In an Opportunity Now exclusive series, we’re asking local leaders what this election cycle reveals about the bigger issues shaping Silicon Valley’s direction. Irene Smith of United Housing Alliance wonders if SJ’s Land Use Planning debate is asking the right questions.

In an exclusive series before the November 2026 election, we’re asking local leaders what this cycle tells us about where we’re headed in both Silicon Valley and the state. California Policy Center’s Edward Ring weighs in on the fraught relationship between affordability and ever-increasing taxes.: 

Transit expert Marc Joffe unpacks all the over-the-top doom-mongering being peddled by SPUR, SF Chronicle, and Transit Industrial Complex. His conclusion: their alarmism regarding RTM doesn't withstand serious examination

San Jose could become the first city in the Bay Area to place new limits on self-checkout at grocery stores and pharmacies, including a requirement to keep at least one staffed checkout lane open, under a proposal promoted by councilmembers David Cohen and Domingo Candelas. 

SJ's proposed regulation of checkout lines at local grocery stores strike many as an extreme example of gov't meddling in business. Leaders in other states and cities that have considered similar moves are similarly dubious.

Oh, look: AI is creating 5x new jobs for every redundancy, demolishing inaccurate alarmism from local Labor/left

Bill Jackson of the Frontier Republicans & Friends says we need a new plan for Bay Area transit, sized for today's ridership, not pre-pandemic assumptions. 

Has SJ had enough of "Sacto made me do it?" Councilmembers George Casey and Domingo Candelas have submitted a memo requesting San Jose re-establish local control over key planning and land use matters. SJ City Council will vote on their memo (below) this Tuesday, September 22.