San Jose Inside

Hopefully, we all took a moment yesterday to honor those who have fallen while serving under our nation’s flag. However, I wonder how many of our public school students can actually tell us what the meaning and significance of Memorial Day is? US History is too often a dreaded subject in the nation’s schools.

In a growing controversy with the local Vietnamese community, San Jose police have refused to release 9-1-1 tapes that would clarify what they knew about Daniel Pham’s mental health. Pham, 27, was shot dead in Berryessa on Mother’s Day after allegedly slashing his brother’s throat. His family claims they informed police that he was mentally ill.

Memorial Day is a day when we commemorate those who died serving in our military. For the past 15 years, the City of San Jose has recognized our police officers at an annual Police Memorial Ceremony. This started in 1995 under Mayor Susan Hammer. The event has grown from a small event to one that draws many.

In San Jose Inside’s weekly open forum, the site’s users set the agenda, and opinions on any issue of local interest are welcome.

KLIV is reporting that a VTA Light Rail train struck and killed a pedestrian last night on the First Street line. Jennie Hwang Loft, VTA’s public information officer, confirmed that a fatality occurred between the Civic Center and Japantown/Ayer stops, but would not confirm that a pedestrian was hit.

Speculation has run thick that San Jose will one day see a political showdown between Council rivals Sam Liccardo and Pete Constant in a race for mayor. Perhaps that’s just wishful thinking among people who can’t wait to watch the two pols go at it. But here’s a new twist. Fly just caught wind that Constant is entertaining the idea of running for Santa Clara County Sheriff instead.

It’s official. San Jose’s Tied House Cafe and Brewery is gone. But fear not, local beer fans. A new brewery may be taking its place down the street.

Is the Tied House Brewing Co. downtown San Jose"s latest restaurant casualty?

The doors are locked and all the brewing equipment is gone. While the brewery’s web site (tiedhouse.com) says they are closed temporarily for remodeling, Rosemary Colon, assistant manager at the still-open Mt. View location, says the brewpub may not reopen at all.

Unions representing Milpitas municipal workers are in a race against the clock to meet with city representatives, as City Hall announces plans to lay off as many as 21 full-time employees. The city explains the proposed staffing cuts as necessary now that the municipal deficit is expected to be $1.8 million more than previously anticipated

By Stett Holbrook
Walking down South First Street in San Jose recently, I was thoroughly unsurprised to see that Asqew Grill called it quits last month. The 200 S. First St. location is something of a doomed corner. Zyng Noodles also occupied that space and failed as well. I don’t know the details of why Asqew left, but I wonder if part of the reason was that the chain restaurant simply didn’t resonate with downtown diners.

This is my last post for San Jose Inside. I’m looking to start my own site in a couple of months (please stay tuned). A quick note of thanks to Jack Van Zandt and to Eric Johnson. I hope that you enjoy my final post.

When I was a kid growing up in San Jose, the neighborhood park was constantly tended to. Every Summer, there was a recreational leader who organized activities and coached the park’s baseball team. Fast forward to today, where you’ll find the park restrooms closed on weekdays, and you’re lucky if the City sends someone to mow the weeds once a month. In his letter to shareholders, Google co-founder Sergey Brin wrote, “I am optimistic about the future, because I believe that scarcity breeds clarity.” I hope that the scarcity that we all now face will finally bring clarity to San Jose.

On Tuesday we went to the polls
To backfill a big budget hole
But a long, proud tradition
Of voter suspicion
Has left our fair state on the dole
              Traci Hukill

Fisker Automotive, designer and builder of boutique hybrid and electric vehicles, came to enemy territory yesterday to debut its Fisker Karma at Santana Row, and to announce the opening of a Silicon Valley retail outlet. But the news was eclipsed by the announcement today that Fisker’s rival, the Silicon Valley-based Tesla Automotive, inked a big-money deal with Daimler Motors.

“So let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions. Let’s reduce unwanted pregnancies…” stated President Obama at the Notre Dame University commencement on Saturday, May 16. Since I wholeheartedly agree with the espoused goal, I felt compelled to write on the importance of a high-quality sex education program in our schools as a means to assist us in reaching the objective. It is my hope that we can all find common ground on this issue.

Instead of writing a blog this week I spent my time preparing a survey for you about the budget deficit facing the city of San Jose. The link below will allow you to get a glimpse of some the decisions that must be made.