Historian April Halberstadt whisks us back to Christmas a century ago in her historic San Jose home—when local agriculture was booming, the city rapidly expanding via annexations, and the faith-centered Wright family (living in now-Halberstadt’s home) making their mark on CA politics. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreProperty taxes are uniquely burdensome because they tax homeowners repeatedly for something they already own, says HJTA’s Susan Shelley, who asks why the revenue can’t be limited to property-related services. But as Prop 13 protections are eroded by parcel taxes/bonds, local gov'ts—flush with extra dollars—often spend outside their scope. In this Opp Now exclusive Q&A, Shelley forecasts the next major move to defend Prop 13.
Read MoreThe Upland loophole lets local governments hike taxes with only 50% approval. But HJTA’s Susan Shelley argues this contravenes the CA Constitution, which requires two-thirds. She says voters were denied a chance to close the loophole because Sac blocked the Taxpayer Protection Act. This let extreme sales and parcel taxes sail through down in LA. An Opp Now exclusive Q&A.
Read MoreIf voters' Prop 13 protections are clearly under threat, they'll push back, says HJTA Comms VP Susan Shelley. In this Opp Now exclusive Q&A, she recalls how Prop 5’s proponents claimed it wasn’t a tax, and they were “just asking questions”—but, she says, voters saw right through that tangled, deceptive messaging: although outspent, HJTA’s “shoestring” campaign helped safeguard communities across the state from gov't overreach.
Read MoreConcluding our Opp Now exclusive Election '24 series, SJ Housing Commissioner Roberta Moore rejects the notion that ideological polarization is just a fact we must accept in Silicon Valley—pointing instead to common goals we can all get behind (gov't accountability, anyone?).
Read MoreSince 2021, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya—Stanford prof of Medicine—has stared down efforts to silence and cancel his fact-based critiques of the medical and gov't establishments' COVID responses. His positions have been wholly vindicated over time, and now he has been nominated with much acclaim to lead the National Institute of Health (NIH). Here at Opp Now, we're proud to be the only local media source to give Dr. J's since-validated views airtime back in June 2021—and re-post our exclusive interview with him, in which he debunked inaccurate claims about COVID response in the SJ Merc's "Lessons Learned" recap.
Read MoreWith the incoming Trump administration planning to defund California High-Speed Rail, it’s time for local transit officials to revisit the already weak case for extending HSR and Caltrain from 4th and King Street in San Francisco 1.3 miles to Salesforce Transit Center. Below, an Opp Now exclusive analysis from Contra Costa Taxpayers Association prez Marc Joffe.
Read MoreIn 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 MoreProp 5 may have been a wealthy, well-dressed suitor (boasting millions in campaign funding), but SCC voters were smart to decline its tax-raising proposal, say Opp Now contributors in this exclusive. More analyses, below (on Election '24 flubs, surprises, and encouragements)—from Planning Commissioner Pierluigi Oliverio, Midcoast Community CM Gus Mattammal, and CFABO's Steve Heimoff.
Read MoreOutside of highly regulated government housing projects, which can cost $1 million per unit, the real price of similar dwellings is about half as much. So says Silicon Valley realtor Mark Burns, who provides a healthy reality check in this Opp Now exclusive Q&A. Despite the passage of statewide bonds this year, Prop 5 may have failed because taxpayers are tired of throwing away money and, as he says, lowering bond approval to 55% would be “terrible.”
Read MorePer our annual Opp Now tradition, we hit replay on a beloved short essay by Peter Coe Verbica. He reflects, below, on those inexplicable moments of renewal and recovery we might experience during the holidays—prompted by the loveliness found in ordinary activities, objects, and surroundings. An Opp Now exclusive.
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