I was invited to attend the musical “Leader of the Pack” performed by the local Children’s Musical Theater (CMT) in the San Jose Civic Auditorium. Over the past year, I have attended a few of CMT’s productions. What specifically caught my eye during “Leader of the Pack” was a young girl who performed in a wheelchair. At first I thought the wheelchair might be part of the story, but I soon realized that she was a cast member who was disabled. She still participated with limited body movement and singing.
I was intrigued with her performance. She wore different costumes, depending on the scene, like the other actors in the play. I was thinking to myself about how gracious CMT was by giving this girl the opportunity to be included with the rest of the cast. I later found out that CMT actually casts every single child who auditions, regardless of level of talent or ability to pay.
CMT is the nation’s largest musical theater. It is fiscally sound and produces outstanding performances. In a year where many nonprofits are struggling or have used funds illegally, CMT sets a positive example for others to follow. CMT gives youth an opportunity to channel their artistic energy, which contributes to raising children’s self esteem. The children in CMT are ethnically and socio-economically diverse. CMT allows artistic talent to blossom and many of CMT’s alumni go on to perform at college and even start theatrical careers in New York and Chicago and in film.
In addition, many of the children who perform for CMT are from San Jose’s neighboring cities like Cupertino, Los Gatos and Saratoga. Since CMT shows are held in the heart of San Jose, they bring families and suburbanites downtown, providing economic benefits to restaurants.
I usually attend performances at the Rep, San Jose Stage and City Lights—not children’s theaters. However, since taking office, I have attended children’s theater at Willow Glen Children’s Theater (at Willow Glen Middle School) and San Jose Children’s Musical Theater (at Kirk Community Center) in addition to the CMT. The performances are fun and, more importantly, they give youth an opportunity to color their pallet.
It sounds like a great program for kids.
Now how about commenting on something of substance such as do you support spending $700,000 of the citizens money to bring a circus to town? I love the Cirque but I don’t love spending a large sum of money to provide a place for them to stay for a month just so they can be downtown. Priorities man. Set some priorities. This cannot be a financial priority for this city in the financial condition it is in. Come on. Where is the common sense? Apparently not yet residing in city hall.
Folks, do not worry about spending $700,000 on the circus. Voodoo economics will clearly show that San Jose will make millions, yes millions, by spending $700,000. What a deal.
It gets even better—now they want to spend $250,000 to help them find ways to spend less money. Welcome to San Jose – The Home of Alice in Wonderland.
I have lost all hope in the RDA and the Council.
The only way it makes sense to spend $700k to bring a private for profit business downtown is if doing so will generate at least $1million in ADDITIONAL taxes; not gross revenue to the dowtown businesses…taxes.
And I loved what Barry Witt called last year’s location near Mission & 87—Civic Center, The $billion Taj Gonzal ain’t even in Civic Center.
The height of lameness and incompetence in government, however, has to be hiring a consultant to tell you how to balance your budget! That’s worse than the pool consultant waste of taxpayer money. The council has so much as said that “we’re all too stooopid to figure this out by ourselves”.
Just when you thought the IQ of our council might rise, this comes.
PATHETIC!!!!
Oh, I almost forgot—another present from Gonzo/Guerra & the council—another $10.00 increase in garbage hauling rates. Three years ago I paid $27.00. Now its over $51.00!!
Thanks for nuthin’, councilmembers.
Following up on #2, I hope Councilmember Oliverio takes time to visit more nonprofits and see the good work they do… often producing far better bang for the buck than govt. services!
Circus is great but what fool proposed spending $700,000 on moving circus downtown ?
Public trust in Council is low due to wasting millions on lawsuits, Grand Prix and other tax subsidies to for profit businesses rather than spend our taxes on city services and police, fire, parks and schools
#‘s 1,3,5,6,7,8,9 – Suggest you gentlemen see you doctors right away regarding increasing the dosage of your medications. Our city council and mayor have done a magnificent job managing the taxpayer’s money. Whether it’s voting for their pay raise, bailing out the Mexican Heritage Plaza, subsidizing the Grand Prix, increasing garbage rates, spending money for Cirque du Soleil or hiring a consultant to save money, I’m thrilled, honored and deeply touched to have these eleven wonderful men and women serving San Jose.
Did we get Honesty, Fiscal Responsibility and Open Government with this Council or is Council wasted more taxes, making same stupid mistakes, telling more lies, mismanaging budget and no real solutions but raise taxes?
What is it Chuck?
– more taxes spent to enrich political insider businesses at public tax trough with studies no one but fools believe
– less public trust and higher budget deficits with more service cuts and more deferred costs
– high paid consultants telling us what we know while always recommended more taxes
Show it ain‘t so Chuck, please, show it ain‘t so
That‘s not what I wanna hear Chuck
And we voted for the public’s right to know
Show it ain‘t so Chuck, please, show it ain‘t so
I‘m sure they‘re telling us lies Chuck
Show us city is not wasting taxes, show it ain‘t so
You told us that as Mayor, you knew where to go
Jobs are still down, city taxes are very low
Consultants and staff doesn‘t know where to go
The good old days have long gone
Honesty and Fiscal Responsibility are falling apart
The budget money has gotten scarce
One man‘s word held the city together
But the truth is getting fierce
Show us it ain‘t so Chuck, please, show it ain‘t so
We pinned our hopes on you Chuck
And you‘re ruining our city show
Ooh baby don‘t you think
We‘re gonna get burned
Ooh baby don‘t you think
We‘re gonna get burned
We‘re gonna get turned
We‘re gonna get burned
Yes we‘re gonna get turned
We‘re gonna get burned
We‘re gonna get turned
Show us it ain‘t so Chuck, please, show it ain‘t so
That‘s not what I wanna hear Chuck
And we voted for the public’s right to know
Councilmember Oliverio:
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) would like to point out that the majority of the nonprofits in our community are strong agencies, with responsible board of directors and staff who are providing excellent programs and services. We do not believe a majority of nonprofits have used funds illegally. Your comment on San Jose Inside: In a year where many nonprofits are struggling or have used funds illegally, CMT sets a positive example for others to follow. SVCN feels we must set the record straight.
We believe most nonprofits set an example of doing the most with donated funds. We raise funds and talents from the community by utilizing volunteers and donations of gifts in kind. Many nonprofits have strong financial structures and solid fundraising bases that support the services they provide to our community. In particular, as the council liaison to the Healthy Neighborhood Venture Fund, you should know that approximately 98% of contracting agencies were refunded for another year thanks to their excellence in programming, past performance, achievement of outcomes, ability to leverage city funding with other community funding, and contract administration. .
Just as all large corporations do not reflect the mistakes of Enron, not all nonprofits use funds illegally.
It is important to recognize that there are many nonprofits with a variety of services, missions and goals that serve the vast array of needs of our ethnically and culturally diverse community. SVCN has an accountability and integrity worksheet for nonprofits to self evaluate their programs, boards, fundraising and more. This worksheet is posted on our website and all nonprofits are encouraged to download and use it as a guide to ensure nonprofit accountability for their organization.
Sincerely
Patricia Gardner
SVCN Executive Director
#1> What a great point I think it might be wasted here but we will see?
Since when to we have to pay people to come to our city so they can make money here?
I just don’t understand it.
I think if that’s going to be the case then we should get a percentage of their gate.
Where’s Chuck Reed Mr common sense?
this kinda of stuff has to STOP…
Chuck doesn’t want to tape nonpublic meetings until there is a “policy” in effect to guide him and the council.
Don’t pay another consultant a quarter mil$ to devise a policy Chuck. Here’s one free of charge:
Subject: Council Policy re taping of nonpublic meetings of council
Policy: Tape all meetings