On Friday, Bush and Gov. Schwarzenegger will be
visiting Cisco Systems in San Jose. Want to join your fellow Californians in telling Bush (and the press) that we don't like what they've been up to?
Details below the flip.
Bush is rumored to be arriving around 2:00pm, at Cisco Building 9 (260 E. Tasman Drive), although it is possible that the highly visible preparations at that location are a decoy.
The exact details of where the "free speech zone" aren't yet available, but we do have road closure information which was distributed to Cisco employees this morning:
Vehicle and Sidewalk Traffic
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Pedestrian traffic will be limited to badged Cisco employees on Tasman Dr. from Baypointe Parkway to Cisco Way. You must carry a Cisco badge with a photo at all times (no temporary badges will be accepted).
- Pedestrian traffic will be limited to badged Cisco employees on Zanker Road from Baypointe Parkway to Center Road.
- Vehicular traffic will be prohibited on Tasman Dr. from Zanker Road to Cisco Way.
- The Tasman Dr. Light Rail Station will be closed.
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Vehicular traffic will be prohibited on Tasman Dr. from McCarthy Ranch Road to First Street.
- Vehicular traffic will be prohibited on Zanker Road from Highway 237 to River Oaks Parkway.
- Vehicular traffic will be prohibited on Cisco Way from River Oaks Parkway to Tasman.
- Vehicular traffic will be prohibited on River Oaks Parkway to Cisco Way.
This would seem to indicate that the best way to get to a protest at First & Tasman, the most likely place where we'll be allwed to stand, show signs, and speak our minds, would be to drive to the
VTA Park & Ride at Tamien Station, take the light rail up to the River Oaks station, and then walk the 1 block up First Street to Tasman Drive. Allow one hour to get from Tamien Station to the intersection of First & Tasman.
There is also a small Park & Ride lot at the River Oaks station, but there is a real chance that it will fill up long before Bush's arrival (probably around 2:00pm).
The San Jose Police are apparently planning to release additional details about where we'll be permitted to protest around 3:00PM Pacific time today. Details will be posted as an update to this diary and on the San Francisco Bay Area Kossacks mailing list.
UPDATE 3:50pm Pacific Time April 20, 2006:
The Santa Clara County Democratic Party has released logistical details for the protest:
"Welcome" Bush and Schwarzenegger to San Jose
President Bush is bringing his message of fear and divisiveness to San Jose on Friday, April 21. He will be joined by Governor Schwarzenegger at Cisco Systems, 260 E. Tasman Drive. The protest crowd will be allowed to gather along Tasman Drive between Cisco Way and Morgridge Drive. You will have to walk there from the east.
Please join us as we give Bush the California welcome he so deserves. Bush is expected at Cisco at 2:10 pm. We expect a large crowd, so please try to arrive by 12:30. Bring your signs of displeasure for the President and Governor.
Roads will be closed at 9 am. The only way to approach the site is from the I-800 side of Tasman. Exit at Tasman/Great Mall Parkway. From 237, exit at McCarthy and drive south to Tasman. Park in the light rail Park and Ride lot on the corner of Tasman and Alder.
Or take light rail on the Alum Rock line from East San Jose or Milpitas and get off at the I-880/Milpitas station and walk to Cisco.
One minor caveat about the above map is that Barber Lane does not intersect Tasman Drive — Tasman has an overpass and crosses Barber Lane without any kind of intersection.
The VTA Park & Ride lot marked on the map has a highly visible clock tower at the corner of Tasman & Alder:
This tower will be on your left if you approach on Tasman from 880 and on your left if you approach the lot along McCarthy Blvd from highway 237.