☆ 2024 takeaway #4: This year, local gov't showed that it can learn from mistakes
The iconic Goodman Trio (Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa, and Benny Goodman) pioneered the “chamber jazz” style, which blends structure and improvisation in group performances.
Local democracy can be a messy business: many instruments, sometimes cacophony, sometimes off key—and a lot of special interest money trying to take over the band. Yet through it all—just like a free market—we tend to find the melody together. An Opp Now exclusive.
In the past year, we certainly saw the arc of local history bend—at least in some cases—and begin to undo the damage caused by previous, misguided voter will and administrations.
The Housing First stranglehold on city housing policy and funds began to loosen. A cynic would ask why it took so long, but there can be little doubt that SJ City Council finally turned away from its decades-long mania for a Housing First (building super expensive, barrier-free new apartments) homelessness strategy and towards Shelter First. The Measure E reallocation kerfuffle in the spring of last year indicated that the Council has finally begun to back away from the fiscally irresponsible strategies of its predecessors, and to focus taxpayer monies on programs that actually get our homeless neighbors off the streets and into dignified treatment, if they need it.
The days of easy new tax and bond monies are over. The decisive defeat of Prop 5 (which would've made it easier for gov'ts to levy new taxes) by voters locally and statewide sent a special delivery message to Sacto: We won't open our wallets whenever you ask. Combined with the humiliation of the humongous regional housing bond (which got pulled from the ballot due to inaccurate language), it's clear that we have passed a tipping point. Let's be candid: this has been a voter-driven movement, as local gov'ts all over the Bay Area and state put their influence behind Prop 5 and RM4. Clear evidence that, if local govts want to regain voter trust, they've gotta prove they can govern effectively. Keep an eye out for stealth tax and bond requests from local gov’t.
Decarceration/decriminalization enthusiasm subsides. The Defund the Police/decriminalization movement may have been well-intentioned, but its negative impact on public safety has been disastrous for many cities (see S.F.). Much of the bad thinking regarding criminal justice reform was codified in the misbegotten Prop 47 (2014). Fortunately, citizens and key California mayors (Breed and Mahan, included) identified the flaws in 47, and moved to substantially reform Prop 47 via Prop 36, which re-instituted more serious consequences for unlawful activity. Prop 36 passed with 68% of the statewide vote, signalling a widespread consensus to (paraphrasing Lady Macbeth) undo that which had been done. Now it's up to city governments and DAs to actually deliver on the voter will expressed through Prop 36 (keep an eye out for slow-walking from DA offices and City staffs).
Here's an anthology of top Opp Now stories over the past year that highlighted local voters and pols undoing past mistakes:
The Last Days of Housing First?: This year, SJ’s Housing First orthodoxy finally gave way to faster, more efficient interim shelter solutions.
How Housing First dogma exacerbates and perpetuates homelessness pain and suffering in California and Silicon Valley: Stanford's Institute for Economic Policy Research unpacked how resources that could’ve gone to cheaper, faster shelter solutions got sidetracked into expensive, slow, and ineffective Housing First projects.
RM4 opposition leader: bond measure’s removal from ballot a victory for common sense coalition: 20BillionReasons’ president Gus Mattammal—who led the fight against Rm4—stressed the importance of organizing across party lines.
Why local voters passed Proposition 36—by a gigantic margin: We traced back Opp Now's extensive Prop 47 & Prop 36 coverage, beginning from January 2022 up ‘til Election Day 2024.
Election roundup (7/14): Gov't dooms itself with math errors, thinly-disguised money grabs: Opp Now contributors—including 20BillionReasons’ Tom Rubin—analyzed the misguided, unsuccessful measures RM4 and Prop 5.
They just keep winning: Grassroots organizers saved the Bay from RM4, then helped topple Prop 5: Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association’s president Jon Coupal explained his organization’s underdog campaign to educate voters on Prop 5.
HJTA’s Susan Shelley: Defeat of Prop 5 a “tremendous victory” for CA taxpayers (1/3): Voters saw right through Yes on Prop 5’s tangled, deceptive messaging, said Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association’s VP of Comms Susan Shelley.
Voters want to tap the brakes on runaway crime in California. Will their leaders respond?: Prop 36 won. Prop 5 (and crime-lenient District Attorneys) got a big “no.” Rafael Mangual of City Journal wondered if, post-election, local Dems will start embracing more moderate policies.
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