49ers to Santa Clara, A’s to Fremont, Warriors to Mexican Heritage Plaza
In a very complicated deal consummated late Thursday night, the San Jose City Council has decided that the best use for the beleaguered Mexican Heritage Plaza is to turn it into a sporting facility designed and equipped to house last year’s NBA Cinderella team, the Golden State Warriors.
Warriors owner Chris Cohen has refused any public subsidy, instead crafting a nifty deal that would use all private money to retrofit and remodel the venue into a state-of-the-art basketball facility in exchange for immunity against any potential IRS lawsuits for unpaid back taxes.
Although great news for South Bay sports fans, many in the arts community are befuddled.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” said one patron. “They are wrecking an irreplaceable and unique venue for culture, music, performance arts and exhibitions which has proven to be a financial liability for the city—synonymous with success in the art world.”
But Councilmember Nora Campos defends her vote and the new use of the Mexican Heritage Plaza, citing the many cultural events that will still take place in the facility.
“It’s not like we are ridding the place of all cultural and arts celebrations,” she said. “Acts like the Warrior Girls, Thunder and Steve the hotdog vender will be performing at all home games.”
Steve the hot dog vender is being replaced by Juan the Chorizo Juggler. Just an FYI
““Profits? We ain’t got no profits. We don’t need no profits. I don’t have to show you any stinking profits!”
added MHP board member Alfonso Bedoya.
MHP Managed by Team San Jose
John McEnery:
What about the San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer club, who are returning for the 2008 season? Aren’t the Quakes a professional sports franchise in the South Bay?
http://www.sjearthquakes.com.
I have no opinion on this subject.
But of course, the people who run this website, probably will not let my post be seen, because of their liberal, conservative, marxist, facist, communist, nazi, democrat, republican, christian, jewish, muslim, hindu, labor, management, environmental, business, baseball, soccer bias and agenda. Too bad.
Q & A with a parent outraged over the potential loss of the plaza.
Q: Why are you so upset?
A: “I’ll tell you. Without the plaza, where will my children go to learn about the Mexican culture?”
Q: Can’t they learn about it at home?
A: “At home! How can they learn at home when all they do is talk on the phone and watch TV? Are they going to learn about Benito Juarez on Jerry Springer?”
Q: What about the library? We even have a biblioteca downtown.
A: “A library! If they build a shopping mall around a library, then maybe my kids might wander in accidently—and then run like hell to get out.”
Q: But certainly they do learn about the various cultures at school.
A: “School, that’s a laugh. My son is majoring in graffiti with a minor in detention, while my daughter has focused her studies this year on someone named Adolfo.”
Q: Churches often play a pivotal role in preserving customs and cultures, and we have many churches that cater to Mexicans.
A: “The only thing my kids know about church is that their grandmother goes to one, everyday.”
Q: How often have your children attended activities at the Mexican Heritage Plaza?
A: “Well, they’ve never actually been there. I wanted to take them there last year but they talked me into taking them to Great America instead. But really, I had planned to make them go there sometime. I never thought we’d lose the place.”
Q: How does it make you feel to know that, in the end, the decision was a financial one, based solely on the revenue-generating power of the NBA?
A: “The NBA? What are you talking about?”
Q: Didn’t you know? The Warriors are moving to the plaza site.
A: “The Warriors! Awesome! Do you know if season tickets are still available? If so, my son and I will be there for every game.”
JMac,
D.G. #4 is right. The Earthquakes are (or will be again) a professional sports franchise in the South Bay; as are the Sabercats and Stealth. You get paid for playing a sport, you’re considered “professional.” Perhaps Jmac’s humor should have been more specific, as in South Bay having franchises from each of the BIG FOUR sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL).
Chris Cohen should speak with the owners of the SkyRockets and their experience at the Civic Auditorium. They can contacted in the beautiful city of Minot, ND.
CSJ, SJMCC, MHP, Taxi San Jose Managed by Team San Jose
George#5—people liked your father Irving a lot more than they like you. Too bad, sooooo sad!
San Jose – AP
Facing an escalating budget crisis, police force attrition, and a desire to add “Safest Big City with Dirt Roads” to it’s list of accolades, San Jose officials have turned to technology.
A police robot, nicknamed “RainboCop”, is the brainchild of councilman Forrest Williams, and the culmination of a 4 year pilot project led by City of San Jose Laboratories, Intel, and Lockheed.
“This isn’t surprising” said an unnamed staffer, “It’s well known around city hall that Forrest William’s favorite movie is Robocop. He just wouldn’t quit talking about it.”
Police Chief Rob Davis is thrilled with RainboCop’s performance so far. “He’s completely exceeded all our expectations. But there are still a few bugs to be worked out” said Davis. “The other day RainboCop dragged 2 lobbyists and a city official into the station along with a briefcase full of cash and compromising photos, but we’re working with Intel to fine tune RainboCop’s prime directive.” said Davis.
Community reaction mostly positive.
Outfitted with Intel’s latest diversity and quota chipsets and a memory stick version of SJPD’s 940 page “Political Correctness and Multiculturalism Do’s and Don’ts” manual on board, RainboCop is well equipped to enforce law and order without hurting anyones feelings says councilman David Cortese. “He can say “You are safe” and “Yes we can” in 10 different languages – he’s incredible.” gushed Cortese.
“RainboCop is super cool technology and completely God-less. He fits in perfectly in San Jose” said Mike, the 93rd customer in line at a local Fry’s. Local muslim leaders cheered the news that RainboCop will fast during Ramadan.
But not all residents are pleased. “He never stop by. He always go to Jiffy Lube down the street” complained Win Chu, owner of Mike’s Happy Donuts.
Don #4 & Anthony #7-
Mea culpa…
You are both absolutely correct, I completely spaced on the Earthquakes. My mistake and I apologize to the Earthquakes, the people involved with the tough effort to bring them home and soccer fans.
They will be a great addition to the city…again!
Darn—my funny button was stuck and I teared up at the thought private enterprise would win out in the Valley of the Heart’s Delight and Long-term subsidy.
Alas, checked the Merc—nope no basketball at MHP BUT BUT—thinks are normal, Merc reports the History San Jose Park wants ITS’ subsidy advanced early so things are normal.
I used to be a member at History San Jose for many many years. Loved their 4th of July BBQ. Then the mail stopped.
I called them after a few years because I saw no fliers at library, heard nothing.
The woman who answered the phone told me she would not send a newsletter so that I could get sense of current events to see about rejoining . She sniffed “We save those for our members.” Then they had a leader who wanted to be downtown and seemed to me, ashamed of San Jose.
Hope MHP can turn into something cash flow and community positive,
I know this is all for fun, but people in Fremont don’t consider themselves to be in the South Bay. That’s their reasoning for keeping the name “Oakland A’s.”
Great post, Novice. Do you happen to know if RainboCop comes in a model outfitted for Oakland? You know, one with a counter to keep a running tally on all the dead and maimed African Americans, a storage compartment for body outline chalk and crime scene tape, and a catch phrase generator to spew-out the meaningless slogans (“Arrest the Violence,” “Take Back the Streets,” etc.) the city uses to pretend that they’re actually doing something to solve the problem.
Oh, and it would help if the Oakland model could shoot hoops.
http://www.bayareanewsgroup.com/multimedia/iba/njn/media/mx/hoops/
Nam Turk,
Didn’t realize you knew every one of the 200k Fremontonians and their opinions regarding their geographic position in the Bay/preference for A’s name (your post must have been all for fun).