Morning News Round-Up – 1.30.09: Drunks, Fast Cars and Animal Cruelty...

A rift is growing on San Jose’s Drunk Task Force. Community members are demanding a look back while city staff seem to think the past is irrelevant. Watch Dog has been following San Jose’s drunken intrigue from the beginning. Perhaps a sign of things to come…

• "I don't think that we need to have [arrest reports] to take a good and hard look at the way (public intoxication) arrests are conducted now or for us to come up with options to make things better,'' said Deputy City Manager Norberto Duenas. Those who forget history...
• ACLU head, Skyler Porras is pissed and said it’s all about "public relations [rather] than an opportunity to create accountability and transparency."
  
• Metro/De-Bug’s Raj Jayadev agreed saying "It's very strange to be asked to investigate an issue and not be given the most relevant documents to do an a honest examination."
  
• San Jose City Manager Deb Figone wants the Sunshine Reform Task Force to address the issue of report release – of course, Sunshine wants the reports released it’s Rules where the hang-up occurs.
  
• Attorney/Merc attendee at Sunshine committees James Chadwick "The members of the rules committee have been clear they have no interest in providing public access to police reports,"

Splattered all over the old-school news today – Plans to build Tesla plant in San Jose cancelled. Watch Dog issued the warning last year, a month later Watch Dog scooped the competition and yesterday watched as the rest of the media caught up. Tesla is lining up behind banks/states/local mayors for federal money to keep things moving. In a sign that Mayor Chuck Reed has been reading Watch Dog he says (now) the news was disappointing but not unexpected. Company founder Elon Musk will be unveiling the latest edition to the family – in Los Angeles – in March.

SanJoseRevealed gloats a little over the Tesla loss laying responsibility for the economic downfall at the feet of Chuck Reed. Revealed also spent time googling Dan Pulcrano and Chuck Reed – double checking positioning for SJR stories. Revealed didn’t find the multiple mentions of SJR on Watch Dog.

Boots is heading to jail, at least that’s what it looks like with Del Biaggio pleading guilty to at least some of the charges against him. The US Attorney Generals office and Boots’ lawyer Elliot Peters aren’t talking to the press but it’s clear Boots’ is talking to someone.
The Morgan Hill Times editorial board weighs in on efforts in Morgan Hill and Gilroy to cope with the economic crisis and takes issue with a few things. Like, it’s going to take 3 years to study the economic crisis? Looks like Morgan Hill and Gilroy are competing with San Jose in the study-don’t-solve department.

Duffers are among the latest group proposed to help raise state funds and local golf courses are not happy. "It's like getting hit with a sucker punch," said Tony Lauria, director of sales and marketing at Coyote Creek Golf Club north of Morgan Hill. "It's unfair to hit an industry that's struggling, and doing its best to keep our jobs."

Gilroy moved it’s police headquarters into a new building and promptly slapped a sign on the front claiming it was a “green business.” Seems Gilroy needs a lesson in what it means to reduce the carbon footprint. The new building is an energy hog and accounts for 41% of the city’s entire electricity and gas bill. Lisa Jensema, who recently lost her job as Gilroy’s Environmental Programs Coordinator, says the boastful sticker on the front door was not claiming to have reduced the city's carbon footprint, but to have encouraged other green practices - increased recycling, warmer clothes during the winter, shuttered blinds during summer, and so on.

The latest victim of the economic crisis? Animals, specifically animals in rodeos. County Supervisor Don Gage said "We don't feel the animal cruelty ordinance is a high priority right now." Not wanting to leave it at that acting county executive Gary Graves wrote, "we do not believe we have the resources at this time to adequately provide the review and development of options that will allow the board to make an informed decision on the (animal cruelty ordinance)."

There’s a sea change in shopping centers – Cupertino and Sunnyvale plan to capitalize on modern thought rather than rebuild the Edsel. With Sand Hill Property’s Peter Pau at the helm and 34 acre’s of shopping, housing, office space and so on. "We are not trying to create a mall here. We're blowing the mall up," Reed Moulds, Sand Hill project manager said. It looks like mall experts took a trip to Europe, question is, how well will communities adapt to the local mall being integrated in residential neighborhoods?

Abandoned in San Jose, J.R. ended up at the Santa Clara animal shelter. That is, until his mug was spotted by celebrity animal trainer Mathilde DeCagny. Now the formerly homeless terrier is a star in Hotel for Dogs. In the rare occasion where animal cruelty ends up benefitting the critter...

Tesla Chronicles: We Told You So Edition...UPDATED AT 8:46 PM

The rest of the world is catching up to Watch Dog...slowly...

You'll remember the full complement of Watch Dog's Tesla Chronicles previously posted on this site here, here, here, here, and here. And finally, on January 15th, Watch Dog broke the story that Tesla would not be coming to San Jose.

Well, it officially hit the old-school news outlets today. The SiliconValley/San Jose Business Journal, the Merc., and KCBS are reporting on the "news" that Tesla may not be able to move to San Jose. I guess the Business Journal, the Merc., and KCBS should check us out more often to see what is really happening...

Sorry Chuck (Reed). Sorry Harry (Mavrogenes). Sorry Paul (Krutko). This one isn't your fault...

UPDATE:

Two tidbits by way of update...

1. In an updated story from the mercurynews.com, a Tesla spokeswoman said that Tesla "...has not abandoned San Jose..." It seems that Tesla is responding directly to a previous Watch Dog post titled: Tesla Chronicles: Tesla Plans "Abandoned" in San Jose

2. The Mayor's spokesperson, Michelle McGurk, says that the the City is scurrying to find other sites for Tesla in San Jose. If Ms. McGurk had just read Watch Dog earlier, she would have known the Tesla deal was in trouble and the City wouldn't have to scurry so much...

(Late) Morning News Round-Up – 1.29.09: The $6,000 Question...

Metro/San Jose Inside’s Fly takes San Jose Councilmember Nancy Pyle to task for spending $6,000 to replace old Council office furniture while staffers pack their boxes on the way to the unemployment line. San Jose Revealed spanks Metro/Inside's Dan Pulcrano for even wasting space on this earth-shattering news. Watch Dog would like to bet that if Mayor Chuck spent $6,000 on office furniture while cutting City jobs Revealed would feel differently...so would voters, if Pyle wasn't termed out...

Cupertino’s former/part-time Director of Community Development Steve Piasecki is double dipping (receiving retirement pay and a part time salary). City Manager Dave Knapp says Piasecki's lack of benefits and no holiday pay make sure the double dipper still earns less than before. Cupertino gets to keep the institutional knowledge but the City gets to pay less. What a deal...

De-Bug/San Jose Inside’s Raj Jayadev channeled Councilmember Sam Liccardo in his opening line, “Are taskforces where community hopes goes to die?” While Jayadev muffed the grammar a bit, he and Liccardo seem to share the sentiment. Jayadev concludes with, “The group [the drunk task force] certainly has the ability to usher in needed reform about problematic police behavior—it need only the will to do so.” (See Watch Dog's take here...)

San Martin is the scene of the latest pedestrian-meets-vehicle incident. William Flodberg, 75, was flown to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center after being hit by a truck driven by Raul Reyes. CHP Officer Erica Elias said neither drugs nor alcohol was a factor.

It’s called "suicide by cop" and tragic for everyone involved. Pete Joseph Valdez III told police he wanted to die when he pointed the gun at police officers, fortunately, no one was killed or shot. The 29 year old son of former 16 year Gilroy Councilmember Pete Valdez Jr. was arrested 14 months ago, arraigned last month, and now his trail setting date has been delayed for another month. Speedy trial?

There’s a guy in D.C. who believes in science. That's a nice change. So it’s good to hear the Save YSI Campaign is on track. The nature science program has youth curators and class aides who teach classes, conduct experiments, and rope in their classmates for the science fun in Vasona Park and along the Guadalupe watershed. "We do experiments and teach them about science and nature," Westmont High’s Sasha Sproch said. "We talk a lot about animals' different adaptations for survival, such as camouflage." Perhaps W. needs a lesson?...

Oops, seems some South Bay schools have sold (possibly) salmonella infested peanut butter to students...oops...See if your kid dragged home poison packed peanut products.

Morning News Round-Up – 1.28.09: Are you shovel-ready?

County Supervisor Liz Kniss created a list of 32 “shovel-ready” projects that the County will use to ask for Federal dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Supe’s list comes to $174 million, a fraction of the $1.6 billion San Jose’s Mayor Chuck is asking for. Reed has requested for 50 projects. As the Merc. points out Reed’s request represents “a good chuck of the City’s total…” A little Freudian slip with your coffee? As the Metro pointed out, Chuck doesn't really play an active role in politics outside of San Jose -- which may or may not help his chances at Federal cash...

San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber CEO Pat Dando left San Jose’s City Hall pissed yesterday saying, “this is policy run amok,” after the City Council voted to review a 12 year old policy on outsourcing City jobs. Ever chipper, Councilmember Nancy Pyle said, “If the current policy isn’t working, we need to find out why.” Perhaps because every discussion at the City Council takes 4 hours?...

Symantec CEO John Thompson will/may be heading to D.C. as President Obama’s Secretary of Commerce, filling the last remaining seat in the Cabinet. Thompson had already announced his departure from Symantec to be replaced by Enrique Salem. (Watch Dog guesses that the talk of San Jose’s Congressman Mike Honda getting a new gig was Honda-hype...because he is still in Congress and no one is asking Honda to serve...)

The USGS released new maps detailing seismic safety along San Jose’s Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek, home to San Jose’s tech companies and new housing. For a bunch of scientists, the USGS provides some fun stuff for the non-geeks among us. For developers and homeowners, perhaps not so much fun as a warning on encroachment into the liquefaction zone. According to Mineta San Jose International Airport's David Vossbrink, the new construction meets current standards and the concrete runways are less vulnerable than a building. (This isn't Vossbrink's first time speaking for folks on shaky ground.)

Following a closed door meeting Tuesday, San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed and Bobby Lopez with the Police Officers Association (POA) emerged happy about a new contract. Lopez said, “We gave a little to get a lot… we felt it was important to increase salaries significantly.” Alex Gurza said it was cheaper to increase salaries by 5.5% than agree to the pension demands. Maybe the POA saw the billion dollar pension fund loss as a sign of the future. San Jose Inside/Metro’s Erin Sherbert has been following the deal the POA cut with Mayor Reed. POA’s Bobby Lopez is quoted as saying, “We didn’t want to be accused of being the greedy filthy cops that everyone thinks we are.” Was that the message Lopez was supposed to deliver?

Probably not. Watch Dog blames/commends Erin Sherbert for Lopez's off-message (but certainly not misquoted) quote. She has a way of making people say things they probably shouldn't. Remember when Shirakawa (jokingly) called himself a "corrupt lobbyist" in one of her stories?

San Jose Revealed has some fun coupling news of the Merc’s location within the liquefaction zone with their economic problems and shrinking size.

Cupertino’s City Council approved Shashi Corp’s request to build a high-end luxury hotel but not before arguing over the aesthetics of the proposed design. Shashi representatives were adamant about receiving approval on the revised design, approved by the Planning Commission who also argued the original didn’t appear to be “luxurious” enough. "If you're trying to put in a high-end hotel in Cupertino and it's going to be that big and massive, you might as well have something that makes people say,`Wow, that looks neat' rather than`Wow, that looks big,'" said Councilman Mark Santoro. Cupertino Watch Dogs, if you saw the plans please weigh in. This is not the first time folks in Cupertino have had controversy about a hotel and growth...

Sunnyvale’s Planning Commission will review development plans for housing for mostly low or extremely low-income seniors early February. The Commission issued concerns about density and a lack of open space. NIMBYs don't like less-wealthy people in their neighborhoods...expect a battle in Sunnyvale. Otto Lee is going to be pleased he missed this one...

Saratoga’s City Council will be hosting a community meeting to talk about the $4,700 use permit fee – if you’re interested the meeting is next week at City Hall. If you aren't...join the club.

Get your credit cards ready. The Boss is coming to town, in fact, he begins his world tour on April Fool’s day at the Shark Tank. Tickets on sale Monday. This should help the Mayor with some of those tax dollars...

Romeo and Juliet, a.k.a. James Palmerson and Roselyn Marshall, were found sleeping in grandpa’s car at a mall outside the Mile High City. Los Altos Sgt. John Korges says, “Thank god they’re safe. This was a happy ending.” (Happy ending Sgt.? They are teenagers...) Not too shabby for a 14 year old, over 1,000 miles, through the Sierra, the Wasatch, and into the Rockies. Rosylyn’s dad, Steven Marshall was surprised his mild daughter, “..would feel empowered enough to do something like this.”

Morning News Round-Up – 1.27.09: Recall Vic?

San Jose Revealed makes a pretty serious accusation today against Mayor Chuck Reed's chief political strategist. Revealed says Vic Ajlouny is doing campaign work for the Recall Madison Nguyen team while Reed (strongly?) opposes the recall effort. If this is true, Ajlouny is as big a jerk as (most/all) people say he is...Revealed's evidence is the (obvious) similarities of direct mail used by the Recall people and past Ajlouny clients. Perhaps Reed is quietly trying to help out both sides? He does need to get to six votes after all...

The Morgan Hill City Council really knows how to party. They met all weekend in a community center to address the pressing economic issues facing them and to figure out how to collaborate with other elected bodies during the rough times. Councilmember Larry Carr is ready to move forward with downtown redevelopment saying, "In the past, we've always been more than willing to wait for other people to catch up. I'm willing to tolerate the flack we will get from not waiting for others." There will be little flack about downtown Morgan Hill on Watch Dog...after all, we've never been there...

The always entertaining Gilroy City Council also met over the weekend. They spent half of Saturday “chatting” with Morgan Hill Councilmembers about collaboration and still managed to wrap their retreat in half the time they did last year. Special guest Santa Clara City Clerk Rod Diridon, Jr. talked to the Gilroy Council about a voter outreach program enacted in Santa Clara that made for more ethical candidates. Nobody said, "Thanks RDJ2, if you only put as much effort into your own campaigns as you do into the ethics of others, you might be a State Assemblymember..."

The Gilroy Dispatch wants to know if you think Gilroy police should be paid significantly more than Gilroy firefighters. So far, the firefighters are winning.

In these difficult economic times everyone is scouring their budget to see where they can cut costs and generate additional revenue. Imagine the surprise then when Santa Cruz County officials learned that they were paying for roughly 16 fire emergencies each month – in Santa Clara County! County Supervisor Gage says Santa Clara County officials are looking at the problem but is dismissive of the financial burden to Santa Cruz County.

The idea of a joint stadium moving both the Niners and the Raiders to the South Bay received mixed reviews yesterday. Santa Clara Councilmembers Jamie McLeod and Will Kennedy said the project with both teams is more attractive. Along with the added/needed revenue, the Councilmembers and nearby residents worry famously rowdy Raider fans will bring more traffic, noise, and crime. Apparently boring, wine sipping Niner fans are better behaved.

The Merc’s Editorial board had some fun writing about a serious subject. Books, safety, and Winnie-the-Pooh – oh, yeah and a Tigger quote. Congress may have made the unintended consequences blunder of the century with a law that could force children's books off library and bookstore shelves.

Last year Rita Campos hit cyclist Bruce Finch and he was killed after being ejected from his bike. Campos said she didn’t know if Finch was still alive as she waited with him before the paramedics arrived. The CHP investigation has landed at the DA’s office, they recommend charging Campos with manslaughter.

Mr. Roadshow, Watch Dog is interested in knowing, is this year different with respect to crappy drivers or is it normal in the first three weeks for five people in the County to get hit? Is this how we kick off the Year of the Pedestrian? Yesterday it was a 9-year-old, with his Dad, on the way to Alum Rock’s Goss Elementary. Yesterday’s accident happened while the child and his father crossed, with the green and in a crosswalk. If you saw anything at Story/Adrian call SJPD at 408.277.4654.

Valley Medical Center, led by a committee of staff and consultants, want to do away with security glass separating patients from emergency room registration staff. The consultants said the move will make it more customer-friendly. Some hospitals have floor to ceiling protection and metal detectors patients must clear before entering the emergency room. VMC sees roughly double the number of patients it did before HCA shutdown the San Jose Medical Center. Arthur Slauer a healthcare security expert and former Kaiser Permanente security guru says, "All it takes is one incident, and I guarantee there's going to be a problem." The safety glass was installed 5 years ago.

Young love run amok caused two (barely) teenagers to steal grandpa’s car and wallet. At least, that’s the assumption for now. Roslyn Marshall, 13 of Saratoga, and James Palmerson, 14 of Los Altos, fell madly in love three weeks ago and Sunday morning made like Romeo & Juliet and have high-tailed it to the place where underage marriages are all the rage – (Verona?) Utah or Vegas. They’re in a grey Honda Civic, plates 5NLM445. If you see them call the tip line 408.808.4431. But don't forget to the tell the youngsters that you know where they can see a Jonas Brothers' concert for free -- that ought to stop them in their tracks...

The Rise and Fall of Local Political Fortunes...a West (Chavez/Diaz) Story...

The election of Barack Obama to President has changed the national political landscape dramatically. But Watch Dog is focused locally and we want in on the action.

So today, a local political history lesson with an Obama twist entitled: The Rise and Fall of Local Political Fortunes...

For the beginning of this lesson, type "metro tony west manny diaz" into Google, and we can begin this lesson. Here are excerpts from an article you will find in that Google search from the March 16, 2000 Metro following Manny Diaz's victory over Tony West in a Democratic Primary for State Assembly...some of these names might sound familiar...

Mo' Manny

...the post-election healing process continues at San Jose City Hall. [Manny] Diaz, one regular groans, "has been walking around like a rooster on acid. He's got his chest puffed out and keeps pecking at everyone and getting in their faces." Diaz, of course, has reason to be miffed at some of his sixth-floor colleagues...To bring home the point of who was still standing after election day, Diaz and his council ally, Cindy Chavez, hung up a Merc article with the headline, "Diaz dominant player after primary win."

Well...fast forward from 2000 to this week and we learn our lesson in political fortunes are highlighted in a "where are they now" moment...

Manny Diaz: As the story says, he won the 2000 primary against West and went on to an undistinguished tenure in Sacramento. That 2000 race was the last contested race he won...he ran against Elaine Alquist for State Senate in 2004 and lost. He ran against (West's friend) Sam Liccardo in 2006 for City Council and lost. He is now a lobbyist in Sacramento representing companies that want less-strict air-quality standards...

Cindy Chavez: This article doesn't mention that Chavez beat Tony West in 1998 for City Council before the Diaz/West show-down for State Assembly. That might help explain the sign that her office hung up...But, like Diaz, that was the last contested election she won. She lost her election in 2006 against Chuck Reed for Mayor of San Jose. She is now also a sort of lobbyist for Working Partnerships as well as a teacher at San Jose State...

Tony West: Yes, he lost two elections -- to Chavez in 1998 and later to Diaz in 2000. (Although those races seemingly took a lot out of Chavez and Diaz -- because they never won a contested race again...) He then practiced law at a major San Francisco law firm, but stayed involved politically. One of his political allies and friends ran for President recently...perhaps you've heard of him. West was Obama's Californian Finance Committee Co-Chair. Now, West is headed to DC to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division in the Department of Justice.

So...as Cindy (sort of) lobbies (and teaches) and Manny lobbies...Tony West heads to DC to serve the Obama administration. It seems the political fortunes of these three folks are intertwined, but have shifted dramatically and quickly...

Like any good teacher, perhaps Watch Dog's visual will help make the point...Like Madoff investments, Chavez's and Diaz's Political Stocks are in a bit of a downswing...like Eddie Garcia's salary, West's Stock is on the way (way) up.

Morning News Round-Up – 1.26.09: A York/Davis Monday...

District Attorney Dolores Carr can't get a break...apparently a prosecutor kept secret evidence that would have helped Army Vet/PTSD Sgt. Binkley’s defense. Oddly, the news dropped online midnight Saturday that two of Carr’s people filed conflicting reports. Carr’s recent troubles include two attorney’s in trouble for withholding evidence and a general slap for holding back interviews with survivors of sexual assault – putting all those cases in jeopardy. Somewhere, Karen Sinunu is smirking...

By the time San Jose (barely) managed to get the signs up, San Francisco’s Little Saigon celebrated its five year anniversary with the installation of lions representing peace, happiness, and safety. (Ironically, none of those things seem to be present in San Jose's Little Saigon...) This year, SF's Little Saigon expects to bring 20,000 visitors to San Francisco to celebrate Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. “We deliberately brought the Vietnamese community into the mainstream rather than appeal to them with anti-communist rhetoric, as the leaders did in San Jose,'' said Vu-Duc Vuong, who once ran San Francisco's Southeast Asian Community Center.

Tanking retail sales will hit local cities hard. San Jose already had a $4.6 million sales tax revenue shortfall before the economy really went into the toilet. Santa Clara budgeted for $43.4 million and received nearly $2 million less. Translation: roughly $200 million less dollars were spent locally. "We are concerned obviously," said Santa Clara Deputy City Manager Carol McCarthy. "Like anyone else, we're out there, we're brainstorming and getting information." I'm not sure brainstorming is going to help the economy, but I guess it couldn't hurt.

Palo Alto may do something about their need for cash. They are looking to businesses to cover the City's budget shortfalls. Specifically, they want to impose a tax businesses via a Business License Tax (BLT). While most cities have a BLT (on rye?) PA doesn't. The difference is that Palo Alto is thinking about a gross-receipts tax opposed to a simple, annual fee that many/most cities have. Why a gross-receipts tax? More money for Palo Alto, of course. (This was part of Watch Dog San Mateo's Recession Repercussions theme today...)

Closing its doors and pissing off customers at the same time, nice going Circuit City. Circuit City is shutting down nationwide, locally in San Mateo, San Jose, and Sunnyvale. In their haste to shove merchandise out the doors they forgot to lower prices. According to customers they actually jacked up prices then shaved a little. Good news is, they expect to be hiring before closing doors permanently in March. Add to the big box closings, Home Depot is closing Yardbirds, Expo, and Design Center stores, in an announcement made Sunday night.

State Senator Joe Simitian stood in front of 200 anxious educators and parents Saturday morning who worry about the Governator’s plan to stop funding schools. Franklin-McKinley Deputy Superintendent Tim McClary said, "We have contracts we have to honor. PG&E is not going to give us electricity if we don't pay the bill.'' Simitian suggested residents “…need to let Republicans know that they think new revenue has to be part of the solution.'' Nobody responded..."isn't that what we elected you to do, Joe?..."

Mountain View’s Housing Element update is on the table for community discussion tonight. The League of Women Voters is hosting a talk with retired planner Don Weden – under discussion are how housing element updates affect climate change. No word if NIMBY-ism will be addressed.

Car as deadly weapon strikes again, for the third and fourth times this year. Exchange student Santosh Kumar Racherla was hit and killed while crossing El Camino Real. Mountain View’s Man Lai Leung was hit after a truck plowed through a fence, across a lawn, hitting several cars and finally stiking Leung while he was unloading groceries.

Thirty years ago a few looney tree huggers had a crazy dream – hiking trails to link the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific. Since then, the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District has been buying land and is poised to purchase the last four pieces of the puzzle. The Merc’s Patty Fisher doesn’t expect her aging knees to be in working order when it happens, but does write it all up. (Watch Dog San Mateo has been covering this too...)

Is Santa Clara in line to be home of trans-bay football teams? The NFL is hoping to make it so. The owners of the NY teams who share a stadium (currently in New Jersey) said in these dire economic times it makes sense for the Raiders and Niners to join forces. No word if Santa Clara Councilmember Jamie McLeod is more amenable to a two team proposition. This would mean 20 home games each year in Santa Clara -- that's a lot more traffic (presumably)...

Cupertino Union School District will interview candidates to fill the empty seat created when Pearl Cheng who was tapped to replace newly elected Assemblymember Paul Fong on the Foothill-DeAnza Board. Watch Dog would like to fill you in on the candidates background, but Cupertino lists only their names: Larry Curb, Daniel Halabe, Anjali Kauser, Jack Yang, Joyce Yee, Katherine Yu, and Ione Yuen. There is no truth to the rumor that Supervisor George Shirakawa is trying to get Eddie Garcia appointed in Cupertino...

In addition to the Cupertino appointment, here's what's happening around other elected bodies in Silicon Valley this week:

• The Santa Clara Board of Supervisors and Mountain View Councilmembers will noodle how best to ask for federal dollars...other than beg?
  
• Sunnyvale’s Council will listen to neighbors unhappy with construction and consider creating standards for construction management..sounds like a good plan...
• In San Jose, the topics include moving City jobs to private firms, a bailout for the County’s largest homeless shelter provider, the Convention Center, and elimination of 52 jobs..that should be a doozy...
• The always exciting Alum Rock Union School District will discuss the status on the new Superintendent search and “challenges related to Pala Middle School.” For those who missed it, the challenge is how to swap Pala with East Side’s Adult Ed Independence High.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs had a field day Sunday. So much (old) news so little space.

• Recently (re)elected Alum Rock Trustee/attorney Esau Herrera wants to dump the lawyers and hire the firm he used to work for. Herrera also wants the lawsuit against fellow Trustee/former District employee Dolores Marquez dropped and says, "I think it's a waste of legal fees to carry on what apparently was a personal grudge."
• Former Mayor/blogger/lobbyist Tom McEnery is being eased out of his pet blog San Jose InsideMetro's Dan Pulcrano. (San Jose Revealed reminds us they pointed out the slow removal of McEnery months ago.)
• Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone (booo) couldn’t get into inaugural ceremonies even with a VIP ticket. But Willie Brown did, and he didn't even have his ticket...

Bellarmine boy does good. Tony West is heading to D.C. for the Obama administration. San Jose Inside sends props to litigator/Obama’s CA finance co-chair/super lawyer Tony West for landing a plum job with the Department of Justice. Check back around noon for a West update -- including what it says about the shifting political fortunes of Silicon Valley big shots.

San Jose Revealed is almost embarrassed to say they told us about the Arts Council Silicon Valley pursuit for a Poet Laureate for Santa Clara County weeks ago. Sadly, that “news” now is front page fodder for the ailing Merc. Revealed also wants to remind the Merc. that there are actual local stories and includes among them humiliated San Jose Councilmember Terry Gregory (and others) accepting gifts, the current Madision Nguyen recall fiasco, and McEnery lobbying. Watch Dog would like to add to this list Shirakawa/Garcia cronyism...

Morning News Round-Up -- 1.23.09: The NUMMI A's?

There is an update today on the Councilmember Madison Nguyen recall election. The story focused primarily on Nguyen and her efforts to stay in office -- raising lots of money, walking precincts, making phone calls, putting up signs, etc., etc., etc. One thing worries Watch Dog: she has underestimated the pro-Recall folks a number of times during this long nightmare. She underestimated how strongly people felt about Little Saigon initially. She didn't think the Little Saigon folks would get enough signatures on the ballot for a recall. In a recent Metro article, she admitted as much, saying, "I never thought it would get to this point..." In today's story, she may be making the same mistake saying, "I don't see anyone walking precincts for the other side...I don't see signs." Please, please, please Madison -- don't think that no signs and no precinct walkers on the other side mean you are going to skate through this. The Recall Madison folks have raised over $100,000. That is a huge sum of money and they are waiting to spend it...

Meanwhile, San Jose Revealed takes a shot at the folks who are building Vietnam Town and provide some context to those developers and Madison's recall...

The airport is building a cool new facility...but that's just about the only good news coming out the place. Airlines are cutting back...and apparently the airport wants to join in the fun by cutting staff. That means that when the new place opens up, there may be no planes and dirty bathrooms...

A serial bank robber struck in Saratoga on Inauguration Day. The robber is suspected of robbing 8 other banks in the Bay Area...he is described as a white guy, 5'9" to 6', 200 pounds, with gray hair -- which narrows down the search to just about every dude in Saratoga...

Oh no. Fremont's NUMMI manufacturing plant will stop giving tours in February. The actual manufacturing at NUMMI has already slowed down...but could the halting of public tours signal the beginning of the end for NUMMI? And if that is the case, are the A's licking their chops at that enormous piece of land?

State Senator Joe Simitian thinks the State budget crisis might be close to an end...according to his interview with the Palo Alto Weekly...don't bet on it...have you ever known the folks in Sacramento to do something on a timeline that is predictable?

We know that the Community Hospital of Los Gatos is closing in April as Tenet hastily leaves town. What we didn't know, until now, is when the new folks, El Camino Hospital of Mountain View, were going to re-open. It looks like it may be a while, perhaps until Fall, to get things up and running again.

Pete Campbell at San Jose Inside has a closer look at the Convention Center expansion idea. His best line about the expansion plans: "...the City of San Jose places itself in the tenuous position of placing a big, three-layered bet that the economy will recover, trade and convention shows will continue at healthy pace, and the bookings lost during 2009-2012 will return to San Jose..."

The Morgan Hill City Council will meet this weekend to discuss 2009 goals and review 2008 accomplishments. They will also meet in a joint session with the Gilroy City Council. If you think this sounds like garlic-infused fun, they head out Saturday morning to the El Toro Room at the Community and Cultural Center on Monterey Road. Please be sure to bring your own ideas and your own ephedrine, because Watch Dog will not share...

Morning News Round-Up – 1.22.09: Bigots, Beignets, and BART...

The County’s lawyers are in trouble – again. (District Attorney Dolores Carr must keep a bottle of the good stuff ready for when the Merc. calls.) This time, Peter Waite has the dubious honor of being the first prosecutor to get spanked by the State Bar in 20 years. He pissed them off when he hid testimony in a murder trial. Oops. Waite said, "I've always agreed it was a screw-up and a mistake, and that the case would be done differently than nine years ago.'' DA Carr kept mum. The DA’s office is also awaiting results in Deputy DA Ben Fields prosecution. More recently, Carr’s office fessed up they withheld interviews of sexual assault victims and kept the doors of justice closed while investigating a police cover-up. Not so Law and Order-y, is it...

The Merc.’s Editorial board gives props to the Alum Rock Union Elementary School Board of Trustees. The Board has granted a 5 year extension to KIPP Heartwood Academy, a charter school with results. In the past, with golden parachute Superintendent Norma Martinez, charter schools were under attack. In a signal that children are more important than politics, Interim Superintendent Jose Manzo supported KIPP. Watch Dog note to Merc. Editors: her last name is not Rodriguez, unless you’ve heard about a recent name change that we missed.

In case Mountain View bigots haven’t heard – this is a "post racial" world. Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga, Mountain View’s first Asian-American female Mayor received a disturbing email, students lives were threatened, and a school sign was vandalized. Chamber CEO/Mesa de la Communidad Oscar Garcia has teamed up with failed City Council candidate/Human Rights Commissioner Alicia Crank to create “Not in Our Town,” to combat an increase in local hate crimes.

It isn’t bad enough that Steve Jobs is (maybe) fighting for his life, now the SEC is investigating when and how much Jobs and other high-ranking Apple folks knew about Jobs' health. Apparently the SEC is now on the ball -- as opposed to this...

Los Altans are celebrating now, they get to keep their precious, non-degradable/free plastic bags for groceries. The Los Altos City Council rejected joining a regional effort to charge impoverished Los Altos residents 25 cents per bag. Perhaps the local fashionistas were worried about losing the raw materials for creative/recycled ball gowns.

The Merc.’s Scott Herhold dedicates his space to the grieving family of Quy Tran, killed at a dangerous intersection by a hit-and-run driver over the weekend. Tran’s son Hung has generously (incredibly) said her killer is a good person and, “I think all his life, he'll live in suffering." This is not the first accident at Senter Road and Independence Drive, Herhold reports several seniors have been hit here where there is no crosswalk or traffic signal. No doubt San Jose’s Department of Transportation removed the crosswalk to make life safer for someone – clearly not pedestrians. Not the first time DOT has goofed, remember little Breanna Eck, DOT also thought a lack of crosswalks in her neighborhood was a good idea.

San Jose Revealed received a "tipster’s fax" with questions about McEnery's Peralta Action Plan. The "fax" asked if the 3% loan and the $400,000 developer fees being paid by McEnery is normal and/or appropriate. There’s also a rumor that Revealed was blocked from some/all City Hall computers. Perhaps Councilmember Pete Constant and Larry Pegram are to blame...

Metro/San Jose Inside’s news sleuth Erin Sherbert weighs in on San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s chances of getting Obama dollars (for BART and green-tech) because of his complete lack of support during the Prez’s race. (At least his lack of support for the guy who won...) In a break from Reed, Mayoral senior staff Jeff Janssen doesn’t share the Mayor’s optimism. If Obama dollars land in San Jose it’s more likely due to hard work by DiFi, Boxer, Lofgren and Honda – who all voted for and worked for Obama. Sherbert's story also gives a timeline of when the Mayor will be in D.C. -- the first trip is slated for late February/early March. Really? Because Watch Dog heard something about an economic recovery plan that will be done by Presidents' Day Congressional recess. Plus, these guys were in D.C. schmoozing this week while our Mayor was not...

Gilroy may not be getting Garlic Ta-ta’s but they do have beignets coming thanks to restaurateur/blues fan Dan Craig. Local developer Gary Walton will be opening a tapas and wine bar nearby. Craig said he wants a place for “mature” guests, “You know, a respectable place where you can see live music." He didn’t say “there’s no room for ta-ta’s near my beignets.” Watch Dog note to Chris Bone, you need to visit the Big Easy – it’s not “benet.”

Metro versus Merc: Yesterday's Coverage...

In the news business, speed is important. Reporters, Editors, and newspapers fall all over themselves to be first with a scoop...

Yesterday, sad news broke about about Councilmember Judy Chirco and her being diagnosed with breast cancer. Our best wishes go out to her, her family, and her staff.

But the news roll-out of this story was interesting to watch unfold yesterday:

4:19 p.m.
Erin Sherbert with the Metro posts the story on San Jose Inside

5:47 p.m.
John Woolfolk with the Mercury News posts the story on the Mercury News website

Woolfolk has an office in City Hall, has all the sources in the world in City Hall, and works for the local "paper of record." He got scooped by an hour and a half on this story...that's pretty weak.

Sherbert works for the Metro outside of City Hall and some folks inside City Hall won't even talk to the Metro. Her scooping Woolfolk is pretty cool.

Is this just another sign of the Mercury News' downfall? Or perhaps is Woolfolk at fault? We know how Revealed feels about him...

Or perhaps the Weekly + Blog model just opens up new scoops for the Metro/Inside family of publications...

Again, this is not to undermine the seriousness of Chirco's health -- rather, a summary of the news surrounding the news...

Morning News Round-Up – 1.21.09: Inauguration Hang-Over Edition...

The San Jose Pension fund drama promises to continue in San Jose as the City Council appoints two pension fund veterans (a.k.a. two guys who were there during expense abuse). Yesterday, Edward Overton, who is the retired Fund Director and former Police Officer David Bacigalupi were both appointed to the pension boards. (Bacigalupi most famous vote from his last time on the Board was to deny Councilmember Constant's disability claim...only to support it later.) Mayor Reed along with Councilmembers Pete Constant and Sam Liccardo did not support either appointment. Councilmember Nora Campos joined the dissenters in voting against Overton. Making this one of very few things that Campos, Reed, and Constant agree on...Bob Leininger, President of the San Jose Retired Employees Association said, “We feel [Overton’s] the right man.” Watch Dog hopes the losses and questionable travel has proved a learning experience.

The McEnery/Peralta Plan brought the claws out for San Jose Councilmembers Nora Campos and Sam Liccardo who exchanged barbs in an afternoon Study Session yesterday. Accusations of staff lying by Campos caused Liccardo to leap to staff defense. The $6 million in loans and grants from the City is projected to generate $40,000 annually to San Jose’s general fund. Mayor Chuck Reed says his old pal Tom McEnery’s project is critical, adding “I’m anxious to get moving.” Anxious to get moving? Ironically Chuck, that's the way organized labor feels about you in the Mayor's seat...

Murderous driving update. Richard Delgado, the 19 who was pissed at neighbor Donna Fife so he ran her over, has been arrested. No license and a history of crime make it likely he’ll see his 21st birthday behind bars not at one. On a different road-rage note, Quy Tran, the elderly woman who was hit on the way to church passed away Tuesday afternoon. Her killer, believed to be an Asian man 25 to 35, was driving a green Honda. If you saw the accident, call SJPD at 408.277.4654.

Saratoga’s Dan Stoner started running and tracking his miles in 1978 -- proving that he did not live up to his last name. In the ensuing 30 years, he has racked up enough miles to circle the globe. Happy Birthday, Dan, now get to work on the next ‘round the world run.

The Saratoga Planning Commission normally struggles folks who want to add a second story, so when David Kerley and Kirsten Jensen asked for an addition of 1,028 square feet they may have expected a fight. Instead Commissioners supported the request. Commissioner Yan Zhao said “The elevation just looks like a one-story house.”

When Morgan Hill’s Joseph Amaral was told he needed to sign up as a narcotic registrant he must have be a little confused. Perhaps he thought he was registering his narcotics. Sure enough, Amaral showed up at the Morgan Hill PD with a pocket full of speed. Sgt. Jerry Neumayer enlightened Amaral, and lightened his pockets, while arresting him.

Mission City Lantern is looking at possible Mayoral candidates for Santa Clara’s 2010 election. On today’s list is Chamber of Commerce/former Councilmember/Niners fan Dave Tobkin. Watch Dog assumes the Lantern's query regarding Tobkins familiarity with development is a mere tease.

Morning News Round-Up – 1.20.09: Obama-rific Edition...

Apparently something is happening in Washington today...so we'll be brief...

San Jose Revealed chastises the weakening Mercury News for a possible misstep in saying Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles is the last living person to have stood on the balcony with Dr. Martin Luther King. Revealed even posts the famous photo of Hosea Williams, Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rev. Ralph David Abernathy as proof. Revealed was right on one count, facts are boring. Sorry Revealed, Rev. Kyles’ story is posted here along with the posted photo – people moved around after the photo. Watch Dog likes Revealed, but if you’re going to smack someone get your facts straight.

Revealed continues saying San Jose Councilmember Madison Nguyen remains firmly in the Labor camp – her vote for Republican/Councilmember Pete Constant’s choice for the Planning Commission not withstanding. After the Inauguration excitement today, the City Council will vote on new Commissioners for the Civil Service, Elections, and Planning Commissions along with a new Constant colleague on the Retirement board. Will Nguyen vote with Constant/Reed or toe the labor line? We'll see...

And some more Constant (don't worry, there's enough to go around...) Herhold gets in on Constant band-wagon. Herhold, who calls Constant noble and (generously) describes his frame as “husky,” provides the background leading to the battle over Police/Fire Pension Board member selection. Perhaps Herold should take a look at how often Constant is out of City Hall on Pension Board business...we hear it is a lot...Watch Dogs enjoying the City Hall escapades – drop a line to Watch Dog.

Details are emerging about the SJPD shooting in front of The Loft early Sunday. The Officer, Joseph Paolini is on leave after shooting Marcos Zuniga in the face while the two struggled. Zuniga is expected to survive, but the real question is – will SJPD survive this drama while they are trying to justify arresting record numbers of Latinos? Oh yeah, there was also another Bay Area officer involved shooting on New Years...

The Merc’s Editorial Board weighs in on the Governor’s proposal to toss environmental standards out the window in an effort to put construction workers on the job widening Hwy 101. The Guvernator wants to waive CEQA, and the ability to file a lawsuit, on ten projects statewide. Sierra Club Director Bill Magavern supports the Legislative Analysts Office's recommendation to streamline regulations on 122 less controversial projects.

Mountain View Whisman School District Trustees are moving the popular PACT (not to be confused with PACT) program at Stevenson School. Trustee Ellen Wheeler is worried about the $2 million price tag for the move along with lost rent of $363,000 for Stevenson. Mountain View Whisman will also be enacting a lottery to decide whether incoming kindergartners get their neighborhood school if school enrollment gets to high.

Gilroy City Councilmembers will meet behind closed doors to discuss layoff-prevention ideas offered up by two of the City’s labor groups. Firefighters were upset to learn their proposal hadn’t been given to Council earlier said Firefighter Jim Buessing. AFSCME and Police reps don’t have any ideas to offer to the Council Wednesday when they meet.

Gilroy School District Trustees are wrestling with the District's administration recommendation to build a new school ($20 million) or contain costs by increasing class size. Trustee Fred Tovar said he would support larger classes only if it was temporary. Trustees will continue the debate and discuss sale of a former school site at their February 5th meeting.

The Baker’s Dozen of SJSU Journalism students traveling cross country to the Inauguration by way of the Civil Rights landmarks received the good news Monday. Courtesy of Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, they hold 7 of the coveted tickets to the swearing in and 6 to the parade. Rock on, Congresswoman Lofgren...as new Chair of the House Ethics Committee, she’ll have all manner of tough decisions ahead. Also Inauguration-bound, the Redwood Middle School students from Saratoga will be group #17, after the Ohio Ladies and before the Marines – get your tape ready.

Were you near Senter Road and Independence Drive on Sunday around 8 a.m.? If you were, did you see a green sedan hitting 81 year old Quy Tran while she was on her way to Mass? Tran’s son Hung is hoping the driver will turn himself in. If you know anything, give SJPD a call at 408.277.4654. Tran is on life support but doctors don’t expect her to survive.

San Jose has its second murder of year. Early this morning, SJPD officers arrested 19 year old Richard Delgado for using his car as a murder weapon. Delgado crashed into a fence. After neighbors confronted him about it, Delgado drove across a neighbors lawn to run over a 46 year old woman. "Based on witness statements, we believe it was an intentional act," Sgt. Mike Sullivan said.

Morning News Round-Up – 1.19.09: Inauguration Eve...

Today, Watch Dog celebrates with the rest of the country the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King. The Merc. has a full listing of events that allow you to celebrate the legacy...starting with the annual freedom train from San Jose.

Marco Zuniga’s wife was Tasered early Saturday morning. Zuniga stepped up to the officer and was Shot outside the hip club Loft. Sunday, San Jose Inside followed the story of SJPD dropping deeper into trouble over the drunk and Latino in San Jose saga. Luckily for Chief Davis Marco Zuniga is resting in the hospital and is expected to survive. This was the second officer involved shooting in two days, on Friday a man took a gun from an SJPD officer and, after a 6 hour standoff, killed himself.

San Jose City Council will consider appointing recycled Employee Pension Board member David Bacigalupi who left the board in 2002 and former Retirement Director Edward Overton – who was replaced in 2007 after the pension board racked up $50,000 in undocumented travel expenses. Pension Board member/SJPD pensioner/San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant wants to toss those applicants in favor of retired officer Brian Arvin and is gearing up for a battle with his former colleagues who support Bacigalupi...oh yeah, Bacigalupi also voted against Constant's disability claim when Constant left the force -- no wonder Constant doesn't like this guy...

Lew Wolff doesn’t love Santa Clara, or maybe Wolff just fears the community's love for Great America...the Merc’s Internal Affairs reported Sunday that Wolff said Santa Clara was off the list of would-be locations for his A’s.

Watch Dog was tickled to see San Jose Inside following the Gilroy story of Garlic Ta-ta’s last week...that was even before Inside gave a shout out to Watch Dog for sniffing out the Tesla/San Jose story at the Mayor’s biscuits and gravy breakfast.

Creative refinancing sounded like a winning deal for cash strapped schools. The refi enabled schools to lower their interest rate, shorten their payoff, and even reduce property taxes. Citizens for Bond Accountability, with San Jose’s Jill Escher at the helm, questioned the legality of the financial wizardry. Attorney General Jerry Brown agreed declaring the scheme illegal though he left in place the funding received from past refi’s. The Los Altos School District breathed a deep sigh of relief, they gained nearly $11 million and were able to remodel the Gardner Bullis School as a result. Friday Escher called on San Jose Unified to come clean with the crafty dealings that lead to the AG’s decision.

The Metro/San Jose Inside’s Fly has insiders heading to D.C. for Tuesday’s historic inauguration. Fly reports Obama is already having a positive affect on the economy, most notably for the Fly’s favorite hang, the D.C. bar scene which will be open and serving until 5am for most of next week. Watch Dog hopes this includes the SJSU students who traveled the route of the civil rights movement on their way to the inauguration and are now reporting events for local news media.

Silicon Valley stands poised to have a direct influence on public policy following years of science and technology being ignored. San Jose’s Rep. Zoe Lofgren recalled days when then Gov. Jerry Brown was ridiculed for talking about windmills, “Now everybody is talking about wind energy and solar.” Silicon Valley stars with close ties to D.C. include Google CEO Eric Schmidt along with John Doerr and former Symantec CEO/possible Commerce Secretary John Thompson. SupervisorLiz Kniss is hoping...

Does San Jose Councilmember Madison Nguyen owe colleague Pete Constant and Mayor Reed a favor for their support while she battles a recall? It’s possible the former Labor darling will start voting the Constant/Reed ticket. The Merc’s Internal Affairs ponders the question as her friends at the South Bay Labor Council leap in with more assistance, perhaps an attempt to stave off a Reed/Constant maneuver. Mission City Lantern weighs in on the logic of Nguyen’s decisions...(Lantern talking logic?)

It’s a sign of the times, rural amenities disappearing as luxury homes pop up. San Jose’s Cevalo Riding Academy is being left homeless following the owner’s request for a change in land designation from rural to high density. This is the 11th lost home for Cevalo and leaves Calero Ranch Stables as the sole public stable in San Jose. The Santa Clara Water District holds the lease for Calero – that expires in 2010 – better move your horses now.

Morning News Round-Up – 01.16.09: Inaugration Weekend Edition...

The Drunk Task Force met for the first time last night, sans liquid refreshments. Silicon Valley Democratic Latino Forum’s Pete Carrillo said there might be a reason 57% of those arrested might be Latino, “But, I haven’t heard it.” Chief Rob Davis defended the practice as a way to keep drunks from committing more crimes. Accusations of arresting large numbers of the (un)drunk, not bothering with breathalyzers, and not having a sobering station have led members of the Task Force to ask for an audit. Perhaps the fired "Independent" Police Auditor would do such things if she didn't have to clean out her desk. The Davis Defense last night appears to signal combative days ahead -- and perhaps for the next 6 months...

New San Jose Councilmember Rose Herrera has barely started her job and already grumpy constituents are feeding stories to local blogs. According to the author on San Jose Revealed, Herrera is talking big at the District 8 Community Roundtable about bulldozing the Village Square unless her 18th floor colleagues get busy sending jobs her way.

Moffett's Hangar One might be recovered after all…NASA Ames Deputy Director Lew Braxton reported only hours after the Navy talked of skinning Hangar One. There are two prospective clients who could share the cost of rehab. The future house-guest – an airship of course.

Watch Dog is happy to report that among its many readers is….The Fly from Metro and San Jose Inside – or so it would seem with Inside's posting today “Ta-tas in Garlicville.” Inside pulled a quote from Gilroy Dispatch letter writer James Fennell that Garlic Ta-Ta’s would allow local girls to show their wares.

Gilroy voters passed Measure P last year – this will allow for a more than $173 million investment in area schools over the next ten years. In the works are upgrades and additions for existing schools, still under discussion is the possibility of a new school...

It’s the first thing you hear when meeting friends/coworkers: Are you going? Today the Merc. provides a short list of Silicon Valley’s contribution to the growing crowds in D.C.. Tony Alexander, a local labor political director, still doesn’t have enough tickets for the numerous balls – Watch Dog tip, call Phaedra. Dr. Norman Banks was invited by former patient Prof. Paula Messina – and will be covering a bet made years ago with an old friend. From the Redwood Middle School to the heads of Symantec, eBay, Oracle, and Google everyone who could get a ticket will be heading East soon.

In case you missed it, check out Watch Dog's coverage of Tesla packing up their San Jose tent...

The Tesla Chronicles: Tesla plans "abandoned" in San Jose...

Environmental stewardship = economic development is the pitch that Mayor Reed and the City of San Jose have been pushing for nearly two years. If you saw/read the Mayor's State of the City speech yesterday, you know that it is one of the things that Mayor Reed focused on as away out of the City's current economic shit-storm.

(If you missed the speech, Scott Herhold has as close to a glowing review of the speech as you could get, San Jose Revealed (obviously) takes the opposite view in their recap, and The Fly called it subdued...)

Tesla was/is the green feather in the City's environmental stewardship/economic development cap...after a competing with other Bay Area cities, San Jose rolled out more red carpet and gave more incentives the electric automobile start-up and landed the company last Fall. But since the celebrated announcement, the road has been bumpy for Tesla. If you've been reading Watch Dog at all, you know the writing has been on the wall for months about Tesla's challenges:

• 11.19.08 -- "Absolutely certain" Tesla won't go out of business...
• 12.02.08 -- More shak-ups at the senior level merry-go-round known as Tesla Motors...
• 12.05.08 -- The Tesla Chronicles: Harry/Paul/Chuck -- Are you guys nervous yet?
• 12.11.08 -- Tesla Chronicles: Is there another electric car company that needs space? San Jose will cuty you a great deal...

Now, the writing on the wall becomes even clearer (if that is even possible) with these two Watch Dog "exclusive" updates:

Update 1:
For those of you car geeks out there that watch the annual Detroit Auto Show closer than your teenage daughters watch Gossip Girl, you may have noticed an announcement about a car company building a 100% electric roadster with a sleek, cool, and fast Lotus body. Well, the Tesla Roadster is a 100% electric car built with a Lotus body...but this announcement wasn't from Tesla, it was from Dodge... Let's see: Both cars are electric and both cars are Lotus-like. One comes from a company you've heard of that has dealerships everywhere and the other is no-name brand with few dealerships...We know the Big Three are in trouble, but Dodge's Tesla rip-off can't be good for Tesla. (In fairness to Tesla, they have actually delivered just over 100 cars and Dodge's is just a concept...) Auto experts expect that if Dodge makes their Circuit into a production car, it will be on the market for (far?) below Tesla's $100K+ price tag. No matter how hard Tesla spins, this isn't good news. And bad news for Tesla is bad news for the City of San Jose which loves (and needs) Tesla.

Amazingly, that isn't even the really bad news...

Update 2:
Word made it around the Mayor's State of the City yesterday that Tesla's plans may already be dead. According to spies, someone with direct knowledge of Tesla's plans for San Jose was describing how the plans for the 650,000 square foot assembly plant for San Jose have been "abandoned"...begging the questions:

• Does the Redevelopment Agency know?
• Does the Mayor know?

Watch Dog thinks yes. And a quick scan of the Mayor's speech may provide hints that the Mayor does indeed know that Tesla's plans are dead -- but is keeping that news under wraps. Tesla name wasn't even mentioned once in the speech. Quite a change from a few months ago when San Jose almost broke its arm patting itself on its back about landing a big, green fish...

Watch Dog believes Tesla will not move to San Jose...perhaps this blog post will push the City of San Jose, or Tesla, to make that news public. Because right now, you won't find this news on the Tesla Motors website or anywhere else.

Sorry to disappoint everyone...

Morning News Round-Up – 1.15.09: Layoffs in San Jose and a leave in Cupertino...

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..."

(late again) Morning News Round-Up 1.14.09: Disappointed Edition...

Sorry to disappoint you with the long delay...Watch Dog has been recovering from the Mayor's State of the City (Budget)...more on that later (or tomorrow)...

On to old news...

Garlic Ta-Ta’s closed before it ever opened. Ante Bilic withdrew his application Tuesday morning for a gentleman's club in Gilroy after news broke of the 10 year old prohibition of flaunting ta-ta’s in Gilroy. The sleuthing was uncovered by Home Depot's lawyers. No word yet if the more than $4,000 in fees already paid to Gilroy by Bilic will be refunded. Bilic did not say, "The whole experience with Gilroy was like being in a gentleman's club for an evening -- it's fun while it lasted, but we leave disappointed..."

Speaking of disappointed...at yesterday's Council meeting, San Jose City Councilmembers heard from new Retirement Director Russell Crosby. Crosby described the loss of more than $1 billion from the City employee pension funds. Mayor Chuck Reed said, "We need to restructure the [oversight] boards to bring in outside expertise..." You think? Could this be a signal that Reed-ally/pensioner/pension board overseer/Councilmember Pete Constant is on his way off the board after a dismal two years? Councilmember Sam Liccardo seems to think so, saying “…something is seriously broken here...” calling out massive market losses, a travel audit that uncovered excessive and undocumented expenses, and multi-million dollar over-payments.

Vegas hoteliers called him only “Mr. S” and catered to his every wish -- bowls of Glitterati Mentissimo, chilled Dom Perignon and Kurosawa Sake, silk socks, porn, and (of course) condoms. (Disappointed) John, Randy, and Dave Fry know him as the check-kiting/former exec/jailbird Ausaf Umar Siddiqui. Thanks to the Merc., we all know both sides of the Baccarat embezzler. We've learned that the rumors are untrue that Boots Del Biaggio has applied for a job at Fry's...

San Jose Redevelopment Agency is hoping that divided loyalties may prevent the Santa Clara Supervisors from fighting to prevent the Agency from taking a larger share of property taxes. Will former Councilmembers Dave Cortese, Ken Yeager, and George Shirakawa, Jr. side with the needs of the County and area school districts in battling with San Jose over property taxes? The hearing is set for March in San Jose, stayed tuned...Mr. Mavrogenes, don't be too disappointed if the old adage holds true that "where you stand depends on where you sit"...Dave, Ken, and George sit somewhere new now.

Once a month teachers and students descend upon Barker Elementary School on a Friday night (a.k.a. parents' Date Night) while the school gets to raise some much needed funds. Computer lab specialist Ann West said the kids love hanging out in the library, playing twister, surfing the net, and getting crafty. The funds raised help close budget gaps...

Los Altos native Sargent Binkley has been found not guilty by reason of insanity for robbing a Mountain View pharmacy at gunpoint. The landmark decision handed down by a Santa Clara County jury recognized post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following addiction to morphine as the cause of Binkley's insanity. Prosecutor Deborah Medved argued Binkley was sane and said the law does not allow for insanity based on addiction -- just insanity due to Twinkies...

San Jose welcomed it’s first Indo-American onto the City Council yesterday. Ash Kalra says he didn’t run as an ethnic candidate but is proud to represent his community.

San Jose Revealed wants you to Tweet sjrevealed from San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s annual breakfast (as if Revealed won’t be there...). Revealed also takes time to liken the Madison Nguyen fiasco to a coup in which the beleaguered San Jose Councilmember's peers are attempting to take her out – and insert a new Vietnamese leader who will obediently take orders.

San Jose Inside weighs in on the new Chief Yahoo! Carol Bartz, formerly of AutoDesk. Bartz could be a refreshing change saying she wanted to help Yahoo! “get some friggin’ breathing room.” Watch Dog likes the idea of a 60 year old, female, Yahoo! talking about kickin’ butt...