I thought when everyone talked about San Jose and looked into its future, we all agreed that we didn’t want to become another Los Angeles. Well, it looks like, yes folks, right before your eyes, we are. The plan for Coyote Valley and the other new developments in the area are just leading us down the path of becoming another suburban-sprawled city like L.A., but does anyone in City Hall see it that way?
Is Highway 101 going to become our 405, with deadlocked traffic leading to Coyote Valley in the middle of the day? Are we going to have to get used to a brown blanket covering our skies just like the City of Angels because of all the car exhaust from extra commuters trying to get around? I fear that is where we’re headed because those in power are pushing the panic button over companies and people leaving our city, advocating knee-jerk expansions of San Jose into mini-cities without thinking about the ramifications.
In the mayor’s race, David Pandori seems to be the only one who wants to completely stop the plans in Coyote Valley. But do enough people agree with him? He stands alone in this view, so either the people will get behind him and he will stand alone when it comes to votes, or the voters who believe in this development will have to choose amongst the other four candidates who, to varying degrees, are all for this development going forward.
If Coyote Valley has the same planning and genius as projects like City Hall, we’re in for a quick transformation into L.A. North; thus, we might as well start painting the letters for our own “Gonzowood” sign draping the foothills of San Jose.
The Coyote Valley issue has earned my support for David Pandori. I read an article in this morning’s MN about how much Cindy Chavez was involved early on in the race subsidy even though the Council as a body hadn’t been involved. I appreciate Pandori’s view on most issues.
If you asked me a decade ago where I wanted to live and raise a family – I would have said San Jose. I honestly can’t say that now. The pride we had as Northern Californians was that we were different than LA. That concept is long gone.
For many residents, the development of North First Street and Coyote Valley isn’t on their “top 10” of their priorities – it is getting their paycheck or taking care of their kids. That doesn’t mean these issues aren’t important to them in the long-run. Most people will drive down 101 and say “oh, sh**, where did all of this construction come from” By then it is too late.
If economic development and housing are so critical to San Jose – be creative, maximize your current resources – then, make a plan the citizens would be proud of – not the developers.
I wish we could vote on land use issues like this one – then the citizens could take some responsibility for their city’s future – otherwise we just get to blame the politians when things go wrong. Maybe I’ll move to LA
We can vote on land use issues like this by voting for David Pandori. He is the only candidate not owned by the development community. He is calling the Coyote Valley plan what it is—a disaster. If we don’t do something about this now, many of us will be looking for a new place to live as soon as we can. Why would anybody stay in SJ any longer than they have to given the current direction of the city???
I’m not on David’s staff nor am I a volunteer—I just know a bad plan when I see one. The other candidates are clueless when it comes to most land use issues. Vote for them and you get what you deserve—sprawl, congestion, stretched city services, etc.
Great column, SG. I know you’ve taken some hits over some fluffy pieces, but this one is right on the mark. Hopefully, all those neighborhood folks will look beyond their own backyards and realize the future of our city is at stake. It takes more than a neighborhood to make a city.
The biggest reason that there is a big push to build Coyote in big labor. They want the construction jobs at any cost:
To hell with the enviroment, to hell with core city services, to hell with the residents of San Jose. Give us jobs for our laborers, who live in other cities-so they can take their money and spend it in another city’s economy. Who cares if the city is bankrupted, they will still have their union jobs.
This is what happens when you have a city hall that is run by a majority of people who were put into office by labor unions.
Labor is the biggest lobbiests that never were. To paraphrase Neil Struthers from a Mercury News article about a year ago: We don’t need to lobby them, we put them in office.
Vote only for candidates not backed by big labor!!!!
How do you put those cute little smily faces into your post?
Pandori doesn’t want to do a thing with Coyote Valley OR North San Jose NOR has he spoken out strongly for infill projects. David is really against any change in density. BUT, Coyote Valley is no longer viable for farming and the families there for generations like the Sasos have to bring stuff in for their fruitstands. My buddy Carl Voss, 3rd generation San Jose farmer,gave up on his rented acreage in Coyote Valley because he was going broke. The family’s acreage over in the valley, bought when Dutch made the SJ farm impossible, still keeps him busy having fun farming without losing the farm. All this handwringing about LA-ization of doggy SJ shows the same old lack of imagination. The developers AND the unions want Coyote Valley, when the real answer is for a wise leader to prompt the citizenry to rise up to make Coyote into a utility district, buy it, and make it into the park that this “tenth largest US city” pretends it has with that stupid Guadalupe Park you can’t see, the perfect place for sheltering mayhem. (Street gangs will become creek gangs.) Then the Sasos and others can get paid, finally, the cost can be spread out to all of San Jose for years, and we’d be ahead of the urban curve instead of always behind it. But what, exactly, is wrong about developing North First St? Where are the farms? Afraid one more new person or business will disturb the collective coma? Pandori is NOT the person with an answer to any of this. NO! is his only word; not a speck of YES. George Green
There comes a time when enough is enough by destroying coyote valley is it going to help this city in any way ,no is it going to help a few millionaires get more money ,yes GREED MONEY GREED MONEY THATS ALL THESE PEOPLE WANT MORE MONEY MORE GREED,So who are you going to vote for ? PANDORI, or more greed!!!
Development just for the sake of development will bring us all the downsides of a big city (traffic, pollution, a city that goes on forever but can’t match services with demand, etc.) and none of the good things. We will continue to deficient in parks, our roads will continue to be undermaintained, our community centers will be closed or lacking in staff, our libraries will operate on reduced hours, etc. Sounds like a dream come true. Keep pushing to develop Coyote and NSJ and you will have this “dream.” Sometimes, like any good parent, you have to say NO. For all of you supporters of developing Coyote and NSJ, how are you going to pay for it? How are you going to provide basic city services? How are you going to mitigate the traffic? How are you going to repair and improve the roadways? I could go on, but I don’t expect any answers of substance but these are things you should think about as you promote the end of SJ as we know it.
#8 George – I don’t get your point. The city should buy theCoyote land, so your farmers friends get paid, turn the land into a park that is far from most city neighborhoods and retail centers. How does this get paid for, with already depleted city coffers?
As for NSJ i guess you’ve never commuted. Adding 32000 homes, (60000 cars) in a half mile area in the middle of the densest commute area, I’m thrilled with the idea because I really like talk radio. Seriously, this would greatly impact the quality of life here in SJ, traffic = time away from my family, stress, polution, wasted $ on ever increasing gasoline prices. I also suppose this will effect the surrounding areas with increased traffic, I know because I use the surface streets now when traffic is especially bad.
I’ll admit there may be some benefits, if retail, small businesses and restaurants are created and nutured in the area. Also perhaps this may encourage big companies to move in as well, helping our tax base.
Quite frankly, I think we are becoming another Detroit. Why would big business move in now, high wages, high taxes, high cost of living with the local labor force that is inadequately educated.
We need to improve our present quality of life not detract from it. Let’s fix our current neighborhoods before creating new ones.
I hate the thought of sprawling to Coyote Valley and North 1st… its such a terrible idea. We need to focus more on downtown. Its becoming better than ever before.
Shouldn’t we consult with the Indians and Mexican gov’t before deciding what to do with Coyote Valley?
According to Ward Churchill and La Raza, we are nothing more than oppressors and illegal occupiers and have no right to this land.
Maybe the Indians want to build a casino in Coyote Valley?
Maybe Mexico/Vincente Fox would like us to build acres and acres of barracks to house tens of thousands of Mexican foreign nationals.
Who are we to deny them?
If we aren’t more sensitive and inclusive in the Coyote Valley land use process – won’t we be guilty of intolerance and racism?
Who among us could bear to see an Indian on the shoulder of 101 with a tear in his eye?
Why all we hear is N. San Jo and Coyote Valley during the campaign for mayor? What about the downtown? It needs more attention and funds more than any other areas of San Jo. Hone in on downtown, not Coyote Valley. Screw Coyote Valley. It must remain rural! Any city developments must take place mostly in downtown! What’s the matter with you, San Joseans?! Beef up downtown area with all the nilk and crannies of growth you’re suggesting for other parts of the city.
This may be a stretch. But from what I have read above…
How can a candidate run on a platform saying that neighborhoods and city services are a priority THEN support the sprawl into Coyote Valley. Can those two objectives be achieved at the same time?
Just curious.
The plan to development Coyote Valley is the worst ever! We are making great strides in downtown San Jose and thats where the majority of the focus should remain. Forget about N. First also! San Jose cannot handle a downtown and “Uptown”. It isn’t feasible, nor ideal.
Chuck Reed and his personal attachment to N. First will ruin San Jose!
Some have said Cindy is Ron G. in a dress. I know that is not true , I have seen the two of them sitting in the same room at the same time. I think they were with Norcal reps. or were they reps from The Grand Fix.
I’m sure her true identity will soon come out as she ignores the facts, takes no blame for her actions, refuses to learn from her mistakes, and continues to lie. Has anybody seen Cindy Chavez and George Bush at the same time?
do u think i knew about garbage deal too. lol
I don’t get how people can oppose North San Jose redevelopment and Coyote valley in the same post. Let’s compare and contrast:
Coyote Valley-New sprawl onto virgin countryside requiring new infrastructure and most likely generating new traffic congestion.
North San Jose, on the other hand, has infrastructure and is already developed, so you won’t be losing much rural character. Most importantly, NSJ is served by the currently underutilized light rail system. Increasing density in NSJ, coupled with useful transit improvements [read NOT BART] would be a good thing.
BTW, note how the expensive BART project goes nowhere near Coyote valley. Seems to me, the City should be trying to justify the huge BART investment by up-zoning the area around the proposed BART stations and leaving Coyote valley alone.
N. First and Coyote both take away resources from enhancing existing communities (San Jose’s REAL Downtown, ahem!). We don’t need to build thousands of more homes on N. First.
Lets build up San Carlos between downtown and Bird, as well and The Alameda from Downtown to Race St. Also, further development needs to take place from 280 to Julian and 87 to 11th St. These areas can be higher density residential areas with lots of character, funky shops, and foot traffic. Also, we NEED another pro sports team (NFL, MLB, or NBA) and to build a second downtown sports arena. I am referring to the proposal thats online at http://www.sjredevelopment.com/ballpark.htm.
I’m tired of cardboard box homes that are built nowadays, and that would be the signature of the communities built at N.First and Coyote.
I couldn’t agree more Mr. Downtown! There’s so much potential within SJ proper for new developement, without destroying the Coyote Valley or Manhattanizing N. First Street. Your ideas for San Carlos St., The Alameda, and Pro Sports is right on! Another area that should be considered for future development is the Monterey corridor between 280 and the Fairgrounds (I personally think the Fair should be relocated to South County, but that’s another subject for another time). Infill San Jose proper before pushing more age-old sprawl!
Dear San Jose:
I thought that we were done with this “stuff!” The Mercury News had to file a California Public Records Act request to get the Grand Prix subsidy e-mails released, but, “it (the city) withheld portions of several sensitive e-mails, including an Aug 13 document reflecting the early involvement of Gonzales and Chavez.” (4/25/06 Merc). The city attorney said that the city was entitled to withhold the records to protect the “deliberative process.” Please …It’s a stupid car race, not a nuclear arms negotiation!
Wait, there’s more. A deputy city manager forwarded a message to the previous city manager that read, “If this goes public soon we’ll need to manage anxiety about the implications.” (4/25/06)
The Mercury News reported that the vice-mayor met at least five times on the issuing dating back to August. The improved reporting of the Mercury News helps those of us who are supporting other candidates to make the important case that a Chavez Administration will just be a continuation of the Gonzales Administration!
Pete Campbell
I agree with #6, jobs will be created in Coyote…temporary labor council jobs – then nothing but homes sucking down city services and leaving the rest of the city unserved.
We must protect the job triggers.
Thank you Tony. I think everyone needs to see the potential here. We are at a critical point in determining San Jose’s future. Will we be a city with character? Will Santana Row be the new heart of San Jose? Will San Jose ultimately be a Destination or a Pit Stop to San Francisco?
I want San Jose to be a Destination in the Bay Area. I want people to choose San Jose for their nights out, shopping, lunches and dinners, power meetings, Worldwide Headquarters, bachelor/ette parties… why can’t San Jose be that place?
It all starts with Downtown, which has been neglected for too long. Once we have Downtown right, the rest will (more easily) fall into place.
Looks like San Jose wasn’t too smart about planning in the past. A recent Merc article reported that “San Jose receives $254 per resident in property and sales taxes, while job-rich Santa Clara next door collects $480.”
We should add to the Coyote Valley trigger that housing cannot be built in Coyote Valley until San Jose’s revenue per resident comes close to the revenue received by the city of Santa Clara.
How about a big electronic sign in the San Jose council chambers showing the current revenue per resident so we know exactly when we can start talking seriously about housing in Coyote Valley.
See http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/14410677.htm
read my email about garbadge deal. lol
Pete Campbell, #22, as well as all the other folks calling Cindy Chavez a crook and a liar because of the Mercury News story this morning concerning the Grand Prix:
First, you’re NOT on topic. The Grand Prix has nothing to do with sprawl.
Second, I’m not going to defend Chavez’s or the council’s substantive vote to subsidize the Grand Prix. That vote was wrong-headed and I told Chavez so at the time. I also told Chuck Reed afterward that I admired his vote and he was correct to take a stand on substance—we simply cannot afford the subsidy. (Cortese tried to have it both ways by saying he was for the race but wanted more time to review the matter.)
Nonetheless . . .
Chavez’s vote was a matter of public record at the time. Thus, there is nothing newsworthy about Chavez’s vote itself.
Further, there’s nothing whatsoever of substance in the Mercury News article that connotes dishonesty or illegality on the part of Chavez regarding her Grand Prix vote or actions preceding it.
The article oozes innuendo, but fails to deliver any facts, which is why it is a classic hatchet piece by a malevolent reporter (Barry Witt) with an axe to grind.
So Cindy Chavez talked with grand prix officials last summer and fall. So what? That doesn’t contradict her public statement from the council dais, quoted in the Merc story, that it’s difficult to get documents (presumably meaning the staff report with the deal terms) on the eve of the council vote. As Chavez is said to have told the Mercury News, her conversations with grand prix officials were general in nature and she was not aware of the details of the nature and extent of the subsidy being requested earlier than the rest of the city council. And, of course, it’s the details of the plan that are important for voting purposes —as all you Pandori supporters have reminded me about the North San Jose plan.
You may be skeptical, but I find Chavez’s UNCONTROVERTED explanation highly plausible. Without more, and there is NOT more within the four-corners of Witt’s story, there simply is no story. Witt doesn’t say why this is supposed to be news or what he is suggesting Chavez did wrong; he only conveys a vague sense of shadiness which doesn’t withstand careful scrutiny.
The Mercury News’ journalistic ethics should be called into question by this story. In the middle of a heated mayoral campaign, this sort conjectural piece, without any evidence or direct accusation whatsoever of wrongdoing, is inappropriate. There is no reasonable suspicion, let alone probable cause, of illegality or unethical behavior by Chavez. Without more, the story simply should not have run. It was a shameful hit piece, pure and simple.
By the way, I have evidence from which a far more solid case can be made that Barry Witt, the Merc reporter who penned this garbage, has been itching to run a hatchet job on Chavez for several weeks now. I know because Witt called me as part of that effort. He purported to want to talk about one subject, so I tried to engage him off the record about current events on that subject, with inside information that a good faith reporter would have been quite interested in, but Witt kept changing the subject to Chavez and her actions four months ago. The conversation was so odd and non-objective, I called Witt’s editor, David Satterfield to complain, but Satterfield never returned my call. I also complained to another Mercury News reporter about Witt at the time. (I’ve never had to complain about a Merc reporter before.) And I alerted the Chavez campaign to expect a hatchet job from Witt, which ‘lo-and-behold arrived today. Witt’s going to have to do better to derail Chavez’s campaign, which appears plainly to be his and, evidently, his bosses’ objective.
You want to talk about ethics and sunshine—how about shining some into the Mercury News?
# 22 Pete
You are wrong ! Things would not stay the same, it would be way worse under Cindy. Ron is taking the hit for Cindy on Norcal. Who had the labor ties? Sit back and watch it all unfold. Thank you Less White , S.J. Mercury, it’s your turn now MR.D.A.
Also well put #24
The Business Journal reports that Mulcahy wants the DA to investigate Cindy’s involvement in Grand Prix Gate. Her campaign spokesspinner issued a response. Why is her campaign responding to an issue dealing with city business?? The two (campaign and official city business) are supposed to be kept seperate. Surely, Cindy must know the dangers of crossing that line—or has she mixed the two for so long she can’t tell the difference??
Single Gal, what you describe is almost certainly inevitible. Developers and lobbyists have our leadership in their back pocket. The hell of it is that, to offset the incremental pollution, you and I and the San Jose populace will be asked to cease backyard BBQs, turn in gas-operated lawn mowers, etc. And what of the tremendous subsidy for Coyote Valley police, fire, schools, transportation infrastructure, etc.? That’s right, we’ll all pay for that as well.
Not on topic?? The topic is who should be our next mayor based on their positions on issues and their record. If someone’s record reflects a pattern of poor decisions I think that is right on topic.
#27 Don
Wow I started to read your blog as it stated,” I am not going to defend Cavez’s”,(I thought “I new he was a class act , he is doing the right thing.”) Then I read on, the excuses, and worst of all a trick right out of the Bush playbook blaming the media,shoot the mesenger. I’m sure you could care less but there is one less citizen in this town that admires you.
Hey Single Gal, forget Gonzowood. If the majority of voters don’t get it right, we could end up with a “CINYTOWN” or “CINDYWOOD” along the Coyote Valley Hills.
And lets not forget Reedville, Cortese Heights or Mulcahy Park.
Here’s a couple more for Mal’s most excellent list…
7. The reporter has a cousin, who has a brother, who knows someone, that used to work at … Fox News!
8. This is all part of a vast ‘white wing’ conspiracy.
Sorry to have disappointed you folks, but I stand by my post.
The primary problem with the Grand Prix vote was that it was substantively wrong. The procedures in bringing the deal before the whole council (whatever the mayor and vice mayor may have known in advance) were also seriously flawed—but the whole council knew about the flawed procees at the time they voted. Yet, they voted 8-3 in favor of a stupid subsidy, anyway. (Linda LeZotte went so far as to wag her finger at staff and tell them the late notice had to stop, but went ahead and voted for the subsidy anyway.) Thus, the substantive vote supersedes the procedural concerns. Excorciate Cindy Chavez (and her council colleagues) all you want for her (and their) vote, made all the more egregious because they all said they were blindsided by the details of the proposal being voted on. The other mayoral candidates can and should drub Chavez for her vote on the campaign trail. I did over the phone with her shortly after she took the vote.
But Chavez’s vote, made in public several months ago, is not news today. It’s only newsworthy now if it has been recently discovered that she did something illegal or unethical in connection with the matter, but there is no evidence whatsoever that she did, which is why no candidate, nor the Merc, is calling for Chavez to be censured or investigated by the District Attorney. (Indeed, the Merc reports today that Chavez’s attorney opponents don’t believe there’s anything for the D.A. to look into.)
So, if it’s not news, the question remains why the Mercury News is making such a big deal about it now. I have posited one hypothesis, which is that the Merc is not merely objectively reporting the news but is instead on a partisan crusade to derail Chavez’s campaign. The fact that the Merc is downplaying Mayor Gonzales’ role (remember him? he’s still in office) despite implicating him in early knowledge about the request for a subsidy underscores that this recent story is less about good government than it is about “getting” Chavez.
The pretense of media objectivity has always been false, and the Merc has many entrenched biases, including favoring Barry Bonds over local teams like the Sharks (or the Earthquakes), as observed by the Sharks’ announcer among others elsewhere on this blog. The Merc has never favored Chavez, who is too closely aligned with Labor for its corporate interests.
Notably, one of the Merc’s biases, like virtually every power player in this valley, Labor and business alike (including Mulcahy’s base), is that it supports the Grand Prix. As evidence, you need merely look at it’s hagiographic coverage of the event last summer, which was vastly out-of-proportion to its newsworthiness and amounted to a virtual free infomercial. On substance, no doubt, the Merc is happy to see the Grand Prix subsidized. So the Merc refrains from attacking Chavez on substance, which is where in my mind she and her like-minded council colleagues are correctly criticized.
The fact of the matter is that Merc, as the Fourth Estate, is far more a part of the shadow government of this city than any of us should be comfortable with. The Merc is concerned that its influence has waned and would wane further still under a Chavez administration.
Oh, and as for the withholding of emails until recently based on deliberative-process privilege that the city attorney now purportedly renounces, blame that on the city attorney—not Chavez, a non-lawyer. If the withholding of such emails from the Mercury News was truly in bad faith without any legal basis, as implied in this morning’s edition, then the Merc should forthrightly call for the city’s attorney’s head (as one of its columnists, Scott Herhold, already has.) But I get the sense that the Merc’s concern about that is disingenuous and that the paper is going after bigger fish.
Finally, I will say that IF Chavez did lie to her council colleagues about the Grand Prix issue, and IF she is lying to cover it up, that would color my support for her. But I’ve seen no evidence of it to date.
If my nuanced position disappoints you, too bad. I call them like I see them.
Mr. Gagliardi may soon overtake Mr. Robinson for long-winded defenses of Ms. Chavez.
#38 It’s about PUBLIC PROCESS stupid
38 – It’s news because the emails were just released. If they hadn’t been kept secret all this time we would’ve known months ago that Cindy was not forthright with her council colleagues or the public.
The Merc isn’t making that big a deal about Gonzales’ involvement because: he is lamer than lame, he’s not running for public office, and everybody knows about his credibility and integrity. Cindy has tried to say she was above all this yet the facts say otherwise and she is running for public office. The public deserves to know what they would really be getting should she be elected.
Don , so basically your arguement is that Cindy did’nt know how much$ the Grand Prix wanted, the details, so that is why she didn’t bother talking to her colleagues about it for 4.5 months. And that the Merc is a bias rag that doesn’t like her because it leesens their influence. You know I can almost believe the part about to Merc not liking her, it is difficult to write an objective arcticle when the principles fail to disclosure necessary information to allow for unbias reporting.
Don
I agree with you there is a plot ,I’m with you all the way. Did you see todays Merc ?Phil Yost has now joined forces with Barry Witt. Who next the Metro? Let’s get plenty of rest tonight so we can be stong tomorrow to fight these evil dooers! I have found if we put tin foil over our ears at night the voices will stop so we can sleep.
#37:
A new mayor other than Chavez will be a dramatic change. As the Merc Editorial pointed out today, it will remove the culture of secrecy:
Some e-mails did happen to embarrass vice mayor and mayoral candidate Cindy Chavez, who had claimed to have no prior knowledge of a subsidy request. It turned out she’d been told at least several times that it was coming. So the documents were withheld either to protect Chavez—or for no reason at all.
This goes precisely to the culture of secrecy that now pervades San Jose City Hall.
The culture of secrecy is not universal among the city council. Cortese, Reed and Yeager all have the integrity to take independent positions and the impetus to lead on important initiatives, and all three embody the ethical standard we require of our leaders.
We are also going to see new council members in District 1 and 3. If we elect independent ethical leaders, we will have an opportunity for effective change in our city government. It is unfortunate Chirico is running unchallenged. Her unwillingness to get involved or take a position on any important issues is a contributing factor to this culture of secrecy. Chirico needs to step up as leader and speak out about these deceptive practices that are allowed to occur in our city government.
We need to ask the city council candidates how they will change the culture of secrecy in addition to electing a new mayor other than Chavez.
Barry Bonds? 4th Estate?
Will your next post reference the Merc’s black helicopters?
Don,
What’s in it for you? Why play the shill?
#40: How can it be about the process, when it’s clear that no amount of public process would have changed the outcome of the council vote on the Grand Prix? Short of a direct voter referendum (fine with me), no amount of sunshine would have changed the outcome (which I think was terrible).
#41: The recently released emails don’t reveal anything newsworthy, at least insofar as they have been described in the Mercury News. They don’t prove that Chavez lied or committed any wrongdoing.
#42: Interesting point about Chavez talking to her colleagues ahead of time. If she had talked to more than a few of them (and we don’t know she didn’t disclose to a few what little she knew), she would have run afoul of the Brown Act, which stipulates, as city officials have explained it to me as an SNI PAC member subject to the Act, that by law a majority of a governmental body cannot discuss an issue outside a noticed meeting either altogether or in a chain of conversations. So ethically, it appears, Chavez couldn’t disclose to the full council as such what she knew before the council vote on the matter. I suppose she could have issued a press release. She, alternatively, could have expected city staff to release their memo with the deal points further in advance of the city council meeting which provided the public process. She also could have asked to have the council meeting postponed to allow additional time for process, which is her usual modus operandi to allow for full public input, but the mayor (truthfully or not) told the council that the deal was on the table for one day only. I don’t believe the mayor, but there’s no evidence that Chavez knew any better.
Also, the Merc came out against Chavez back in 1998 before she ever entered office and ever did anything to displease anyone. She was merely a pleasant woman (as we all agree) who happened to have worked in labor organizing —which was enough in itself for the Merc to oppose her.
What is all this talk about people not being lawyers so they shouldn’t be held responsible for knowing certain things? Ridiculous. Hold people accountable for not telling the truth – simple as that – lawyer or non lawyer. If you are in public office, you should make it your job to know what is right and what is wrong. There is no grey area in lying.
#38. Good heavens Barry Bonds is now a figure in this vast media conspiracy!
Or maybe, just maybe, the Vice Mayor of San Jose got caught in a lie.
#38 Don
Please yes or no ! Did you learn about Cindy’s involvement , for four months behind the sceens crafting the Grand Prix deal, in the Merc’s piece 4-25-06’ like the rest of us? Or did you have prior knowledge?
#45 He has her ear that is the answer.
The sad thing is it is hurting his credibility for all the other good causes he champions. This type of spinning may be ok in the court room where it is defend your client guilty or not. But most of us are here because we love S.J. and want to get it back on track.
46 – Or, Cindy could have told her colleagues at the Council meeting in public session what her involvement had been. Better late than never.
You say she could have asked to delay the item to allow more time for process which is her usual m.o.?? How many times has Cindy dropped a memo on the council at the dais just as a meeting was about to begin (or was already underway?) You will probably claim ignorance about this but it has happened many times.
Or she could have expected staff to release their memo further in advance of the council meeting?? What planet have you been on? Under this mayor and previous city manager staff was not allowed to provide details or information to the council that the mayor and manager did not want released. Cindy has been party to this because she didn’t do anything to stop this from happening. I’m sure if a lowly person like myself knew this was going on then the Vice Mayor certainly knew what was going on. Gimme a break.
I can’t wait to hear your spin when the details come out on the NorCal mess.
Whats the main reason all these people focus on coyote valley , who gets to screw this one up KB citation summerhill ,same crap new location ,why not focus on fixing whats in need instead of creating more , and the only way to save this is to start fresh ,WITH PANDORI…………..
Don,
Sticking by a friend that you believe in is a noble act and in that you have shown admirable character but…
All of this talk about power plays by the Merc against labor is silly and borders on paranoia. A large majority of the council have run as labor council-backed candidates and it is my experience that the Merc endorsed most of them. The only article that I recall that seriously criticized the labor council was in the Metro, not the Merc. In fact, I’m sure Amy’s scrapbook is overflowing with the positive coverage she got in the Merc before she decamped for Chicago.
The editorial staff might not be very positive towards Chavez (they have never seemed very negative to me) but this story exists because when a reporter smells something like a scandal, they get excited. That was the story that Witt wanted to work on and not what you wanted him to work on. That is a far more reasonable explanation than some kind of conspiracy to get Chavez.
The problem here is that there is something rotten in the mayor’s office and the candidate most closely associated with the administration is Chavez. Scrutiny of the administration (which has been too late in coming) is going to touch her more than any other candidate because she is closest to them. You can’t get the positives of touting yourself as vice-mayor without being associated with the mayor.
If this is all there is, it won’t hurt her much but if like many scandals, it becomes… drip, drip, drip, she’s finished.
The problem with Cindy’s behavior is she colluded with the Mayor to make deals in private while keeping other Council Members in the dark.
Additionally, she was aware that city staffers were being asked to prepare estimates etc. (her aide was in the meetings) that were also being witheld from other Council Members as well as the public.
Cindy Chavez, unlike Ron Gonzales, is a genuinely likeable person. But she has crossed some ethical boundaries and she deserves the heat she’s taking on this. If she gets elected Mayor, expect more of what we’ve lived through during the Gonzales era.
Many bloggers believe new Mayor will change city government – How exactly?
How? – since City Council majority comes back next year?
How? – Mayor candidates talk scandals, not how they will change city government or do they just want control for friends and supporters?
How? – will Mayor candidates lead unwilling City Council?
How? – when Mayor candidates talk in sound bits not exactly what they will change with deadlines to be done?
How? -when they have not shown us action plan after months of talk or should we ” trust” another poltitician?
How? – Talk is cheap – Action Plan requires work – Where is it?
27 – Haven’t you heard about never getting into an argument with someone who buys ink by the barrel? Also, methinks doth protest just a bit too much. It looks bad when you try to kill the messenger. Your “explanation” doesn’t quite do it but thanks for trying.
When I read this morning’s Mercury article about how Sunshine Cindy and Gonzo pulled off the Grand Prix back room deal my first question was “I wonder how Chavez supporters will spin this?”
Post #27 answers the question:
1. Anyone who raises the issue is “NOT on topic.”
2. I don’t really defend the Vice Mayor’s vote, nevertheless…
3. This is not even news because everyone knows how she voted.
4. Although the Vice Mayor met with race officials FIVE TIMES prior to her vote on the subsidy there is no reason to think that she had any prior knowledge of, or been a party to, the terms of the deal. (Question: Did this deal just fall off the back of a VTA bus or is it reasonable to think that the Mayor and Vice Mayor’s obvious hands-on involvement and high level of interest led to it’s creation?)
5. Chavez was as shocked as everyone else by the last-minute deal that seemed materialize out of thin air on the eve of the vote and made sure she was on the record as saying so. Then she rubber stamped it. (See point #3.)
Wait folks, it gets better!
When a politician gets caught in a lie there’s always the old standby of Blame The Messenger:
6. The reporter, not Cindy, is the one who is being dishonest. It is he, not she, who has a secret agenda! (There is “evidence.” It seems that in a earlier conversation the reporter focused on the story he was pursuing and would not be sidetracked. Oh my!)
So that’s how they’re going to spin this.
Karl Rove would be proud!
# 46 Don G.
You should be ashamed of yourself ! As a lawyer and a public activest you know better than to hide behind the Brown Act. An act designed to discourage just what Cindy and Ron have been doing behind closed doors for years . YOU know all she had to do was ,as vice mayor, have have the Grand Prix put on the agenda at any time over the 4.5 months she was working on the issue. She could have brought the council and the public up to speed and given us a heads up that this is going to cost us so be prepared. But did she? NO!
You state”no amount of public process would have changed the outcome of the vote on the Grand Prix.” You are saying that no matter what the citizens would have said to their council reps, they would not have listened or would have been open enough to change their minds? It is sad Don you feel that way. It is clear Cindy wasn’t so sure, not sure enough to risk the votes to approve her pet project. Like in the Cisco,Norcal,City Hall projects,she chose to keep us in the dark bound and gaged.
#40 To The Point you said it better and with fewer words.” It’s about the PUBLIC PROCESS stupid”!
58 – Thanks for letting us know of the passing of Jane Jacobs. Hadn’t heard. I still have her book from my college days. You are right—it’s too bad the locals have ignored her wisdom. Maybe some of the damage can be repaired—maybe not.
Don #46 There was a time that I wished you would run for office. After reading your past few blogs I realize you have the same values as Cindy and Ron.
looks like the bloomberg obit link on jacobs has expired, try this one on city journal if you’re interested, no sub required: http://www.city-journal.org/html/eon2006-04-27hh.html
There is an important issue that seems to be getting overlooked. It was interim City Manager Les White who ordered those emails released.
White would not agree to the City Attorneys claim the emails must be concealed to protect the “deliberative process.” It appears there were other reasons those emails were concealed and it had to do with covering certain political behinds.
At the moment San Jose has an independent City Manager who is not under the thumb of the Council or Mayor.
There is a lesson to be learned here.
rgd (58),
Thanks for the info on Jane Jacobs. I just finished her book The Nature of Economies. Jane Jacobs writing is timeless. She provokes thought beyond city planning. She had a great sense of community as well. Her ideas are not just relevant for the sprawling issue in Coyote Valley, they are also relevant as we consider how the ballpark will fit into our community and the effects it will have on our neighborhoods. She will continue to be an inspiration to anyone that cares about their community.
Thanks!
If development occurs in Coyote Valley it will become the next San Fernando Valley.
I can’t understand why we can’t continue to grow up and not out. Although it ruined my view of downtown heading south on Coleman, the new housing south of Sta. Clara st. makes sense, and there is plenty of room for further growth.
Can you imagine taking the light rail from Coyote Valley to downtown or to Mountain View? Yikes.
62—You make good points. It would take quite an imagination to light rail from Coyote Valley to anywhere—since to mass transit is scheduled out there for a long, long time—if ever.
#27 and responses…Don’s not the only one who has had this experience with Barry Witt about this and other articles. While I have to credit him with some good reporting, anything I read with his byline is done with the knowledge that he has a love of conspiracy theory and the fact that he comes into a topic with the idea there’s some nefarious plot. Don’t not being paranoid nor is he shooting the messenger..and really read the latest article. If he has transcripts and records, why are we not reading these records verbatim?
#31 Mal – Gagliardi pointed out that trying to equate the Grand Prix and sprawl was not on topic – topic being sprawl not the Grand Prix.
Reiterating the points doesn’t add value to the discussion – unless you’re trying to point out that you agree with Gagliardi.
Chavez was doing her job in meeting with them, how is it that you people think the Vice Mayor should not meet with the folks who brought forth such a huge event? The mind boggles as to the shoddy practices which must exist within businesses where you work if post event evaluation is not part of the work plan.
It is well known that the Murky News is always sharpening the knife to attack Chavez. In what way do you interpret her as having lied? Did you bother to read the article or are you simply making stuff up and buying the lack of facts presented by Witt?
It’s interesting how this thread seems to have turned from simply inane anti-Cindy rhetoric to vehement anti-Don spewings. Don is a great guy and you people should be ashamed of yourselves for savaging him here. Get with it, focus on the facts which he very clearly lays out.
#38 Don – pay no attention to these small minded nincompoops. Anyone who can read saw that Barry Witt didn’t bother listing anything of substance and instead relied on innuendo.
It used to be that the news actually relayed information – in this case it’s nothing more than an opinion piece – in which case no facts are actually required.
I also did not support the Grand Prix and let Cindy know that I thought it questionable – however, in the grand scheme of things it does accomplish goals for the city to move forward, increase visibility, and provide a variety of options to residents and visitors.
While I may see taking a car around in circles as a pointless waste of time there are those who enjoy sitting in the hot sun, smelling burning rubber – most of my coworkers being in that group. They are delighted about the Grand Prix and baffled by this ongoing spite fest directed at Cindy.
If anyone on SJI has any actual facts, go for it, present the facts. If not, give it a break, wake up and smell the coffee.
Labor and Business both supported the Grand Prix, a rare occasion when those two groups come forward in unison.
What we can agree on is that the process was flawed. As others have said before, city staff owns that puppy and should be held accountable.
#45 – Don Gagliardi as shill. That’s just about the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. Clearly you don’t know the man. I’ve seen this guy in meetings – he’s about as focused on support for neighborhoods as anyone could get and Lord help the person who gets in the way of his support, love and protection of San Jose neighborhoods.
#46 Don You are absolutely right – with both Labor and Business behind the Grand Prix it wouldn’t have mattered one iota.
Grow Up—You folks like to continue to ignore reality. First, nobody said she lied directly—omission of facts (which she did) is at least a serious breach of trust. It may be worse. Nobody said she should not meet with event organizers. The problem, which most of Cindy’s fans seem to want to ignore (and I understand why) is that she kept the information to herself and not only did not share it with the public but she did not share it with her colleagues who were the decisionmakers in this instance. If she was really doing her job, she would have made sure the council had COMPLETE information before they voted. Why you folks think it’s OK for Cindy to keep information to herself over a period of months is baffling. Would you not be jumping all over one of her opponents if they had done something like this?? I think so. And then, not only do you dismiss what she has done as trivial, you then go down the conspiracy path and berate the reporter and the newspaper. Gotta go now, I think I see Nixon in the shadows over there.
So it is supposedly “well known” that the Mercury News has it out for Cindy according to her supporters who treat it as fact but when someone says that it is “well known” in City Hall that she knew about Norcal, Cisco or the Grand Prix then that is pure gossip? Does anyone see the hypocrisy there? Cindy fans are going to believe whatever they want because they have all their eggs in her basket.
If you sleep with pigs you get dirty!
Jane Jacobs passed away this week. In the ‘60s she stood athwart history and demolished the reigning city planning orthodoxy of urban removal and sprawl. Since that time, her then-radical views have been accepted by smart city planners everywhere.
Except San Jose.
The fact that the current council even considers the dunderheaded plans for Coyote suggests they haven’t read anything about city planning (at least nothing written in the last 40 years) or just don’t care.
In fact, the only candidate to have internalized her far-reaching ideas gets criticized for being too ‘blunt’ and radical. Give me a break, it’s a sign of this city’s backward philistinism that Pandori is viewed as A Loner when in fact he’s espouses mainstream city planning views for anybody up to speed on these issues.
The weirdos are the ones who can’t let go of ancient city planning ideas long rejected by most smart cities.
Jacobs’ ghost hangs over this election, may she rest in peace. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000088&sid=a1vtQXe7DwAo&refer=culture
#66 You say of Don “Lord help the person who get in the way of his support” Then you have the nerve to attack those who stand up to those ways.Don is a Big boy and he is quite capable of defending himself,you know that. His words on Cindy and The Grand Prix speak volumes as to his character. What I have read are not attacks but words of disappointment in the type of person they thought Don was. That is not Don’s fault! They just thought he was someone else. Others like yourself have spoken highly of who you think he is. As long as he feels ok with his actions, is that not all that matters. I leave you with this question ,have you seen Don attack others on this blog?
#6 you are totally right about Big Labor and Coyote Valley it’s got to be stopped. It is a tremendous asset for the future maybe 10 or 20 years from now. Maybe the citizens of SAn Jose through are next mayor can start buying Coyote Valley from developers and save it for the future of our city for future business development. Then in those 20 years the land will appreciate and help the citizens of San Jose. If they do develop it will bring many, many more illegal aliens to do the construction. Don’t you think unions should be opposed to illegal aleins they take all the building jobs. All up and down the coast and to Palm Springs all housing is being built by illegals. Maybe if they weren’t doing it we would get legal cittizens to come and fill those jobs.
#66
Same old song and dance. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!
NORCAL:
MAYOR BLAMES ‘THE PROCESS’ – GONZALES AGAIN APOLOGIZES FOR SECRECY DERIDES EFFORTS TO OUST HIM
‘‘What I want to say is that I’m sorry, and that I apologize for what’s taken place with the Norcal contract, and that it is a PROCESS that failed. I’m not proud of that,’’ said Gonzales. He said the failure was in not ‘‘communicating to the city council early and in the middle of the PROCESS what we communicated to them at the end of the process.’‘
But, he said, ‘‘I do not believe I concealed anything. I believe it was a PROCESS issue.’’
# 66 You, Don, Cindy, Ron all cut from the same cloth. Blame, attack, shoot the messenger and make excuses.