By Guest Blogger Eric Carlson
Like countless others before me, I have pondered the way to San Jose; specifically downtown San Jose where, one Sunday afternoon, tumbleweeds literally rolled over San Fernando Street as if in a dream. I saw them, and the only noise to break the dead calm was a whoop from way over at Wave’s Smokehouse and Saloon where the Oakland Raiders were temporarily winning. Downtown San Jose, on certain Sundays, can be the quietest retreat one can imagine. Good or bad?
Those arguing for more movement, and fewer tumbleweeds, pose myriad solutions within this site, often involving densification ala Hong Kong: force-cramming presumably happy urbanites into co-mingling amidst appropriate commercial (downtown) markets/eateries. I would suggest that encouraging downtrodden small businesses would add a much-needed ingredient; give ‘em whatever they need to survive (if, indeed, there are any left). And save old buildings. The best example of this thinking is the remnant of downtown Sunnyvale that is S. Murphy Avenue. The only block preserved in Sunnyvale from the “olden” days—is the only block of interest in Sunnyvale.
And was it wise to roust arms-akimbo prostitutes from in front of Original Joe’s and environs? Dave Hickey, a native San Josean educated at Oxford reminisces, “My sentimentality about hookers on the streets of San Jose is part of my indelibly etched paradigm of San Jose as a scrappy farm-belt city as it was through the middle of the 20th Century. In my golden age of San Jose, circa 1960, there were six movie palaces on First Street alone. There were many saloons and the Humidor was still in business next to the Fox Theater. For a young man, the presence of hookers on the streets, attired in their figure-enhancing clothes, flooded his spirit with what Stendahl referred to as the ‘promise of happiness,’ especially if he only looked and did not partake.”
Is it possible a key ingredient of a vital downtown is the preservation of its vulgar aspects? Prostitution may be beyond the pale, but surely there is room for cigar shops, and a seedy Woolworth’s or two. As well as an effort to subsidize obscure family restaurants and the like.
Eric Carlson is CEO and architect of the city-site Soft Underbelly of San Jose, a trenchant look at San Jose and environs.
Note: Jude Barry’s column appears on Tuesdays, but he’s taking a break this week.
To many on this blog, the new City Hall represents the City’s best and biggest brothel.
What could be more vulgar than having lobbyists, bureaucrats and politicians walking the downtown streets without harrassment every day of the week?
It seems the seedy side of San Jose is returning to downtown all at once—heck, we may even see a few journalists.
Now, there goes the neighborhood.
(Tongue firmly implanted in cheek.)
Today our great city council is voting on the garbage contract giveaway investigation and you guys write about prostitition downtown. HELLLLO.
Hasn’t anyone figured out yet that Cindy Chavez has a hand in this. If it’s a big labor issue, she’s right there all over it.
She should not be dictating who manages the investigation. Can you spell COVERUP?
What a novel idea—saving our old buildings. It’s a hard sell with this current group who have met very few old buildings they care about.
The list of buildings they have destroyed is probably longer than the list they have saved and the list keeps growing.
Glad you understand the importance of historic buildings to a city’s character. Most of the buildings going up in downtown could be anywhere in the country but our old buildings are the only thing that give our city some uniqueness. Better take some pictures of them because that’s all that will be left of most them if the Wrecking Crew (aka Mayor/Council) get their way.
There is a basic ignorance among most of the Council—they simply do not understand the importance of historic buildings. Everyone needs to try and educate them—it’s a massive undertaking but might be successful if enough people pound on them.
Thanks for raising the issue.
Given the magnitude of the garbage giveaway, it is peculiar that you chose a topic other than that to discuss today. I am sure RG is pleased to deflect the discussion away from his wrongdoing.
Of course, Cindy is right in the middle of this. Too bad, but not surprising. At one one time she seemed like a bright light on the political horizon, but that light has all but dimmed. Mayor Chavez? Can you say we won’t get fooled again?
“To many on this blog, the new City Hall represents the City’s best and biggest brothel.”
400 million divided by 1 million citizens. So we each got screwed for 400 dollars. But to be honest, I didn’t enjoy it.
CH as Brothel? Genius! You get screwed for much money every time you set foot in the place.
Great cities have character, and character comes from history. San Jose will never be the great city that it should be as long as we keep losing our historic past. Some might even argue that the whores are those who have sold out San Jose to development such as Santana Row, ironically towering over the historic Winchester house. Where are the prostitutes? They’re already here.
Eric, I looked up these terms in the Random House Dictionary.
Prostitute, Aside from the obvious #1, I went on to #2 a person who willingly uses his talant or ability in a base and unworthyway.
Hooker,“naut. slang” any old fashion or clumsy vessel.
Vulgar, adj. characterized by ignorance of or lack of good breeding or taste, unrefined; crude.
Council, n. an assembly of persons summonded or convened for consultation.
Tumble-weed, whose branching upperpart becomes detached from the roots in autumn and is driven about by the wind.
Which reminds me, it’s almost time for lunch at Henry’s Hi Life.
Have a great last day City Hall!
I’m glad there’s no hooker and bad elements in downtown. Downtown is too clean, and that’s great! Downtown needs to be quiet a few times a week, so people can get peace and quiet; otherwise, it’s normally vibrant most of the time. Downtown is great and awhsome, but it’s expensive. Come and enjoy!
In an atmosphere thick with tantalizing developer dollars, old buildings attract as much interest in San Jose as do forty year-old women at the Playboy mansion.
No hookers downtown? Take another look.
Sometimes I think it is a self fullfilling prophecy. We need to support downtown San Jose, and I was wrong to knock it, because the more we talk about what is good about it, the more we will all want to support it.
By the way, San Jose does have an effective commission diversity committee and recruiting process. With regards to other cities like Santa Clara, well who knows.
Some of us enjoy reading the new blog about other cities called
http://www.missioncityblog.blogspot.com
but do continue to support this one as much as possible as there good things said by each participant if we read them.