Sanjiv Handa is a name unknown to many in America, and really even in Oakland unless you pay attention to Oakland Politics, where he's well known. But by mentioning Sanjiv Handa in the same sentence as Sandra Bullock, Jesse James, Santonio Holmes, Howard Stern, Artie Lange, and President Obama, Sanjiv Handa's now as of this publication more in the Internet zeitgeist than ever before.
All to the point introducing him briefly to all. Sanjiv Handa is a person who, from the view of this blogger, cares about Oakland. Sanjiv Handa's the guy that pops up at seemingly almost every meeting at Oakland City Hall, and understand City of Oakland rules and procedures as much or more than many City of Oakland executives as this video will show:
Watch Sanjiv Handa lectures the Council about justice in News | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
I've known Sanjiv since 1993 when I was a columnist with The Montclarion. Then, Sanjiv was more prosperous, and owned a condo in the Emeryville Towers complex. Since those heady days, something - I do not know what - happened. Sanjiv Handa allowed himself to become obsessed with the City of Oakland to a degree that at times is not healthy. But the simple fact Sanjiv Handa has become almost a cartoon character of sorts, points to the overall stupidly and juvenile behavior that at times passes for Oakland's City Hall culture.
When I created the Oakland-Alameda County Sports Commission in 1999, one of my first actions was to bring Sanjiv Handa in as an advisor. Why? Not just for the reasons I stated regarding his talent, but because few talked to him. Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris always talked to Sanjiv, and felt the same as I did and still does today. Sanjiv's a person you want in your tent throwing darts out of it, not out of your tent throwing darts into it.
Sanjiv Handa was at asset to me. So why in hell can't anyone else in Oakland bring him in? Part of the reason is this "group think" that stops people from doing it who should know better. But regardless of the reasons, and they are legion, it's the norm. He's cast as an outsider.
Yes, Sanjiv Handa brings on these problems himself, particularly with a kind of lack of patience at times, but that's a byproduct of being ignored.
Someone wrote a terrible email about him that I decided to ignore. I hope the people within Oakland City Hall rise to a higher standard and stop being so childish where Sanjiv Handa is concerned. For all of his faults, the man cares about Oakland.
Stay tuned.
For all of Sanjiv's fault of obsessing on all things Oakland Politics, I've always admired him. He's always there at city hall and at most every meeting I've ever attended. That's true dedication.
ReplyDeleteSanjiv does sometimes get facts wrong; however, he's more right than wrong and I wholeheartedly agree with you that city government would be better if they'd 'invite him into the tent'.