Labor/left media and advocates continue to struggle to find reasons to explain Chavez' close loss to Mahan in the mayoral race. Only problem: their preferred narrative (low voter turnout in ESJ) isn't backed up by the district by district data. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreAfter viewing the district by district data from the mayoral election (see nearby), it's impossible to pass over (though, of course, Labor-leaning local newsrooms did) this simple fact: Labor wants to suppress special, replacement council elections in two Districts (8 and 10) that they lost to Mahan in the mayoral election. All their talk of cost and voter turnout sure looks like a smokescreen to cover the fact that Labor fears a second thumping in both districts. The Merc editorial page chimes in with the facts the newsrooms ignored.
Read MoreIn its November 21 email newsletter, the South Bay Progressive Alliance (SBPA) condemned the racist comments of Kevin de Leon and the LA4, which were reported widely upon in October. The SBPA called for resignations of those involved. SBPA newsletter comments, below.
Read MoreA disappointing election for the local progressives, as Chavez loses a close one and Bien Doan prevails in D7. Labor/left is spinning all sorts of excuses, but are there any real structural conclusions to be drawn, or is it all just the efficacy of ground games? Planning Commissioner Pierluigi Oliverio discusses with Opp Now co-founder Christopher Escher. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreAlexander Kent ran for San Carlos City Council (7.2% of votes) to “offer an independent / devil’s advocate voice” free of purchased loyalties and mindless one-sided dogma. Post-election, Kent shares what he’s learned about how individuals defend a culture of responsibility at the local level. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreHousing quotas (elements) set by the government, unsurprisingly, do not meet the housing needs of the consumer market. Scott Beyer of Market Urbanism Report takes a look at San Jose's Housing Element, and finds a case study in how incompetent gov't bureaucracy and over-regulation contribute mightily to our housing crisis. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreWith Matt Mahan (D10) and Sylvia Arenas (D8) moving on to new elected positions, the question of how to choose new councilmembers for those districts becomes urgent. Special election or appointment? Local leaders opt for special election. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreAlternative learning is on the rise in and beyond California: independent study programs, small group “pods,” and homeschooling. Vince Bielski reports on RealClearInvestigations that as states lift (or, in some cases, fail to establish) stringent regulations regarding homeschooling, parents flock to this method to know what their children are learning.
Read MoreSCC Libertarian Party Campaigns Committee chair Brian Holtz explains the unique legislative frameworks he admires in Houston, Las Vegas, and New Hampshire — and why excessive restrictions and taxation are antithetical to a free California. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreAs prominent business orgs continue fleeing California for the Promised Lands of Texas/Florida, local voters continue signing off on policies that further constrict local businesses. Evan Symon of the California Globe breaks down the Hoover Institution’s latest study on HQ relocations, which disproportionately hurt the Bay Area’s economy.
Read MoreWhile waiting for the vote counters to finish up, we asked Opp Now community members for their comments on the campaigns (not the candidates), winners, losers, and big takeaways. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreUrban planner Nolan Gray shares three reasons why “burdensome” zoning laws exacerbate local housing (un)affordability epidemics. Meanwhile, San Jose has yet to drop its failing zoning ordinance. This interview originally appeared on Island Press’s YouTube channel.
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