Standing Room Only

Last week at the Rules committee, there was a standing- room-only crowd to support our request to use $1.9 million to fund the citywide school crossing guard program on a temporary basis (three fiscal years) out of the $9 million the City receives from the tobacco settlement monies.

The reasoning for this request is that the 60-year-old crossing guard program should not be eliminated, as has been suggested, to balance the budget.

This issue brought out five school superintendents, two principals, three elected board trustees, crossing guards, police personnel, and numerous parents from neighborhoods such as Almaden Valley, Cambrian and Santa Teresa.
 
These supporters spoke in favor of our request, and the need to make hard choices, for nearly a hour. The Franklin-McKinley Superintendent shared that crossing guards were more then people trained to assist pedestrians crossing busy streets; he stated that crossing guards are watchful eyes for the children when it comes to outside influences. He continued by explaining that he is on the Mayor’s Gang Task Force, and that crossing guards look out for children as they walk to school to make sure they are not approached by gang members.  Definitely a good point that pertains to our entire city, but especially the greater Downtown neighborhoods and the East Side. There will be more to come on this issue so stay tuned.

On another note, the council accepted the mid-year budget cuts last Tuesday. We were short $9 million—which is the same amount as the HNVF/tobacco money. Items that will directly affect service to taxpayers that took the axe included proposals to eliminate all money from the traffic-calming budget, to start turning off street lights in non residential areas, to reduce grants to fix homeowners sidewalks, and to eliminate the street maintenance and repair reserve fund.

Jennifer Maguire, the City’s budget director, shared that the city is forecasting that we will be short an additional $6 million on revenues, which could push our budget deficit as high as $71 million by June. The big number comes out in March when we get an update on our sales tax revenue.

The same meeting also discussed the results from the citywide survey which was conducted by a consultant that included 500 San Jose residents. Half of those surveyed were “likely voters” and the other half were picked from a random computer-generated list.  I asked that we try to expand the survey to 1,000 residents to make it a bit broader, since the cost of expanding the survey is incremental.  Also, when we are asking questions about the city I think we should only ask likely voters since they actually took the time to vote.

At least two-thirds of residents found the following potential reductions in city spending “somewhat” or “completely” acceptable to cut:
• Reducing the size of pay increases for city employees (79 percent)
• Reducing funds for recruiting, training and recognizing city employees (73 percent)
• Reducing branch library hours by one day per week (70 percent)
• Closing some city pools and aquatics centers (67 percent)
• Reducing maintenance of city buildings (67 percent)
• Reducing the size of benefit packages provided by city employees (66 percent)

On raising revenue:
• 78 percent supported selling old City Hall
• 76 percent supported selling advertising on city owned property
• 73 percent supported selling city owned golf courses
• 60 percent supported selling the Hayes Mansion.

Do these results match your opinions?

 

23 Comments

  1. Thank you Pierluigi and Mr Constant for supporting the basics like crossing guards.  If it was me I would take all the tobacco money and spend it on the basics like crossing guards and street paving.

    On the the survey I have to say I agree with the answers. I do not get lifetime medical and have to save money to pay for my future medical expenses. Time to reduce benefit packages for city employees.

  2. Just goes to show that education can turn out folks for government meetings, while non-profits aren’t nearly as well organized. It’s a sad commentary on playing politics in San Jose.

    At the mayor’s neighborhood leaders budget meeting, the Mayor commented to us that it was good to see people participating, because the only people who showed up at council meetings are special interests. “Normal” citizens & taxpayers seldom appeared (except as part of a special interest group, ironically). Someone suggested that we needed a taxpayers union, or some such organization, to protect our interests.

    I’ve thought about that long & hard, and concluded that we shouldn’t have to show up because we have elected officials who we (perhaps mistakenly) believe are our “representatives.” I expect my representative to make decisions on my behalf, watching out for my best interests.

    I, for one, find it hard to believe that the transfer of funds will be “temporary.” In three years, something else will no doubt need $1.9M. I predict that within 5 years, the HNVF will be no more…sadly.

  3. Pierluigi,
    Glad to hear we won’t be losing crossing guards! I see that the City is entertaining a lot of cuts, but where is the discussion on creating revenue?

    I have seen some awesome suggestions right here on SJI. What about paid tours up to Mt. Hamilton to see the snow, or go to the Observatory? Put a City owned hostel, or hotel up there, or a good eatery. It can be billed as a romantic or family get a way! Other cities do it!
    What about City sponsored pet fairs at the community centers, vendors can pay a fee to sell animal products, and animal training courses! The City can sponsor an animal shelter day, let people pay for their dog licenses, get shots etc. right there at the community center. Let seniors and children groups use the event to make money by selling candy, crafts etc.

    What about having the City sponsor a classic car show? Block off the street, let people show their cars, and do it near restaurants and stores in DT. That would generate tax revenues!
    My point is this; why not find ways to get people back to work, help small business, rather than looking at ways to CUT everything? We have a City of very talented people who could come up with a million ways to make money, and fund core services.  We don’t need to hold costly extravagant events to accomplish this. We just need down to earth people with a sense of civic pride, not over paid consultants who don’t even live here to tell us what would work best in getting more tax revenue.

  4. Pat,

    You would assume that my council rep would vote the way residents would like. Sadly my rep as most of the council votes what the union want. I do not attend council meetings but rather live my life regardless what government does.
    On this topic of crossing guards and non-profits I could care less about the non-profits as they should privately raise money for their endeavors however I do not expect to privately raise money for crossing guards.

    The recession has lowered my income therefore we have cut back on expenses among them my charitable donations. However I must pay my mortgage, food, utilities etc…Government should do the same and cover the basics.

    Oliverio: Sell Old City Hall, Los Lagos and the Hayes Mansion

  5. I guess I’m curious about a glaring oversight in the survey recommendations.  I would have guessed that a great number of respondents would have suggested a meaningful number of layoffs. 

    Last I looked, the City plan was to layoff 18 employees… I nearly choked on my coffee when I saw that!  Eighteen out of 7500 is a “rounding error” and does nearly nothing to eliminate a 70 million dollar deficit.  Oh, I get it – the survey was pre-printed and that was not one of the options.  Gosh, how silly of me to make that mistake! 

    As for 78% of respondents agreeing that selling the old city hall is a grand idea, I’d suggest moving the employees back into it and selling the new city hall.

  6. Mr. Waite opined:“I’ve thought about that long & hard, and concluded that we shouldn’t have to show up because we have elected officials who we (perhaps mistakenly) believe are our “representatives.” I expect my representative to make decisions on my behalf, watching out for my best interests.”

    So, how are they to know what your interest are—ESP?

  7. Pier –

    Going with Kathleen’s idea of “We just need down to earth people with a sense of civic pride” – why not get a committee of citizens, members of the small business community, and other interested parties to come up with some SOLID ideas on how to generate revenue at little cost to the taxpayer?  They don’t have to be major policy ideas; sometimes the best ideas are the little ones.  I would not want to see special interests or consultants getting in on this; the goal would be to generate income for the City, not create new positions for consultants.

  8. Pierluigi,

    I cannot believe that the city drained the money for street repairs and traffic calming. I understand that these charities help some certain categories of people but I do not see an alternative to privately raising money for road repairs nor do I think volunteers will be paving streets anytime soon. If other cities use their tobacco money for basic services then lets do the same.

    On the survey I mostly agree with the responses. By the time the city actually moves forward with selling city property the market will recover since it takes years to get through all of community meetings.

  9. Number 12:

    Outsource park maintenance to the private sector and that will provide the cost savings for other services. I have a gym membership so I do not rely on the city to provide me a fitness area at the community center or a pool.

  10. Hello,
    Thanks for reading and sharing thoughts.

    #1 I believe San Jose is the only city to have put the tobacco money aside versus spending on core services. Reducing benefits requires “meet and confer” with the labor bargaining units and is not a straight up or down council vote or edict from the city manager.

    #2
    I would argue that the non profit community is much more politically organized then parents of school age children.  They socialize with the elected officials and even throw fundraisers for them at their homes.  On showing up or not to city meetings that is your call however I always enjoy when more people participate. Most people do not attend city meetings since they work, have time commitments, may not be not upset enough to attend or apathetic that their opinion will not change mind of council. Either way we mostly hear from the same interest groups and the individual residents need to decide if their elected rep is voting with them in mind.

    #3 Kathleen
    The crossing guard program is not saved yet.
    There was no quorum for the Rules Comm two weeks in a row.  This item should go forward to Council soon and be part of the budget process.

    There is a great privately owned restaurant today on Mt. Hamilton called the Grandview.
    I believe if private individuals want to open a hotel or restaurant let them however I don’t want the city to go into that business. We already subsidize the Hayes Mansion hotel by approx $5 million a year. As for other events I think there needs to be someone who really wants to put on an event. We as the city should try to make that process easier and less bureaucratic. I enjoy art & wine festivals as they are social and stimulate commerce but most are privately organized.

    The city helps put on car show at the Willows Community Center a twice a year.

    I agree with you we have talented people in the community and not everything needs to be a big elaborate show.

    #4
    Have brought up selling those properties on prior blogs.

    #5
    They may have if the question was asked.
    Some people feel that survey questions are leading one way or another.

    #7
    Good point however I believe selling the Hayes Mansion for assisted senior living would not be affected by the current market since the demographic wave is so strong. As far as the other properties yes wait to execute the final sales price in a better market but start the process.

    #8

    We did this at the Neighborhood Budget meeting where residents could write down their own ideas to raise revenue. We are discussing this today from 1:30-5:00 for our study session.

    #9
    Thanks for the comments. Imagine what Sacramento must be like.

    #10
    The Superintendent who said this is on the Mayor’s Gang Taskforce and stated that children as young as 10 are recruited into the Gang culture.

    #12
    What is full funding? Funding at year 2000 levels when we had a surplus? Residents also want more funding for public safety and roads.  It is a challenge meeting the top level goals. To do this with our current budget we would have to cut other items, raise taxes or deliver services differently. Both the Dow and S&P 500 this morning are down almost 50% from last year…ouch.

  11. #8 – Chris

    Are you and Kathy suggesting the City of San Jose put together another Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF)?

    Haaahaaaa!

  12. Councilmember Oliverio,
    May a provide a gentle reminder of what the Neighborhood Associations stated as one of the top priorities for the City of San Jose-
    Provide full funding for parks, pools, community centers and libraries,including maintenance, operation and development.
    This was said in 2008 and I don’t believe anyone has changed their minds.
    Christian – I wholeheartedly agree with your statement that we should be looking at generating income for the city – not money for consultants.  I have seen first hand the community pull together and come up with Council adopted plans that did not involve a consultant.  The community sports field study should stand as an example of a viable partnership with the City and community.  We should be doing more…

  13. In times of economic stress it is tempting to go for relatively vulnerable resource sources, which ends up pitting one group of vulnerable residents against another. Let’s get creative and find ways to raise more revenue for safety rather than to take away already committed funding for healthy communities. This should be worked through the normal budget process rather than through the rules committee.

  14. #Christian,

    Here were the revenue generation ideas from the Neighborhood Budget meeting at city hall in January that will be discussed today at 1:30

    Revenue Generation Ideas:

    Sell old City Hall and adjacent building.”
    “Charge the County jail for Fire response to jail medical emergencies.”
    “Don’t have fire truck and ambulance go to medical calls.”
    “Make firemen EMS.”
    “Use RDA funds to free up GF Dollars.”
    “Increase. green fees for all three golf courses.”
    “Cost recovery from Police response to multi-family units owned by unresponsive landlords.
    Permit license from the City would have to include emergency owner contact information.”
    “Shift response to parking violation calls from Police to Parking Control. Currently PD comes and
    sometimes the Towing Division. We need PD on more serious situations.”
    “Increase citation fees for parking on the lawn. Institute boots for vehicles. Increase fees for
    vehicles parking on No Parking on Street Sweeping Days.”
    “Focus on economic development via business development strategies.”
    “No free parking in entertainment areas.”
    “Identify and increase all user fees where cost identification is possible.”
    “Increase a fee for use of shopping carts.”
    “Implement fines and/or give fire greater enforcement on business violations.”
    “Require 75% ofPD OT costs are paid for downtown night clubs.”
    “Fire provision of ambulance and other emergency medical services for a fee.”

    Other Cost-Reduction Ideas:

    “Reduce number of firemen per track from 4 to three which is the County level.”
    “Hire non-police/fire officers to do administrative jobs at lower cost to reduce PD/Fire staffing
    costs.”
    “Reduce amount of sworn officer that could be filled by civilian jobs.”
    .“Eliminate Automatic Reduced Fee for large generalized categories such as Seniors.”
    “Move from City employees under Team San Jose to Team San Jose Employees.”
    “Eliminate two Council positions by combining districts. Retain adequate staffing.”
    “Reduce the 2% art set aside for capital projects to 1.2%.”
    “Website competition open to the City and Bay area to cut costs and generate revenue.” “Winners
    will be invited to an awards ceremony, no cash reward.”
    “Require 911 dispatchers to ask more questions to determine if police presence is required.”
    “Eliminate Team San Jose and civil servants – administrative positions.”
    “Hire 25 Police Officers—Lateral transfers with $20K incentive

  15. #15-Gregory,
    What part of temporary funding, not guaranteed to ANYONE don’t these non-profits and you get? Secondly, as I understand it, the intent of this money was NEVER to help do anything but stop people, or help people stop smoking, or provide money for health care due to cigarette smoking related illness. This money was not supposed to be used for the things everyone is using them for. Lucky for everyone the Tobacco Companies don’t sue cities for abusing this money on the grounds of fraud or breach of contract.

    Also, it is just sickening to me how many non-profits take grant money designated for one thing, and use it for something else. Oversight on these kinds of money is sorely lacking, and the losers here are the folks the money was intended to help. It really hurts non-profits that strive to have integrity, and use funds correctly.

    Pierluigi,
    You can’t get up the mountain when it snows because the Police stop you. So what is the sense in having the Grandview if you can’t get up there to enjoy the snow or the view? I think one of the SJI posters suggestions is awesome, have small tour buses drive us up. I’d love to pay someone to drive me up to the snow and to enjoy a romantic dinner with my great guy! An over night stay in a Hostel wouldn’t hurt either!

  16. I am not in favor of using Tobacco Settlement money to fund the school crossing guard program. I believe parents with kids in any public school system who currently receive government assistance-Section 8 housing, food stamps, welfare-can repay taxpayers and stand as a good example to their childre by serving as crossing guards a few hours per week.

    Rather, I believe the City of San Jose should focus on complying with the Clean Water Act and start sweeping up our city streets. I have been trying for several years to get “No Parking on Sweep Day” signs installed on my street and I always get the same lame excuse from DOT-no funding.

    Pier, read the Merc article, “Water Board declares 26 Bay Area waterways ‘trash-impaired’” excerpt- “Pending final approval by the federal government, the decision by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board will force cities and counties, including San Jose and Santa Clara County, to institute multimillion-dollar cleanup plans or face hefty fines.”

    What’s the connection? The most common item of garbage in the gutter….cigarette butts.

  17. Pierluigi & Kathleen,

    The Grandview is on the lower stretch of Mt. Hamilton Rd. which is always open. Typically, the police are stationed further up the road at Hall’s Valley. There’s lots of parking there and it would be an ideal staging area for a FREE Yosemite-style shuttle service to transport people further up to where there’s lots of snow.
    My suggestion was made in Rants & Raves and I didn’t mean it to be a revenue source.

    If Saturday morning breaks fine, take a drive up that way and, if the snowline is higher than Hall’s Valley, you’ll see what I mean about all the disappointed children.

    By the way, many of these children are from socioeconomically challenged families AND are of diverse ethnic origin!

  18. “Making sure children are not approached by gang members”

    Uggh. ‘Gang Members’ == ‘Terrorists’

    I hate that catch-all phrase, used to protect our kids. ‘Gang members’—this nefarious, easy to identify by sight group of do-badders who park right outside our schools at 2:45 P.M. with their recruiting packages and signing bonuses.

    Unless crossing guards are somehow trained by the anti-Gang task force to identify and deal with such threats (I assume they are unarmed), this is just borrowed rhetoric from George Bush and Dick Cheney.

    $1.9 million is a lot of money—that could be used to pay for at least 4 or 5 recalls of City Council members who broke no laws and violated no ethics guidelines!

  19. #21- John,
    Your idea is an excellent one, and if tax revenue can come from such a great idea, or new jobs, so be it! It is a win/win all the way around. wink

  20. #3, #18
    Kathleen,
      Thank you for your suggestion about a hostel at Mt. Hamilton.  I’m afraid the hostel would not succeed because of lack of customers, no public transportation and much too long commute for staff.
      However there should be a large urban non-profit hostel in Silicon Valley. Currently there are no inexpensive quality accommodations anywhere in urban SV.  The cheap motels and hotels are occupied by service workers and foreclosed families who pay by the week or month.  Business class hotels charge at least $100/night. 
      With lack of hostels in the Valley most young overseas visitors just stay along the Coast, never visiting San Jose in their rental car or even getting off the Greyhound bus for those with a prepaid bus pass.  They miss the many local musuems and historic San Jose places.
      My vision is a super hi-tech hostel incorporating all the newest stuff:  Multimedia at each bed or bunk, HDTV, movies on demand, RFID access, newest 3D games, wi-fi, displays and photo printers everywhere, i-pods and i-phones for guest to check out (with bus schedules, points of interest, shopping, eating, entertainment all preprogrammed in), free internet, free phones, large GoogleEarth dome displaying home town of guest checking in.  Every Geek and Nerd around the world will want to “check in” this most futuristic hostel.  Many will not want to check out, but hostels are just for short term traveler stays.  Local homeless bums are rejected. 
      One or more of our local hi-tech companies will gladly underwrite this venture in return for marketing access to our international clientele (mostly young, college-educated, great upscale potential).  They’ll be able to beta test new hardware and software and display future product designs (to get instant accurate feedback). 
        With millions square feet of empty buildings in SV (that will never again be occupied) this hostel should have opened years ago.
      Why P.O. won’t push such hostel to be located in San Jose (rather than Santa Clara, Mountain View, Sunnyvale or PA, all along Caltrain and most along the Light-Rail seems to me very short-sighted on his part.  Now the “gambling push” and porn and sex that creates more problems than additional cash. 
      I bet that traditional tourism, the Convention business and expensive Downtown hotels are all taking big hits right now, while budget and green hostel tourism (new untapped city revenue) is ignored.
      I’m taking my buddy to PA Vet hospital every few weeks and so have time to seek some visionary company that would sponsor this marketing venture.  However we don’t travel in the same league as top company brass. 
      We could use some good contacts, especially decision makers that may have traveled the “hostel route” when they were young.
      Know anyone?? Do you have their direct phone number (bypassing their staff hired to reject new ideas)??

    pgp3 of Santa Cruz

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