Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.10.10: And the ballot language is... drum-roll...

As you may have heard, the 49ers would like to build a stadium in Santa Clara. They need to go to the ballot first, however. That ballot measure is slated for this June. Earlier in the week, we learned there was some disagreement of how the actual ballot language should read in June. The Santa Clara City Staff had one recommendation for how the ballot measure should read, and the Santa Clarans for Economic Progress (the 49er's side of things) had another way. Watch Dog predicted that the 49er's version would take the day... and it did. But not before a 4 to 3 vote on the Santa Clara City Council. Here's the ballot language Santa Clara voters will see:
Shall the City of Santa Clara adopt Ordinance 17.20 leasing City property for a professional football stadium and other events; no use of City General or Enterprise funds for construction; no new taxes for residents for stadium; Redevelopment Agency funds capped for construction; private party pays all construction cost overruns; no city/agency obligation for stadium operating/maintenance; private party payment of projected fair market rent; and additional funds for senior/youth/library/recreation to City's General fund?
Just as Dolores Carr can't go two days without being in the paper, so too the San Jose Police Department. Today's SJPD story is about a man who was first beaten severely with a baseball bat by two other men -- but then died after being Tasered by San Jose PD. The murder trial of the two men who beat the victim opened yesterday and re-opens up the 'use of force' storyline again. It also gives Raj Jayadev, of POA video fame, another chance to be quoted in the paper for the next few weeks... and presumably gives the POA another chance to make fun of him...

The San Jose City Council District 5 Council seat will be a real hum-dinger of a race in June. Xavier Campos (Nora's brother) will square off against Manueal Herrera, Aaron Resendez, and new-to-the-race Magdalena Carrasco. Before that, however, there will many times that these four appear on the same stage -- the first of which is slated for this week...

The County Building has become a lot more interesting to watch lately. Earlier in the week, Scott Herhold pointed out the Larry Stone vs. George Shirakawa battle over the appointment of former Sunnyvale Councilmember John Howe to an assessment appeals board and then we learn today that "controversial developer" John Vidovich was nominated to the County's Planning Commission. Both Howe and Vidovich got approved by the Board of Supervisors yesterday for their respective Commissions.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District has a new Board member -- although you probably didn't see anything in the Mercury News about it. Thankfully, Watch Dog trolls the South County papers sometimes and the Morgan Hill Times lets us know that Sahib "Cy" Mann will be the newest Water Board member. He is rancher and realtor from Morgan Hill...

There was yet another public meeting about High Speed Rail through the Peninsula yesterday. This time, the options for tracks were discussed... again: elevated, tunneled, stacked, hybrid, etc., etc., etc. At the same time, Californians Advocating Responsible Rail Design are fixing to file another lawsuit...

Palo Alto Unified students (and vocal parents) may see increased class sizes in the School District because of budget cuts next year... we are sure that will go over really, really well.

There is yet another chapter in the story of the Gilroy teenager who died after a night of drinking. The Coronoer said the cause of death is still a mystery...

Apparently Campbell is the new hot spot in Silicon Valley? We know Evan Low is cool, but the new hot spot?

Finally, Mission City Lantern seems to be critical of what we write these days, and we aren't sure why. Nor do we really understand what he is writing. Nonetheless, we love you James, keep up the good work.

2 comments:

Deleted Forever said...

Not critical, here is a tip.

Newsom is giving a green light to use 40,000 of his gubentorial funds for "expansive projects, such as Democratic voter education in Santa Clara."

Also two Nob Hill friends of Gavin are pledging over 20,000 each to oppose the Santa Clara stadium.

Sara Armstrong said...

CARRD (Californians Advocating Responsible Rail Design) is not involved in any litigation against the High Speed Rail Authority. We are a grassroots organization focused on advocating for a transparent process and full community engagement in the High Speed Rail project. In order to have a meaningful role in the project, we believe that the public must have full access to all the documentation that forms the basis of the HSRA's plans. As we become aware of information that is missing from the public realm, we request it and post it to our website.

I can see how you might have misinterpreted the PA Daily article to assume that CARRD was a party to the Atherton, et al. lawsuit. We are not.

TRANSDEF, California Rail Foundation and PCL are some of the organizations that are involved in the lawsuit. Can you please correct your post? Thanks!