Two weeks ago, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder scolded the nation stating that we are a “nation of cowards” when it comes to addressing issues of race.  “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards…”

I agree.  Too few of us have the courage to speak out about the issue of illegal immigration for fear of being branded a racist or a xenophobe.  The subject of illegal immigration and/or immigration reform has become the new “third rail” of American politics (touch it, and you die).

This past Tuesday, members of the San Jose City Council, city executives, and city staff got together to try and arrive at some about possible solutions for San Jose’s budget mess. They found none. According to the Mercury News, some of the “solutions” that were kicked around included keeping libraries open for only three days, closing some park restrooms on weekdays, and raising all kinds of fines and fees for expected city services.

But rather than cutting city departments evenly across the board, why doesn’t the council and the city manager’s office re-examine just what city departments are essential to the workings of a major, modern American city. In other words, should some city departments be eliminated alltogether?

During the Feb. 5 edition of “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” the host offered the following: “[Dick Cheney] has caused far more terror in this country in the last seven years than any terrorist.”

Recently, the Mercury News reported that the San Jose International Airport is looking at major layoffs over the next 18 months.  According to the FAA, San Jose has experienced a 14 percent decline in domestic departures over the past two years.

Last Monday, eight year old Alex Casillas and his father were hit by a car that ran a red light at Story Road and Adrian Way.  The child is in critical condition at Valley Medical Center.  Tuesday night, KTVU reporter Lloyd LaCuesta did a story on the hit and run incident.  Channel 2’s website provided viewers with the address for a bank account that has been set up to assist the Casillas Family.

When it comes to the workings of the San Jose City Government, the devil is too often in the details. The convention center expansion is a $300 million project, yet it has received little public scrutiny.

This past week, the San Jose City Council gave its preliminary approval for a $300 million expansion of the San Jose Convention Center. The cost-benefit analysis upon which the council leaned to make its decision raises more questions than answers about the utility of the project. Is the convention center expansion designed to meet the needs of the people of San Jose, or the needs of the San Jose Redevelopment Agency?

Someone once said that before you can arrive at the answers, you must first fully understand the questions. When it comes to questions surrounding government budgets, it’s hard to know where to begin. Here are a few points to ponder.

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?

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. 

Prior to last week’s council decision to invest in San Pedro Square, the Mercury News Editorial Board posed an important question that deserves the consideration of every citizen in San Jose. The paper asked, “Should decisions to invest redevelopment money be based purely on a direct dollar payback to the city…or should they take into account less tangible goals, such as creating public spaces, encouraging private investment and keeping the charm and atmosphere of those rare, older parts of downtown?”

Last week, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom held a press conference to promote the city’s new campaign to encourage San Francisco residents to keep their consumer dollars in San Francisco. “SHOP SF-Get More” provides San Francisco residents with incentives to do their Christmas shopping within city limits so that San Francisco receives the tax revenues. Where’s San Jose’s “SHOP SJ” campaign?

The artist Christian Moeller has created numerous public-art pieces, including this installation in Pasadena

A few weeks ago, the San Jose City Council approved preliminary plans to build a huge mural at the airport. As reported by the Mercury News, a 76,000-square-foot mural, designed by German artist Christian Moeller, will be installed on one of the walls of the new rental car garage currently under construction at the airport. The project will cost $1.1 million, stand over 60 feet tall, and stretch as long as 1,200 feet!

In the past, the San Jose City Government has been able to balance its budget every year without actually laying off workers.  The city would often cut costs by not filling open staff positions.  Apparently, those days are over.  The City Manager recently announced that staff cuts will need to take place in the future to help offset the city’s budget deficit.

How and where should the City of San Jose cut staff and reduce expenses? Here are a few suggestions.

Paper To Abandon San Jose?

The San Jose Mercury News recently reported that it’s considering pulling up stakes in San Jose.  On Oct. 18, the newspaper reported that it might move many of its offices to another location.  Publisher Mac Tully said, “We would be interested in staying in San Jose and we would keep all of our options open.”  How nice.

I seem to remember that when the Mercury News was purchased a few years back that the new owners assured that nothing much would change.  Here are a few “hits” (and misses) surrounding Dean Singleton, the architect of the Mercury News’ “makeover.” 

Measure A and Measure B got me thinking…why can’t ballot measures ask voters more than one question?  Think about it…why aren’t California voters presented with choices?

Measure A asks voters to approve $840 million in bonds to “prevent a state mandated shutdown of one-half of Valley Medical Center’s beds…”  Santa Clara County voters are asked to spend money to bring Valley Med up to state required seismic standards.  Why not dedicate the $840 million to the construction of an additional medical facility at another site?