As elected officials representing many of the same diverse and hardworking communities of the Central Valley, we share state Sen. Anna Caballero’s commitment to serving our constituents. However, we urge her to pull Senate Bill 785, which will grow the Ticketmaster monopoly and make it even less affordable for our...
What’s the Value of a Fresno Unified Diploma When These ‘Classes’ Are as Easy as A-B-C?
A regulation basketball hoop is 10 feet high. Now imagine that, in some high school gyms, it’s been moved down a notch. Then it continues to edge down from time to time. Would making a basket have the same value under these altered conditions? Definitely not. At what point would...
Ukraine Faces Its Worst Crisis Since the War Began: BBC’s Jeremy Bowen
Kharkiv, which is Ukraine's second-largest city and near Russia, is practically defenseless against air attacks, writes BBC international editor Jeremy Bowen. Two guided bombs destroyed a DIY superstore and a garden center on Saturday afternoon when it was crowded with shoppers, injuring dozens and killing at least 15 people. “The...
This Is the Rare Financial Merger That Will Help Working People and Small Business
As an advocate for California farmworkers' rights, I'm urging support for the Capital One-Discover merger. This alliance can deliver substantial benefits to low-income consumers and small businesses, enhancing financial access and fostering economic empowerment. Let's champion this merger for a fairer, more inclusive financial landscape. I view the proposed merger...
A Radical Lesson From El Salvador to Solve Fresno Housing & Homeless Crisis
Several months ago, I sat on a bench for 24 hours and had conversations with people about all kinds of topics but mostly about the needs surrounding housing and homelessness. The interaction that touched me the most was with a young mother with her very young daughter who brought me...
Hydrogen vs. Electric Batteries: A Case For Fresno’s Transportation & Ag Future
Responses to my recent op-ed, A Sustainable Future for Fresno: Rethinking Our Hydrogen Strategy, opened a local dialogue about hydrogen’s benefits to Fresno. However, some have suggested that Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) might better fulfill our green transportation future. So, let's explore the realities of our transportation needs and their...
Netanyahu’s Misguided Gaza Strategy Threatens Israel’s Future: Fareed Zakaria
In Israel, a remarkable shift is underway: Prominent military figures are openly criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to the conflict in Gaza, writes Washington Post columnist Fareed Zakaria. Reports in the Israeli media highlight a recent security meeting where General Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff of the Israel...
Opinion: How Urban Renewal Ruined Everything
“America can’t build anything,” my co-worker, a talented data scientist from China, remarked as we rode a BART train through a suburb of Oakland. She was humored by the contrast of ultra-modern subways and dense apartments in Chengdu with the 1960s stucco houses and the Apollo 11-era BART metro system of...
Empowering Education: Join the Fight for California Kids’ Literacy
Dear Friends: The 21st Century Alliance has been at the center of the effort to pass one of the most important education reform bills of the last decade, known as the California Kids Read Act. Unfortunately, the bill hit a speed bump in the state Legislature last month, when the...
Trump Surrogates Make a Dangerous Call for China Regime Change: Fareed Zakaria
These days, the world is on edge. Europe is grappling with its most significant land conflict since 1945, while the Middle East remains embroiled in turmoil. However, these tensions could pale in comparison if another front were to ignite — this time in Asia, involving the United States and China. Fortunately,...
