Articles Published in April, 2016

El Teatro Campesino's "Valley of the Heart" serves as a window into the racist past of the country and also Silicon Valley at a time when similar divisive sentiments are boldly and publicly being displayed.

This Week in Peace chronicles the exciting adventures of San Jose's own Dancer of Peace, Khalilah Ramirez. Written under divine inspiration, the column contains true stories of peace encounters in your neighborhood. This week the Dance of Peace made a daily appearance, noticed the signs of spring and encourages you to move beyond any shyness and dance.

Freya Seeburger is Cellista, a cellist and San Jose Arts Commissioner. Read her thoughts on her latest performance piece and how making room for every member of our community is tied to the future of arts in San Jose.

This Week in Peace chronicles the exciting adventures of San Jose's own Dancer of Peace, Khalilah Ramirez. Written under divine inspiration, the column contains true stories of peace encounters in your neighborhood. This week the Dance of Peace encourages us to bring peace from our inner world.

Next Tuesday the San Jose city council will decide on strengthening protections for renters, including the annual allowable increase for rent controlled buildings. Hear from renters who have faced eviction, some living in unsafe conditions and on top of that still given unchecked rent increases that far exceed any wage increases.

San Jose's upcoming vote on rent control carries with it the possibilities of a future San Jose, writes Shaunn Cartwright. The process to consider revising San Jose's existing apartment rental ordinance has revealed a deep line in the sand between property owners and tenants, one that the council has the power to deepen or close next Tuesday April 19.

Tomorrow the City Council will decide whether to value its overburdened tenants by increasing protections for renters, including reducing the 8 percent maximum rent increases allowed under San Jose's 35-year-old rent control ordinance.The decision is vital to families who will not be able to survive in the city that they were raised in. "Tents should be for camping, not living," read the signs on tents that were at San Jose's City Hall Plaza during last Wednesday's action to tell City Council that its community want rent control.

A local Lincoln High School Student shares her family's struggles renting in San Jose, reflecting the larger picture of what families pay not only in money, but in valuable time missed with family to afford to call San Jose home.

Growing up in Germany, with his parents from Afghanistan, Ali Rahnoma remembers hearing Prince as a child and thinking his musical style was too different and strange. Later in life it made sense, and now he reflects on what Prince and his music taught us about life.

This Week in Peace chronicles the exciting adventures of San Jose's own Dancer of Peace, Khalilah Ramirez. This week the Dance of Peace traveled to Las Vegas for family fun and proved that Dancing for Peace can be opportune anywhere.