Panetta Nominated to Head CIA

Posted by The Editor January 05, 2009

Leon E. Panetta, the former Monterey Bay area congressman and White House chief of staff, is President-elect Barack Obama’s pick for head of the Central Intelligence Agency, according to national news reports quoting Democratic insiders. Panetta has degrees in political science and law from Santa Clara University. “He couldn’t have picked a better guy,” says San Jose attorney Bill Gates, a longtime friend. 

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Rants & Raves

Posted by The Editor January 03, 2009

It’s a brand new year, and 2009 means big changes. Posters this weekend are sounding off about the disappearance of a website known for its anonymous personal attacks on its political adversaries.

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Smell the Roses

Posted by Pete Campbell December 31, 2008

Citizens do the City’s job by revitalizing San Jose’s Rose Garden.

The San Jose Mercury News Editorial Board recently applauded the efforts of Terry Reilly and Beverly Hopper, who trained and organized the many volunteers who repaired and rejuvenated the San Jose Rose Garden. Thanks to the volunteers’ hard work, the Rose Garden regained its certification from the All-America Rose Selections organization. The Mercury News pointed out that the volunteers served to rebuild the city’s relationship with volunteers, and wondered if the Friends of the Rose Garden model could be applied to other public spaces that “lack the magic of roses.”

Now, I’m all for volunteering…but should the citizens of San Jose be asked to volunteer and do work that is supposed to be performed by city employees who are paid by taxpayer money?

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Rants & Raves

Posted by The Editor December 27, 2008

This is it—the last best chance for SJI reader/writers to rant and/or rave together in 2008. Suggested theme--a time-honored end-of-year tribute: 2008: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. 

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Searching for Goog

Posted by Pete Campbell December 22, 2008

Last week, Apple announced that next year’s MacWorld would be its last.  In a related article, the SF Chronicle reported that several other large trade shows have been cancelled, and that the city would take a direct financial hit as a consequence.  The article offered a quote from an industry expert who declared the days of large-scale trade shows to be over.

Meanwhile, San Jose continues to make plans for a $300 million expansion of the convention center.  Rather than spending $300 million on the expansion, why not entice Google to buy the Sobrato Tower (now owned by Oracle) with a $100 million subsidy?  Think about it...a Google move to the downtown would be a huge (and permanent) financial shot in the arm for the hotels, restaurants, and merchants. 

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