Despite the hurricanes that recently devastated communities from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Tampa, Fla., homeowners with solar panels and batteries overwhelmingly reported no disruptions to their electricity. Meanwhile, in south San Jose, residents have suffered through power outages 10 times in the past two months. While California residents and…

Every major city grappling with homelessness can point only to an array of imperfect solutions. With learning, innovation and iteration, however, those solutions can improve. Yet too often our public discourse about homelessness — in headlines and social media — remains mired in a “failure mindset” overlooking the solutions that…

A recent Spotlight article links me to political attack ads by groups, such as the Realtors PAC and the Small Biz PAC against Cindy Chavez, through mail, texts, and social media posts that I did not create, did not know about, did not fund, did not fundraise for, and did…

I’ve generally stayed quiet in the mayoral campaign; candidates should take center stage, and not outgoing mayors. It’s not a secret that I endorse and support Matt Mahan in this mayoral election, of course. …

In the next day or so, the Mercury News will publish a story about the BART Silicon Valley extension. The story will likely feature a “gotcha” headline about a “ballooning” $9.318 billion “cost estimate,” and will likely contain allegations of Valley Transportation Authority’s “secrecy” about the true cost of the…

In a frustrating and menacing replay of August 2020, fears of heat-induced rolling blackouts resulting from insufficient load capacity statewide did not materialize this week, but nearly 100,000 San José residents were left in the dark anyway. That is, San José residents suffered from the failure of PG & E’s…

“Truth is the first casualty in war.” –Ethel Annikin, 1915 “……while wage negotiations and political campaigns subject the truth to their own unique variety of butt-kicking.” –Sam Liccardo, 2022 The last time that police staffing aroused controversy in San Jose, I refused the demands of some protesters to “defund the…

Recent controversy has emerged over the City Council majority’s decision to construct “quick-build apartment communities,” as I call them (or “emergency interim housing communities,” EIHCs, as they’re more bureaucratically described) for unhoused San José residents. I strongly advocated for that outcome, but admittedly it has made plenty of folks unhappy. …

Mayor Liccardo delivered the following address at the June 16, 2022 memorial honoring the late Norman Y. Mineta: To Deni and the Mineta family, thank you for honoring us with your presence, and allowing us to share this moment with you. Mr. President, Mr. …