☆ Local leaders comment on Mahan's housing plan

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan has released a multi-point housing plan as part of his campaign for governor. Local taxpayer advocate Tobin Gilman and FlashReport newsletter editor Jon Fleischman wonder if the plan illustrates the limits of California’s self-described “moderate” Democrat wing, or if it offers some interesting new ideas. An Opp Now exclusive.

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☆ Moses: short term service reductions and “efficiency gains” won’t save San Jose

“I can’t think of anything less strategic,” says Mark Moses, in response to San Jose’s promise to eliminate vacant positions. In an Opportunity Now exclusive Q&A, the author of The Municipal Financial Crisis argues that this org-chart-by attrition approach, along with short term service cuts and “disingenuous” calls for efficiency gains, do nothing to fix the city’s long-term budget problem.

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A strategy makes choices

BuzzAnalysis suggests that for AI concerns, it's vital to acknowledge that a plan is not a strategy, as AI reshapes organizational roles, capabilities, and competitive landscapes. Below, tips for AI start-ups to manage the difference.

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christopher escher
Strategy helps us see farther

Roger Martin of the Rotman School explains how strategy is the act of making an integrated set of choices, which positions the organization to win; while planning is the act of laying out projects with timelines, deliverables, budgets, and responsibilities.

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christopher escher
A list is not a strategy. It's not even a plan

Marketing expert Matthew Lerner of SYSTM explains how strategic thinking involves trade-offs--acknowledging that no organization can pursue every neat idea. On Medium, he outlines how to start building a strategy from the bottom up.

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christopher escher
☆ Moses: give San Jose the “freedom” to fix its structural deficit

“Avoiding layoffs is not in the interest of the taxpayers,” says Mark Moses, and it’s “too late to find savings from efficiency gains this year.” Instead, he argues, San Jose should begin a long-term approach to financial health: management should slowly regain control of the workforce, and sunset wasteful programs. An Opportunity Now exclusive Q&A.

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Why is SJ housing so $$$$$$?

While Dem gubernatorial candidates cherrypick policy tweaks to address the state's eternal housing crisis, Blockchain Real Estate gets to the nonpartisan heart of the matter with a full list of issues for SJ that need to be addressed at the city or state level. 

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christopher escher
☆ Moses: SJ’s massive deficit is “structural,” and not a one-year problem

A recent Spotlight article frames San Jose’s $65 million shortfall as a short-term balancing act, but nobody’s asking how to solve the structural deficit. So says municipal finance guru Mark Moses, author of The Municipal Financial Crisis. An Opportunity Now exclusive Q&A response.

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Report: SJ ranks in bottom half of large American cities in terms of safety

According to Forbes, MoneyGeek's fifth annual report on the safest cities in America (2025 report) places SJ 159th out of 315 municipalities, behind San Diego, Anaheim, Irvine, and Riverside in CA alone.

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christopher escher
SEIU sales tax advocacy undercuts union's egalitarian rhetoric

While one Service Employees International Union (SEIU) local waxes eloquent about the evils of wealth inequality, its sister locals are pushing regressive sales tax measures in multiple counties. The unifying principle is not egalitarianism but more dues revenue for the union. Marc Joffe of Contra Costa Taxpayers' explores.

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christopher escher
Labor's role in creating a more robust economy for everyone

Through widespread collective bargaining, market failures can be corrected, decades of income inequality may be reversed, and economic growth can be supported. The Workrisenetwork explains.

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christopher escher
It’s time for Labor-savvy business leaders

Harvard Business Review says cooperative management/worker strategies make for a better business and a better society.

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christopher escher