Willow Glen Resident
News
The future of city's status on agenda of SJ mayoral candidates
By Monica Heger
Five of the 10 candidates for San Jose mayor squared off on how to strengthen the city's economy, during a formal debate at the California Theatre.
Candidates at the March 30 forum were Chuck Reed, Dave Cortese, Cindy Chavez, David Pandori and Michael Mulcahy.
All five attempted to distance themselves from the recent scandals that have plagued city hall. The three current council members--Reed, Cortese and Chavez-- highlighted what they've done to increase transparency at city hall, while the other two candidates called for an overhaul. The debate, sponsored by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, the Silicon Valley San Jose Chamber of Commerce, the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau, the San Jose Downtown Association and the Silicon Valley Leadership Bureau, focused mostly on economic development and how to attract businesses into San Jose.
Pandori, a deputy district attorney, criticized San Jose's focus on three major development projects--Evergreen, North San Jose and Coyote Valley.
Pandori wants to see greater efforts made on downtown development, aiming for a better mix of jobs and housing, as opposed to placing jobs in one place and housing in another.
Reed defended the development of North San Jose, saying businesses in this location were driving the San Jose economy.
"Keeping industry in North San Jose is the most important thing we need to do," Reed said.
Mulcahy, a local real estate developer, said he would run the city like a business.
He advocated for infill development and high-rises.
"It's about in and up," he said. "Redevelopment is a powerful tool, and we need to put it in places to generate revenue."
Cortese criticized the incremental planning that was taking place . He pointed out that the General Plan, which is supposed to be updated every 10 years, is several years behind.
"Development is so muddled that no one knows what the impacts are in terms of traffic," he said.
Cortese said he would support a major public funding venture to make over downtown, such as a ballpark.
Chavez, currently vice mayor of San Jose, primarily focused on building better neighborhoods. Neighborhoods, affordable health care and affordable housing could be the foundation for attracting people and business to San Jose, she said.
Chavez cited her sunshine ordinance as an example of involving the community and government in more open exchanges.
She also reaffirmed her commitment to bringing BART to San Jose.
