“Always focus on the front windshield and not the rear view mirror.”
Today, San Jose neighborhoods are concerned about crime, public safety, gangs, and graffiti. People don’t care about the statistics of how many homicides, violent assaults, burglaries, or car break-ins occurred in some meaningless snapshot of time. People are fearful of what’s going on right here and now.
We have heard the various interpretations of statistics with platitudes & excuses. None of that makes a difference because of the striking shock, disbelief & grief from the increase in crime that has affected so many.
Hearing a friend talk about attending a memorial for an innocent bystander who was randomly killed creates an indelible impression. Seeing the fear in a young child’s eyes after his home has been ransacked leaves one speechless. Trying to comfort him from the fact that his home is no longer safe and secure is incomprehensible. These perceptions are today’s San Jose realities.
Over $2.75 million in city money for attorney fees is being wasted to defend an unconstitutional Measure B. Mayor Reed knew how & why it would legally fail. His objectives are greater than San Jose. We were merely pawns in his larger goals with his wealthy friends to destroy what is the strength of this country: a large & viable middle class. The destruction that he has wrought upon a once proud & safe City is beyond belief.
So what can we see through that front windshield?
We see an opportunity that can change San Jose. There is an election for a new Mayor and five councilmembers in 2014. Four open seats to make a difference. As the campaigns begin to open and the fanciful rhetoric flows from the spin-doctors, the important questions for all of us to ask to each and every candidate are
— what will you do to take the fear out of that young child’s eyes and
— if you were in City Hall for the past 4 to 7 years, why didn’t you do it?
— what steps will you take to make San Jose safe again?
The neighborhoods are looking for real solutions. Hope is no longer enough. We want action.
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