For those of you awaiting the search for the “most despicable” in San Jose, you will have to wait a bit longer.  The nominations are still open. Due to the heavy traffic Price Waterhouse is computing the votes as quickly as possible.

Vows To Kill Pestilent Mosquitoes Himself

In a rare, selfless act by an elected official not involved in a political race, County Supervisor Jim Beall has vowed to single-handily stop the spread of the West Nile virus by killing the pestilent mosquitoes, “one by one, house by house, block by block.”  This would put to rest the controversy surrounding the County’s Vector Control direct-mail voting campaign to increase assessments in order to fund future efforts to search for and destroy the disease spreading insects.

Last week’s column showed that there must be a rationale for accelerated development in Coyote Valley.  With all of the quality-of-life issues involved, a case must be made proving conclusively that such dramatic action is warranted. So far no such proof has been shown. Council members and the Mayor’s office simply must not abandon the solid reasoning of the past three decades.

If it’s Sunday morning, it’s cartoon time around our house.  But this past weekend, I wrestled control of the television from my kids to watch Howard Dean on Meet the Press.  They like Dean and once brought him chocolate chip cookies when we were working in my downtown San Jose office.  But they weren’t sticking around for the show.  Maybe if he screamed, they would have.

Well it seems that the jury is in on the placement of statues in Chavez Plaza and the results are clear:  Quetzalcotl is appreciated by practically no one; many would like to see Cesar Chavez honored in the historic plaza that bears his name.  St. Joseph might also be a fine choice, but some are concerned that a Christian saint is too controversial, unlike the Aztec god – unfathomable but accurate

Unsubstantiated Claim Includes Flushing General Plan Down Toilet

A shocking story in this week’s Metro Newspaper reported that an unnamed source witnessed Mayor Ron Gonzales in a Koran-copycat-type desecration of San Jose’s most hallowed planning document – the General Plan.  This has left neighborhood groups incensed, calling for the swiftest of inquiries and the stiffest of punishments.

It is interesting that the words of a past mayor now seem to carry so much weight in the opening decade of the 21st century. Yet these words uttered by Janet Gray Hayes nearly thirty years ago reverberate now as never before: “Let’s make San Jose better before we make it bigger.”

If you want to analyze how something modern fits within the grand sweep of American history, pose the question and use a Founding Father.  If you want to suggest that democracy and freedom are at stake, use Thomas Jefferson.  Even if it’s a pretentious effort, it’s an excellent way to rebut Larry Stone.

It seems like there are a number of good ideas on how to get our public art program back on a firm historical track. As expected, we have the usual divergence of opinions on Quetzacotl and his/her/its relative worth.  Some wish it melted down or given back; others hope to use it as object d’art discussion.  Both suggestions have merit.

11th Largest City Loses To 227th Largest City

In the wake of EBay’s sneaky abandonment of San Jose as its party headquarters, Mayor Ron Gonzales has admitted that maybe the erecting of tents as a convention center to lure San Jose’s high-tech darling was not such a good idea.

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.”

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.