Tracy Press

Second Thoughts: Jon Mendelson says the bean festival is just right for Tracy, and puts out another call for smart growth in the city.

As you read this, the Chamber of Commerce is getting ready to throw a party. Or, if you’re a late-riser like me, the party’s already started.

That celebration is the 22nd Tracy Dry Bean Festival, and if you’re looking to find the community in a commuter town of 80,000, this is your best shot until the Fourth of July.

The festival is a lot like Tracy: Some people look down on it, many dismiss it — but if you actually get to know it, take the time to wander around, meet the people, feel the vibe and wash it all down with an icy cerveza or two, it’s really not that bad at all.

You might even find it’s pretty darn cool.

Because, like Tracy, the festival is a slice of Americana wrapped in the modern.

Homegrown music acts provide the sound track to service clubs pulling brews, pageant princesses smiling their way across the stage, mom-and-pop grillers pitting their best against chain-store chefs, and hot-rodders showing their throwback rides with all the latest comforts.

And while beans might not be the sexiest food for a party, nothing sticks to your ribs like a plate of just-made frijoles.

If the theme — “Going Bean Crazy in Tracy” — seems lame; if the festival seems too small-town, kitschy, hokey or — heaven forbid — Central Valley, chalk it up to “point, completely missed.”

Festivals like this one are, at times, smaller than imagination desires. There’s no thrill ride, no Disney-worthy fireworks.
But, as grandma often told me, “If you’re not having fun, it’s your own fault.”

The bean fest is the time to see the friendly faces — or complete strangers — that make the Hamlet by the Highway tick. It’s a place to reach across the cinder-block walls that divide our neighborhoods and find the community so lacking in suburbia. It’s time to take the town for what it is and have a little fun with it.

What’s not to like?

OK. A few things.

Before even seeing this year’s edition, I can think of some improvements.

Like keeping it open into the evening, a time of day when people might actually want to stroll on concrete walkways. Or incorporating the weekly farmers market, offering the fresh fruit and veggies that make living through valley summers sweet. Or setting the festival in October as part of a fall festival, so it won’t be so ridiculously hot. Or having the city extend Tracer bus service hours, so those celebrating with too many margaritas can find a safe way home.

Still, it’s Tracy’s thing, imperfections and all. And I’ll take it.

Tracy transit revisited

Last week’s column regarding the future of public transportation in Tracy generated a good amount of feedback, but none more poignant than an e-mail from architect Christina Frankel.

Frankel, who’s worked on medium- and high-density housing and infill development in Sacramento and is now employed at Stockton’s Derivi Construction & Architecture Inc., had this to say about the city’s planning:

“What we really need is to look at the growth of Tracy around a transportation structure, not the other way around.
“I have lived in Tracy for over 18 years now, and seen and commented on the growth, as opportunities for denser developments have been rezoned because of limited vision and NIMBY mentality. I have visited excellent transit-oriented developments, worked on several TODs (transit-oriented developments), and believe that a key component in the future of our transportation plan in Tracy is how to develop TODs.

“… The communities in the valley have blinders on and don’t realize that they could benefit from the innovation that is happening just an hour away (north or west). If Tracy could think ahead of the curve, instead of just ‘Inside the Triangle,’ we could have more open space, a better transportation network and walkable communities for the same effort and cost.”

That’s smart growth for you.

If city officials care about the town they’re leading, they will demand that development — especially far-flung projects like Ellis and Tracy Hills — be designed with a serious public transportation plan at the center.

The alternative is an unsustainable community and a whole lot of complaining when gas reaches $5, $6, $7 a gallon.

Let’s hope there’s someone at City Hall with the will and vision to take us down the smart-growth path, instead of just waving as the promise of the future sails on by.

• Jon Mendelson is an award-winning columnist for the Tracy Press. For a daily dose of Second Thoughts, visit his blog, or contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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written by Observer , September 06, 2008

Americana moment at its finest, the reconnection of community ties, re-discovering what was missing in people's missing lives and digital era... humanity.

Good luck, have fun!

-amy

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written by Tracy RealNews , September 08, 2008

How about bike lanes?

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written by Steve Reshakis , September 08, 2008

Jon says,.."If city officials care about the town they’re leading, they will demand that development — especially far-flung projects like Ellis and Tracy Hills — be designed with a serious public transportation plan at the center.

To expect that Developers "design" a Public Transportation Plan
is Pinko Leftist speak for stick the Corporations with the Bill for all of our Lofty Socialist ideas..
Jon, it is the City's job to develop a Public Transportation Plan.
then have Developer work around that. and not dump the Bill on Developers.
where did you spend your Vacation? Moscow?

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written by Dave Hardesty , September 09, 2008

Steve

I normally don't comment against you but in this I do believe you have missed the mark slightly.

Developers don't really "design" their developments. The City approves their designs before they can build so defacto the City is the actual designer. If the City doesn't like the design the development doesn't get built.

That being said, it then becomes the City's responsability to see that the design has transportation in mind.

Developer fees can be and should be used for these sort of things, it's all a part of the City's revenue stream. But I will say that Jon had better tread lightly in this area because what he is suggesting also smacks of "developer deals" and surely we don't want to have no steenkin developer deals mucking up how our city chooses to grow.

But I do agree with the overall thrust of the article in that I feel we should capitolize on our strengths and for Tracy that strength historically has been centered on transportation and I feel it will remain that way for sometime in the future.

Dave Hardesty

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written by Tracy RealNews , September 10, 2008

How about an airport that could expand to include DC-10's and 767's? We need more than Very Light Jets. I cannot afford "exec jet" type of transportation. Just give me coach like the rest of the taxpayers. Closer to Tracy than SFO to save fuel costs too.

Which airport will that be?

Also, I would like to sit in a "therapy pool" on a hot day too - just to try to relax and think about all the transportation needs, for the City of Tracy, CA.

Thanks!