Eric Jaye

sfstandard.com/2026/10/28/sa… Just because you can buy elections, doesn't mean you should. The process of having to consult with your opponents makes the outcomes better for everyone. All the talk about how our democracy is slowing things down forgets, that's the point. When you go slow, consult, and compromise you get better outcomes.

nytimes.com/2026/10/27/techn… "This is what late-stage democracy looks like."

How the Consulting Class Is Eating the Democratic Party newrepublic.com/article/2163… via @newrepublic An absolute must read.

In San Francisco, Democracy Decays with a Whimper ericjaye.substack.com/p/in-s…

Okay - @DanielLurie was doing exactly what his security detail asked him to do when they were attacked in the Tenderloin yesterday. They were facing a threat and by stepping back he was acting to protect offers who protect him so well - by allowing them to focus on the threat. If you are criticizing Lurie or the officers - it is out of malice or ignorance frankly.

EU chief diplomat Kallas: World’s woes mean it’s time to start drinking politico.eu/article/eu-chief… It's dry January Minister. Can we wait until next month?

YIMBYs are on a winning streak — so where's the housing? Three ideas to fix the crisis sfstandard.com/2025/07/31/yi… via @sfstandard Very much worth a read. There actually are tools out there to create more affordable housing, we just are not using them (yet).

One Freshman Textbook Cannot Explain San Francisco’s Housing Markets open.substack.com/pub/ericja… The data is in - and "trickle down" housing doesn't work as a policy for affordability in global cities like San Francisco. So why are politicians like @DanielLurie embracing it?

Jake Tapper’s “Original Sin” Is a Not-Very-Original Cover-Up. open.substack.com/pub/ericja… The Democratic establishment looks for scapegoats – and finds them with Jake Tapper's help.

Democrats’ 2024 Autopsy Is Described as Avoiding the Likeliest Cause of Death nytimes.com/2025/07/19/us/po… Shocking, not surprising. Of course they (we) want to blame everyone but ourselves.

Will she or won't she? The California governor's race waits on Kamala Harris latimes.com/politics/story/2… Kamala Harris has run some very good campaigns and some terrible campaigns. But this "pre-campaign," if that's what she is doing – is an unmitigated disaster.

California Politicians Define a Minor Speed Bump as Major Roadblock and Take a Premature Victory Lap on Housing open.substack.com/pub/ericja… What do you say when all the headline writers are wrong about something so important to California? This is what I said – trying my best to unravel the mystery behind why politicians decided to call a small speed bump to more housing a major barrier to a more affordable California.

The Swells Come for the Sunset – and the Sunset Fights Back open.substack.com/pub/ericja… It is about more than a road. It is about what San Francisco should be or stay - and who it is for.

If you know you know.

thetimes.com/us/american-pol… @GavinNewsom going head to head with the @realDonaldTrump. It was just a matter of time.

‘Gavin got his groove back.’ How Newsom’s fight with Trump broke his moderate mirage sfstandard.com/2025/06/10/ne… via @sfstandard I think we are seeing (mostly) the "real" Newsom. But we sure have seen a lot of different Newsoms in just a few short weeks.

Deserted S.F. art campus has a new name, and vision for its future sfchronicle.com/sf/article/a… via @sfchronicle This is just incredibly good news.

S.F. Mayor Daniel Lurie will loom large over the city’s next recall fight sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s… via @sfchronicle It's the classic political dilemma - does @DanielLurie invest political capital to help @JoelEngardio or does he husband his resources for another day?

kqed.org/news/12041884/after… “They’re fighting what they perceive to be the problem of performative politics with more performative policies,” said Eric Jaye, a political consultant. “And if it wasn’t so sad, it would be laughable.”

latimes.com/california/story… Gavin Newsom is so much better, and smarter, than this. First he drastically weakens his LGBTQ base. Then he blows up his signature career issue - universal healthcare. Why? (And the answer is not because it is good politics).