If you thought it was over with the bait-n-switch Measure A, think again. November, 2026 will see SB63 on the ballot--a deceptive measure which aims to hide the bailout of the region's bankrupt and unsustainable mass transit systems under the guise of "road repairs." An Opp Now exclusive collated by our editorial team.
Read MorePre-approving modular design libraries. Waiving impact fees for workforce housing. And–yes—keeping CEQA under control. SF Briones Society’s Jay Donde and former Hollister mayor Victor Gomez lay out how local gov’t might streamline the building process—and save residents thousands along the way. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreCounty Assessor finalist Rishi Kumar has elevated the cause of relief for tax-burdened Santa Clara County residents in his campaign. He advocates for property tax exemptions for seniors as a key part of his candidacy. The local county tax-and-spend cabal, however, is clutching their pearls over his reform ideas, arguing--hilariously--that the county assessor should just be a faceless spreadsheet jockey, and not work for county taxpayers. Jose Esteves, former Milpitas mayor, sets the record straight and highlights how Kumar's tax reform advocacy is on target and sorely needed.
Read MoreDriverless vehicles are now transforming mobility in the Bay Area. While this technology promises to make getting around both cheaper and more convenient, local political and transit leaders are not adequately incorporating autonomous vehicles into their thinking and instead perpetuating the high-cost model of transportation through the 2030s. Marc Joffe explains in this Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreWhile “unelected regional bodies” promise their Plan Bay Area 2050+ will improve affordability, SHIFT-Bay Area says it doesn’t add up: the transit-heavy, forced urbanization scheme has no off-ramp, and it estimates population growth amidst an exodus. In a newsletter summarizing SHIFT's findings, CoCo Taxpayer Ass'n warns the $1.5 trillion dream isn't yet covered by existing revenues, so new taxes would cost $3,938 per person, per year.
Read MoreEvery parent knows: if your child wastes their allowance, it’s time for better money skills—not a bigger allowance. Yet CA SB 63 proposes we add a half-cent sales tax for bailing out transit agencies like VTA. Perhaps it’s time for fiscal accountability across local gov’t projects. An Opp Now exclusive with Pacific Research Institute’s Tim Anaya and Evergreen Elementary SD’s Jim Zito.
Read MoreLocal political commenter Denise Kalm says that local gov’ts mis-label the real issues with our homeless community, ignoring the upstream problems of mental health and addiction. She says this “infantilizes” our unhoused neighbors, and leads to bad policy. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreWhether 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 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 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 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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