By the intensity of the attacks on me from certain quarters, I am happy to note that the cult of lobbyists and yes men and women that inhabit the political basement of our City are feeling a bit of heat.  The insiders that so enjoy the Monday Night Live frolic are scheming for ways to deflect some of the attention. Not a chance.  Imagine selling mentions in the show, from Calpine to Coyote, Divco to DeRollo, for contributions.  Perhaps next will be a sponsorship of the City Council meetings - a sad sight.

When Oscar Wilde wrote of foxhunting and called it “the pursuit of the uneatable by the unthinkable,” he might have had a glimpse into San Jose’s future.  There is a showcasing of local politicians tonight called Monday Night Live and it is an interesting spectacle.  It has an honorable pedigree – the local media, spearheaded by the Mercury scribes, had for years skewered and parodied politicians, aping the Washington Gridiron Dinner with a version of their own. They were brutal, cutting and, quite often, very funny.  I often commented that if that was the level of their everyday writing, the Mercury would have a shelf of Pulitzers. The edict to afflict the powerful was fully met year after year.

No One Wants to Serve During “Reign of Ethical Lapses”

Both of the finalists in the District 7 general election to replace disgraced former-councilman Terry Gregory have decided to drop out of the race for fear of losing their ethical compasses.

There are some at City Hall that seem to think that not getting caught in a lie is the same as telling the truth. Such fine distinctions seem to be very much in vogue these days - from top management to the Council Chambers - from Cisco to Norcal to the Coyote Valley, there is much sophistry. Special investigators and grand juries and DA’s are now the staple of almost every story out of City Hall.

Some people are calling it garbage-gate.  Others say it’s Gonzales-gate.  I’ve even heard a few call it Guerra-gate.  Investigations and alliteration are popular at City Hall these days.

Previous Forecast of Tropical Storm Wrecked by Grand Jury Report

The National Weather Service, which has been closely tracking the violations of good and decent government by the Gonzales administration, has finally been forced to upgrade their forecasts from tropical storm to hurricane.  The change over the previous status was caused by “exponentially intensified pressure” by the latest grand jury allegations.

It is never too late to make the right decision.  Only fifty years after our city leaders opted out of the heart of our community and moved our government to North First Street—they’re back!  Well, they are nearly back. A big move is underway and a new era is dawning. The problem is packing up a half century of files, reports, and compact some largely unlamented errors in judgment and move them a couple of miles to their new home on East Santa Clara Street.  It is high time that it happened.

Yesterday, Governor Schwarzenegger announced a special election for November, 2005.  Since it’s an off year event, it will cost California taxpayers somewhere between $45 and $80 million.  That’s a lot of dough – enough to furnish a new San Jose City Hall.

Some years ago in the mid-eighties, the Mercury News and associated media types used to put on a local Gridiron show poking fun at the local politicians, exhibiting some good writing, and punishing us with some bad singing and horrible acting.  Many of us wondered why they saved all their excellence in writing for this show and seldom flashed it in the paper.

Business Leader’s Job Move Called Bold, Surprising by Al-Jazeera

In what is being called a first in the lingering war in Iraq, aggressive insurgents temporarily laid down their guns and rocks, and vowed to stop all torture and executions in observation of the departure of San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce chief Jim Cunneen.

The campaign for mayor is getting into full swing with several crises and a set of pronouncements from the aspirants for the job.  The main topic is one that has preoccupied the press and alternately paralyzed, polarized, and pushed the City Council into action – lobbyists.  The questions have revolved around who they are and what influence and ties they have to the Mayor and Council. This crisis can be easily avoided.

Today, County Supervisors will name the County Government Center’s courtyard after Jim McEntee. (link)  It’s an appropriate tribute to a great person. 

Well, it seems like it is time for action.  All the votes are in and the campaign is over.  Let’s get on with it.  The “it” is a decision to honor the history of our City, and those who have made it, in a suitable and respectful way.

Effort Aimed at Staying Competitive

In a unique effort to market the downtown against all foes foreign, domestic, or Santana Row-like, the Convention and Visitors Bureau has kicked off it’s Clean Up and Smell Well campaign that is centered around making the downtown smell like a new car.

It is time to look at the City as a whole and think of how it can be reconfigured and improved.  Of course, there can be a look again at some hallowed tenets of sound growth and planning for our future. To what extent do they continue to serve us well?  Additionally, we can try to imagine new and innovative ideas as well, that can lead us into the brave new world of the twenty-first century.

We had guests from my wife’s hometown of Baltimore visit us this weekend.  We did the standard tour:  San Jose, San Francisco, and Monterey.  While our visitors enjoyed all three cities, their photo journal of this trip will disproportionately feature locales to the North and South.  San Jose is just not a “post card” city.