In 1978, Prop 13 (helping clamp down on unpopular property tax increases) passed in California by a 2:1 margin. Given what happened with Prop 5 last Nov, we're not surprised. But—unlike today—back in '78, most institutions, business groups, and even the press were united with voters' wishes. SoCA Public Radio rewinds, here.
Read MoreNew SJ CMs Casey & Mulcahy campaigned on promises of tax restraint and accountable gov't spending, but their actions so far suggest they're as tax-and-spend as their pals on the Labor bloc. Northwestern Law Review reminds us of how growth and equity derive from historically-validated sound tax strategies.
Read MoreSan Jose gov't should follow Los Angeles' lead in homelessness portal management, says Independent Leadership Group’s Irene Smith, and start sharing success/failure metrics for publicized, time-bound goals. Below, Smith explains how LA Alliance suing LA gov't brought about these data analysis changes (plus: how SJ might adopt a similar dashboard). From Medium.
Read MoreThe threatened walkout of local transit workers causes little concern because so few people ride transit in the Valley. Randall O'Toole explores, in this highlight from a beloved Opp Now exclusive, why VTA is one of the worst-performing agencies in the U.S.
Read More“Not raising taxes will kill our schools.” “We'll solve homelessness by building more housing.” Below, the Center for Inquiry's Benjamin Radford (also a folklore journalist) breaks down why these slanted local narratives seem so appealing—and how to avoid media's death trap, via critical analysis. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreSJ Mayor Mahan's framing his March '25 budget message around government accountability—and he's likely to find a lot of popular support. New data suggests that citizens from across the political spectrum think gov't is rigged. Newsweek reports.
Read MoreBenjamin Radford—esteemed writer and research fellow in skeptical inquiry—also has a degree in psychology. Below, he analyzes mental shortcuts that, we think, might explain why SJ Council voted “yes” on unpopular Prop 5: tribalism, the representativeness fallacy, and more. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreYou can’t make this up: on 2.25, a planned debate between a Berkeley prof and Harvard’s president—in a class called “Democracy and Disagreement,” no less—was derailed by jeering protestors. In response, First Amendment expert Daniel Ortner calls for a thorough independent investigation of Stanford admin. From Substack.
Read MoreFans of microunits (as small as 140 sq ft apartments) claim that housing affordability could be substantially improved if cities let smaller units be built. LA's Central City Association examines the barriers and the advantages.
Read MoreProp 5 lost handily statewide and countywide, but the tax-happy SJ Council continues to lobby (unanimous vote on 1.14) to make it easier to raise taxes. Local business groups, including Silicon Valley Business Alliance, Santa Clara County Realtors Ass'n, and Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility, among others, voiced their displeasure in an email to Mayor Mahan and Councilmembers, below.
Read MoreThey say daylight is the greatest disinfectant. Tax expert Jon Coupal suggests that DOGE's tallying of the economic illiteracy of CA's High-Speed Rail boondoggle will sunset the misbegotten project.
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