22-year-old Business major Jacob Spangler is SFSU's College Republicans club president; he also holds office with the SF Republican Party/Young Republicans. In this Opp Now exclusive, Spangler analyzes what's keeping young folks from meaningful political involvement, particularly at First Amendment-tentative institutions like San Francisco State—and how local orgs can shift gears accordingly.
Read MoreEven the Merc is coming around and questioning the SJ BART extension, pointing to various factors: VTA's lack of transparency on careening costs and “definitely there” funding, bleak ridership projections, and the need for independent reviewers to determine if the project is even worthwhile. In this updated Opp Now exclusive, the Cato Institute's Marc Joffe analyzes how the extension would most likely have to be stopped by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
Read MoreBob Raymer, the California Building Industry Association's technical director/senior engineer, also formerly chaired three CA'n code advisory committees (Green Building, Building & Fire, and Accessibility). Here, Raymer unpacks excessive building codes and permitting fees that stifle affordable housing—in and beyond the SCC. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreCarl DeMaio, Reform California's chairman and taxpayer advocate, parses the clamor surrounding ACA 1—which proposes CA requires a 55% majority (not the current 66.6%) to approve affordable housing and public infrastructure projects. Rather than making tax increases easier, says DeMaio, shouldn't pro-ACA 1 cities like SJ work to—you know—balance the books better? An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreLast week, local news reported that SJ's City-funded homelessness nonprofits are failing to perform on the valued metrics they tout (think: unhoused folks actually getting into housing). California Policy Center's Edward Ring breaks down how City/State laws, fiscal imprudence, and muddy nonprofit–vendor relationships impact SJ's homelessness crisis. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreIn a world of performative virtue (and status) signaling, former Board of Equalization candidate Peter Coe Verbica illustrates in some teasing blank verse how acts of rebellion and authenticity and kindness can occur in the strangest of places—and how they emanate from fresh, creative readings of hidebound texts. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreOver a decade ago, then-Council candidate Johnny Khamis proposed to “Fast Track” the City's permitting process for homeowners/businesses. Though criticized then as radical, his idea is now a reality via SJ's Best Prepared Designer and Self-Start Building Permits with Plan Review programs. In an Opp Now exclusive, Khamis celebrates this stride and thanks City leadership for prioritizing business-supportive reforms.
Read MoreSecond-term board member Debora Allen breaks down the transit agency's latest steps to boost ridership, reduce costs, and keep skeptical State legislators from giving up entirely on BART's $300 mil/year deficit “hole.” Allen also invites common-sense budget-minded folks to engage with BART leaders in a community budget workshop this October. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreTom Rubin, former SoCal Rapid Transit District CFO, is an analyst–consultant with over 40 years in the transit industry. Here, Rubin applauds BART's move to attract riders by running frequenter (and higher-policed) evening trains, while analyzing how "breaking" trains midday is costly and could create overcrowding. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreLegislators are proposing CA lowers its longstanding Prop 13 threshold (currently two-thirds) for voter approval on new infrastructure taxes/bonds. And the San Jose City Council is supporting this proposed raid on local taxpayers' wallets. Opp Now exclusively gets the perspective of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association about how a counter initiative—the Taxpayer Protection and Gov't Accountability Act (TPA)—would defend Prop 13 from gov't attack and protect residents' hard-won earnings from government plunder. Needless to say, SJ City Council voted to oppose the TPA.
Read MoreIf the City is to bother holding housing panels, it should invite a diversity of opinions. So says Market Urbanist's Scott Beyer, as he surveys the invitee list at SJ HD's recent Housing Study Session—and finds a hopelessly one-sided grouping of Big Gov't, anti-market voices. Beyer offers an alternative in this Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreTransit commentators analyze BART's initiative, rolled out this Monday, to run frequenter—but shorter—evening trains. Biggest potential hurdles to cost-effectiveness? Extra costs of hiring more drivers, and lack of transparency with the public—though the plan appears a step in the right direction. An Opp Now exclusive featuring Marc Joffe (Cato Institute policy/transit researcher) and Rich Crowley (previously on a Bay Area transportation work group).
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