Is there enough signage in downtown San Jose? Or does a current lack of signage inhibit commerce and contribute to the bland, unexciting image of our downtown?
I think that more signage is badly needed. So does the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, which last week issued a resolution asking the city staff to place less emphasis on the control of signs ... and more emphasis on encouraging their use.
It's an attitude which is shared by our new director of planning, Joe Horwedle, although Mr. Horwedle also feels that downtown merchants haven't adequately used the signage freedom they already have.
And finally, the city staff last week distributed a set of proposed changes to the sign ordinance -- changes meant to make it easier to erect signage. At least one downtown business person, however, feels that the proposed changes seem to have been written for the benefit of code enforcers, rather than for downtown businesspeople.
My view of the situation is that San Jose still has an awfully long way to go before its downtown displays the signage that will give our city a lively, colorful, exciting center and will give commerce the boost it badly needs.
This is Robert Kieve, and that's a personal opinion.
