When it comes to the gay marriage ban that is likely to be on state ballot in November, Mayor Chuck Reed is trapped in the closet. And that’s exactly where local gay-rights advocates want him.
Your search for San Jose City Council returned 3,197 results
Campaign Spending and a Modest Proposal
Last week there was a very interesting report on spending in the last mayoral election. In it, consultants to the San Jose Elections Commission reported that independent spending in the election totaled over $3 million. Of the six groups that were mentioned, five were associated with the Democratic Party and organized labor (including the police and fire unions). The fifth, and perhaps most controversial and effective, was the Chamber of Commerce’s PAC that leveled some particularly pointed shots at the Cindy Chavez candidacy. By far the largest spender was the Santa Clara County Democratic Campaign, who spent over $1.7 million, ostensibly in support of Chavez’s failed campaign.
GFSDEPSG is Not a Spam Email Title
City Hall Diary
It is the latest City of San Jose acronym. GFSDEPSG stands for the three-year General Fund Structural Deficit Elimination Plan Stakeholder Group. Whew! Try saying that fast even once.
A Banner Week
The Little Saigon debacle seemed mostly resolved when Mayor Chuck Reed signed a peace deal with protesters in the Vietnamese community that promised that banners displaying the “Little Saigon” name could be flown to officially recognize the Vietnamese retail area. But what wasn’t spelled out was how many banners could go up.
Driving Ms. Pyle
City Hall Diary
A while ago I wrote that I wanted to tour each council district. Well, I got my wish. I have been touring San Jose over the past few months and last Friday I spent the morning with my colleague, Nancy Pyle, who represents District 10.
Square Pegs
Back when he was mayor, spearheading the renovation of a then-decrepit downtown, Tom McEnery had to fend off charges that his vision of a thriving retail-and-entertainment district was rooted in a desire to enrich himself and his family, which owns a significant chunk of downtown real estate. Twenty years later, those charges have re-emerged, following a 9-1 City Council decision last week to consider a request for $6 million in redevelopment money for the San Pedro Square neighborhood where the McEnerys do business.
Politics is Torture
The thought of Internet filter champion Pete Constant with a ball-gag in his mouth being whipped by a dominatrix might be a fantasy for free speech advocates. Fantasy turned to reality Monday night as actress Krista Kelly strapped on bondage gear and flagellated the conservative councilman in front of San Jose’s political elite at San Jose Stage’s Monday Night Live production. Kelly, a District 6 resident, seemed to enjoy whipping Pete a little too much. “Even Sally Leiber can’t save you now,” she screamed.
Single Gal and Recognizing the Problems Downtown
We have heard this story many times before. My friend sells downtown real estate and has lived in San Jose his entire life, so he is familiar with an area that many don’t visit much. He and his lady friend, who wanted to get a taste of what it would be like if she lived downtown, just toured the Axis, 88SJ and other high rise homes there. Then they decided to visit downtown San Jose on a Saturday night and go to dinner and a comedy show.
How Do You Want Redevelopment Money to be Spent?
City Hall Diary
Last Tuesday, we considered whether to continue preliminary discussions with the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and three private property owners regarding San Pedro Square. The issue under consideration was should RDA spend money to do capital improvements like sidewalk widening, streetscapes and loans to rehab older buildings in the area.
Racking My Brain
SO MUCH for urgency ordinances. Last week, the San Jose Redevelopment Agency recommended deferring until August a specific urgency ordinance originally slated to be railroaded through Council on June 17. The ordinance was to place a “moratorium on the installation and relocation of freestanding news racks within the downtown core and the Civic Plaza Redevelopment project area; and to establish a consolidated pedestal mounted news rack zone pilot program within those same project areas.”
Campos Running for Mayor?
Councilmember’s Tough Week
In politics, timing is everything. Some might say that Councilmember Nora Campos picked the wrong time to play politics.
The 2008-2009 Budget
City Hall Diary
The city council spent 12 hours on “Budget Tuesday” last week. Here are three of the topics we covered.
Recall Totals
The San Jose Vietnamese community is a lot like the Hulk: don’t make them angry—you wouldn’t like them when they’re angry. Nobody knows this better than Madison Nguyen, who failed to take Bruce Banner’s famous advice and has now come around to realizing that their recall campaign against her (currently punctuated by the signs lining McLaughlin at the Grand Century Mall) can’t be taken lightly.
It’s Time for Action Downtown
We are getting ample proof that the “thugocracy” that has been created with the proliferation of nightclubs is finally destroying the hopes for a real downtown. With the closing time near-riot early last Sunday morning, it is becoming painfully clear that we cannot have a growing and prospering downtown of residents and small business entrepreneurs as long as these raucous nightclubs and out-of-control bars continue to operate. It is turning ugly and this ugliness is killing the hopes and dreams of generations of hard working San Joseans for their downtown.
Single Gal and Hiring More Police Officers
The current issue before the city council about hiring additional police officers is one that I am not sure is as cut and dried as it may appear. It shocks me to hear that Chuck Reed is “verbally tussling” with anyone, let alone Nora Campos, who sounds for all intents and purposes like someone that could get under your skin in a hurry about this issue. Crime is up; therefore, more law enforcement officers are needed. However, is it really that simple? Chuck Reed agrees, but wanted to add only 25 officers so that other programs are not cut. Nora Campos says that we still need more. I am not totally convinced of either one.
Chamber and Labor Both Agree
City Hall Diary
Last week the city council unanimously approved a concession agreement for the new airport terminal. Believe it or not, the Chamber of Commerce and the Working Partnerships Labor Union both agreed on the selection. Whew! If only agreements like this could happen more often.
