Some residents in San Jose were surprised to receive a holiday card last month from Steve Kline, who is running for a City Council seat in District 6 against incumbent Pierluigi Oliverio. Kline says the card was nothing more than him and his husband wishing a happy holidays to a few of their close friends and neighbors. How many friends and neighbors? Oh, Kline’s ballpark figure is about ... 1,000. Some recipients of the card happen to be Oliverio supporters, which left them a little unclear about what to think. But Kline assures Fly that the greetings had nothing to do with his campaign. “Let’s put it this way, I’m not under Deb Figone‘s rule, so I can send a holiday card to whoever I like,” he says. ” I think that kind of free speech is important.” Kline, of course, was taking a poke at Figone’s handcuffing of Councilmember Xavier Campos, when he wanted to send out his own personal holiday greetings.
San Jose Inside
San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com)
In 2012, a true maverick would have sent a “Christmas Card” to really have a laugh at Figone’s expense. Especially given that Mr Kline is a graduate of Pepperdine Law which proclaims itself to be a “Christian” university.
Pepperdine, I thought, was largely an extension school, utilizing local folks as lecturers and offering much of the curriculum via the Internet. Perhaps Steve actually attended classes on the campus, much as Golden Gate students do in SF.
With reference to;
“Let’s put it this way, I’m not under Deb Figone‘s rule, so I can send a holiday card to whoever I like,” he says. ” I think that kind of free speech is important.” Kline, of course, was taking a poke at Figone’s handcuffing of Councilmember Xavier Campos, when he wanted to send out his own personal holiday greetings.”
Mr. Kline’s “Holiday Card / Campaign piece” could have been sent to all city employees without any concern from the City Manager because section 411 of the city charter only applies to council members.
I have yet to hear Mr. Kline speak and or write about any substantive issues and or solutions to severe problems facing the city at city hall.
As to the comment allegedly made by Kline to the Fly;
“Kline says the card was nothing more than him and his husband wishing a happy holidays to a few of their close friends and neighbors. How many friends and neighbors? Oh, Kline’s ballpark figure is about … 1,000. Some recipients of the card happen to be Oliverio supporters, which left them a little unclear about what to think. But Kline assures Fly that the greetings had nothing to do with his campaign.”
If Mr. Kline did indeed make the aforementioned statements, his free speech and opinion should be politely respected…but, his campaign at this juncture, could be likened to, “tip toeing through the tulips of popular issues” without any methodologies in solving any city related problems.
David S. Wall
Fly,
In regard to Mr. Kline did you say “him and HIS husband”?
At the risk of committing political incorrectness and being accused of profiling based on sexual orientation, I’ll go out on a limb and guess that Mr. Kline is in favor of all manner of government programs, is pro-union, a supporter of ‘immigrant rights’, likes subsidized housing and $650,000 hybrid buses, and probably would NOT receive my vote over the ONE member of our city council who seems to have some understanding of his job description.
Keep PLO. San Jose needs him.
That was the saddest post I’ve seen in quite some time.
Well, at least now we understand PLO’s support base.
That is a rather pathetic and disgusting generalization sir.
Indeed, if you and ignorant people like you are the base supporters of PLO, who is my Councilmember but has never been seen in my neighborhood and has not responded to make a single improvement for traffic or public safety on my street, then I will certainly be giving Mr. Kline plenty of time to explain his positions thoughtfully.
After having ACTUALLY heard them without generalizing and postulating as to how he might respond, then I’ll decided to vote for him. This is a logical and open minded approach. It would serve you well to do the same.
John ,
We need PLO like we a Baseball stadium. this city needs real leadership , not a PUPPET REGIME.
In other words, all gay men in committed relationships hold the same beliefs on every issue? That sort of generalization seems to preclude any possibility of dialog on any subject.
This piece said nothing regarding Mr Kline’s political opinions, only that he sent a holiday card to many people in his district. It seems premature to form any opinions regarding his fitness to hold office.
For the record, I am heterosexual, yet it seems I do not share your positive perception of Councilmember Oliverio. Apparently sexual orientation lacks validity as a predictive factor for political opinions.
Looks like the District Council race is off and running or is the “Christmas Cards ” and negative comments about Kline’s Pepperdine ” Christian University ” political attack just typical San Jose Inside talk
So is it open season an any politician or wannta be politician who attended a religious run school like say Bellarmine Prep or Santa Clara University or only ” Christian ” schools
Where did Pierlugui go to school ? One of those ” Christian ” religious schools ?
Ohhhhhhhhhh
Does Pierlugui get special treatment and non approval of negative comments from SJI ” unbiased ” editors ?
Hahahahaaaaaaa
Not trying to be negative… just find it odd that a guy who got his JD from a university that says on its homepage is “Christian” cowtows to political correctness by sending “happy holiday” cards rather than “Merry Christmas” cards while claiming to be exercising free speech rights that Figone is quashing.
The whole premise of The Flys post totally misrepresents what happened beetween Figone and the Council. The fact that Kline, supposedly a highly educated man and would-be council candidate, is playing off the post indicates he eiether isn’t that bright or in agreeing with the post is in agreement with the misrepresentation of the facts (something that could lead to sanctions from the BAR)
FYI, Figone invoked a City charter law forbidding Councilmembers from having direct “non-city business related” communication with City employees via the city email system. Rocha’s intentions to send holiday greeting directly to employees however well intentioned was illegal. Figone put a stop to it before the law was broken. GOOD FOR HER! If only she had the courage to take similar action to prevent the Mayor and Council from proceding with illegal acts (pension reform ballot measure, General Fund money to cover RDA debt…)
Figone IN FACT played it straight by having all council members submit their personalized greetings to her office where they were compiled into a single message which she sent out to employees. This is old news everywhere except on SJI. How sad.
Neil, I thought DiSavo posted the dumbest things on here. You are dense.
Kline seems to be an independent thinker and likes thumbing his nose at people to over-extend their authority … we could use some of that in this town. I like him!
I think it is nice that Mr. Kline considers me a close friend. Although I am embarrassed to say that I do not recall ever having met him, but I take him at his word that we are close. I did think it a bit odd that he sent cards to each member of my household, but just assumed he was close to each of us. I confess that, just like Mr. Kline, when I do my “holiday” cards I try to target each of my friends individually – even if it means sending multiple cards to each household. And, just like Mr. Kline, I also sort out some of my friends,especially those slackers who missed any of the last four elections. And, just like Mr. Kline, I only send cards to those I feel likely will be my friends in June. Oh, and if my friends have moved recently, I just skip them. I look forward to seeing Mr. Kline at a campaign forum, hopefully he will recognize me, because I am not sure if I know what he looks like.
Can someone , anyone please verify , If the same people that are on City Council are also the same individuals on RDA,Financing Authority(headed by D. Figone) and the Diridon Developement Agency?? If this is true how is this legal ? and how is this not a major conflict of interest? I would really appreciate an honest answer
it is true…. click: http://www.sjredevelopment.org/execStaff.htm
on the left side of the page under “Learn More”
click on “board members” and all will be revealed.
Meyer Weed , Thank you for the Info . So it is true that our mayor and Council members are the RDA Board , The Financing authority , As well as the Diridon Developement Agency ! How is this legal? 4 separate and extremely important Departments are all the same people , Why do the residents of San Jose not know about this? The Corruption in this City is insanely out of control