Neighborhood residents have uncovered and harshly criticized the divisive and dangerous nature of a racially-based redistricting plan for San Jose that has been concocted by a collection of militant partisans--some of whom don't even live in SJ. The scheme (with the charming Orwellian name of "Unity Plan") breaks up established communities of interest in the pursuit of heavy-handed, race-based gerrymandering. A collection of resident emails to the city follows.
Read MoreCounty Supervisors, on the heels of their roundly-ridiculed Bonuspalooza giveaway, are considering a redistricting plan (euphemistically entitled "Unity Plan") that would dissect and mangle south county neighborhoods and communities of interest, in clear violation of redistricting law and guidelines. The Silicon Valley Business PAC voices its disapproval in a letter to the County Supes.
Read MoreSan Jose's Rules Committee on October 25 was the scene of foot-stomping outbursts from local progressives as they tried, unsuccessfully, to push back on the city's efforts to get the commission to perform the duties assigned to it in a timely manner. The Commission was supposed to explore mayoral powers and election cycle, but predictably the hard-left activists who have hijacked the commission have greatly expanded the scope of work to include (you guessed it) climate change, police reform, housing and a host of other progressive bugaboos. The meeting ended with activists thwarted as the City reiterated its insistence that the core work on the Commission be done on time in December of this year. Notes from the meeting below.
Read MoreSanta Clara County Supervisors did more than embarrass themselves locally with their recent extravagant bonus program for county workers who make more than $200k/year, they humiliated themselves on the state level, too. California Policy Center, the leading state think tank on California politics, places the Supes' misguided giveaway in context, and provides some acute, critical analysis. Chris Reed of CPC is the author.
Read MoreThe purpose of San Jose's Charter Review Commission was to look at the schedule of the mayoral election cycle and the scope of mayoral powers. Not surprisingly, the mostly hard-left members of the Commission have tried to greatly expand the sweep of the body to include charter revisions that would address the usual progressive "equity" wish list: police reform, climate change, housing, upzoning, etc. Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and Coucilmember Sergio Jimenenz recently wrote a memo to the Commission (appended below) attempting to get the Commission back on track and on brief. We will see if the horse has already left the barn; the Commission will discuss this memo at its next meeting.
Read MoreThe City of Los Angeles has had to consider laying off police officers because of a budget shortfall. But L.A. could save nearly $400 million per year by eliminating a rich subsidy for retired city employees that was rendered redundant by subsidies provided by the federally-funded Affordable Care Act in 2010 and state-funded Middle Class Subsidies in 2019. David Crane of Govern California, in a letter to state legislators, explains the problem.
Read MoreEver wonder where all the money goes that's spent on DEI staff in colleges? Edward Ring of the California Policy Center investigates who's getting the $400k+ salaries and and the mess they're creating.
Read MoreWilliam Allen, retired accountant, writes in San Jose Spotlight about how the Supes' argument for the untargetted, harshly criticized $76m bonus program doesn't make any business sense.
Read MoreSanta Clara County is in the process of potential redistricting based on the latest census. One proposal, outlined in the Orwellian-named “Updated Unity Map" would dissect the current Santa Clara County District 1 so that Almaden Valley and Los Gatos will no longer be included and will be replaced by other areas of San Jose (Evergreen, Communication Hill, and Cambrian). Peter Verbica of CCR writes to the redistricting commission and county supervisors to call deep problems with the proposal.
Read MorePoliticians, business, and community groups increasingly are expressing shock and disbelief that the county Supervisors redirected federal COVID relief funds as a bonus to their remote-working county employees, some of whom already make more than $200k per year. The Silicon Valley Taxpayers' Association (SVTA) is the latest group to voice opposition. Pete Constant, former SJ Councilmember, vice president of the SVTA, and Public Policy professor at William Jessup University provides the group's perspective below.
Read MoreIn a recent SJ Merc op-ed, councilmember and mayoral hopeful Matt Mahan harshly criticized Supervisors' recent vote to redirect federal COVID funds to provide $2500 bonuses to every county employee (Supervisor Cindy Chavez, another mayoral hopeful, voted for the bonus package). Councilmember Dev Davis (also running for mayor) and Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility chief Pat Waite provide additional perspective.
Read MoreFurious accusations of "gerrymandering" met the Redistricting Commission's recent plans to redraw council district areas in San Jose, as those plans would effectively destroy the decades-old ties of long-established neighborhoods and communities in San Jose. Naglee Park, Japantown and Vendome (three of the historic neighborhoods in line to be cut into pieces) residents showed up at the October 14 meeting to express their disbelief and opposition to the plans.
