Working Group Introduced Before City Advisory Panel, Need For Broad Input Highlighted

San Jose's economic and social success stems from tapping a diverse group of people for innovative ideas. To that end, the Community Budget Working Group intends to bring a range of voices and ideas on the City budget to the forefront.

Last night, represented by Reymundo Espinoza, CEO of the Gardner Family Health Network, BAYMEC co-founder Wiggsy Sivertsen and myself, the Working Group invited the city committee working on budget issues to participate in the Working Group's Dec. 1 meeting at the Martin Luther King Library at which a wide range of budget ideas will be presented and discussed.

"San Jose has some of the smartest, most innovative people on the planet living within its borders," Reymundo said in his invitation to the Mayor's Budget Shortfall Advisory Group. "What better group to discuss the City budget than those innovators?"

We were among a small group of San Joseans who attended last night's meeting at City Hall where the city's own budget strategies were outlined. Without broad-based input like that which our Working Group will receive at our Dec. 1 public meeting and from our website at www.MyBudgetIdea.com - which we will present to city officials early next year - the City's budget analysis will be incomplete.

Please join the process by attending a meeting or submitting your thoughts at MyBudgetIdea.com.