San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed dropped the dreaded "L" word – layoffs -- in a speech otherwise designed to thank everyone who works (for the moment) at City Hall. Emotions are running high with layoffs commenced minutes after Reed’s return to City Hall, starting with 28 folks in the Planning Department. Reed’s speech included mention of the 25 new police officers hired, in response to the criticism he’d taken from Councilmember Nora Campos over safety, not to mention the heat from Police Officers...The new Officers must be wondering what they are heading towards with layoff notices coming on the heels of a billion dollar loss in their pension fund.
If you weren’t at the Community Breakfast/State of the City, you can read it or watch it. The Merc’s Scott Herhold says the Mayor (like Sarah Palin did in her debate) “…has successfully lowered expectations,” and optimistically says the Mayor inspired a feeling of hope – attempting to channel the popular message of the President-elect, whom Watch Dog wonders if the Mayor actually voted for. San Jose Revealed and The Fly both have round-ups of the speech. (Apparently they were able to stay awake...) In an hour, Watch Dog will post the real news that came out of the speech...
Drunk in San Jose, the story that keeps giving…Wednesday a federal class-action lawsuit was filed against San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis and the City alleging thousands were wrongly busted for drunkenness. Judge Ronald Whyte, a Bush appointed federal judge, first has to figure out if there are grounds for a class-action suit. This is the second lawsuit to hit San Jose, last August another lawsuit was filed alleging arrests for attitude. City Attorney Rick Doyle said of the class-action lawsuit, "We take these things seriously, and we'll look at it.'' Don't forget to read Watch Dog's previous coverage, including our rant about how long (6 months?!) the City's silly Task Force is taking...
Morgan Hill City Councilmembers were diligently at their jobs slashing the budget until late Wednesday night. By the time they left they’d shaved $1.9 million off the budget and approved layoffs for 2 assistants and a custodian. City Manager Ed Tewes will have a go at shrinking other departments with the Council in future meetings. Councilmembers Greg Sellers and Marilyn Librers are in favor of dipping into reserves pointing out these are extraordinary times while Mayor Steve Tate said it’s critical to keep the 25% reserve in place. Mayor Tate...this is the rainy day you've been saving for. It is umbrella time...
Monte Sereno’s (rotating) Mayor Curtis Wright hopes his second go at Mayor will help him accomplish his goals. (That's what George Bush hoped too with his second term, but the way...) This includes stopping the State from requiring cities in California to allow secondary units. Wright said while Monte Sereno shares goals with neighbors Saratoga and Los Gatos, the main difference is Monte Sereno has "a very regional perspective," and in working with the State, Monte Sereno is “like Switzerland in Europe; we are trying to facilitate things." The real question is, does Monte Sereno also have a reputation as a place to stash money?
Soon to be former Cupertino City Attorney Chuck Kilian waxes nostalgic as he prepares to leave after 35 years helping keep Cupertino out of legal woes. When Kilian first came to Cupertino he says, "The citizenry was mostly two kinds of people: property owners who tended to be Italian, Yugoslavian, or German and those who were moving in to the brand new subdivisions that were being built." Careful Mr. Kilian, it sounds like you might be walking the fine racial line that got Chief Johnson in hot water in Palo Alto...
Cupertino School District Superintendent Phil Quon is hoping residents haven’t noticed the imploding economy and will say yes to a 4 or 5 year parcel tax of $125. Quon is hoping the failed 2004 proposal taught campaign supporters a lesson. Quon said, “People need to wake up. I don't know what it will take to get people to pony up the money to fund public education." Here's a hint Sir, don't tell them they need to wake up...
Chromium 6 sounds more like a hip SF band than cancer causing waste. Made famous by Erin Brockovich (and even more famous by Julia Roberts), the carcinogen has been found in Sunnyvale’s groundwater supply. Although Lockheed Martin's waste water was found to contain Chromium 6, along with numerous other toxins, it’s not clear that they are the source. Lockheed is downhill of the contamination, making it likely there’s another culprit.
Parking was on the minds of the Saratoga City Council when they decided to continue with relaxed parking requirements on new development projects. Councilmember Jill Hunter said she normally would not support relaxed requirements but, “…this Country is facing some very, very hard times, and I am worried about our little Village because of that." Councilmember Kathleen King never has a problem finding parking and was ready to keep current procedures for even longer saying, “Maybe I know where all the parking spots are in Saratoga, but I have never spent more than three minutes looking for a parking space in Saratoga." Maybe you do...
Mountain View Fire Fighters leaped into action when a natural gas leak forced evacuation at a shopping center. Apparently a landscaper managed to puncture a line causing an end to renovation of the shopping center for the day, which we can assume was less costly than a massive explosion...
The Merc's Sal Pizzaro left San Jose to enjoy Campbell’s rockin’ nightlife, running into fellow San Josean Dan Doherty who said he sees lot’s of San Josean’s enjoying themselves having abandoned their own downtown. Sal, Scott Knies called...he'd like to speak with you...
Steve Jobs emailed employees yesterday to let them know that he was taking a medical leave of absence until June. Watch Dog can only assume that Apple employees were more sympathetic to the news than the stock market was to the announcement...
Not heading to D.C. for Tuesday's fun? Not to worry. If you’re looking to rub elbows with local luminaries, head to a live viewing at San Jose City Hall, the Silicon Valley of Non-Profits, or the American Leadership Forum. Evening events include a black-tie affair at Santana Row’s Sino and Left Bank Restaurants, the Avalon Nightclub, and Democratic Party celebration. Steve Preminger, head of the local Democratic Party said, "So many people worked so hard, many for the first time, to achieve this presidential victory." He didn't continue, "So let's go get drunk and arrested in downtown San Jose..."
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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