Archive for January 2024

Rembrandt Peale: The Court of Death. Image by Wikimedia Commons Taxpayer advocate Susan Shelley shines a light on California’s Proposition 19, which nullifies existing protections for parent–child property transfer, thereby treating a gift of property like a sale. Shelley wonders if many Californians—who voted against one-time estate taxes in 1982—truly want their yearly property tax…

Image by Jeffery Scism Ninth circuit ruling Martin v. Boise only allows cities to remove illegal encampments (read: enforce existing laws) if every homeless resident has the “option” of sleeping indoors. The ruling’s vague wording has inspired numerous debates and lawsuits, but the City of San Bernardino sweeps the controversy to the side, pointing out:…

Image by Randy von Liski Everybody knows that building new housing to solve local affordability crises is brutally expensive, and requires vast, ongoing, unsustainable subsidies. Former D10 Councilmember Johnny Khamis posits that taxpayer money would go a lot further—and our homeless and needy neighbors would get housing relief a lot faster—if the City simply purchased…

Image by Roger W Cal and Stanford aren’t the only prestigious colleges driving off folks who oppose Hamas and support Israel’s right to exist. In December 2023, MIT lecturer Mauricio Karchmer stepped down from his dream job after observing his administration affirm antisemitic hate, while keeping mum on explicit terrorism. In a moving Free Press…

By Ana B. Ibarra / January 24, 2024 (San Jose Inside) Photo by Shutterstock Two California lawmakers publicly blew up at each other earlier this month, hitting a nerve on an issue that has long-divided the state’s elected leaders: Whether and how much to offer government-subsidized health benefits to undocumented residents. In one corner, Corona Assemblymember Bill Essayli declared that…

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Southern Nevada has been in the path of repeated rain systems for the last week. But has the recent rain affected Lake Mead’s water levels? The good news is that it has helped, but only a little. According to Bureau of Reclamation Public Affairs Specialist Doug Hendrix, as of Wednesday, Jan.…

By Bay City New / January 23, 2024 (San Jose Inside) Scene of mass murders in Half Moon Bay in early 2023. File photo On the eve of the first anniversary of the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay last year, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office announced the indictment of suspect Chunli Zhao on Monday.…

Image by Wikimedia Commons At the end of last year, City Council directed Staff to consider further regulating development in the City by requiring building officials to withhold a certificate of occupancy from private owners when any contractor, subcontractor, or supplier is subject to an unpaid final wage theft judgment. The following Open Letter from local…

By Dan Pulcrano @pulcrano / January 19, 2024 (San Jose Inside) Pacific Motor Inn, site of new permanent housing for formerly homeless people, in SoFa district of San Jose. File Photo During the pandemic’s early days, as tents, tarps and cardboard shelters overwhelmed creek beds, freeway embankments and sidewalks, converting empty motels into housing for the homeless seemed…