As I watch the discussion and debate about the new policy for increasing the allowable uses in North San Jose and the creation of the “new town” in Coyote Valley, it reminds me of the old carnival shell game – switch them around and find the real downtown. These developments may or may not be in the best interest of our citizens, but the final decisions on them will inform much of our future evolution and possibly elect the next mayor.

You take lethargic leadership, add uninspired vision, mix with low key personality, and throw in a couple city hall ethics scandals.  Then, you stir with an election.  What do you get:  a mayor on the verge of losing his job.

“We CAN Carry San Francisco’s Jock!” Thousands Chant

In response to the debate regarding San Jose’s “greatness,” started by sanjoseinside.com bloggers and picked up by the San Jose Mercury News tens of thousands of people gathered at Taco Bell on Bascom Ave. to dispel the rumors of the city’s inadequacies.

I took my semi-regular turn on the Ronn Owens show on KGO yesterday, and along with the usual talk of the Sharks, BART, and various other San Jose issues, the suitability of the San Jose motto reared its dubious head.

The last time the founder of Craig’s List visited San Jose was over 2 years ago to attend a science fiction convention.  Conclusion:  if San Franciscan Craig Newmark won’t drive an hour South more frequently than that, we need more things to do in San Jose to attract nerds.  Note to Convention Center boss Dan Fenton:  call the Star Trek convention organizers.

It seems that many people enjoy discussing the relative merits of San Jose as a city of significance. While I personally dislike the word, “great” and never used it in my time as Mayor, I’ll play along for a while.

Too Busy Dealing With Goat Ordinance

VTA Board of Directors Alternate and Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy offered up a rare apology after verbally assaulting the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group over a letter they sent urging his support for the Silicon Valley BART extension.

It is always a good thing to step back from the fray – and the madness of crowds or media – and look at the place where we live.

Governing Magazine just published a management report card on the fifty states.  For California, there’s good news and bad news.  First, the bad news:  we get a C minus—tied with Alabama for worst in the class.  Now, the good news: when we order double lattes at Starbucks in this state, we don’t get asked, “shall I leave some room for grits?” Joking aside, this is not a report card you want to bring home to mom and dad, Governor Schwarzenegger.

Temporary Stadium Proposed

During a press conference late Thursday night, a mere week after his State of the City Speech, Mayor Gonzales finally released details for his plan to bring Major League Baseball to San Jose.

There are a few key things to be done if baseball is to become a reality in our City.

If we really want the A’s playing ball in San Jose, we should put the right people at the table – not Bud Selig, the Commissioner who counts votes before acting; not Peter Magowan, the Giants owner who thinks the Giants territory was part of the original Spanish land grants.  Instead, we take the general managers, the A’s Billy Beane and the Giant’s Brian Sabean, and lock them in a room with enough food for 72 hours.  If we’re nice, we give them bathroom breaks. 

It is wonderful to dream—one of the freest and most enjoyable things in life.  Yet, dreams can be destructive and deflating if they substitute obsession, cant, or hype for reality. Dreams must not become your master.

Lack Of “City” Status Won’t Be A Stumbling Block Says CEO

By announcing its intention of bringing the 2012 Summer Games to its regional shopping center, Santana Row has threatened to make downtown San Jose “redundant.”  Federal Realty CEO Donald Wood, the parent company of Santana Row, said that if their bid is successful against major cities such as Milan, Hamburg, St. Petersburg, San Diego and Tel Aviv, then downtown “should just fold up its tent.”

It is always a good question to ponder: where do you find the state of the City?  I think it is fair to say that it sometimes can be found in the rhetoric of the Mayor.  That person can often synthesize and verbalize the hopes and aspirations and dreams of the people of San Jose. It is a wonderful thing to watch, just as it is on the national level – when it connects.

Attention, San Jose:  there’s no time to waste.  Buy extra bottled water, soda and beer. Keep plenty of snacks on hand. Check flashlights and batteries.  Pay your cable bill.  It’s time for Ron Gonzales to deliver the State of the City address.