When I think of the qualifications that I will look for in our next mayor, it is much different than what I would have looked for eight years ago. I believe that ethics will be at the top of everyone’s list this time. Moral character and ethics are absolutely critical to the person that is going to lead this city for the next eight years.
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Thang Do, Architect of SoFA Market and Schools, Dies at 62
Thang Do, of Saratoga, was CEO of Aedis Architects and founder of SoFA Market and The Fountainhead Bar in downtown San Jose.
Silicon Valley Players Floated for California Attorney General Job
As California AG Xavier Becerra joins Joe Biden’s cabinet as head of Health and Human Services, locals are looking ahead.
After Years of Dysfunction, Can 4Cs Weather Another Crisis?
Many among the rank-and-file at the long-embattled 4C Council fear that Ben Menor will run yet another nonprofit into the ground.
Silicon Valley’s 4th of July Events
From chili cookouts and barbecues to parades and firework shows, there are no shortage of events in Silicon Valley this Fourth of July.
Best Places to Watch Fireworks, Celebrate the 4th of July
You may have a barbecue planned or a pool in which to swim and soak yourself to prune-pleteness. But maybe, just maybe, you haven't figured out plans for the Fourth of July, the most sacred of national holidays. We've got you covered.
Photo Gallery: Mayor Optimistic in State of the City Speech
Sam Liccardo delivered his first State of the City speech as San Jose mayor Saturday morning at Independence High School, and the message was one of better times to come.
County Moves to Regulate E-Cigarettes, Vapes
Santa Clara County supervisors want to bring electronic cigarettes and vapes under the purview of existing anti-smoking laws.
Mayoral Fireworks on Fireworks
The mayor's race is on, so of course there are going to be fireworks. But the latest tiff in San Jose's quadrennial contest actually involves fireworks.
Council to Discuss Top Priorities, Audit of Consultants and Contracts
Regulating alcohol sales, electric car plug-ins and cannabis clubs are among the city’s top priorities this coming year, according to a memo up for discussion at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Other items on the meeting agenda include a development deal that could land the city a new park and an audit that finds the monitoring of consultants needs to be much improved.
Councilmembers Constant, Khamis Call for Investigation of Health Care Nonprofits
Two members of the San Jose City Council are calling for an investigation into whether city funds were illegally used in local campaigns. Councilmembers Pete Constant and Johnny Khamis are asking the city manager and city attorney to “investigate whether any city funds that were provided to either Santa Clara Family Health Foundation or VMC Foundation were used to fund any campaign activities in any manner,” according to a memo released Thursday. The memo notes that the city has given the foundations more than $6 million in the last three years.
Parks Require Coalitions for the Future
It will “take a village” to preserve, maintain and expand urban parks in the 21st Century. A key feature of what I call the “new paradigm” of America’s Parks and Trails is that the future lies in forming coalitions—virtual villages—among a variety of interested parties. Re-imagining our parks systems means not counting on government to be the sole caretaker of these community treasures.
Nonprofits Funded Labor Council Political Campaigns
Funds from two local non-profit health care foundations made their way to phone banks and mail campaigns of the South Bay Labor Council in 2012 after routing the money through a Measure A’s campaign committee. Both the VMC Foundation and the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation gave more than a quarter-million dollars each—a total of $539,000—to support an 1/8th cent county sales tax measure, Measure A. At least $90,000 of those monies were transferred to the South Bay Labor Council. An incestuous tangle of organizations, directors and consultants characterized the transactions, with common decision-makers on both the giving and receiving ends. None of the organization are willing to discuss how the funds were used and how decisions were made. Former San Jose vice mayor and South Bay Labor Council CEO Cindy Chavez currently heads up the nonprofit SBLC-linked Working Partnerships USA (WPUSA) and sits on the board for the Health Trust and Santa Clara Family Health Foundation.
Area Youth Need Volunteers’ Help
We live in an extraordinary community where you often hear stories of philanthropists writing large checks from their foundations to personal causes. Last week, Meg Whitman announced in East San Jose that she is giving $2.5 million to Summit Charter schools for 10 new 400 student high schools over the next decade. That same amount would pay for youth gang prevention services for up to 14 San Jose Schools in six districts for four years. Let me explain.
More on the Achievement Gap
Whoa! The achievement gap continues to be a very controversial topic to many SJI posters. I was the guest of my wife, Chris, last Wednesday at San Jose’s Downtown Rotary Club. She invited me because County Superintendent Weis was the luncheon speaker presenting about SJ2020 (a City and school district initiative to close the achievement gap), currently in its embryonic stages. When Superintendent Weis participated in the Q & A immediately following his 20-minute talk, the first question from the audience was predictable
Tony West’s Triumphant Return
Introducing Tony West today at the Rotary Club of San Jose’s weekly meeting, Larry Stone reeled off a list of his old friend’s accomplishments: graduate of Harvard, where he was editor of the Harvard Political Review; law degree from Stanford, where he was editor of the Stanford Law Review; former special assistant to Attorney General Janet Reno; former member of the San Jose Planning Commission; and “two-time unsuccessful candidate for local public office.”
When Stone, the longtime County Tax Assessor, mentioned that last item, a couple of groans were heard among the friendly crowd of Rotarians. “Well, Tony,” Stone quipped, “it all worked out for the best.”
