County Entices Wolff to Develop Fairgrounds
Mar 30, 2007 by John McEnery IV Comments (19)
A’s Owner Given Mitchell Block, Iraq, and Rights to Develop Synthetic Life Forms in Exchange
In a brilliant move that will get Supervisor Blanca Alvarado’s long-stalled and litigious legacy project at the county fairgrounds back on track, A’s owner and real estate magnate Lew Wolff has agreed to tackle the deteriorating morass in exchange for a vacant block of downtown property, a war-ravaged country and the potential to own a new species.
Tillman Victim of Political Culture of Deceit
Mar 29, 2007 by Jack Van Zandt Comments (51)
Like everyone else in San Jose, I have been following the controversy over the government’s mishandling of the friendly-fire killing of local football hero Pat Tillman with mounting incredulity. If a family with the profile and PR horsepower of the Tillmans can’t get the truth from the government, think what it must be like for the 3,300 other families of dead American soldiers. Will the exposure of the lies told to the Tillman family have any effect on the rest of America, sitting in front of our radio and TV newscasts that endlessly repeat the talking points of the White House and Pentagon snow jobs that pass for information these days?
VTA: The Great Audit
Mar 28, 2007 by Tom McEnery Comments (21)
Part I
The organizational audit for the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) presents a picture neither unexpected nor unwarranted. It clearly exposes that not only does the emperor have no clothes, but he may not even be the emperor.
Single Gal and March MADNESS, Baby!
Mar 27, 2007 by Single Gal Comments (15)
I always feel like we are so lucky to have events like Sweet Sixteen and Elite 8 in our town. However, it’s interesting to note that as each event comes and goes, there are those who love every minute and naysayers who react negatively about our city as a result.
Potholes and Soccer Goals II
Mar 26, 2007 by Pete Campbell Comments (59)
To Whom Do The City’s Entitlements Belong?
Last week, I argued that providing for the construction of a new stadium through the use of city entitlements is a course of action that should be approved by a vote of the people. If the city council can facilitate a deal that generates $80-90 million to fund a stadium, why can’t they do a similar deal to fix the city’s streets and parks? The City of San Jose has a street resurfacing backlog list of some 300 miles. How many miles do you suppose will be taken off that list this year given the city’s $16 million budget deficit?
San Jose’s Mystery Donor Shows Up on Southern Illinois Bench
Mar 23, 2007 by John McEnery IV Comments (7)
Loss Directly Attributable to Lack of Play Book
Larry Emilio Maschino has struck again. The mysterious man who posed as a rich, generous patron of the arts promising to lavish the community with millions in donations, ended up on the bench of the Southern Illinois Saluki basketball team posing as their head coach in a close loss to the Kansas Jayhawks.
The Practical Value of Arts Education
Mar 22, 2007 by Jack Van Zandt Comments (11)
It comes as no surprise that a recent survey conducted by Menlo Park think tank SRI International found that 89 percent of California’s schools do not meet state standards for arts education. Most of them, including the schools in the San Jose Unified School District, don’t even come close. While the immediate problem is a woeful lack of funding—a pitiful $15 per student annually at present—the underlying problem is that many parents and those who administer the state’s school system lack an understanding of the merits of a comprehensive arts education program.
Small Wonders and Big Requests
Mar 21, 2007 by Tom McEnery Comments (54)
There was a strange and bizarre convergence of issues at the San Jose City Council this week. On the one hand, there was the 1stACT Silicon Valley presentation of proposals for downtown—large and small items that included expanding the Convention Center, building a baseball stadium and 21st century light tower, and creating more Guadalupe River trails, as well as fountains and quiet spots that are a treasure to any city. They accurately presented them as big projects and “small wonders.” A key man behind this was the Adobe CEO, Bruce Chizen, as good a friend as downtown dreamers have had in a long while, and the main presenter was Connie Martinez of the Children’s Discovery Museum. The finances were unspoken, but the vision was impressive. It is a wonderful look at what might be.
Single Gal and Taking the Country by Storm
Mar 20, 2007 by Single Gal Comments (38)
I thought I would take the discussion up a notch to the national level and talk about Barack Obama. He is really taking the country by storm, and it’s beyond refreshing to see. When is the last time you remember someone exciting the country like this?
Potholes and Soccer Goals
Mar 19, 2007 by Pete Campbell Comments (44)
Soccer Stadium Should Be Put to a Vote
On March 9th, the SF Chronicle reported that developer Lew Wolff is moving closer to a deal with the city and San Jose State that would bring a new soccer/football stadium to San Jose.
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
