May 1, 2008

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

How often and for what reasons do you go to downtown San Jose? What would make you go more often?
(Asked at Starbucks on Almaden Expressway)


“I never go downtown because I have four kids and my life revolves around school, the swim team and my children’s other activities. It’s out of my zone. I guess we’d go more often for a special occasion dinner or play.”

Staci Tenczar, 35
Almaden
Homemaker


“I used to go more than I do now because I liked the night life and the fine dining and the clubs. If there was less hassle parking and being black I get hassled there.”

J. Krysinski, 20
Almaden
Junior at Santa Clara University


“I go downtown at least five times a week because I’m a student at San Jose State. I also go to clubs and bars. I’d go a lot more if parking were free and if there were not so many homeless people around loitering and dirtying the sidewalks with garbage.”

Ana Dragovic, 22
Almaden
San Jose State University student


“I don’t get down there that often, maybe three or four times a year because I have to pay for parking. I would go more often if parking were free."

Janice Jones, ageless
Campbell
Executive administrator


“I work downtown. If there was another La Victoria [downtown] I’d be there every day of the week. I also go to the Improv once a month. If they had more shows, I’d be there more often, I love eating and I love seeing comedians.”

Brandon Kwock
Almaden
Mortgage broker


“I don’t get downtown very often. We go to San Jose Giants games. We have four kids and they have a lot of activities including sports. We stay around Almaden. I’d go there if I had more time.”

Amanda Laugesen, 44
Almaden
Homemaker


“I probably get downtown about five or six times a year for business, lunches, restaurants and the theater. Parking is a hassle I don’t like to deal with. Most of the mainstream stores, like Macy’s are closer and are at local malls, there tends to be more boutique shops downtown. I like being able to go to [big department] stores. If you go to Union Square in San Francisco there’s a lot of different places to go to. San Jose restaurants are good, but not much else.”

Mark Calomeni
Almaden
Engineering executive


“Maybe three or four times a year for sporting events and concerts. If someone would buy me more tickets, I’d go downtown for sporting events and concerts.”

Marilou Eby, 43
Almaden
Homemaker, part-time student