There have been a number of questions since San Jose adopted the title of “Capital of Silicon Valley” in the eighties. Some say we were undeserving or that we just assumed the title. There was truth to both accusations. I like to quote the words of our late and unlamented Senator, S.I. Hayakawa, who, when roused from his slumber during the debate over the return of the Panama Canal, shouted out: “Give it back? Hell, we stole it fair and square!” It was a pithy, accurate comment, analogous to the current situation with WiFi in our city.
There is much work to be done. Several pilot projects in the Fairmont Plaza area and at San Pedro Square have met with limited success. Now the wicked city from the north has entered the fray and, under the auspices of Mayor Gavin Newsom, is trying to bring free and affordable wireless internet service to all their citizens within a year. Uh, wait a minute – is someone trying to do to us what we did to Palo Alto, Mountain View and Sunnyvale? Turnabout is not fair play when we are on the losing end.
Numerous other cities are planning similar types of massive projects. Philadelphia is well on the way, bringing some reality to this WiFi world, and giving even more meaning to the W.C.Fields’ comment on his tombstone, “all in all I’d rather be in Philadelphia.”
None of us want to be upstaged by San Francisco, and certainly not by the sad-sack Philly metropolis, so it’s time for some vaunted Silicon Valley entrepreneurship. A mini-Manhattan Project, call it a Newby Island Project, to determine whether this should be a public, private or public/private effort. The cost will not be of great significance and should not dissuade a city such as ours. When we come right down to it, the central issue is: can San Jose afford to have any other city, let alone a bunch of them, succeed in being more technologically advanced that we are? That question is only rhetorical, the answer obvious. It is time for a decision and swift action.
Tom: Capital is misspelled on the banner.
City Hall Chick: who delivered the news, our non-spanish speaking mayor?
First off, we never stole the Panama Canal, we took over the project from the French who, not surprisingly, couldn’t complete the task, mostly due to malaria. But then we took over, and American engineering and determination built the Panama Canal, so how could we steal something we built, especially when others couldn’t?
As far as other cities being more technologically advanced than the capital of Silicon Valley—most cities already are. I saw automated grocery isles in Denver years before I ever saw them here. And as far as I know, San Jose airport is one of the last major hubs in America where you still get on the plane from a ladder on the tarmac. It’s kind of cool from a retro perspective, but its embarassing since we are suppose to be this technologically advanced place. Wide-spread wifi availability will not be the decidiing factor in determining which city is more technologically advanced than the other. Technology itself is still growing, and it’s really not that innovative yet. Wait until we have wearable computers, interacting with the environment to create virtual worlds, and then you will see Silicon Valley take charge, maybe.
City sponsored wi-fi in San Jose? At what cost… shall we spend tax dollars on socialized Internet access instead of providing marginal, near-absent services that most cities provide? I’m talking about street sweeping, tree trimming, sidewalk maintenance, etc. I’m tired of San Jose dumping millions into projects and services that benefit the very few. Let’s spend precious tax dollars on things that matter!
Actually, in this context the proper spelling is “capitol.” Check http://www.m-w.com
NYC has Bryant Park with free WiFi. Maybe a good start would be free WiFi in Plaza de Caesar Chavez? It’s a small area, people actually go there during the day, and it’s surrounded by hotels and the Convention center. Can’t say the same for Saint James Park. It’s a stale remnant of what it used to be and anybody that lives downtown knows the primary use of that park. There aren’t any other parks downtown that people visit, unfortunately.
Free wireless internet service? Isn’t that competing with internet providers such as SBC or Comcast? Government competing against private business? Tell me if I’m misunderstanding this.
Speaking of technical advancement, is the City Managers office EVER going to finalize the franchise negotiations with Comcast Cable? That deal has been “pending” for years and years, with numerous extensions, all to Comcast’s advantage. Meanwhile, how’s your cable service?
The city could be making money on increased franchise fees, and customers could be seeing service improvements, but all we are getting is foot-dragging by City Hall.
Why? Has anyone ever asked how much Comcast contributes to political campaigns? This doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s ethical radar, but perhaps it should be.
Could it be that the City Manager’s office has been told to “go slow” on Comcast? You’ve got to wonder.
Do what many of us did years ago—dump cable and go to satellite. Never having to deal with a cable company again is a wonderful thing. The city does not deserve the revenue given how poorly they have treated their “customers” with cable. Nearly every aspect of the cable agreement is to the benefit of the cable company and not the customer. Oops, is that another fee increase lurking around the corner???
#9: If the City Manager’s Office goes any slower their hearts will stop. Good thing the paramedics are close by…. (Why speed up actions on contoversial issues, it angers the Mayor for staff to “negotiate” with his favorite companies.)
Sacramento is the capitAl of California.
The capitOl **building** is located in Sacramento.
Discuss
#10. There’s no doubt the cable industry dug it’s own grave by continuing it’s lousy service when competing technology came onto the market. But that’s not the point.
With more than 50 percent of San Jose homes still wired to cable the city is missing out on a tremendous source of revenue, and failing in it’s obligation to provide citizens with oversight of it’s local cable franchise. Councilmembers, led by our “Strong Mayor,” should be demanding action from city staff. I don’t see this happening. Do you?
Again, I can’t help but wonder if Comcast’s well-greased political machine has anything to do with City Hall’s obvious inaction.
How many vendors do you think are anxious to do business with San Jose after seeing one of our top local companies (Cisco) getting thrown under the bus.
As for WiFi – someone needs to explain to the non-koolaid drinkers among us the value prop behind why we need wireless before we yet again embark on building something with the expectation that they will come.
Worrying about being behind Philadelphia is not a convincing argument.
A wireless downtown deserves a slogan. How about:
Downtown San Jose—Winos, WiFi, and Why aren’t you shopping at Santana Row?
To follow up on post #14 – wouldn’t it be great if we could use technology to find out whether or not SJ citizens wanted loads of money spent on WiFi? Or whether they’d rather have the same loads of money for improving schools?
I’m hardly a visionary – but those web-survey thingies just might come in handy for something like this. A cheap way to gauge public opinon on pressing issues of the day.
Technology should be used to engage citizens in the process.
WiFi access will only be useful to our residents as it relates to city government if
– the city’s web site is significantly improved by all city departments and there is a city web site index and effective search capability which do not exist today
– all city government documents are added to the web site, currently many basic documents, brochures, pamphlets etc that are in printed form are not available on line and many meeting agendas are not published in sufficient time for the residents to prepare and participate.
– many meetings where public policy discussions are make are behind closed doors either because we are not aware of them in sufficient time to attend or they are closed to the public
– we have open public access to all city government activities where a new public participation, government records and residents access to all government records policy is put into place in San Jose since it is very obvious our current practices, procedures and policies either are not adequate or are not enforced or both
Until we shine a new San Jose “sunshine law ” and have our elected officials and city employees proactive observe the existing laws and the new “sunshine law” having Wifi access will not be enough to avoid the problems and scandals of the past and we will repeat them in the future.
Wifi access is good but having full and complete access to city meeting and records as well as the resident fully participating in city government is significantly better
We got word at the New City Hall yesterday that San Jose has been selected as one of the best places for Hispanics to live.
I must say I’m a little skeptical, given the cost of living and cost of housing around here…
Oh and…
New City Hall is going to have free WiFi in all public spaces, soon, they promise us.
It’s a start.
I would very much like to be able to use Google or Yahoo’s video search to search against recorded city meetings. Maybe there’s a city/vendor partnership opp there.
The search on the city website is horrid.
Instead, go to Google, type in “site:www.ci.san-jose.ca.us” + your search terms. You’ll get better results.
The city should just turn off their searchengine and use Google or Yahoo instead – provide better search results to citizens and save IT budget too.
No, Anonymous Coward, it is not. Capitol is the building(s); Capital is the seat of government; i.e the Capitol Building is in the state capital in Sacramento.
City paid wifi when our roads are crumbling. That’s just the sort of nonsense idea that has put all levels of governemnt in the red. Feel good stuff for anyone—techies included—is not the function of government. The function of government is to provide to the people things they cannot reasonably provide for themselves. At the federal level, defense, for instance. At the local level, police, fire, roads, schools.
I agree with #5 Greg Howe about spending tax dollars on things that matter, but tree trimming, Greg? If it’s your tree, you trim it. City trees on public property, of course. But get someone who can do it efficiently. I have watched bemusedly as three guys and a cherry picker take several days to trim the Circle of Palms palm trees. They move at a glacial pace. At the Westin Maui two guys climb by hand and trim five times the number of trees in ONE MORNING.
Dirty sidewalks in the downtown transit mall. Remember when shop owners used to sweep the sidewalk in front of their shop every morning? I do. Now they expect the city to do it for “free”, as if no-one pays for this “free” stuff. So, the downtown sidewalks are filthy, an embarassment.
John, thanks for your vote of confidence. Yes, I was talking about City-owned trees. My street, for example, is graced with 70 to 80 foot Sycamore trees, planted in the parking strips. Beautiful trees but watch out when the wind comes up. One good windstorm and I’ve got half a cord (exaggerated, of course) of spindly firewood scattered on the driveway, lawn, sidewalk and street. A trimming every once in a while is positively in order… I’ve lived there for 25 years and not once have I seen a City sponsored crew trim a tree!
Greg:
You’re lucky no city crew came out to trim your street trees. I live in Willow Glen. One day a city-hired crew came out to trim the Chinese Elms in my parking strip. They trimmed almost all the branches on one side of the tree only (who knows why?), without advance notice to me of the proposed trimming, while leaving the other side intact. That left the two trees in obvious imbalance; obvious that is to all rational people, but not to government employees ( I don’t say government workers, because that is an oxymoron for the most part). So, the next year the imbalance caused the trees to lean in the direction of that side of the two trees that was not trimmed. Whadaya know? The trees started to lean in the heavy/untrimmed direction and caused the sidewalk to buckle. Guess who got to pay to have the poorly trimmed trees removed and the sidewalk re-done?
Good example of how city employees don’t take care of business—St. James Park. Dead and dying trees, lawn, shrubs. Why do we pay these people?
Many years ago a movie production company filmed a movie with Dustin Hoffman from St. James Park at the corner of Third and St. James. The production company provided all sorts of nice plantings in the area of the filming. Within a few months after the film crew left, all the new plants were dead or dying, the result of our public employees at parks & rec. doing squat. And these incompetents can’t be fired! Civil Service, you know.
Anyone see that roundtable discussion with Gonzales, Gavin & Jerry Brown on channel 7 I think? How did he do? I read his one comment how he wanted to finish his term strongly or something – what the hell does that mean?!
Tom:
If you are looking to WiFi to be San Jose’s crowning achievement then you set your expectations too low. Too all this WiFi, I say so what. I was just in downtown LA, and a good portion of it near Pershing Square is WiFi, but nobody will mistake LA for being on the cutting edge of technology.
Please abandon your faux competition.
I want to address several things.
1. I found out about the Best Places for Hispanics to live distinction when a Spanish TV station called my department looking for someone to talk to about it. To date the Mayor has not made an official announcement.
2. I’ve also had my hand in the Comcast melee for several years. It shows no signs of stopping. I do want to say that the Manager’s office has been working diligently in the negotiations. I myself choose to have DirecTV. ‘nuff said.
3. A new search engine is about to be implemented on the City’s website, which by the way is http://www.sanjoseca.gov not http://www.ci.sj.ca.us. By the way, Google was one of the bidders.
#25. Regarding your second point I can’t help but question how diligently the Manager’s office has been working on negotiations that, as you point out, have been ongoing for several years and show no sign of resolution. It seems like a case of diligently spinning wheels in the mud. Diligence is one thing, results are another. How long has it been since the original franchise expired?
By now the city should be doing what you did, dumping Comcast and talking to other companies. But again, Comcast’s political connections seem to insulate them from such a bold move.
Subject: Modern America – Noah’s Ark]
>
>
>
>
>Sound like any place we know?
>
>
>
> In the year 2005, The Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in United
> States, and said, “Once again, the earth has become wicked and
> over-populated and so, I see the end of all flesh before me.
>
>
> Build another Ark and save two of every living thing along with a few
> good humans.” He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, “You have six months to
> build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40
> nights”.
> Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard
> …. but no ark.
> “Noah!”, He shouted, “I’m about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?”
>
> “Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah. “But things have changed. I needed a
> building permit.
>
> I’ve been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler
> system. My neighbors claim that I’ve violated the Home Owner’s
Association
> bylaws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height
limitations.
> We had to go to the Planning and Zoning Board for a decision.
>
> Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for
the
> future costs of moving power, overpasses and other overhead obstructions,
> to clear the passage for the Ark’s move to the sea. I argued that the
sea
> would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it. Getting the wood
> was another problem. There’s a ban on cutting local trees in order to
save
> the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed
> the wood to save the owls. But no go!
> When I started gathering the animals, I got sued by an animal rights
> group. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their
will.
> As well, they argued the accommodation was too restrictive and it was
cruel
> and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.
>
> Then the EPA ruled that I couldn’t build the Ark until they’d
conducted
> an environmental impact study on your proposed ng to resolve a complaint
> with the Civil Rights Commission on how many minorities I’m supposed to
> hire for my building crew. Also, the trades unions say I can’t use my
sons.
> They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark building
experience.
> To make matters worse, the Customs and Immigration Agency seized all my
> assets, claiming I’m trying to leave the country illegally with
endangered
> species.
>
> So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least ten years for me to
> finish this Ark.”
>
> Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow
> stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, “You mean
> you’re not going to destroy the world?”.
>
> “No”, said the Lord. “The Government has beaten me to it.”
#27: Truly inspired!
#26: Point well taken.