Milestones – Fake, Foul or Fantasy? – Opinion

As Publisher Miles Barber writes, there is a difference between fake news and opinion pieces backed by facts and reality.

The poison politics impregnating publications and news outlets is putrid. Practically every news station omits the obvious and newspapers appear to print anything but news. These once hailed bastions of communication have lost their purpose and exchanged objectivity for political bias. For years, this opinion column has exposed the wrongs of people, politics and poor … Read more

Milestones – Track Records Rule! – Opinion

Publisher Miles Barber examines the race for state senate that pits Fremont Mayor Lily Mei against Hayward Council Member Aisha Wahab.

If you are not voting this year, stop reading this column. You won’t make a difference and candidates frankly don’t need you. However, if you are going to vote, do you know much, or anything, about the candidates and/or issues? You can wait for the voter’s guide to arrive. Or you can continue reading and … Read more

Milestones – Common Sense is Calling! – Opinion

Publisher Miles Barber laments that lack of common sense Mayor Gillmor has shown in running the City of Santa Clara, costing residents millions.

The recent heated exchange between members of the Santa Clara Council is a good barometer of this election. Mayor Lisa Gillmor relies on her last remaining supporter on Council, Kathy Watanabe, to run interference to promote her bias. Watanabe has a knack for being insolent with a sharp tooth in carrying the mayor’s backpack. When … Read more

Milestones – A Tale of Two Cities! – Opinion

Publisher Miles Barber looks at what Mission City once looked like and what it looks like now since Lisa Gillmor took office as the City's mayor.

It was a short time ago, Santa Clara was the envy of Silicon Valley. Good housing, great jobs, humming industries, low power rates, minimal crime, its own stadium, its own NFL franchise with the SF 49ers, excellent schools, a booming convention center and a responsive and visionary government. Thanks to leadership provided by former Mayor … Read more

Milestones – Ten Weeks of Turmoil! – Opinion

Publisher Miles Barber says voters can complete the dismantling of Mayor Lisa Gillmor's mismanagement of Santa Clara when they vote in November.

Closing out August, we are about to enter that 10-week surge until the November elections. Certainly, the national scene will be getting attention, but important to Santa Clara is the focus on local races impacting residents. Karen Hardy and Raj Chahal are up for city council reelection. In 2018, Hardy and Chahal led the initial … Read more

Milestones – A Mayor of Meager Might! – Opinion

Publisher Miles H. Barber says Mayor Lisa Gillmor's track record during 19 years on the Santa Clara City Council proves she does not deserve reelection.

When it comes to politics, Santa Clara has experienced more than the average community in Silicon Valley. Imagine having a city mayor that has spent a total of 19 (1992-2000, 2011-2022) years on Santa Clara City Council over the past four decades. Now this record might be impressive if the City was exploding in the … Read more

Milestones – The Battle Begins! – Opinion

The 49ers kickoff the preseason against the Packers on Friday and Publisher Miles Barber hopes its the start of a great run for Santa Clara's team.

Taking to the turf this Friday night at Levi’s Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers butt heads with 2022 playoff contender, the Green Bay Packers. Yes, it’s a preseason game, but it pits two long-term foes in a battle that ends the up and down era of Jimmy Garoppolo. It also kick-starts the hopes and dreams … Read more

Milestones – Major Move for a New Mayor! – Opinion

Publisher Miles Barber looks at the race for Santa Clara's next mayor with incumbent Gillmor squaring off against Council Member Becker.

Four years ago, in 2018, a new face appeared on the political scene in Santa Clara. A young man named Anthony Becker filed to run for mayor against Lisa Gillmor. Becker had limited experience, little funding, marginal support and was a virtual unknown. As expected, Gillmor won in a landslide, spending the tens of thousands … Read more

Milestones – Police Sweet Deal Package Approved! – Opinion

Publisher Miles Barber says the new raise for Santa Clara's police officers can be linked to the political and financial power they wield in the City.

One thing is for sure, Santa Clara Police Department is not being defunded soon. The City Council, led by Mayor Gillmor, continued to pad the pay for our folks in blue, making them the envy of officers throughout the region if not the state. The average salary for a Santa Clara police officer is now … Read more

Milestones – The Convention Center Charade – Opinion

Publisher Miles Barber says the disarray of the Convention Center can be traced back to Mayor Gillmor and current manager Dan Fenton.

In case you have forgotten, Mayor Lisa Gillmor and her council cronies torched the Santa Clara Convention Center management in 2018. The Chamber of Commerce had managed the center for 40 years and had just reported a $2 million profit. Gillmor replaced the Chamber, and it was almost immediately that the center’s profits dropped by … Read more