Citizens like you and me do not understand how much difference local government -- via things like petty zoning laws -- can make in the presence or absence of fun, hip, culturally meaningful events in the community.

In contrast, here is a major tourist center whose mayor "challenged" the community to put on a world-class arts festival:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/06/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-is-joe-riley-of-charleston-the-most-loved-politician-in-america.html

And here is more info on the practical challenges of having fun things in San Jose:

http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2014/06/26/food-truck-impresario-takes-fight-to-san-jose-fire-dept/