Why don't we ever hear local housing advocates use property rights arguments in their briefs? Could it be that their call for affordability is really an effort to increase the number of gov't-subsidized renters at the expense of private property owners? Peter Verbica of CCR explores the possibility.
Read MoreAt a recent San Jose Rules Committee meeting, CM's Peralez, Arenas, and Jones shut down discussion of CM Dev Davis' motion to oppose SB9--a pending state bill that would delegate SJ's zoning authority to the State government. Torrance Mayor Pro Tem and Founder of California Cities for Local Control (CCLC), Mike Griffiths, explains how the State Constitution gives authority to local governments, not the State, when it comes to zoning, and why fearful politicians try to pass the buck to the State government to avoid democratic accountability. An Opportunity Now exclusive interview.
Read MoreA growing network of parents and educators is appalled at the extreme and inaccurate racial demagoguery contained in county schools' Critical Ethnic Studies classes, textbooks, and teacher training. In a letter to county educators, the group Alliances for Constructive Ethnic Studies explains the extremist ideology on display in the courses.
Read MoreAt a recent San Jose City Council meeting, CM Esparza bemoaned how local political dialogue is peppered with offensive, race-based accusations. Esparza was not directing her comments at CM Arenas, who has been criticized for precisely those sorts of comments.
Read MoreThe San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area experienced substantial rent declines in all categories during the pandemic (March 2020 to June 2021), according to real estate services firm RealPage, Inc., and reported by the SJ Merc. Class A (luxury) units median costs dropped 12%, Class B dropped 12.2% and Class C dropped 10%.
Read MorePerhaps this is why CM's Peralez, Arenas, and Jones didn't want the SJ City Council to discuss SB9 (a state bill that eliminates local control over land use planning): it runs counter to the clear language in the state Constitution. The City Attorneys in San Luis Obispo explain.
Read MoreLocal community leaders are in an uproar about county efforts to indoctrinate teachers and students in a militant, race-based ideology called Critical Ethnic Studies. The County had attempted to shut down community input on the extemist program, prompting widespread opposition. A letter from 600 concerned parents regarding the hijacking of our schools is appended below.
Read MoreSan Jose CM's Peralez, Arenas, and Jones suppressed efforts by CM Dev Davis to bring the question of local gov't control over land use planning to the City Council. Davis was responding to a power grab by Sacramento to have the state take over control of zoning decisions in the city (SB9) The L.A. City. Council was not so timid, and voted to oppose SB9, reports Spectrum News 1.
Read MoreWhile vast numbers of current elected officials across California (more than 500 of them) and cities up and down the state (more than 70 of them) have voted to protect local government authority over zoning, CM Dev Davis' efforts to get the SJ Council to debate and vote on the issue was stymied by CM's Peralez, Arenas, and Jones in the Rules Committee. Below are a list of electeds and cities who don't suppress citizens' voices on this fundamental governance issue, as reported by California Cities for Local Control.
Read MoreIn a surprising abandonment of civic responsibility, the Rules Committee of San Jose on August 11 refused to contest the State of California’s usurpation of local control over zoning policy across all California cities.
Read MoreCalifornia Senate Bill 9, which CM Raul Peralez supports (see nearby), would strip San Jose City Government of any direct authority over residential zoning decisions, ceding that power instead to Sacramento. Peralez embraced this newfangled position by noting that State Senator Dave Cortese represents some areas of San Jose, and he is in favor of SB 9. As a result, according to Peralez’ logic, this means San Jose residents remain adequately represented on zoning issues.
Read MoreLocal media and progressive housing advocates mistakenly magnified a recent inaccurate report by the Othering and Belonging Institute in Berkeley which suggested--contrary to everyone's lived experience--that cities like San Jose are more segregated today than they were 30 years ago. And that (surprise!) government interventions are necessary to correct this fabricated example of "systemic racism." Judge Glock of the Cicero Institute reveals the sad spin, the sloppy scholarship, and the bald-faced bias in the report, and points out that, in fact, the study's numbers show America is becoming more integrated. First published in the Wall Street Journal.
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