Posts in Special Reports
☆ Is San Francisco Public Utility Commission under water?
☆ Is San Francisco Public Utility Commission under water?

The reason we can live on the Peninsula is because we have water. We buy it from San Francisco Public Utility Commission (SFPUC) as part of a consortium of 26 agencies (BAWSCA); and the sustainability of our civilization here, on the coast, is under threat—not just from the potential ~56% cutbacks in the 3rd year of the next drought, but from a lack of FISCAL sustainability. Opp Now exclusive op/ed by Gregg Dieguez, Vice Chair of the Midcoast Community Council, here expressing his own opinions.

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Special ReportsJax Oliver Comment
☆ Regional housing tax to make retired and middleclass homeowners subsidize rentals for the well-to-do
☆ Regional housing tax to make retired and middleclass homeowners subsidize rentals for the well-to-do

A $20 billion regional housing bond to raise property taxes for the next 54 years in Santa Clara and eight other counties has a somewhat strange definition of “affordability.” Since when did folks who make over $200,000 need a handout from working class homeowners, renters, and retirees on a fixed income? Will Sherman reports in this Opp Now exclusive. 

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Special Reports, Regional Housing TaxJax Oliver Comment
☆ Khamis: Regional housing tax will inflate local cost of living
☆ Khamis: Regional housing tax will inflate local cost of living

The former SJ councilmember and advocate for responsible gov't spending sees trouble in the upcoming tax scheme. He notes how SJ Council blithely supported it without understanding key impacts--especially how the tax will make living here even less affordable. An Opp Now exclusive.

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Special Reports, Regional Housing TaxJax Oliver Comment
☆ "We speak for ourselves:" Community leaders call for SJ City to stand down from taking positions on ballot initiatives
☆ "We speak for ourselves:" Community leaders call for SJ City to stand down from taking positions on ballot initiatives

An Open Letter from San Jose residents to SJ City Council requesting that the city quit endorsing ballot initiatives is going viral, and gaining the support of notable community leaders. Pat Waite of Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility and Sandra Delvin of Families and Homes SJ urge the city to stay in its lane. An Opp Now Exclusive.

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Special ReportsJax OliverComment
☆ No on Regional Housing Tax group makes case at BAHFA meeting
☆ No on Regional Housing Tax group makes case at BAHFA meeting

To nobody’s surprise, the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority, an outgrowth of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, agreed on Wednesday morning to put a $20 billion regional bond on the November ballot in nine counties. But opponents of the mammoth tax offered a serious, compelling critique. Will Sherman reports in this Opp Now exclusive.

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Special Reports, Regional Housing TaxJax OliverComment
☆ Billy DeFrank leader supports Doan/Batra call for homelessness audit
☆ Billy DeFrank leader supports Doan/Batra call for homelessness audit

Gabrielle Antolovich, Board President of the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center, approves of the SJ CMs' calls for clarification of different gov't responsibilities and precise focus on customized services for people in need. An Opp Now exclusive. 

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Special ReportsJax OliverComment
☆ Former Councilmembers in support of Doan/Batra call for audit of SJ City homelessness spend
☆ Former Councilmembers in support of Doan/Batra call for audit of SJ City homelessness spend

Concerns about unaccountable spending by the SJ Housing Dept. go back years--even decades. Johnny Khamis and Pierluigi Oliverio, the two SJ CM's who sounded the klaxon most urgently about ineffective and misguided homelessness programs back in the day--give thumbs up to the Doan/Batra audit proposal. An Opp Now exclusive.

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Special ReportsJax OliverComment
☆ SJ homelessness audit discourse reveals need for targeted, relevant metrics, say local fiscal watchdogs
☆ SJ homelessness audit discourse reveals need for targeted, relevant metrics, say local fiscal watchdogs

Pat Waite of Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility (CFR) responds to State and Doan/Batra homelessness audit proposals with a call for an independent, non partisan, metrics-based committee untethered from past mistakes. An Opp Now exclusive.

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Special ReportsJax OliverComment
☆ Leading community group says Doan/Batra homelessness audit "a step in the right direction"
☆ Leading community group says Doan/Batra homelessness audit "a step in the right direction"

Families and Homes, SJ's leading grass-roots community group, gives thumbs up to the Doan/Batra homelessness audit proposal, noting the need for an independent, accountable, and transparent process. An Opp Now exclusive.

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Special ReportsJax OliverComment
☆ D6 CM candidate Mulcahy calls for increased Measure E spend on quick-build shelters and homeless prevention
☆ D6 CM candidate Mulcahy calls for increased Measure E spend on quick-build shelters and homeless prevention

We asked District 6 Council finalists for their perspectives on the upcoming Council debate regarding if, and how, Council should reallocate Measure E Housing funds. Michael Mulcahy's answer below.  An Opp Now exclusive.

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Special ReportsJax OliverComment
☆ Tanaka on CA16 primary, recount: Isn't there a better way?
☆ Tanaka on CA16 primary, recount: Isn't there a better way?

Palo Alto CM and CA16 primary candidate Greg Tanaka reviews the primary season, primary vote, and recount drama. His conclusion: alternate, diverse voices aren't heard in our election process, and maybe it's time to consider reforms. An Opp Now exclusive.

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Special ReportsJax Oliver Comment
☆ SJ D10 Candidates stake out their positions on Measure E Reallocation question
☆ SJ D10 Candidates stake out their positions on Measure E Reallocation question

We asked District 10 Council finalists Arjun Batra and George Casey for their perspectives on the upcoming Council debate regarding if, and how, Council should reallocate Measure E Housing funds. Their answers below. An Opp Now exclusive.

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Special ReportsJax OliverComment