In this exclusive installment of a special Opp Now Election '24 series, our contributors aren't dancing around the issues: they unpack, below, some key City/County election results—including how “low information voters” impact which candidates are, or aren't, given a whirl in office. From Tobin Gilman (SJ community leader), Gus Mattammal (Midcoast Community councilmember), Mark Burns (local real estate agent), and Pierluigi Oliverio (SJ planning commissioner).
Welp, it happened: 69.8% of Bay Areans (and 68.9% CA-wide) voted “yes” to reinstating felony charges for certain property crimes and establishing “treatment-mandated felonies” for some repeat offenders. But why was Prop 36 so overwhelmingly supported? In this exclusive, we trace back Opp Now's Prop 47 & Prop 36 coverage, beginning in January 2022 and up 'til Election Day.
Even though County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg (in a bizarre rant) opposed Prop 36, it passed with over 70% approval on Election Day. (Prop 36 called for increased punishments for many drug and theft crimes and created a new treatment-focused court process for some drug possession crimes.) SJ Mayor Matt Mahan proved more in touch with local voters, and was an enthusiastic proponent of Prop 36. CA Globe reports.
Gov. Newsom campaigned fervently against Prop 36, but it passed—with 68.9% voting “yes” (69.8% in SCC). SJ Council endorsed Prop 5 (8–2), but most County/State voters (respectively, 54.3% and 55.5%) couldn't stomach it and voted “no.” In this Opp Now exclusive, SJ community leader Tobin Gilman and HJTA's Susan Shelley analyze this startling disconnect—between local politicians and the people they are supposed to represent.
Proposition 5 (lowering CA's voter approval req't for infrastructure bonds) was wholeheartedly rejected by State and County voters this cycle. Below, SV Taxpayers Ass'n board member John Inks explains why. For this Opp Now exclusive installment, we also talked to transit expert Tom Rubin and real estate agent Mark Burns, who share some wins (and annoyances) from Election '24.
D10 Leadership Coalition's Rich Crowley says we've seen it all before: in 2022, SJ City councilmembers deprived San Joseans (D8, 10) of their rights to select their representative. The same actors are at it again, Crowley says, attempting to ram through an appointment process instead of elections to fill the vacant D3 seat. From an email sent to residents.
Continuing our exclusive Opp Now post-election series, we hear today from Brian Holtz, SCC Libertarian Party secretary and Purissima Hills Water District director. Below, Holtz argues that SF's Ranked-Choice Voting system (in place since 2004) allows voters to elect more reasonable, broadly-supported candidates—not just pick the prettier of two evils.
More in Silicon Valley than perhaps anywhere else, we wrestle with what being “human” means amidst technological advancements, AI debates, and a fast-moving culture. Below, Opp Now gathered exclusive perspectives from art faculty on this fundamental conflict of “authentic” vs. “technical”—and overcoming it, with our hands, our eyes, and our fellowship with others across space and time.
The rejection of Prop 5 this November is a victory for democracy, communities, and the rights of property owners. So says 2024 Libertarian VP candidate Mike ter Maat, who argues that you don’t even have to be that fiscally conservative to shy from excessive borrowing. In this Opp Now exclusive Q&A, the Virginian economist also questions why a proposition to amend the CA Constitution could have been allowed to pass with only a bare majority.