San Jose Inside’s weekly open forum is open for business. All opinions are welcome.

Roy Avila, the community affairs guy at KICU, yesterday announced his campaign for State Assembly District 23. His letter follows:

Friends and Colleagues,
Through our work in the community together many of you have mentioned that I should run for office someday. Well, I have decided to take your advice: I am running for State Assembly in 2010 here in San Jose, the 23rd District.

By Diane Solomon

Sylvia Soledades looks like many women you might see waiting at bus stops, serving people at fast-food counters and walking on city streets with children in strollers. Thirtysomething, her long dark hair is pulled back into a bun; she wears a loose gray sweater over jeans and neat white sneakers. She credits the Legal Aid Society of Santa Clara County for helping keep a roof over her head.

It’s SJI’s weekly open forum, and thoughts on any topic are welcome for discussion.

This week a variety of issues were raised for discussion on San Jose Inside. What else is on your mind?

By Diane Solomon

I had no idea that President Obama switched us to socialism. The signs at San Jose’s April 15th anti tax tea party at Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park told me this. Among the 1,000 mostly middle aged and white demonstrators wearing American flag regalia were lots of homemade signs saying, “Socialism Kills,” “Revolt Against Socialism,” “Capitalism is Being Undermined” and more personalized messages.

San Jose City Councilmember Sam Liccardo sent this letter in response to last week’s Metro cover story about SJPD Chief Rob Davis, which was excerpted on SJI.

Perhaps due to space constraints, last week’s story about San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis (“Can Davis Survive?”) incorporated only one aspect—the most negative—of the views that I expressed about the chief’s performance.

This is San Jose Inside’s user-driven open forum, where regular bloggers and / or casual visitors set the agenda. What’s on your mind?

NOTE: San Jose City Council member Sam Liccardo is circulating this letter in response to allegations that he illegally accepted tickets to a Sharks game.

Dear Friends,
I ran for office on a platform of open government and honest communication with my constituents. That means acknowledging when I am wrong, as well as standing up for what I believe is right. Since taking office in January 2007, I have relied on this newsletter to provide information to neighbors about what is happening at City Hall and how that affects each of you. Today, however, I write to provide background about a story that has been in the media over the past week, regarding my improper acceptance of free admission to two hockey games.

It’s SJI’s weekly open forum, and all lines are open.

By Jessica Lussenhop

Families all over Santa Clara County are reportedly laying off their children in an effort to trim household expenses. An estimated 220 local kids have been laid off from their families just within the last three months, according to county reports, and more layoffs are likely on the way.

It’s San Jose Inside’s open forum. All opinions on any topic of local interest are welcome.

San Jose news, San Jose politics, City Hall, “the 18th Floor,” Santa Clara County, SIlicon Valley, newsmakers, issues, thoughts, opinions; here at San Jose Inside, the keywords are: rants and raves.

It’s SJI’s weekly open forum, and all lines are open.

By Diane Solomon
Last November, Californians approved a $9.95 billion down payment for the first electric-powered steel-wheel-on-steel-rail high-speed train system in the nation. They voted yes to an artist’s rendition of sleek tubular trains invisibly zooming through their neighborhoods, connecting California’s major cities and taking them from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and a new green future, in less than 2.5 hours.

This is San Jose Inside ’s open forum—open for discussion of a recent news event, local issue, or anything else.