The events of the last few years in municipal affairs have caused me great unease. It is now time for me and those who care about the direction of our city to speak out, for we have held our peace too long.

It is a common cliché that a city’s downtown is its heart and soul.  Having lived and worked in downtown San Jose all of my life, it is also my belief.  Our downtown, like all others, is the cultural, social, and entertainment hub for a larger region and serves its neighborhoods as the city’s largest park.

You see the trees better when you’re not in the forest.  I don’t know if someone said that, but someone should have.

Anyway, that’s the way I feel about San Jose City Hall.  I left four years ago - close enough to have understanding, but far enough to have perspective.

When in the course of human events… No that’s been used before. I also dismissed two score and two years ago. I dislike alliteration.

This is the beginning of San Jose Inside. I expect and hope that it will become one of the premier places for those of us who care about San Jose and our Valley to exchange ideas, explore new directions, and ruminate about the future.