Neighborhoods of Distinction
Oct 15, 2007 by Pierluigi Oliverio Comments (43)
City Hall Diary
Early Saturday morning, October 6, I hosted a community meeting titled “Preserving Our Historic Neighborhoods: How to make your Neighborhood a Conservation Area.”
Many residents have been vocal about preserving not just their individual homes, but their entire neighborhoods as historic structures and/or areas. Therefore, the purpose of the forum was to empower and inform residents by giving them options for maintaining their neighborhoods’ character and ambiance.
High School Haunted House to Feature County Supervisors
Oct 12, 2007 by John McEnery IV Comments (6)
Politicians Will Take the Place of Mentally Ill
Just hours after the student body of Westmont High School announced that the theme of their annual Halloween haunted house would be the mentally ill, the National Alliance of Mental Health Professionals condemned the attraction as “insensitive” and put enough pressure on the school’s administration to force them to change it.
Updating the General Plan
Oct 11, 2007 by Jack Van Zandt Comments (17)
On Saturday morning, a public workshop will be held at City Hall to help determine what revisions need to be made to the city’s general plan for growth. An Envision San Jose 2040 Task Force has been assembled to review the plan and they are seeking public input to assist them in setting the agenda. Since many of us will find it difficult to attend the meeting on Saturday, I thought we might give our bloggers an opportunity to express their views on the matter here on San Jose Inside where they can be seen by the denizens of City Hall.
The Downtown Association: The Response?
Oct 10, 2007 by Tom McEnery Comments (64)
I received a good deal of feedback on my blog on the Downtown Association (DTA) last week. Most people were surprised at the lobbying efforts of “their” executive director in favor of clubs, many of those venues being very large and troublesome. Several people were, frankly, astonished. They held the simple, undeniable belief that unless everyone felt comfortable downtown during the evening hours, then the current policy was an immense failure. They echoed the established fact that our garages are unfriendly, unsafe and unusable to the vast majority of our citizens visiting downtown late or staying late.
Single Gal and the Blue Angels
Oct 9, 2007 by Single Gal Comments (20)
It has become a tradition with me to go with my friends to see the Blue Angels fly over San Francisco at the pinnacle of Fleet Week. This year I stood on a rooftop taking in the spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the city itself. The sight of the Blue Angels flying above me never seems to get old. The maneuvers, the speed and the beauty of these planes are really something to marvel at.
Coming To Your Community Soon: Neighborhood Traffic Calming Meetings
Oct 8, 2007 by Pierluigi Oliverio Comments (26)
City Hall Diary
A few months ago I wrote about the chronic problem of speeding in San Jose. My concern about this problem peaked when two parents were killed recently by a speeding driver while walking on Graystone Lane in Almaden Valley. At that time, I proposed that the City of San Jose review its traffic calming policy in an effort to update it so that it reflects the needs of residents today. For example, the current policy refers to using NASCOP (a photo radar device) that would take pictures of drivers in their cars as they sped by. Recently, NASCOP was ruled illegal by state courts, leaving a hole in our current policy.
New UCSC Chancellor Claims “Capital of Silicon Valley” Title
Oct 5, 2007 by John McEnery IV Comments (7)
San Jose Officials Livid: We Stole It Fair and Square
With the coming out party for new UCSC Chancellor George Blumenthal at the San Jose Museum of Art last week came the disturbing announcement that he was claiming the title “Capital of Silicon Valley” for his granola-munching campus by the coast.
Fixing the Mexican Heritage Plaza
Oct 4, 2007 by Jack Van Zandt Comments (29)
After my last column on the Mexican Heritage Plaza (MHP) a few months ago, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had missed something and things didn’t add up to some of the conclusions I reached at the time. I spent what time I could spare over the summer searching and researching the matter over the Internet and my hunches were confirmed by what I found.
Whither the Downtown Association
Oct 3, 2007 by Tom McEnery Comments (72)
Two questions are now biting at the heels of the Downtown Association and its Executive Director Scott Knies: namely, just who do they represent and what do they stand for at this critical time in downtown’s evolution? These are questions that must be answered. Although they certainly make an effort lobbying for light rail platforms and bus routes in a constant and pressing manner, on the more significant issues of downtown’s character and direction, they are in a dubious and contradictory position. Knies is a good man with a nagging identity problem. The top-heavy Downtown Association is an enigma at best. At worst, they are a lobbying arm for nightclubs and entertainment promoters. A choice is now necessary. Time is running out for them and the future of downtown.
Single Gal and What’s Right Under Our Noses
Oct 2, 2007 by Single Gal Comments (17)
Sometimes when you grow up in an area as beautiful as the Bay Area, there are many things that are right under our noses that we don’t notice. Maybe there are so many things to do that we don’t get a chance to uncover the gems that can be found in San Jose and the surrounding cities.
Mission Statement: This site is designed to encourage political debate, discussion and change in our city, started by people who value San Jose and are interested in her future and in this valley’s place in the state and nation.
Disclaimer: All views expressed on this site are solely the opinion of the individual writer.
Comment Policy: Please read our comment policy before posting.
© 2013 San Jose Inside. All rights reserved. Contact us
