Silicon Valley Voice is the local voice for Silicon Valley, covering Santa Clara and the surrounding communities. We are committed to providing our community with reliable and relevant information daily.
To celebrate the recent unblocking of the Santa Clara Weekly by Mayor Lisa Gillmor on Twitter, the United States Senate has decided to remind the nation of the “vital and indispensable role the free press serves.” (Resolution MAZ18847 Aug. 16) “Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Senate affirms that the press is not the … Read more
Walt Kelly’s cartoon character Pogo famously said, “We have met the enemy and it is us.” Racism is like that, too. We like to think other people are racist, but we who live in the ethnically diverse world of the 21st century Pacific Rim are beyond that kind of social sinfulness. Our view of ourselves … Read more
Four weeks ago, I respectfully submitted my letter of interest for appointment to the Council vacant seat. My message was structured responding to the thoughtful areas Council and audience members suggested should be addressed by any prospective applicant in the Council’s May 22 meeting to assist in council, and the public’s important vetting process. With … Read more
May 15, 2018 Dear Editorial Board, In 2008, Memphis, Tennessee adopted Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) as a method to elect our Council Members. In the past 10 years, we have found that Ranked Choice Voting has proven to be a failure. It did not accomplish any of the promises of the Charter Commission that proposed … Read more
Measure A is an initiative to amend our city’s charter to change the process for electing our City Council. Measure A would change Santa Clara from at-large council representation to a city split into two districts, with three members from each district, and change voter selection to a rank choice system. Ranked choice voting as … Read more
“You have to take five AP classes a year if you want to go to a good college.” As a sophomore at Wilcox High School, I hear something like this constantly from my worried friends. Many of my peers are stressed with the AP class workload and the high costs associated with taking AP tests. … Read more
As we began the unit on the Legislative Branch, “Mark” asked why California ranks in the bottom of receiving federal funding when we are the most populated state and the 5th LARGEST economy in the world. “Julie” blurted out the Great Compromise, of course. I said “Julie is right, remember class, unlike today, politics was the art of … Read more
Santa Clara’s June 5 Special Election is asking that the Santa Clara electorate change its election method from one discriminatory, illegal election system, at-large elections, to another discriminatory, illegal election method, multimember district elections. Is this what Santa Clara desires? Santa Clara, for a long time, has been using the “oldest-trick-in-the-book,” at-large elections, for its … Read more
One of my favorite units to teach at Santa Clara High School is Elections and Campaigns. I start the lesson by showing the students the famous quote “Money is the mother’s milk of politics,” by former California Assembly Speaker Jesse Unruh. I ask my students if they agree. Overwhelmingly, the students said yes. “Matthew” looked at the past … Read more
I met my future wife on January 23, 1954 at the Zenda Ballroom in Los Angeles. I was stationed in San Diego with the Navy and I would hitchhike to L.A. every weekend to spend time with my friend Gabe, who was from my hometown of Merced. The night I met Juanita, she was with … Read more