It’s a situation that should be on a final exam for aspiring public planners. Residents of the neighborhood where The Alameda curves around SCU are unhappy about traffic, parking, litter and noise spilling over from commercial businesses on The Alameda. The businesses in question have no off-street parking for customers. That’s because they were built … Read more
At the League of Women Voters Candidates Forum on May 3, 2012 at the Fremont Unified School District headquarters, the candidates vying to represent California’s new assembly District 25 – extending north to Fremont, south to Milpitas, and east the Santa Clara – were a fair representation of San Francisco Bay Area politics – in … Read more
The economy’s vital signs may be improving, but many are still out of work and their last dime has long been spent. So the non-profit Stamp Out Hunger (www.helpstampouthunger.com) with the National Association of Letter Carriers has organized what they say will be the U.S.’s largest ever food drive on May 12. The beauty of … Read more
Santa Clara’s recently-decided case against 49ers stadium opponents Santa Clara Plays Fair has already been enshrined in California case law. That’s apparently why Sacramento law firm Soluri and Meserve, which specializes in environmental and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) law, last month requested copies of case documents. This request revved up some inquiring local minds … Read more
If there’s one thing you need to know about Arlyne Diamond, Republican candidate for California’s new state assembly seat 25, it’s that this multi-faceted woman – who does more in a day than most of us do in a month – doesn’t let anyone put her in a box and stick a label on her. … Read more
In 1985, after a rocky and highly contentious two-year effort, Santa Clara completed a deal that made the city owner of the 188 acres of land under Great America amusement park. It wasn’t long after that the 49ers indicated their interest in becoming next-door neighbors. Santa Clara was the leading contender for the NFL team’s … Read more
Next Saturday at 6:30 a.m. morning the call will go out and it will be controlled pandemonium at the City Hall fountain for several minutes while youngsters grab poles and get ready to fish. “For some children, this is the only time they’re going to get to go fishing,” says longtime Kiwanis volunteer Frank Jeler … Read more
Santa Clara politics often stumps observers. Libertarians are frequently the strongest voices for government action, while liberals are equally likely to favor non-involvement. The key to the puzzle is “progressivism;” defined in one dictionary as “making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities.” This bypasses conventional left/right political labels. Today’s stadium project … Read more
Thomas Edison famously said that genius is five percent inspiration and 95 percent perspiration. So too, the new Santa Clara stadium beginning life this week. Its history could be said to begin with a 2001 Mercury News headline: “49ers’ Contract With 3Com [Candlestick] Park Up For Renewal.” As efforts to build a new stadium in … Read more
“This project was thought-about before I was born,” San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York told a group gathered for breakfast at Santa Clara’s Convention Center by the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce Political Action Group last Thursday. He was speaking about Santa Clara’s new football stadium, groundbreaking which takes place this week. “If you look … Read more