Local non profit (NPO) mismanagement of housing fails tenants and neighbors alike

Independent Leadership Group and United Housing alliance chief Irene Smith continues her call for a local Non Profit Registry by highlighting how local NPO mismanagement of affordable and Permanent Supportive Housing negatively impacts both tenants and neighborhoods with increased crime, fires, and blight. From Medium.

Read More
And another: a further non profit scandal surfaces in S.F.

SF Standard updates an ongoing story about a parade of nonprofits that have been swept up in investigations by the city, including J&J Community Resource Center, which was barred from funding in February after allegedly swindling at least $100,000 in reimbursements for things like booze, cigars and motorcycles. The newest NPO under the microscope: Providence Foundation.

Read More
Jax OliverComment
SJ Housing Commissioner Moore: City manager, mayor have created a "more balanced plan" for housing and homelessness

Roberta Moore of SJ's Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC), takes issue with the hyperbolic comments from the subsidized, affordable housing lobby and calls for greater accountability and cost-effectiveness in SJ's housing policy.  From a letter Moore wrote to members of the SJ City Council.

Read More
Jax OliverComment
Critics say Alex Lee's "Social Housing" proposal is really just recycling disgraced "Public Housing" failures from decades ago

Politicians and activists have long tried to dress old, failed, sometimes contentious and often intrusive ideas in new clothing.  Kerry Jackson of the Pacific Research Institute says we’re seeing it anew here in Santa Clara Valley, where Democratic Assemblyman Alex Lee of Milpitas has introduced a bill with the title, “The Social Housing Act.” Jackson says he wouldn’t dare call it “The Public Housing Act.” Too much baggage associated with that terminology.  Her analysis follows.

Read More
Jax OliverComment
Even SF discovers that business-phobic policies hurt everyone

The urgent need to reform San Francisco’s perverse business tax formula is getting support from across the City's political spectrum. SF Standard reports.

Read More
Jax OliverComment
Overdose deaths an epidemic in LA homeless community

Shocking data reveals that 898 homeless people died last year on streets, in shelters, on freeways and elsewhere in Los Angeles County.  LA Times reports

Read More
Jax OliverComment
Case study Texas: How some states manage to rein in out-of-control transportation boondoggles

Austin’s liberal establishment--just like Santa Clara County's--has been trying to trick taxpayers into pouring billions into their light rail boondoggle for decades, finally winning an apparent victory when voters approved a scheme in 2020. But it turns out that the terms of the ballot language may have doomed the project. BattleSwarm Blog reports.

Read More
Jax OliverComment
Opinion: Given Housing First dogma, don't expect Prop 1 to change anything

While City staff continues to ignore the scathing critique of SJ's homelessness programs, the WSJ opines that without a change in strategy, the Housing First failure will just continue despite new programs with an even higher price tag.

Read More
Jax OliverComment
☆ D2 Candidate Lopez on board for more quick-build, temporary shelters to address homelessness

We asked District 2 Council finalists for their perspectives on the upcoming Council debate regarding if, and how, Council should reallocate Measure E Housing funds. Joe Lopez' answer below.  An Opp Now exclusive.

Read More
Jax Oliver
Local leaders call for SJ City to close loopholes that exempt nonprofits from lobbyist rules and restrictions

Families & Homes thinks non profits skirt City sunshine , lobbying, and conflict of interest policies--and it's time to tighten up ethics and transparency guidelines.

Read More
Jax OliverComment
☆ SJ D8 CM candidates join the Measure E reallocation conversation

We asked District 8 Council finalists for their perspectives on the upcoming Council debate regarding if, and how, Council should reallocate Measure E Housing funds. Domingo Candelas' and Tam Truong's comments, below.  An Opp Now exclusive.

Read More
Regional Builders and Construction group says Sen Wahab's Project Labor Agreement (PLA) bill is discriminatory and costly

Associated Builders and Construction (ABC) Norcal finds Wahab's PLA mandate for state construction projects to be a harmful bill that would increase construction costs and discriminate against nonunion construction workers in California. ABC formal comment below.

Read More
Jax OliverComment