It is always amazing to see how desperate political characters can be. Case in point: the assertion from the leader of the labor forces at the South Bay Labor Council, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, that “she” and “they” elected Pierluigi Oliverio. Their absence from all but the victory party was not because of fear or the fine canapés on election night, but because of a careful “strategery.”
Now, I had just about moved on from discussions of how labor leaders had overplayed their hand and imploded as a political force; yet, this cries out for a comment. Delusion does not fully describe how mindless and foolish labor excuses are. Labor and its captive Democratic Party apparatus, funded by assorted developers, lobbyists and others of the “money/payoff party” in San Jose, received a historic rebuke at the hands of the riled citizenry of San Jose. That is the simple fact.
What possibly could be going through the mind of Ellis-Lamkins to show up at the councilman-elect’s victory party and, just like Rosie Ruiz at the New York Marathon, claim victory? It’s as if George Bush landed in the middle of the Green Zone in Baghdad and declared “Mission Accomplished 2!” There is a time for bravado and a time for posturing. That was not it; that was madness.
When labor should have been in a soul-searching phase of readjustment and realignment, Ellis-Lamkins, with the apparent support of many of her sycophants, was puffing up and stating how the labor bosses were really in control again: “I am somebody.” Next she’ll send out her shills again to attack Chuck Reed at a council meeting with charges of drinking too much bottled water from the City Hall freezer.
Hopefully, some sensible leaders in the labor movement will step forward, assert the hallowed role of labor in defending the powerless, stand up against our local version of Halliburton—the “build, sprawl and impoverish” lobby—and do what is right by the people of San Jose. In case they missed it, with the election of Chuck Reed, Sam Liccardo, Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio, the jig is up as far as fooling the neighborhoods of San Jose is concerned. The voters got it that too few cops and closed pools were the result of the unholy alliance of labor bosses and Coyote Valley-type sprawlers. The result has reduced the once-mighty labor coalition to a rump group of empty barrels. Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins better get it soon. It’s the Ides of March, boss.
Why is anyone surprised that most of labor’s and their captive Democratic Central Committee candidates and endorsed ballot measures have been soundly defeated in recent elections – Chavez, James, Diaz, Williams and Sinunu with 10-20 point vote differences due to:
– Badly flawed election political strategy run by non San Jose campaign consultants and local people out of touch or ignoring concerns of local voters
– Many labor supported political leaders are still out of touch, afraid to object to labor’s political dictates and poor policy / spending directives and you are still not listening to community’s concerns
– Labor consistently choosing labor candidates on the basic of political loyalty rather than qualifications many times over community leader objections
– Five of labor supported elected officials or former staffers you put in office were indicted – Gonzales, Gregory, Guerra, Arreola, and Kali-Rai with many other elected officials you have supported being ethically or special interest challenged and their policies and spending decisions have raised more serious ethical and conflict of interest questions
– Your political lobbyist, developer and outside of San Jose Silicon Valley corporate supporters who raised campaign funds for your candidates are increasing been heavily criticized for financially benefiting at taxpayers expense and against public interest as facts continue to come out and public looks at many long term financial and city service problems that these poor and spending decisions will have on San Jose
– Labor used political bullying and power politics to pass your policies and spending directives which results in much community resentment
– Labor and your members are perceived as enriching themselves at taxpayers expense with excessive pay, benefits, unreasonable work rules, early retirements and pension plans unavailable to average hard working taxpaying voter
Labor should not worry that the Chamber of Commerce, corporate developers and business who are going around patting themselves on the back and are over confident with their recent election victories won on the basis of their political beliefs and polices that appealed to the voters. It was mostly Chamber benefited from labor mistakes and voters who threw the incumbents and their candidates out because of the many political promises made and not delivered
Labor, their political consultants and measures were heavily defeated because labor and Democratic Central Committee endorsed ethically challenged or out of touch candidates or obvious conflict of interest measures that the voters and taxpayers could clearly see were going to be a continuation of years of ethical lapses, back room special interest political contribution payback deals, poor policy and spending decisions not in the public interest.
Most of the winning recently elected officials candidates ran semi-independent campaigns from both labor and chamber that appealed to local voters and taxpayers not typical special interests supporters.
We will be closely watching all elected officials and tracking their votes to see if they actually fulfill their campaign promises to work for the voters, taxpayers or community and vote that way or they will not be reelected or possibly recalled.
San Jose community can not continue to have our elected representatives not put the public interest first before their political careers or special interests as we face very serious future financial and policy decisions.
Interesting points #2, but to avoid confusion you should choose another moniker since I have been using this one for quite some time.
Sorry Tom, I strongly disagree with your assertion that Phaedra is lying about her support of Pier. Pier had lots of labor folks walking for him, supporting him, and donating to him. How do I know, because I worked on Tedesco’s campaign. I saw them out in District 6 in droves knocking on doors, and passing out literature for him. I also know they campaigned for Pier in his other lost races. The retired Fire Fighters Union pushed hard for Oliverio, and they are in tight with Phaedra. (Have you read Single Gals column on District 6? You might want to!)
Phaedra is far from stupid. I’m not saying she’s my favorite person, but I don’t underestimate her either. As a strong supporter of Chuck, Pete, and Sam, I’m not too happy about Labor’s or the Democratic Party’s treatment of these three great men. I think Labor did some really unethical, and rotten things in those campaigns. But I would NEVER put Oliverio in the same sentence with these three fine men.
Oliverio took money from lots of questionable people and he lied about his supporters. When asked directly about his supporters, he danced around the issue. His lack of credibility will come forward more and more over time.
The really sad thing for me is that voters have to try and figure out who to vote for amidst some really deceptive practices by not only candidates, but lobbyists too. I can truly understand why more and more people are refusing to vote.
Rosie Ruiz won (cheated) the Boston Marathon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Ruiz
Dear Tom:
Bravo. Thanks for having the guts to write that. Can’t help but wonder how the race would have played out if the voters knew that Labor was supporting Oliverio.
Pete Campbell
p.s. loved the Rose Ruiz line!
Tom—Terrific blog, but not a point of view that would pass muster with the Murky, who has already insinuated that Pierluigi is in the pocket of BIG Labor.“Voter’s” contribution also most impressive, though he/she gives way too much credit to voters’ discernment. They DO figure it out when it gets REALLY bad, as it did with Gray Davis, another Demo political hack, and even Pombo, a Repug political hack—and Gonzo (and Cindy, breathtakingly unqualified for ANY real job, let alone Mayorette). Big Labor and Big Demo finally became so successful in San Jose that they got Emporer’s Disease, i.e., ARROGANCE. Even a perpetually perplexed voter recognizes all the symptoms of the Big A. It’s just a pity they don’t look at every incumbent very carefully.
Remember that Labor didn’t entirely get wiped in the last election. One of their very biggest hitters, Ken Yeager, handily won a seat on the Board of Supes, and Jim Beall went on with his career. Worst of all, John Vasconcellos was elected over and over and over, Mr. Self-esteem and all that damage. I think he dropped out of the political rat race only because he got wobbly. George Green
Remember the ABC (Anybody But Cindy) campaign? Even the Chamber of Commerce didn’t spend money promoting a specific candidate, but to remind voters the poor choices Cindy Chavez did as a Vice Mayor.
Anybody with half a brain would see that if Phaedra did any actual work, it was not an endorsement of Pierluigi, but “anti-Tedesco”, or better yet – an “ANYBODY BUT THE FORMER CEO OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE” campaign.
Of course, no reason for Tedesco’s opponent to say no to this independent help. But he’s certainly not beholden to them.
Tom,
Thanks for pointing out this political paradox, but I seriously doubt desperation played any part in this tragic comedy. Either Ellis-Lamkins is insane or Oliverio is a liar, but regardless, both lack the intellect that our city sorely needs. To illustrate, look at what Oliverio said at the January 31st D6 debate at the United Way:
– Unions should register as lobbyists.
– We should hire contractors for Park Maintenance and Road Repairs because it would save us money.
– “I believe it is important that we are free of unions, frankly. We need do what is right for the city.”
So, did the card carrying AFL-CIO members that hung the door hangers on March 4th throughout district 6 for Oliverio listen to Part 2 of the D6 debate podcast on citizensanjose.com? And did they hear the words “free of unions” at minute 23?
And what spin did Ellis-Lamkins put on it? “hey, he wasn’t touching the woman in the photo.”
Based on a lowly 30% turnout of registered voters, I don’t believe that any constituency or interest group should make great leaps of understanding about the policy perspectives of the electorate.
Oliverio ran a good campaign and deservedly won the seat by gathering 7,000 of the district’s 43,000 registered voters. Yet, less than one in five registered voters – just 16% – actually cast their ballot for the winner of the District 6 special election.
I don’t see any great mandate in these election results. Rather, what I see is more voter apathy driven by a disconnect between the issues that inspire our city leaders and the issues that effect most families in San Jose.
Thanks, #5. Boston, NY, I knew it was one of those “eastern” cities. Good correction. Actually, she did sneak into the NY Marathon, but it was Boston where she “won.” Just love the immediate corrections in the blogoshere – if only I had such quick responses from staff when I was Mayor – I could have used it. TMcE
Clark – on your comments, post 10. Whatever the turnout, in D6, surely you understand and can see that the “throw the lobbyists, insiders, & labor shills” out vote was reflected in the votes for Mayor, D3, D1 and now D6. No spin here,” just the facts, sir!” Any but the most biased observers has to interpret the vote for Reed et al as that clear reason. TMcE
Great post Tom.
Oliverio has run for office before, and now with great success. However, he’s not a dimwit. He learns and apparently this time learned enough to win.
“Q”—Does anyone own him and who?
“Q”—Does he have a “payback” list, and will we see it?
“Q”—What kind of legacy does he want to leave when his time on the Council is over?
“Q”—How does he want this town to view him or does he care?
He now has a blank slate on which to create the person he wishes to be. Surely he will be pulled in many directions, but it is up to him to him where the journey will lead.
Tom’s comments are interesting but I’m still not sure why he was supporting Oliverio. Oliverio certainly had some level of labor support—we don’t know for sure because Oliverio has been less than candid about this. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that Tom usually supports. Did you really support him or were you just “anti-Tedesco” due to old disagreements? Too bad if that was the case.
Pete Constant won because of his roots in district 1. Sam Liccardo won because individually Manny Diaz had ethics issues and was severely outspent. Besides Liccardo has a lot of supporters in the local Democratic Party anyways. The party didn’t endorse him but they didn’t endorse Manny Diaz either. Please also keep in mind that the Democratic Party endorsed Pierluigi in early January. Chuck beat Cindy because of the backlash against Ron and her perceived connection to him.
Looking at each of these races seperately, Labor certainly took some losses but I think this “huge backlash” against Labor and the Democratic Party is quite exaggerated. As mentioned above Ken Yeager and Jim Beall are doing quite well. Yeager, Beall, (and Vasconcellos in his day) are very popular and well liked by their constituencies and they will continue to do well because they are top notch elected officials.
I hope the George Greens and Mayor Tom’s of the world keep this in mind as they continue to bash my party.
#15 – Really, CD, you must learn to govern your passions. Otherwise, they will be your undoing. (/Mr. Spock)
TMcE and George aren’t bashing the Democrat party as a whole.
What they are bashing is what the Democrat Party has become in South Bay politics – an agent for the old San Jose status quo in which the developers and the labor unions act in concert with politicians to line each others’ collective pockets (developers and unions with cash, politicians with voters and plus or minus cash), instead of doing their jobs and looking out for the people and being accurate custodians of the public trust.
Perhaps it’s the sign of the times that we live in, that the one true unforgivable sin for partisans of the Democrat party is candidly speaking out when Democrats (or their adherents) act badly. I guess I just didn’t know that apostasy was a Donk crime these days…
For a party so suffused with respect and admiration for “diversity,” it’s amusing to see what occasionally happens when a little bit of intellectual “diversity” is given back to them by members of their own.
Tom,
On the subject of Lamkins, I recall watching a pre-runoff election forum on the public access channel where she verbally harpooned Chuck Reed regarding his use of public funds for memberships, etc.
Not only that, she brought along a shill who went ballistic, directing his comments to Chuck and fitfully indicating that he had contacted the IRS, asking that Chuck be investigated for income tax fraud. Those labor people will do nearly anything to stay in power.
By the way, do you know what Cindy Chavez is doing these days… has she returned to nest under the “nurturing” wing of the Labor Council?
Something about Pierluigi Oliverio reminds me of David Runyon. Hopefully, Pierluigi doesn’t drink.
Restless Native,
You need to get a life. Any person who just went through a campaign while at the same time keeping a full time job would be tired and burned out.
I for one am happy an actual working stiff from our community is in office. He has not been handed any “cake / payback” jobs like Tedesco. He has actually worked for a living.
He probably has a lot of loose ends to tie up with his day job. I’d assume he will not be working full time anymore.
So cut PO some slack and move on to complain about something else.
If PO turns out to be a bomb; the voters will be able to put someone else in office.
I for one think he will do fine. I am glad we finally have someone who has actually worked for a living and isn’t from the “right” family elected into office.
Negative tactics? Since when is telling the truth about your opponent considered negative? I don’t know where the real D6 went but I hope it returns soon. The remarkable comments and the election result clearly indicate that the real D6 is missing in action.
Number 15:
I would like to see your evidence of Manny Diaz being severely outspent.
Diaz had at least a 2 to 1 independent expenditure advantage, including from the Police and Fire Unions.
If Sam spent more money, it was because he raised it—and not from the lobbyist-idiots that raised gobs and gobs of money for Manny.
Sam won because he was a better candidate, worked harder, and was a compelling choice for City Council. That, coupled with the fact that Diaz was a worse candidate, didn’t work hard, and wasn’t a compelling choice for City Council.
Repeat the previous paragraph and swap out Sam for Pierluigi and Diaz for Tedesco and you start to see a trend that I think Mayor McEnery is getting at.
If you supported Manny Diaz, turn your self in to the DA and confess your sins.
If you supported Gonzone, move to Morgan Hill and wait for the next wave of fortune huntering developers.
If you think bars are the answer to a vibrant down town, You need to move to Modesto.
Tom, have you been attending Clint Eastwoods School Class of Kick Ass.
A+ Dude!!!!!!!!
D.O.A.
PLO MISSED his swearing in ceremony? You’re kidding me…. As an elected Council Member, he has a duty to show up to those meetings, TIRED or not. Since this was his first, ceremony or not, he should have been there. He owed it to District 6 and San Jose. So will he ‘miss’ council meetings because he is ‘tired’? Look, I am not saying he isn’t busy tying up loose ends, and that his schedule of tying up things at his work, and his new job as Council Member isn’t difficult to say the least, but he now has a duty to the Citizens of District 6 to be at these meetings. Poor decision on his part. Not a good sign…..
Pardon me ladies and gentlemen, but I KNOW
Sam Liccardo and and Mr. Oliverio is no Sam Liccardo. ( with a nod to Senator Bentsen)
Yes he is close in age,has nice hair,no wife and
kids,of Italian heritage,good presence and all of the same endorsements….but these are out of his control. What about of the character
of the man??
Mr. O. “borrowed” Dave Pandori’s lawn sign design&colors; ,his best friends wife and kids(just for the brochure that is), Mr. Liccardo’s campaign themes and Mr. Mulcahy’s staff.
Otherwise he was totally original..he was also
a great student,learning quickly about all the issues as well as most solutions to complex city problems from his opponent (who was extremely well versed on all of it)Mr O did his best when answering after Mr T staked out a position in the forums,including the anti-union stranglehold comment that Jimmy H. pointed out above.
The favorable comparison is only surface—-Sam has a real job, and for over 5 years. Mr.O amazingly earned a “Lifetime
Achievement Award” from a company with which he was employed for18 months…you get my drift by now, I hope.
Lets get real about the Labor/Demo connection
Labor walkers, labor endorsementsFire,Retired
Police and Fire,Labor council(sshhh.unofficially)
Labor Robo calls,Labor call banks, labor sign
installers…………..read the body language.
Mayor Tom you are very astute, and you have
seen the same things and may even have heard of the intense pressure Clark Williams and others had received from L&D to endorse
Mr O.
Congratulatons Clark for your courage to stand up to this pressure,you showed integrity
to counter the bandwagon-mentality especially
toward the end of this race; everybody loves a winner even when it became clear to many that the winner was not the man that voters .
wanted-he appears to be- but isn’t.
Just to clear things up for everyone. PO is to be sworn in on Tuesday the 20th. That is the date the mayor set.
Also, like any other candidate from the private sector; he needed to give his two weeks notice at work.
Jean, wouldn’t giving two weeks notice be the more responsible thing to do?
#7 George Green and # 4 Bridget Pleas rest easy. The truth has been told. I was just as concerned about what I herd Ellis Lamkins said, that Organized Labor has been behind Pier Oliverio since forever and they …elected him.
This morning I read Dan Pulcrano`s Point Of View in the “Fly” and he set the record straight,” Oliverio climed up on a chair and…He said the people had elected a candidate that wasn`t Labor…”. There you have it, so rest easy. Ellis Lamkins must be confused when she made her statement.
# 17
One does wonder about your comparison when
hearing about Mr. O’s NOSHOW to his swearing
in ceremony last night at the CC meeting…..
because he was “too tired” to attend .
Or maybe its just the heat from all the bright
lites shining on him.
Many thought that he wouldn’t last to election
day, he had so many “under the weather” days at the forums,especially his “interactive”
forums where he would not answer questions,
just ask them;and those tense days when the
press asked so many questions about misleading campaign statements that he had to hand off his cell phone to his campaign manager to take the flak and only respond “in writing” to these questions.
Others have wondered how long he will holdup under the close scrutiny of the daily councilship grind. He thinks the campaign was
rough?? A piece of cake!
And on top of that , he gets to start campaigning all over again in a few months for
the primary in 1 year 2 months from now.
Maybe it was closer to the truth when he confided to some that he would serve the 1st
term to see how he liked it…before promising
the full three. After all he made more $ in high
tech and without the watchful eyes and all the
pesky questions……. ” I just want to be alone”
#26 – Thanks for clearing things up. I assumed PLO either worked things out with his supervisor, or, like you said, gave his 2 weeks notice. I also imagine the Council would set his first day as beginning after he wrapped things up at his work. That said, I was suprised to hear from #21 that PLO missed his swearing in ceremony. I am pleased to hear this is not the case, as I would imagine, and hope PLO would take this position seriously.
# 20 Machiavelli said it best about the nature of men in politics they are skilled and organized, they are naturally deceitful.But he meant those back in the 1500`s.
I disagree. A more accurate assessment would be that voters were fed up with Ron, and bought the Reed message that Cindy was more of the same. Labor was nearly invisible as an issue to all but the most conservative voters (blessedly few). The anti-Cindy campaign effectively focused on issues (undoubtedly based on polling) like the garbage contract, the car race, etc. that connected to Ron’s mismanagement. If the influence of labor was really that compelling to voters, the Chamber and Reed would have directed their attacks likewise.
Time will tell the lasting political consequences for labor. Karl Rove looked pretty spot-on in 2004 after Bush was re-elected, predicting conservative majorities for years to come. But that prediction was based on a fragile foundation. In San Jose, the Labor movement built its influence by aggressive support of policies like living wages, affordable housing, health care, etc. – issues that are truly meaningful to a majority of voters. As long as they continue with that focus, they will be a major force.
Finally, your attacks on Ellis-Lamkins come off as mean-spirited, reactionary and unbecoming of the statesman you purport to be.
During this pasy D6 campaign, I was turned off by Tedesco’s negative campaign tactics and I was turned off after the San Jose Police Officers Association telephoned me FIVE times demanding that I vote for Tedesco. Now I will wait and see how Oliverio performs as my Councilman. I was very pleased with Ken Yeager’s performance.
Two weeks notice? Somebody get Mr. O a dayplanner!
I would hope that someone who spent the past year running for City Council would be able to work the first meeting into his schedule. He has, after all, made a commitment to represent his district.
Michael #30.
You have a different impression of what unions want.
I spent four years on a local city council, and I never once heard from a labor representative about living wages, affordable housing, or health care.
Labor representatives did talk to me, but their concerns focused on how to obtain higher wages and better benefits for public employees. None of their concerns dealt with non-union poor.
A union is an organization to benefit their own members. It isn’t, and was never meant to be, an advocate for broader social justice issues.
#26 – you are wrong about the swearing in date, just go to the city’s website and get last Tuesday’s council agenda. It was calendared on the agenda, set by the rules committee two weeks earlier – the Wednesday before the election. Both Steve and Pier were notified before the election that this was the date set for swearing in. You can confirm this by the February 28th Rules agenda.
He simply called in late and said he couldn’t make it.
“He simply couldn’t make it”…. rather I would suggest that maybe his”campaign manager ” wouldn’t let him out to a public event with out the proper staging and support logistics from her.
You may not know #23 , but the “manager”
screened out attendees to the interactive
forums he performed at, so that there would
be a friendly crowd. People were actually
thrown out of Sal Rubino’s office at the 2nd I.F.
which was publicized by his campaign for 2 months, inviting voters to interact with him.
However, if D.F. determined that one was partisan, he was thrown out, so not to make her candidate uncomfortable. Talk about the boy in the bubble…..
Also Mr. Get- a -Life, please at least do the research..you have it backwards. Mr. O has the “cake” job—telecommuting heaven on Cherry Ave with lunch and dinner at Mom’s next door. Unless you were referring to his illustrious career as the bartender at LosGatos
Bar&Grill;
Let’s review Mr. Tedesco’s schedule-
Daytime=runs the Boys and Girls Clubs
Evenings=fundraises so that there actually is
a Boys and Girls Club
In his spare time he has taken a near-bankrupt organization and gone from 6 to 23
boardmembers(read fundraising) refurbished 4
sports&activities; facilities and has created a
$900,000 positive bank balance in only 4 1/2
years. Just this workload would undo me but
it doesn’t stop there.
Mr T. must attend to his volunteer community
commitments such as Rotary,Kiwanis,Human
RelationsCommision,Airport Commision and
others too numerous to mention—yes he still keeps all these involvements not because “it was part of his job description at the Chamber
as some partisans scoffed at his resume..but..
because he cares about San Jose and wants to see it become great.
He has kept this schedule for 25 years, so knowing this, I have no sympathy for a man who has been running for the position for over
a year(8 years if you count his previous failed
races) and knows that this district has been unrepresented for 4 months….finally gets what
he wants and “simply couldn’t make it” to his
first Council Meeting. It reminds of the movie
” The Candidate” in which Robert Redford, the
candidate for president,after a gruelling race
finally wins and looks bewildered, then looks at his manager and says “now what do I do ?”
Oh, and by the way #23, that sly comment about not wanting the other guy because he
is from the “right” family. Mr T was born and raised by a butcher and a nurse-a good family
for sure but not the “right” family ,as you put it
-trying categorize him as an elite???
You are right about one thing, the voters have
the final say and they will soon see the truth-something you wish to ignore, but if you would do the research,you might have a
little more credibility.
#30, Michael I agree voters were fed up with Ron. He was recklesly spending money the residents and the City didn`t have. He sent the City deep in debt. Families struggling to make ends meet saw energy costs going thru the roof, then increases in the cost of fuel and Ron`s increases in Garbage fees and maybe a tax increase to get the City out of debt.
Cindy Chavez was probably the only one on Gonzales chamber and in “Organized Labor” that sincerly cared about the “Non Union Poor” in the city. Ron used her and hurt her chances as she was percieved as being too close to him.
The “Organized Labor” movement built it`s financial influnce by agressive support of the Democrat Party Centeral Committee in an effort to force Social Conformity on it`s members. Just imagine if they were to spend there money and time supporting the non union poor and there needs?
“Affordable housing” took no effort or need for financial influence from Orgainzed Labor. This issue was a “Slam dunk” as both labor and management agreed that there was a desperate need for affordable housing for the poor.
When construction of high density affordable housing along the light rail and the Guadalupe corridor started where was Organized Labor seeing that the necessary support systems for the poor families was built? They need “parks, swimming pools, staffed libraries for there children when they are at work. In these families both parents are working , sometimes some of them are holding two jobs just trying to make ends meet. Without support in the form of intertainment for there children while the parents are at work, we are inviting trouble to begin, gangs form and gang violence begins.
Neighborhood Organizations form in an effort to fight for the support these children need, there Parks, swimming pools, staffed libraries , police to watch and protect. Was Organized labor around to help these Neighborhood Organizations financially and support them working for better neighborhoods? No they were busy donating money to political parties and working for politicans.
Look at what just happened to the re-opening of the Biebrach pool in a badly needed neighborhood, it didn`t happen. Many poor families in this neighborhood needed support, Where was that caring Centeral labor council? Gardner Advisory Council president Rudy Martinez stood alone with residents in his fight to provide needed recreation for the children in his neighbor hood. Willow Glen Neighborhood Assn. fought alone for parks and
recreational fciities for those poor families living near Alma and Vine sts. Where was Organized Labor and there influnce.
My father spent almost 30 years in labor unions in the early history of San Jose, they participated and helped less fortunate families too. Times are different today.Today thousands of dollars are poured into the Democrat Party. Times have changed.
Many people did not know the real Cindy Chavez. I voted for Mayor Reed for good reasons. They both need to be respected for different reasons. I`m a moderate Democrat, they both are Democrats.
Looking at the construction jobs we have to look Globaly. While we have created excellent wages and benefits for construction workers many of these people live in towns like Modesto, Stocton and Tracy and the benefit for the most part goes to those valley towns. Not to San Jose.
Keep in mind that Gonzales could not have heaped the damage he did on the city without assistance. He was greatly helped by the pathetic council mutes (including Cindy) who just kept saying “yes, sir” every time he wanted to plunder the city. But the biggest enabler of them all was the spineless former City Manager Borgsdorf who got out of town just ahead of deserved focus on his wrongdoings. Had Borgsdorf done anything close to resembling what a city manager should have done, Gonzales could not have gotten away with what he did. So, thanks Del.
#27- The Fly! The Metro endorsed Oliverio! Oliverio has lied through out the campaign, and he’s lying now about his ties to labor. His public denials are of no news or surprise to me. He’s been denying that it all along. I think Oliverio will suffer a great deal, after calling Phaedra a liar. Labor has a way of balancing out such deceptions, and Oliverio will find that out when he needs help out of some jam he gets himself into. Or in a year, when he has to run again, he’ll have burned all his bridges.
I guess time will show him up for the dishonest ways in which he conned the public into voting for him. I just feel sorry for those of us who will suffer for his poor choices, and for his deceptions. Thank God a majority is required to pass major projects in the City, because if Oliverio was left in charge, Denelle would have us all wearing pink, handing out plants, whilst riding horses in downtown to stop the violence!
Greg”32 said: “A union is an organization to benefit their own members. “
That was once true. Now, most unions are for the benefit of the union bosses.
The southern Cal retail clerks strike of 2-3 years ago is a perfect example. While the strikers got little or nothing during the strike, the union officers and admins. got full paychecks. The unions were griping because the co-pay for health insurance was going to go up to $15.00, that’s 1-5, not 5-0. I spoke with a picketer, told her her union bosses were just looking out for themselves, and that I’d KILL for their health plan and a $15.00 co-pay. She didn’t get it. They were out several months, and after the end of the contract they got, they were still way BEHIND what they would have received had they taken management’s final offer before the strike.
Shortly after the end of that strike the contracts were up in Sacto. area. They learned their lesson and took management’s final offer.
They are up for contract negotiations again in SoCal soon. Let’s see what happens.
I did not vote for PLO. In fact, I donated to Tedesco’s campaign and feel he is a good man, but the voters have spoken and let’s give PLO a chance. On the bright side, we will have a chance to reevaluate him in 14 months.