Here at San Jose Inside, we feel well compensated by all the comments we get, so we feel no need to vote ourselves a raise.  I’m still bringing you the news in review at the same low price I was when we started this site.  Although, since I think of this column as art, I was gratified to read Mark de la Vina’s article in the Mercury that arts funding may be increased.  Art or not, here’s the rest of the news.

Why do we need the Coyote Valley?

The answer to this question is pivotal to the future of the city and a key to determining who the next mayor of San Jose will be.  Why indeed.  It seems that the reason for developing the virgin valley that was called into being to redress the historic imbalance that San Jose has in a tax base, i.e., the ability to provide quality services like police and fire and libraries and youth workers for our citizens, has been forgotten.

Today, the San Jose City Council could decide to raise their salaries.  It’ll be an interesting vote because five of ten councilmembers are likely to be in competitive races for higher offices next year.  No candidate likes to accept a raise.  I’ve seen polling on this.  It’s like putting a stick of dynamite in your pocket and handing your opponent matchsticks.

It is time for San Jose to grow up and make a decision, as a community, as to what iconic symbol should grace the northern end of Chavez Plaza.  Perhaps it is also time to revisit the southern end of the park, and the disappointing rendering of Quetzacotl.

“Granny Units” A Trademark Violation They Claim

In what most legal experts are calling a landmark test-case, the National Association of Mothers-in-Law (NAMinL) has filed suit in Superior Court over the city’s claim that the newly approved accessory housing units are “granny units.”

After reading all of the discussions about anonymous postings recently, I was tempted to not tell anyone my real identity when I wrote this column.  Then I remembered that it’s at the top of the page.  Oh well.

In Development 101 we discussed the great growth area of Evergreen. There are three others: the virgin Coyote Valley, North First Street’s rich industrial base, and our downtown.  What happens in each affects the other, but perhaps none so much as our spiritual, cultural and historic center of Downtown San Jose.

Let’s say you work at City Hall or the state house or the White House.  Let’s say you have a story that you know will get to the press soon and you’d prefer not a lot of people see or hear it.  Let’s say you’ve decided it’s better to give it to a reporter instead of having the story discovered.  You make the call to a daily reporter on Friday – a.k.a. “take out the trash day” in the world of press secretaries and communication directors.

This is your turn to discuss whatever topics you want to cover.

Thousands of Reports Said to be Mothballed for No Good Reason

An obscure room at City Hall that contained all of the reports commissioned by San Jose in its past, has collapsed and fallen through to the floor below under the sheer weight and volume of paper.

What a week it’s been.  I was happy to take last week off to please my readers, but it’s good to get back to the news.  So, away we go…

There are a number of critical decisions in the planning and development area that will be decided in the last year and a half of the Ron Gonzales’ administration.  Much has been written – including a blog by Councilman Dave Cortese yesterday – on the long term implications of growth in Evergreen.  It has been the area of tremendous action and political pressure in San Jose going back to the seventies.  Remember Willie Sutton’s comments on why he robbed banks.

By Guest Blogger Dave Cortese

Close your eyes and imagine one of the greatest public/private partnerships in San Jose’s history. A $3 billion package of housing, retail and jobs, parks, trails, open space, money for new schools and a new library spanning over 600 acres of true infill lands.

By Guest Blogger Alex Marthews

After a midnight vote at City Council last week, San Jose is slated to lose the finest of its historic canneries, Del Monte Plant #3. With this decision, we have all lost.

Developer to Transform Historic Mansion into Condos

Ignoring protests from the Preservation Action Council, the Planning Commission, the California State Preservation Group, and the National Historic Association, the city approved the transfer of the historic Winchester Mystery House to KB Homes for a luxury condominium development.

Sometimes we get good ideas from comments.  Sometimes we get them directly from readers sending us e-mails.  A handful of you asked us to reprint the Mayor Gonzales letter which the Mercury News just excerpted.  I’m happy to oblige since that means I don’t have to write much this week.