Opinion

A much-discussed course of action to bring housing affordability to our area is to create more housing. And if we are to build more housing, why does it take so long?  While serving on the San Jose City Council’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Building & Planning,...

The Game We’re All Losing Ah, game theory in urban planning—a concept so elusive and mysterious that it might as well come with a decoder ring and a secret handshake. Mr. Suzuki’s editorial raises a valid point: if you’re going to criticize something, you should...

It’s easy to get caught up in the present, but sometimes looking back helps us understand where we’re going. So, let’s take a trip in the wayback machine to 1966. The Beatles were dominating the charts, “Star Trek” premiered on television, and the Vietnam...

I aim for humor in my Los Gatan columns. The kind that elicits a chuckle, maybe a snort, not the kind that has readers questioning my grip on reality (though, fair point, the jury is deliberating on that one). Of course, I also try...

Happiness is something we all pursue, but sometimes we take it too seriously. Some people treat happiness as a goal to be achieved, while others treat happiness as if it is a key business performance indicator. But in doing so, we miss the things...

As Thanksgiving arrives, I reflect on the many things I am thankful for. I’ve managed to survive to age 73. Along the way, I’ve had many fortunate things occur. Of course, there have been horrible times too, such as when my father was killed in...

Back in 2015, Elon Musk made this pronouncement about the future of self-driving cars, “We’re going to end up with complete autonomy, and I think we’ll have complete autonomy in about two years.” At that time, I was a technology leader at Trimble, a...

Back in the 1970s, then–California Governor Jerry Brown earned the nickname “Governor Moonbeam” for his forward-thinking and unconventional ideas. Among them was a now-famous mantra: “Small is beautiful.” Brown’s vision championed conservation, thoughtful planning, and development that respected the natural landscape and community character. Los...

It strikes me that the major reason for allowing cannabis dispensaries in Los Gatos would be to generate more revenue. Assuming for argument’s sake that this is correct, there are options for generating revenue other than from allowing cannabis dispensaries in town. I often...

As my grandkids call me, “Pop Pop,” I find myself navigating the inevitable march of time. While recent health challenges, like hernia surgery and a persistent snoring problem (these are but a few of the conditions I am having to address), have forced me...