Remembrance of Sins Past

Posted by Tom McEnery on Wednesday, July 02, 2008

You can only wonder when the sins of the last decade will stop visiting themselves on the people of San Jose. We saw it again late last week when a jury awarded $851,000 to the three businessmen who were injured in a notorious email that originated from then-Mayor Ron Gonzales’ office in the middle of the failed attempt to take over the Tropicana Shopping Center some six years ago. 

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Last Council Meeting Before Summer Break

Posted by Tom McEnery on Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The last San Jose City Council meeting before the summer break has occurred and it was a very long one.  Many things happened in that session and there was an equally long list of items that seemed innocuous (some even incomprehensible), but progress was served. Yet, there were a few items that really should be highlighted.

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It’s Time for Action Downtown

Posted by Tom McEnery on Wednesday, June 18, 2008

We are getting ample proof that the “thugocracy” that has been created with the proliferation of nightclubs is finally destroying the hopes for a real downtown. With the closing time near-riot early last Sunday morning, it is becoming painfully clear that we cannot have a growing and prospering downtown of residents and small business entrepreneurs as long as these raucous nightclubs and out-of-control bars continue to operate. It is turning ugly and this ugliness is killing the hopes and dreams of generations of hard working San Joseans for their downtown.

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The Election Aftermath

Posted by Tom McEnery on Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Usually after elections, there must be the counting (and sometimes recounting), and the obligatory, if not always enlightening, analysis.  With the end of last week’s battles, there are two salient facts beyond debate. First, the fight over “Little Saigon” was traumatic for the city and more so for the hopes of Vietnamese-American candidates.  And second, the attempts of the Democratic establishment to boost and support candidates that would be solidly in their camp failed miserably with the crushing of Craig Mann in the Evergreen district. 

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The Day After

Posted by Tom McEnery on Wednesday, June 04, 2008

The election is over and the citizens are safe for a brief respite before the clamor and cacophony of the General Election.  There are things even more important than the fate of professional football at stake—like the future direction of the City of San Jose and the County of Santa Clara—that will be set in some significant and perhaps unchangeable ways. 

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