Guest View

April is recognized as World Autism Month, and I write this as both a mother and an advocate. Like many parents, my early experiences with autism were overwhelming and, at times, isolating.  In our community, support can feel limited. Many autistic children are often defined by...

As your State Senator representing the 15th Senate District in the California State Legislature, I am grateful to serve such an involved, engaged and strong neighborhood as Gilroy. For years, I have been committed to enhancing affordability, transportation and education in this neighborhood.  It is...

It’s heartbreaking that in today’s world, every time a child picks up a phone or tablet, parents feel a wave of panic. Not long ago, electronic devices were simple tools for curiosity and creativity.  Kids played 2048, battled friends on slither.io, filled their camera rolls...

Each year, communities across America take time to recognize an important but unseen part of our water supply: groundwater. During National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 8–14, we focus on protecting this valuable resource and highlight local efforts to keep groundwater safe and reliable.  In Santa...

With 2025 in the rear-view mirror and the 2025-26 legislative work plan already established, the Gilroy City Council will dive right into items that need to be completed in 2026. Once the new city council is seated after the Nov. 3, 2026 election, a...

The South County Jewish community was shaken to its core after waking on the morning of Dec. 14 to the tragic news of a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, where a terrorist attack targeted a Chanukah Menorah Lighting. The horror of the...

Having a house should not be a privilege; it should be a right. Every individual deserves to have a place they can come home to daily.  Beyond the four walls lies a magical dream that no one deserves to let go of. Once a family...

In a powerful demonstration of unity and a commitment to education, more than 100 South County residents and local leaders, including City Councilmember Yvonne Martinez-Beltran, gathered at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center Sept. 28 for a special program centered on the experiences...

In the upcoming special election on Nov. 4, voters are going to see a new measure, Proposition 50. By a vote of the majority, California voters will decide if temporary changes to our congressional district maps should be authorized.  This would allow the legislature, members...

Since Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first State of the State address six years ago, California has stopped pursuing a high-speed rail system that actually connects the Bay Area to Southern California, as was promised to voters in 2008. And in that void, politicians, pundits and...