling, negotiating and educating, a diverse coalition that deeply cares about San Jose’s affordable housing crisis could be making some real progress. If all goes as planned. But this week, Mayor Chuck Reed turned that little if, into a big…
Oct 23, 2014
What did Mayor Reed know and when did he know it? Those are the questions now arising from an ethics scandal set off by the Mayor’s longtime political strategist, Victory Ajlouny. Former San Jose Police Officer Aaron Ettinger is speaking out about being approached by Ajlouny and asked to falsely claim he was encouraged to quit the San Jose Police…
Recent polls show Dave Cortese ahead in the San Jose Mayor’s race by eight to 12 points. The lead is actually larger, statistically, because many in both polls who declare themselves “undecided” simply won’t vote. That makes the number of people his opponent, Sam Liccardo, can “convince” to move into his column less than it appears on paper. Tweet
Oct 22, 2014
On June 18, the Santa Clara County Board of Education voted unanimously to overturn the decision of the Alum Rock School Board and approve Rocketship #9. I’m sure the individuals and corporations behind the movement to privatize public education will rejoice in this misguided decision. Under the guise of parental choice, county trustees have further endorsed and supported what amounts…
Support Prop 47 Council hero Ash Kalra wants to try and change the misguided minds of his dais foes on Proposition 47, the state measure that would reduce the classification of most “non-serious and nonviolent property and drug crimes” from a felony to a misdemeanor. Tweet
Oct 19, 2014
Expect to see the race for Mayor of San Jose to get a little nastier, now that council member and mayoral candidate Sam Liccardo is running so far behind in the polls. A new poll commissioned by the San Jose Mercury News shows Dave Cortese with a commanding 8 point lead in the race for San Jose Mayor. Even with…
Oct 17, 2014
Qualifying for a mega-whopper designation this week is Scott Herhold’s October 16th column titled, “Scare Tactics Adopted in Mayoral Race.” In this blatant effort to support mayoral candidate Sam Liccardo, Herhold employs distortion like an experienced practitioner. Tweet
Oct 13, 2014
Remember this one, from Sarah Palin? “Polls? Nah… They’re for strippers and cross country skiers.” But for more serious politicians polls can be a very effective tool in winning campaigns. It seems, however, there is a major discrepancy in recent polls measuring the candidates in the 17th Congressional District race. Tweet
Oct 7, 2014
Nearly every metropolitan area these days has its own wealthy promoters of education reform. Little Rock has the Waltons, Seattle has Bill and Melinda Gates, Newark has Mark Zuckerberg, and Buffalo has John Oishei, who made his millions selling windshield wipers. Few areas, however, have as concentrated and active a group of wealthy reformers as California’s Silicon Valley. One of…
Oct 6, 2014
San Jose firefighters and their brethren from throughout the bay area fanned out through the city talking to voters with the help of an unusual fire truck cruising down the street with a big sign on it supporting Dave Cortese for San Jose Mayor. The truck was in fact NOT a San Jose fire truck, but a privately owned fire…