City Hall Diary
As some of you many know via Sal Pizarro of the Mercury News I have grown a beard. I stopped shaving the morning of the mayor’s State of the City speech. I joked with Sal that I was not going to shave until we fixed the structural budget deficit. Getting our city’s finances in order is the number one priority and will take hard work and more community outreach. By that time, my beard will end up competing with Moses or the members of the band ZZ Top.
So for now the beard remains, providing shock value to those who see me with it for the first time. It is also a great disguise, as I am now able to go to the grocery store without being asked to fix a pothole or other like matter.
It came in quite handy on Fat Tuesday. Our Tuesday evening council meeting was cancelled, so I chose to spend my time as I have done many nights on the streets of downtown with our SJPD and Mounted Unit. Mardi Gras has been a small curse for our downtown in past years with many people outside of San Jose looking and hoping for something out of a “Girls Gone Wild” video. Quite the opposite occurred on Fat Tuesday. The mostly young male crowd that traveled from other cities simply just roamed around the downtown.
My beard, along with my black beanie and trench coat, provided me the appearance of Al Pacino in the movie “Serpico.” This look allowed me to blend in instead of drawing attention by wearing a suit or dressed as a spokesperson for Banana Republic. Walking on the street with the crowd provides me a street level perspective that cannot be experienced in a police car.
This out-of-town crowd for the most part was not spending any money in the bars or restaurants. Early on, there were plenty of minors roaming, some even with beer in a bag. Later the crowds grew larger and older, but still they were not patronizing our downtown establishments, and, instead, just loitered.
Luckily, most of the convention visitors were in bed before the large crowd came. Mardi Gras and Cinco de Mayo have to be the worst PR nights for our downtown. To our SJPD’s credit and hard work, the crowds are lessening each year. I saw firsthand the effectiveness of the police on horses riding through the crowd, patrolling on bikes, riding motorcycles etc., but this comes at a cost to the taxpayer of police overtime.
Our downtown continues to evolve for the positive as we look forward to new residents in the residential towers and recently filled storefronts in restored historic buildings. There are currently three solid plays downtown at City Lights Theater, San Jose Repertory and San Jose Stage. I have seen each of them and recommend them. So come on downtown to see a play for Lent, as Fat Tuesday is over.
I’d like to think that all of our city councilmembers were as interested in finding out about San Jose by actually going out into it like Mr. Oliverio.
Just once I’d like to get a call from my Council representative asking me what I think.
She called when she was running for office and wanted my vote but that was the last time.
Pierluigi will be clean shaven again only when City Hall figures out that the reason it exists is to serve the citizens of San Jose, not the developers, and not the SEIU. The role and responsibilities of a City Government are really quite limited. If our leaders ever figured that out then they wouldn’t find it necessary to cram in more dwellings in a never ending effort to raise more tax revenue.
Looks like ZZ Top will be around for awhile!
PO,
Can you work with the media to have them stop advertising this stupid mess in the weeks before Mardi Gras. Each year they play coverage over and over again from problems that happened over 6 years ago.
This just advertises this event to a mass of morons who wouldn’t even know the event (or non event) was taking place.
None of these losers even know what Fat Tuesdy is or why it on Tuesday!
No news coverage = no morons
Related, the radio stations KMEL and Wild 94 were announcing all week that these loser kids should come down to “thier” Mardi Gras in San Jose. Could you send them a bill for the police. Event producers are supposed to pay for any extra police their events bring!
The last time anything good happened in downtown was back in the 1930’s. The citizens got together and hanged those kidnapping criminals in Saint James Park. Since that time downtown has become a sewer of hopelessness and despair, taken over by criminals, crooked politicians and drug addicts. Downtown is nothing more than a haven for LSD-fueled liberalism bent on destroying me and other taxpaying, law-abiding, God-fearing citizens.
it would be nice if the cops could patrol downtown and control the mobs without turning the place into a war zone or treating law-abiding citizens like criminals. Example: on 5 May, my girlfriend and I simply wanted to walk home from dinner up 2nd street but police were forcing pedestrians to detour all the way over to Market. There was no reason for this, as the crowd was behaving. The cops were just on a power trip.
I do admire Pierluigi quite a bit as he is one of the true civic leaders on our city council. He is not beholden to Reed. Instead of locking himself up in his mansion every night making casseroles while the downtown sinks further into economic irrelevancy, Oliverio goes out and works in the community.
Reed is an example of the darkness reaching out for the darkness and sooner or later, sooner I think, council members like Madison Nguyen will discover how Reed has already closed the book on her political career as it is the case of him or her. Oliverio, on the other hand, is a decider, while Chuck is a presider.
I’m usually bothered by the excessive police presence downtown but occasions like this do make ti necessary. I worry, though, that our zeal to control may eventually kill. How many times do we have to resurrect downtown? Let’s not repeat this cycle of luring and pushing away. If this out-of-town crowd has a good time and spreads the word that San Jose doesn’t actually suck (despite what SF thinks) then that’s only good for the city. They may tell their friends and perhaps that crowd will spend some dollars there. Even if they just add the the atmosphere, more and more will be drawn to check out the big event. We shouldn’t abort the plan just because it didn’t work right away.
#4, not sure what you’re snorting and am presuming you’re not serious but I don’t see much difference with DT being taken over by your so-called criminals and being taken over by vigilantes in the 30’s—other than the scary thought that the vigilantes were peoples’ neighbors and not transients. And anybody doing LSD isn’t bent on destroying anyone’s life but their own.
I completely agree that the advance hype mainly by the TV news airheads re: Mardi Gras only serves to perpetuate the problem. The thug-oriented radio stations should be taken to task by the City of SJ regarding the encouragement of their thug listening audience to invade SJ on Fat Tuesday.
Not remotely being an Al Pacino fan, that reference doesn’t instill a very attractive image but it sounds like the facial hair is serving a good purpose and perhaps making a point. Have fun with your new beard Pier. I’ve had some sort of facial hair for over 20 years and doubt I’ll ever go back to clean shaven again.
As long as the airport remains downtown you will attract very few quality residents. Current residents who would be an asset for downtown will grow discouraged and move. Some will become landlords and rent their property to anyone just so that they can make a dollar. This will further erode confidence in downtown as a viable place to live.
Until you move the airport to Hollister downtown is doomed.
Thanks once again, Pierluigi for being out in front with your thinking and your thoughtful dialog toward solutions.
I’m really happy to hear that as a councilmember you take the broader view of SJ and care about SJ downtown (which is not your district). While it’s so much easier to rest on one’s laurels and lament and complain, it takes a true leader and visionary to roll up their sleeves and get to work. I hope you’ll continue to be a role model for your constituents and citizens of San Jose. You’ve inspired me.
And thank you too for enjoying what downtown has to offer. Since I live downtown I can attest there’s a great variety of entertainment (I subscribe to the Opera myself) and fabulous eateries for all tastes (pun intented).
There are lovely public spaces to just hang out and people watch. We need more of these. Visual? The IMAX offers interesting movies; a nice change from the classic movie theatre offerings. Cinequest is right around the corner too…an opportunity to see some new talent at work.
I walked over to Zanattos this a.m. and saw the results of the San Jose Property Based Improvement District (PBID) at work—the beautiful planters filled with colorful flowers and cleaning crews cleaning up the streets.
San Pedro Square is always fun with it’s outdoor cafees, twinkling lights and Farmers Market.
It’s obvious some don’t feel as I do, but I hope they’ll reconsider and try downtown again. It’s come a long way and …who knows? they may get hooked.
Bar Owner is right. The porblem is that the media keep advertising as if there was still some huge Mardi Gras event in the streets. “Come on down to Mardi Gras” is repeated over and over again.
That night, I had two different couples ask me, “Where’s Mardi Gras?” They were walking around looking for it. I told them that hadn’t been an event for years, and they looked at me like I was crazy. “It’s all over the radio,” they said.
Facial hair is not good, unless you’re Hitler, Manson, Bin Laden, Stalin, Jesse James, Arafat, Lenin, Karl Marx, etc. Obama, Clinton, McCain don’t have facial hair. Donny Osmond, Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Al Gore don’t have facial hair.
Rowen, we all know you are a Reed hater, I’m hardly a fan either, but I honestly don’t think there is a single structure in Reed’s home district that qualifies as a “mansion.”
It is indeed a Happy New Year!
I just got a call from my fiancé, telling me that Mayor Reed and Madison Nguyen have finally seen the wisdom of allowing the community to name their own business district. This Wednesday, the Mayor and Council Member Nguyen will be bringing an item to the Rules Committee, asking the Council to rescind their vote on the Saigon Business District, and put it on the November ballot, so that the community can vote for the name they want. I think this is just awesome! Now THAT is the democratic process alive, at work, and well! I wish those of you in favor of the name Little Saigon well. I hope you finally get what you want!
By the way Pier, I just love beards. My fiance has one!
#14. I heard it on the radio this morning. It seems like a brilliant political move.
By putting the Little Saigon name to a city-wide vote the result will likely be an overwhelming “no” vote for that or any other name.
Reed and Nguyn can then say “They asked for a vote, they got it.”
As for the Little Saigon faction…they will have lost another vote. Given their deplorable politics I can’t say that I’d be sorry.
It is always nice to hear from the Reed fans, and if the Reed compound is not a mansion on a hill, I will personally stand next to Victor Ajlouny despite his bad breath.
Living in Reed’s home district I know for sure there are a few homes in the Berryessa hills that might qualify as mansions and he does live in the hills. Nonetheless I don’t know if I’d classify his residence as being one of those mansions.
#15- MC,
My hope is that this action is being taken to do the right thing for the people, and not as a political move. But, you just never know. Regardless of how the vote turns out, the damage has already been done. Both sides have credible points of view, and a vote by citizens will hopefully bring some kind of peace to this volatile situation. I do hope that people don’t vote no on the Little Saigon name just to spite the protesters though. There is much more involved, and at stake than just a name. I hope people will keep that in mind when voting.
#16- James,
Mayor Reed does live in a very expensive home in the hills, but I don’t think you could go so far as to call it a compound, or a mansion! By the way, lately I’ve noticed you’ve been on SJI a lot making personal attacks on a lot of people who are posting. SJI encourages people to share their thoughts and opinions on here, and hopefully we’re mature enough to be respectful of one another without personally attacking them. Do you think you might cool it a bit so we can exchange some civilized opinions on issues here? I’d appreciate it.
#15,
You are right. The “Little Saigon” supporters have lost, and their childish, immature antics have ensured that no more Vietnamese will be elected to the council. Nor will any Vietnamese specific items ever be approved.
Of course, after they lose the vote in November, expect the childish antics to start again.
#15- By the way, I hope the Council limits the vote to district 7 voters only. That is the only fair way to do this, in my personal opinion that is. The media has been pretty tough on the Little Saigon folks, so I do think people will vote no on the Little Saigon name out of spite. And that would be a real travesty and miscarriage of justice! :-(
Ms. Flynn, in kind gets in kind. I am not a fan of Chuck Reed, and I find it amusing when people who talked about my friend, and I am proud she is my friend. Cindy Chavez, and my former college buddy, Mike Potter, want us to be just peechy.
I can pull out a ton of postings from people on this site that attacked Cindy and Mike, and I will not introduce their kids, but yes, their kids too. Almost all of them are people you and other Reedites praised.
I have gotten slammed, and told by a former mayor who filled out two forms that he declared himself as a lobbyist, that he is not a lobbyist.
So, it is always ok with me to be the nice guy, but it seems you never wrote about people attacking husbands and children of council members, so make it comprehensive, and not just the people who are tired of hearing how Chuck Reed is an angel. George Green, even though Roger Wert in writing confirmed that I met with him, and though I have committee minutes confirming his vote for my appoinment claims I would not have anything to do with county district.
Again, you want a tea party, I will take it with two sugars, but look a little to your group,K?
As you did not read, I wrote with praise for Pierluigi, and the fact that Sam Liccardo refuses to even consider keeping a monument to RFK kept clean and decent does tend to make me steamed.
I’m inclined to vote NO on the business district. Even though the Council’s decision was in its own way equally as disrespectful as the tone of the public input, I don’t want this noisy group to think they can strong-arm their way into getting what they want. Who knows what they might demand next? And if I were the registrar, I’d be on the lookout for fraud if the makeup of the protesting group is any indication.
I would hope that only D-7 voters would get this option on their ballots. The rest of us really don’t care one way or the other, and likely rarely venture onto Story Road if we don’t have to.
Maybe mansion was the wrong word, since one of San Jose Magazine’s Top 300 lawyers did inform me that Reed was often ridiculed by the valley’s legal elite for his money grubbing. I also have found that many people have told me a lot of the bloggers that attacked Chavez did so out of a deep seated disdain for Latinos that permeates San Jose’s political factions.
James is right. The things he is saying about Reed are nothing compared to the vitriol that came out of this blog in 06 against Cindy Chavez.
23 – Give us all a break. The criticism of Chavez was because of her back-room deal making and her close ties to the ethically challenged Gonzales. It had NOTHING to do with her race, gender, or anything other than a dissatisfaction with how she did the city’s business.
Please don’t try to make a racial case where there isn’t one. K?
James,
It always disturbs me when people like you put people like me in a box just because I supported Chuck Reed for Mayor. Not everyone bashes opposing candidates. I happen to love Cindy to pieces as a person. I had a very hard time choosing whom to support for Mayor, and I told Cindy why I went with Chuck. I told her that I thought she’d make an awesome Board of Supervisor. I also offered to work on her BOS campaign if she decided to run. So stop preaching that if you support one you hate the other. That’s very immature. Cindy works with Chuck on issues; they’ve buried the hatchet, so should you. The kind of hatred that you spew is a waste of heath, and energy, and alienates people from wanting to get to know you, or wanting to hear your ideas.
Also James, I do not agree with everything Chuck does or says. Any one who blindly votes for a politician and closes their eyes and ears to the way they behave in office is either mentally retarded or living in the land of denial. There are no perfect human beings, and no one agrees with everything the other thinks, says, or does, but God James, give it a rest already. We get that you are an angry man who hates almost every body, and feels the need to bash them, but please, do that on your own blog so the rest of us can exchange ideas, and thoughts without you taking mean spirited swipes at everyone.
How dare Ms. Flynn declare herself the censor and the person who decides who everyone should behave. It demonstrates how people like her presume to tell everyone how to act, and what to say. It shows how this person just wants to tell everyone what to say, and how dare this person decide how we all must think and conform to her way of thinking. From now on, everyone start by declaring Ms. Flynn the thought police. What a limited and irrevelvant person, and Reed sychophant.
Flynn was made a member of the Chuck Reed transition committee and has frequently, as advisory committee members have told us, told people, “When Reed is attacked, I will go after the bums with everything.” So enough discussion with the Reedites. We told by good people in Berryessa what sychopant these Reedites are, one of them walked in Cindy’s precinct and even attacked her family’s reputation. and from what we told, it seems to be a blogger who just told us that the hatchet was buried.
Al Pacino? Give me a break!
Ms. Flynn
While you seem to want to correct everyone, please note that the term “awesome board of supervisor” is not correct at all. A person is not “a board.” If you would please use the correct grammar, I would appreciate it.
The message was the same in 1973 and repeated again in 1989, only in 1989 it became the title of the movie.
In 1973 Serpico`s stance was to do “the right thing”. The message was clear.
In 1989, the movie; “Do the Right Thing”, Spike Lee came through with the same message.
In 2008, Pierluigi is trying to get us to focus on the same idea. “Do the Right Thing”.
So people are expected to vote “no” on Little Saigon out of spite? What a great world in which we live…
#35- MC,
I agree that saying Madison is a Communist is wrong. I must admit I don’t understand that myself, but I would never use a vote to punish anyone, or group. The Vietnamese community has contributed a lot to San Jose. This whole thing is just sad.
I am concerned about a possible Brown Act violation. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
1. Ask Chuck while you are talking to Cindy and Mike about Victor Ajlouny, and also if you like we can also ask Chuck about Ric Callender and Armando Gomez.
2. Thanks for the free publicity.
3. Oh, how is a person a “board.” Cindy would have made an excellent supervisor, but “board of supervisor?” The board consists of individuals that are members of a board. Please, Kathleen, grammar is important.
#32…“So people are expected to vote “no” on Little Saigon out of spite?”
So what? When you put things like that on the ballot, people get to vote yes or no for WHATEVER REASON THEY WANT.
A little full of yourself, you look more like a dingy Beatnick with your beret.
#33
How dare those fiends call Hon Lien a communist! Why call her a communist when there were PLENTY of other things wrong with that Council loser. Mayor Tom, Mayor Chuck, and Vice Mayor Dave, what were you thinking when you made the endorsement on that D4 race?
#28- Everyone on this blog knows I was on the transition committee. I disclosed it myself a long time ago. I don’t know where you get your information from Rowen, but your quote about me is completely untrue. Try doing an advanced Google next time James, or give us a credible source where you got your info.
Next time I see cindy and Mike, I’ll ask them how they feel about the way you tear people up, in the name of defending her. I know her well enough to know, she wouldn’t approve.
And I DARE to ask you to stop attacking people on here because you are behaving like a spoiled child who is throwing temper tantrums on here to hurt innocent people, and to divert intelligent conversation back to you. That is very sad James. You can keep attacking me, and making false comments about things I supposedly said, or did, but that will not stop anyone on here from thinking you’re a cruel, angry person.
I did some checking on you myself, after I read the nasty things you’ve been saying to others on this blog. My you have quite a reputation James! I understand you were on the Democratic Central Committee, and were a delegate to the State Party several times. I also understand you are very well paid to dig up dirt for politicians running negative campaigns. I must say, you certainly do your job well, if half the nasty campaigns I’ve seen in the past few years employed you. So spew on James, I’ll just skip reading your posts in future~
#31- Thanks for the info; I didn’t know they had a finalized plan. Perhaps when it goes before council, they make some changes. You never know.
#32- If you look at the Merc today, read the blogs, people are promising to vote no, just to spite the Little Saigon supporters.
39: You should get really angry and vote with your heart, not your mind. That’s what our forefathers wanted, right? People are allowed to vote at 18 because it’s assumed that they’re mature enough to wield that power responsibly. As you show us, though, that’s not always the case.
“Stop the name calling, stop calling her a communist”. Do The Right Thing, she is an individual just like you and I and has the right to do what she believes is right. None of us are perfect.
Many on a previous blog considered he to be disrespectful because she was a woman and not respectful of her male elders. In the United States we have a culture developed that we are all equal regardless of your sex, and yes we should respect our elders, but…
Madison has a lot of good qualities even if you dis-agree with her.
I, for one, was happy that Fat Tuesday downtown was overshadowed by Super tuesday everywhere. I expected the media to at least cast half an eye on the downtown militia, but no go. I was able to get a good sleep with nary a police helicopter whirring overhead. Perhaps this ado about Mardi Gras downtown is coming to an end.
#37. It’s not a matter of “spite” so much as a matter of “right.”
I agree that the Vietnamese community has contributed much to our community. If you’ll recall that was why Madison proposed a Vietnamese Business District in the 1st place. However, once the issue got hijacked by Barry Do and his thugs it became impossible for me to support the name Little Saigon. I just can’t support gutter politics. So…the likely result will be the local Vietnamese will get none of the recognition Madison wanted to create. They will be able to thank Mr. Do for that.
On another matter: how many different names does Rowen use to post here? Is it multiple personality disorder or does he really think nobody’s figured him out?
#41- California Democrat,
I don’t believe in calling anyone a communist. I never have, and never will.
#45
That was a typo. It was meant for MC’s post on #35 but he was responding to your #33 so it threw me off.
#44
I have to agree. Although I live close to the area, I could care less what the shopping center chooses to call itself. However, it really is not any business of San Jose to be in the naming of privately owned enterprises, since it has to great a potential to create divisiveness. I guess the rule is San Jose cannot use eminent domain on private shopping centers, but it is okay to name them.
Anyway, the adopted name, Saigon Business District, seemed like a reasonable name since it reflects the Vietnamese community, and reflects the fact that it is a shopping center. There is a little bit for everyone in that name.
Then the insanity started. As others have said, the tantrums and outcry from the Little Saigon supporters has far exceeded any rational expectation for such a trivial issue. If these individuals were protesting the poor schools in their district, gangs in their district, over-crowded homes with multiple families in their district, airplane noise from flights to/from San Jose International, or any other number of “important” issues then, perhaps, their protests could be understood.
Yet, they chose to go berserk over a shopping center name, and the “Little Saigon” supporters have tried their best to accuse others of being communists, not following democratic ideals, and other nonsensical things for not supporting that name. They want things their way, and if they do not get it then everyone else is the villain.
Sorry. I cannot support government that is based on “tyranny by screaming”, so I will vote no.
#33. If people vote no “to spite the Little Saigon supporters” it’s only because of the deplorable tactics used by Barry Do and his band of hate babblers.
Smearing people as being “Communist” because they take an opposing view is in my view something that should not be rewarded. The same crowd did this with Hon Lein, now they’re doing it with Nguyn and Reed. Ask Rowen, he knows all about it.
Hey Rowen, nobody’s calling you a jerk because of the postings of last November. They’re calling you a jerk because of your postings over the last few days.
Try to keep up man!
#20: The Mayor & Madison’s proposal made today would be for a city-wide vote and I think that’s appropriate. The tax dollars that would be spent are all of San Jose’s, not just one neighborhood. Also the majority of San Jose’s Vietnamese population does not live along the three blocks of Story Road that are at issue here.
Besides, these yahoos have been demanding that “the people” vote on this. Now they’ve got their wish…
#44
Simply put this is a “political matter”, a Vietnamese-American political matter. Two V-A warring parties, out of control.
I believe the Mayor and the City Council should get out of the middle of it, give them the money and let them do with it as they wish ! This doesn`t deserve City wide attention. The City has bigger problems to figure out.
Write out the check, give it to them to solve the name. Enough is enough.
Pierluigi,
I asked a question last week in your blog,“Millions vs Billions”. February 9th, Item #56, we asked Sam Liccardo some questions that we are concerned about. SamLiccardo and Madison Nguyen are listed on the VTA website as the two people for our district to go to regarding traffic concerns.
Pierluigi. can we hear from Sam Liccardo on our concerns. Please reply.
I agree with Mr. Rowen, #27—let him rant to his black heart’s content. The more he rants, the more people he alienates. He’s like the SJ version of Le Pen. There will always be followers of vitriolic haters of everything; but the more we allow them to exercise their free speech rights, the smaller that pack may become.
And Kathleen, you gotta give him credit—he posts under his own name, unlike many of the posters here who claim a constitutional right to post anonymously, since they don’t have the cojones to spew their nonsense or vitriol or even their cogent thoughts and opinions under their true names. At least Rowen has a pair. I disagree with most of what Rowen spouts, but I have more respect for him as a person than I do for the “I have a right to post anonymously” cowards who post here, even if I agree with them.
Richard #48 said:“Write out the check, give it to them to solve the name. Enough is enough.” YOU give them YOUR check, Richard. I DON’T WANT A PENNY OF MY TAX $$ GOING TO THIS SILLY NON-ISSUE.
Talk about the tail wagging the dog—this entire hick town is being wagged over a cheesy little couple of blocks in D-7 that I’d bet at least 75% of SJ residents have never seen, unless from above while landing @ SJC.
Jesus, and all y’all wonder why this town gets no respect.
Harumph!!!!
The performance of the SJPD is nothing to brag about. Shutting down the entrances to the city and ghettoizing it simply because the SJPD lacks the skill and training to manage large crowds is pitiful.
Myself, my family and friends should not be prevented from getting to my home.
Not to mention the huge cost in gasolene because thousands are forced to wander around in their cars for hours in an attempt just to go home.
I think “FO” sums it up nicely.
David