☆ Taxpayer advocate calls out SV “billionaires” who endorse Measure A’s sales tax on the poor
The tech companies who have endorsed Measure A wouldn’t treat their own money this way. So says SVTA’s Elizabeth Brierly: while Santa Clara County sinks billions into a misguided public hospital project, it fails to show the math to justify charging taxpayers another $1.65 billion, or more. In this Opportunity Now exclusive rebuttal, Brierly slams Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s (SVLG) support for the regressive, 500 percent increase to the county’s general sales tax rates, being imposed on working families, seniors, and small businesses.
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☆ Will a 5/8-cent sales tax add fuel to Santa Clara County’s inflationary fire?
There’s no guarantee Measure A will “save the hospitals” says South County Biz Alliance board member Matt Wendt. He says the general sales tax could be siphoned off to overspending in other areas, like Santa Clara County’s new fire department contract which is vastly more expensive than CalFire. The county should learn to budget, he says, or sell off the hospitals now and cut its losses. An Opportunity Now exclusive commentary.
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☆ Local elected political leaders oppose Measure A, citing lack of accountability
Former Palo Alto Mayor Lydia Kou says that even if Measure A passes, the county could still cut public health services: There’s talk of spending the sales tax money on police, DA, and unnamed services. Meanwhile, former Monte Sereno Councilmember Liz Lawler calls out the SC County supes for failing to trim the budgetary fat. Instead, they treat the taxpayer “like an ATM.” An exclusive commentary.
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☆ Cupertino Mayor: Measure A is “not the right way to fund our hospitals”
A sales tax is unfair to renters and working families, says Cupertino Mayor Liangfang Chao, and Measure A will “double the burden” for residents who already pay into the El Camino Hospital District. Meantime, it siphons fundraising power out of Milpitas, and other cities facing deficits. Before asking taxpayers to “throw more money into a broken system,” one that costs twice more per resident than LA County, she says Santa Clara County should provide a credible plan for health spending. An exclusive commentary.
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☆ Why a general, er, “public health” sales tax if Santa Clara County already has enough money? (4/4)
Measure A money can be spent on anything. But even if it does get sunk into SC County’s health system, well, why? SVTA Board Member Elizabeth Brierly asks why the county overleveraged into failing facilities when 94% of CA hospitals are private. There’s a market if the Supes wanted to trim the fat. Instead, they recently rejected an offer on O’Connor. An Opp Now exclusive Q&A.
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Should San Jose’s public schools have to compete for students? (2/2)
Everybody knows that SJUSD public schools will start to shutter soon, as alternative schooling and a crashing birth rate drag down enrollment. So says John Muir Middle School SSC member Shane Lewis in an Opp Now exclusive Q&A: rather than hike taxes for “self-preservation,” the district might learn a thing or two from charter schools about accountability and healthy competition.
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☆ There’s no guarantee Measure A tax money will go to hospitals, assert taxpayer advocates
If residents think a 5/8-cent sales tax hike will save county hospitals, they’ve got another thing coming. So says HJTA VP Susan Shelley: the cynical Supes made it a general tax, needing just 50% approval. SCC GOP Chair Dave Johnson calls it a deceptive maneuver that fuels profligate, unaccountable spending. An Opp Now exclusive Q&A.
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☆ Instead of high-speed rail, why doesn’t CA fund Santa Clara County hospitals? (3/4)
If Measure A is supposed to address Medi-Cal limits, it’s “premature” says SVTA Board Member Elizabeth Brierly: why not let funding shake out in the state legislature—before making Santa Clara County take one for the team? But is this even about the hospitals? Brierly says the county's wanted a new sales tax for “quite a while.” An Opp Now exclusive Q&A.
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☆ Tax advocates warn Santa Clara County voters: Measure A sales tax will never go away
Following critiques from Rishi Kumar and Dawn Davis, HJTA VP Susan Shelley says “there’s no such thing as a temporary tax in California.” SCC GOP Chair Dave Johnson agrees, noting the rapid special election means residents “won’t even know what hit them.” An Opp Now exclusive Q&A.
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☆ Taxpayer advocates: Measure A is a regressive tax on Santa Clara County’s poorest
HJTA’s Susan Shelley questions why Santa Clara County would raise sales taxes on struggling residents. If the issue is a 4–5% Medi-Cal shortfall, SCC GOP Chair Dave Johnson asks, is that really an “emergency”? He notes supervisors had no problem doubling hospital funding in recent years—now 50% of the county budget. An Opp Now exclusive Q&A.
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☆ Should new state healthcare policy justify a rapid tax hike for Santa Clara County? (2/4)
SC Supes say the sky is falling on the county hospital system, and the only way out is yet another tax hike. But SVTA Board Member Elizabeth Brierly wonders how catastrophic this so-called funding emergency really is. She warns that Measure A is a “regressive sales tax on the working poor who don’t rely on the county, who have insurance, and who follow the rules.” An Opp Now exclusive Q&A.
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☆ If Santa Clara County public hospitals are so special, why a general sales tax? (1/4)
Measure A money can be spent on anything. But even if it does get sunk into SC County’s health system, well, why? SVTA Board Member Elizabeth Brierly asks why the county overleveraged into failing facilities when 94% of CA hospitals are private. There’s a market if the Supes wanted to trim the fat. Instead, they recently rejected an offer on O’Connor. An Opp Now exclusive Q&A.
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