Public schools’ ubiquitous “not enough money” refrains were quenched temporarily by post-COVID federal aid packages, totaling $26.4+ billion for the Golden State. However, only 1% of Californian school districts’ spending was monitored to confirm the cash was being invested in students (as opposed to plumping up administrators’ salaries). The California Policy Center’s Parent Union Ambassador Celeste Fiehler makes the case for transparent, accountable budgetary oversight for public schools receiving federal aid.

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California’s lack of bond, also known as zero dollar bail policies, has been widely criticized by local safety advocates and SJ’s own police sergeant. Analyzing a Los Angeles smash-and-grab case from last December, it becomes clear why. Rob Hayes reports how 14 (13 of them adult) criminal suspects were released after a day in jail. The crime? Roughly $338,000 in stolen property; $40,000 in damages to the stores.

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Advocates that favor the Housing First approach to the homelessness epidemic, arguing for its efficacy, fail to dig into the data of its sometimes fatal consequences. On his Substack blog, Michael Shellenberger points to the evidence in an LA versus NYC comparison, asserting that Housing First results in three times more homeless deaths than with Shelter First.

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Columnist Joe Mathews takes to Post US Zero to argue that highly-disputed CA’n abortion amendment SCA 10/Prop 1’s vague wording could actually create altered—even less comprehensive—abortion protections, by inviting dissension and potential reinterpretation in the courts. Golden State advocates, journalists, and attorneys are still debating how this bill informs late-term abortion legislation.

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Local nonprofit spokespeople recently took to the op-ed pages of local media to buttress SJ's widely criticized Housing First and Permanent Supportive Housing strategies. Their rickety defense neglects crucial details on how barrier-free permanent housing is ineffective, costly, and wrongly targeted. Various expert sources below analyze PSH’s inadequacies to assist local communities.

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San Jose’s General Plan is the urbanist’s Field of Dreams. They’ve told themselves, “If we plan it, they will come.” But will they? Long-time SJ community volunteer and local history enthusiast Tobin Gilman explores the assumptions underpinning this key planning question in an Opp Now exclusive. Gilman, actively engaged in city planning and zoning policy, recently relocated to Virginia but maintains deep roots in his hometown.

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Gov. Newsom’s pushing “green energy” electric cars, but these vehicles aren’t as innocuous as they appear. Consultant Timothy L. Coyle explains electric vehicles’ dangers to the environment. For instance, over 50% of parts are made from plastic. Furthermore, most nickel, lithium, and manganese—key elements of electric car batteries—are sourced from countries that exploit child/adult laborers. How “green” and ethical are electric vehicles? Coyle asks.

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Over half a million residents and myriad organizations have fled California in the last few years. While commonly brushed off as a post-pandemic problem, Brandon Ristoff from California Policy Center purports that “The Exodus” began plaguing our state long before COVID-19 did—due to residents’ cited insurmountable taxes and housing expenses.

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Free public transit is a relatively easy political platform to promote. Throwing in buzzwords like racial/socioeconomic equity and climate justice (though dubiously connected to free transportation), local legislators can often gain quick approval—and a pat on the back—in many communities. This year, touting CA’s supposed surplus, Gov. Newsom considered dedicating $750 million to sustain three months of free public transit statewide. However, transit experts and studies on existing programs are dubious about the realistic consequences of taxpayer-funded free rides. Various sources below.

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Barring potential legal battles against Newsom’s executive order, Californians will only be permitted to purchase electric vehicles starting in 2035. Energy consultant Ronald Stein highlights demographics of the typical electric car owner: extensive education, impressive income, and owner of multiple vehicles. If most current electric car owners rely on charging stations in their garage and use their other vehicles during bad weather spells, how will ordinary (and low-income) CA’n residents manage?

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Pat Waite, president of Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility, agrees with Mayor Liccardo that our pension crisis has abated, but continues to blow the klaxon about the dangers of the City straying beyond its core responsibilities.

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Critical Race Theory states that America’s very foundation is discriminatory oppression; and to rectify past injustices, a broad systemic affirmative action regime should intrude into almost every facet of gov’t activity. Local school advocates have been pushing back on this extremist movement. Consultant Timothy L. Coyle deconstructs CRT, the “anti-racist” worldview made vogue by the 1619 Project/Black Lives Matter.

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