My first post on San Jose Inside spoke about the lack of maintenance the San Jose parks were receiving, particularly the historic Municipal Rose Garden Park.
As I mentioned then, I met with city staff and residents to do an initial walkthrough of the park and I saw firsthand the disarray of the park. Shortly thereafter, I submitted a memo asking the council to consider a “pilot program” for outsourcing maintenance at the park. My pilot proposal was heard on May 15 during the evening meeting.
I came to the meeting prepared for a couple of things. First, I knew my pilot proposal would not pass, even though I and many residents of San Jose felt it was the right thing to do. Second, that labor would be against any proposal that contains the word “outsourcing.” On the dais, I spoke about the need for the city to save money and deliver efficient and effective neighborhood services, and the fact that my proposal was just that—a one year pilot that would be measured.
During this process, there were a few individual people against my proposal under the veil of “Rose Garden neighbors.” They put out a press release which I obtained via email as a Microsoft Word document. When I went to the “properties” section of the press release document, I found that the “neighbors” group was not the author. Instead, I saw the name Bob Brownstein as the author and the software had been licensed to Working Partnerships USA (Union). Bob Brownstein works for Phaedra Ellis-Lampkins, the head of the South Bay Labor Council.
I made my comments and asked the council to send my proposal to “meet and confer.” The meet-and-confer process can take as long as a year! It involves sitting down and negotiating with the labor unions. Unfortunately, none of the city council members supported me. However, Mayor Reed was supportive of the pilot program and also warned the council that our city budget is in such a severe deficit that we need to be innovative.
I was taken aback when speakers from labor that spoke before the council that evening said that I didn’t follow “the process.” I thought to myself: I didn’t? How is that?
Throughout my campaign of seven months, I spoke of the need to investigate outsourcing some park maintenance. The city currently outsources some street paving and saves money and receives good service. I thought we should do the same with park maintenance. Once elected, I wrote a memo which went to the Rules Committee. I wanted my idea to be placed on the city council agenda as soon as possible for open discussion.
Simultaneously, I held a press conference with Rose Garden residents present. Over 30 residents were in attendance and very supportive of my idea. The neighbors also organized a neighborhood meeting for me to share my proposal with over 40 residents at the Hoover Community Center.
On May 15, I shared my proposal and then I heard the cliché “I didn’t follow the process.” I believe that I followed the process and from the feedback that I received from residents throughout San Jose, they believe that I did.
The “process” was that they thought this issue should have gone to committees first and that I should have called the unions before coming to the city council. I respectfully disagree.
I feel that every city councilmember should be able to bring forward ideas to their team—in this case the team is the city council—so that ideas can be expressed in the open and not behind closed doors. I don’t believe that I have to contact the Chamber of Commerce or the Labor Council before I bring an idea to the city council.
The city council is the elected body charged by the residents of San Jose to create and implement policy. Commissions, committees and various groups are not directly elected by the people. I have no problem if the city council chooses to send an issue to a committee for review. Having a smaller group review and make recommendations to the city council is a good idea. However, I strongly believe that in order for government to be open and honest, all issues, ideas, etc., need to be brought to the city council for open dialogue. The city council meetings are televised so that every single person with a TV can watch them. Calling special interest groups or sending an idea to a committee whose members are appointed—not elected—before bringing the idea to the city council is not what residents want. They want you to solve problems as soon as possible.
My pilot proposal is now going to the private/public committee, and then it will be brought back to the city council in June. Fair enough. I am looking forward to what the committee’s thoughts are and I deeply appreciate my fellow team members (city council) for supporting this.
Today, May 17, my office again received numerous calls from the Rose Garden area—but this time with good news. Seven trucks from the parks maintenance department were spotted this morning taking care of the park—proving that the idea of outsourcing works.
Dave, switch to decaf
The post that was formerly here has been taken off. While it was obviously meant as satire, we have decided to take it off the site as it was written by an anonymous author under the name of a real person which, under the circumstances, may be misconstrued by some readers.
The biggest problem is the lack of accountability with city workers including staff. While driving around the city, I’ve seen Parks and Rec. employees at work, or more accurate, holding up the shovels. These employees are not held accountable for what they are assigned to do. Staff is no better. Code enforcement is another example of an Dept. not held accountable for their actions. I was amazed to ready in the Mercury News about the house in Willow Glen where the City Attorney was taking them to court over blight. In my neighborhood we have a house where illegal dumping is a weekly event and efforts to get Code Enforcemnt to act has been almost impossible. We have been given every excuse imaginable. I guess we can’t all live in Willow Glen. It should be no surprise that when someone comes up with an idea that threats the unions control they will come out fighting. That is the major reason this city is in trouble.
There are 2 political processes to get things done in San Jose government
“status quo” political control by staff, our politician’s committees or their hand picked commissions by good old boys and gals from South Bay, Chamber, Silicon Valley Leadership, Home Builders, and Downtown Business Association
– building community political support and votes to change “status quo”
Council did not feel part of “team” after you “politically grandstanded” parks outsourcing in press. They lectured you about process rather than discuss merits of parks outsourcing since politically weak 30 person Rose Garden support was not enough community support , so you predictably lost vote
.
Parks outsourcing will now be “studied and discussed” for months until it dies in committee
Who cares what Rose Garden wants
Parks maintenance vote loss shows Rose Garden has not mattered in San Jose politics since Hammer years
The question is how to provide services, and PLO was one of two people willing to address it.
The rest chose to hide behind “process” mainly because they don’t want to talk about the labor contracts and work rules that they signed.
It’s a good thing he’s there.
Hey #4, not cool signing someone else’s name.
Look, this Pierluigi guy has got to be stopped. You can’t have politicians running around speaking the truth and standing up for principles.
Take a second look at the numbers that I posted on my blog last Friday. Things have got to change. Unless, and until, another “Dot Com Miracle” comes to San Jose, city service levels will continue to decline. The city has 450 fewer positions than they did four years ago. Our streets get patched instead of repaved. Sales tax revenues are DOWN.
The only way to correct a STRUCTURAL DEFICIT problem is to RE-STRUCTURE things! (The first salvo in this important effort was turned down by a vote of 9-2!!)
Pete Campbell
You’re not going to outsource anything. We union members are gonna replace you in the next election.
We are going to keep are high paying, secure jobs no matter what. It isn’t illegal to soak the taxpayers for are salaries and benefits. Even if it was, try calling a cop, they’re in the union too. And they will be at Starbucks drinking coffee on their four hour coffee break.
Ha ha, the union rules, taxpayers are fools.
#4 Mrs. Lampkin`s
Quoting you,“You will either accept our money and vote our way, or we will destroy you !
“One man with courage makes a majority”, Andrew Jackson
There are no problems we can not solve together and a very few that we can solve alone. Remember, “money is the route of all evil”
You sound a little like Tony Soprano.
Williams, Nguyen and Chirco, do they work for the Union`s or for the residents of San Jose ? Lamkin says she has them in her pocket. Maybe they might have a conflict of interest and shouldn`t be voting on issues that involve or benefit the Union.
Are they bought and paid for ? Do they realy need a salary increase. Maybe they should donate their City paychecks to charity.
.
Pierluigi, thanks for having the balls to say what needed to be said.
You took action. Freshly elected, you jumped in with both feet. So what if some thought it was a cannonball? In my book that’s better than a backflip.
#9 – You said “not cool signing someone else’s name”.
I noticed in the SJ Mercury News sometimes you are identified as Pete Contant- SJ Councilmember, other times you’re Pete McHugh SC County Supervisor, a third time you were identified as Pete Kutras- SC County Executive. You should stick with one story, instead of weaving a tangled web of lies.
Regarding the Rose Garden Park. . .
—The neighborhood asked the city to care for the roses.
—The neighborhood asked the city to clean up the park.
—Pierluigi campaigns on a platform of other solutions to provide services.
—He proposes an outsourcing pilot program.
—He held a meeting in the park and it’s in the paper.
—The City Council debates and defends the union.
—The parks manager offers his story.
—The City Manager says, “This one slipped by us.”
—Then bingo… it’s cleaned up. Just like that.
Makes you wonder if this “slipped by”, or the the folks in the Rose Garden didn’t vote as some thought they should have. Just a thought.
At least the issue is on the table and now out in the open.
I didn’t vote for you either, but will in the next election.
What’s really interesting is earlier in the evening, item 11.5, on an item in William’s district; there was a proposal that included a new park. It was voted through unanimously.
Says Mayor Reed prior to the vote “I’d just like to point out the plan includes a public park that will be privately maintained, which I think is something of further discussion for lots of other parks as we go through the process”
See it online
http://sanjose.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
Item 11.5 at 34 minutes in.
What a bunch of hypocrites.
Richard,
You were taken in by #4 and #10 – a trickster who signed someone else’s name to get you to react
# 17 Was that a misquote in the Willow Glen Resident too when they Quoted Mrs. Lampkins.
We need to work together. I`m all in favor of a fair wage for everyone, all things being equal. Unfortunally they are not all equal.
We need to see our City survive. If our Citizens are paid a good wage and benefits our economy will prosper too.
I suggest Mrs Lampkins correct the error ASAP, if it is an error or incorrect quote. I know I would.
you followed the process. you just didn’t pay homage to the special groups, particularly the parks commission. but, you are right, things should get refered to them by the full council. that’s how the charter works. keep up the good work, see you at the willow glen traffic calming meeting, oh wait, should you run this by a commission and staff before you haveyou have this outreach meeting?
What a complete load of crap. And I voted for you.. my bad. ” When I went to the “properties” section of the press release document, I found that the “neighbors” group was not the author.”??? What great detective work Encyclopedia Brown. Here’s another computer tip for you, if you press <ctrl> <alt> <delete> simultaneously, you bring up your task manager.
Let’s see, you take away budget from park maintenance, watch maintenance deteriorate then decide it’s the maintenance staff’s fault and outsourcing will take care of the problem. Then you’re shocked… SHOCKED that the union opposes you. It’s easy to go to city council and lob bombs, why don’t you try working with people (including staff) instead?
Greg# 19, I LOL. It’s so bloody true!!!
Now, moving back: I missed the #4 that was deleted, and ask that it be returned with a commentary about how it was not written by the person to whom it was attributed…but let’s see the content, please.
This process mantra is a bunch of BS. All it seems to mean is that you have to kiss the right ass*s. But those ass*s are the problem. Business as usual has got to stop. Process is the major way to stop progress.
Dave #2 must be a union troll. Working with the union means more people lean on shovels and get big pensions for doing SQUAT. And, Dave apparently defends Brownstein, the #1 labor shill (maybe tied with Phaedra) for posting a false and misleading item rather than under his own name.
Everyone who provides an honest days labor deserves an honest days pay. The problem is, we haven’t got the honest days labor for a couple of decades. Public employee labor unions have had such a stranglehold on public jobs that the system just isn’t working any longer.
But it’s not just the rank and file. We have layers of managers who provide no added value to what goes on. So, little gets accomplished. Fire at least Half the managers, all of whom make big bucks, and help balance the budget. You don’t need a manager to mange three people who do the work, or at least they sorta do the work.
From where I am standing, I see a significant plurality, if not a majority, of people completely pissed off about the lack of basic services provided for our tax dollars. Yet, there are all these feel good programs that are seemingly entrenched in our government that have no business being there. But the bureaucrrats employed to oversee those programs are incredibly adept at justifying their existence; despite the fact that none of their programs are as important as safe, celan, well-paved streets.
Pierluigi—keep rocking the boat.
Now…if only we could get more than a few SJI bloggers interested in overturning this system before we become France.
Unfortunately, #6 accurately describes what goes on in govt. Process is king. Substance isn’t even in the back seat…it’s out walking in the streets.
Process has got us in the mess we’re in. We either don’t trust our employees, or don’t want to take the hit, so we spend Gazillions on consultants to tell us how to operate.
We need to set no more than five priorities for city government—actually for state government as well. For me, the top three are #1 public safety (police and fire), #2 physical infrastructure, #3, public health for our citizens and those in our country LEGALLY (which does not mean paying for every problem pregnancy that makes it’s way
past our porous borders), #4, Education FOR THOSE WILLING TO EMBRACE IT, and not for the slackers, gangbangers, and people who refuse to assimilate to our culture and language ( am I the only person who is tired of someone who has been here twenty YEARS being interviewd on TV IN SPANISH after winning the lotto or suffering some calamity? How can you live somewhere for twenty years and not have the decency to pick up at least a five-year-old’s vocabulary?) #5, giving a leg up to the WORKING poor, even if it means letting some slacker go hungry.
I asked a press contact for a copy. It’s true.
http://tinyurl.com/2jvc2w
The Neighborhood association held no meetings or open discussion before the president (a union member) had the press release written for her against the pilot program.
#21 – Do you realize that English does not even have the recognition of being the national language, it is the common language!
Accountability Needed (#5),
You claimed, “I’ve seen Parks and Rec. employees at work, or more accurate, holding up the shovels.”
Are you absolutely certain of that?!? I seem to recall that Parks & Rec. spent some sizable money a few years ago to buy shovels that stood up by themselves.
If I’m not mistaken, those new shovels were beta tested by Caltrans… they would have to be good to withstand such a pounding.
#25—that English has diminished recognition even on a national level
#23—and your point is????
#5 you are absolutely correct about Code Enforcement. They are the absolute worst group in the City! Try getting any kind of response from them….
Just a guy saying stuff who knows little about nothing and nothing at all about anything.
Easy to pick on union folks. They are in the public eye. But if they lack efficiency, it pales in comparision to corporations. The differnece is that they are not in the public eye. You simply don’t see it.
Private companies will always be better at taking money from City Hall than Unions will ever be. They are designed to do it and they do it very well.
sj