Oct 12, 2021Ghosts of Candlestick, or We’ll be talking about that one for a while.Regardless of what happens in the remainder of the National League Division Series between the arch rival San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball fans will be thinking and talking—and bitching—about Game 3 for the rest of their lives. As a Giants fan, I’ll be in the former two…Baseball4 min readBaseball4 min read
Apr 19, 2021Undervote, or Why moving election dates won’t solve the real problem.Last year, there was a bit of a kerfuffle in San José over the timing of elections. The local labor movement had invested a bunch of money gathering signatures to put a measure before voters to shift mayoral races in the city from gubernatorial election years to coincide instead with…Elections6 min readElections6 min read
Aug 8, 2020$4,020, or The cost of doing business in local elections.Running for office is hard. It is mentally and physically exhausting. It alienates loved ones and ends marriages. …Elections5 min readElections5 min read
Jun 25, 2020Flip the script, or Let’s commit (legit) voter fraud.Us Democrats and progressives are a generally optimistic bunch. We drink the Kool-Aid of America. We down it like a frat pledge doing a keg stand. And we believe that every day is a new opportunity to make a more perfect union. That’s why when we wake up and see…Election 20206 min readElection 20206 min read
Apr 30, 2020Service game, or Why I’m applying for reappointment to the Planning Commission.Recently, I’ve been asked by multiple well-meaning friends when I would be resigning from the planning commission. Not if. When. Because I’m not known for tossing cats, the suggestion seems a bit odd on its face. But my friends aren’t implying that I’m not qualified to serve. They’re saying I…Public Policy4 min readPublic Policy4 min read
Nov 9, 2019Lawn Boy, or The Downfall of Western Civilization.We have this neighbor who loves his lawn. In and of itself, this is not uncommon, nor cause for concern. Most of the California suburban dream is embodied by that perfect patch of manicured green grass in front of a single-family, ranch-style home on a block of single-family, ranch-style homes…Gardening4 min readGardening4 min read
Sep 11, 2019You’re doing it wrong, or Why a commissioner is not a councilmember.Let’s make one thing clear right off the top: San José has a long history of systemic racism that has marginalized black and brown communities east of Highway 87 (the successor to U.S. …Politics4 min readPolitics4 min read
Jul 25, 2019Decision: MadBum, or Why they couldn’t pay me enough to be a general manager.If your buddy tells you they knew in March that there would be this many questions swirling around the future of the San Francisco Giants as we enter the last week of July, you should immediately take them for a cognitive evaluation by a medical professional. …Sports4 min readSports4 min read
Jul 11, 2019Occupational Hazard, or Why every political consultant needs a therapist.Call it an occupational hazard for political consultants. A key component of the job description is reconciling the competing mindsets of strategist and target market. This is a delicate balance for the type of folks drawn to this type of work, who tend to be too close to the fire…Politics2 min readPolitics2 min read
Jun 20, 2019Roots of Equity, or Why my privilege is part of the problem.There’s been a lot of talk about equity lately in San José, and it seems like everyone has their own definition. Some of our city leaders seem to think that equity has to do with koi ponds and movie nights at community centers. …Family5 min readFamily5 min read
