Former Board of Equalization candidate Peter Verbica surveys the ongoing collapse of much of California, and sees a cascading collection of six bad strategies that have contributed mightily to the Golden State's troubles. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreThe OC Register's Steven Greenhut dispels the refrain that public transit is struggling in the short term due to the pandemic, and needs bailouts to get back on its feet. On the contrary: Local transit's “antiquated” refusal to offer safe, high-quality, fiscally prudent services has seen a drop off in ridership levels for years. Meanwhile, San Joseans gear up for BART add-ons that are unlikely to be used, except to burn (more) holes in their pockets.
Read MoreAcross the US, drug overdose deaths are ratcheting up by 7%/year on average. And the story's more grim if you zoom in on Santa Clara County. Despite Susan Ellenberg's never-evening press conference schedule, the programs are failing: An all-time high of 373 overdose fatalities occurred last year, which includes a recent doubling (167) of opioid-specific deaths. The SF Standard surveys the latest research—and who's disproportionately impacted—here.
Read MoreA recent study out of Northwestern University found that SF's rent control policies have managed to release a wave of, yes, more frequent evictions. Progressives are gawking and puzzling through the irony, but Jennifer Liu—Business and Housing Network's (BAHN) president—isn't all that shocked. Liu's Opp Now exclusive perspective below on why CA's restrictive housing laws harm landlords and tenants alike.
Read MoreDespite spending over $1 bil/yr on homelessness, SF has a higher share of unhoused residents (0.54%) than the nation's largest cities besides LA (with SJ close behind at 0.5%). Yet local nonprofit orgs continue to rake in the cash, many stealthily evading laws without improving outcomes. Recently, SF's civil grand jury encouraged the Homelessness Dept to better monitor nonprofit contracts, and city leaders report they're working to improve performance metrics (it's. about. time). From the SF Standard.
Read MoreSheridan Swanson, Research Manager of the California Policy Center, analyzes the big trends informing SJ's recent labor impasse—why cities are perpetually squeezed by unions, and why strikes are so temporary. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreSanta Clara County citizens definitively oppose affirmative action in college admissions. But almost all local politicians oppose the Will of the People on this issue—except for Greg Tanaka, City of Palo Alto councilmember. He explains in this exclusive Opp Now interview about SCOTUS' Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard decision.
Read MoreReason's Christian Britschgi analyzes a recent study out of Northwestern University, which found that the City's rent control laws have actually destabilized renters' situations. SF tenants are more frequently displaced by landlords now, as vacancy decontrol allows landlords to align new tenants' rents with market rates. Below, another case study where Woke housing policy fails to empower housing providers and renters alike.
Read MoreEllenberg and Cortese's basic income pilot program for unhoused high school students will launch next summer. Many advocates against homelessness are cheering, but Third Way's Rachel Minogue says to hold our horses—and actually look at the numbers. Considering the wads of cash needed to sustain these programs to make an impact (SCC's shelling out $3 mil), other important targeted county interventions are cut.
Read MoreFor the LA Times, UC Davis land use law professor Chris Elmendorf analyzes Newsom's all-bark-and-no-bite approach to reforming California's Environmental Quality Act. Rather than begging judges to move faster, Newsom should look to Washington (which no longer does environmental review for urban housing projects) and Oregon (which uses urban growth boundaries in lieu of onerous approval processes). Big surprise: These states' housing projects aren't as “paralyzed” by NIMBYism and constrained supply.
Read MoreOpp Now exclusively spoke with seven urban policy profs, analysts, and housing providers to get to the bottom of proposed constitutional amendment ACA 10: which guarantees residents an equitably distributed “right to housing.” While some think ACA 10 is a step forward in combating neighborhood NIMBYism, others question if the amendment—vague, impractical, and tipped in local courts' hands—would truly benefit the Bay Area's housing market. Their perspectives (and alternative plans of action) below.
Read MoreFew deny that local leaders are failing our community when it comes to dealing with homelessness. However, as CA'n judges clarify in a recent dissent, a cogent—yet overlooked—consequence of progressive homelessness laws is increasingly unsafe streets. By fighting for unrestricted shelter rights on sidewalks and near schools, the Left endangers public welfare, as many unhoused individuals face substance abuse challenges. From the LA Times.
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