Building Confidence in Local Government

Commonwealth Club Silicon Valley would like to invite your community and friends to our upcoming program, Building Confidence in Local Government: Who Can We Trust?

For more information, please visit our website www.commonwealthclub.org/sv.html
or call Trish Newfarmer at 408/351-3477

Date: Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 program

Venue: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Second Floor Meeting Room, 150 E. San Fernando Street, San Jose. Free parking in Fourth Street Garage after 6 p.m.

Title: Building Confidence in Local Government: Who Can We Trust?

Cost: Free Program

Panelists:
Hon. Tom McEnery, former Mayor, City of San Jose
David Yarnold, V.P. and Senior Editor, San Jose Mercury News
Bob Kieve, President, Empire Broadcasting (KLIV and KRTY radio stations)
Hon. Judy Nadler, Senior Fellow, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University; former Mayor, City of Santa Clara

Moderator:
Dr. Gloria Duffy, President & CEO, Commonwealth Club

Description: Long known as a "clean" city, San Jose city government has recently been rocked by multiple scandals. City Councilman Terry Gregory resigned in January and was indicted on 11 counts of failing to report gifts and loans and conflict of interest. In 2004, City Hall officials allowed San Jose-based Cisco Systems to write the specs for a contract for 18,000 items of communications equipment that Cisco then bid to win for the new City Hall. After investigation, the deal was overturned, Nortel received the contract for $8 million less than Cisco had bid, and a criminal investigation of City officials is ongoing. Has the ethical climate in San Jose changed? What factors have led to these episodes? And most importantly, what can be done by citizens, the media and government institutions themselves to ensure that San Jose government is clean and regains public confidence? People in San Jose are quietly talking about this issue over dinner and at social events; now it's time to talk about it openly. Please join us for this frank, yet positive discussion.

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 program

Venue: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Second Floor Meeting Room, 150 E. San Fernando Street, San Jose. Free parking in Fourth Street Garage after 6 p.m.