San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com)
By Guest Blogger Larry Stone
The Mayor and the County Assessor (me) have been widely ridiculed by people posting on San Jose Inside and the San Jose Mercury editorial regarding the press conference at the Phoenix Municipal Stadium prior to a Giants vs. A’s game. I have to admit some of the commentary was very funny, like the good-natured ribbing I got from my old friend Jude. Some of it, however, was pretty rough.
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.
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.
Imagine this: our County Assessor Larry Stone is standing on the mound at Candlestick Park. It’s 1989. He’s a Sunnyvale City Councilmember and it’s Sunnyvale Day at the ballpark. Larry’s wearing a Giants cap and gets to throw out the first pitch.
The stadium is full and the fans are cheering. His name gets announced. He rocks back. His long arm reaches skyward and he throws the ball in the dirt – not the dirt at home plate where the catcher is patiently waiting. No way.
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.
