Morning News Round-Up – 12.22.08: (Unfortunately...) Drunk Driving Edition...

The non-lethal(?) taser stays in the news this weekend. Edwin Rodriguez was killed Friday after being tased, his family says he suffered from schizophrenia and may have been confused when he was tased by police officers. Campbell Police Captain David Dehaan insists Rodriguez was struggling and not handcuffed when he was tased. Sgt. Donald Morrissey of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is keeping mum and won’t comment on the investigation. (Un)Surprising based on San Jose's experience last week...

Hoping to keep the Peralta Action Plan (McEnery Plan) under scrutiny, Councilmember Nora Campos has requested Council access to all legal documents saying, “In order to ensure openness and transparency, the City Council must have access to all documents related to this investigation." Mayor Chuck Reed said the request will be considered in Committee before a decision to discuss in public. The problem for Campos is that the Committee in question is far more likely to delay the request due to a lack of strong Campos allies.

The Merc.'s Internal Affairs reports former San Jose police officer Sandra Woodall will, for now, keep her job as an investigator with the District Attorney’s office. Woodall confessed to drunk driving, is serving time in jail, and, more importantly, undergoing rehab. It seems to Watch Dog she’s owning up and paying penance, what about Sgt. Will Manion and Officer Patrick D'Arrigo, who covered up her drunk driving?

The Gilroy Dispatch is publishing the names of DUI repeat offenders as they’re re-arrested. Watch Dog wonders - is this an attempt to embarrass them into AA or just warn their neighbors? Sandra Woodall should take notice and avoid Gilroy...

Gilberto Vasquez Reyes blew through the red light in San Jose, hitting a mother of four. Debi Dee Parsons-Mason was on her way home from the corner market where she and her youngest son were buying chocolate bars. Police Officer Kathryn Kraus sent the grieving family a condolence card after arresting Reyes for felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter.

San Jose Inside posted a few more Rants & Raves over the weekend, including a gripe that there are too many new daily blogs on SJI (there’s a problem reading – or not reading – more than one story?) and an invitation from Editor Eric Johnson to Kathleen for coffee. Her grumping about editing (by removing libelous remarks) was apparently sufficient to warrant a free cuppa Joe.

Sorry, Barbara Attard, no big fat check for you. But as a lovely parting gift you get all the coffee and chocolate you need to stay wired looking for your next job. Mayor Chuck Reed politely thanked Attard (after unceremoniously dumping her) with a basket of Peet’s and Schurra’s. Not to be left out, Police Chief Rob Davis thanked Attard for the things she did to make San Jose a better place to live (that he stood in the way of) -- like pushing for use of breathalyzers...Mayor Reed was busy shopping, he gave a basket with San Jose Giants tickets and ball caps to outgoing Vice Mayor (supervisor-elect) Dave Cortese and tickets to the Jazz Society to outgoing Councilmember (soon to be Supervisorial intern/candidate) Forrest Williams. Both also received some of the delicious Schurra’s chocolates. A couple of things...does Chuck Reed not notice that a their are locally-owned coffee shops downtown? Does Dave Cortese need to report receiving these gifts from the San Jose Mayor as part of his Supervisorial reporting?...

Sunnyvale Councilmember Otto Lee has been busy since he received notification of his impending deployment to Iraq. Lee has had to wrap up his business affairs, make sure his family is cared for, attend the usual series of holiday parties, and make sure his Council seat is kept warm while he’s away (and that he can get it back when he returns). Dean Chu, who contacted only Lee before his temporary appointment, said he was surprised and had expected an appointment process. Watch Dog wonders if Chu thought that he’d get the seat only after others were invited to apply?

Merc. columnist Patty Fisher lends a voice of support for First 5 in support of keeping their $30 million out of the hands of state Legislators. Tobacco tax money funds the agency allowing them to insure children, improve preschools, keep families together, and provide parenting skills. With the state facing a deepening financial crisis Fisher is right to be worried...