Under pressure to address San Jose’s massive budget shortfall, CA gubernatorial candidate Mayor Matt Mahan talked up “charitable or commercial ventures” as if they were “core municipal functions.” They’re not, says Mark Moses, author of The Municipal Financial Crisis: instead of chasing the glamour of being a sports destination, leaders should first make sure you can park your car downtown without it getting stolen. An Opportunity Now exclusive Q&A response.
Read MoreGlobal housing expert Scott Beyer explores in Eurasia Review why CA cities can’t seem to get it right, while places like Houston, Greenville, SC, and Bergen County, NJ do.
Read MoreA corrosive teaching fad that made children bad at reading has long since been debunked, says Gus Mattammal in his education policy book A is for Average. But California has been slow to replace it with a proven method that would help the state’s most disadvantaged students. The candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction argues that cynical and ideological forces are to blame.
Read MoreWith this week's South San Jose shooting and murder, SJ's murder rate is up 75% compared to last year at this time, according to the Merc. Heritage Foundation unearths key factors behind crime increases: Refusing to prosecute and punish violent offenders, releasing violent offenders under ill-conceived bail-reform policies, and hamstringing police departments.
Read MoreThere’s a flaw in how California allocates money to education: funding for students who need extra help is meted out to districts far too slowly. So says candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Gus Mattammal. In his book A is for Average, he proposes ramping up this funding earlier. He says it can be done without increasing taxes.
Read MorePeter Ohtaki, former Menlo Park Mayor, explains why Air Traffic Control is a local issue: Because planes landing at SJC are only 1300 feet above Curtner Ave in SJ and make a U-turn 5000 feet above Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Menlo Park each and every day.
Read MoreStructural flaws in CA financials suggest $ meltdown is not so far away. From Grok.
Read MoreResponding to Mayor Mahan’s statement on San Jose’s budget squeeze, municipal finance expert Mark Moses warns that “tightening belts” only works when “belts still have notches left.” The author of The Municipal Financial Crisis says San Jose risks drifting toward “zombie city” status if it keeps protecting politically attractive programs sustained by financial gimmicks, while neglecting the basics of a functional organization. An Opportunity Now exclusive Q&A response.
Read MoreCalifornia’s schools promise every student a quality education, yet that’s belied by dismal disparities between districts and racial groups. So says Gus Mattammal, author of A is for Average, who argues policies like “Grading for Equity” only mask the failure while cutting advanced programs.
Read MoreEspera un momento. Is SJ's City Manager's Office suggesting that SJ is somehow obliged to pay for the work the County is supposed to be responsible for?
Read MoreDuring Q1 2026, it's been full-spectrum crime activity in SJ’s hub, from murder to shootings to robbery--and more. From Path Seldom Traveled on Medium.
Read MoreIrene Smith of United Housing Alliance and John Fleischman of FlashReport explore if Mahan's housing plan actually considers the broad spectrum of issues that comprise our statewide housing crisis. An Opp Now exclusive.
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