San Jose Inside (https://www.sanjoseinside.com)
By Guest Blogger Dave Cortese
Close your eyes and imagine one of the greatest public/private partnerships in San Jose’s history. A $3 billion package of housing, retail and jobs, parks, trails, open space, money for new schools and a new library spanning over 600 acres of true infill lands.
Can we have hot meals, smooth traffic, a baseball team, living wage for car rental workers at the airport, a brand-spanking new city hall that opens on time and an ethical city government? Well, judging by the news of the week, the answers appears to be yes, no, maybe, probably, there’s a good chance and, as the magic eight ball would say, ask again later. Which answer goes to which question? Let’s take a look…
Lack Of “City” Status Won’t Be A Stumbling Block Says CEO
By announcing its intention of bringing the 2012 Summer Games to its regional shopping center, Santana Row has threatened to make downtown San Jose “redundant.” Federal Realty CEO Donald Wood, the parent company of Santana Row, said that if their bid is successful against major cities such as Milan, Hamburg, St. Petersburg, San Diego and Tel Aviv, then downtown “should just fold up its tent.”
When I worked for Ron Gonzales I had to defend him frequently from critics who said I could not prove he had “the vision thing.” I would invariably win the bet with a four-letter word: BART. This is why I own Tom McEnery’s hockey stick collection.
Guest Blog by Jim Cunneen
This week, I’m turning my column over to a guest blogger, Jim Cunneen, President and CEO of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. Jim has asked that we use this blog to share his concerns, and the chamber’s, for the handling of Terry Gregory’s alleged misdeeds by the City Council.
-Kevin
