Sometimes we get good ideas from comments. Sometimes we get them directly from readers sending us e-mails. A handful of you asked us to reprint the Mayor Gonzales letter which the Mercury News just excerpted. I’m happy to oblige since that means I don’t have to write much this week.
In fairness, here’s a link to Scott Herhold’s column which got the debate going.
And now, a word from the mayor:
Taking the premise of Scott Herhold’s column to its logical end, I must come to the conclusion that he would say the best mayor we can have is one who does not attempt anything difficult. Nothing ventured, nothing lost.
He offers our community a odd and unrealistic choice: think small, and don’t risk failure by being ambitious—unless you are a unique political force of nature, like an Arnold Schwarzenegger, that comes along only rarely.
Of course that’s not what the people of San Jose want, and I agree with them.
Voters want strong and effective leadership now to make our city the best it can be. They have demonstrated this time and again over the past five years with their strong approvals of my proposals to extend BART to our city, bring our airport into the modern age, and cure the neglect of our parks, libraries, and fire stations that had built up over the past.
As mayor I have focused on successfully achieving clear and consistent goals, in the face of economic challenges no San Jose mayor has faced in generations. When times are good, everybody is happy. But when times are tough we have to make tough decisions and get criticized for them. That’s OK, because it’s me who’s paid to take abuse. That’s my job, not a columnist’s.
If bringing BART to town were easy, it would have been done already instead of remaining a dream only described in countless studies. Look at any big transit project in the nation, and you will find its path to completion was filled with obstacles, delays, and detours. We have made excellent progress and voters still strongly support BART, despite the challenges of this recession.
We knew we faced long odds for winning the stem cell research institute, but also knew we would be derelict in our duty if we didn’t go for it. That’s why we put a very strong package together, even if we are disappointed that it was derailed by a bureaucratic technicality. However, I am confident that San Jose is much better positioned today as a center for biotechnology, and this will be a key to our economic future.
And look at baseball. There is more momentum, energy, and concrete possibility today for bringing baseball here than ever before. And a correction, if you please - the City Council stopped talking about acquiring the Del Monte site as a potential location because we found a site that has much better advantages, whether for baseball or for other redevelopment. Not a failure.
I appreciate Herhold’s acknowledgment that my administration has achieved successes with neighborhoods, teacher housing, and historic preservation. I am disappointed, however, that he then diminishes the accomplishments of our past two mayors by suggesting they did not have ambitious agendas and only concentrated on projects that did not demand others to share their dreams. I think Tom McEnery and Susan Hammer would object too.
It must be hard to live in Scott Herhold’s world, where everything is tinged in failure.
I prefer the one inhabited by my neighbors and colleagues. I have experienced, time and again, that San Jose is successful because we work together. That’s why other cities look to us for solutions, and that’s why I’m proud to serve as our mayor.
Shortly, I will be making some annoucements on SanJoseInside. There is a place for everyone here to be involved even if you disagree with the Great San Jose Revitalization Plan (tenative name). Although, I did not want to reveal my strategy so early, I will be making public who I would like to be part of my administration once elected by the good people of San Jose.
Mr. Mayor
You began with a lot of promise, and for most of the time you have been mayor, you have accomplished those goals, and you must be admired for that. You are a great mentor as many of your first aides are now city council members.
However, you have seemed to slip while trying to grasp the brass rings, because you are becoming so insulated you forget to work with the people who helped you achieve many things.
You have some people snipping at your heels, like little Jack Russell dogs, Chuck Reed for example. Look at the Berreyssa School District fine, and ask yourself, the Chuck and Victor show screw up again. You have been a great advocate of transperancy. Unlike Chuck who will not confirm or deny his relationship to Ceppos, because he has no courage to do so, and like a Jack Russell, he just snipes away, you are a leader and you are a great leader for the valley.
Mr. Mayor, stop grasping and just lead!! You need to be the mayor you have been instead of worrying about a legacy. I am proud of what you said about PAC and Alex Marthews. It is a lot better that Mr. 140K at San Jose State, Alphonse De Alba, who takes student money for Scheller House and then accuses PAC of spreading “rumors.” Unlike people who divide the community, you made PAC a significant player in downtown. You can do that again with these other proposals by bringing in the entire community again.
You need not listen to the little Jack Russells, with their phony Victor papers that create fines and trouble, you are a mayor that can bring a hundred activists back.
Ron, we believe in you, if you just believe in us!!
I empathize with the Mayor. But as usual he missed Scott’s point.
Scott did not quibble with the Mayor’s goals, he simply pointed out that his management style was not condusive to achieving those lofty objectives.
Goals without strategy are merely wishes. The evident lack of strategy in achieving the Mayor’s stated vision combined with a harsh, go it alone management style is to a prescribtion for success.
The downside of attack-style politics, represented by the ever-loyal Joe Guerra, is that it builds up a reservoir of bad feelings.
I don’t believe either Mayor or Joe are bad people, they simply believe in the steamroll approach to politics. But it hasn’t served them well and they should learn from it.
Scott’s column was a contructive critique of the Mayor’s abilities. It may have not been pleasant to read, but it was an honest assessment of his administration.
For instance, playing lone ranger (complete with sidekick), in Arizona did not provide momentum, energy or any tangible result that would give us hope for a new stadium.
Getting BART to San Jose would be a huge accomplishment, even if it stopped (temporarily) in Berryessa.
It is difficult to bring people together when you have a thin skin and are unwilling to accept the advice and critique of others.
I have been a critic of the Mayor’s in the past, but my goal has never been to derail his agenda—except in the case of his opposition to Calpine. He still has an opportunity to succeed, but he must be willing to engage, listen, compromise, enlist and lead the effort.
I believe that was the major point of Scott’s cogent analysis. I, for one, agree with it.
Isn’t it great, this was about Herhold and Gonzales, and now we have to hear about how we should focus on someone’s clients.
What we feel sorry for Ron about is that he did not have Rivermark in his city, then we could hear about that, as only one person claims it all, and even, well he ain’t going to care anyway.
Getting back to Ron, this is about Ron, what Ron said, did, commented on, will do, can do,
concerning Ron,
I hope he does listen because if he suceeds, if we succeed, if we all succeed, San Jose will be a great city. Gee, following example I am not supposed to care about that for the above reasons, but, I do, very much I do as do all the rest of you. that is where we agree
Maybe Mr. Rowen could get together with Mr. Robinson offline and settle his issues that way. You seem to be under the impression that the rest of us care about your personal and business relationships and who may or may not have done this or that to someone or something. Perhaps you could give us all a break.
There are a number of former Mayors, City Council members, Chief of Staffs, Board of Supervisors, other elected officials, business, civic, and labor leaders who regularly read San Jose Inside Blog and have a unique perspective on today’s topic.
It would be very beneficial to San Jose and it’s residents if they would comment on Scott Herhold’s remarks, Mayor Ron Gonzales’ response, and their unique perspective on the best methods to develop or set community goals, the ease or difficulty of building community or regional support or consensus for both San Jose and regional proposals with positive suggestions for improving the process and how to best accomplish it
The business community, city administration / staff, developers, labor, neighborhoods and for regional proposals other local / county governments all have a role in this process so additional comments on their roles and actual / suggested performance would be appreciated.
Tom McEnery and Susan Hammer were both specifically mentioned, so perhaps they would comment .
It is understandable in our current unfortunately political atmosphere that reduces local free speech because of actual or implied threats of retaliation and ” attack-style politics ” allegedly directed by a few elected officials, their staffs or political consultant “ attack dogs “ that expressing criticism of elected officials by current elected officials or other community leaders may best be accomplished by commenting anonymously as we frequently see from residents, business owners, city employees and journalists.
It would be helpful if anonymous commenters would to give us some indication of your background for evaluating the context of your comments ( i.e. former city council. local small busines owner, chamber of commerce director, etc )
I began this blog about Ron, talked about only wanted to talk about Ron, Meeser Dodger, should spend more time asking people to do the same, and I was already dismissed by the other fellow so what is the point, which was the same tactic he claimed of Trippi.
The settlement would be fine, but I am not going to bring it up again, and I apologize. However, a settlement means recognition, and that was never done, another Trippi tactic the other fellow likes to use.
Well, the name of this blog is San Jose “Inside” but some of what’s being discussed by certain contributors is just a little too deep inside for anyone but them to care about.
Well, that is what I talked about today, I said the blog should be about Ron, and Ron, and said a couple of sentences about other things.
Gee, Mark T, do I ask you to approve of my speech from now on, that’s freedom. All I heard the other day was Magowan, Magowan, Magowan, no freedom for Magowan, gotta have freedom from Magowan, I tell the rest of the world what to write, but I get to talk about freedom, and Magowan, there is a Magowan stealing my soup, freedom from Magowan.
The Mayor misses the point. The best mayor we could have is one who can deliver basic city services and who treats citizens with respect, even those who may have a different opinion than his.
Has he succeeded in delivering basic city services? Try getting a street light fixed, or a pothole filled, or waiting at a poorly timed traffic light, or sitting through cycle after cycle of traffic at a congested intersection, or sitting on Hiway 87 in the morning or evening. Try attending a Council meeting to express an opinion as a citizen and you will find the Mayor’s only interest in your remarks is that they take less than 2 minutes. Try being a conscientious city employee who is not allowed to do their job because the facts don’t square with the results that the mayor wants. Try dealing with the mayor or his staff on a professional level and see how unprofessionally you are treated. I, and many others, could list many more things as to why this mayor is a failure, but they are “inside” and the general public does not see or hear much of what this guy has wrought upon the city.
His response to Herhold is that of a desperate pol who is ill-advised by his staff. It is rare for an elected to respond to a columnist, other than for factual errors. Herhold’s opinion was supported well—the mayor’s response was the usual puff piece put out by him and his staff.
All we can do is wait him out—the days of his term are dwindling. That’s the best you can say about him. Unfortunately, the outlook for the future is not that bright. Given the sandbagging of Cortese this week by his “colleagues” (including RG) the mayor’s race looks to be ugly and continue the Gonzales policy of vendetta politics. Welcome to SJ.
Sorry for the typos in post 4.
Para three should have read
Goals without strategy are merely wishes. The evident lack of strategy in achieving the Mayor’s stated vision combined with a harsh, go it alone management style is not a prescription for success.
Jude, one other thing journalists have that bloggers don’t—editors.
Media Relations 101: You do not and should not respond to every attack the press levels against you; it continues to perpetuate the news cycle and focus on the bad press. Ron and his team never learned this. They respond to EVERY criticism the Merc publishes and it only festers more negative comments & discussion (such as today’s blog).
As someone who knows City Hall & the 6th Floor well, the atmosphere there is one of vendettas and personal agenda. Ron uses the budget to punish or praise his friends and makes life hell for those who ask questions on policies he is pushing. It is so sad at City Council meetings when he tries to rush Councilmembers who ask questions and tries to silence them. That is the job of a Councilmember, to ask tough questions so they make good decisions.
Ron’s agenda was bold, but he failed to put together a solid strategy to achieve it—BART, Baseball, Stem Cell, DT Theater, Airport, new City Hall. Parks & libraries are not that great even with new bond money, and our roads look horrible. Blaming the budget is a poor excuse, look at what Ron pays his staff (most make over 60K/year and he pays one person over 70K just to do his website).
Tuesday’s stunt against Cortese was horrible. If anything, the Evergreen TF has been meeting for 2 years and their work has not been a secret. If Ron & Nora (who will follow whatever Ron or Big Labor tell her) really had a problem with it, they should have brought it up long ago and not at the last minute. Heck, it was just a task force report not zoning changes.
I would like SJ Inside to publish the salaries of all the 6th Floor staff; it is public record and we should see how much WE are paying for WHAT.
Speaking of salaries – from an August 2003 Merc. article (sorry for the length):
Some highlights: Two top mayoral aides, Rebecca Dishotsky and Joe Guerra, earn more than Ron Gonzales (unless you count the mayor’s $4,200 annual car allowance and other perks). And there are more female than male aides overall (31 vs. 21), but the guys, on average, make more: $58,068 for men compared with $55,195 for women.
On that divisive note, Gonzales has 10 women and six men on staff, but the men earn $73,341 on average vs. $66,866 for women. Council members employ 21 women and 15 men overall. But the men make an average of $51,958 vs. $49,637 for women.
In fairness, we didn’t do a breakdown and comparison by job type or experience level.
Gonzales pays his 16 staffers an average of $69,293. Among council members, Dave Cortese’s shop is the best place to work, at least if measured by salary. He pays an average of $59,058, followed by Chuck Reed at $58,230 and Terry Gregory at $56,999. Judy Chirco pays the lowest average, $43,510, slightly less than Nora Campos at $44,002.
Before we continue, a bit of perspective: Gonzales earns a base salary of $105,000, and the 10 council members each take home $75,000 (like Gonzales, they also get a $4,200 car allowance). As of late July, Gonzales had 16 people on staff; council members had between three and five aides each.
The Top 20: 1. Dishotsky, $107,598 (Gonzales); 2. Guerra, $106,579 (Gonzales); 3. Jim Webb, $91,437 (Gonzales); 4. David Vossbrink, $89,294 (Gonzales communications director); 5. Maria Westfried, $84,906 (Gonzales); 6. Donald Rocha, $82,555 (Cortese); 7. Jennifer Galliart, $80,018 (Gonzales); 8. Dawn Wright, $79,019 (Reed); 9. Tona Duncanson, $75,525 (Chirco); 10. Craig Mann, $75,005 (Gregory); 11. Rebecca Norcott, $70,491 (Gonzales); 12. Armando Gomez, $70,117 (Reed); 13. Scarlett Li Lam, $65,000 (Gregory); 14. Heather McGowan (recently departed), $64,272 (Forrest Williams); 15. Christine Silva Burnett, $63,002 (Campos); 16. James Cogan, $62,005 (Linda LeZotte); 17. Rick Crosetti, $61,984 (Ken Yeager); 18. Avo Makdessian, $61,963 (Gonzales); 19. Jonathan Noble, $60,258 (Cindy Chavez); 20. Olivia Nunez and Julie Shioshita, tied at $60,091 (Gonzales).
Those with the biggest differential between the highest- and lowest-paid aides are Chirco ($75,524 vs. $19,999), Reed ($79,019 vs. $28,080 for a part-time aide) and Gregory ($75,005 vs. $30,992). Council members with more socialist tendencies are Dando ($54,517 highest-paid, $50,274 lowest), LeZotte($62,005 vs. $52,499), and Chavez ($60,258 vs. $32,760).
I realize this may be considered blasphemy in this neck of the blogosphere but I’m going to offer a few positive comments about Gonzales.
10 or 20 years from now when you look back on the results of this administration what will you see? A new downtown City Hall which fits with major downtown redevelopment (much of which, admittedly, started before his administration), a greatly expanded airport, some very good historic preservation such as the Montgomery Hotel, and unlike many of his predecessors a good effort to funnel money and services into the neighborhoods.
Beyond that, if Gonzales should succeed with BART or getting a Baseball team…or both…there will be absolutely no question that he will have succeeded in completing more major San Jose projects than any other Mayor in modern history.
Is he, as Scott Herhold said “ornery and prickly?” That seems to be the case. Is he arrogant? I think so. Pushy? The rest of the county thinks so.
Gonzales doesn’t seem to want anyone’s advice, but he would do well to listen to his critics on those points. (A little less of the “ornery and prickly” might help him when it comes time to ask people in Palo Alto and Gilroy to help him pay for BART.)
Despite the fact that his popularity seems to be fading fast in his lame duck second term I’ll bet anyone a beer at the House of Pizza 20 years from now that Gonzo is regarded as one of San Jose’s better Mayors.
The wreckage that Gonzales will leave behind will erase anything positive he may have done.
His “hit” list of people in CH that he wanted out for political, not performance reasons has left the city without much of its important institutional memory. His “my way or the highway” attitude has demoralized city staff to perhaps its lowest level ever. His record on preservation leaves much to be desired. He has presided over more destruction of historic resources than he has saved.
The new CH is a disaster about to unfold. It is already too small, there is insufficient workspace, storage, etc. And just wait until the true costs are revealed. There will be nothing to be proud of on this project.
If he is ever regarded as one of SJ’s better mayors it will take a lot longer than 20 years before the memories of what he did to the city are erased.
“As mayor I have focused on successfully achieving clear and consistent goals, in the face of economic challenges no San Jose mayor has faced in generations.”
Mr. Mayor,
When you took office our city and redevelopment had a huge surplus of cash and resources to use. Frank Taylor, Susan Hammer, the San Jose Downtown Association, and many local developers had projects in the pipeline that were realistic, fundable and far better than what you have done downtown.
You fired Frank Taylor, derailed all the plans, and hired an absolute idiot to run the RDA. (the only thing she accomplished was change the name to RA).
All the plans were put on hold so you could do studies, then a few more studies, and then some studies to see if the studies made any sense. Your great idea (flavor of the day, besides your interns) was to hire one developer (Palladium Group) to do a master plan and development for downtown.
Nothing they had planned even seemed more interesting than that of plans from the Taylor days; and basically wasting all the time and money on studies (and of course your spending of our tax money like a drunk lottery winner!) lead to no funding for any significant projects.
So Mr. Mayor; please remember whose leadership put us into the “economic challenges” we face now!
Thanks for posting the Merc article from 2003 about salaries. However, in light of a salary freeze, several councilmembers have given raises in the guise of a promotion.
Also, with newly elected Pyle, we should know what she is paying her people.
Gee, aren’t we being hard on Ron, there, Rich? Something you told us not to do for a while. Did Dave make the call or something to get you the deal now, So we will hear about how Ron is bad from now on?
I’d suggest Bill Chew as your campaign Manager; because he’d get more votes than you when he runs against you!
Mayor Ron screwed it up for us by hiring a derelict who was in charged of redevelopment agency. All she did was studying, studying and studying and let downtown go to hell by way of old Detroit and Watts. What a snufu!
The sad thing about Shick is she worked for over five years and has qualified for a large % of her salary for life.
Is that not an incredible kick in the teeth?!!!
Today, I announce my candidacy for Major of S.J.
I’m non-partisan and have no knowledge of city
politics. I’ll be down at Stumpson Saturday evening – hosting some cocktails with my girl friends. C’mon and stop in.