Santa Clara Statistics tell a story

So it’s been a while since I posted here – I’ve been busy with traveling, illness, Obama elections, Christmas (yes I still like to use that word rather than Holidays), family etc.  I’ve had people ask me what is going on in Santa Clara regarding the old Kaiser site – the Fairfield Residential project or rather what’s the fancy name for it.  “Gallery on Kiely” I think that’s its official name – the 900 Kiely Boulevard project.

You know the one – the one where 806 units are slated to be built of which 536 are to be rental properties.  And ‘X’ amount of single family residents with those wonderful 10 x 12 backyards.  Yes everyone needs a cell block for a back yard don’t you agree?

Anyway forget my tongue in cheek attitude to the project, what annoys me more is the wonderful report that the Santa Clara weekly did on the project.  They made the project sound so glowing and so in line with what we need in this wonderful small city that hasn’t got enough housing to house the masses.  And the fact that the weekly has never taken the time to sit and talk to residents or if they do they tend to argue how the city is right and they know what is best for us.  I guess if I continually advertised in the Santa Clara weekly or had a stake in it they might hear my point of view, but I don’t so they continually show no understanding for the general public.  I think this is why Blogging is called ‘freedom of the press’.  Because it occurs to me that Freedom of the Press does not occur in the press.  In fact I would say that freedom of the press is dictated by who advertises in the press.  It’s like those special interest groups that ‘ear mark’ special projects.  Sigh…….

This being said brings me to the point of my update on the 900 Kiely site – right now in the city of Santa Clara there are 329 units/apartments/homes/condos/townhomes/single family residents with big/small back yards  FOR SALE at the time of writing this.

The average days on market for these properties are 112 days at the time of writing - that’s in effect three months worth of inventory.  Wait till that new block  town homes with the 10×12 backyards on Lawrence are on the market – and the ones by KB homes near the Scott. 

Why not sell these before the city permits more building any more? 

I don’t even know how many places are for rent in Santa Clara city but seems to me there is enough for sale.  It also seems to me that there is a down turn in the economy – the city needs to be thinking about bringing business back to it rather than building more cell block homes.

I cannot help but think of George Orwell – and reflect on some of his quotes

 

“Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it. “Or this

“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. “Or this
” If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. “

I believe it’s time to put a hold on building or at the very least start to listen to what the residents would like. Let’s clean up El Camino, bring back small businesses, focus less on building, and give us Hope! Listen to the average Joe resident please.

Zuma Dogg runs for Mayor

Zuma Dogg is running for Mayor and tomorrow is the day to vote him in, though I know here in Santa Clara in the heart of Silicon Valley you are not voting tomorrow but if you have a heart and you care about your community you too will find why Zuma Dogg is interesting.

He’s saying that special interest are running how the city council is run in L.A., developers tell council how to run their city etc.

I’ve said it before we need a Zuma Dogg in Santa Clara – and though we don’t have all the problems that L.A. is experiencing you just can’t help but listening to Zuma ‘David Saltsburg’ and not hear someone underneath it all that is concerned about your average Joe.  Maybe he should be talking to McCain as well!??

I guess our Zuma Dogg here in Santa Clara is Kevin Park who has been an underdog and an advocate for many of the residents in Santa Clara who have complaints against, the council, the commissions and the planners of this city.  Certainly in these times the average person who lives in a city is the underdog, we the people are often forgotten when decisions are being made in ‘our best interest’.  I feel like a five year old, all over again. 

Is it in my best interest that we allow homes with 10×12 backyards, is it in my best interest that we still have an El Camino that looks like we are living in the 50’s, is it in my best interest that we continue to have developers do deals with the city in my best interest?

Anyway bottom line if you know someone in L.A. remind them tomorrow is an election and the man to consider for the race is Zuma “David Saltsburg” Dogg!  Go Zuma

And remember to support Kevin Park when he asks for your time when the Kiely / old Kaiser project comes up – he’s been supporting many of you on your different projects – just like Zuma does for the average Joe out there!