☆ Ring: is CA’s resilience masking decay?
Ed Ring says California may remain robust for now, but warns an ideological extremist could win the race for governor. Meanwhile, A is for Average author Gus Mattammal says voters are “blown away” when he tells them how badly CA’s school districts are performing. He also wants Bay Area media to break from one-sided coverage of the regional transit tax. An Opportunity Now exclusive look forward to 2026.
Ed Ring
In 2026, I’m hoping to see a business friendly, reasonable and practical governor will be elected.
I fear a quasi-communist, extreme environmentalist, public sector union stooge will be elected governor.
In the coming year, I predict California will remain robust and resilient in spite of the idiots, fanatics, and crooks that have hijacked our state and local governments.
Gus Mattammal
What I'd like to see in 2026 here in the Bay Area is the following: first, that everyone learns how well (or, more likely, not well) their local public school system is doing. As I do speaking events around the state, I always show the local district results, and people are blown away. The system continues as it does because most people have no idea how it's actually performing.
Second, I'd like to see the media ecosystem in the Bay Area give real voice to the counterargument for the regional transit tax that will be on the ballot in November. At SHIFT-Bay Area, we will articulate the case for why it's a bad idea, and I only ask that the regional media not present a one-sided view of that tax. People deserve the chance to make a fully informed decision.
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