Mandated solar panel installations. Regional building quotas that are neither restrained nor reasonable. Gov’t experts Mark Moses and Susan Kirsch assert that cities like SJ can improve affordability—it just might require applying some pressure at the state level. An Opp Now exclusive in an ongoing roundup.
Read More“We’ve crossed an important threshold,” says 2024 Libertarian VP nominee Mike ter Maat in an Opp Now exclusive Q&A. Even before the federal government misses its first interest payment, borrowing will become much costlier: he says cities in Silicon Valley that rely on credit should act now to avoid financial ruin in a crisis that’s as few as five years out.
Read MoreCybersecurity and voting expert Harry Haury worries that ballots are mishandled in California. He says regions like the Bay Area could be worse than Orange County, which itself has “tremendous problems” with provenance, chain of custody, oversight, and clean voter rolls. Even if it passes legitimately, Prop 50’s redistricting will suppress representation for certain voters: he calls it “political oppression.” An Opportunity Now exclusive Q&A.
Read MoreThe Citizens Redistricting Commission is transparent, independent and driven by Californians, says ten-year policy veteran Roberta Moore. She argues that redistricting under Prop 50 is not needed to save democracy and, in fact, promotes an undemocratic regime that thwarts the will of the people. An Opportunity Now exclusive commentary.
Read MoreThere’s nothing more partisan than a disputed election, however, voting and cybersecurity consultant Harry Haury says that as US citizens, “we all ought to be paying attention to whether our government is working like it’s supposed to, lawfully.” We caught up with him during his recent visit to the Bay Area for an Opportunity Now exclusive Q&A.
Read MoreSC County residents have already begun voting on a 5/8-cent sales tax increase, which they’re told will be “temporary” and will “save the hospitals.” But are either of these incantations believable? SVBA’s Pat Waite flips through county’s greatest hits: so-called “temporary” taxes that never went away—and underdelivered on what they promised. An Opportunity Now exclusive Q&A.
Read MoreCupertino Mayor Liangfang Chao and the City Council called out Santa Clara County’s “suspicious special-election timing,” says Purissima Hills Water District Director Brian Holtz. By voting to oppose the sales tax hike, Cupertino demonstrated “true leadership” says County Assessor candidate Rishi Kumar. Silicon Valley Business Alliance Treasurer Pat Waite commends the “principled stance against Measure A.” An Opportunity Now exclusive commentary.
Read MoreThe county Measure A campaign reveals deeply unethical impulses informing our local political ecosystem. Citizens need to demand better, or risk becoming enablers. Our Weekend Reading unpacks the issues in this Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreThe County of Santa Clara bought two hospitals and has created a budget issue by overspending, says Saratoga Vice Mayor Chuck Page. To make up for their indiscretions, the county is again turning to the taxpayer for a bailout: problem is, he says, the regressive Measure A sales tax will only hurt the people it’s supposed to help. And Opportunity Now exclusive commentary.
Read MoreIt “seems odd,” says SVTA Board Member Elizabeth Brierly, that the DA would predict cuts to law enforcement if Measure A doesn’t pass. The feds already increased public safety spending, but now Santa Clara County supes want residents to pay even more? In this Opportunity Now exclusive rebuttal to comments in the Merc, Brierly says the massive county tax precludes cities from raising their own sales tax rates. Is San Jose’s leadership confident there won’t be a deficit in the next five years?
Read MoreEven if there were oversight for Measure A, it should be set up before election day, not after, says SVTA’s Elizabeth Brierly. But such a committee would likely be packed with insiders, she says, and provide no real accountability. In Part 2 of this Opportunity Now exclusive rebuttal to Silicon Vallely Leadership Group's (SVLG) endorsement, Brierly calls out the false choice about trauma care: there’s no reason a private hospital wouldn’t do just as good a job.
Read More“Cities should stay in their lane,” says Santa Clara CM Karen Hardy, who is “horribly uncomfortable” with the city’s 4-1 decision to put a resolution on the agenda to endorse Measure A. Voters should make up their own minds, she says, while pointing out the threat of federal spending cuts is speculative. She adds that SC County made a dubious decision to buy up more hospitals: now the regressive sales tax could hurt those it claims to help. An Opportunity Now exclusive commentary.
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