The Merc.’s Editorial Board is calling for San Jose Police Department to release reports on drunk arrests, no doubt making the Drunk Task Force, Councilmember Nora Campos, and the ACLU very happy. While at the same time, making this guy very nervous...Watch Dog has been covering the ever tipsy story on skyrocketing arrests of Latinos in San Jose here, here, and here.
San Jose/Santa Maria Legislator Senator Abel Maldonado is enjoying his time in the catbird seat and issued a list of demands in exchange for his Republican vote on the State budget proposal. Maldonado’s list includes eliminating partisan primaries, stopping Legislator paychecks (when the budget is overdue), and refusing raises when the State runs a deficit. Colleague/San Jose Senator Elaine Alquist has released a list of projects in Santa Clara County that will be affected if the Governor keeps his promise to stop funding if there’s budget agreement today. No wonder Coto couldn't stand to watch this rerun...Maldando will cave and be a big hero...
Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager thinks the County may have too many cars in its garage and has started an audit saying, "I was concerned that the County was purchasing a lot of automobiles, and I wanted to make sure everyone who is assigned a car needs one." High time too. It’s been nearly three decades since an audit was done of County vehicles. There are currently 144 county employees who have “take-home” cars, including Yeager’s colleague Supervisor Don Gage. I guess a 12-year job at over $100k isn't enough for Gage, he wanted the car too...
At least Supervisor Gage drives his County car...According to an informal survey by the Merc’s Mr. Roadshow Gary Richards, Gage drives solo from Gilroy to San Jose in a GMC SUV but takes light rail from County offices to events in downtown San Jose. Gage must have worried when he received the call from Mr. Roadshow as he said, "Please be nice to me. I am responsible for many key transportation projects completed under budget and ahead of schedule in South County." Check out the story to see how other local leaders get to work...
The Amgen Tour of California will zip through town today as cyclists race out of San Jose on their way to the Central Valley amidst buckets of rain. Cyclist/cancer survivor Lance Armstrong tweeted a request to move the race to April, had a bike stolen, and crashed with a photography motorcycle. The Merc’s Ann Killion covers the race in all its dripping glory.
Local Legislator’s continue dealing with the Great Recession. Around the Valley meetings are in full swing after a wet three day weekend:
- Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will get a report from Acting County Executive Gary Graves with an update on the budget, including staffing impacts and year-end projections for the general fund. This won't be good...
- Santa Clara Valley Water District hears from staff regarding water supply and possible drought restrictions. Ironic, since it has been an incredibly wet week...
- San Jose’s City Council will look at budget corrections, changes to an arts stabilization fund, and new fees for parking violations. Now in real person speak: "corrections" mean things aren't going well, "changes" mean there isn't enough money to stabilize the arts, and "new fees" mean hold on to your wallets...
- Santa Clara's City Council will discuss a grant for police equipment...
- Sunnyvale’s Council considers changes to their sign code...
- The every-entertaining Alum Rock School District Trustees are still talking about lawyers, as in, who to keep/fire/hire.
- Campbell Union School District looks at their strategic plan, facility needs, and talks contracts with the teachers. Again, in real person speak: discussing contracts means the contracts are going to get contracted...
- Cupertino Union School District Trustees meet with the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation Board to discuss instructional technology, the budget, and the parcel tax...
- Los Altos School District looks at the parent survey results and hears about proposed budget cuts.
Pizzaro also lets us know that when we see him out and about this week he won’t be covering local stories, he’s taking a one-week furlough imposed by the Merc. because times are tough.
Watch Dog Weather Report: You might be thinking, as you slog through rising puddles, that all threats of drought imposed sanctions are over. Not so fast. So far this season we’ve received about 8 inches, according to Santa Clara Water District spokesperson Susan Siravo, "This doesn't get us out of the woods yet. We need eight inches plus of rain [more] to get us to where we need to be." Let's hope that those 8 inches don't all fall today...
In spite of the wet weather, San Jose’s rare peregrine falcon’s have returned to City Hall. Clara and Carlos will again be on the City’s webcam giving you the opportunity to be a 24-7 voyeur. The Merc notes that anyone interested in helping to support the San Jose City Hall falcons and the work of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group may do so by making tax deductible donations by check or online.
The Morgan Hill City Council is considering a 2% utility hike to help ease their budget woes. Measure G on last year's ballot failed miserably. Councilmember Marby Lee said of the failure, "I think part of it may be the public didn't trust us to use the money for what we said it would go for." Y'think? This week council will consider a June or November ballot measure.
Hoping to drag an East Bay sports team South, Morgan Hill property/business owner Julie Borina Driscoll sent letters to the Board of Supervisors and the Oakland Raiders urging them to consider Morgan Hill as their new home. Supervisor Don Gage suggested that Morgan Hill might not be the best solution and offered that conversion of (County owned) Hellyer Park in South San Jose is a better idea. Morgan Hill Councilmember Greg Sellers said having the Oakland A’s in Morgan Hill would be a “dream come true” but wondered about the fiscal impacts saying, "If it would cost the community money, I don't think it would be appropriate right now." Especially given the proposed 2% utility tax hike being considered...
Nearly 35 years ago Gilroy was embroiled in “Sewergate” after news broke that City Administrator Jay Baksa’s predecessor and other top-level employees had orchestrated and covered up sewage dumping into a local creek after two years of heavy rain overwhelmed the system. The State imposed a building moratorium on Gilroy. This year, the Morgan Hill/Gilroy South County Regional Wastewater Authority received the Plant of the Year Award from the California Water Environment Association. Gilroy’s Public Information Officer Joe Kline reports Gilroy is now poised to grow. He didn't say, "We need more outlets...a lot more outlets..."
No comments:
Post a Comment