In which not taking your money is a present

A review of the April 30, 2019 meeting of the San Jose City Council reveals a potential problem that seems seeping through our community. It’s the idea that allowing business to be conducted is a gift, and the giving is being done by cities around the San Francisco Bay.

This is visible to because item 4.1 Public Hearing on the Affordable Housing Impact Fee or the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Exempted Projects Report, used the word "subsidy" to describe tax exempt projects. A subsidy is a grant or gift of money. Tax exemption is to not have taxes collected. There is an important difference between the two. The city is implying in the report that they are giving away money to these projects. Yet, how can they give away money they never collected? It implies, by misuse of the language, they are doing a favor by allowing these exempted projects to move forward.

This is not to try to effect the fees or their structure, even though they are a burden on nearly everyone who lives or works in San Jose. This is simply calling out a bias of staff, as revealed in language. Staff are supposed to be neutral and only present facts. But when facts are given with language like this it leads people to a conclusion, not based on the facts presented.

This is a deep rooted issue in San Jose, as well as some other cities around. Our elected officials will do better receiving facts from staff, not loaded language, so they can form their own opinions.

Follow Opportunity Now on Twitter @svopportunity