FLORIDA JUDGE OPENS FINANCIAL RECORDS—SHOWS ANNA NICOLE SMITH MADE ONE WEEK TRIP TO SILICON VALLEY
A new twist on the drama involving the death and subsequent inheritance of more than $500 million dollars from former playboy/reality star Anna Nicole Smith. Records show that now deceased Hollywood sex symbol visited San Jose last year for more than a week. Nobody knows the true reason for her trip but several San Jose Inside Bloggers have already come forward.
“My sources tell me that in a matter of Days, Tricky Vic is going to claim his is the father of her baby girl” said infamous Santa Clara insider, James Rowen. “Its all part of his master plan to level Berryessa and put up a state prison. I’ve also heard from my sources that he plans on using the money as a contribution to the Governor and renaming Alviso ‘Victorville.’”
Other bloggers are both proud and disgusted. SJI regular Rich Robinson, famous for being on both sides of the issue had this to say….“Of course Anna came to Silicon Valley for a rendezvous with a few corporate types, who wouldn’t want the publicity of sailing with Larry Ellison or looking for a new condo in Cupertino. This is the hot spot to be. But we also have to put safeguard in place to make sure this kind of publicity is not abused, and of course a photo shoot with Laurie Smith.”
Most on the point though was SJI blogger frustrated finfan when he spoke for everyone saying, “Victor a father of Anna’s baby? Thats just James Rowen being James Rowen. What we DO need to know is if she visited the pile of doggie doo in Caesar Chavez Park and if so does she think its a symbol of San Jose or Native American oppression?”
Today’s Mercury News reports [1] continued problems with the city of San Jose customer service department. One problem mentioned is some residents are unable to access the “Customer Service Online” link on the city’s web page.
If only our city leaders read San Jose Inside. The solution to this problem was discussed in January [2].
For some reason the city’s IT department does not want to use the standard port number 443 for a secure connection. Currently the customer service link uses 8443 so many firewalls do not allow the connection to go through.
At last, San Jose’s police staffing crisis is officially over and I believe kudos go to our police chief, Rob Davis, for his ability to do so much with so little. Just weeks after informing the council of his department’s immediate need of hundreds of additional officers, the chief was able to shuffle, squeeze, and eventually free up enough extra officers and suitable vehicles to provide chauffeuring services for the top cops (and top companions) in town this week for the Major Cities Chief’s Conference.
I’m only guessing, of course, but I assume the chief was able to workout a truce of sorts with local gang-bangers and our community’s other assorted violent criminals, as he thought it safe to redeploy entire teams of violent crime and gang specialists so that the visiting dignitaries and their companions wouldn’t have to rent cars or hire cabs—thus needlessly contributing to our local economy.
How much is cab fare from The Fairmont to Santana Row? Or to take a South Bay Wine Tour? Checkout the itinerary* under “Spouse Events” and remind yourself that the same department that struggles to provide the bare bones service we residents have learned to tolerate was able to make vehicles, city gas, and veteran police officers available on-demand to a bunch of well-paid police chiefs, not to mention their spouses/dates/significant whatevers.
Wait—I think a correction is in order. Rumor has it that even after depriving working detectives of their unmarkeds, the department was still so short of cars that rentals were secured. Score one for private enterprise.
Speaking for those footing the bill for our city budget I ask, what’s the bottom line here? How much did it cost us? Were some of the costs picked up by others?
What is a fully-outfitted detective car worth for a week, after fuel, maintenance costs, and insurance expenses are tabulated?
How much did we pay to rent those extra cars?
How many officers were used? Is it the twenty or so that I heard? What’s the bill for an officer for a week, after wages, overtime, health and retirement costs are tabulated? (And since we know you don’t put rookies in special units, don’t try to deceive us with entry-level wages.)
Who paid for those sissy powder blue shirts worn by the Driving Miss Daisy crew? Were they brand new or, as was rumored, hand-me-downs from the Mormon Missionary Corps?
And exactly what did we taxpayers—or our city—get for this outlay?
Why does San Jose Inside need to ban people from participating on this board. A couple of people I know who are fairly centrist in their view points have been out right banned from posting on this board.
Censorship is for the insecure, not the brave. If you’re doing this I wish you’d stop.
Finfan, great catch! Isn’t it wonderful how someone can cry poor mouth but turn on a dime to support a function like this?
Reminds of a faux paus from a few years back. Seems that SJPD had put in a request for something like 100 brand new squad cars. I believe it was Gerald Silva’s organization that discovered the PD garage was chock full of new vehicles that had never been driven!
The only people banned outright from posting on our site are spammers, advertisers (organizations and products), multiposters of the same material, multiposters of copyright-protected material, suspected hackers and posters of porn. We have a group of volunteers who filter everything and place the above on a list of banned IPs who can then no longer get through. We get a lot of junk every day so it’s possible mistakes have been made. If you think anyone has been placed on the ban list by mistake, please let me know by clicking on my link here and sending me a message with their email address. I will have it investigated.
Perhaps finfan’s comments are completely accurate but since asks more questions than he answered shouldn’t we actually have the facts before we start jumping up and down? The website finfan links to indicates the funding was from the organization, although it is unclear who the organization is and their funds come from.
If somebody has the facts, let us hear them. Thanks.
Our so-called representatives in Sacramento (Beall and Coto) have been in the news lately offering their ideas of making our lives better. One thought that kids should have to register to vote before they got their diplomas…the other came up with some college pre-pay system to lock in a lower price. Rather than re-inventing the wheel and looking for ways to micro-manage our lives, why don’t these two get to work to prevent the State’s stupid plan to build a prison in one of the most valuable areas of the valley? (If San Jose needs to put in a prison, fine, but put it somewhere where it makes sense!)
Pete Campbell
p.s. How much money did the sponsors of the Grand Prix make? Why do San Jose taxpayers have to subsidize something that might have made millions?
If only the tree removal services had known in advance, they could have flooded Willow Glen with chain saws and clear cut the place while the cops were too busy driving Miss Daisy around to respond, as chief Davis promised they would at the Big Sycamore PowWow.
Three weeks ago Friday I called the city’s Customer SERVICE [hah! what a sick joke] line to report my garbage and recyclables had not been picked up, nor had the same for the other 49 townhomes in my development. After getting through the oprima numero dos nonsense and all the rest of the phone tree, I waited 10-12 minutes before someone picked up. I was told the garbage truck be there shortly. It wasn’t. Instead, they woke us all up at dawn on Saturday rumbling through our little streets.
The next Friday, same deal, same phone tree—no dedicated lines for garbage, street problems, signal problems, just the one INEFFICIENT, POORLY STAFFED line for all who care to wait for SERVICE. This time I asked for a response back from either someone in charge at the city, or from someone in charge at Green Team. I was promised that would happen. NEVER HAPPENED.
Fast forward to week three, same deal. This time I waited 25 minutes for someone to pick up. I asked to be transferred to a supervisor/manager who could do something. The guy that picked up the phone after my 25 minute wait disconnected me instead of transferring me. I guess he needs another 26 weeks of phone button use training.
I contacted Judy Chirco’s office, and Diana said she’d help. She did. Soon thereafter I got a customer service supervisor to whom I explained all of the above. She said she’d have someone get back to me. I asked for her direct number, but she responded Friday (today) was her last day, and no-one had been assigned to replace her, and probably there wouldn’t be a replacement. City has insufficient personnel to handle customer service. Solution—terminate people and don’t replace them. The soon-to-be-gone supervisor did tell me there were administrative fines for missed service, but they consider our 50 unit community but one infraction, despite the fact that 50 people all pay separate bills and 50 households were not given the servie they paid for three weeks in a row. So, the slap on the wrist is virtually meaningless.
A Green Team manager called me later that day, promised to get to the bottom of the issue, gave a bunch of excuses, and said he’d get back to me to let me know what went wrong and what would be done about it. That was last Monday. No further word from him either. I’ll see when I get home tonight whether they’ve made it four missed pickups in a row. Maybe they want to break the Celtics’ losing strea. Quien sabe?
Not only is the phone equipment at the Taj Gonzal poor, but there are too few operators, and none who seem to know what to do.
They should have just kept the Cisco gear that talked to all the other Cisco gear, and fined Cisco, then hired enough staff and trained them on simple stuff, like the difference between a transfer and a disconnect.
Hey Frustrated finfan, if the Sharks win the World Series this year (Stanly Cup), will you mellow out? I also like the Sharks but I lost interest when realized I couldn’t afford to attend the home games. However, I still cheer for them whenever they make the playoffs.
John McO #13. The same thing is happending today and I have had the same experience with the telephone answering person at City Hall. She tried to reach Green Team, our pickup service provider, three times while I waited and told me that she couldn’t get through. She said we would probably have Saturday service again.
Poor Jeff, he is along up there with a half drunk bottle of port wine, and his credit card for the escort service maxed out after the midgets stopped by, and, well, he is hung over again, like most mornings at the office.
Stll the low seller, after they hired the two twenty five year olds that make you get coffee.
As JD’s mistress, I have to say that I am tired of him being attacked. JD has a right to accuse idiots that post on this blog like crazy Rowen, or big mouth Robinson.
At 72, I am tired of my young man, JD, being attacked like this. As I drove him to Seattle in my Bentley, I told him it was ok to sell off more of my old hubby’s estate. But I have to say, I am not sure what this MIDGET FOR A NIGHT ESCORT SERVICE charge is doing on my credit card. Oh, that is right, I let Jeffy have it after he got my case of Gordon’s Gin.
For all of you who have not made up your minds on whom to vote for in the upcoming District 6 council race, read today’s piece on the front page of the Valley Section in the Merc. My only question is, what took you so long to figure this out? It is clear that Oliverio has broken no laws but ,do we need another city leader that will misrepresent the truth? Didn’t we learn anything from Gonzo? I have to admit, Oliverio is a smooth salesman. I saw him in action at a holiday party to which he was not invited. It was a very nice, invitation only, Willow Glen community party. When the hostess questioned him at to why he was there, he said he came as the guest of a male invitee. I guess that was ok, but then he stood by the front door, next to a very well respected neighborhood leader, so he could greet each person who entered. This gave all who attended the impression that the hostess and the community leader were supporting him. This was not the case. They are neutral. As the community leader, who is very well informed on the issues, spoke about his concerns to fellow residents, someone asked Oliverio where he stood. Oliverio was unable to add any insights and simply stated, “I’m with him on these issues.” In my opinion, it was tacky to work the room for political gain when he was not even invited.
It became quite clear that Oliverio is more fluff than substance at last week’s debate hosted by WGNA. It was evident that, when given more than one minute, Oliverio was in trouble. He does not possess a deep understaning of the issues. In fact, he even asked the moderator to ensure that they weren’t given too much time. At the end of the debate he said in closing, “I was not at the top of my game tonight. I guess I must be coming down with a cold.” From my perspective, his weak grasp on the issues and his misrepresentation of his qualifications were his biggest problems.
Todays SJMN quotes Ken Yeager, “I think people expect some generalizations about their background, but there’s clearly a line you shouldn’t cross, and I don’t believe that Pierluigi has crossed that line.’‘
Is it crossing the line to state you have a M.A. from SJSU on SmartVoter.org, when in fact you dont?
What type of message is professor Yeager sending to the students of SJSU? Lie on your resume if it gets you the job. Thankfully Yeager doesnt teach ethics.
Yeager is a nice guy and was very active in making sure that we have trails along the creeks, but he never stood up to Gonzo until his last year in office. He also sold us up the river on the Del Monte #3 site. We could have had a unique adaptive reuse of the cannery that would have preserverd our early heritage and revitalized North Willow Glen and the downtown. Thanks to Yeager, Gonzo and the Mini-Mayor system they supported, all we get is an other generic tract by K.B. Homes that sucks $$$$ away from our tax base. Yeager was unable to lead the council when developers failed to follow through on their promise to include retail and parks at the Alma Bowl site. Did he think the developer and the City were just generalizing when they made those promises to the neighborhood? I want a council person in District 6 that tells it like it is and stands up for its citizens. That is Steve Tedesco!
Thought you District 6 voters might like to read this Editorial in Saturday’s Mercury News, about Pierluigi Oliverio. I think it speaks for itself.
——————————————————————————
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.
The executive director of a prominent non-profit says Oliverio is exaggerating his fund-raising role with her organization. While Oliverio has publicly claimed his work for the group was one of his three proudest accomplishments, she said he raised less than $350.
“It makes me feel like we have been exploited and used for political gain,’’ said Kathleen Krenek, head of Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence. “It begs the question, `what about his other accomplishments?’ ‘’
While Oliverio defends his work for the group, the question is just one of several that have arisen. He did not disclose until asked by the Mercury News last month that he had run three failed attempts for office in the 1990s using a different first name. Oliverio also raised eyebrows in January after circulating a mailer in which he posed with a woman and three children. The captionless photo seemed to imply Oliverio, a bachelor, is married with children.
More recently, the candidate for the District 6 council seat drew criticism for statements about his involvement with community groups—both Next Door Solutions and Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network. In mailers and at forums, Oliverio touts his work on Joint Venture’s Tax and Fiscal Policy subcommittee, but other members of the group—and Joint Venture officials—say they don’t recall his participating.
Asked about it by the Mercury News, Oliverio said he could not remember how many quarterly meetings he attended, saying it was no more than 10 over a three-year period in the mid-1990s.
David Ginsborg, who served on the Tax and Fiscal Policy subcommittee from 1998 to 2003, said Oliverio is being misleading. “He is attempting to talk about activities as though they were yesterday.’‘
Ginsborg, a deputy to the Santa Clara County assessor who lives in District 6, said he supported candidate Clark Williams in the November primary. He has not endorsed Oliverio’s opponent, Steve Tedesco.
Krenek, too, said she isn’t endorsing Tedesco, even though Oliverio said she is a “personal friend’’ and supporter of his opponent’s. Krenek and Tedesco said they know each other only casually through their work in the non-profit world. She said she donated $20 each to Oliverio, Tedesco and Williams during the primary race; neither her name nor Ginsborg’s appear among Tedesco’s donors on the city’s latest campaign finance reports, which list donations above $99.
Krenek said she became alarmed after attending a public forum where Oliverio touted his work for Next Door as one of his top achievements. He also lists the activity in his campaign literature and on his Web site.
Krenek said that over a seven-year period, Oliverio raised just $340 for the group. Including in-kind donations, the total was $500. “We are always grateful for any contribution,’’ she said, “but I felt that our agency was exploited.’‘
In an interview Wednesday with the Mercury News, Oliverio—the top vote-getter in the November primary—was subdued, preferring to talk about his ideas instead of his campaign claims. He dismissed allegations that he has exaggerated, accused critics of nitpicking and defended his record.
The San Jose native said he raised money for Next Door more than a decade ago through “downtown pub crawls’’ after seeing pictures of the late Nicole Brown Simpson with a black eye. Still, he could not recall how much he raised.
“There’s no way to ballpark it,’’ he said. “I dropped those checks off. I didn’t bust out with an Excel spreadsheet. I never claimed to raise $100,000.’‘
As for his experience with Joint Venture, Oliverio suggested the Mercury News contact former state Sen. John Vasconcellos, one of the founders of Joint Venture, who has endorsed him. But Vasconcellos said he doesn’t remember Oliverio being involved with the group because so many years have passed.
“`I don’t recall that,’’ said Vasconcellos, who said he supports Oliverio because he is a “nice guy’’ and because he respects many of the people who have endorsed the software salesman and executive.
Oliverio topped Tedesco, head of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley, in the November primary by a comfortable margin of about 2,000 votes. His stellar rise, seemingly out of nowhere, turned many heads. But since the primary, more details of his carefully crafted image have begun to emerge, including prior campaigns under the name “Pierre Oliverio.’’ Oliverio has said it’s a childhood nickname he has since discarded.
The increased questions seem to be frustrating Oliverio, whose backers blame a whisper campaign by Tedesco’s supporters. On Thursday, Oliverio’s campaign manager initially declined to make him available for interviews, saying the candidate had left his cell phone with her and that she would speak on his behalf. She accused the Mercury News of “interrogating’’ Oliverio.
Oliverio later told the newspaper he would only answer further questions by e-mail.
Former District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager backs Oliverio and said he hopes voters focus on the issues.
“I think people expect some generalizations about their background, but there’s clearly a line you shouldn’t cross,’’ Yeager said. “And I don’t believe that Pierluigi has crossed that line.’‘
————————————————————————————————————————
Contact Joshua Molina at [email protected] or (408) 275-2002
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#25 – just a slight correction – you quoted a news article in the Merc – not an editorial – an article would be based on facts while an editorial is opinion.
#27- While you are correct, editorials are based on opinion, most editorials are based on facts. The editorial # 25 has posted is very factual. Oliverio won’t answer any Merc questions, unless they are by e- mail. And Oliverio has and does exaggerate his work in non-profits, etc.
I just think it’s sad that Oliverio isn’t being honest. When you chose to be a public figure, you should know the press is going to dig something up on you. Might as well just be honest from the start.
Oliverio got off to a great start in this campaign. He did it by working hard, walking the District, letting voters know he wants the job. It also doesn’t hurt that he makes a good appearance and is a good salesman. Theses are all things that help a candidate get elected. He also got the endorsement of some local polititions. The problems started when he over inflated his resume, diplayed that he only possed a “one minute sound bite” comprehention of complex issues and represented himself as someone he was not. He is not the first candidate to do this but, had he been up- front with the public, I think he would have won easily. Due to his misrepresentation, the election is a real horse race. Now Oliverio is not talking directly to the press, not responding to questions from the public, and is hiding behind his managers skirt. You could see her directing Oliverio at the debate, and now she is fielding his questions. Recently, he shared with us his vision for our future as being a “Web Browser” He should have stayed with what worked in the beginning, connecting with the people, just minus the exaggeration. Tedesco’s experience and grasp of the issues has recentyly helped him at the debate in WG. We now see Tedesco pulling neck and neck. This is despite the fact that Tedesco got off to a very slow start, and as of only a few weeks ago it appeared that the candidates were too much the same. Now it is clear that they are quite different. Tedesco is less than a ball of fire but is experienced, knowlegeable and honest. Oliverio is less than up front but is energetic and ifrienly. Like it was for Cindy Chavez, this election is Oliverio’s to lose. But if Oliverio can’t shore up his house of cards…..
John, this is the best Friday humor that you’ve done all year.
Chuck- I was wondering if I could pay you $20 to shake your hand, er, I mean eat breakfast.
FLORIDA JUDGE OPENS FINANCIAL RECORDS—SHOWS ANNA NICOLE SMITH MADE ONE WEEK TRIP TO SILICON VALLEY
A new twist on the drama involving the death and subsequent inheritance of more than $500 million dollars from former playboy/reality star Anna Nicole Smith. Records show that now deceased Hollywood sex symbol visited San Jose last year for more than a week. Nobody knows the true reason for her trip but several San Jose Inside Bloggers have already come forward.
“My sources tell me that in a matter of Days, Tricky Vic is going to claim his is the father of her baby girl” said infamous Santa Clara insider, James Rowen. “Its all part of his master plan to level Berryessa and put up a state prison. I’ve also heard from my sources that he plans on using the money as a contribution to the Governor and renaming Alviso ‘Victorville.’”
Other bloggers are both proud and disgusted. SJI regular Rich Robinson, famous for being on both sides of the issue had this to say….“Of course Anna came to Silicon Valley for a rendezvous with a few corporate types, who wouldn’t want the publicity of sailing with Larry Ellison or looking for a new condo in Cupertino. This is the hot spot to be. But we also have to put safeguard in place to make sure this kind of publicity is not abused, and of course a photo shoot with Laurie Smith.”
Most on the point though was SJI blogger frustrated finfan when he spoke for everyone saying, “Victor a father of Anna’s baby? Thats just James Rowen being James Rowen. What we DO need to know is if she visited the pile of doggie doo in Caesar Chavez Park and if so does she think its a symbol of San Jose or Native American oppression?”
Today’s Mercury News reports [1] continued problems with the city of San Jose customer service department. One problem mentioned is some residents are unable to access the “Customer Service Online” link on the city’s web page.
If only our city leaders read San Jose Inside. The solution to this problem was discussed in January [2].
For some reason the city’s IT department does not want to use the standard port number 443 for a secure connection. Currently the customer service link uses 8443 so many firewalls do not allow the connection to go through.
[1]
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/16712830.htm
[2]
http://sanjoseinside.com/sji/blog/entries/joyce_kilmer_comes_to_willow_glen/
For those hungering for good news…
At last, San Jose’s police staffing crisis is officially over and I believe kudos go to our police chief, Rob Davis, for his ability to do so much with so little. Just weeks after informing the council of his department’s immediate need of hundreds of additional officers, the chief was able to shuffle, squeeze, and eventually free up enough extra officers and suitable vehicles to provide chauffeuring services for the top cops (and top companions) in town this week for the Major Cities Chief’s Conference.
I’m only guessing, of course, but I assume the chief was able to workout a truce of sorts with local gang-bangers and our community’s other assorted violent criminals, as he thought it safe to redeploy entire teams of violent crime and gang specialists so that the visiting dignitaries and their companions wouldn’t have to rent cars or hire cabs—thus needlessly contributing to our local economy.
How much is cab fare from The Fairmont to Santana Row? Or to take a South Bay Wine Tour? Checkout the itinerary* under “Spouse Events” and remind yourself that the same department that struggles to provide the bare bones service we residents have learned to tolerate was able to make vehicles, city gas, and veteran police officers available on-demand to a bunch of well-paid police chiefs, not to mention their spouses/dates/significant whatevers.
Wait—I think a correction is in order. Rumor has it that even after depriving working detectives of their unmarkeds, the department was still so short of cars that rentals were secured. Score one for private enterprise.
Speaking for those footing the bill for our city budget I ask, what’s the bottom line here? How much did it cost us? Were some of the costs picked up by others?
What is a fully-outfitted detective car worth for a week, after fuel, maintenance costs, and insurance expenses are tabulated?
How much did we pay to rent those extra cars?
How many officers were used? Is it the twenty or so that I heard? What’s the bill for an officer for a week, after wages, overtime, health and retirement costs are tabulated? (And since we know you don’t put rookies in special units, don’t try to deceive us with entry-level wages.)
Who paid for those sissy powder blue shirts worn by the Driving Miss Daisy crew? Were they brand new or, as was rumored, hand-me-downs from the Mormon Missionary Corps?
And exactly what did we taxpayers—or our city—get for this outlay?
Score one for Rob Davis’ future career ambitions.
* http://www.neiassociates.org/
Why does San Jose Inside need to ban people from participating on this board. A couple of people I know who are fairly centrist in their view points have been out right banned from posting on this board.
Censorship is for the insecure, not the brave. If you’re doing this I wish you’d stop.
Finfan, great catch! Isn’t it wonderful how someone can cry poor mouth but turn on a dime to support a function like this?
Reminds of a faux paus from a few years back. Seems that SJPD had put in a request for something like 100 brand new squad cars. I believe it was Gerald Silva’s organization that discovered the PD garage was chock full of new vehicles that had never been driven!
#6 Ken
The only people banned outright from posting on our site are spammers, advertisers (organizations and products), multiposters of the same material, multiposters of copyright-protected material, suspected hackers and posters of porn. We have a group of volunteers who filter everything and place the above on a list of banned IPs who can then no longer get through. We get a lot of junk every day so it’s possible mistakes have been made. If you think anyone has been placed on the ban list by mistake, please let me know by clicking on my link here and sending me a message with their email address. I will have it investigated.
Perhaps finfan’s comments are completely accurate but since asks more questions than he answered shouldn’t we actually have the facts before we start jumping up and down? The website finfan links to indicates the funding was from the organization, although it is unclear who the organization is and their funds come from.
If somebody has the facts, let us hear them. Thanks.
Dear San Jose:
Our so-called representatives in Sacramento (Beall and Coto) have been in the news lately offering their ideas of making our lives better. One thought that kids should have to register to vote before they got their diplomas…the other came up with some college pre-pay system to lock in a lower price. Rather than re-inventing the wheel and looking for ways to micro-manage our lives, why don’t these two get to work to prevent the State’s stupid plan to build a prison in one of the most valuable areas of the valley? (If San Jose needs to put in a prison, fine, but put it somewhere where it makes sense!)
Pete Campbell
p.s. How much money did the sponsors of the Grand Prix make? Why do San Jose taxpayers have to subsidize something that might have made millions?
HOLY LATE-BREAKING NEWS, FINFAN!!!
If only the tree removal services had known in advance, they could have flooded Willow Glen with chain saws and clear cut the place while the cops were too busy driving Miss Daisy around to respond, as chief Davis promised they would at the Big Sycamore PowWow.
Steve #4:
Three weeks ago Friday I called the city’s Customer SERVICE [hah! what a sick joke] line to report my garbage and recyclables had not been picked up, nor had the same for the other 49 townhomes in my development. After getting through the oprima numero dos nonsense and all the rest of the phone tree, I waited 10-12 minutes before someone picked up. I was told the garbage truck be there shortly. It wasn’t. Instead, they woke us all up at dawn on Saturday rumbling through our little streets.
The next Friday, same deal, same phone tree—no dedicated lines for garbage, street problems, signal problems, just the one INEFFICIENT, POORLY STAFFED line for all who care to wait for SERVICE. This time I asked for a response back from either someone in charge at the city, or from someone in charge at Green Team. I was promised that would happen. NEVER HAPPENED.
Fast forward to week three, same deal. This time I waited 25 minutes for someone to pick up. I asked to be transferred to a supervisor/manager who could do something. The guy that picked up the phone after my 25 minute wait disconnected me instead of transferring me. I guess he needs another 26 weeks of phone button use training.
I contacted Judy Chirco’s office, and Diana said she’d help. She did. Soon thereafter I got a customer service supervisor to whom I explained all of the above. She said she’d have someone get back to me. I asked for her direct number, but she responded Friday (today) was her last day, and no-one had been assigned to replace her, and probably there wouldn’t be a replacement. City has insufficient personnel to handle customer service. Solution—terminate people and don’t replace them. The soon-to-be-gone supervisor did tell me there were administrative fines for missed service, but they consider our 50 unit community but one infraction, despite the fact that 50 people all pay separate bills and 50 households were not given the servie they paid for three weeks in a row. So, the slap on the wrist is virtually meaningless.
A Green Team manager called me later that day, promised to get to the bottom of the issue, gave a bunch of excuses, and said he’d get back to me to let me know what went wrong and what would be done about it. That was last Monday. No further word from him either. I’ll see when I get home tonight whether they’ve made it four missed pickups in a row. Maybe they want to break the Celtics’ losing strea. Quien sabe?
Not only is the phone equipment at the Taj Gonzal poor, but there are too few operators, and none who seem to know what to do.
They should have just kept the Cisco gear that talked to all the other Cisco gear, and fined Cisco, then hired enough staff and trained them on simple stuff, like the difference between a transfer and a disconnect.
Your tax dollars at rest.
Time for another Boston Tea Party.
Hey Frustrated finfan, if the Sharks win the World Series this year (Stanly Cup), will you mellow out? I also like the Sharks but I lost interest when realized I couldn’t afford to attend the home games. However, I still cheer for them whenever they make the playoffs.
As the Razor likes to say, “Go Sharks!!!”
John McO #13. The same thing is happending today and I have had the same experience with the telephone answering person at City Hall. She tried to reach Green Team, our pickup service provider, three times while I waited and told me that she couldn’t get through. She said we would probably have Saturday service again.
#12 JMOC – After the first two calls you actually called a third time?
I suggest you call again and lodge a complaint.
Weizey #15: yes, I realize that insanity is doing the same thing again and expecting a different result.
I stole all James Rowen’s meds ,though (see Tom McE’s paying for the bacon post) so I’m better now, and he’s not.
Poor Jeff, he is along up there with a half drunk bottle of port wine, and his credit card for the escort service maxed out after the midgets stopped by, and, well, he is hung over again, like most mornings at the office.
Stll the low seller, after they hired the two twenty five year olds that make you get coffee.
Good you got those meds, John.
Still using the computer at the library, because you like to browse the porno.
As JD’s mistress, I have to say that I am tired of him being attacked. JD has a right to accuse idiots that post on this blog like crazy Rowen, or big mouth Robinson.
At 72, I am tired of my young man, JD, being attacked like this. As I drove him to Seattle in my Bentley, I told him it was ok to sell off more of my old hubby’s estate. But I have to say, I am not sure what this MIDGET FOR A NIGHT ESCORT SERVICE charge is doing on my credit card. Oh, that is right, I let Jeffy have it after he got my case of Gordon’s Gin.
For all of you who have not made up your minds on whom to vote for in the upcoming District 6 council race, read today’s piece on the front page of the Valley Section in the Merc. My only question is, what took you so long to figure this out? It is clear that Oliverio has broken no laws but ,do we need another city leader that will misrepresent the truth? Didn’t we learn anything from Gonzo? I have to admit, Oliverio is a smooth salesman. I saw him in action at a holiday party to which he was not invited. It was a very nice, invitation only, Willow Glen community party. When the hostess questioned him at to why he was there, he said he came as the guest of a male invitee. I guess that was ok, but then he stood by the front door, next to a very well respected neighborhood leader, so he could greet each person who entered. This gave all who attended the impression that the hostess and the community leader were supporting him. This was not the case. They are neutral. As the community leader, who is very well informed on the issues, spoke about his concerns to fellow residents, someone asked Oliverio where he stood. Oliverio was unable to add any insights and simply stated, “I’m with him on these issues.” In my opinion, it was tacky to work the room for political gain when he was not even invited.
It became quite clear that Oliverio is more fluff than substance at last week’s debate hosted by WGNA. It was evident that, when given more than one minute, Oliverio was in trouble. He does not possess a deep understaning of the issues. In fact, he even asked the moderator to ensure that they weren’t given too much time. At the end of the debate he said in closing, “I was not at the top of my game tonight. I guess I must be coming down with a cold.” From my perspective, his weak grasp on the issues and his misrepresentation of his qualifications were his biggest problems.
Todays SJMN quotes Ken Yeager, “I think people expect some generalizations about their background, but there’s clearly a line you shouldn’t cross, and I don’t believe that Pierluigi has crossed that line.’‘
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/16721414.htm
Is it crossing the line to state you have a M.A. from SJSU on SmartVoter.org, when in fact you dont?
What type of message is professor Yeager sending to the students of SJSU? Lie on your resume if it gets you the job. Thankfully Yeager doesnt teach ethics.
Yeager is a nice guy and was very active in making sure that we have trails along the creeks, but he never stood up to Gonzo until his last year in office. He also sold us up the river on the Del Monte #3 site. We could have had a unique adaptive reuse of the cannery that would have preserverd our early heritage and revitalized North Willow Glen and the downtown. Thanks to Yeager, Gonzo and the Mini-Mayor system they supported, all we get is an other generic tract by K.B. Homes that sucks $$$$ away from our tax base. Yeager was unable to lead the council when developers failed to follow through on their promise to include retail and parks at the Alma Bowl site. Did he think the developer and the City were just generalizing when they made those promises to the neighborhood? I want a council person in District 6 that tells it like it is and stands up for its citizens. That is Steve Tedesco!
Did anyone read about Scott Herhold boasting that he used to threaten his kids with locking them up at Agnews?
19 – Is that important mistress…. or imported mistress?
Thought you District 6 voters might like to read this Editorial in Saturday’s Mercury News, about Pierluigi Oliverio. I think it speaks for itself.
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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.
The executive director of a prominent non-profit says Oliverio is exaggerating his fund-raising role with her organization. While Oliverio has publicly claimed his work for the group was one of his three proudest accomplishments, she said he raised less than $350.
“It makes me feel like we have been exploited and used for political gain,’’ said Kathleen Krenek, head of Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence. “It begs the question, `what about his other accomplishments?’ ‘’
While Oliverio defends his work for the group, the question is just one of several that have arisen. He did not disclose until asked by the Mercury News last month that he had run three failed attempts for office in the 1990s using a different first name. Oliverio also raised eyebrows in January after circulating a mailer in which he posed with a woman and three children. The captionless photo seemed to imply Oliverio, a bachelor, is married with children.
More recently, the candidate for the District 6 council seat drew criticism for statements about his involvement with community groups—both Next Door Solutions and Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network. In mailers and at forums, Oliverio touts his work on Joint Venture’s Tax and Fiscal Policy subcommittee, but other members of the group—and Joint Venture officials—say they don’t recall his participating.
Asked about it by the Mercury News, Oliverio said he could not remember how many quarterly meetings he attended, saying it was no more than 10 over a three-year period in the mid-1990s.
David Ginsborg, who served on the Tax and Fiscal Policy subcommittee from 1998 to 2003, said Oliverio is being misleading. “He is attempting to talk about activities as though they were yesterday.’‘
Ginsborg, a deputy to the Santa Clara County assessor who lives in District 6, said he supported candidate Clark Williams in the November primary. He has not endorsed Oliverio’s opponent, Steve Tedesco.
Krenek, too, said she isn’t endorsing Tedesco, even though Oliverio said she is a “personal friend’’ and supporter of his opponent’s. Krenek and Tedesco said they know each other only casually through their work in the non-profit world. She said she donated $20 each to Oliverio, Tedesco and Williams during the primary race; neither her name nor Ginsborg’s appear among Tedesco’s donors on the city’s latest campaign finance reports, which list donations above $99.
Krenek said she became alarmed after attending a public forum where Oliverio touted his work for Next Door as one of his top achievements. He also lists the activity in his campaign literature and on his Web site.
Krenek said that over a seven-year period, Oliverio raised just $340 for the group. Including in-kind donations, the total was $500. “We are always grateful for any contribution,’’ she said, “but I felt that our agency was exploited.’‘
In an interview Wednesday with the Mercury News, Oliverio—the top vote-getter in the November primary—was subdued, preferring to talk about his ideas instead of his campaign claims. He dismissed allegations that he has exaggerated, accused critics of nitpicking and defended his record.
The San Jose native said he raised money for Next Door more than a decade ago through “downtown pub crawls’’ after seeing pictures of the late Nicole Brown Simpson with a black eye. Still, he could not recall how much he raised.
“There’s no way to ballpark it,’’ he said. “I dropped those checks off. I didn’t bust out with an Excel spreadsheet. I never claimed to raise $100,000.’‘
As for his experience with Joint Venture, Oliverio suggested the Mercury News contact former state Sen. John Vasconcellos, one of the founders of Joint Venture, who has endorsed him. But Vasconcellos said he doesn’t remember Oliverio being involved with the group because so many years have passed.
“`I don’t recall that,’’ said Vasconcellos, who said he supports Oliverio because he is a “nice guy’’ and because he respects many of the people who have endorsed the software salesman and executive.
Oliverio topped Tedesco, head of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley, in the November primary by a comfortable margin of about 2,000 votes. His stellar rise, seemingly out of nowhere, turned many heads. But since the primary, more details of his carefully crafted image have begun to emerge, including prior campaigns under the name “Pierre Oliverio.’’ Oliverio has said it’s a childhood nickname he has since discarded.
The increased questions seem to be frustrating Oliverio, whose backers blame a whisper campaign by Tedesco’s supporters. On Thursday, Oliverio’s campaign manager initially declined to make him available for interviews, saying the candidate had left his cell phone with her and that she would speak on his behalf. She accused the Mercury News of “interrogating’’ Oliverio.
Oliverio later told the newspaper he would only answer further questions by e-mail.
Former District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager backs Oliverio and said he hopes voters focus on the issues.
“I think people expect some generalizations about their background, but there’s clearly a line you shouldn’t cross,’’ Yeager said. “And I don’t believe that Pierluigi has crossed that line.’‘
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Contact Joshua Molina at [email protected] or (408) 275-2002
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#25 – just a slight correction – you quoted a news article in the Merc – not an editorial – an article would be based on facts while an editorial is opinion.
#27- While you are correct, editorials are based on opinion, most editorials are based on facts. The editorial # 25 has posted is very factual. Oliverio won’t answer any Merc questions, unless they are by e- mail. And Oliverio has and does exaggerate his work in non-profits, etc.
I just think it’s sad that Oliverio isn’t being honest. When you chose to be a public figure, you should know the press is going to dig something up on you. Might as well just be honest from the start.
Oliverio got off to a great start in this campaign. He did it by working hard, walking the District, letting voters know he wants the job. It also doesn’t hurt that he makes a good appearance and is a good salesman. Theses are all things that help a candidate get elected. He also got the endorsement of some local polititions. The problems started when he over inflated his resume, diplayed that he only possed a “one minute sound bite” comprehention of complex issues and represented himself as someone he was not. He is not the first candidate to do this but, had he been up- front with the public, I think he would have won easily. Due to his misrepresentation, the election is a real horse race. Now Oliverio is not talking directly to the press, not responding to questions from the public, and is hiding behind his managers skirt. You could see her directing Oliverio at the debate, and now she is fielding his questions. Recently, he shared with us his vision for our future as being a “Web Browser” He should have stayed with what worked in the beginning, connecting with the people, just minus the exaggeration. Tedesco’s experience and grasp of the issues has recentyly helped him at the debate in WG. We now see Tedesco pulling neck and neck. This is despite the fact that Tedesco got off to a very slow start, and as of only a few weeks ago it appeared that the candidates were too much the same. Now it is clear that they are quite different. Tedesco is less than a ball of fire but is experienced, knowlegeable and honest. Oliverio is less than up front but is energetic and ifrienly. Like it was for Cindy Chavez, this election is Oliverio’s to lose. But if Oliverio can’t shore up his house of cards…..