Taves: Failed Silicon Valley politician plans to inject California's Prop. 13 with steroids

"Some promises aren't worth keeping. Like Rishi Kumar's. A mechanical engineer, perennial candidate for higher office and Silicon Valley gadfly, Kumar shamelessly pandered to baby boomers last year while running to be the next assessor of Santa Clara County, repeatedly misleading voters that, were he to win, he'd exempt seniors from property taxes. Kumar knew that lowering taxes isn't the duty of county assessors, whose core job is establishing the value of taxable properties."

"They can't set tax rates or even collect taxes. But Kumar didn't want to let the truth get in his campaign's way. Fortunately, Assistant Assessor Neysa Fligor defeated Kumar in a Dec. 30 runoff by nearly a 2-1 ratio. Unfortunately, Kumar is still moving forward with his campaign promise of a statewide initiative to prevent homeowners 60 and over from paying property taxes. The measure awaits an official ballot title and summary from the state attorney general."

"From there, Kumar says, he'll be building the operation to collect the required 874,641 signatures to place the initiative in front of voters in November. The odds of him qualifying his initiative are long, and that's a good thing. His plan to amend California's Constitution would inject Proposition 13 with steroids, handing an epic tax windfall to property-owning seniors while reducing local government funds for tackling the very problem homelessness he purports wanting to solve."

Rishi Kumar repeatedly told voters he would exempt seniors from property taxes while running for Santa Clara County assessor, despite assessors lacking authority to set rates or collect taxes. Kumar targeted baby‑boomer homeowners with promises of tax relief tied to senior affordability. Neysa Fligor defeated Kumar in a Dec. 30 runoff by nearly 2-to-1, yet Kumar plans a statewide constitutional initiative to bar property taxes for homeowners aged 60 and over. The initiative requires 874,641 signatures and an official ballot title and summary. If enacted, the measure would amplify Proposition 13 protections, deliver large tax benefits to property‑owning seniors, and shrink local revenues for services addressing homelessness.

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