"San Jose's minimum wage is going up to $18.45 an hour next year. That sounds good, but it's nowhere near enough to actually live here. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $3,000 a month, and the cost of food and utilities keeps rising. Even someone working full time can barely cover the basics. As a student, it's impossible to keep up with a school schedule and have enough to live on, too."
"Pat Waite claimed that the fact that Santa Clara County's budget is larger than that of 19 states is evidence of wasteful spending, but that is misleading. It is important to note that Santa Clara County's population is greater than any of t he 12 smallest states, according to 2025 census data. And as we well know, California, and especially the Bay Area, has a higher cost of living than most of the rest of the country."
"In a democracy, each vote should be counted and have equal value and effect as other votes do. Gerrymandering makes the vote have a different value depending on the district it is in. Proposition 50 proponents are effectively saying, "We have to destroy democracy in order to save it." At the same time, gerrymandering ensures the reelection of politicians already in office."
San Jose's minimum wage will rise to $18.45 an hour next year but remains far below a true living wage given local costs. A one-bedroom rent averages about $3,000 per month while food and utilities continue to increase, making it difficult for full-time workers and students to cover basics without multiple jobs. The minimum wage should be raised toward an actual living wage and adjusted annually for inflation to retain residents. Santa Clara County's large budget reflects a larger population than the smallest states and a higher Bay Area cost of living rather than inherent waste. Gerrymandering skews vote value and critics argue Prop. 50 would undermine equal voting rights and entrench incumbents.
Read at The Mercury News
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