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Well the biggest blow to me this week was learning that one of our neighbors is putting their house on the market in the next couple weeks. Their children spend a lot of time with our kids and my children are very upset, naturally, as am I.
I took some time to talk to them to discover that part of the reason they are leaving is due to the build up of Santa Clara. They are upset by all the building going on around our little neighborhood. Lawarence / El Camino with over 2000 units, the Fairfield Residential with 806 units – it’s enough to scare off anyone. I myself feel like leaving. It’s not as though Santa Clara has a lot to offer, after all let’s look at what it has to offer ,,,,
Schools? hmmm not really – well yes, Milliken sure it’s good, actually great, but you have to apply for it and wait in line and pray you get it. Go to greatschools.com and check out the rest of the Santa Clara schools – Sad very sad – actually disturbing compared to a lot of the neighboring cities.
Amenities? Oh we have a lovely park up on Kiely – Central park but the pond looks like it needs a good clean and though we claim to be a green city why is all the play equipment in need of some major renovating?
International swimming pool – hmm – well it needs work and now the plans for the new one are on hold YET AGAIN! Clearly we don’t need any up grading there otherwise they would have made that available to us now, rather than later. Forget the $400K short of the budget – I bet if the city let residents know about their dreams we’d find a way to raise the money or why not go to a builder and ask for it – that’s how they seem to fix the holes in the budget.
Library – great libary if you can find a place to park near it. Who planned the parking? Obviously our planning department had nothing to do with that…. or did they?
El Camino Real – so enticing – 49 dollar a night meth labs along most of the blocks. A bunch of “book stores” – please enter at own risk! Tattoo stores and a bunch of closed up stores. The once Mervyns Plaza is dying. Which brings us up to Homestead – most of those centers are drying and empty – check out Lawrence Station – the train left years ago and so did all the travelers.
Downtown – sorry what downtown? Oh that’s right – we don’t have one.
ahh yes Santa Clara has a lot to offer
But we do have the best utilities and low in-come housing in the area! great selling point.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
When is a lie a lie? When is hiding something a lie? When is not telling everything a lie? Whose on first?
So many questions, so little time it seems. I’m amazed at the fact that the city council refuses to listen to the fact that the residents of Santa Clara may know something more than them. Wow, Mayor Mahan shut down the discussion, oops I should say refused to second a proposal put forward by Jamie McLeod that the city look at the CHP’s traffic concerns on Lawrence and El Camino. When I used to run meetings in the ‘old days’ – yep I’m old now! It was common practice for the chair to second an amendment or a proposal if it couldn’t get a seconder. That’s what you do if you are a ‘nice’ chairperson. It’s called ‘common courtesy’ but it’s not Robert’s rules – it’s just courtesy. Plus it makes common sense!
What do you mean by common sense? You may ask? Well it means that you second it to get it on the books and effectively off the books. It’s common practice to ensure proper debate and discussion. You therefore put up a proposal just to have it now dismissed and recorded that it was not accepted. So in affect, what you are doing, though you may not agree with a proposal, you are allowing for discussion. Now the topic doesn’t really have to be addressed again – it’s on the books as something that was not past – though of course you can effectively bring it up over and over – that’s what democracy is about. It’s like dating – you go out, you see if you like it i.e. you listen to the arguments or discussion and then you decide it’s not for you and only after you have had some time to think about it or discuss the idea do you say Yeh or Neh. Pretty simple way of holding a meeting.
Come on Patricia Mahan, be fair, run the city council like most democracies and have a fair debate – even if you get no debate putting it to a vote is better than saying ‘oh you didn’t get a seconder’. Do you get where I am coming from? Or are we all just prone to being ignorant by not getting all the facts? Because when one shuts down debate that’s what you are doing. In some countries it’s called a ‘dictatorship’ – something us American’s have been known to get upset about.
Oh and by the way as a Chair it’s not Kosher to have your own opinions on how matters go – that’s the reason you get appointed as chair – you are seen to be fair and knowledgeable. sigh….
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Yesterday I had cause to go to Santa Clara Post office on Kiely. Today I had cause to go to Cupertino Post office on Stevens Creek. Talk about a night and day experience. I happen to know some of the people working at Kiely because I’ve been going there for a number of years. So they are always very courteous and very helpful and have something to share with y’all. Even at Cupertino that lady that helped me had a good chuckle when we discussed the ‘pressure of today’s society’ vs ‘life when we were growing up’. She happened to say well I guess life changed when we got color TV and I laughed and told her in our house we waited for years before we had a color TV because my dad was color blind. He didn’t see the point of a color TV. Mind you once we had it he couldn’t understand why we hadn’t had one earlier.
Well Santa Clara as nice as it is – is such an inconvenient place to go. You can’t park easily, you have to wait on Kiely most times before you can enter the site. You sit there on Kiely praying some maniac doesn’t plow into you! And then when you do finally leave the parking area you pray that you don’t reverse into someone else reversing! It’s a GEICO nightmare.
I’m sure this really doesn’t affect the Santa Clara City Council, after all why would they care? Why would they care about anything that doesn’t affect the main city councilors directly like: Mahan, Caserta or Moore? Every time I go in there and talk with locals you can hear the frustration in their voice about the parking and the wait to be served.
Now let me tell you about the office on Stevens Creek in Cupertino. Talk about a breeze where it comes to parking! No problem mate – take your pick of endless parking spots. Head to the line and wait approximately 1 minute before one of the five clerks are ready to serve you. Every station waiting to help you out. This is NO SANTA CLARA Kiely post office. I love my attendants at Kiely but Stevens Creek in Cupertino was a winner today! They rock.
What do we have to do in Santa Clara to get some great amentities? I know be like a five year old – rant and scream, kick and pout, wave and stomp, shout and point! Sour grapes for Santa Clara!
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
I remember when I first came here from Australia as a new bride I asked my husband. So where is downtown Santa Clara? You know like downtown Malvern, Toorak, South Yarra or Armadale? You know darling where you can go and have lunch, or do some shopping or have a beer at the end of day? He said “oh it’s down in the old quad”. So when we eventually went to check it out I was still saying “so where is downtown Santa Clara?” He honestly couldn’t tell me – all he could say was ‘you’ll get used to it”. Used to what?
A block of shops / stores that involve a couple of bars, a drycleaners, a stamp shop, a photo store (which is long gone), a well known bakery which closed up shop last year over night and a few other insignificant shops. Sad actually, I guess those that live around the old quad are happy because no-one goes down there and it means it’s a pretty quiet area. How convenient for those that live down that way. I believe that most of the current and past city council members live either in or around the quad. How convenient for them to live in a quiet part of town.
Oh the penny just dropped. I need to move to the old quad area because then I’ll be further away from the hustle and bustle of the soon to be center of Santa Clara, which will be the El Camino / Lawrence intersection where the city has over 2000 residential properties on it’s books for development. Part of their “master plan”. Anyone else heard of a master plan before? Memories of HSC (high school certificate) European History lessons! Kind of creepy!
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Do you think Santa Clara City Council will ever look at El Camino and notice that it looks different once you leave Sunnyvale?
Have you ever noticed that as you exit Sunnyvale you leave behind the tree lined part of El Camino and the rather large set back? Have you ever noticed that there are no $49 dollar meth labs along that part of El Camino? I don’t think there are any tattoo stores along there either. Perhaps the House of Pain needs to move up a few blocks! Have you ever noticed that there are no after hour porn stores, oops sorry I mean ‘book stores’. Book stores my goodness! Do you think they have a copy of War and Peace in there? It’s no wonder we have a store called “The Starving Musician” along that part of town – how can they make a living in that neighborhood. I hope their rent is low.
As for the couple times I’ve tried to eat along El Camino one time at one of the ‘faster food’ chains I had something in my chili that wasn’t food, and no it wasn’t a finger, rather a sugar wrapper. Another time we were at a restaurant and we asked about the poor state of the salad bar – the waiter told us it was fresh at lunch time – it was now 7pm. We left and that place has sinced closed down. We do like Andy’s though – fortunately they came to town because there are very few good or descent restaurants in Santa Clara. Have you ever tried to take someone out to lunch in Santa Clara it involves going to Cupertino or Sunnyvale.
Imagine with all this high rise building going on we won’t even get anything commercial – which leaves the question why do these developers want to come to Santa Clara? ah’vey – there must be something in it for them – what do we not know?
Well, I don’t want Zuma Dogg to get a big head, so big that he can’t fit his head through the City Hall Doors down LA way but he has really helped me understand City Politics. Having come from a Land Down-under where politics can be dirty and where we understood all the players, I thought life here would prove to be different but I guess I’m wrong.
I’m just starting to understand the players and the complicated web they weave. The ins and outs of their relationships. As I’ve said the Internet is an amazing tool. I’m starting to think that there are some over laps of friendships and relationships in the mission city. It may appear that I’m digressing from the title of this blog – but I don’t because Zuma Dogg gave me the inspiration to look harder and seek information. Zuma mentioned a few times in some of his on-line clips the Brown Act. So I seeked information on this Act. One thing I learnt is that citizens can express their opinions of their elected officials according to the Brown act. I also learnt though if you are a paid employee of a council member it now is a different story and writing as a paid employee is not ‘very’ good. I also learnt when attending a city council meeting according to the Brown Act a person who wishes to address the council does not have to fill out or actually even state their name and address – as I take it you may remain anonymous. Sweet …. because if I read between the lines of the Brown Act there has been politically bullying towards residents by elected officials in the past in some cities – I’m not saying that happens in Santa Clara but it sure makes you wonder. Do you think that city official bully some of the residents? Do you think that cutting residents time to speak at a council meeting is a form of politically bullying? Do you think that preventing residents a right of reply after a ’so called’ expert has spoken a form of bullying? Just my observations at this stage … I’ll keep you posted on the bullying theory and observations.
Perhaps city councils could incorporate the ‘friend fixer’ and start to talk to their residents again and see what they would like of their city. I know Jamie McLeod offers her time to sit and talk to residents each month or as needed - but do any of the others? Dominic Caserta have you sat down and talked to residents about Marina Playa or only the builder who supposedly gave you $10,000 towards your political campaign? You know Dom (hope you don’t mind me calling you Dom), as I think about this, perhaps you make phone calls to concerned residents and that’s why your city owned phone bill is so high! I’m sorry I might be pulling the trigger when I do not need too. Mate I understand, conferences calls work just as well with residents …. you do, do that right? Talk to residents? Your a people person right? Patting babies on the head, having a beer on a hot day, shaking hands with the little folk right? Please don’t tell me you only do this at election time, break my heart mate! I hate pollies that do that – they are every developers and interested parties friend until it’s election time and then they start patting babies on the head and shaking hands with strangers – mate, that’s pure germ heaven! Be warned us regular folk get the heebee jeebees when we see that stuff coming.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Clearly the issue of affordable housing and big developers buying city councils “love” for developers has come up before. As I’ve said before the Internet is a wonderful way to educate yourself and learn more about what’s going on outside your own backyard. So today I started to look outside my own Santa Clara Backyard and I discovered the LA has had some similar issues. Wouldn’t it be great if the Santa Clara City council current members: Mayor Patricia Mahan, Dominic Caserta, Will Kennedy, Kevin Moore, Joe Kornder, Pat Kolstadt, Jamie McLeod started to have a look at what is going out there in the community?
I came across Zuma Dogg on YouTube – he’s clearly a character – someone who is attempting to speak for the ordinary folk – someone who isn’t getting paid by a developer, or receiving a pay packet from a council member to write or speak out on what is going on in the community. Imagine a person who thinks for themselves and has the guts to speak out! I notice though that Zuma Dogg does seem to ‘hide’ his true identity. Something to think about – given I’ve noticed there is one blog out there that has hammered and made personal attacks on people who have spoken out about some of the council men and women I listed above! Wow imagine being Zuma Dogg and being that radical and speaking some of the truths that are affecting the little guy who pays the mortgage, sends the kids to local schools, pays the PG&E on time, who is struggling to put $80 a week aside to pay the gas for their car and knows that there is no public transport to get them to their job. You go Zuma! Bravo! Keep speaking out about the people in ‘power’ spending the tax payers money!
Here is something to get a taste of Zuma – he’s a bit out there but I think he is making a point!
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
One of the things that riled me at the Santa Clara City council meeting was the time limit that the city sets on ‘visitors’ to the meeting – meanwhile members of the council have no limits on asking questions but on the other hand residents and developers. This was a first for me – and plus if you have spoken once on the topic my understanding is you cannot speak again! Oh my not even a fair debate. Perhaps Mayor Mahan is trying to prevent this type of action – after all God Forbid any of us residents speaking out against one of our elected officials or city employees. After all I suspect we do not think for ourselves, actually we probably don’t think a great deal. Maybe Santa Clara is heading in the same direction of Morro Bay
Naturally I’m not suggesting the Santa Clara residents emulate this young man but rather learn from this and realize that frustration builds up and at some point Santa Clara residents will say enough is enough to their elected official. And I pray that those voting in the forth coming election they see what private individuals as myself saw in the contempt that Council men and women can have. I wouldn’t dare say that Dominic Caserta or Patrician Mahan or any others in the Santa Clara city council have contempt for us tax payers. After all, it seems Dominic Caserta would rather take money from interested parties that clearly could assist him in swaying his vote. It reminds me of the influence the tobacco companies have had at a Government level. Shame shame shame.
Perhaps Santa Clara should take heed of the city council meeting in Morro Bay -
here is a resident is exercising her first amendment right to freedom of speech. Make sure you watch this to the end because I love the Mayor and council person exercising their right to freedom of speech! You gotta love the internet, youtube and our First Amendment Right!
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Tonight I got a call from a survey company to ask me a few questions, which I soon determined were in regards to the “Spare the Air” Campaign. I was asked questions along the line did I know about Spare the Air – I felt like educating the gal a little about how when I lived in Hong Kong Spare the Air was a big campaign and a well known campaign and started by some American Expats. But I decided it better to just listen to the questions and answer where I could.
Today the weather was in the 90’s and I had a full program tacking a client out showing houses. I must have made 30 trips no less getting in and out, driving up and down across the Bay Area. From Santa Clara to Cupertino, from Cupertino to Mountain View and back again ending up in Los Altos. No spare the air day for me! In fact no ways of really using public transport.
I felt like saying to the interviewer “What’s public transport?”. Coming from Melbourne Australia and having lived in Sydney for a time I know what public transport is like. One night in Sydney I took the Ferry to work, walked to one pub after work, walked down to Circular Quay – took the train to North Sydney had dinner at another pub, jumped on another ferry hoped on the bus at the terminal that took me up to the London Pub for a night cap. Now that is what I call public transport! The bus was waiting for the ferry to come into the terminal ….. sweet.
I have it in my mind that sometime in the 50’s the American politicians were given incentives by the oil companies to give away public transport and develop freeways and highways. Aaahhh which brings me back to my current favorite topic – Santa Clara city council! Do you know that it seems that the city is refusing to look at the public transportation issues. I read an article recently by a local Santa Clara resident who complained there was no easy way to get to San Jose Airort from Santa Clara using public transport. Might I add from my house going the backroads, i.e. not using 101, it takes 10 mins. It took the resident over an 1 hour to work wonder Santa Clara City transport system.
And so I say to you – can we here in American truly say “Spare the Air” – I don’t think so! And have any of the city Council Men and Women (other than I suspect Jamie Mcleod) used a bus? Major Mahan when was the last time you used a bus in Santa Clara – have you taken it in the evening? Pat Kolstad would you allow one of your children ride the Bart after dark? Mr Caserta how do most your Santa Clara High school students travel to and from school?
When I lived in Australia I didn’t own a car until I was 25, there was no reason to have a car because public transport was exceptional and I dare say it still is. Let’s raise the bar and start thinking outside the box or in this case the CAR!
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Wow I’m doing some research on my new pet project! Don’t you love a project. I nearly called this blog “So you think your XXXX doesn’t Stink” but I had to restrain myself because I don’t think the Santa Clara City Council would like to hear that about themselves.
You have to wonder what was going on in their minds though when this resident brought up the secret meetings and the documents that the city council had been hiding from residents about the proposed 49ers Stadium. And though I’m on the fence where it comes to the Stadium I can now start to understand why so many residents feel that there is something wrong in the council. As I said before I smell a rat but actually I smell something else and the odor is quite strong – blue cheese? perhaps it’s a broken sewer line? or just the mere fact that there are some politicians who have let the power get to them and the carrots that are being hung before their noses are affecting their judgement.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
