Posts by Jax Oliver
☆ Perspectives: Studying ancient Greek/Roman culture is a challenging endeavor—and here's why we should all try it
☆ Perspectives: Studying ancient Greek/Roman culture is a challenging endeavor—and here's why we should all try it

Earlier this week, transit expert Randal O' Toole rewound the clock for us on VTA's surprising history of rideshare innovation. And, as three Bay Area classics professors argue in this Opp Now exclusive, that's not the only point in the past Silicon Valleyans should look into. Their analyses (and wide-ranging reading recommendations) below.

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Jax Oliver
☆ New SJ budget marks the end of Housing First? Unlikely, say local commentators (3/4)
☆ New SJ budget marks the end of Housing First? Unlikely, say local commentators (3/4)

Those fed up with San Jose's barrier-free housing approach to homelessness may have noticed: Council may shift all funds from PSH to temporary housing and prevention. But, as contributors Johnny Khamis and Tobin Gilman explain, Housing First is probably stickin' around (particularly via tiny homes). An Opp Now exclusive.

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Jax Oliver
Call any outré idea “out-of-touch” (until it reaches mainstream local culture)
Call any outré idea “out-of-touch” (until it reaches mainstream local culture)

Silicon Valley conservatives have long critiqued Housing First ideology and pointed to more immediate, affordable options. Only recently, SJ's started to catch on. Reason mag shines light on the historical precedent for outcasting revolutionary political thoughts—until they become vogue.

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Jax Oliver
Many people won't read past this headline—they're already bored.
Many people won't read past this headline—they're already bored.

Science tells us that new information, whether slowly or quickly gained, triggers happy chemicals in our brain. That's why these days, we're increasingly forgoing longer, difficult pursuits like reading—to instead refresh our social media feed one more time. In Medium, Hugh McGuire explains what's lost (besides our attention spans) by prioritizing quick, easy pleasures.

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Jax Oliver
SF’s deep state undermines calls to economize
SF’s deep state undermines calls to economize

What $840 million deficit? Tasked with “painful decisions,” some SF department heads are simply ignoring the mayor’s directive to cut costs. SF Standard explores.

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Jax Oliver
Lurie sees the organizational problems at SF City Hall, but do his solutions sound like a consultant wrote them? (3/3)
Lurie sees the organizational problems at SF City Hall, but do his solutions sound like a consultant wrote them? (3/3)

To his credit, new SF mayor Lurie has identified bloated and ineffective bureaucracy as a key reason so much money has been misspent addressing the City’s homelessness. But do his solutions just kick the can down the road? The Chron reports.

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Jax Oliver
☆ Mark Burns on SJ’s pay-for-results plan: “Why haven’t they done this before?”
☆ Mark Burns on SJ’s pay-for-results plan: “Why haven’t they done this before?”

San Jose Mayor Mahan wants to tie merit pay raises for city leadership to outcomes across four key areas. In an Opp Now exclusive Q&A, San Jose native and licensed local real estate agent Mark Burns suggests adding “find and eliminate unnecessary expenses” to the list.

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Special ReportsJax Oliver