Opp Now co-founder Christopher Escher takes a ride on BART, only to realize he's wandered into an anarchic, intimidating environment where regular citizens feel powerless to respond to menacing behavior. An Opp Now exclusive.
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In this exclusive, Opp Now hears from Fremont Union board member Stanley Kou about his apprehensions for 2023: maintaining sustainable enrollment numbers, and finding practical transportation for students living in Sunnyvale’s high density housing.
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Acclaimed Los Angeles cannabis lawyer–analyst Griffen Thorne sat down with Opp Now to break down recently proposed AB 471: In creating and regulating additional cannabis licenses, the bill might just exacerbate locals’ existing red tape—and intrude needlessly on their personal privacy. An Opp Now exclusive.
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In Opp Now’s latest exclusive, activists Eric Scheidler and Nancy Reiko Kato and lawyer Joshua Schroeder discuss: Now that CA Prop 1’s passed, what’s next—as far as interpreting its seemingly beclouded language on late-term abortions? Their varied perspectives below.
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Karen Golden, director of L.A. homeschool center Creative Learning Place, continues her analysis of CA’s ever-rigidifying HSC restrictions. Ultimately, explains Golden, “there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to education”; to best instruct students, parent and charter educators must be trusted — and provided appropriate flexibility. An Opp Now exclusive.
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Christopher Jepsen — economics professor and former Public Policy Institute of California researcher — pinpoints why CA community college enrollment is on a startling downslope. Jepsen also suggests local policy initiatives to keep public colleges affordable and high quality. An Opp Now exclusive.
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Planning Commissioner Pierluigi Oliverio contributes to Opp Now’s exclusive Local Gov’t Hopes & Fears series: He emphasizes SJ’s need to focus on a smaller list of city services, rather than try to expand jurisdictions and “duplicate” larger gov’t efforts.
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First-term Fremont Union board member Stanley Kou dissects the district’s push for holistic student/teacher wellness centers (to be developed in each of the five local campuses) — highlighting that clear communication with students about mandated reporting is key. Part of an Opp Now exclusive series assigning goals and apprehensions to the New Year.
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Nationally recognized transit expert (and frequent Opp Now contributor) Randal O’Toole continues Opp Now’s exclusive series on Local Gov’t Hopes & Fears. His pitch: The SCC should treat failing urban transit systems as private businesses that are losing customers/revenue. After all, should local transit agencies get heftier subsidies to serve less riders?
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Are nonprofits better than private developers at meeting the needs of San Jose residents? Market Urbanism Report's Scott Beyer does a deep dive into COPA's history and specifics; he concludes it's a misguided, cost-increasing approach to addressing legitimate affordability and displacement concerns, in this Opp Now exclusive.
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A recent Campus Reform video chronicles how myriad prominent companies are no longer requiring the “golden ticket” of a four-year university degree. CA School Choice Foundation president Michael Alexander discusses the dangerous implications of employers over-prioritizing college education in applicants, especially as a proxy for actual skills. An Opp Now exclusive.
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Disenfranchisement. Voter suppression. Lack of transparency. Backroom deals. The list of concerns about SJ Council’s wrongheaded moves to deny District 8 and 10 citizens the right to vote continues to grow. Irene Smith, head of Bay Area Housing Network—SJ adds a new critique: The appointment process aims to erase the city’s much-vaunted diversity. From an exclusive phone chat with Opp Now’s Christopher Escher.
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