Jaye Bailey is the chair of SPUR’s San Jose Board. A native New Englander, she practiced labor and employment law in Connecticut and Rhode Island for almost 20 years before an unexpected career change brought her to education — and San Jose. “In 2009 I began what I thought would be a short-term role assisting a public university in Connecticut with labor issues,” she recalls. “I loved the access mission of the university and the direct impact on students that my work could have.” She came to San Jose when her boss, Mary Papazian, made the move to become president of San Jose State University.
Today Jaye lives in Japantown and is vice president for organizational development and strategic initiatives at SJSU. “I came to San Jose in fall 2016 and immediately knew I loved the city, the mission of SJSU and the community,” she says.
When did you first become interested in cities?
A childhood illness brought me and my family to Boston on a regular basis in my early years. My mom would distract me by taking me around Boston to see all the sights. I fell in love with the energy and the contrast to the small town where we lived in Rhode Island. I've never lost the love of visiting a new city, pulling out the map and exploring.
How did you first learn about SPUR?
When I was deciding about my move to California, I searched all the info I could find about San Jose. SPUR’s name kept coming up again and again. I was thrilled when the opportunity came up to serve on the SPUR San Jose Board.
What’s your favorite city and why?
San Jose, of course! There is no more exciting place to be right now than here where the potential for growth and social and economic policy change is amazing. But I will always have a very special place in my heart for Boston. The history of the revolution, the placement of old with new, the cobblestones…. And, of course, that's where Fenway is!
Favorite view?
The Bay Area is the land of great views. There are so many: Lick Observatory outlook and Ridge Vineyard come to mind. But I will always love the view from the Inn at Castle Hill in Newport, Rhode Island. If you haven't been, go!
Favorite book, work of art or film about cities?
I will always love The Last Hurrah by Edwin O'Connor. While not set in any particular city (but pretty clearly based on Boston), it's a great read exploring the old and the new in politics and emerging city identity. I also still admire Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe. It satirically hits every issue, and as someone who spent lots of time in NYC in the ’80s, it has always stayed with me.