Category: Neighborhood Concerns
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Senate Bill 9
Drafting Error or Fatally Flawed Legislation?
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 Water
“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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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…