In the wake of Election ‘24, Opp Now contributors wonder if State gov't might fix its $68 bn deficit with smarter budgeting (um, it's about time)—or keep throwing taxpayers’ cash to flashy but trivial projects. An Opp Now exclusive featuring: local realtor Mark Burns, past mayor Lydia Kou, transit expert Tom Rubin, and HJTA's Susan Shelley.
Read MoreBoondoggle transit projects. Overbearing environmental reqt's. (And that's just the tip of the iceberg.) In this exclusive, Opp Now contributors suggest changes in gov't at the city, county, state, and federal level could mean less Fed funding for HSR and BART's extension—and “aggressive deregulation” on local water/energy. More comments, below, from: Cato Institute's Marc Joffe, CPC's Edward Ring, Midcoast Community Council's Gus Mattammal, and SVTA's Pierluigi Oliverio.
Read MoreVoters rejected Prop 5 this cycle, which would've opened the door to unrestricted gov't borrowing. Yet, other expensive ballot measures like Prop 2 and Measure R (both nobly dressed up as “saving our schools”) were passed. More Opp Now exclusive analyses—of what some perceive as Election 2024's biggest disappointments—below from SVTA's Mark Hinkle, HJTA's Jon Coupal, and CFR's Pat Waite.
Read MoreFormer Palo Alto mayor Lydia Kou and Recovery Education Coalition founder Tom Wolf find it near-inconceivable that many local gov’ts endorsed Prop 5, while opposing Prop 36. Whether they're just out-of-touch, trying to line their pockets, or listening to the wrong stakeholders (all of the above?)—they've got to start prioritizing what Bay Area voters need. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreContinuing our exclusive Election '24 analyses, Opp Now contributors argue that local/State gov't's tax mania ultimately brought the chandelier down on themselves this cycle (so to speak) via misguided measures RM4 and Prop 5. Featuring comments from: Cato Institute's Marc Joffe, HJTA's Jon Coupal, transit expert Tom Rubin, and real estate agent Mark Burns.
Read MoreIn Election '24, elected officials were so infatuated with tax-raising Proposition 5 that—um—they didn't realize the proposal would get an “I'm not interested” from 55.5% of CA'ns. Below, more Opp Now exclusive post-election analyses from Tom Wolf, Tom Rubin, Jon Coupal, and Pierluigi Oliverio.
Read MoreIn 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).
Read MoreGov. 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.
Read MoreProposition 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.
Read MoreContinuing 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.
Read MorePhew. Another election on the books. Over the next week, we'll be highlighting Opp Now contributors' exclusive takes on (local and statewide) Nov. 2024 wins, flops, and possible next steps. Today, we feature delightful eye-openers from: HJTA's Susan Shelley, Independent Leadership Group's Irene Smith, SJ Housing Commissioner Roberta Moore, and former Palo Alto Mayor Lydia Kou.
Read More
