SJDA Interview with Pierluigi Oliverio

Pierluigi Oliverio represents District 6 - Willow Glean and the Rose Garden - on the City Council after winning a runoff election in March.

A San Jose State University graduate, Oliverio’s background includes work in the restaurant industry, teaching in public schools and stints in the semiconductor and software industries.  His political background includes a successful campaign to fund books, magazines and computers at all San Jose libraries.

Though fluent in Spanish and Italian, Oliverio answered a few questions in English (via email).

What are your primary objectives for your first year on City Council?
Bring technology into my (City Council) office, allowing us to be more efficient, measure results and give constituents accountability and visibility 24/7 via a web browser.

Enhance neighborhood business districts like The Alameda, Lincoln Avenue and West San Carlos Street.Build a greater downtown.

Let's say you serve two terms.  At the end of eight years in office, what "big deals" do you want to have accomplished?
I’d like downtown to be built up as high as possible with residents, retail and office.

Also, the arts downtown will be flourishing and we will bring an NBA team to the arena.

What do you expect to be your biggest challenge as a San Jose City Councilmember?
Getting a hot drink from the non-existent Starbucks at City Hall.

How do you characterize downtown?
A downtown is never done, so the building can never stop.  It is up to all of us to keep visiting and spend money downtown as consumers.

If you could change one thing about downtown, what would it be?
We would keep building residential towers with no hurdles.

What are your favorite things to do downtown?
Favorite activities downtown include attending San Jose Rep, San Jose Stage and City Lights Theater.  In addition, I enjoy our downtown restaurant scene.