☆ Wendt: Measure A emboldened the tax-hikers. Will Silicon Valley ever reclaim affordability?
Santa Clara County’s Measure A sales tax hike was just the beginning, warns Matt Wendt of the South County Business Alliance. In an Opportunity Now exclusive 2026 prediction, he says that progressive politicians will “push for a whole bunch of new taxes.” Will moderates and independents fight back? Or will they support another cycle of reckless spending?
I see 2026 as a pivotal year for Silicon Valley politics especially as it relates to more taxes. I fully expect the Progressive/Labor Left of the Democratic Party to be emboldened by passing Measure A to push for a whole bunch of new taxes, including SB63 which is a transit sales tax and the City of San Jose’s “infrastructure” tax. These taxes will continue to expand the reach of local gov't and diminish the pocketbooks of all local residents, which will make Silicon Valley even less affordable.
My biggest fear: Moderate Democrats and independents will go along with this latest power and money grab, and enable decades' worth of reckless spending into the future.
My biggest hope: Common sense, community minded Moderate Democrats, Republicans, and independents will successfully reject these measures, and begin the long journey back to more fiscally sane and accountable local government budgets and policies.
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