On June 2nd, voters may choose to raise taxes on hotels in San Jose. But that could actually drive business, and jobs, out of town. So says Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association's spokesperson Susan Shelley: unintentionally, it might even bring down tax revenue. An Opportunity Now exclusive comment.
Read MoreCA AB30's Vehicle Travel Traveleted (VMT) fee will make housing in CA more expensive and hit low income residents the hardest. Reihan Salam reviews Jennifer Hernandez' City Journal article on the perverse effects of pro-infill strategies.
Read MoreLocal historian April Halberstadt provides a gripping first-hand report of her home being burglarized in November of last year. First in a series from Halberstadt describing her experience. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreIf you want higher income, it’s more important to study math in high school than to graduate high school. That’s from two separate studies, and it’s reason enough to keep standards high, says Gus Mattammal. In his book A is for Average, the candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction argues against dumbing down math education in the name of “equity” because in doing so, Black students lose out on earnings potential.
Read MoreAs another hopeless regional transit tax rumbles towards Bay Area residents this fall (SB63, advanced by Mayor Mahan and the San Jose City Council) the inestimable Randal O'Toole explains why throwing good money after bad mass transit ideas is always a mistake, and VTA is Exhibit A, in this Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreCivil rights advocate Tony Guan joins a chorus of voices calling out the new ACA 7, an amendment to legalize discrimination in California. Currently snaking through the statehouse, the bill could end up on the ballot in November. Will voters let skin color decide who gets “student grants, specialized programs, and even classroom resources”? The College Fix reports.
Read MoreIn 1996, California voters passed Prop 209 to ban racial preferences in public education and in 2020 they reaffirmed it, write Wenyuan Wu and Eli Steele in the OC Register. Through the machinations of committed ideologues in Sacramento, a new constitutional amendment, ACA 7, could dismantle this state’s hard-won civil liberties.
Read MoreA constitutional amendment making its way to the CA Senate would turn back the clock, “handing out benefits based on skin color,” says California Family Council VP Greg Burt. Assemblymember Carl DeMaio called the vote “disrespectful” to Californians who have said twice before they “do not want discrimination.”
Read MoreAfter Santa Clara County (with support from Mayor Mahan and other faux fiscal moderates like CM’s Mulcahy and Dean) muscled through Measure A last year, other counties are looking to replay SCC’s template to unnecessarily raise taxes. Jon Coupal explores in Orange County Register.
Read MoreCity workers are busy scrubbing Cesar Chavez' name from statues, murals, and websites. Yet amid all the verbose, narcissistic signalling from local leaders, the key question remains unaddressed: why is our government even in the business of telling us who we should (or should not) honor? Cato Institute explorers.
Read MoreOpp Now contributor Cristabel Cruz says people should ignore requests to vote for the lesser of two evils, and should vote their consciences instead. What a refreshing concept. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreSabine McGinley from the U.K. says electoral systems should be designed to help voters express their authentic preferences, not something they have to scheme around. From the Electoral Reform Society.
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