Feb 24, 2014
During last month’s State of the Union, President Obama asserted that immigration reform will grow the national economy and shrink our deficits. If that isn’t enough to support reform, consider another benefit: it will make our neighborhoods safer. As a former criminal prosecutor, I saw that successful crime prevention grows from the roots of a community. Authorities respond to and investigate information…
Feb 18, 2014
Your weekly tip sheet for what’s going on in your community. Tweet
Feb 14, 2014
San Jose Mayoral candidate Sam Liccardo is perhaps learning a few lessons from Chris Chrisitie’s BridgeGate and admitting he was wrong. That’s great. But how much more is there to admit? As The Left Hook reported last week it appears Liccardo started his campaign fundraising at least three weeks before local election law allows. One of Liccardo’s lobbiests, Alex Tourk,…
Feb 12, 2014
In a cameo appearance in the movie George of the Jungle, an elitist host of a San Francisco party warns then Mayor Willie L Brown Jr. (who plays himself) that he might need an umbrella due to the weather. The haughty Mayor one-ups the elitist sycophant by replying, “It never comes down on Willie Brown”. The inference is, of course,…
Feb 4, 2014
With the Jan 1 arrival of health care for millions, and with it the attendant sigh of relief, I have been reminded of the history among my gay brothers and sisters who have been living for years with AIDS. Not that long ago, we had a President who wouldn’t acknowledge the epidemic ravaging mostly gay men, creating whole communities of…
Jan 31, 2014
Sports fans, the paper chase is on! FPPC reports are rolling out for San Jose, Santa Clara County and the State Legislature. We’re compiling total contributions and expenditures to date as they get released and we promise to update you over the weekend as we review interesting contributions and eyebrow-raising expenditures. Tweet
Jan 31, 2014
California Attorney General Kamala Harris is drawing the ire of the San Jose Mayor. The title and summary of Reed’s proposed statewide pension initiative explains to voters how the measure would “eliminate constitutional protections for vested pension and retiree health benefits for current public employees.” Mayor Chuck Reed plans to sue the Attorney General over the wording. Tweet
Jan 30, 2014
For over 30 years many of us have engaged in a dispute with our political party. Not over values; but over tactics. The dirty little secret is that Democrats should never lose an election. There have always been more Democrats than Republicans and if we got a majority of those people registered and turned out to vote; we can’t lose.…
Jan 29, 2014
In his recent blog post for San Jose Inside, Santa Clara County School Board Trustee, Joseph Di Salvo, who voted to deny Navigator Schools’ appeal, asserted that the school board members, district staff, teachers, classified employees, parents, and community members who e-mailed and spoke publicly are “adults who wish to continue the unsustainable status quo in education.” Trustee DiSalvo is entrusted with…
Jan 20, 2014
Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man whose dream of equality and human rights changed the course of history. His legacy is remembered this week by people of all colors and creeds who believe in the American Dream and who continue his fight for fairness, justice and human dignity. Dr. King was…