Inaugurations have a way of oscillating between solemn occasions and celebrations. And then there’s the slightly absurd—a San Jose specialty. Tuesday night’s swearing-in of Mayor Sam Liccardo and four new council members at the Center for Performing Arts kicked off with an Aztec fever dream dance that had people bouncing back and forth, although they could have been coughing from the incense smoke. Then Jon Talbert, a “humanitarian entrepreneur”—that’s a new one—got things rolling with a Jesus-inspired blessing, which was slightly less awkward than the poet who followed with an ode to the homeless women of St. James Park and their “Pall Mall smiles” and “liberated Safeway shopping carts.” Incoming council members restored some semblance of order while being sworn in, as Chappie Jones of District 1 repeated his oath and Raul Peralez, councilman for downtown and the rest of District 3, had his mother swear him into office. Magdalena Carrasco, East Side’s new council member, went even harder on the heart strings when her daughter read the oath and began to break down in tears. A sharply dressed Tam Nguyen shared the stage with state Sen. Jim Beall, who previously repped District 9. Liccardo had planned to have former mayor, congressman and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta swear him in to office deliver remarks but weather wouldn’t permit. Liccardo, who was joined on stage by his wife and parents, had police watchdog and Judge LaDoris Cordell swear him in, as well a give him a high-five before chants of “Sam’s the man” rang out from the crowd. He offered thanks and joked that he didn’t expect to deliver a speech, before quoting playwright Luis Valdez, who was in the house: “To whom does the future belong? It belongs to those who can imagine it,” Liccardo said. And then he invited the entire audience to “join me in reimagining San Jose.”
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- An Aztec dance group kicked off the evening to get the crowd fired up, (Photo by Brian Kirksey)
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- Judge LaDoris Cordell, right, acted as a late substitute to read Mayor Sam Liccardo his oath of office. (Photo by Brian Kirksey)
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- Mayor Sam Liccardo said goodbye to his new spokesperson. (File photo by Brian Kirksey)
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- County Assessor Larry Stone, center, shares a laugh with other attendees. (Photo by Brian Kirksey)
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- Raul Peralez thanks the audience. (Photo by Brian Kirksey)
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- State Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose), a former District 7 councilman, read Tam Nguyen his oath of office. (Photo by Brian Kirksey)
> kicked off with an Aztec fever dream dance that had people bouncing back and forth, although they could have been coughing from the incense smoke. Then Jon Talbert, a “humanitarian entrepreneur”—that’s a new one—got things rolling with a Jesus-inspired blessing, which was slightly less awkward than the poet who followed with an ode to the homeless women of St. James Park and their “Pall Mall smiles” and “liberated Safeway shopping carts.”
Who thinks up these dopey, mocking stunts for formal civic occasions.
This is just a demonstration of how modern “progressive” society believes that it doesn’t deserve to be — and can’t be — taken seriously.
word up. the things they come up with for these little shindigs can be mind baffling sometimes…
Who comes up with… why none other than SJI columnist and non-profit entrepreneur James Reber.
In a shameless kowtow, Mayor Sam has an Aztec dance group perform at his ceremonial inauguration. Aztecs, who engaged in human sacrifice of its own people 18 times each year, once each month of their 20 month calender.
But it gets worse. He SAYS he wants to kiss and make up with SJPD. So, what does he do before he’s even El Alcalde? He fires Ed Shikada, who might have had a chance to mend fences. Then he has the SJPD IPA swear him in? That’ll sure help mend fences with the cops. What a bleeping MORON!
Queue the SJC and Carthagus Chorus of “Awe, Give Him a Chance…” (…to screw something up before you criticize him)
One of the things the so-called media “coverage” of Liccardo’s New Year’s Day ridealong with SJPD that Sam’s office scheduled for 1AM didn’t begin until well after 3AM and then only after numerous phone call and texts wondering where “the Mayor” might be.
What do New York’s di Blasio and San Jose’s Liccardo have in common besides their situatuonal admiration for the Police? They both show up late to appointments because they OVERSLEEP.
He Overslept? Ya mean it wasn’t because his bike had a flat tire so he couldn’t arrive on time?
> Tuesday night’s swearing-in of Mayor Sam Liccardo and four new council members at the Center for Performing Arts kicked off with an Aztec fever dream dance that had people bouncing back and forth, . . .
Hmmm. I wonder if Liccardo’s choice of cultural reference points telegraphs what he has in mind for the people of San Jose.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1525/aa.1983.85.2.02a00130/abstract
Thanks for the reference. Gruesome. Truly gruesome. I would just add what does he have in mind for the employees?
I understand that one week later FBI came back to visit Carrasco pseudo hubby, deLeon.