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I see an article in the San Jose Mercury news today where a group of residents in Palo Alto are holding up a project that involves a developer. The developer is wishing to build a new plaza. The residents have taken legal action to fight this proposed development.
Clearly the ‘little people’ are starting to say enough is enough and looking for ways to fight councils and developers. These residents have taken legal action. To read more about what they are doing here is a link to the article in the SJ Mercury . I think it is worth noting that home owners are seeing that these developments affect their property prices. In this case this development is a plaza with stores and businesses associated with it. It is worth noting that the residents are attempting to completely block this project but that their voices are heard and that they have some say in the feel and look of this project.
The argument that project reflect the cities ordinances and the plan are no long really relevant as I see it. Many years ago when some of these ‘plans’ were set life looked different. We didn’t have many of the issues we have today as we write. We didn’t have 8% unemployment, we didn’t have words like ‘recession and depression’ used in the same sentence. We didn’t have the strength of the internet spreading news and bloggers out there writing opinions and becoming watchdogs of our governments. Many bloggers out there are just individuals with opinions not ‘paid’ employees of newspapers, PR organizations or lobbyists.
Santa Clara city council has argued for a long time that we need more housing for the jobs around the city? What jobs? Sun Microsystems announced two fridays ago that they would be letting 18% of their work force go, Along with Sun, there are other Santa Clara tech companies following suit. Thanksgiving is a time when comes tradional lay off HR feels it’s a time people will be around family and they will be ’safe’ to send them home with out a job. Nice.
I would continue to ask the city rather than focus on more housing focus on updating our section of El Camino – clean up the ’strip’ please. I know it’s very boring to hear me say this again, but I would rather this than a 49ers Stadium or another 806 residential units – such as the Fairfield Residential project. Find some developers that will give us something to be proud of and that brings true business to our city. As we loose tech companies we need to look at other forms of businesses. With the car industry in turmoil some of our Stevens Creek car lots will disappear and with it big dollars from taxes.
So the word is out the 49ers issue is causing concern for some voters. Finally some people are starting to ask questions about why and how this affects them. They are asking candidates and wondering how the dollars and “sense” of having a stadium in our city works. What’s interesting as the campaign gets closer to election day the knives come out. Well isn’t that to be expected? Aren’t we seeing the same type of dirty tactics in the National news?
Haven’t you been reading the news about the Obama / McCleain election. That campaign is also starting to sling mud. I figured once they started flinging mud, it too, would start at a city level. So apparentlythe heavy hitters are out to sling mud at Jamie McLeod and her stand on ‘let’s know the numbers’ before we decide if it is financially a good idea for our city to have a stadium. My parents always told me ‘don’t spend more than you have’. So the question still remains: do we have the money to even build this stadium? And what do we as a city get out of it? Nothing probably, not that I expect anything from it but I do expect responsible decisions.
If there are sweet heart deals to be had out of this from developers could they please spend some money on cleaning up our part of El Camino – after our part looks like it got stuck in time – the 50’s, maybe the 60’s. Or perhaps we could get the developers to put into funding some of the elementary schools – after all we are gong to start bursting at the seams here. Or perhaps we could get a downtown that resembles a downtown and not a hotsh potch of something slapped together at the last moment. Maybe we could have an arts program for Grafitti artists? Maybe we could have a current 24/7 study of our traffic issues, needs and wants – especially on El Camino, Kiely & Lawrence. Maybe we could have a halt on all new development till we take stock of current developments and where they are in relation to filling the supposed need this city has for housing. Maybe we should reconsider how many people can live in a ‘confined’ space? Maybe we could stop trying to fix it – when we need to actually need to stop and assess ‘it’. Maybe we could consider that there is something not right with the current ‘majority’ run city council.
Make your vote count and think about the real issues: the stadium, the plan for more high density, the lack of a real downtown, the unwillingness of planning to hear residents issues about more housing in this area, the traffic concerns on Lawrence and El Camino. I’d love to tell you how to vote for but I won’t. I’ll suggest you think twice before casting a ballot for the ‘old regime’ and start thinking outside the box and consider voting for people that have been willing to be outside the favored officials. So if you feel you are willing to have a change consider anyone that has either spoken out against the majority stack holders of Santa Clara or is not affiliated with them. There are quite a few of them: Jamie McLeod, Mario Bouza, Mary Emerson, Brian Lowery, Cirian McDonnel, write in candidate Karen Hardy, – each of these candidates are not part of the anointed party. They all have their own twist on their different issues and some are perhaps not as strong as others but at the very least they are running against the ‘family and friends ticket’. It’s about time Santa Clara City Council looked like a real city council and had more Jamie McLeod’s sitting ‘up on stage’ listening to your average Plumber Joe.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
Well I went strolling back up to Central Park yesterday as I did want to touch base with some of the candidates that were spending their day doing meet and greet. I dropped by Will Kennedy he seems like a very interesting young man, nevertheless an attorney. I think he is a little wishywashy on the stadium and maybe a flip flopper on some other issues – it’s hard to tell in a 2 minute conversation with anyone especially political people. Hmmm – makes me think it’s not a good idea. As I have said I’ve not made up my mind on this 49ers Stadium - but I do have to ask what is in it for the Residents? Or is it just the big guys that are going to win this game? Those people who are opposed to it were busy talking to people – they attempted to talk to me again, but as I said I’m not sure and I’m actually thinking of buying that book on why stadiums don’t work for in larger cities – I have a link at this site if you are interested.
Then Brian Lowery, I like his campaign slogan “get on board” – very clever. He should be elected for that reason alone. A play on words, very clever indeed. Another smart thing he had was a business card with his main policies. So you put that in your pocket and keep that rather than a piece of paper you are more likely to recycle. Plus he’s not afraid to mention his religious affiliation – I found this amazing – no Catholic in Australia would mention that fact until after the fact. They would be on the DLP (vote Mack Back) ticket or the NCC – boy those are parties I haven’t thought of in years. I wonder how Bob SantaMaria is doing in heaven, he’s probably sitting next to St Peter.
Then I made a point of finding Council Women Jamie McLeod, again she was very busy meeting and greeting and listening to residents. I got talking to someone that had a Tshirt on with Jamie McLeod for City Council printed on it – turned out she had designed and created that Tshirt 4 years ago and was still very proud to wear it. She felt Jamie had done a lot for the older folks in her area and was telling me a bunch of great things Jamie has done. Well there you have it – Jamie McLeod wins the hearts of some of her constituents still 4 years later in politics. That’s good – I like hearing about followings like that.
In fact Jamie McLeod and Ted Mack have a lot in common – in Ted’s case the North Sydney City Council threatened to build a 17 story building behind his back fence. This turned this quiet Sydney architect into a public persona and political activitist. Ted’s campaign was “Vote Mack Back” and I can remember each year on TV these inexpensive but effective ads reminding voters to “Vote Mack Back” – Ted always did well. I suggest to you too “Vote Mc Back” this time the Mc being short for McLeod!
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
So I noticed while wandering the Art & Wine Festival up at Central park there are a number of candidates for the up coming Santa Clara city council election. Here is a chance to get to know them – see how they reflect and plan to support certain issues.
Lets see, this is how I walked by the candidates. At the start of the gauntlet was Cirian O’donnell – I think that’s how he spells his name, he seemed to be doing a fair bit of meet and greet. Then there was Jamie McLeod who is the current council women for seat 7 I believe. Jamie had many supporters around her and was attempting to touch base with a lot of people. Oh and Mr O’Donnell tells me he is running against Jamie the current incumbent and there is one other person competing for this seat but they were not there. Brian Lowery was up there – I didn’t get a chance to meet him – his opponent was also not there.
Then the other big race is the one between Will Kennedy, Mary Emerson and Mario Bouza all of whom were there doing the meet and greet. That race will be an interesting race. Mary Emerson has I believe the only endorsement from the Democrats. Mario seems very passionate about the city and is a long time resident with deep connections to the city and lots of opinions how our money should/could be spent. I didn’t take time to talk to Mr Kennedy – I’m always a little weary of attorneys. I’m am of the same opinion that was in the SJ Mercury news recently – that Attorneys really are an indicator of “No Change” and yet they use that as their slogan this year. So I tend to stay away from attorneys - I don’t know but I wonder if they are even in touch with whats going on in the real world? Just a thought. Perhaps if I have time tomorrow I will return and give Mr Kennedy some time to answer my questions. He was busy talking to others and I did not wish to interupt.
Very interesting, I think what was more interesting was that there was a heavy bit of campaigning on the part of the Democrats in general to register voters and to support the Obama campaign. I should have stopped and asked them about attorneys and why I should vote for Obama? I don’t know attorneys and real estate professionals in politics just send up red flags for me.
I missed seeing the Parks and Trails people handing out there literature and the library information. But it was good to see people discussing the stadium and meet a couple of the school board candidates and the college candidate. There was clearly a lot of people that are not in favor of the stadium – it was apparent from amount of interest in the booth. Oh and that same booth had their own ticket for Santa Clara City council – also very interesting as they recommend a write in for Seat 4 – write in Karen Hardy I believe against Kevin Moore who is standing unopposed. Personally I always like the fact that one year in Sunol a dog was written in as Mayor – in fact years later that same Mayor’s body was stuffed and stood behind the Bar at the Sunol Pub. Excellent way to remember a politician. Stuffed and mounted around a bunch of liquor!
The fact that these people take time out to be there and talk to residents says a lot for them. This is true grass roots politics. I took literature from Noelani Sallings, Albert Gonzalez and Don Borenave all running for the school board and all represented at Politics Alley. I chatted with some of these candidates or their representatives and now have an idea who I am going to vote for. On a side note I like the fact that Albert Gonzalez had no endoresements. I find endorsements odd and rather make up my own mind than having the approval of say a politician or a business person.
Anyway these guys will be there tomorrow no doubt so go and talk to them find out whats important for you and see if you found someone you wish to support. After you’ve done that take some time and relax, drink some wine, listen to the band – Santa Clara puts on a great art and wine festival.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
The City of Santa Clara is looking for the input from the residents on the proposed idea of having the 49ers be part of our community. Tomorrow night at city hall you can go and ‘float’ your ideas or give your input as to the idea of having them be part of our city.
There was an article in the SJ Mercury news today informing residents of these meetings tomorrow. There will be two sessions where people can give their input one at 3.30pm and one at 6.30pm. Unfortunately I cannot make either of those because of a prior commitment but I urge those that are concerned about other planning issues in Santa Clara to go to one of these two events. It’s an opportunity for the city to be aware that we do care as a city about what they are planning for our future.
I know Mr Moore is in favor of the stadium – I think he may be a 49er fan – good for him. I can understand his commitment to the idea. I have seen Mrs Mahan on the news sprout support for the idea. I wonder how she feels about the fact that Belmont was trying to talk the 49ers into moving there – or was that Redwood city. Do I care? No – not really. I don’t care who tries to get the 49ers. A part of me wants them to stay in San Fransisco after all they are synonymous with that city. I am, however, a little like Jamie McLeod on this one – if it makes good financial reasoning to have the 49ers here then perhaps we should have them here in Santa Clara.
At the end of the day let’s face it they haven’t really said that they are coming to SC. The city may be spending a lot of money on a pie in the sky idea – I hope that’s not the case and if they do come to SC I hope it’s a case of them creating long term wealth for the city not a short term idea. From information I’ve read on the web it sounds like NO city has made money out of Stadiums be they Football or otherwise. They tend to be a negative project. So why then do councils even enter into such an idea? Is it all for the “Glory” of having your name attached to a stadium? Or is it going to be like Qualcomm Stadium or is it AT&T stadium – sorry what is that place called now? Each year we could re name it for a different club or company. Now that makes sense to me – Santa Clara could be the first city to “Ebay” their stadium name. What you think of that idea Jamie McLeod – does that make economic sense? I think even your mate Moore might like that one. Yes, I rather like the idea of putting the stadium on Ebay for naming rights.
I think one question I would ask tomorrow is what kind of jobs does this project hope to bring local residents? Are they jobs that include permanent positions with health care and benefits or are they once again seasonal type jobs like Great America. Though I’m not against seasonal jobs I think they benefit students and retired people it would also be good to see more permanent positions in this general area especially as our projected housing development is going up. Soon we will have more houses and apartments than jobs! That too me is a little out of balance, especially as the city council is always attempting to justify development of homes because local industry cannot find local housing for their employees.
The stadium in my mind brings a lot of short term jobs – I sincerely hope it brings permanent long term jobs that are year round not seasonal.
As I said before I haven’t made up my mind.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
You have to wonder if Santa Clara Plays Fair are going to run people against the current members of the Santa Clara City Council. I for one feel that there has to be some opposition to the current city council.
I was reminded of the Gang of Four and Jiang Quin – Jiang was later given the name “Blue Apple” – hmmm kind of Santa Claran don’t you think? Anyway I digress, and all I’m saying is that we need a change and we need a balance where fair debate and reason can be heard. Dare I say ‘Reason’ pervail. I’m hoping that people like SC Plays Fair is considering running some people and that Jamie McLeod finds some other co-horts to be on her ticket and give her some support. It’s a little hard to see the current council objective and making decisions on behalf of its current citizens.
Though I have not decided how I feel about the 49ers Stadium I have to say that the Santa Clara Plays Fair organization makes good sense when you watch this on YouTube
I am sure if it was my brother who was writing this post he would be all for a stadium in in back yard – he even moved from Eaglemont to East Melbourne so he could walk to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). But I’m not him – and given the MCG creates revenue and contributes to the city of Melbourne I have no reason to criticize but I would if they were expecting my money to fund a game that I don’t even care for (football that is). Heck if was money for Cricket I’d probably willingingly pass money to the MCG – nothing better than a day of cricket – but we are talking gentlemans sport vs hooligans and larrikans.
What comes with football? I ask you do you think is this a good thing for a small city? Who is the Santa Clara city council thinking of? What does their record tell us? The ‘owners’ of our fine city have had a lot of their own agendas in the past dictating how the residents money should be spent. Sounds like a time for change! Hmmm I’m sounding like Obama! interesting – lets bring on a change in Santa Clara and start getting some new blood on council – people who are asking their citizens what they would like.
©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
