With each Labor Day weekend that comes and goes, we realize that we have not quite had enough of summer and that the chill of winter is not far off. But more than that, beyond the change of weather and the start of school, it’s the end to the freewheeling, weekends-away, vacations-with-the-kids lifestyle of the summer months. So here’s to embracing the change that we all dread, and the things we look forward to. What would you like to see happen this winter in San Jose?
For one, I would like more to happen within the city council and the mayor’s office. I have complained before that there are no “big splash” events. What about finally stepping in and making that push for a downtown baseball stadium? What about combating Westfield’s addition of department stores and coming up with a retail plan that doesn’t start and end with Stevens Creek Boulevard? What about making San Jose a place that we want to be in, regardless of the month, and not just because it’s a nice family place to live.
Let’s all brainstorm on what we would like to see in our town as the summer recedes in the rearview mirror. Or is it simply a pipe dream to think that we can make a big splash before the fat man comes down the chimney?
I second that motion on the downtown baseball stadium (not much of surprize coming from me, is it). Encourage all party’s to come together (Reed, McEnery, Wolff, Neukom, Selig) and work out a deal for San Jose’s freedom and downtown Diridon ballpark. As for the Westfield additions, as much as I’d like to see them downtown, I think we should just be happy NM and Bloomingdales are considering coming to San Jose; let’s not scare them away with a “downtown or else” strategy. Just my opinion.
San Jose was a decent city in the late 70’s with an international airport with flights to England. It also had Frontier Village, Great America Park, Kelly Park with light tower just recently installed, Winchester Mystery House and many other things. San Jose had the largest shopping mall in the world, Eastridge, which was thriving at the time. San Jose had more respect internationally and nationally than today because it had overtaken Boston as the high tech hub, and it had the song, “Do you know the way to SJ., which was popular. San Jose was the fastest growing city in the U.S. and the most desirable city. San Jose was the best city to live in the world, according to Mercer, an international urban think tank. Now, Melbourne and Vancouver are the best cities to live. Mercer hasn’t awknowledged San Jose for so many years ever since. If you travel internationally or even out of state, nobody knows San Jose. San Jose was 587,000 in 1978, and now, it’s 989,000. San Jose really built up an inferiority complex big time in the last 15 years. The city lost its way and has absolutely no respect for itself. To remedy it, San Jose needs to host the 2020 olympic, assuming Chicago’s efforts fail. San Jose must also host world’s fair exposition and the political convention to be back on right direction. Otherwise, the city will be an embarassment forever.
OMG, more pitching downtown. You’re beginning to sound like a broken record.
We don’t know what the future holds, but I’m thankful for the Summer of 2008:
1) Mama Mia! the movie was released.
2) The iPhone 3G was released.
3) John Michael O’Connor ended his self-imposed exile from San Jose Inside.
Seasonal flip of the calendar has October beerfests on tap and comedy club ‘best of’ competition.
Not everyones mug of love but they are eventful for those that anticipate the event. Oh, there is political theatre, also.