So asked Elton John almost 20 years ago—and today, his question's being echoed by Bay Areans concerned about BATA's proposed toll hike to $10.50 (or $11.50 for folks not pre-registered or using FasTrak) by 2030. {BATA's rationale? Bridge maintenance.} If this all sounds familiar, says Contra Costa News, it should: via 2018's RM 3, we've already recently increased Bay Area tolls by a whopping 60%.
Read MoreMany voters are confused about initiatives that empower gov't tax-raising schemes (Prop 5) or gift $1 billion to a failing, shrinking SJ school district (Measure R)—and for good reason: in a decisive report, SCC's Civil Grand Jury observed (in 2022) that local ballot measures are regularly designed to “deceive” voters through feel-good, misleading, or straight manipulative language.
Read MorePerhaps a well-told story (or mural, like SF Post Office's “Indians by the Golden Gate,” above) is the best way to learn not just history's facts—but its struggles, nuances, and questions. In this Opp Now exclusive, history profs recommend books for better knowing and navigating life's currents: spanning from CA's indigenous peoples, to colonial Indian ethics, to a Nazi German town that still “puzzles” historians.
Read MoreThe LA Times’ Michael Lens discusses that CA’s biggest cities aren’t building housing fast enough to keep up with population increases. He suggests the solution lies in reforming local zoning laws (already commonly sidestepped by SJ developers) and building planning practices—starting with prioritizing more multifamily apartments.
Read MoreIn the excellent Free Press, Victor Davis Hansen explains why innovative communities like Silicon Valley's need more “Renaissance People.” The Renaissance person (or “polymath”) engages thoughtfully with a variety of disciplines, and is better equipped than narrow specialists to lead and combat gov't overreach. Hansen's comments, below, echo Bay Area school leaders' rising criticisms of today's "compartmentalized" education system.
Read MoreSan Francisco's now-infamous Dream Keeper Initiative looked the other way when contracted nonprofits bought first-class flights, luxury meals, and (yep) concert tickets on the City's dime. Today, SF Chron dives into the initiative's former leader Sheryl Davis—who paid herself $11,000 to produce an interview podcast linking to her personal website (which advertised her children's book).
Read MoreSupe Ellenberg recently slapped Prop 36 (reinstating felony charges for repeat theft/drug crimes and mandating drug treatment for certain offenders) with labels “draconian, expensive, and misleading.” Below, Tom Wolf—founder of Recovery Education Coalition—and Greg Totten—CEO of CA District Attorneys Ass'n—daylight the misinformation in her strange accusations, and why they believe Prop 36 will restore safety to the Bay. An Opp Now exclusive.
Read MoreCato Institute's Marc Joffe discovers that Parkmerced, a 3211-unit housing complex near San Francisco State University, has seen its occupancy fall from 94% in 2019 to 79% today. New tenants are being offered up to $2,400 in lease incentives. "Do we really have a housing crisis in SF?" Joffe wonders, on X.
Read MoreUpending norms that date back to 1849, Prop 5 strips taxpayer protections that are enshrined in the State Constitution and reinforced by Prop 13—says Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association’s Susan Shelley in this Opp Now exclusive Q&A. While the Bay Area’s RM4 may have been a uniquely spectacular ask, she warns it’s just the beginning: property owners should get ready for a relentless series of abusive bond measures every election, now and forever.
Read MoreLast Dec, Opp Now filed a BART public records request for two simple stats from 2023. We got a reply—nine months later. BART Director Debora Allen's also experienced the agency's lack of communication and transparency since elected in 2016. At a recent meeting, Allen revealed she'd been asking BART the same 10 questions over and over for months, without answer. The day after (8.16), General Manager Powers, finally, sent Allen the answers. From YouTube.
Read MoreProp 5 lowers the votes needed for most local bonds from two-thirds to 55%, but you wouldn’t know it if you read the ballot label. In part 2 of this Opp Now exclusive Q&A, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn’s Susan Shelley discusses how her organization sued the State for more transparency but lost on appeal. Voters might even think Prop 5 raises the threshold for expensive borrowing. Instead, Prop 5 could soon nudge CA cities into bankruptcy.
Read MoreIf your homeowners' association wrote you saying, “Please pay 20% more next month. We spent all our money, so now we can't repair the elevator”—would you feel inclined to give? In CPC, John Moorlach remarks that local school districts do this every election: beg voters for help in funding essential services (now SJUSD needs $1.15 billion for Measure R's “facility repairs”?), instead of spending more judiciously.
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