Sometimes you get a moment of clarifying light in a public meeting. It is rare but not impossible. Such was the case in last week’s meeting between Police Chief Rob Davis and many residents and business owners.  There were three council members present: Cindy Chavez, Dave Cortese, and Chuck Reed.

I have to admit that I didn’t go to one Earthquakes game this year.  I like soccer, I support San Jose teams, but I didn’t make it to a single game. We support the Sharks even after a year-long lockout, but the majority of San Joseans bypass what is the most popular sport in the world.

Constant Disagreement Attracts Attention of TV Therapist

Just several hours after a decision by the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to cancel a scheduled meeting on long-range spending plans for the oft-threatened BART extension to Silicon Valley, VTA General Manager Michael Burns received a call from Dr Phil McGraw, inviting the entire VTA Board to a session on the therapist’s hit show.

The presence of police downtown is becoming more and more of an issue after the recent shootings.  Most people who live or work in central San Jose consider the presence of police officers in their neighborhoods to be an unmitigated positive. They are disciplined, courteous, respectful, and a deterrent to unpleasant occurrences—all in all, something that law-abiding citizens desire.

I have found the perfect place in San Jose for well-dressed, professional, hip people to congregate - a Sharks game!  Ladies, take that money you are paying to Match.com and buy some club-level Sharks tickets instead. For your benefit, here is a breakdown of the gene pool at the Tank:

Limited Time Offer Comes with Two Hours Free Parking

With cruising at an all time high downtown, Conditional Use Permits handed out like penicillin in a whorehouse, and gun battles taking place in front of nightclubs, the downtown business community has responded by implementing an aggressive program that will distribute free Taser stun guns for the defense and safety of those visiting downtown.

Last weekend there was a series of shootings downtown. Much of the problem is summed up by the comments of one of the men shot: “It’s part of the bargain,” said bouncer Noel “Jaws” Chavez.  Well, the bargain is now costing far too much.

Los Gatos, known for its Range Rovers and boutiques, has become a staple for the Single Gal and her friends. Recently, I went to the 180 Lounge, and when I walked in, I was stunned. Was this actually the old Los Gatos Bar and Grill?  Where were those drunk guys from high school that I used to hide from? Instead, there was smoky glass, bamboo, lounge chairs, dim lighting, and a woman in a box.

Outsourcing to India Will Privatize and Streamline Process

In a surprise email that arrived two days late because of a website blackout during the City Hall grand opening, department heads were informed that the issuing of all city building permits was to be outsourced and moved overseas to India.

In the last election there were 153 congressional and legislative districts on the ballot. The results were 153-0 in favor of the incumbent Democrat or Republican. This was certainly not the system that our founders had in mind. As John McCain has said, “You have more of a chance of being replaced in the Politburo in Havana than the United States Congress.”

By Guest Blogger Rich Robinson

Why do local politicians run for office?  It is a thankless job.  Mediocre pay, high stress, long hours and a seemingly ungrateful constituency combine to make a job at NorCal picking-up garbage seem uncommonly pleasant.

OK, I am sorry!  I take it all back!  What did I mean when I said that downtown has cool places to go and no one to go there?  After the Sharks game on Saturday night, some friends and I decided to go out downtown for some drinks.  One friend said he wanted a place where we could sit down, talk and have a cocktail - not a place with loud music and shouting.  (I swear, he’s not 80).  So we decided to head to The Loft, a new, hip restaurant/bar on Second Street.  But as they say, getting there is half the adventure.  I have never seen more cars on Santa Clara Street in my life.  It was a parking lot. But the question that kept reverberating in my head was “Where are these people going?”

Art, Antiques, and Yu-Gi-Oh Cards Found in Break Room

Just days after councilwoman Nora Campos’ chief of staff turned herself in to authorities in connection with the disappearance of a briefcase, FBI agents made a routine inspection of all city hall offices and found several million dollars worth of stolen booty.

Most of the time we can forget the madcap antics of our legislature in Sacramento and just do our work, live our lives, and take care of our families.  Yet it is imperative that we always remember the importance of the actions that they take in our Capitol; once in a while they are absolutely devastating in the damage that they do to us.  Such is the case in their recent actions regarding sex offenders in our midst.

After serving as Bill Clinton’s chief of staff, Leon Panetta taught a course at Santa Clara University, his alma mater, about the White House.  In early 1999, I met with Panetta to get his advice on how to organize an executive level political operation since I was running a mayor’s office.  He told me something I never quite fully understood then:  he never used e-mail.

So I decided that instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself,  maybe I should come up with ideas for San Jose to make it better.  It seems that it doesn’t matter if you are living in a married or single hell-of-your-own-making, we all generally want the same thing: a cool, hip city that gives us plenty to do and to be proud of. And let’s face it, just thinking about a cool idea would give me a leg up on most people at City Hall.