Category: Neighborhood
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Quito Built a Metro for $2B
Why Is BART’s San José Extension $12.7B?
I recently returned from a trip to the Galápagos. As part of that trip, we spent a few days in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. That’s when I discovered that Quito has recently opened a brand-new subway system. The Metro de Quito became operational in December 2023, and I was curious enough to ride it.…
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Senate Bill 9Â
Drafting Error or Fatally Flawed Legislation?Â
Contrary to many headlines, Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) did not eliminate single family zoning in California. What it did, however, was to impose a modest restriction on local control of land use – touching off a firestorm of opposition from cities and citizens throughout the state. In a recent ruling by the Superior Court…
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The Cost of Safe, Clean WaterÂ
“What’s in your Wallet?”
When the voters approved Measure S – also known as the “Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program” (“Program”) – in November, 2020, they not only renewed an existing, similar parcel tax enacted by the voters in 2012 that was due to expire in 2027, but removed the sunset provision. The current version allows…
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Beautifying Naglee Park
How Neighbors Worked Together
It all started with traffic. In the late 70s traffic here was horrendous: ambulances, fire trucks, and unchecked cars sped through the neighborhood. Adding to traffic problems, there was limited parking available at San Jose State, so students were forced to park in the neighborhood. The Naglee Park community wanted safer, saner streets and requested…
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Choose to Live in San Jose
Note: I originally wrote this document (titled – Living Downtown San Jose) in 2016 when I worked at Netflix for the benefit of my fellow co-workers. I wanted to encourage people relocating to the Bay Area to consider living in San Jose. I am reproducing here with some updates for your enjoyment. Many Netflix employees…
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Is Homelessness a Crime?
Homelessness is a complex problem that challenges if not defies solutions. In fact, there is some evidence that the problem has grown worse, in spite of the efforts involving declarations of emergency, the commitment of millions of dollars by both government and private sector, and the collective, if not always well coordinated efforts by multiple…
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Where does our Water come from?
According to the World Health Organization, more than 2.1 billion people lack safe drinking water at home. Here in Santa Clara County, we take it for granted that when we turn on the tap, we’ll get fresh, clean water suitable for drinking, cooking, bathing and watering our gardens. But did you ever wonder how that…
