Whether we’re talking CEQA, licensing req’ts, gas mandates, or sales taxes, CA congressional candidate Peter Coe Verbica and SF Libertarian chair Starchild argue that less is more—and would empower folks to stay in the Bay. Not flee to other, more cost-effective states. An Opp Now exclusive roundup.
Read MorePer our annual Opp Now tradition, we hit replay on a beloved short essay by Peter Coe Verbica. He reflects, below, on those inexplicable moments of renewal and recovery we might experience during the holidays—prompted by the loveliness found in ordinary activities, objects, and surroundings. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreIt was a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago. On December 4, 1965, the Grateful Dead's first gig playin' in the band as the Dead took place in a large house that once stood on the current footprint of San Jose City Hall. On December 4, 2025, a commemorative plaque (thanks to SJRocks.org) will be placed to mark this legendary site. Public welcome; rings on your fingers and bells on your shoes appreciated.
Read MoreDespite taxpayer protections enshrined in Proposition 13, the state has ramped up all kinds of taxes through legal loopholes and questionable court rulings. So says Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Assn’s Susan Shelley, who points out that Californians—especially Silicon Valley residents—pay some of the highest sales tax in the nation. An Opp Now exclusive Q&A.
Read MoreCounty officials are still snapping at each other regarding the proceeds from the “bait-and-switch” Measure A. At the same time, underdog Assessor finalist Rishi Kumar gains the support of local political leaders with his aggressive tax reform platform. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreCalifornia may have okayed ADUs; and duplexes are technically legal in Cupertino, Palo Alto, and beyond—but only in narrow zoning pockets, leaving most of the map frozen in single-family exclusivity. Tennessee’s zoning atlas model could expose the gap and push Bay Area suburbs toward gentle density. From Beacon Center of Tennessee.
Read MoreHow can local gov’t fix affordability for residents? Retired attorney Ted Stroll and Purissima Hills Water District director Brian Holtz recommend a simple—but sweeping—prescription: no more rent control, no more traditional property taxes, no more single-family zoning, or sales taxes. And—to look to Argentina. An Opp Now exclusive in our ongoing affordability roundup.
Read MoreOne of the biggest problems baked into Silicon Valley progressive governance is the systemic inability to consider the impacts of the high costs of their pet projects. District 5 Supervisor Margaret. Abe-Koga provides a classic example of metrics-free thinking. We unpack. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreTrust is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy. When citizens believe their local government is working in their best interests, they are more engaged, supportive and cooperative. But when they feel gov't is insular and ignoring citizen will, the center cannot hold. Diligent.com explores how local gov't can build accountability by regaining lost trust.
Read MoreJames Lehman, MSW, says blame-casting and acceptance of excuses by parents empower bad behavior by children--and stop kids from learning responsibility and goal-setting. A lesson for SV voters? From empoweringparents.com
Read MoreAndré Carlos Busanelli Aquino argues in Taylor & Francis online that local government reform--by definition--is ground zero in the movement for democratic accountability globally. But it goes beyond simple success metrics: bots, fake news, and digitalization make it such that accountability needs to be fully baked into everything that happens in city and county government.
Read MoreA global run on the dollar could force SV cities into a state of “chaotic austerity” as inflation spikes and borrowing becomes nearly impossible. So says economist Mike ter Maat, in an Opp Now exclusive Q&A. He argues that financial officers should assume markets will only get worse from now on, and plan accordingly: frontload borrowing, fully fund the pensions, and insulate your town from swings in revenue.
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