New generation of San Jose leaders poised for positive changes

Hans Larsen, Director of SJ DOT
 before a SJ Bike Party ride
 last summer.

While riding the streets of downtown San Jose in the early evening hours the other day, I tweeted about my sighting of the city's Director of the Department of Transportation, Hans Larsen heading home after a day at the office in his suit, and on his bike on the the San Fernando Bicycle Route.

Yesterday, while riding near San Pedro Square I caught the city's Trail Program Manager, Yves Zsutty walking to work in the morning hours just before an unseasonable rain shower.

And just this morning I happen to run into the city's Director of the Office of Economic Development and she asked if I had any additional information regarding San Jose Bike Party's annual 'Lady's Ride'. She mentioned that she wanted to invite some of her friends along.



Poster from 2011 Ladies Ride.
 Art: Jill Quindiagan

I am glad to say that I was not surprised by her interest in the ride. Kim Walesh, the Director of the Office of Economic Development, along with Hans Larsen SJ DOT Director have both been on multiple San Jose Bike Party Rides. In fact it was because of Kim Walesh public support for SJ Bike Party that I even considered putting on the Dublin Mayor's Ride, an early morning ride with the Mayor of Dublin, Ireland.

Council members Pierluigi Oliverio, Sam Liccardo, and Rose Herrera also get it. Council member Oliverio has been extremely supportive of many cycling and community building events such as Bike Party and Kidical Mass in the Glen. Sam Liccardo, the council representative for the downtown area has been a strong supporter of cycling and is a yearly competitor in the King of the Mountain ride. Rose Herrera has also supported Via Velo and was one of the only council members to show for the Dublin Mayor's ride.

It is encouraging to see these newer leaders in the Parks, Transportation, and Economic Development fields. These new leaders get it. Not so much with the old guard, some of whom are no longer with the city. My most memorable quote was from the former head of the San Jose Redevelopment Director Harry Mavrogenes. When asked by columnist Scott Herhold in a August, 2010 column about the San Jose MarketCenter development he responded directly from the sprawl playbook.

When I asked Mavrogenes why he believed MarketCenter was downtown, he resorted to a bureaucratic defense: "It's part of the greater downtown," he told me. "When we extended the borders of the redevelopment area, we included this center." Then I asked how he'd gotten to the grand opening. He said he had driven from his City Hall office. So we have a downtown location that you have to drive to from your downtown office. Sorry, Harry. Something doesn't compute.

Another instance was at the very same event where Kim Walesh took a stand and publicly supported San Jose Bike Party. Just a few moments later when San Jose Planning Director was asked about author and feisty critic of the planning profession during its last 50 years, Mr. Hordwell was unclear as to just who Mr. James Howard Kunstler is. Where as Messrs. Walesh, Larsen, and Zsuetty have made countless appearances to neighborhood workshops, meetings, and events I have yet to see the Planning Director leave the City Hall campus.

So given all of the fiscal constraint, labor tensions, and other challenges that face today's leaders I applaud these new leaders, both elected and city staff who not only make a difference but are also highly visible in their communities. The only problem is that we need more like you.