Our vision for the future of San Jose should be nothing less than assuring that the city we leave for future generations provides the quality of life and opportunities that were provided for those of us who were born and raised here.
My son, who is seventeen, is already concerned that he may not stay in San Jose. He talks about how he’s tired of the traffic and how congested this area has become. He’s not sure if he will be able to find a job and be able to afford to live here. And he is just like thousands of others.
My vision is to rebuild San Jose around the unique character of our neighborhoods and focus on the establishment of a vibrant downtown which will become the center of our city. We need to inject life into the center of our city. Entertainment, jobs, housing, and opportunities must be created so that people aspire to be a part of San Jose—not that they are trapped here because of housing costs.
But let’s remember we are not starting from ground zero. San Jose is the world’s center of innovation and knowledge workers. The technology revolution that has so changed the world was given birth within the valley. Some of the finest companies in the world call this area home, and many top executives live here.
Unfortunately, many of the entry- and mid-level workers cannot afford to live here. Housing prices are too high. Our education system is improving but we need to do more. Taxes are too high compared to other places around the country.
Our vision must include ways to address these negatives. We must find ways to keep young workers and families in San Jose and encourage more of them to move here. That means investing in public safety, open space and parks, and stimulating universities and research. It includes improving our transportation systems and having entertainment and arts that meet the needs of our diverse population.
There is no silver bullet; it will take a combination of actions. But those actions center on our neighborhoods becoming the building blocks around which a dynamic city center restores the vibrancy of one of the country’s greatest cities.
Steve Tedesco is a candidate to represent District 6 on the San Jose City Council. The election is March 6.
Say what you would like about yourself; but your at best a whining “can’t do spirit” bureaucrat.
I saw you speak at the few forums and you simply remind me of the last 8 years of poor leadership in San Jose. It’s time to move on from the “old guard” people like you. I’m voting for anyone else but you!
New blood is what we need in San Jose
First of all let me say I do not know Mr. Tedesco nor do I live in district 6.
He states that “entertainment, jobs, housing and opportunities must be created”. Since He is running for office, the implication is that the above subjects should be addressed by the city council. This is not the function of the city council, they should be created by the free market. Further, if He believes the city council should do the above He should have stated a plan.
He also states that housing prices are too high.
Simple supply and demand. The free market will build more housing until the demand is met. Any first year economics student knows that.
Lastly, He says that “taxes are too high” Well
the citizens didn’t raise the taxes, the local government raised them. If He feels that they are too high, then He should start a movement to lower them.
Fluff. Pure political fluff. Not an ounce of substance to this posting. Typical politican to write 7 paragraphs and say nothing. Not one word that shows you have the drive, ability or determination to get the job done. Not one positive idea to get any of your “vision’ accomplished. I do not live in your district or have a vote in your district but unless you gave me something more substantial than your version of “I have a dream” I certainly wouldn’t dream of voting for you.
Steve, Once again you have not let me down, BLAH BLAH BLAH!
You never say anything when you talk it’s always the same nonsense here was your chance to tell people what you want to do.
and you say nothing!
You’ve had time to think about what to write here and that’s the best you can do?
I will not vote for you and I do live in your district, people like you have to go we are going in a new direction and you can not be part of that with your old way of thinking. or not thinking as it is.
like I’ve said before you have done nothing in your last two jobs and we have nora, and a few others doing that now.
so good luck to you maybe cindy & ron can find some thing for you to do
Wow – two of the first three bloggers blasted Steve although admitting they do not live in District 6 – the third would not vote for him because he’s “old guard” and wants “new blood” on the council. Question: which members of the former council are you comparing him to – Ron Gonzales, Chuck Reed, or ?
Steve T—What is a “strong neighborhood”? Willow Glen has houses and an actual downtown. Is it strong? The downtown is a rehash of what it was in its prime, its theater made into a mall. Lots of coffee shops, wine shops, little restaurants. But the eighborhood in the Rose Garden? It’s just a lot of nice houses—as the rest of the San Jose “neighborhoods”. Which one is the strongest? Strong neighborhoods in San Jose is a politicos concept for getting votes and raising funds—and satisfying the complaint that redev dough poured into downtown has accomplished little or nothing while the potholes in the neighborhoods get wider and deeper, parks trashier, cops unavailable. And how are “strong” neighborhoods “building blox” for downtown? Mushy metaphor. Neighborhoods are neighborhoods, downtown is downtown. How come San Jose can’t do both? LACK OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP!!
Hammer’s library and the Gonzo/Chavez city hall don’t have a thing to do with making a downtown; both are EXPENSIVE! Neither one helps the neighborhoods. The ‘hoods get nice new libraries—but there’s no dough to staff them more than 3 days a week. As for being “build-ing” blocks, the ‘hoods are competing with downtown, not helping. The University Neighborhood Assn., wherever that may be (centered at the defunct Togos, or William St. Park?), duplex conversion houses for SJSU housing in “olden” times, gentrified back to houses, DOES NOT WANT A DOWNTOWN in their dominion. Too much traffic-as you complain about. Too many people. They like it just fine starting Friday afternoons when you could shoot a cannon down First St., or Santa Clara, and not hit a guy with a tie or a lady in a business suit—or anyone at all. They can walk into any restaurant downtown on the weekend without a reservation. “All for me” attitude. Almaden Valley neighbors would not dream of going downtown weekday or weekend for any reason. They don’t use Light Rail. They like easy parking, free at Santana Row for downtown-type ravioli at Maggianno’s. McEnery’s Arena, and the Convention Center, both help downtown, and the Arena even helps the ‘hoods get a night out, despite no parking. That’s the only political leadership since downtown died. Anyway, your “vision” is hopeless, not even blurry. I trust Jack will give Pierluigi a crack at a guest blog, if for no other reason than to explain if, and why, he gave money to Cindy, though it would be interesing to see if he might have an idea that doesn’t pit “his” neighborhood against downtown, giving both their due. George Green
Mr. Tedesco,
What is your vision for Coyote Valley? I am concerned because as head of the chamber of commerce you supported overturning the Coyote Valley general plan to allow Calpine to build a 600 MW power plant.
If you were willing to support Calpine, I am afraid that as a councilmember you will support any large developer who decides not to follow San Jose planning process.
I have to agree this does come across as fluff. I would have preferred something that focused on District 6, not generalities about San Jose as a whole. It would have been better to hear what he thought are the top 3 issues of District 6 and how he planned to deal with them. Mr. Tedesco’s posting sounded like someone running for mayor, not a neighborhood councilman…
Reading this statement by Steve left me thinking How Many Times Have I Heard The Same Line. It would be nice if a candidate came up with specific ideas instead of just mouthing words.
Fortunately for you, I don’t live in your district but if I did I’d really work against you. As others have said we still have too many that are the same that need replacing.
Think you’d better sit down with some people who are creative and come up with a new line.
I’m glad that ther are so many concerned folk
that do not reside in the district but know what
is best for us here. You guys are either PO campaign people or living in some warped reality?? I read “whining”,“not positive”, “say nothing” as your comments. These are not thoughtful responses just knee-jerk partisan attacks,it’s clear.
I read ST’s comments right after I read the story in the MN summarizing the results of an
independent survey of city residents as to what is important in this year’s budget decision
I read about safety,maintaining parks,streets and trees. The citizens also place traffic, jobs and recreation/educational programs high on the list of most important items to include in our spending priorities.
Mr Tedesco actually comes across downright
prescient when reading both these pieces.
You are the whining and cynical ones,claiming to want “new blood” or wanting ST to start a tax-lowering movement. How misinformed you are. According to the information and the research,Mr Tedesco is the only one in the race in Dis. 6 who has balanced a budget,hired
and managed a staff, raised money for many
different organizations(8 that I can count) but you want a new person with a new plan. How about looking at a new person on the council
who has actually accomplished the things. A
person who has proven to be willing and more than able to help Reed and Co. make real those dreams and wishes that the citizens most want.
I seem to be in the minority here – I do live in District 6 and, after 8 years of a “mini-mayor” form of government, Steve is a breath of fresh air since he understands the obligation of a councilmember to be concerned about the city as a whole as well as represent specific neighborhoods.
#6 George Green and SJI readers:
Mr. Oliverio is working on a guest column to be published here next Monday, the 19th, so you will be able to put your views to both candidates.
#1,2,3,4: I have to agree with #10. The first four blast Steve Tedesco for simply stating his goals for San Jose, and not providing any detail. They don’t ask any questions themselves to start a conversation; instead it seems like they are bent on making Mr. Tedesco look bad. Seems like negative campaigning to me….
Napper, you atete,
“He also states that housing prices are too high. Simple supply and demand. The free market will build more housing until the demand is met. Any first year economics student knows that.”
While that is true from a pure economic standpoint, it’s not true in the sense that City Hall determines not only where housing goes, but when it will go there.
We will never balance the housing supply/demand equation (which as you point out, increases price) unless more building is allowed.
We also have to face the fact that most programs that aim to increase ‘affordable housing’ exacerbates the problem by increasing the affordability gap. People can’t afford homes, so we mandate that homebuilders subsidize a few homes, they take the cost of the subsidy and add it to the other homes in the project, causing the homes to cost more, which by its very nature increases the the median home price. This affects the entire housing market, which raises home prices to maintain the market.
A small handful of people benefit by receiving an ‘affordable’ home, while many others suffer as they are continually priced further out of the market.
I’m not saying that I know what the answer is – If I did, I would have done it and we wouldn’t be having this exchange. But I do know that we have to realize that we are making the problem worse.
All the while, those who own homes see their retirements grow as they build more equity in their homes than they ever imagined.
We need big picture thinking.
#‘s 10, 11—I see ST has put out a call to his supporters to try to minimize the damage his say nothing fluff piece is having. I’m not a PO or ST supporter. I’m still trying to decide who to vote for, but ST missed an opportunity here to say something meaningful…
I was very displeased at Steve Tedesco’s negative campaigning. There was no reason for him to print flyers with negative statements about Pier Oliverio. His campaign statement about his vision would be the proper thing to do. I am going with Pier. He is, at least, conducting at decent campaign.
Housing schmousing. Extend lightrail to Manteca and be done with it already.
I wanna know what Steve Tedesco is going to do about those poor polar bears stuck on icebergs in the arctic.
What plans does he have for saving us against the 3 foot rise of our oceans that will happen in the next 10-20 years?
What will he as D6 councilperson do to combat the onslaught of global warming?
#10,
I’m glad that ther are so many concerned folk that do not reside in the district but know what is best for us here.
I do not live in your district, but I do feel that even what appears to be the most trivial issue in one district can possibly affect other districts. Of course, major issues in one district will have a bigger effect on other districts. Take the comments from others as a chance to possibly learn something, or just ignore them.
Personally, I feel that Steve Tedesco is the wrong person to be voting on airport issues.
He says in his blog above It includes improving our transportation systems …. Over the years I have found many times that phrase is code for “Expand the (any) airport. To hell with anyone who thinks that might not be a good idea.
Obviously, any airport in San Jose negatively affects residents throughout the city and county. Of course, an airport also provides some benefits, but that does not mean unbridled expansion at the cost of a reduced quality of life for a large percentage of the population is needed.
This quote gives an insight into the logic that Steve might bring to the City Council.
“Chamber of Commerce president Steven Tedesco asks the rhetorical question: “Should 1.2 million people suffer, not being able to have an improved airport, when we in fact live with noise all the time?” “
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/05.29.97/cover/airport1-9722.html
What type of person would even think that since society is already noisy then it is okay to make it noisier?
Just exactly how are 1.2 million people suffering by not having a greatly expanded airport with the corresponding increase in flights? Silicon Valley did quite well with the old San Jose airport, and there is no reason to think that it would not continue to do well with only a remodeled airport, versus an expanded airport.
From looking at Mr. Tedesco’s background…
http://www.stevetedesco.com/steve_background.htm
Were I a District 6 resident, I would look into his voting record on the Campbell Union High School Board of Trustees. Has he voted in the past to cut teachers and school programs, or voted to cut administrative costs where (not) needed?
As for his views on housing and transportation, Tedesco seems to be the first San Jose candidate to emphasize buses as a transportation priority. What evidence would he need that having BART come to the Vallley is (not) cost-effective? As he will not be on the VTA’s Board of Directors this year, how will he be able to afffect bus and light rail service on lines like the 62, 63, 64, 65 and light rail that serve District 6?
Steve, stop this nonsense downtown vibrancy! No more taxpaying dollars will be tolerated to rebuild downtown because you’ve done it(investing in downtown) for the last 25 years. What, did you guys fail in the downtown revitalization effort? It should be working by now. Downtown needs to stand on its own. If it can’t, tough! It’s time to focus on the neighborhoods. If downtown is going to or suppose to be vibrant, it will or should be by the businesses, residents and private investments, not the redevelopment anymore!
#18 – “Of course, an airport also provides some benefits, but that does not mean unbridled expansion at the cost of a reduced quality of life for a large percentage of the population is needed…”
– When did Steve Tedesco advocate for unbridled expansion of the airport? I have never heard him advocate for that.
#20 – “Steve, stop this nonsense downtown vibrancy!”
– Unfortunately for us, Downtown is one of the places that businesses can grow, along with North San Jose, and Edenvale. When buisnesses grow, they add more revenue to the General Fund, and the City Council has more money to fix our streets, keep our libraries, community centers and parks open, and improve the quality of life for our neighborhoods. It also means JOBS for our citizens, and the next generation of familes.
#19 – “As he will not be on the VTA’s Board of Directors this year, how will he be able to afffect bus and light rail service on lines like the 62, 63, 64, 65 and light rail that serve District 6?”
– Good question. There are lots of ways he could do it – one is to have the City Council adopt a council resolution (making it a City position) which would force whoever is the liason to the VTA Board to advocate for that position. Question is, what would his ideas to get this done be?
Why is it that downtown business people keeping asking us to waste more billions on downtown?-
– no more tax money for downtown businesses, you were given your tax billions and future money should come from private funds
– any downtown project needs 2-3 times tax paybacks or no tax money
– San Jose was fortunate to have Santana Row built in San Jose and shopping center on Coleman to get sales taxes – they would never have been build in downtown San Jose
– neighborhoods have been neglected for years and deserve fair share of city funds while taxes were wasted on downtown business and corporate / developer projects with little or no real tax paybacks
San Jose’s budget crisis will continue for decades unless
– stop wasting taxes on downtown events ( see Sat;s Merc for list of loser events – Grand Prix etc ) and years of corporate or developer subsidies that do not return us city taxes spent
– Cutting more city services and staff is not solution – more jobs, retail stores and growth companies to generate more city taxes to pay for city services
Chamber, developers, SV Leadership Group or their greedy companies ( see today’s Mercury opinion page ) are not friends of San Jose residents but want more tax subsidies and are not working to solve San Jose tax revenues and jobs problems
Many voters is district 6 have not made up their minds on who to vote for and have been very disappointed with both candidates who continue to sound like ” tell the voters what they want to hear and making no comittments ” professional politicians not people interested in best interests of district and San Jose
Who do Tedesco and Oliverio really represent other than their own 10 year political careers?
After 20 years, can Tedesco represent residents or is he going to vote Chamber’s ” flawed all business and greed is good ” political positions most of which are not good for San Jose or residents, if elected
After Oliverio stops selling us, who is he and who does he represent other then himself, is he a standin for Mulchay, developers and businesses, if elected
We do not know and one of them better come out and be clear about who they represent, so voters can decide
13: you don’t seem to get it. we are not running for office he IS!
he had his chance to say something here and he can’t seem to do it in any form. and if we are BENT on anything it is to make sure people like him stop getting elected and I will tell my friends not to vote for him because it will be more of the same, we don’t have to make this guy look bad when he talks he does it himself. ANY QUESTIONS!
I couldn’t agree with #29 more. San Jose Inside has lost its capacity to participate in public debate. It has failed to maintain any semblance of civility. The inquisitive tone that this type of forum could have served has ben replaced by a tribe of San Jose bashers with little to offer. Its over.
YAWNNNNN, YAWNNN, OOOOHHH, YAWNNN!
D.O.A.
There are no quick fixes to the problems that face us in San Jose, no matter what District you live in. There is no one Mayor, or candidate running for a Council seat, or sitting on the Council that can fix all these problems alone. I think we residents, business owners, neighborhood associations, wealthy, poor, or middle class, and community members need to start pulling together. We don’t have to put up with the Gonzo’s or elected officials, or City staff, or Labor Unions. We have a voice, and power we don’t exert. If we all banned together, and found ways to change things, and then walked into City Hall and demanded theses changes, and programs be implemented, Howdy Dowdy could run for office and no one would care.
I’ve known several, once successful businesses, spread in different parts of San Jose that have failed because property owners are jacking up space rents so high, that these businesses either had to leave San Jose or fold. Landlords are asking rents that are so high, that many renters are paying out more than 50% of their income towards an apartment that they will never own. Since renter’s credit is gone, renters don’t even get a tax break!
Affordable housing! What the hell is that? Affordable to whom? You have to earn 3 times the monthly rent, and be reviewed every 12 months to even qualify. These developers pass on every single cent they put toward affordable housing on to the poor idiot who rents in that complex. No one but the developer is a winner here.
Section 8 Housing. Now that’s a joke. Most landlords won’t even touch it because they don’t want to be inspected annually, and keep the building up to code. The Housing Authority is under funded for staff, so a new tenant’s rent can take MONTHS to be sent to a landlord.
Buses, light rail, Bart? People are too dam lazy to get out of their cars to take any kind of public transit! Unless freeways are closed down, or gas station pumps are empty, people are going to keep right on driving cars. Look at the nightly news traffic report. Need I say more?
Okay, so some of you hate Tedesco, and some of you love Oliverio, God knows why, but you’re being given an opportunity to express your visions, wants, and needs for District 6 and San Jose! Stop the Tedesco bashing and move on. Express your views in a respectful manner. As the famous Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Isn’t it funny no response to any of this?
he must be out boot licking for he’s next check.
The whole argument is contradictory. The neighborhoods are our building blocks but downtown is the biggest block? Who says? The truth of the matter is that San Jose will never achieve its potential as long as there’s no unified city vision of what the city should be. Should it be an eclectic collection of neighborhoods? Or should it be a city with a vibrant heart injecting energy into its neighborhoods? Since no one can decide which is right, we’ll have to live with the arguement in perpetuity. And woe is us that we can’t figure this out.
To those who say SJI is finished because the level of discussion has deteriorated, why not raise the level instead of talking about the poor quality?
# 27 # 29 # 30 and many others in the past have accurately described San Jose Inside’s public forum failure to be the what many of us expected and feel was needed in San Jose – a positive public forum to discuss important issues, encourage political debate and change
Tom and John as founders share responsibility but Jack their appointed editorial director is directly responsible for San Jose Inside’s public failure by not actively moderating and discouraging daily negative tone of most comments and daily personal attacks
Jude Barry’s lack of involvement for months has also contributed to the public failure
It is not too late to repair SJI’s significant public image damage but what is needed is a new editorial director is set a new positive editorial tone and encourage community participation
Wow, what a tough crowd. Would any of you attacking Tedesco please tell me where PLO stands out from Tedesco on land use and city planning issues? I attended a forum dedicated to these very important issues, read both candidates materials, but can’t figure out where PLO has come up a differing position on any project than Tedesco. There was one exception, PLO first said that he would put light rail to Valley Fair, but when Tedesco pointed out that busses would be more cost effective, PLO took it as his idea and said he would add a gps system to each buss. If PLO left teaching children (an admirable profession) for more money, what does that say about his values. Why is he now seeking a low paying council seat? Can he be bought by developers? Isn’t he backed by downtown Willow Glen’s largest land owner?
I couldn’t agree more with #27, #29, and #30. What is the purpose of asking candidates to respond to questions on this blog, to post comments, their thoughts, ideas, and wishes, if all people are going to do is to bash them? Is San Jose Inside like so many candidates forums, where supporters of one candidate try to make the other candidate look bad? Why are we not asking tough questions, questions that are important to District 6? So far, Eugene Bradley (#19) is the only one who has asked such a question – regarding his background, what he stood for, and how he will accomplish some of his stated goals.
Come on, people! Lets have some integrity, and decorum. Whether you like Tedesco or Oliverio, they had the courage to stick their necks out and run for office. Stop bashing them, and hold them to their record, what they say, and their actions.
Very few care who Gavin Newsom and Ron Gonzales or other politicians sleep with unless
1) violate accepted and legal workplace behavior norms and create potential hostile workplace They both were in a position of power and used their position to pressure or encourage a emotionally unstable or youthful subordinate to sleep with them which created hostile workplace for subordinate or other employees. The actual use or appearance of favoritism or discrimination based on who does or does not sleep with the boss is illegal and violates many workplace accepted norms
Why do elected officials think they are above normal workplace behavior standards or other laws, and should have different behavior standards than everyone else, or should be excused because of elected position?
They subjected themselves to both civil and criminal penalties and the city government to lawsuits
2) violating personal friendship and political trust with a trusted subordinate by sleeping with their husband or wife who is a subordinate and possible using their knowledge of unstable emotional condition, troubled marriage or youth to sleep with them,
What is the result of this illegal and unacceptable workplace and personal and political betrayal?
Many people will never trust either Gavin or Ron again, prefer not to work with them or be associated with them as Jude Barry did with Ron Gonzales after Ron lied to everyone about his relationship with a youthful, impressionable and very ambitious subordinate
Trusted advisers will leave like Jude, it will be difficult to attract good people and staff while political advisers will be reluctant to tell the Mayor he is making bad decisions which in San Jose resulted in his indictment and other political allies defeated at polls
Mercury News, September 23, 1998 – Barry Witt
GONZALES WINS CHAMBER BACKING
San Jose mayoral candidate Ron Gonzales on Tuesday won a long-desired endorsement from the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, giving him credentials from the city’s MAJOR BUSINESS AND LABOR GROUPS as he heads toward the November election.
After failing to get the necessary two-thirds vote from its members to issue an endorsement before the June primary, the chamber’s political action committee issued its decision after meeting again with Gonzales and opponent Pat Dando on Tuesday morning.
“It came down to the feeling that Ron was going to do the best job representing the business community and the community at large,” said STEVE TEDESCO, the chamber’s president.
The chamber’s backing is especially important for Gonzales, a moderate Democrat, given the strong Republican tilt of the chamber leadership. Dando is a moderate Republican who talks frequently of her support for the business community.
Both candidates agree with chamber positions on key issues, such as support for expanding San Jose International Airport and opposition to the city adopting a “living wage” standard for employees of city contractors.
So we can thank Steve Tedesco and his CoC, who endorsed Ron Gonzales over Pat Dando, for giving us Ron Gonzales for 8 years. Ron had the backing of LABOR, and Steve still saw fit to endorse him over Dando. For those of you that may recall, the race was decided by a slim 2.2% points. So any educated observer would see this endorsement as the key to his razor thin margin. AN endorsement by LABOR and BUSINESS!
Anyone could see that with the Chamber’s backing, Dando surely would have gained 2075 votes, the amount she would have needed to win. I’ve often thought what life in San Jose would have been like with Pat Dando’s leadership over the past eight years.
Instead, we were mired in scandal upon scandal which we may not fully recover.
I two legitimate questions for Steve Tedesco about his record and his actions.
What was it about Pat Dando that led you not to support her in her run for Mayor?
What did you see in Ron Gonzales that was better, that would align Chamber of Commerce’s interests with that of Labor?
Granted, SJI has become a moron magnet for the mental midgets of San Jose, but, in so far as this blog, the only evidence I am seeing of it is the whining by Tedesco supporters.
Just where is all the Tedesco bashing that is supposedly occurring? Pointing out past positions and asking questions is not bashing.
Neighborhoods cease to be “neighborhoods” once developers move in. My close-knit neighborhood in the Newhall area, quiet streets with single-family, single-story homes from the 1930s, is now being surrounded by high-density condos. They tower over our small houses, obliterating our mountain views and eliminating our privacy. Construction trucks rumble through our narrow, child-friendly streets.
And why are we being overrun? Because of BART—the marketing materials for these new condos reference their proximity to BART. Except that as far as I know, the closest BART station is in Fremont. Even if fully funded today, it would take decades for BART to arrive at Santa Clara… but they’re building the condos there today, despite the objections of our neighborhood and the inadequate roads.
Our neighborhood has strenuously objected to the growing development looming over us. But the city council seems to think that “strong neighborhoods” means higher density and higher tax revenues.
#37 – Cheryl with Nexis: Two things about your comment on the Chamber endorsing Ron Gonzales while Steve was the Director:
1) it is a stretch to say that Steve and the Chamber were responsible for Ron getting elected. Ron was a dynamo on the Campaign trail – ask Bob Livengood, whom he ran against for County Supervisor. Ron won majorities in most Council Districts EXCEPT districts 9, 10, and a close one in 6 (where Pat won).
2) COMPAC is the Chamber’s board that questions candidates, and decides who to endorse, not the Director. So, COMPAC endorsed Ron Gonzales over Pat Dando.
” To those who say SJI is finished because the level of discussion has deteriorated, why not raise the level instead of talking about the poor quality? ”
We have tried and tried with no success to raise level of discussion but usual suspects continue daily bash, bully and attack people even innocent new commentators like bullies in school yard
We get no support from Tom , John, Jude or more importantly Jack – Editorial Director even after Gonzales has left and new members are on Council
Ask your friends, neighbors and people who work or are active in San Jose community what they think of San Jose Inside and would they participate?
No , and Hell No – Why would I subject myself to personal attacks by group of very negative people who have shown no interested in improving San Jose and daily bully and attack others? There is no record of San Jose Inside doing anything positive for San Jose in it’s entire history
#38 “SJI has become a moron magnet for the mental midgets”… I love that!
How about, “SJI has become a boring blog for the borderline boneheads”?
or “SJI has become a twerp trap for the tongue-tied twits”?
or “SJI has become a cretin call for the clumsy clods”?
BART and Transit Station development has been used as legal excuse to overcome neighborhood objections to unacceptable development impacts for financial benefit of politically connected greedy developers, career politicians and Silicon Valley companies to disadvantage of local residents or businesses
There is almost no Smart Growth but politically approved out of control and dumb growth which San Jose will pay for decades in envirnomental damage, pollution, traffic congestion, very low city services and billions to debt and taxes to fix the impacts of affordable crowding
Bridget in San Jose – you have very good comments in #27 but unfortunately day by day San Jose Inside becomes less and less effective and loses readers since it’s the Blogs have become less relevant and more negative
Many people who could positively contribution to the debates and discussions refuse to do so because of well known daily personal attacks, negative attitudes, and rants by the usual suspects passed off as discussion with few suggestions for positive change in our city or anything to encourage everyone to work together.
Numerous inaccurate opinions are day after day passed off as fact or never challenged and most attempts to have a facts based discussions, non emotional discussion end as today’s Blog has in more personal attacks and frustration for reasonable people
While it may have been started by people who value San Jose and are interested in her future they have done little or nothing to host a public forum to discuss in a positive way the many changes necessary or even define San Jose’s many challenges and possible solutions
San Jose Inside many days resembles a school yard dominated by bullies and those who shout the loudest – not a place where thoughtful people want to be or discuss anything
” Granted, SJI has become a moron magnet for the mental midgets ” and uncontrolled angry bullies attacking people of San Jose sums it up
Too bad San Jose Inside could have been – a public discussion forum for people who cared about San Jose
Mac and Restless Native, it will be interesting to see how the first few posters on this thread respond to PLO’s submission on 2/19. Why do I get the feeling they will be gushing with positivity over that blog?
One poster here questioned why a guy running for office in D6 would talk about city-wide issues. While the density behind that query hardly deserves a response, Steve has mentioned that the mini-mayor system needs fixing and that all council members need to take a perspective that reaches beyond the borders of their own districts. I agree with him.
And why would Steve stoop to the same level as his attackers and respond to them here? He’s excercising plenty of class by letting the free-for-all happen here without stepping into any of the crap that’s being spewed.
SJI Readers
I think it is only fair to point out to you that #s 22, 23, 29, 33, 36, 41, 43, 44 above are all by the same person under different anonymous names. He is one of the most frequent bloggers on our site. As you will note, he is often critical of SJI content. He also makes a post under one anonymous name that contains what some might consider personal attacks and then later on in another post under a different anonymous name he decries the earlier post and chides SJI for allowing such negative comment. Then he writes another post or two and agrees with himself under yet other names.
For the record, we do not censor comments because they are “negative.” If we did, the above person would never get on. SJI is not a government agency or public utility. This is a privately owned and operated forum where we invite the general public to particpate in a discussion on issues of local interest. The people who work on the site are largely volunteers. The columnists start a discussion on a subject of their choosing every day but it’s up to the bloggers to carry it on. Those who do not like the way we do things don’t have to participate. It’s very easy to start your own blog.
As editor, I am responsible for editing and posting the daily columns and liasing with our guest columnists, but the content is up to the individual authors. There is a small group of volunteers who read through the comments and filter out spam, porn, advertising and anything that violates our comment policy as stated on the site. They post comments as often as possible throughout the day.
Gene – You make some good points. Bart has not come to San Jose, and, as far as I know, will not until they can solve the funding issues.
In some respects, the economy of Silicon Valley, the one that keeps many in well-paying jobs with good companies and corporations, is the very economy that causes extremely high rents and the high cost of living here in San Jose. It results in the call for affordable housing, solutions to the high cost of health care, etc.
Jack – thanks for “outing” Mr. Anonymous (although not by name) – it’s sad that somebody has the time and inclination to be so deceptive!
I’m sure everyone can agree that the Chamber Endorsement in the Dando / Gonzales election, with its vast membership and resources is easily worth 2000+ votes in an election where over 200,000 votes were cast. Political analysts have long viewed this as a critical turning point in the election for many years. This precedent, of a labor backed Democrat, who moving into the city, taking a CoC endorsement from a sitting Republican councilmember… If you think this is a stretch in having an impact on the election, I want what you are smoking.
Steve Tedesco founded COMPAC, the Chamber’s political arm which questions the candidates, and is quite proud of this fact. Surely he holds sway over decisions made. I would like to know if he advocated strongly for the board to back Gonzales at the time or if he encouraged them to support Dando.
#42
Thanks. I too love alliteration. Your suggestions are great. I especially like “twerp trap for the tongue-tied twits”
I was also trying to be ironic by making a moron post.
#49 – I did not say that the CoC endorsement had no effect; I did say that I did not believe it was the deciding factor, or turning point, in the election. Ron Gonzales was driven when it came to campaigns; proven when you look at his campaign for Supervisor against Bob Livengood. If I remember correctly, Livengood had as many big endorsements as Ron, and RG still beat him. Second, RG beat Pat Dando in most of the City, with the exception of 2 Council Districts – 9 and 10 (district 6 was close). To beat an opponent like that takes a dynamic campaign that has balanced support. Finally, there are other groups who endorsed him, like Labor, who also have the power to turn out thousands of voters themselves. You cannot discount their influence in that Mayoral Election.
Whatever else we say about Ron Gonzales, he was driven when it came to campaigning, very strategic, and would have been a very difficult opponent for anyone. With the lengthy list of endorsements and community support, you cannot reduce his campaign for mayor to an endorsement by one group.
Willow Glen Neighborhood Association (WGNA) will host a San Jose City Council District 6 Candidates Debate on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 between 7-8:30 pm followed by Meet the candidates where you can talk to the 2 candidates and ask them questions between 8:30-9 pm
Willow Glen Baptist Church – Basement Social Hall (Minnesota at Hicks) Parking available in rear parking lot
WGNA’s Tuesday night candidate forum will be a substantial change from our previous candidate forums that use short answer format which becomes less effective for voters in understanding the differences between candidates the closer the 2 candidates get to the election since both candidate have had many candidate forums to develop and practice similar sounding short answers
We will be using a candidate discussion and debate format with 10 questions on important major district and city public policy topics with 6 minutes to discuss each question
Our moderator will be Janice Rombeck from Mercury News who will ask the first candidate a question and then following up with the other candidate to see if they agree or disagree with the previous answer or want to add to the previous answer.
The candidates will then debate back and forth any issues they do not agree on. The moderator will have follow up questions to clarify or cover any areas the 2 candidates have not covered We will rotate between the 2 candidates who goes first
We will also have the candidates ask questions of each other and have some audience follow up or clarification questions to encourage additional debate between the candidates to assist the voters understand both candidate positions on the issues before having candidate closing statements
You will be able to Meet the Candidates between 8:30-9 pm and ask further questions and discuss any of the issues
I’d like to suggest that maybe the intent for having Steve and Pier post something here was not to make a campaign speech. Really, how many extra votes could they snag from the ranks of SJI regulars?
To all the early naysayers above, maybe generalities was exactly the product SJI was looking for from these two.
Cheryl-Let’s face it: a whole lot of people were let down by Gonzales. He was, at one time, a fairly popular Mayor.
Jack- Thanks for the insight. Despite all the yammering SJI continues to be a valuable forum. I think of it as the municipal water cooler, where people shoot the breeze and not everything said should be taken seriously.
Alliteration Al – I was going to suggest that SJI has become a bombastic blog for bodacious boobs, however I bow to your superior alliterative skills.
Meanwhile, if anyone thinks the Dist. 6 blogging is getting rough just wait until the partisans start posting for the Dist. 4 election.
#53 Mark T
We have given each candidate 500 words to say whatever they want. Nothing else was specified and we were not looking for any “product.” It’s their decision if they use the space to speak in “generalities.”
Better Chice – Yes, Dando would have been a better choice – she would have made an excellent Mayor.
Back then, Labor was the heavy endorsement, and there were several candidates that got both the Labor Endorsement, and the Chamber’s endorsement. Ron ran a tough campaign, and while she beat him soundly in District 10, and to a lesser extent District 9, he either matched her or beat her in the rest of the City.
The Chamber had over 3000 members then. Yes, I think it would have been Dando. She was the better choice.
See article from Saturday’s Merc!
—————————————————————————-
District 6 candidate’s credibility under fire
GROUP ACCUSES OLIVERIO OF OVERSTATING HIS WORK
By Joshua Molina
Mercury News
“New questions are emerging about the way San Jose City Council candidate Pierluigi Oliverio portrays himself in campaign literature and speeches—questions some say cast doubt on his credibility. “
Complete article can be found here:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/16721414.htm
taxpayer in dt,
How is Tedesco “more of the same”?. Tedesco is suggesting we invest in quality of life and infrastructure, not follow the Gonzo vision of Grand Prixs and Grand City Halls.
Isn’t that why we voted in Chuck and not Cindy?
Perhaps you did not notice Oliverio donated to Cindy’s run for mayor.
Thanks,
To SJI, TMcE, Jack and Crew… and Jude’s been just a little busy… But if you pay by the word, I am looking for a position like that…
Our mystery poster was obvious by his misuse of the language, but thanks for outting him and keeping his privacy as well.
Class.
Not that he deserves it…
Dallas112263
Who is a partisan, self admited…