According to Pirate Wires mag, the many and widespread failures of local gov't during Los Angeles' fires point to a larger problem in CA: We're not prioritizing funding core services. But we are making it rain taxpayer dollars for excessive gov't pensions, ideologically slanted unions, and unaccountable (failing) homelessness initiatives.
Read MoreIn 2020, concerned citizen David Yborra sent the following email (abbreviated) to two then-SCC Supervisors. He suggested SJ’s Fairgrounds property could be better utilized throughout the year if the County: used it instead of leasing costly buildings, recycled it into low-income housing, or sold it to the UC system. (And in case you’re wondering: one Supervisor ignored Yborra’s email, and the other promised—but failed—to schedule a meeting on it.)
Read MoreWe were surprised in high school to find Frankenstein’s sewn-together Creature—equal parts eloquent and thoughtful—as more humane than his creator. Indeed, as this excerpt from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel warns us: shutting down others and their input (we're looking at you, SJ City Council and SCC Supes) only breeds an angry, unbalanced civil society. On the contrary, effective public engagement not only generates good ideas, but shows residents they’re valued as co-thinkers.
Read MoreFor those who do the math, "free" transit days only serve to daylight the hundreds of dollars in subsidies that backstop every public transit ride—wouldn't the money be better spent just giving it to transit-needy in the form of vouchers? Jon Calara opines in Coloradopolitics.com.
Read MoreMany Bay Areans think political campaigns are too expensive. And efforts in Washington state to level the playing field (via $25 vouchers) have been encouraging, but uncover challenges for local mobilization: due to varying levels of gov't interest, knowledge gaps, etc. From the Journals of Experimental Political Science & Election Law.
Read MoreThe influx of migrants to states like CA played a big role in rising homelessness count nationwide, reports the LA Times.
Read MoreHomelessness hits record highs nationally, but feds refuse to acknowledge the role of mental health and addiction issues in the crisis, leading to counterproductive Housing First strategies. WSJ editorial.
Read MoreFor 25 years, Dr. Shawn Spano (of Public Dialogue Consortium) has facilitated community engagement meetings and consulted for local city gov'ts. In this exclusive interview for Opp Now, he walks us through planning an input meeting (via the community participation continuum), creatively outreaching to underrepresented communities, and facilitating honest feedback (a.k.a., CMs should sit this one out).
Read MorePortland, OR explores how a mix of larger-scale shelters and alternative shelters can work together to address the inhumanity of street homelessness for cities like SJ. Excerpt from Street Roots, Portland's excellent weekly street newspaper.
Read MoreLocal political watchers have been surprised by the surge in the cost of political campaigns in the Bay Area, in which millions of dollars are raised (and spent) even for small, district-wide races. Concerned that these large numbers end up privileging special interests and candidates with deep pocket donors, many are looking to public financing of campaigns to provide more balance and representation. Aaron McKean writes for the Campaign Legal Center.
Read MoreSF finds a novel way to make housing supply meet demand: make it impossible for lots of people to live there. David Garcia and Michael Lane report in the SF Chronicle.
Read MoreTwo local leaders (from SJ/SF) for smarter, data-supported homelessness solutions discuss the importance of CARE Court and Permanent Supportive Housing's behavioral codes in this final Opp Now exclusive installment.
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