The Mercury News used to print a map of real estate price changes for each zip code every Saturday. For the past two weeks I have been unable to find this map in the paper. All we have is a generic “special advertising” real estate section that has very little useful information. Am I missing something or is the price map really gone for good?
Lest we lose sight of the treachery that the San Jose Mercury News practices, take note that December 9 is the date that Gary Webb passed in 2004, just four years ago. He’s the reporter who wrote about crack cocaine in Los Angeles and was praised by the Mercury News, only to be stabbed in the back by that institution when the New York Times and the Washington Post attacked Webb’s reporting. A little piece of Mercury News history shining a light on its treachery.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers start building only cars and mass transit that reduce our dependency on oil.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers build cars that reduce global warming.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers withdraw their many lawsuits against state governments in their attempts to not comply with our environmental laws.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the management team which drove these once-great manufacturers into the ground resign and be replaced with a team who understands the transportation needs of the 21st century.
Yes, they could have given the loan for any of these reasons because, in the end, to lose our manufacturing infrastructure and throw 3 million people out of work would be a catastrophe.
But instead, the Senate said, we’ll give you the loan only if the factory workers take a $20 an hour cut in wages, pension and health care. That’s right. After giving BILLIONS to Wall Street hucksters and criminal investment bankers—billions with no strings attached and, as we have since learned, no oversight whatsoever—the Senate decided it is more important to break a union, more important to throw middle class wage earners into the ranks of the working poor than to prevent the total collapse of industrial America.
We have a little more than a month to go of this madness. As I sit here in Michigan today, tens of thousands of hard working, honest, decent Americans do not believe they can make it to January 20th. The malaise here is astounding. Why must they suffer because of the mistakes of every CEO from Roger Smith to Rick Wagoner? Make management and the boards of directors and the shareholders pay for this.
Of course that is heresy to the 31 Republicans who decided to blame the poor, miserable autoworkers for this mess. And our wonderful media complied with their spin on the morning news shows: “UAW Refuses to Give Concessions Killing Auto Bailout Bill.” In fact the UAW has given concession after concession, reduced their benefits, agreed to get rid of the Jobs Bank and agreed to make it harder for their retirees to live from week to week. Yes! That’s what we need to do! It’s the Jobs Bank and the old people who have led the nation to economic ruin!
But even doing all that wasn’t enough to satisfy the bastard Republicans. These Senate vampires wanted blood. Blue collar blood. You see, they weren’t opposed to the bailout because they believed in the free market or capitalism. No, they were opposed to the bailout because they’re opposed to workers making a decent wage. In their rage, they were driven to destroy the backbone of this country, not because the UAW hadn’t given back enough, but because the UAW hadn’t given up.
It appears that the sitting President has been looking for a way to end his reign by one magnanimous act, just like a warlord on his feast day. He will put his finger in the dyke, and the fragile mess of an auto industry will eke through the next few months.
That will give the Senate enough time to demand that the bankers and investment sharks who’ve already swiped nearly half of the $700 billion gift a chance to make the offer of cutting their pay.
I notice a lack of comment on the news that the city has agreed to give Tom McEnery money for his “urban market” project.
I’m not going to comment on that, but I want to bring up once again the continued inaction on Pellier Park. I notice it was included in the map published by the Merc, but unlike everything else in the map it wasn’t labelled.
I looked through the massive PDF files posted by the Merc. The early documents, around 2002, speak of restoring and even expanding Pellier Park. By 2006 some of the maps propose rerouting some streets and the park seems to vanish from the map.
It does appear, as I said, on the map published by the Merc, which I suppose is the latest. But without a designation, it looks as though it’s just a piece of vacant land.
I wonder are there some people who think that if it is left empty for long enough people will forget there was a park there and then they can start building on it?
This is a park that was created by the citizens of San Jose in celebration of the bicentennial of their country AND the land itself is of historical significance AND it celebrates the memory of someone who had a profound influence on the development of San Jose AND it is adjacent to the rest of the rather small historical district of San Jose. Plus it makes a nice setting for the equestrian statue that Tom McEnery bought for us, which I rather like.
Restoring the park would be a complement both to the historic district and the “urban market”. Plus it costs the city nothing because Swenson has already agreed to pay for it.
Thanks for the informative post. It’s important that the public see firsthand what an ignorant fool Michael Moore is.
On another note, I always take delight when I drive by the 290 acres of wide open spaces at the corner of Branham Ln. & Snell Ave. A number of foxes can often be seen hunting for gophers out there in the grass, and just the sheer incongruity of such a large open space embedded in the sprawling suburbs of south San Jose is a bit of a shock to the senses. The citizens of the valley owe Mr. Lester a debt of gratitude for bequeathing this giant parcel of land to the County. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if the land remained just the way it is but Mr. Lester’s vision was of a park set aside to commemorate the agricultural heritage of the area. Let’s hope that our County and City leaders, who are forever proclaiming the virtues of “greenness”, understand what a marvelous opportunity the Martial Cottle Park could be as a demonstration of the value of sustainable, medium-scale organic farming, as well as a way of honoring our nearly forgotten agricultural heritage.
I am a little curious about the intent of the ‘Rants and Raves’ section here. Is it to hear unique new editorials and references to local news by locals, or cut and paste sound bytes I could get elsewhere from other news sources?
I’ll give you 2.3 guesses which one draws me to San Jose Inside.
The Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce will be leading a delegation of business, community and elected leaders to China in April. Does anyone know who the elected (or appointed) leaders are and who is fitting the bill? Just wondering.
Honorable Mayor Reed,Vice Mayor Cortese, and Council Members,
Last night, we had a fire in the apartment above us. A new tenant moved in some couches and left one of them leaning against the apartment heater, while the heater was on high. After moving these items into the unit, he left. Around 12:45 pm, my dog Pounder was running around my apartment distressed. He ran from us to the door repeatedly. We kept thinking that he needed to go relieve himself, so we took him out. Each time we brought him back in the house, he started running toward the door again. Finally, we heard a loud chirping noise coming from outside and went to investigate what was going on. The chirping was my neighbors smoke alarm. Smoke was billowing out of the kitchen window.
We then realized the upstairs unit was on fire, so Christian started hosing down the building, while I called 911. Within minutes SJFD was here. I can not tell you how grateful we were to see them. They took over getting tenants out, they got the burning couch out of the apartment, after kicking in the door. They carefully checked my unit to make sure it was safe, as I live directly below. They made sure everything was safe before they let us back in.
They were kind to us, and showed concern for how upset we all were. The thought of what could have happened, had it not been for my dog Pounder, a smoke alarm, and a fantastic, responsive Fire Department, kept me a wake feeling GRATEFUL all night long. PLEASE, take a moment out of your busy schedules to not only forward on this email on to their Chief, but to convey to these brave, and compassionate Fire Fighters our deepest GRATITUDE for their incredible bravery, and skill last night. I hate to think what would have happened if we didn’t have them to count on at times like this.
Here’s to San Jose being THE SAFEST City in D9 last night!
Penny Poupour wrote in part in Murkky News Saturday: “Self-esteem does not derive out of social programs that futilely try to make everything equal, but instead out of people realizing that they have genuine competencies…It is ironic that ESUSD Supt. Bob Nunez is eager to disband all sports programs, yet I suspect that not one of the bogus “self-esteem” programs or similar charades are in any danger. I also suspect that many other politically correct sinkholes will be left untouched. The district will continue to provide grief counselors every time a fight breaks out on campus, but won’t provide a legitimate venue for normal teenage drive and energy.”
#5 “I want to bring up once again the continued inaction on Pellier Park..”
As a past Park Commissioner, I too wonder why when the Park and Historical Landmark commissions have approved the project why it continues to remain just open grass instead of the beautiful celebration of our history’s “Valley of the Hearts Delight”? The Master plan was approved, funding in place….Why the delay? Why does downtown lack spectacular parks like other great cities?
#13-JMO,
If they cut one highly paid position in the Superintendent’s Office, I’m sure that would fund several sports programs in schools. I’m not going to hold my breath thinking they will of course, because the well being of our kids seems to always take a back seat to bureaucracy.
#14: School bueaucracy is at an all time low. Cutting one administrator in the Superintendent’s Office could save a district no more than $150,000. The propsed cuts for sports are to save $2.1 million. Where will the other $2 million come from? It is easy to always blame bloated bureaucracies, but reality is more difficult. Clearly, if there are any positions that aren’t needed in district offices, they should be cut, but they are no longer the answer. That low hanging fruit was picked long ago.
“teammates. Frankly, if I had to put money on people supporting either football or soccer over the long term, my money’s going on football. (The preceding sentence is likely confusing to Europeans.) “
#14—I couldn’t agree more. If they cut district offices by 25% FROM THE TOP, all those six figure salaries would pay for sports, get music back into school, etc. Far too many chiefs, and far too many separate fiefdoms, excuse me, school districts, each with their own highly paid paper pushing bosses and staffs.
Joe Disalvo on one of his early posts spoke of his junket to The Marriott Harbor Island in San Diego with all the other bureaucrats. Try WebEx. Save the dough for education.
Has anyone else noticed that SJI is slowly being taken over by Metro?
Now that Jack is gone “The Editor” posts Metro columnists relentlessly.
What’s the over/under by month when SJI will be nothing more than a Metro blog? I didn’t ask for a year, since it will clearly be in ‘09, which will soon be called 1 AO(after Obama)
Editor,
Where is the response I posted to #22 JMO, yesterday? None of the posts you’ve censored, or omitted parts of are in violation of SJI’s commentary policiy. Are you back to censoring, or completelty omitting them now?
The Mercury News used to print a map of real estate price changes for each zip code every Saturday. For the past two weeks I have been unable to find this map in the paper. All we have is a generic “special advertising” real estate section that has very little useful information. Am I missing something or is the price map really gone for good?
SOME LOCAL HISTORY
Lest we lose sight of the treachery that the San Jose Mercury News practices, take note that December 9 is the date that Gary Webb passed in 2004, just four years ago. He’s the reporter who wrote about crack cocaine in Los Angeles and was praised by the Mercury News, only to be stabbed in the back by that institution when the New York Times and the Washington Post attacked Webb’s reporting. A little piece of Mercury News history shining a light on its treachery.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/120908.html
Miracles do happen!
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11221084
The worst of times:
Senate to Middle Class: Drop Dead
Friday, December 12th, 2008
Friends,
They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers start building only cars and mass transit that reduce our dependency on oil.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers build cars that reduce global warming.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the automakers withdraw their many lawsuits against state governments in their attempts to not comply with our environmental laws.
They could have given the loan on the condition that the management team which drove these once-great manufacturers into the ground resign and be replaced with a team who understands the transportation needs of the 21st century.
Yes, they could have given the loan for any of these reasons because, in the end, to lose our manufacturing infrastructure and throw 3 million people out of work would be a catastrophe.
But instead, the Senate said, we’ll give you the loan only if the factory workers take a $20 an hour cut in wages, pension and health care. That’s right. After giving BILLIONS to Wall Street hucksters and criminal investment bankers—billions with no strings attached and, as we have since learned, no oversight whatsoever—the Senate decided it is more important to break a union, more important to throw middle class wage earners into the ranks of the working poor than to prevent the total collapse of industrial America.
We have a little more than a month to go of this madness. As I sit here in Michigan today, tens of thousands of hard working, honest, decent Americans do not believe they can make it to January 20th. The malaise here is astounding. Why must they suffer because of the mistakes of every CEO from Roger Smith to Rick Wagoner? Make management and the boards of directors and the shareholders pay for this.
Of course that is heresy to the 31 Republicans who decided to blame the poor, miserable autoworkers for this mess. And our wonderful media complied with their spin on the morning news shows: “UAW Refuses to Give Concessions Killing Auto Bailout Bill.” In fact the UAW has given concession after concession, reduced their benefits, agreed to get rid of the Jobs Bank and agreed to make it harder for their retirees to live from week to week. Yes! That’s what we need to do! It’s the Jobs Bank and the old people who have led the nation to economic ruin!
But even doing all that wasn’t enough to satisfy the bastard Republicans. These Senate vampires wanted blood. Blue collar blood. You see, they weren’t opposed to the bailout because they believed in the free market or capitalism. No, they were opposed to the bailout because they’re opposed to workers making a decent wage. In their rage, they were driven to destroy the backbone of this country, not because the UAW hadn’t given back enough, but because the UAW hadn’t given up.
It appears that the sitting President has been looking for a way to end his reign by one magnanimous act, just like a warlord on his feast day. He will put his finger in the dyke, and the fragile mess of an auto industry will eke through the next few months.
That will give the Senate enough time to demand that the bankers and investment sharks who’ve already swiped nearly half of the $700 billion gift a chance to make the offer of cutting their pay.
Fat chance.
Yours,
Michael Moore
[email protected]
MichaelMoore.com
I notice a lack of comment on the news that the city has agreed to give Tom McEnery money for his “urban market” project.
I’m not going to comment on that, but I want to bring up once again the continued inaction on Pellier Park. I notice it was included in the map published by the Merc, but unlike everything else in the map it wasn’t labelled.
I looked through the massive PDF files posted by the Merc. The early documents, around 2002, speak of restoring and even expanding Pellier Park. By 2006 some of the maps propose rerouting some streets and the park seems to vanish from the map.
It does appear, as I said, on the map published by the Merc, which I suppose is the latest. But without a designation, it looks as though it’s just a piece of vacant land.
I wonder are there some people who think that if it is left empty for long enough people will forget there was a park there and then they can start building on it?
This is a park that was created by the citizens of San Jose in celebration of the bicentennial of their country AND the land itself is of historical significance AND it celebrates the memory of someone who had a profound influence on the development of San Jose AND it is adjacent to the rest of the rather small historical district of San Jose. Plus it makes a nice setting for the equestrian statue that Tom McEnery bought for us, which I rather like.
Restoring the park would be a complement both to the historic district and the “urban market”. Plus it costs the city nothing because Swenson has already agreed to pay for it.
So why the continued delay?
Christian #4,
Thanks for the informative post. It’s important that the public see firsthand what an ignorant fool Michael Moore is.
On another note, I always take delight when I drive by the 290 acres of wide open spaces at the corner of Branham Ln. & Snell Ave. A number of foxes can often be seen hunting for gophers out there in the grass, and just the sheer incongruity of such a large open space embedded in the sprawling suburbs of south San Jose is a bit of a shock to the senses. The citizens of the valley owe Mr. Lester a debt of gratitude for bequeathing this giant parcel of land to the County. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if the land remained just the way it is but Mr. Lester’s vision was of a park set aside to commemorate the agricultural heritage of the area. Let’s hope that our County and City leaders, who are forever proclaiming the virtues of “greenness”, understand what a marvelous opportunity the Martial Cottle Park could be as a demonstration of the value of sustainable, medium-scale organic farming, as well as a way of honoring our nearly forgotten agricultural heritage.
I am a little curious about the intent of the ‘Rants and Raves’ section here. Is it to hear unique new editorials and references to local news by locals, or cut and paste sound bytes I could get elsewhere from other news sources?
I’ll give you 2.3 guesses which one draws me to San Jose Inside.
The Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce will be leading a delegation of business, community and elected leaders to China in April. Does anyone know who the elected (or appointed) leaders are and who is fitting the bill? Just wondering.
This is so sad. We really do owe these men and women our gratitude and appreciation for their service to us:
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11215593?source=most_viewed
I have A LOT to be grateful for today!
Honorable Mayor Reed,Vice Mayor Cortese, and Council Members,
Last night, we had a fire in the apartment above us. A new tenant moved in some couches and left one of them leaning against the apartment heater, while the heater was on high. After moving these items into the unit, he left. Around 12:45 pm, my dog Pounder was running around my apartment distressed. He ran from us to the door repeatedly. We kept thinking that he needed to go relieve himself, so we took him out. Each time we brought him back in the house, he started running toward the door again. Finally, we heard a loud chirping noise coming from outside and went to investigate what was going on. The chirping was my neighbors smoke alarm. Smoke was billowing out of the kitchen window.
We then realized the upstairs unit was on fire, so Christian started hosing down the building, while I called 911. Within minutes SJFD was here. I can not tell you how grateful we were to see them. They took over getting tenants out, they got the burning couch out of the apartment, after kicking in the door. They carefully checked my unit to make sure it was safe, as I live directly below. They made sure everything was safe before they let us back in.
They were kind to us, and showed concern for how upset we all were. The thought of what could have happened, had it not been for my dog Pounder, a smoke alarm, and a fantastic, responsive Fire Department, kept me a wake feeling GRATEFUL all night long. PLEASE, take a moment out of your busy schedules to not only forward on this email on to their Chief, but to convey to these brave, and compassionate Fire Fighters our deepest GRATITUDE for their incredible bravery, and skill last night. I hate to think what would have happened if we didn’t have them to count on at times like this.
Here’s to San Jose being THE SAFEST City in D9 last night!
Three incredibly GRATEFUL residents of San Jose,
Kathleen
Carl
Christian
Yes. Redevelopment really IS the devil!
Penny Poupour wrote in part in Murkky News Saturday: “Self-esteem does not derive out of social programs that futilely try to make everything equal, but instead out of people realizing that they have genuine competencies…It is ironic that ESUSD Supt. Bob Nunez is eager to disband all sports programs, yet I suspect that not one of the bogus “self-esteem” programs or similar charades are in any danger. I also suspect that many other politically correct sinkholes will be left untouched. The district will continue to provide grief counselors every time a fight breaks out on campus, but won’t provide a legitimate venue for normal teenage drive and energy.”
Here, here!!!
#5 “I want to bring up once again the continued inaction on Pellier Park..”
As a past Park Commissioner, I too wonder why when the Park and Historical Landmark commissions have approved the project why it continues to remain just open grass instead of the beautiful celebration of our history’s “Valley of the Hearts Delight”? The Master plan was approved, funding in place….Why the delay? Why does downtown lack spectacular parks like other great cities?
#13-JMO,
If they cut one highly paid position in the Superintendent’s Office, I’m sure that would fund several sports programs in schools. I’m not going to hold my breath thinking they will of course, because the well being of our kids seems to always take a back seat to bureaucracy.
#14: School bueaucracy is at an all time low. Cutting one administrator in the Superintendent’s Office could save a district no more than $150,000. The propsed cuts for sports are to save $2.1 million. Where will the other $2 million come from? It is easy to always blame bloated bureaucracies, but reality is more difficult. Clearly, if there are any positions that aren’t needed in district offices, they should be cut, but they are no longer the answer. That low hanging fruit was picked long ago.
#15- Okay cut out their free trips, hotel stays, meals, and expense accounts too. Our teachers are the ones that are under paid, not these higher ups.
See this quote from San Jose Revealed?
“teammates. Frankly, if I had to put money on people supporting either football or soccer over the long term, my money’s going on football. (The preceding sentence is likely confusing to Europeans.) “
This guy hates Europeans!
#14—I couldn’t agree more. If they cut district offices by 25% FROM THE TOP, all those six figure salaries would pay for sports, get music back into school, etc. Far too many chiefs, and far too many separate fiefdoms, excuse me, school districts, each with their own highly paid paper pushing bosses and staffs.
Joe Disalvo on one of his early posts spoke of his junket to The Marriott Harbor Island in San Diego with all the other bureaucrats. Try WebEx. Save the dough for education.
Single Gal & John McE IV have both gone missing.
#19-JMO,
I think the alien columnists from the Metro abducted them!
Maybe they ran off and got married…or would that be allowed only in the Ozarks?
Has anyone else noticed that SJI is slowly being taken over by Metro?
Now that Jack is gone “The Editor” posts Metro columnists relentlessly.
What’s the over/under by month when SJI will be nothing more than a Metro blog? I didn’t ask for a year, since it will clearly be in ‘09, which will soon be called 1 AO(after Obama)
Editor,
Where is the response I posted to #22 JMO, yesterday? None of the posts you’ve censored, or omitted parts of are in violation of SJI’s commentary policiy. Are you back to censoring, or completelty omitting them now?