Policy briefs to inform moderates and independents
Most Americans are in the sensible middle yet no longer have a voice in national or state politics.
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Taxpayer subsidies per Bay Area transit trip have grown 2.75x in ten years — from $3.53 to $9.69 — even as ridership across BART, Muni, AC Transit, Caltrain, and VTA remains down 37% from 2019. This November's Regional Transit Measure locks in that same cost structure for 14 more years, no reforms required. This guide breaks down the numbers, and begins to make the case for a better path forward.
The State of California is coming after your parking plazas. Like Menlo Park, most Peninsula cities have parking plazas behind your main street merchants – Laurel St in San Carlos, Santa Cruz Ave in Los Gatos, Main St in Los Altos, Castro St in Mountain View, California Ave in Palo Alto, Burlingame Ave in Burlingame.
Sacramento wants Menlo Park to build 600 housing units on the parking plazas that enable mid-Peninsula customers to shop at our downtown merchants and restaurants.
AG Rob Bonta just stuck it to cities with his letter forcing Menlo Park to allow two 39-story apartment towers, the tallest between SF and San Jose, and the most egregious example of Builder’s Remedy punitive penalty.
Over the last decade, the Sacramento supermajority has taken away local control over zoning with a one-size-fits-all unfunded state mandate called the Housing Element, including SB9 ending single-family zoning.
Americans know by heart the inalienable rights listed in the Declaration of Independence - Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. No other constitution or founding document lists this right - Opportunity - as the enduring right which distinguishes the USA. Often described as the American Dream - if you work hard, you can succeed here despite wherever you’re from, whatever your background or ethnic origin.
On May 26 Sequoia Union High School District settlement with six brave families will require annual antisemitism training.
As parents of 3 M-A teenagers, we’re very concerned about Ethnic Studies Curriculum teaching our kids U.S. history through the lens of oppressed versus oppressor, which divides our communities rather than celebrating the journeys of immigrants who have overcome discrimination.
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, until we defeat the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, there will continue to be terrorism in the Middle East.
Imagine a peaceful, modern Iran integrated into the world’s economy - an Iran that not only doesn’t make a nuclear bomb, but also ends support of terrorist proxies Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthis, stops making ballistic missiles.
Kill the mismanaged High Speed Rail to nowhere and instead extend BART and CalTrain to affordable communities.
Build Moffett City instead of forcing higher density on the Peninsula. Mag7 employers contribute infrastructure. Relieve South Bay cities of RHNA obligations.
“The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2033.. At that time, the fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing program income [payroll tax] will be sufficient to pay 77 percent of total scheduled benefits,” according to the 2025 Social Security Trust Report.
Instead of investing in 2.5% yield T-bills, if the Trust Fund invested in the S&P500 index (annual return of 10.6% since 2005) would delay Trust Fund depletion until 2040, giving time for policy makers to reform Social Security to ensure sustainability for future generations.
Air Traffic Controllers need help. Early 2025 a Blackhawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane on final approach to Reagan National (DCA), killing 67; air traffic control staffing shortages slowed Newark Liberty airport in the summer, and the recent government shutdown caused controllers to take second jobs driving DoorDash
AI-enhanced Air Traffic Collision Warning system
AI re-routing air corridors for more separation
AI to assess mechanical failures in flight
TSA ticket fee funds FAA like USPS to ensure air traffic controllers get paid during future shutdowns
As you consider Proposition 50, ask yourself, is California better off today then it was over a decade ago? Since 2014 the Democratic party has held both the Governor's office and a super-majority in our state legislature - i.e. a one-party state.
Don’t reward entrenched Sacramento politicians with a redistricting monopoly under Prop 50, when their failed policies resulted in doom loop of crime, drug abuse and homelessness, highest gas prices, highest taxes, 37th in K-12 education, and exodus of major employers. People are leaving California!
Here’s the ceasefire deal, Vladimir. It’s the best deal you’re going to get:
We give Kyiv the Iron Dome and NATO will enforce a no-fly zone to prevent your glide bombs, drones, and hypersonic missiles from killing Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.
UK, France, and Germany will provide peacekeeping troops to guard a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the current battle line to ensure security for Ukraine.
Europe will spend 5% of GDP on defense, outspending Russia in a war of attrition.
Middle America has lost manufacturing jobs for over 25 years as both parties advocated free global trade. Real income and property values haven’t changed much as a consequence, while Silicon Valley, Wall Street and Hollywood prospered. Tariffs will bring back manufacturing jobs domestically, counter China’s undervaluation of its currency, and pay for extension of tax cuts past 2026.
Revenge of the Fly-over States: voters in the middle of America rejected the political agenda of the Coastal elite and instead voted their pocket books.
We’re in Cold War 2.0 - Our adversaries today are the same countries we faced 50 years ago: Russia (Soviet Union), China, Iran, and North Korea. What’s different is that China is now our largest economic competitor, compared to what it was in the 70s.
My wife and I were appalled after downloading a one-sided lesson on the Israel-Gaza war from our son’s Freshman Ethnic Studies class last November: Basically, generations of kids are raised with a world view of Oppressed versus Oppressor by teaching a counter narrative that casts Israel (and America) as Oppressors.
No on Regional Transit Measure (RTM)
No on Prop 3
No on Prop 40
Yes on Prop 41
Yes on Prop 42
Yes on Prop 43
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