Spring Break
Former SJ mayor returns to talk transportation
Kyle Hansen
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Norman Mineta, former U.S. secretary of transportation, will be speaking at San Jose State University Thursday afternoon about the effects of traffic on the economy.
The event will be held in the Engineering Building auditorium, room 189, at 1 p.m.
Mineta was the longest serving transportation secretary in the history of the department, serving from 2001 to 2006, according to his biography on the White House's Web site. Mineta is also the first person to switch directly from a Democratic to a Republican cabinet.
Prior to his service in the Cabinet, Mineta was a member of the House of Representatives, representing San Jose from 1975 to 1995. Mineta was mayor of San Jose from 1971 to 1974 and was the first Asian-Pacific-American mayor of a U.S. city, according to the biography.
Some students were not aware of Mineta and did not seem interested in his speech.
"I don't see how that will help me - maybe it will be good for other majors," said Ahmed Elkady, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering.
Sandy Tang, a junior majoring in business management, said that transportation was not that important and public transportation has solved a lot of problems.
"The buses are great," she said. "They just need to come more often and we need more parking."
Terry Christensen, a political science professor, said that Mineta was an important leader in San Jose and has kept his connections to the area in addition to his success in Washington.
"Unlike many political leaders, he's never lost touch with his home base, not least because he never forgets a name or face," Christensen said via e-mail.
"Norm was a crucial leader at a turning point in San Jose politics, as the city transitioned from a conservative, business-dominated old guard to a more liberal new establishment that included women, minority groups and neighborhood associations," Christensen said.
"His election and his leadership were essential to the establishment of racial and ethnic inclusion in San Jose politics - and one reason we still get along pretty well here despite our great diversity," he said.
The event will be held in the Engineering Building auditorium, room 189, at 1 p.m.
Mineta was the longest serving transportation secretary in the history of the department, serving from 2001 to 2006, according to his biography on the White House's Web site. Mineta is also the first person to switch directly from a Democratic to a Republican cabinet.
Prior to his service in the Cabinet, Mineta was a member of the House of Representatives, representing San Jose from 1975 to 1995. Mineta was mayor of San Jose from 1971 to 1974 and was the first Asian-Pacific-American mayor of a U.S. city, according to the biography.
Some students were not aware of Mineta and did not seem interested in his speech.
"I don't see how that will help me - maybe it will be good for other majors," said Ahmed Elkady, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering.
Sandy Tang, a junior majoring in business management, said that transportation was not that important and public transportation has solved a lot of problems.
"The buses are great," she said. "They just need to come more often and we need more parking."
Terry Christensen, a political science professor, said that Mineta was an important leader in San Jose and has kept his connections to the area in addition to his success in Washington.
"Unlike many political leaders, he's never lost touch with his home base, not least because he never forgets a name or face," Christensen said via e-mail.
"Norm was a crucial leader at a turning point in San Jose politics, as the city transitioned from a conservative, business-dominated old guard to a more liberal new establishment that included women, minority groups and neighborhood associations," Christensen said.
"His election and his leadership were essential to the establishment of racial and ethnic inclusion in San Jose politics - and one reason we still get along pretty well here despite our great diversity," he said.
Be the first to comment on this story