Economists have always known that hyper-regulation and an unrealistic reliance on taxpayer-subsidized affordable housing to solve CA's housing woes was a non-starter. And now, even high-end liberal opinionmakers are realizing the folly of the progressive housing playbook. Dan Walters at CalMatters parses how the influential liberal publication The Atlantic's recent takedown of progressive housing strategies is making waves.
Read MoreAfter nearly a half-century and a billion dollars in taxpayer-funded redevelopment, downtown San Jose remains California's most moribund big-city downtown. And then: the pandemic. Is it time to finally give up on aspirations for a vibrant city center and try something else? Even S.F. has been hollowed out by COVID and progressive mismanagement. NY Times reports on what's next for America's downtowns.
Read MoreEx-pat contributor Philip Davenport writes: "I was researching a lecture for my high school seniors on political dissent, and as I leafed through my battered copy of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, I realized that your lefty colleagues in Silicon Valley are still following the Saul's playbook pretty closely. I offer up an updated version for your holiday reading pleasure, inspired by your Trump Tactics piece from October as well as comments at the special elections kerfuffle. Happy Holidays..—PD" An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MorePoliticians are finally starting to wonder: Where does all the money spent on homelessness go? And are demanding an audit of the city and county's spending. But don’t expect that audit to unearth certain core truths about incentives and behavior. Market Urbanist's Scott Beyer explores the waste and misguided strategies from the Housing Dept's flawed Housing First strategy, and offers some useful direction as to how to conduct a meaningful audit in this Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreFremont Union board member-elect Stanley Kou discusses his takeaways as a first-time campaigner and immigrant. Kou then lays out his priorities for the upcoming term — such as tackling enrollment rates, transportation, and mental health education in this highly competitive district. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreSilicon Valley Taxpayers Association president Mark Hinkle examines zoning laws, construction codes, and permit fees as three key hindrances to a thriving San Jose housing market. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreT. Logan Dayne (from the San Diego News Desk) reports that months after Gov. Newsom’s promise to aid Middle Class families through a tax refund, myriad families across the Golden State have yet to receive their checks. Was Newsom’s ambitious program paltry political theater — and if not, what’s halting the process at a critical financial time for many residents?
Read MoreThe liberalization perspective on hard drugs appears to be fading away, in favor of the hard enforcement approach — particularly on fentanyl dealers (who sell the opioid responsible for 1 in 5 young adult CA’n deaths) distributing fatal doses to clients. CalMatters’ Emily Hoeven summarizes the state’s mounting fentanyl overdose crisis, and lawmakers’ efforts (from both sides of the aisle) to clamp down on crime.
Read MoreIn Front Page Magazine, educational commentator Larry Sand analyzes local teachers unions’ pressure to keep public schools closed during and post-pandemic, and how recent data highlights the academic achievement consequences students face today as a result.
Read MoreEnergy literacy expert Ronald Stein unpacks the dangers of a complete local switch to renewable power (as pushed by Gov. Newsom). If over 6,000 essential products require crude oil — and there’s no “green” plan to replace their production — shortages and inflation will inevitably follow a fossil fuel ban, says Stein.
Read MoreSince reposting what’s been labeled an insensitive meme on his LinkedIn page this Sept., Chabot-Las Positas Community College District Trustee Luis Reynoso has faced threats of removal from the board. During the Oct. board meeting, then-board candidate for Hayward USD Tom Wong unpacked and applied First Amendment rights to contentious local situations like Chabot’s. Wong’s comments excerpted below.
Read MoreThe recent City Hall brouhaha over special elections v appointments for open council seats put a spotlight, for many, on the City's flawed system of citizen feedback. Why come out and speak at Council meetings if you're not heard, and if the end result is that you don't even get to vote? Former D3 CM candidate Irene Smith (Q&A nearby) advocates for a more up-to-date, professional Office of Public Listening. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read More
