On our recent visit to the Golden State, we spent a day or so in San Jose where my wife was born and raised and where we were married and lived for many years.
Back then San Jose’s City Hall was located on Hedding Street on the north side of the city between downtown and the airport.
Not anymore.
Kay Lynne and I were driving through some old “haunts” while there, and we noticed that the new City Hall was located right downtown on Santa Clara St., just north of San Jose State University - a seemingly perfect location.
As you can tell by the photo above, it’s also very beautiful. In fact, I mentioned to my wife that this would even sit well in a big city like San Francisco.
Well, there’s a reason it’s so nice – albeit a little bit out of character for San Jose. Seems besieged mayor Ron Gonzales, recently indicted, sadly, on a myriad of alleged charges relating to misconduct while in office, had pushed very hard during his two terms to get the buildings erected. According to less than friendly wags, he wanted to make sure that he would be remembered.
Unfortunately the edifice(s) reportedly came in at some $100 million over budget. So wouldn’t you know, those same wags have dubbed the new facility “Ron’s folly”?
Wouldn’t you also know that, finally, when San Jose sort of arrives in the big time, the effort is loaded with controversy? I guess it’s hard to convert the world's largest prune orchard into a viable big city in less than a long time.
2 comments:
As one who is concerned that the "facts" are always correct please be advised that the new city hall has not moved to San Carlos Street but continues to reside on it's original site at the corner of 5th Street and Santa Clara Avenue.
Ooops - subconscious error. I know it's location (I took the picture :-). I have corrected it.
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