Palo Alto councilmember Greg Tananka says that local governments should not ignore the real message of the November 5 election: The People want lean, efficient government. An Opp Now exclusive.

The recent presidential election signals a growing demand for government efficiency at all levels. With the President-elect establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the federal level and appointing innovators like Elon Musk to lead it, local governments like Palo Alto should follow suit.

The timing couldn’t be more critical. Our city data shows an alarming trend: while Palo Alto’s population has declined, our bureaucracy is expanding to record levels. We’re projected to hit 1,092 full-time positions by FY2025, with average compensation packages exceeding $290,000 citywide and some departments averaging over $500,000 per employee including benefits.Sign up to receive updates on Opp Now articles. Click HERE.

This election’s key message was that voters want lean, efficient government. Just as DOGE aims to streamline federal operations, Palo Alto needs its own efficiency department to tackle our unsustainable bureaucratic growth. Let’s bring Silicon Valley’s innovation culture to government—starting right here at home. The biggest surprise this election wasn’t just the national results, but seeing how perfectly they align with what I’ve been advocating for years on our city council: doing more with less through smart, data-driven governance.

Read all the data here.

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