Breadth of Experience Tips Scales to Despot

Immediately following the controversial appointment of City Manager Del Borgsdorf as Chairman of the Board of United Way Silicon Valley, the Board made what headhunters are calling a “coup” by hiring former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, as president.

I have a modest suggestion for our city manager.  (No, not that one. That one should come from his bosses on the San Jose City Council.)  This one is genuinely intended to help rectify some of the immediate problems at City Hall. It is comprised of four words: concentrate on your job.

I’m the proud father of a fourth grader and first grader.  Yesterday, I took both of them to school.  As they are just beginning their educational journey, I think it appropriate that I share the things I’ve learned about the importance of a good education.  It might be helpful to San Jose Inside readers, too.

“Holdouts and Scoundrels” Delaying Complete Pullout

As the city of San Jose celebrates a smooth withdrawal of her bureaucratic settlements from the old First Street homeland, certain officials were warning of the potential for a violent finale with holdouts made up of zealous civil servants encamped in makeshift cubicles.

There have been a number of questions since San Jose adopted the title of “Capital of Silicon Valley” in the eighties.  Some say we were undeserving or that we just assumed the title. There was truth to both accusations. I like to quote the words of our late and unlamented Senator, S.I. Hayakawa, who, when roused from his slumber during the debate over the return of the Panama Canal, shouted out: “Give it back? Hell, we stole it fair and square!”  It was a pithy, accurate comment, analogous to the current situation with WiFi in our city.

Here’s the candid situation:  if you talk to local business leaders, they will tell you they’re concerned that the scandals will hurt the city’s ability to attract business.  Many civic leaders wonder how quickly the city’s once outstanding national reputation for good government will be regained, if at all.  Everyone it seems is counting on a new mayor to put the city on the road to recovery.

Without Any Accomplishments, The Supes Are Left With No Choice In Effort To Win Back Interest

In what is being regarded as an unprecedented marketing move, the County Supervisors have voted with their pom-poms and decided to “put the romance back into county politics” by announcing several unique giveaways, gimmicks and special events in a desperate attempt to interest anyone in what they are doing.

As I read the weekend paper, it was so apparent, once again, that those who do not remember history are condemned to see it repeated on the front page of the paper.  They will suffer the consequences of failing to act on known information.  Such is the case in the controversy over Watson Park, once the site of a garbage dump and a 125 foot incinerator that was in use until the 1930s. It is now the location of Empire Gardens School, a popular park,  soccer field, and community garden, and much is – or was – planned for this beautiful neighborhood at the end of Jackson and Empire Streets on Coyote Creek.

Roving Band of Conquistadors Celebrate Early Victory In Naming Rights Battle

On the heels of the NCAA’s ruling that bans the use of American Indian mascots by college sports teams, a tiny band of Spanish Conquistadors has filed an injunction in County Superior Court to keep San Jose from using the title “Capital of Silicon Valley.” 

Yesterday was the first meeting of the city council in the new chambers on East Santa Clara Street.  It was an historic day. The new building is one that evokes much thought.

This scandal doesn’t involve Ron Gonzales or Joe Guerra.  There’s no IT director or cost overruns or grand jury or even a garbage company in the story.  It’s hard to imagine, but yes it happened in San Jose.

Mosquitoes Face Total Annihilation Against “Smart” Swatters

After a 69% vote that overwhelmingly approved an increase in fees to fund the fight against mosquitoes that carry and spread the West Nile disease, Santa Clara County Vector Control launched its War on Itching by vowing to eradicate mosquitoes “cell by cell.”

There has been a good deal of discussion and debate in the community and on this site concerning the relative powers of the mayor and the meaning of the City Charter in the specific areas of Mayoral power.  Being intimately involved in the Measure J changes that the citizens adopted in 1986, two things are clear: people wanted a strong, effective leader in the mayor and, secondly, imperative in the proper functioning of the city was a strong and independent city manager.

A long, long time ago, the Mayor, City Council, and top city staff spent a day together discussing ethics.  It was January 27, 2005 – the neo Grand Jury Report era.

Mayor’s Aide Says NASA Is To Blame

In another startling revelation, Mayor Gonzales’s policy director, Joe Guerra, admitted that sometime during one of the mayor’s early crises, high level staffers in the administration reached out to NASA for help.

A few weeks ago I wrote that the current people at City Hall could not tell the difference between telling the truth and not getting caught in a lie.  I wonder what was going on in their minds as they savaged the grand jury’s report. Did they not know what they were risking?