Citizens do the City’s job by revitalizing San Jose’s Rose Garden.
The San Jose Mercury News Editorial Board recently applauded the efforts of Terry Reilly and Beverly Hopper, who trained and organized the many volunteers who repaired and rejuvenated the San Jose Rose Garden. Thanks to the volunteers’ hard work, the Rose Garden regained its certification from the All-America Rose Selections organization. The Mercury News pointed out that the volunteers served to rebuild the city’s relationship with volunteers, and wondered if the Friends of the Rose Garden model could be applied to other public spaces that “lack the magic of roses.”
Now, I’m all for volunteering…but should the citizens of San Jose be asked to volunteer and do work that is supposed to be performed by city employees who are paid by taxpayer money? Why did the condition of the Rose Garden decline in the first place? If the city lacks the resources to maintain its parks at even a minimal level, then there’s something very wrong with the system. Where did all of the money go? Why is it being spent on projects, people, or pursuits outside of basic city services?
The hard-working and dedicated volunteers of the Friends of the Rose Garden have done a wonderful thing for our city, and we should all be grateful. But, the job never should have been theirs to do in the first place!
They have the same problem in New York. There, the City was not performing basic services that taxes are supposed to pay for so businesses were force to form “Business Improvement Districts (BIDS),” where you were double-taxed, once by the city [money down the drain] and once by the BID, to pay for things like street sweeping and sidewalk furniture. Your question is relevant here: why do we need double taxation?
Why Not?
Who wrote the rule that says jobs that COULD be done by city employees is “work that is SUPPOSED (emphasis added) to be performed by city employees”?
Using Pete’s formula there would be no Neighborhood Watch groups (that’s a Police job), it would be wrong to clear the leaves from the corner sewer grate (that’s the city’s job), no animal rescue groups (Animal Control’s problem) and don’t even think of squirting a garden hose on the neighbor’s burning house (Fire Department has that job locked up).
The idea of citizen volunteers providing services for the benefit of all should be applauded, not questioned.
I don’t think that Pete was being negative about the volunteers, but rather asking why are we paying taxes if we’re not getting the services that we’re supposed to? Could it be that all the money’s going to various special interests rather benefitting the taxpayer? We shouldn’t have to volunteer to do something that we’re forced to pay for.
Cruising over to SanJoseInside.com, and low and behold, I see my name? Dang.
How the garden went downhill is a complex issue with some history behind it. The past is the past. We are looking forward.
But let me point out a few things.
1. 27% of the volunteers in the Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden do not live in San Jose.
http://friendssjrosegarden.org/vol_map.htm
2. The City employees have worked very hard to revitalize the Rose Garden. They put a tremendous effort into it the past year. They brought in a new gardener, Lance Loveday with the goal of turning the garden around. The Park Department put the garden under the Guadalupe River Park / Downtown Core Group so it would have more resources, and city brought in the conservation corps, utilized the weekend work program (WWP), to pull weeds and whip it in shape. They partnered with the Beverly Hopper and I, who have expertise in rose growing and community organizing to add to this mix. We put together new horticultural methods to improve the conditions of the roses and founded the Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden as a partnership with the city. This brought in a lot of volunteers to tend to the roses.
3. Quite frankly, you can look at the ability to do volunteer in the garden as a service the City of San Jose provides the citizens. Years ago, they didn’t allow this on a day to day basis on this level. The joy people get from coming out and attending to this garden is immeasurable. Just look at some of the videos and photos of the past events http://www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org/photo_gallery.htm People enjoy gardening, and this allows them a place to do it. The city CAN take care of this garden and DOES take care of this garden, but why can’t we help and have some of the fun too? In the videos, you will see plenty of city staff with us.
4. People want to help, and get involved in their community. Feel a sense of ownership. Many want to learn about roses. The Friends provide this training and get people interested in rose culture.
5. We will have a Rose Pruning and Demo Day on January 10 at 9:00am. We will teach you how to pruning roses, then we will prune the garden. Star Roses, a national rose grower, is donating several hundred rose bushes to us so EVERY VOLUNTEER THAT SHOWS UP before 9:00AM will get a free rose bush!!! Last year we had 250 people show up, and we pruned the garden in 2 hours and plenty of city staff was there to help. We can’t do it without their help. Now the city could prune the garden ALL by themselves, but what fun would that have been?? They let us make it an event for the community – and the garden gets pruned. A win-win situation for all. Watch the video, look at the pictures.
6. At this park, the city does not get the credit it deserves in the past year and a half. They have a hard working and dedicated staff, from the Parks Manager on down to the boots on the ground. It has been a pleasure working side by side with them, playing amongst the roses and the volunteers.
Terry Reilly
Co-Founder
Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden
Join us Jan. 10th, 9:00am. Get a free rose bush.
I am a strong believer in the importance of volunteers, but it is important to note in the case of the restoration of the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, volunteers could not do it alone, and the City could not do it alone. It has taken both groups of public and private working together with a fresh approach and spirit of cooperation.
Thanks must also be extended to Councilperson Pierluigi Oliverio who has been with us all the way (often with pruning shears), Parks Manager Mike Will for his enthusiasm and support, Gardener Lance Loveday for putting up with the criticism of past practices even though he had nothing to do with it, and all the “boots on the ground” for their help.
Day after day volunteers have expressed their gratitude at being able to be part of this project, of restoring a historic rose garden for all to enjoy. One memorable thank you from a volunteer said being able to help “made her heart sing.”
It makes my heart sing to know we have provided an opportunity for the community to get involved, to take ownership, to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
It’s been said “Volunteerism is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You only vote once a year but when you volunteer you vote every day what type of community you want to live in.”
Come volunteer with Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden. Be part of making your community a better more beautiful place to live.
Join us Jan 10th, 9:00am and help prune roses for maximum display (aka power pruning) No experience required, bring shears and gloves if have them. Get there early and get a free rose bush.
http://www.FriendsSJRoseGarden.org
MC #2
You asked, “Who wrote the rule that says jobs that COULD be done by city employees is “work that is supposed to be performed by city employees?” Actually, the unions wrote that rule!!!