Speaking of a diversified portfolio, powerful interests these days are keen on leveraging “diverse identities” in their advocacy projects. Let’s remember that Bloom Energy lobbyists led by Guardino were able to win over three of five Hispanic council members to achieve Bloom’s deadly exemption from the city’s carbon-reduction targets in November 2020. Arenas, Esparza and Jimenez joined Liccardo, Jones, Khamis, Diep and Davis (https://sanjosespotlight.com/how-san-jose-mayors-ally-helped-bloom-energy-skirt-a-natural-gas-ban/). Guardino can say that a majority of Hispanic council members ultimately acted in ways inimical to the community they ostensibly represent in order to accommodate narrow and nefarious interests. So why not build on such a success with “people of color” by supporting an Hispanic woman candidate with a significant career of obliging elites?

For her part, Chavez can leverage her faux progressivism, like her State Assembly supporter Evan Low, to posture on social issues while strictly conforming to neoliberal orthodoxy on economic ones like social safety nets and taxation (https://sanjosespotlight.com/pop-star-inspires-silicon-valley-lawmakers-conservatorship-reform/#comment-60987). That she appeals to powerful elites tells us as much about Chavez as it does about those elites (https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/chavez-and-mahan-top-choices-for-san-jose-mayor-in-october-power-poll-survey/). Being “on board” and “with the program” is, of course, requisite for her. For the elites, it’s all about putting like-minded people of color out front to disguise and deflect from the fact that the power structure remains largely white and wealthy. To suggest otherwise is a conceit promoted mainly by wealthy white liberals who, by supporting Chavez and other elite and elite-serving Hispanics, can both relieve guilt and instrumentalize Hispanic identity to further their own ends.

There has been no major issues of gender or birth color since I can remember going back to at least the 70s. But what could she be alluding to regarding birthplace and birthright? Is there some discrimination or equity issue about these? Certainly there isn’t because the county has sanctuary status and already does not cooperate with Federal officials to return undocumented criminals, and just releases them back into society, but what is the birthright angle? She needs to be transparent and explain what she means by this.

Just updated my website with 2006 SJ Mayoral Mailers.

The fun starts now!

http://sjpoliticalmail.com/

https://www.sanjoseinside.com/politics/mahan-announces-mayoral-run/#comment-1707165

In it, Salem goes into great lengths to connect the dots between Mahan, Guardino, and the Skull and Crossbones club at Harvard. Yet here he is emceeing at Cindy’s shindig.

As far as this article and Cindy go…

Cindy’s hit a few bumps in her career, sure, and this article details them. None of them would deter me from voting or endorsing her. Matt is the same way though. I’m going to wait and see on this race though. I’ve hung out with her a few times, really nice, old school San Jose person that has insight into our culture that a lot of folks don’t.

@Dan Pulcrano

Remember that time when I was working at 7 Bamboo and we were out back chatting it up? We were talking about making the San Jose Mile all electric so we could pack the fairgrounds with folks like in this video again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmYdE_4CRDk

You were like, “YA THAT WOULD BE COOL CORTESE! THE COUNTY COULD INSTALL SOLAR PANELS AND THE CARS COULD BE CHARGED WITH THEM!” (Great idea BTW) Here’s the thing man, I’ve talked to a lot of people that are resentful we got rid of the San Jose Grand Prix. Cindy understood that San Jose has a race culture born of the auto plants that used to be here because she’s been here that long. I wouldn’t doubt that she’s probably enjoyed an overpriced hot dog and a warm beer at the mile.

We have problems right now with sideshows. Imagine electric sideshows at the fairgrounds. Guys electrifying their own cars, doing donuts, sending up big billowing clouds of rubber smoke. Drifting around the mile. Rebuilt grandstands filled with 1000’s of people. Millions in tax revenue a year from sales tax, and a good chunk of change from the state/fed for building a solar farm on the site. We’re taking care of several problems in one swoop, and if there is any politician that could understand how freaking cool it would be to revive the mile, it would be Cindy.

We could be the first E-Track in the country.

Matt’s a bit young, maybe too young to have been out there. I have no doubt that with his tech background Matt could envision this too, but Matt lacks the deep rooted connections Cindy has. Maybe swinging over to BOS would be a good step for Matt, then he could work with Cindy on this kind of initiative.

Moving on;

I find it odd that you guys would mention Shirakawa, when Shirakawa’s niece is rumored to be on city council but it was never once mentioned. Anyways, I like Cindy, she’s good people. BTW earlier where I said “Bumps” in her career? It’s kind of like a car, if it’s been on the road a while it’s going to have a few scratches here and there, adds character. Matt is a shiny new car. Both have their good/bad points.