Both the Police Department and the Fire Department have an uphill battle ahead of them as they prepare to fight the City Council’s decision that they either take an across-the-board 10 percent pay cut or lose jobs. Cooperation between them might strengthen their position, but that’s not likely to happen soon. The bone of contention is Proposition K, which would expand gambling within San Jose.
The firefighters are supporting the measure, hoping that at least some of the anticipated revenues would eventually make their way to them. The SJPD opposes the measure, arguing that more gambling would mean more crime and pose an additional burden to the force.
It is now left to the voters to decide whether they are willing to pay it.
Read More at KLIV.
This is getting to be completely absurd. Cutting city services, reducing salaries, and oh yeah in the process of disenfranchising everyone across the board the CSJ will be expanding a much more devastating addiction den then those evil cannabis clubs, roll them dice c’mon hard ten!
As much as I enjoy playing table games I know measure K is not good for the city. I have known pit bosses through my career in hospitality who have told me directly they were reprimanded off record for not having any cocaine dealers on the floor. The police are right on the money. No pun intended.
My brother who is running for a council seat in District 9 has said basically cuts to salaries should be made on a sliding scale, rather then this pseudo-socialist approach of 10% across the board. This makes much more sense.
Why not raise revenues, with a local municipal banking system that provides micro-loans, and while fattening municipal coffers. While you’re at it, why not raise funds by issuing micro-bonds, with attractive yields and dividends. Why is the city not insulating it’s citizens wealth and instead opting to bleed them dry.
Nicholas asked, “Why is the city not insulating it’s citizens wealth and instead opting to bleed them dry.”
Because we allow them to and keep voting the same people into office, that’s why. It is also because no one complains about the over spending they see going on before it is too late.
I agree, these across the board cuts are ridiculous and are unfair to lower paid employees, especially the “at will employees,” not covered by Unions.
I have to commend Council Member Oliverio for his comments during the Council Meeting regarding salary cuts. He said that the City built our over priced City Hall and many other projects at the insistence of Unions, and now they are complaining because there isn’t enough money left to pay salaries/benefits, (Or something like that.) It was a tough point to argue with that is for sure.
I just keep wondering why we live in such an ignorant, “in the moment, all about me,” world. What do people expect when they don’t look past the instant gratification of that RIGHT NOW mentality?
Kathleen if I may… “Because we allow them to and keep voting the same people into office, that’s why”
Then I encourage you to lend some support to my brothers campaign. He is independent, Has no endorsements from the current establishment, and thus owes no favors to anyone. We have spoken on the topic of volunteering for the city, and in my estimation it seems that the constituents of each district has been lulled into complacency, inaction, and apathy because there is a fierce opposition to volunteer action. An example is a volunteer group that had the resources to upkeep the rose garden but were 404’d (geekspeak for access denied)
I suppose this is in part because no money enters into the political arena when you let volunteers do something karmically charged for their city. If Volunteers had a union though it may be an all together different story!
I take it you are against Prop K yourself Kathleen? Read it in it’s entirety http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/elections/2010Election/MKtexteng.pdf
It’s noteworthy that Patricia Dando who was quoted as saying “You’ve gotta know when to fold ‘em.” in regards to the cities legal battle with COMPAC to limit soft money is backing measure K as well. She currently is the president of San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. Uhhhhh….. Hello out there? People of San Jose?
http://www.mercurynews.com/internal-affairs/ci_14714886
Nicholas,
I supported Dave in his run for BOS. I think he is awesome, and so are his wife, and family members I met during the campaign.
I’m sure your brother is a kind, decent person. Like Dave, I am already committed to a candidate. I believe in Jim Cogan for D9 City Council. I have known Jim for many years and worked with him on victims of violent crime, neighborhood, animal, and public safety issues. I honestly think Jim will do an excellent job for my district as he has shown incredible knowledge, and flexibility in working with several different Council Members in different districts. He has always worked hard in D9, has worked hard to ensure public safety, and is a very good man. I think he is the most qualified to serve us.
Having said that, I wish your brother much success in his run. It takes a lot of dedication, hard work, money, and commitment to put your butt on the line to run for office. I commend anyone who does.
As to Prop K, I am honestly torn over it. Remember, gambling is LEGAL in California and the taxes these casinos or card clubs bring the city does help immensely.
I come from Ledyard, Ct. I’ve seen the benefits casinos bring to the economy. They have several beautiful well maintained Indian casinos that saved our small town from unemployment and reduced public services. Small businesses have thrived since the casinos were built. The revenue from these casinos has been well worth it! Since they are Indian owned, they take great care to build around wildlife, and keep respect for the environment. They donate to schools; keep libraries open, you name it. They have tight security and are very well run, and provide hundreds of good paying jobs.
My concerns about Prop K are taxing these casinos so much that they might leave, increased crime, and not enough Police Officers to keep things under control. The money it brings in may help staff our PD, but only if the city does the right thing with the money.
Just like with the medical pot issue. People who are terminally ill greatly benefit from using it, but there are abuses to consider as well. The other issue to consider carefully is they will bring in much needed revenue, and medical pot is legal. Both will attract abuse and crime and our Police Department is severely understaffed as it is. It really is going to be tough for me to decide what to do this election. I’m just not sure right now.
Dear Kathleen.
I know the original owners of the Bay 101 card room. The Bumb family. The same family that owns the Berryessa flea market. Nice people, but their family like our own is experiencing an exodus out of San Jose for the first time in many generations. Why?
San Jose is no longer the town we grew up with. It’s changed, for the worse.
Someone got the bright idea that San Jose’s image of a nice place to buy a house and raise a family wasn’t good enough, that we had to be something different. That we needed more this that and the other thing so people outside of San Jose would take us seriously as a big city.
I’ve always seen the last 30 years of CSJ government as playing, “Hey SF, Oakland, We’re San Jose! We’re like you’re younger cousin, we’re cool too! Look we can be big just like you as well!”
Problem is… in our leaders quest to make our city bigger they’ve become completely disenfranchised with why we all lived in San Jose in the first place. During the 90’s they took out loans and diverted funds from San Jose’s crown jewels and just left them to rot while they focused on redeveloping downtown.
One of these crown jewels left to rot was Happy Hollow. This is why it needed a $70,000,000 renovation.
What needs to happen in CSJ government is a back to basics. No more giving money away. Here’s a great example I love to cite, the Axis tower development.
http://www.axissanjose.com/article.php?SID=23
They were supposed to pay $10m for that property, but the council gave them a $2m discount because of the “Economic Meltdown”? Where’s my 20% discount on my mortgage because of the “Economic Meltdown”. The property development firm that built it isn’t even from San Jose, how about helping our own citizens out first?
Here’s another good example from this site.. What was city council smoking when they gave Tom Mcenery $6 million “To do with what he saw fit”?
http://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/entries/mcenerys_6m_san_pedro_square_gift_includes_car_jewelry_and_toys/
Right there is $8m that could have been used for city services, but instead was used for special interest kickbacks.
What prompted me to run was seeing a park by my house closed on Mondays, but when I really got into the grit of what’s been going on in downtown the last 10 years, I almost feel like I was in a Rip Van Winkle sleep, and I woke up with a big “WTF” written across my forhead with a sharpie.
Expanding card rooms and gambling isn’t what’s going to fix things either. Going back to my first paragraph, there’s a reason we live in San Jose, and that reason is we used to not have that kind of element here. We have a choice to have them (unlike the pot dispensaries, which are not blessed by the state) Again, CSJ government needs to focus on the core values of what makes San Jose, SAN JOSE. No more of this “Look at me too” bull. A great place to live, friendly people. The lyrics for “Do you know the way to San Jose” sums it up wonderfully.
“You can really breathe in San Jose
They’ve got a lot of space. There’ll be a place where I can stay
I was born and raised in San Jose
I’m going back to find some peace of mind in San Jose.
“
BTW I like Cogan too. Since our names both start with CO, we always end up sitting next to each other at forums. We’re both busy, but we’re planning on having pancakes with each other at some future date.
Oh and please excuse several of my grammatical errors, and the improper use of you’re. I haven’t had my coffee yet
(unlike the pot dispensaries, which are not blessed by the state)
Should read
(unlike the pot dispensaries, which are now blessed by the state)
Thank you Robert. I agree with much of what you’ve said.
What are your thoughts on the City canceling our 4th of July Fireworks celebration, and Christmas in the Park downtown, due to bad financial planning? What suggestions do you have to help preserve our American heritage and traditions in San Jose?
Please follow Jon and my discussion on this blog. We’d love your assistance, if you are willing to help preserve part of our American heritage!
Thank you for your thoughts Robert. I agree we have become too reliant on these large events that the City profits from. The City doesn’t put the tradition, pride of country, and America’s heritage before profit, and isn’t very business friendly either.
While I think you have a great idea here, I am concerned about letting people do fireworks without proper training. I live near Hogue Park and I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen youth dam near burn down trees at the park, or cars, or houses because they are out there firing off illegal fireworks. I don’t mean the safe kind either. There’s also someone down Woodard who shoots off some pretty professional fireworks. I watch as the fiery remains fall on rooftops and say a prayer. I’ve given up calling the Police. They’re too busy running from call to call.
I’m angry and disgusted that the City was so negligent in planning for and including in the budget monies for this event and for Christmas in the Park. Have you any idea how much volunteerism and work went to getting Christmas in the Park created? Do you know the joy and peace both these events bring families? I guess you do, but our leaders don’t.
It just seems to me that our electeds just don’t give a dam about where we want our tax dollars spent. I guess I’ll go give my business to a City that takes pride in our country’s heritage again this year. I’ll be skipping Cinco De Mayo events in San Jose out of protest to San Jose’s discriminatory practices, and enjoy it in a city that honors both Mexican and American heritage EQUALLY.
In lieu of the lack of 4th of July fireworks this year…
I think we should bring legal fireworks back to Santa Clara County.
Let’s remember back to why we banned personal fireworks in the first place. I don’t remember the exact year, but it was late 70’s early 80’s ish.
There was still a ton of open space, all houses were using shake shingle roofing that had no fire treatment, basically the entire Santa Clara County became one huge tinderbox in July. There is even an old mercury news photo of me at 3 throwing rocks at a fire by the family ranch in Thompson creek in evergreen.
Every year fires would break out in parks, creeks, landing on wooden shake shingle roof’s burning down houses. Eventually the county was pressured into banning fireworks, not limited to but including the “safe and sane” variety.
So we became dependent on these shows. Building codes have changed a lot since then. Wood shake shingle houses are rare, as most use roll roofing or tile. We don’t have the open space we used to.
Not all neighborhoods are dependent. A few rebels in my neighborhood fire off mortars every year regardless. Our block captains get permits to block the street off every year and we have a huge 4th of July bbq. We let the kids light off the safe and sane variety in a controlled, supervised manner when it gets dark.
Personally, I hate the fact that we’re not going to have a municipal show this year, but in lieu of that maybe we could approach the county supervisors with this idea…
—-We semi-legalize again. What I mean by semi-legal is each neighborhood can appoint “block captains” who will be in charge of making sure everything is carried out in a safe fashion, they will also be the only ones allowed to purchase fireworks.
—-A portion of the proceeds of the safe and sane firework sales will go towards block captain training at a local fire house. Each captain will be required to pay for their training. Again, this money goes to the fire department.
—-Block captains will be required to be sober at all times during the show. If asked, they will have to take a field sobriety test and being under the influence disqualifies them from block captain duty for a period of time.
I know it’s not a fireworks extravaganza, but if you’re like me you remember the heyday in San Jose when fireworks were legal. Families actually got together to celebrate our nations independence.
While this would only provide a seasonal income for the fire department, because of its wide appeal (way wider than gambling) we might even be able to negate the need for more card rooms.
I’m pretty libertarian when it comes to issues like this. If people don’t like these kinds of laws, they’re going to drive to Gilroy or Alameda county and buy their fireworks anyways. Instead of wasting money trying to fight it, we should be trying to reap the benefits of it as long as we carry it out in a safe, controlled manner.
Happy Hollow is a crown jewel?
Sorry. It is a fun place for kids to visit once in a while, but that is it. When politicians start saying this type of nonsense you know they are pandering to the lowest common denominator.
Kathleen,
Do what I do – I buy nearly all of my groceries, gasoline and clothing items in cities adjacent to San Jose. I believe that other cities – especially Santa Clara and Sunnyvale – are far more deserving and appreciative of the sales tax revenue, as compared to San Jose, my place of residence. I gave up waiting for SJ to ever properly manage budgets and spend money wisely.
I’m glad you mentioned Happy Hollow. I must have visited that place scores of times during the 1970s, and some of my most pleasant memories are playing on its unique attractions, such as the old Pirate Ship. My wife even had the Happy Hollow puppeteers (do they still exist?) entertain at her birthday party, also back in the 1970s (long before I knew her). I took my son to Happy Hollow about 5-6 years ago, and the admission price was $1 per person. Today, its $12 per person! Oh, I forget, if you’re over 70, you only have to pay eight dollars. TWELVE FREAKIN’ DOLLARS!!! That ain’t the San Jose I used to know and love. That is some serious Bravo Sierra.
I sympathize with most of your points, but I don’t think our city should be celebrating American and Mexican traditions equally. San Jose is part of America, after all (and Christmas is as much Mexican as it is American, for what its worth). There should be a disparity, and that disparity should favour American cultural celebrations (which is not to say Mexican ones should be totally eschewed, of course – after all, San Jose used to be part of Mexico, and before that, it was part of the empire of the Kingdom of Spain).
But you’re correct to note that its a disgrace that our city seems to treat the 5th of May with more reverence than the 4th of July.
The “know-it-alls” who are concerned with property safety from fires and human safety with those who are burned and injured from the fireworks? Are those the ones you are talking about so eloquently?
Right on! I was a kid when they banned them, and thought it was a rip off to make people go downtown or to Great America to see fireworks. I always thought it was a deal that in return for taking away a right (to celebrate the 4th of July like the rest of the country) we’d get a really big public show.
Once you give up a right, though, the know-it-alls who know what best for you will never give it back because they’re basically elitists who pander to the people but at heart think the average guy/girl is too dumb or irresponsible to be trusted with anything (guns, fireworks, en-metered garden hoses, etc.)
Fireworks have changed a lot though. Sure you can still burn things, and get burned but as with anything else, there is always an inherent danger. Once a year I see an ambulance at the little league field by my house hauling off a kid that’s just been beaned in the head.
http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2001/E/200115302.html
<sarcasm>
Looking at that, I never knew there had been 13 deaths over the years! We should ban little league! Think of the Children! </sarcasm>
Fireworks, as with anything carries inherent dangers. Rather than dwell on the mistakes of the past, we need to learn from them and adopt ways of preventing them from happening again.
Last year fireworks sales made $960m dollars nationwide. That’s $3 for every man, woman and child in the US. The charities and non profits take home $1 of that $3. So in a 6 day period San Jose could earn $3m in sales, with $1m going to our local charities.
At a time when we’re closing down community centers, cutting funding to our youth programs, and generally letting the city fall apart we’re seeking funding from what was considered vice type activities 20 years ago (gambling, marijuana) Believe me, I have NOTHING against either but here is a non-vice revenue stream that is deeply rooted in our American history, and other cities are starting to use again. Salinas and Manteca repealed their fireworks bans. San Jose needs to do the same.
Going back to your original point about burns. When I was a kid, sure, I burned myself a ton on fireworks. Especially on metal wire sparklers (which are now banned) You know what it taught me? How to *not* get burned.
Or maybe they just give a damn about families, and the institutions necessary to help nurture healthy ones, instead of catering exclusively to developers, and the urbane hipster class. I’ve done my time in the latter class my own darn self, but Happy Hollow was a magnificent place for children during the 1970s & 80s…in part precisely because it was so low-cost. My parents used to take me there about once a month, between the ages of 3-7. Although I’m not sure it really qualifies as a “crown jewel” any longer, post-renovation (and massive admission price increase), alas.
Why doesn’t the city go after a professional basketball team instead of spending millions of dollars on land for a baseball team? We already have an arena that is built which the Warriors played in for a season when the Oakland arena was being remodeled, which was very successful at the time.
Because there aren’t any owners of basketball teams looking to move to San Jose.
At one point nobody was looking to put a hockey in team in San Jose either.
We got the Sharks during an expansion in the NHL. If the NBA ever decides to create more teams, maybe you’ll have a point.
NBA teams move all the time. City needs to work on getting one here.
Sure, why not try to get an NBA team? Three NBA teams have moved since 1985 (Grizzlies, Hornets, and Sonics). That’s pretty much “all the time.”
In the meantime, though, the city should work with the sports team that’s already interested in moving here.
I agree that an NBA team would be great. I take issue with chasing an NBA team instead of working with a baseball team that has publicly stated it wants to move here. These opportunities to get professional sports teams are rare, regardless of how much speculation you can find on Google. And you’re not helping your case with an article that points out modifications would have to be made to HP Pavilion to support an NBA team (“among other things, a ‘new locker room and possibly offices would have to be built’). For the A’s the city has to buy land (as we always point out, the team will pay for the stadium). For a basketball team, the city will have to modify HP Pavilion. I suppose it’s possible the owners could pay for the modifications, but that assumes they really want to come here and they’re not being convinced, which is even more rare… another reason why the A’s are a great opportunity.
Nothing is free.
Just one of many articles you can find showing that an NBA team is not an impossiblity as you, for whatever reason, think it is. Sure, NBA teams don’t move that often and expansion doesn’t happen often, but San Jose would be a prime location for when it does happen. It would fill up the arena at least 40 times a season and generate millions of dollars for the area. Save the negative response, please.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:t6cqkwSAXEwJ:www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/134004+nba+teams+“san+jose”&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Our 4th of July celebration has been cancelled, and there is talk of cancelling the annual Christmas Parade and Christmas in the Park. Yet, this is what I read in today’s Mercury regarding Cinco de Mayo this weekend….
“Hermelinda Sapien, CEO of the Center for Employment Training, will be the grand marshal of San Jose’s 29th annual Cinco de Mayo parade. This year’s parade starts at 10 a.m. Sunday, which is actually “Dos de Mayo.” Don’t worry about it; more people can go to a parade on a Sunday than a Wednesday. Anyway, the parade will follow Market Street from Santa Clara Street to San Carlos Street. The fun continues at an outdoor festival at Discovery Meadow, which runs until 7 p.m. It’ll have three music stages, buzzing with everything from salsa to classic rock.”
I am so f*cking pissed off that the idiots that run our city magically find money for a Cinco de Mayo celebration and money for a baseball stadium, yet have cancelled our 4th of July celebration.
I agree, it’s a travesty that San Jose turns its back on the 4th of July while it glorifies cinco de mayo.
Wow…racists, racists and more racists. You are living in SAN JOSE…emphasis on JOSE!!!! Don’t like it…too bad. We are all immigrants here…get use to it, unless your Native American. Just because your wife is Hispanic, doesn’t mean she’s not a racist…those are the worst…can’t even be proud of their own heritage…sad.
Find out where the money is coming from before you state whats on your mind. Ignorance is alive in well in SAN JOSE!!!
You are a moron if you are playing the race card on this one. This is the United States first, and if there is not money to celebrate our own Independence Day, then Cindo de Mayo should not have been funded either. It is pure ignorance to keep playing the race card with those you disagree with.
We can rename this place St. Joseph, if it’d make you feel better about the fact that most of us (including more than a few persons of Mexican descent) care more about the 4th of July than some holiday that is barely acknowledged in Mexico itself.
Re-posting…
As far as I can tell the American GI Forum of San Jose takes care of the Cinco de Mayo festival. From their web site:
“Fifteen years ago, the City of San Jose saw the Festivals in grave danger of being discontinued. The City was proud to host the important cultural celebration, but they were a financial failure.
The City officials asked the San Jose GI Forum, as a responsible financially reputable community organization, with a broad Hispanic American membership to come to the rescue.
After study and vigorous discussion, we decided that the Fiestas Patrias were too important to our community to let it die. We accepted the challenge.
With good management, a large volunteer labor force, and a lot of very valuable community goodwill, we have made the Fiestas Patrias successful, and it has been placed as one the biggest festivals in our Nation.”
As others have pointed out, I’m sure the city will have to provide extra officers to manage the crowds.
So the lack of a 4th of July celebration is because the city can’t afford it and no outside organization has adopted responsibility. Maybe you should start one. I’d love to see fireworks downtown again.
Thanks Jon for sharing credible information, instead of bashing around ethnic groups like others.
Apparently it’s easy to be a racist…you just have to be ignorant.
> Apparently it’s easy to be a racist…you just have to be ignorant.
Wow! Another sneaky way of calling someone a racist.
You people can do this in your sleep.
>Wow! Another sneaky way of calling someone a racist.
>You people can do this in your sleep.
“You people”…exactly my point…racist.
I take it you assume I’m Hispanic…I’m actually German.
The American GI Forum owed the city millions of dollars for services it was suppose to pay for but never did. The city did the politically correct thing and wrote it off and never collected the money.
Nice spin,
Very true, but we don’t want to let the facts get in the way now do we?
Yep, I remember reading several stories about that.
That G.I. Forum group does cover the expenses of actually staging the Cinco de Mayo festival, but they sure as Hell don’t pay for the police overtime pay, and the overtime pay of other municipal service workers, which are required in order to make that festival possible. Just because the taxpayers are not paying for the whole thing, doesn’t mean we aren’t being hit with a substantial cost.
Very true Kevin, but for some reason that just doesn’t seem important enough to stop our “leaders” from canceling our Independence Day or honoring the sacrifices made for us by our military or the Lord!
Do you actually know that the City is spending any $$ on this or does it just bug you that an ethnic group is having a celebration?
Do you think it is free for the city to put on a Cinco de Mayo celebration? Yes, I know I am a racist, although my wife is hispanic and she is just as pissed, because I want the city to celebrate the 4th of July if they are going to fund the Cinco de Mayo festivities. I figured I would be marginalized as such.
Kevin,
Very well said! Thank you for pointing out that many Mexican-Americans and other immigrants value our Independence Day and Christmas as much as we naturally born Americans do, and that this really isn’t a matter of race but pride in OUR country!
I can’t count the number of times I’ve sat near families from Mexico, Vietnam, India, and Iran who took as much joy as I in watching fireworks, or strolling through Christmas in the Park. I love listening to their parents explaining the meaning of the holiday to their children, and the look on their kids faces as they ask questions.
It makes these holidays even more special for me. It also shows me that people from all over the world value the freedoms and diversity we have in this country because of service and sacrifices of our men/women in the military. You just can’t put a price on that.
Not only is it not racist to be pissed off about the perfidious garbage we have to put up from “our leaders” on the City Council, its an insult to Mexican-Americans to assume they have no interest in the 4th of July. A young lady of my acquaintance (full-blooded Mexican) saw a car full of her co-ethnics the other day, flying a big Mexican flag, and expressed the opinion that they were a bunch of ingrates for not flying the American flag instead, since they obviously prefer living here (and its difficult to imagine many would not).
What can I say? The senorita in question was absolutely correct.
Nice work, Just Wondering. Another sneaky way to call someone a racist:
“Fourteen Sneaky Ways that the Agents of the Dark Side Call You Racist”
1. “We don’t know that you’re not a racist”.
2. “You don’t realize how much you have benefited from ‘white skin privilege’ “.
3. “The only reason you didn’t vote for Obama is because he’s black”
4. “The only reason you oppose immigration reform is because you hate Hispanics”.
5. “The only reason you oppose healthcare reform is because you don’t want poor black people to have healthcare.”
6. “You don’t know how insensitive your attitudes are to minorities”.
7. “You only oppose affirmative action because you don’t want blacks to get ahead.”
8. “Only people who have power can be racists, and blacks don’t have power.”
9. “The Constitution was written by white male slave owners, and people who claim to support the Consitution really just support slavery.”
10. “‘Law and order’ are just code words for keeping down blacks.”
11. “There are people who show antipathy to people who aren’t like them.” [Barack Obama]
12. “One of the problems in the schools is white culture/values.” [Joseph DiSalvo’s student]
13. “You’re one of those who is nostalgic for an era when blacks were invisible.” [Bill Maher]
14. “Does it just bug you that an ethnic group is having a celebration?” [Just Wondering]
Total B.S.,
But you’ve got to recognize that our local politicians, like those at all levels, are cultivating relationships with Undocumented Democrats.
Total B.S.,
I agree that canceling 4th of July, our American Independence Day, is a real slap in the face to our Vets, and to this country in general. Like others, I am really angry about the way this City prioritizes what is important to its TAX PAYING residents. It is BS! Laying off Police and Fire, closing vital Fire Stations, closing community centers, pools, libraries, and cutting public services, it is all unacceptable. This has all gone way too far. If they can sell two parking lots for 20 Million Dollars, they can sell something else to preserve AMERICAN heritage and tradition!
I really wish those of you who are using the race card would just knock it the hell off. This is NOT an issue of RACE people! We Americans, of ALL colors and cultures, are completely fed up with the disrespect shown to this countries history and its traditions. 4th of July and Christmas in the Park ARE a vital part of San Jose’s history and this country, just like Cinco De Mayo is for the Hispanic culture.
I want to see ALL of these cultures respected and honored but NOT before those of America’s histories/traditions. And if anyone cares enough about ending this unacceptable practice by our electeds, they need to write and call the Mayor and Council demanding that they find a way to make this happen. Or vote NO on them as a candidate for any office they run for during this election.
PLEASE join me in writing the Mayor and Council asking that they find a way to keep our American traditions of July 4th celebrations, and Christmas in the Park going!
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/council.asp
Tell a friend, Tweet it, and Face Book it! Let’s start a movement to save tradition!
Kathleen,
Amidst all these complaints about Cinco de Mayo I think we can learn from how it happens. Instead of asking the city to bring back the Independence Day festival, we should look for a non-profit that would like to take it over like the AGIF has for Cinco de Mayo. An existing non-profit already has the infrastructure and people to raise money and organize events.
Any ideas? Anyone already affiliated with a non-profit that might be interested?
A great idea Jon, but the City has to stop financing ALL events first. This is America. We have beautiful cultures of all kinds here. We cannot put this country second to others any more. We need to be honored EQUALLY. It’s outrageous and a slap in the face to our Vets and the very foundation of what this country stands for to cancel celebrating our history when other cultures continue to be recognized.
Last year, others and myself wrote the Mayor and Council with offers of donations out of our own pockets to keep the celebration alive. I offered $100.00. Guess how many responses we got?….
Let me know when you get to ZERO! NONE were willing to help make sure our donations were accepted! NONE were willing to take this on. They can collect HUGE donations from businesses for their campaigns but never once did they ask those businesses to sponsor July 4th. It is really sickening given how many died/and are still dying in the line of duty for a country that turns its back on our own heritage.
Kathleen, I’m glad you’re bringing this issue to the Council and Mayor, but if we sit around waiting for a bunch of politicians to be consistent we’ll never see anything happen. If we want a 4th of July festival, we have to look at other options. There must be some group that feels this is important. Is there a San Jose Veterans organization we could send donations to?
Jon,
Let me check. That’s is FANTASTIC idea!!! Thank you! I’ll check back and let you know on Thursday. I make some calls. Can you make some too and check back with what you found?
Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in America than it is in Mexico? Its a holiday that has morphed away from its true history, to a commercially propped-up holiday that is on par with St. Patrick’s day. Cinco de Mayo is NOT the equivalent of our 4th of July. So take a chill pill and let the city and its MAJORITY Latino community enjoy a day of cultural festivities. I am certain it brings local business a tidy bump in business as well as allows many of us who ENJOY the variety of food, song and dance our multicultural society brings us here in the Bay Area. There are DOZENS of 4th of July festivities you will be able to choose from when the day comes.
What a MORON FARM!
Kathleen,
Sure, I’ll see what I can find out. Thanks for writing to the City Clerk.
Jon,
FYI!
To: [email protected],
Thank you Sam for all your efforts. I deeply appreciate it. I think we could work together on this and make this happen next year.
I’d still like either you or Lee to give me all the necessary information so I can look into getting sponsors. I’m just not willing to let this go. I want to honor my Father’s service to this country, and all of those who died and are dying to keep America and its history/traditions protected. It isn’t and shouldn’t be just about money. This is about pride in America, history, and heritage that can no longer be brushed aside because of the budget or money.
If you’d like, may be we can work on this together in the next year. I think between your connections and mine we could pull it off. There are others who would like to help too, so don’t give up on this. I honestly believe the PD would assist by getting volunteers for next year. They’re a great bunch of dedicated servants who are patriotic, and do have good hearts. If you don’t want to work together because you have too much on your plate, that’s okay too. I’ll just spearhead it myself with other like minded individuals. Hope you’ll join us though.
Kathleen
P.S.
In the interest of integrity I need to disclose to you that I will be posting these emails and any others I receive on this issue, on SJI as many want to help too. Others will be reporting back on the blog to keep all of us informed on what they find out.
—————Original Message—————
From: “Liccardo, Sam” <[email protected]>
Kathleen, I appreciate your willingness to help. I fought this battle back in Jan and Feb, and was able to raise about 50k from contributors, but it wasn’t enough to cover Fil’s rising city fees, and he had to cut bait because of a need to secure vendor contracts well in advance. To make this work financially in the future, it may well require police to volunteer their time to cut the costs. We’ll be trying again next year—obviously, I’m not happy to see this event go away, but in the current fiscal climate, nobody is willing to cut essential city services to pay for it. You’ve probably read that -‘ve been pushing hard to reduce event fees citywide, with some modest success, but we have more work to do. Thanks, sam
Please pardon any typos, as I’m typing this message from my Blackberry device.
————————————————————————————————————————
To: Liccardo, Sam
Sent: Mon May 03 23:40:10 2010
Subject: Re: Need Your Assistance
Sam,
Is there anything I can do to help you? I really want to make this happen if at all possible. Please let me know.
Thanks!
Kathleen
—————Original Message—————
From: “Liccardo, Sam” <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Need Your Assistance
Date: Mon, 3 May 2010 21:52:41 -0700
Kathleen, permit costs for Fil Maresca, the producer of America Festival, would have exceeded $80,000 this year. That’s why I’ve been pushing so hard to reduce fees on event producers—theyre choking the life out of downtown. The overwhelming majority of that is police costs.
Thanks for your interest in restoring fireworks on the 4th.
All the best,
Sam
Please pardon any typos, as I’m typing this message from my Blackberry device.
Permit fees are not the only costs associated with an event of this size. While it is a nice gesture that a few people want to donate a few dollars, you really should get a better idea of how much money you will need before you get too excited.
FYI-“you really should get a better idea of how much money you will need before you get too excited.”
I believe that is the point of writing the City Clerk for direction on whom to contact to get just that. You are more than welcome to join us in gathering information to post here. You seem to know something we don’t.
Sir Winston Churchill:Quotes on Overcoming Adversity
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Jon,
I just sent this to the City Clerk:
Hi Lee,
I was wondering if you could direct me to who I’d speak to about what would be required to hold fireworks in downtown San Jose? Since I understand that the City is canceling this event in DT again, I was going to speak to some Veterans non-profit groups to see if they would sponsor fireworks at the Children’s Discovery Museum.
I think many of us in the community would be happy to donate money from our own pockets to make that happen, if I could find a group willing to sponsor it and help collect funds. I just don’t know what City requirements are or how much it would cost, what permits would be required, ect. Could you please advise me on whom to go to for help on this? I want to be fully prepared when seeking to an agency about sponsoring such an idea.
Thank you,
Kathleen
I’m trying to find non-profits who might be interested, but not much is coming up related to veterans. Hopefully some of the city officials you’re talking to know of something.
Sam,
Funny that the city had the money to pull a bunch of officers to work mandatory overtime to work the Cinco de Mayo and you don’t mention that. Guess it is not politcally correct.
Jon,
I still haven’t heard back from either Sam Liccardo or the City Clerk. I’ll let you know if and when I do. If I haven’t heard back from them by say Tuesday, I’ll go down to the City in person and get the full cost.
I love your enthusiasm but the City is not going to know the full cost. there are many costs involved with putting on a festival of that size: fireworks, insurance, permits, staffing, security, cleanup, vendor fees, alcohol permits, entertainment fees, etc. The folks who previously put on the event are professional and work around the country putting on events (they are local however). they’ve also been putting on the event for many years, so if they can’t make it work, it makes me think that no one can.
Just saying, it’s not as easy as finding out the cost, although I admire your chutzpah on that. it really does take some knowledge and expertise because putting on huge events is a full time job. also, loss of money and enormous, ridiculous fee increases from the city is not the only reason the fireworks are gone. the fact is that sponsorship is very difficult to obtain these days, and that money is essential up front to cover costs.
anoonnn event reality,
Thank you for your kind words and support. You make some very valid points, I agree! I do event planning a lot, and I know how involved it is, how costly, and the red tape that goes along with it! Whew!
The reality here is that our city electeds make it too difficult for these event promoters to STAY here. The shear BS you have to go through is enough to make you want to throw your hands up and say forget it! Last year, I held a Candle Light Vigil in memory of victims of violent crime at City Hall. You wouldn’t believe the hassle and COST I had to go through just to have a microphone and speakers there!!! This year I will be holding it elsewhere to avoid the cost and hassle. (I hope you’ll all attend!)
Having said that, I do honestly think we can make our city leaders honor our wishes by demanding they make changes and start allowing for 4th of July, and Christmas in the Park to remain a part of their priority in the budget. They do it for Cinco de Mayo; they can do it for OUR American Independence Day and Christmas. How can we do it? By calling, emailing, showing up to Council Meetings, and IN THE VOTING BOOTH! Don’t keep voting in the status quo.
You can also help Mayor Reed, and Council Member Liccardo get reduced fees and exemptions made for business and events by supporting their efforts in making San Jose more business friendly. Call or write their offices to find out when this will come before Council, and then GET INVOLVED and SUPPORT Them! Be part of the solution!!
Yeah, if you want to eat Mexican food in San Jose, you gotta wait until the annual Cinco de Mayo festival.
And he calls other people morons….
The fire guys like Proposition K beacause it gets them more money.
The police dudes don’t like it because it makes their jobs harder.
What we need is another proposition- Proposition X maybe?, which would get more money for the police guys while making the fire guys jobs harder. Then the 2 departments could agree to support one anothers propositions and it’d be a “win win” for BOTH of our heroic public bureaucracies!
Proposition X would expand fireworks sales and remove all restrictions on fireworks. This would bring extra revenue to the City while creating more work for the fire department. The police people would like it because their salaries and pensions might be elevated from the stratosphere where they’re stuck now. The firedudes wouldn’t care for it much, what with the added workload, singed eyebrows, less time playing cards and all, but they’d go along with it just to wring a few extra bucks out of the people of San Jose.
As a citizen of San Jose, the extra danger from the drugs and crime of the card clubs, and the occassional housefire caused by the M80s and bottle rockets would be a small price to pay to be relieved of the spectacle of the police and fire departments squabbling over the carcass of San Jose’s budget like a couple of hyenas.
John did you read my comment above? I had no idea Kathleen meant for me to follow the thread down here. I have prop X for you, let’s legalize fireworks again.
The more I think about this idea, the more sense it makes to me. We could enact a flat $5 safety tax for fireworks purchases (along with my above ideas for block captains) A person has to pay a $5 fee one time, they recieve a booklet outlining safe use of fireworks, and a card letting them purchase fireworks from any vendor.
1,000,000 people in San Jose X $5 = Your $5million dollars right there, without having to open a single new casino.
As I stated above, fire safety and building code has come a long way since the 70’s early 80’s.
Robert Cortese,
If elected to D9, what would you do to bring some sanity back to our City? How would you ensure our City goes from completely profit driven to business friendly, and more family oriented?
I would start by slipping some prozac in all the current councilmembers waters.
Joking aside…
Anytime there is a vote for a special interest kickback, I would vote it down. I would get the message across to the mayor and council that I am not going to let these things pass.
The city needs profit, and I think it’s OK to be profit driven. That being said… A neighbor of mine who is a contractor told me that there are 36 windows in the permits office, that all used to be open. Now just a single window is open, with a line going out the door.
Revenue streams like permits cannot have bottlenecks. If elected, I would hammer on the council to make all permits easily available online for purchase. Sure, some permits would still need to go through some human verification, but there’s no reason the *ONLY* option should be to fill out a paper form and wait in line.
There are some building permits online, but you have to go fill out a form in person to use the online site. Very redundant in my opinion.
As far as family oriented, that’s a tough one. I have 2 kids of my own. I recently visited Rio Vista and was amazed to see a group of 6 through 10 year olds running through downtown Rio Vista being kids. I don’t think I would feel as comfortable letting my kids run around downtown like that.
I think the best way to make our neighborhoods family friendly would again be to make certain permits cheaper, and easier to get for neighborhoods. In my neighborhood, we get a permit every year to block our street off for the 4th of July BBQ. Everyone on our block agrees, and attends. It’s not a hugely busy street either. There’s never been a single incident that required emergency services, just a good clean party every year.
I think I would also try and create more public swimming areas and beaches around San Jose, especially in our creeks. This would require a lot of work, since the creeks I grew up with are so dirty now I don’t think I’d let my dog swim in them. Then again, kids don’t care if it’s an oily puddle, if it has water they want to splash in it.
To be honest Kathleen, I have trouble thinking up other ideas without going back to what I saw/experienced in Rio Vista. It’s hard to call a city family oriented when there are so many safety issues.
Robert,
Why did you wait so long to run for Council? I love your ideas on revenue for fireworks and community.
Using card club revenue to help balance the City budget is simply bad public policy. Has been since the City started courting these clubs and finding more ways to squeeze more money from them.
Sometimes you just have to say “No.” This is one of those times.
Cinco de Mayo Sponsors – Telemundo Channel 48, La Kaliente 1370am, Safeway, Bottomley Distributing, El Observador Newspaper, La Alianza, La Frontera, Western Union, Allstate Insurance, Barcel USE, and more
and they charge Admission is $5 for Adults, $2 Youth 13-17 years old. Seniors 62+, Children 12 (and under), Disabled,& Active Military ID = FREE for music in Discovery Meadows
Why can’t a San Jose community organization does not organize and raise sponsorship money for 4th of July – Independence Day
Too many San Jose community organizations and non profits have for years depended on City of San Jose for funding rather than go out and find sponsors and charge admission
City has made putting on festivals and events nearly impossible because of excessive city fees which go back to community groups in grants and unnecessary requirements
Many residents have to drive ( not take dysfunctional VTA ) to other city’s festivals and events and spend their money and have a great time
Same is true why many businesses avoid San Jose and go to other cities and their business taxes pay for great local events and city services
See you in Gilroy, Campbell, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, and Saratoga this summer
World’s billionaires grew 50 percent richer in 2009
By Andre Damon
2009 will be remembered by millions of ordinary people as the year they lost their job, their house, or the prospect of an education. For the rich, however, it was a bonanza.
The world’s billionaires saw their wealth grow by 50 percent last year, and their ranks swell to 1,011, from 793, according to the latest Forbes list of billionaires. The combined net worth of these 1,011 individuals increased to $3.6 trillion, up $1.2 trillion from the year before. On average, each billionaire had his or her wealth increase by $500 million.
Four hundred and three billionaires reside in the United States. They constitute just 0.00014 percent of the country’s total population, but control 8 percent of the national wealth. Each of these individuals holds over 300 million times more wealth than the average US resident.
The list included 21 hedge fund managers, who as a group more than made up for whatever losses they incurred in 2008. Some of them, including James Simons, John Arnold, and George Soros, raked in profits during both the collapse and the market recovery.
Topping the list of wealthiest hedge fund managers was John Paulson, at $32 billion. Paulson made billions in 2008 by betting that the housing market would collapse, and billions more through the stock market recovery of 2009.
Only one of the 21 hedge fund managers on last year’s Forbes list fell off. This was Raj Rajaratnam of Galleon Group, who was arrested last year on charges of insider trading.
Hedge fund managers James Simons, John Arnold, and David Tepper got average returns of 62, 52, and 31 percent, respectively, between 2008 and 2010. David Tepper made $2.3 billion over the past year, while John Paulson’s wealth grew by $6 billion.
The number of US billionaires grew to 403, up from 359 last year. The Asia-Pacific region had 234 billionaires, up from 130 the last year. Europe has 248 billionaires, despite having twice the population of the United States.
The 1,011 people on this list command a phenomenal amount of personal wealth. Their holdings are larger than the gross domestic products of every country besides China, Japan, and the United States. The wealth of the 403 US billionaires could more than cover the 2008 US federal deficit, with money left over for the states.
While the number of billionaires on the list is just short of the all-time high of 1,125 reached in 2008, it represents a phenomenal rebound. At this rate, the number of billionaires will once again hit record levels next year.
Carlos Slim Helu?, a Mexican telecommunications tycoon, moved up to the first position on the list at $53.5 billion, beating out Americans Bill Gates ($53 billion) and Warren Buffet ($47 billion). The wealth of all three men rose dramatically. Over the last several years Slim Helu? made roughly $27 million a day compared with the average daily income of $16.50 for Mexican workers.
The rich in India and China gained among the most.‘For the first time, mainland China has the most billionaires outside the US,’ Forbes said in its statement.‘US citizens still dominate the ranks, but their grip is slipping.’
The hedge fund managers and financiers on the list benefitted directly from the bank bailout, which transferred huge sums of public funds into the accounts of the largest financial companies. But the billionaires in every other industry were the indirect recipients the government’s wealth transfer program also.
The Wall Street Journal, commenting on the figures, wrote,‘How did the world’s rich get so much richer? Stock markets?’ In short, what the stock market had taketh, the stock market hath giveth back’-at least to the billionaires.’
But the stock market recovery itself is no accident; it was the direct outcome of policies pursued by both US political parties. The bailout has been financed by a policy of fiscal austerity and high unemployment. The rapid increase in the wealth of the billionaires is the result of the impoverishment of tens of millions; it is the other face of mass unemployment, poverty, utility shutoffs, and foreclosures.
Aside from direct government handouts to the banks and super-rich, the major driver of the recovery of corporate profits—-and thus the stock market—-was productivity growth and corporate downsizing.
In 2009, the unemployment rate rose from 7.7 to 10 percent, three million jobs were lost, and wages fell dramatically. Millions of families lost their homes and became dislocated. But productivity, the amount of output that is produced from each hour of work, rose by 7 percent.
The money freed up through the destruction of social programs, higher employee output, and corporate restructuring has found its way into the pockets of the people on Forbes’ list
Hi Ann,
So you get your ‘information’ from the World Socialist Web Site?
“The standpoint of this web site is one of revolutionary opposition to the capitalist market system. Its aim is the establishment of world socialism.”
Sweet!
Be sure not to miss any of Di Salvo’s weekly’s – they’re right up your alley.
And if you ask nicely I’d bet he’d even introduce you to his comrades at the Pico network.
“People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO) was founded in 1972 under the leadership of Father John Baumann, a Jesuit priest who was trained in Saul Alinsky-style community-organizing tactics in Chicago during the 1960s and 1970s.”
Wait a minute. Chicago? Community organizing? Saul Alinsky? Isn’t there someone else real famous… dang it I can’t recall the name.
Ann – do you know?
Anyhoo I’m off to grab some coffee – maybe I’ll think of the super famous guy that has those associations too.
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7482
I’d like to see commercial gambling banned throughout the City of San Jose (as well as that imbecilic state lottery repealed). Until it is, I think increasing the tax rate on such dens of iniquity, from 13 to 15 percent, is probably worth the evil of allowing them to increase the number of tables per room. But I’m open to the possibility my calculations may be in error. Basically, I need to find out whether the card club owners are supporting Measure K. If they’re for it, then I’m against it.
You know what one of my pet peeves is Kevin?
You’re standing in line at 7-11, and the guy in front of you gets done having his stuff tallied for. Then out of the blue he points at the glass lottery ticket display case and goes…
“Let me get one of those”
“Oh not that one, that one over there”
“OK YA! And let me get one of those too”
“OK and one of those”
“Wait, what do you mean it’s $3 for that one? OK Let me get that other one then”
Then instead of taking their lottery tickets to some other counter, they stand there scratching them off. Meanwhile, you milk is spoiling, your ice cream is melting, your kids are screaming, all while you’re praying, “OH PLEASE DEAR GOD! LET THIS GUY LOSE AND MOVE THE HELL ON!”
Then he wins…
“Alright I won $1 dollar! Let me get one of those”
So aggravating sometimes. You would think they have enough common sense to see that there’s 10 people in line behind them, and just move out of the way. NEVER happens.
Believe me, I used to work at the 7-11 at 2335 Branham Lane, across the street from Branham High School, and we used to try to figure out a way to favour regular customers over “scratcher” freaks, and we never figured out a way to do so.
Maybe SJC is trying to give us a big hint. Anybody think about what the reason was for the French invasion of Mexico in the first place?
The Mexican had borrowed millions and had not spent the money wisely. Most of it had gone into the special interest groups and crooked politicians. France invaded when the Mexican government went deadbeat on the debt in an attempt to collect what was due.
I’m pretty sure half the reason why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by the working class is because they weren’t stuck with the debt created by the jokers running the country. Of course the ruling class being grateful for the blood and sacrifice made by the working class immediately instituted land reform and created a working class utopia. Oh!!! Wait a second, I don’t think the ruling class ever did that. Matter of fact ~150 years it is still a pretty munged up place if you don’t have money. I guess they just kept the money.
Lucky history does not repeat itself.