Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher/ emperor, said late in life that
no matter how old he got, the people that he greeted along the Appian
Way always remained the same, about twenty-five and seemly. Well,
unlike his subjects, we all “do” change, and at Christmas and the dawn
of new year, we all have hopes and dreams for ourselves and our City.
Let’s share our best Christmas memories and thoughts for San Jose.
I’ll start with the feeling that when you see the sea of humanity from
so many tempest-tossed lands enjoying Christmas in the Park at Plaza de
Cesar Chavez, it warms you on a rainy, chilly day. I hope and pray that
we never lose that special feeling that is so much of what we value in
our community.
San Jose Inside
San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com)
It seems we often forget that our diversity is what makes us a great place to be. No one of us is as smart as all of us; a lesson that our local pols ought to learn and live.
Tom, I too believe that we have much to value in our community. I fear though that our community is becoming Los Angeles North.
Instead of Hollywood we have “The Silicon Valley” of which we claim to be the capitol. That’s sadder than being the capitol of Greenland. Do away with that silly slogan. Who wants to be proud of something as dead as the silicon valley.
In my Willow Glen community, I have streets that are worse than any place in the nation. Oh, but we have a brand new overpriced city hall to be proud of. The land under city hall was not flooded several years ago so it probably won’t sink, the streets in my community have become bad enough to produce a feeling of seasickness while driving them.
As I have mentioned before in this blog, I would love to be able to take light rail to the airport. Can’t, but I can take it to the outskirts of Campbell. Wow, noe that’s where I want to go. And yes, I know that San Jose doesn’t run VTA but where to they get the largest amount of their operating capital from?
Well yeah the Feds but after that it’s good old San Jose. And the San Jose taxpayer.
The San Jose Fire Department is still working out of a modified tract home in Berryessa. Station 23 just off Capital Avenue looks just like any other house in the community except for the Flag flying every day. Oh did I mention that San Jose has two stations downtown on Market, side by side? And yes I do know why that is as it is but why not build a station for company 23 first like when we really had the money?
As you know, San Jose is really a community of communities. We need to develop the feel ing of community in the community before we can apply it to the run amuck Greater San Jose community.
The statements from gelvey would be funny if they weren’t so true. One of my pet peeves is the “light rail service” to San Jose Airport, This will always be the name I know it by. Those operating it are so interested in parking revenues, elevated roadways, parking garages but not in making it easier to use what we have. Many times I’ve sat at the shuttle bus station, at the airport, waiting for the “shuttle” to show up. Lots of “shuttles” go by, for the parking lots, but it is a very very long wait for the shuttle to light rail.
If they are interested in having people use light rail to the airport they should make the parking lot shuttles fewer and slower and increase the service to trolleys. Maybe we wouldn’t need 100 football size parking lots and the land could be used for something better then car storage.
Gelvey #2 points out just one localized problem—the failure of the city to deliver the basic services that the people cannot deliver themselves. For those of us who go to work each day, driving over roads as pitted and rough as the original Appian Way in Rome is no drive in the park.
But we have lots of folks dispensing feel-good program money, much of it to those who don’t, indeed won’t, work.
We spent half a BILLION dollars for a not so atrtactive tower with a larger than life R2D2 in front of it. That would have been enough for a lot of roads, and a lot of feel good programs.
The entire government of this city needs to completely re-prioritze. We should not chase state or federal dollars limited to programs we don’t need, in the hopes of finding the rest of the money locally. E.G., we got about $1million from the state to re-do The Fallon House, but the retrictions put on by the state reportedly added over $2million to the cost. And now the pain is peeling. Does JUdy Stabile still have that sinecure job over there? What is she paid?
Then there’s BART. We’re chasing federal dollars, but we’ll never get enough for the job to be finished, so either our pockets will be picked again, or we’ll get half a BART. Meanwhile, those private and public sector folks doing “the studies” will spend all the money allocated to that project, then move on to another white elephant.
Our city parks are a mess. The aprks and rec people who supposedly maintain them take no ownership in their jobs, have no pride in their work. St. James Park is a haven for drug dealers and users. The lawn is bone dry in places, thus brown in the summer, but not one of the people who works there would even think to look at the sprinklers, let alone adjust them so that all the grass was watered.
Oh well, public parks are just fo’ the po’ folk, anyway, so why should they care?
I could go on and on, but y’all get my drift—government sucks!
It’s time for another Boston Tea Party.
My wish for the city in 2006 is much of the same listed above. Parks, libraries, repaved streets AND the maintenance of them.
The big wishes is a functioning city government, finished Guadalupe River Trail, improved schools, baseball stadium and an airport we can be proud of.
A pipe dream would be a permanent farmer’s market that could be a regional attraction representing “The Valley of Heart’s Delight.”
JohnMichael, the parks aren’t just fo’ the po’ folk. The problem is we need people who know enough not to build them on toxic waste sites…Whoops!
And the thing I love about the BART talk is that now I read they’ll need several billion dollars for new rolling stock. No wonder they want to bring it to Santa Clara County. Where else in the Greater Bay Area are they going to find that kind of money?
The Boston Tea Party was a piece of cake compared to what San Jose needs. That, in my opinion is representatives who are responsive to their constituents and voters who have an interest in the needs of the community. Not their Unions, or their construction companies or their government jobs.
I fear we are slipping away from that constituency and EVERYBODY is just in it for the money. Problem is, dammit, it’s MY money and your money.
Let’s start by cutting the salaries of the council members in half. See if they know how to earn a real living without sponging off of the public. Cut their staff by ninety percent. Maybe then they would actually read the stuff they vote on. (assuming they can all read…doubtful) Let’s start with biggest of the jerks, the King of Perks, hizonner Mayor Ronnie. Find a real job Ron, you’ve been on the take too long.
Cutting council salaries and depleting staff will take us further away from what we want—councilmembers who are more responsive to their constituents. We need to elect better councilmembers. If any incumbent is re-elected next year, shame on you.
Good points all, but one of the biggest issues facing the city is the suboptimal decision making caused by our “mini-mayor” form of government. In a city where every council member is busy protecting their own turf, is it any wonder that nothing happens for the good of the city as a whole? Until that issue is addressed, we will continue to rant and rail about our inability to tackle the more pervasive issues facing the city as a whole.
San Jose is improving parks. We are just not going to see it for a while.
Del and Guerra are interpreting “add new sports fields” in Measure P as add new professional sports fields.
Wishing for more restaurants.
Try this.
Go to http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/
Restaurants!
And notice the sections under Citysearch Guides.
Now type “San Jose, CA” in the Address box and click Search.
No restaurants!
Now notice the sections under Citysearch Guides.
“Top 10 ballparks”
What’s up with that?
… who really runs City Hall? Read a recent article in the New Republic to get the inside scoop….
Dear San Jose:
It’s always healthy to try and improve or be better. Honestly, I don’t think that San Jose is a great city. We can do so much better.
My hope for 2006 is that the people of San Jose assert themselves and get their city back.
We should demand the resignation of Gonzales and Guerra, and not re-elect every single member of the council who voted to end the investigation.
San Jose’s garbage scandal is no longer about personalities and players, it’s about us. What kind of people live in San Jose? What standards do the people of San Jose hold for themselves and for their city?
If the mayor gets to stay in office despite the fact that his lies have cost us countless millions, then the only conclusion that can be drawn, is that there are no standards in San Jose.
The institutions of the city belong to the people, not to Ron Gonzales and his crew.
Happy New Year!
Pete Campbell
If Gonzo goes to work for Cisco, after he gets out of jail, will anyone believe there was a strong tie between them?
My own opinion is that there is to much path crossing between the two.
The development of the South Valley area that was on again off again and the estopped potential city hall contract are just two of them.
I know I’m just musing but I have a suspicious nature and I wouldn’t trust Gonzo on anything.
Might be time to speak to the U.S. Attorney General and ask for an investigation. Kennedy is a lame duck and can’t much care how long his investigation lasts or whether or not he finds anything.
Think about it…
More people need to stand up and speak out against Gonzales…where are the other past mayors in this criticism, leaders of the community? Is everyone trying to save their own ARSE and not speak out? If so, it is a very cowardly thing to do, Go ahead, stay silent, then when you need someone to speak up for you, they wont be there!
1. San Jose’s garbage scandal is no longer about personalities and players, it’s about us. What kind of people live in San Jose?
2. What standards do the people of San Jose hold for themselves and for their city?
3. If the mayor gets to stay in office despite the fact that his lies have cost us countless millions, then the only conclusion that can be drawn is that there are no standards in San Jose.
Pete Campbell is right about all these statements.
If we do nothing then someone else will come along as Conzo did and use smoke, mirrors, Bart and baseball to distract us from the real corruptions going on. You know what they say a million here, a million there, and now we are talking about real money. Yes, money that belongs to the taxpayers of this city. Conzo has made this city’s government a joke. We have a “cover up of a cover up” and if even thinks that he will be able to regain any respect in the community, he is seriously mislead. The only way he will garner any insignificant respect is to resign and move to San Diego.
Gonzo should try out for Jackass the movie, I would pay to see that.
My wishes for 06:
1) That the drive to bring BART to San Jose continues, albeit with a different route! The Santa Clara Street Subway is what’s driving the cost of the extension through the roof! That current subway route also bypasses SJC. Hopefully a compromise can be worked out to bring BART to SJ with a less expensive/airport serving route.
2) That the Pacheco Pass alignment for the proposed High Speed Rail system is chosen over an Altamont proposal. San Jose and Diridon Station should be the focal point for the proposed system entering the Bay Area. An Altamont proposal makes San Jose only a spur on the route…we’re to great of a city to have a mere spur line.
3) That Oaklands ballpark plans die on a vine, and that Peter Magowans stranglehold to our city is worked out. Hopefully a deal can be put together in 06 to compensate the Giants for their “territory” and that a Diridon/Arena ballpark plan comes to fruition.
4) To get a mayor like TMac back into City Hall.
In closing, here’s to 06 and our great city becoming greater!
MAYOR’S CENSURE CONTINUED…
Just some information for readers. The left over pieces of the mayor’s censure on 12/20/05 are (A) stripping him of his city hall and outside committee/commission/board appointments, and (B) revising city council budget procedures.
These will be on the city council agenda for 1/10/05, and you can see how they are worded by going to:
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/agenda.asp
Then just click on the “1/10/05” meeting agenda, and review Items 9.2 and 9.3. They appear in the afternoon portion of the council meeting as part of a joint meeting with the RDA board.
Lest anyone think that stripping the mayor of his appointments is too harsh, remember that it was the mayor who moved to do that to Council Member Terry Gregory immediately after Gregory was censured, even though the appointments issue was not on the council agenda…an illegal act by the mayor at that time for that reason, but a sensible measure for the council to take if properly noticed on the agenda.
And it is certainly high time that the council moved to handle the city budget in a professional way. Most of us are aware that Measure J transferred serious power to the mayor in budget-making, but most of us were not aware that the council had no mechanism (budget committee, budget staff, etc.) to give the mayor’s budget a serious review. We know now that this distorted the city budget process such that the council was reduced to quibbling about the edges and margins of budgeted items. It wasn’t really the mayor’s overwhelming power, the problem was the council’s inability for one reason or another to seriously tackle budget matters internally.
Good for Ken Yeager for focusing on these two key issues when the mayor was censured. He deserves a lot of credit.
Thank you Dale for your comments. It can be fun at times, not knowing where our journey is headed. It heightens our awareness. We become more observant, more childlike.
This present political situation is not one of those times. It is too soon too begin “Romancing the Stone” .
I never did understand the reasoning behind what was done to Terry Gregory. If I had a case of Opus wine, and anybody wanted it, wouldn’t it be within my powers to tell them to take a hike. It seems Dennis was a messanger of sorts. Sure would like to hear from Terry soon. Every thing NOW is suspect.
Life is difficult enough with out the presence of elected men and women that are dedicated to the good health of the Village they were entrusted to over see.
Looking back I am in awe of the impact of this web site. All of us that have contributed must be elated. There can be no criticium where there is participation of expression. Silence is a botomless pit and those of us that sit on the fence, not to worry, our time will come, be patient with our selves.
Merle was right, “If we make it thru December, Everything’s gonna be allright I know.”
I will sleep well this week end knowing you’re all out there preparing for the next charge of protecting the Village.
We have much to celebrate! Thank you San Jose Insiders. “Hope in 2006”.
The Village Black Smith
I have a suggestion for improving San Jose.
Most of the people who post this site have a lot of expertise in city government. I would like to see them post more informative analysis as
to just what is going on and why.
What is my city council person doing and why is it wrong? Why is it that one feels that city council meetings are just for show?
You folks know what the score is. Tell the rest of us so that we may help.
I would be happy to give my opinion on your council person – who is it – but suffice it to say that some responsibility for the problems in San Jose government are shared by many on the council. Silence is a virtue only in certain situations. TMcE
Tom,
How about a review of each council member? That might make a good blog.
For example, my council member is Nora Campos. All in all, for a political newbie, I think she is doing a reasonably good job. I wish she were more assertive on some issues, but she certainly seems better than Manny Diaz.
Bud – I think your comments are right on and I will do so in an future blog. I feel Nora is a fine person; I have known her father for some years and he is the best. All members except a few have been far too slow in realizing the ethicial problems at City Hall. I will touch on that tomorrow. With that said, I think Nora has much promise and I hope she establishes herself as a community leader for many years.
TMcE
Oh, and Bud, the bar set at Manny Diaz’s performance is very, very low. I hear he wants a Mulligan. TMcE
It may be letting out a deep, dark secret, but Al Davis likes Ronzales. His “honor” may be the next Raider coach.
Clearly Norv Turner wasn’t doing his job. The Raiders won just nine games in two seasons and exactly one AFC West game 12 tries. How can you get the top draft pick by winning nine games? The raiders need to lose more games, fall to the bottom of the stack and get a franchise-making draft pick for the coming year.
Ronzales can guarantee a spectacularly abysmal season and lock up the top player for the Raiders. Al Davis is a genius!!!
I think this year should bring about a change in our Mayorship. And I’m not talking about the election… At least not an ordinary election.
#20, that is an excellent idea. I am nowhere near the top but I have worked for the City for many years, so I like to think I know a lot. I would be happy to help out in this regard.
I second whomever said that they want the Guadalupe River Trail to be completed. I would love to see this as well. It is good to know that it is in the works.
Mr. McEnery, I respectfully disagree regarding Councilmember Campos (#23). I see her as being attached to Gonzales’ coat tails until recently. She was one (along with Councilmember Yeager) who sided with Gonzales to undermine the Evergreen Task Force process that been underway for almost two years. I provided some insight / thoughts regarding some of the points (e.g. traffic issues that would impact the district she represents) she made in favor of changing to a NEW Task Force and she didn’t have the courtesy to acknowledge the time / effort I made to contact her. If this is the type of indiviudal she is, then I certainly can’t echo your positive comments regarding her.