Morning News Round-Up -- 2.17.10: What's your vector Victor?

The Merc's Ed Board comes out with a strong pitch for baseball in San Jose and is pushing MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to do the same...

When the going gets tough on government, government starts looking at the easiest taxes to pass. Hence the 9-1-1 tax two years ago in San Jose and perhaps some others this year. One of the 'easy' taxes to get is to up the ante on the two card rooms in town on the June ballot. The other is not so easy: a 1/4 cent sales tax that will probably be worded as saving police and firefighters jobs in November. Watch Dog can only imagine how a sales tax hike on the November ballot will impact the planned ballot measure for a Major League Baseball stadium...

Former prosecutor Ben Field is in the news again... and it still isn't going Field's way. You'll remember that he was the former County prosecutor whose ethics (or lack thereof) were the focus of a Merc investigation which caused him to be disbarred, which an appeals board of the State Bar just upheld... (Recall also that Mr. Field is now a City Hall regular as he works for former Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez at the South Bay Labor Council.) We love this ironic line in the Merc story: Current District Attorney Dolores Carr also vouched for Field's honesty and integrity but conceded he failed to meet the office's overall ethical standards. He failed to meet the "office's overall ethical standards"? Really?

While we are on it... If you like graphs, methodologies, and candidate-sponsored poll results, you should check out DA challenger Jeff Rosen's website today. Rosen's poll says he's winning (big surprise)... but we guess if it didn't, we'd never see the results. Mr. Field should have had Jeff Rosen vouch for him...

This won't help the bottomline... there was significant damage to the West Valley College theater during the rain storms a few weeks back. The price tag? $500K or more...

Yesterday we learned about kids from Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill pushing for a proper football stadium, over the objections of San Jose Councilmember Ash Kalra... now we see that Monta Vista High School kids in Cupertino are pushing for lights at their football field. They have a 1,000-person petition on their side... but in this case, neighbors have some objections.

The Milpitas Walmart would like to expand its store to include a grocery store, be open for 24 hours, and sell alcohol. Expect a rowdy Planning Commission meeting in March on these plans...

San Jose Inside fills us in on San Jose being named America's Happiest Big City by Gallup's Well-Being Index. America's Bhutan... (Bhutan has a Gross National Happiness index...)

And finally, for all you conspiracy theorists: there will be Vector Control District helicopters spraying this week. "What's your vector Victor?"

Morning News Round-Up -- 11.18,09: Rapid-Response Rosen...

Teens Jae Williams and Randy Thompson hung with Michael Russell at Santa Teresa High, all dressed in black and sporting bandanas... then the stabbed Russell to death. District Attorney Dolores Carr charged the teens as adults after looking “at everyone’s culpability and social history.” Thompson’s attorney, Richard Pointer, is looking for a psychiatrist because there are “some issues” that could help his client.

While DA Carr deals with this case... she is also dealing with a political race. It seems her poll numbers are dropping fast. Not too many people want to see her get re-elected according to a San Jose State poll. This is news that challenger Jeff Rosen's people have already had some rapid-response fun with...

Speaking of kids being charged as adults... San Jose has the dubious distinction of housing 5 teenagers in jail, all being charged as adults for violent crimes. The Merc’s Editorial Board is following the U.S. Supreme Court as they wade into analogies that teens are like powerful cars missing working brakes. The Merc calls for an end to life sentences for teens.

And speaking of (former) prosecutors in trouble... (Former) prosecutor Ben Field sat at the defendants' table while a State Bar of California appellate panel attacked Field’s request to overturn a 4 year suspension for misconduct. While Field waits to hear if his punishment is decreased – or made worse – he continues as right hand for (former) Vice Mayor/ Labor leader Cindy Chavez.

Terrified tiny-tots attending downtown San Jose’s Lowell Elementary School got their anti-Swine dose the easy way – a nasal spray. Head Nurse Melinda Landau happily said “we’re doing good” before packing up and heading to Washington Elementary. Ixia Rivera a 10 year old now Swine-proofed said “it felt weird… but it didn’t’ hurt.”

Environmentalists for Meg? Conservatives are pissed that Silicon Valley Republican Gubernatorial wannabe Meg Whitman gave nearly $1.4 million to environmental causes.

San Jose Police Captain Manny Martinez is ditching San Jose to become Daly City’s new Chief of Police. When the going gets tough... the tough head north... could the Chief be far behind?

There is a simple solution to missing goals – change them. San Jose Chief Development Officer Paul Krutko thinks lowered expectations for Team San Jose’s management of the Convention Center will still be tough to meet during the current economic disaster, but he’d love to see “measures with higher levels of performance.” Team San Jose President Dan Fenton blames bad data from the City as the Convention Center heads for its biggest financial loss in 5 years. Mayor Chuck Reed scolded Fenton for an unconvincing media band-aid.

San Jose Police are working the press for feel good stories to counter their pesky media nightmares. The Merc’s Patty Fisher shares a heroe's tale after learning rookie Officer Matt Bordoni was a two time lifesaver. A quick thinking, and Morse Code savvy, 10 year old Bordoni rescued a neighbor in trouble.

San Jose Councilmember/VTA Vice Chair Sam Liccardo announced plans to introduce “segregated bike lanes” while doubling the miles of bike lanes in San Jose. Liccardo also let loose plans to solve the “first mile – last mile” dilemma for transit riders with a bike share program.

Mountain View neighbors of Cuesta Park are pissed to hear plans for flood protection and worry it could destroy the “rural feel” of their park. Mountain View Mayor Ronit Bryant says there’s “no way everyone can agree and be happy” but remains confident most people are “ok with the process.”

Mission City Lantern welcomes (not really) the return of anti-Mayor Judy Nadler gadfly Debbie Bress. (And Mr. Rowen, we are sorry about our spell-check oversight... thanks for the correction. We just wanted to make sure you were paying attention...)

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.11.09: Hey Great America, the 49ers are on the phone...

Someone’s mental health day went awry when Great America’s Invertigo trapped 24 coaster crazies for more than 4 hours. Mission City Lantern dishes Great America battled Santa Clara for a year to get the overly tall rollercoaster approved. Today seems like a very good day for the City of Santa Clara and the 49ers to call the Great America folks and make peace...

(Former) Santa Clara County prosecutor/ Labor Chief of Staff Ben Field filed (anagram) an appeal to the “miscarriage of justice” that derailed his career. Field hopes (?) to ditch labor and return to the golden path that ends in a judges robes, instead of in front of the judge.

Speaking of court... Libraries should be fun places to learn new things, like anagrams. We’re betting San Jose’s City Council didn’t intend the learning to include defense preparation. Last week's entertaining Council Education Park Library do-over has Building and Trades Council CEO (Councilmember Nora Campos’ Husband) Neil Struthers promising a day in court.

Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards sends a reminder that today police around the Bay are looking for cell phone using scofflaws on the road. Thank you for the (hands free) heads up...

The Merc’s Scott Herhold dishes his dark side includes stealing crackers when he meets his Mom for dinner at Whole Foods. Herhold laments the economic downturn delaying San Jose’s first Whole Foods opening.

“…like falling off a cliff...” was how Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone described this year's devastating housing value crash. Stone wants you to know you have a little time left to get your property value officially lowered. That is definately boo-worthy news...

Oops… Palo Alto’s Lytton Park facelift was yanked at the 11th hour, literally, when a resident complaint arrived 1 hour before groundbreaking. A sheepish City Manager Jim Keene said he didn’t know how one of the City’s legal requirements had been missed. You have got to love Palo Alto...

The search for a new Morgan Hill Union School District Superintendent includes a brochure calling for a collaborative leader/ team builder interested in transparency and inclusiveness with a talent for data driven curriculum. Putting together the brochure included removing discussion of “adjusted school boundaries” as too scary for prospects.

Over in Gilroy, the School District is also facing changes. Following the brouhaha over financial swindling at the hands of the Mexican American Community Services Agency, the Gilroy Unified School District hired former El Portal Principal Graciela Vallardares to help students transition from the charter school to public school. (Watch Dog can only assume she didn't have anything to do with the embezzlement...)

Morgan Hill and Gilroy City employees are facing the same fears as private employees with the crashing economy and cities facing layoffs. City Manager Ed Tewes sent an email to the Morgan Hill Times saying “employees understand the necessity of living within our means.” We can only assume that Mr. Tewes's job isn't on the chopping block...)

Pissed off about a series of low rent criminals cruising local retailers, the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce is training business owners to fight back. Chamber Executive Director Ronee Nassi is hoping it will end the days when shopkeepers chase shoplifters down the toney streets of Los Gatos.

The Valley Transit Authority is using their Federal stimulus dollars to buy hybrid buses. Should make waiting behind the bus less unpleasant. The VTA kicked off a series of meetings for pissed off commuters last night in Campbell, more meetings to follow.

Doobies and Senator Barbara Boxer share the limelight under the gentle penmanship of the Merc’s Sal Pizarro today. Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone claims it isn’t the smoke that makes him think San Jose’s own rockers, the Doobie Brothers, will do for San Jose what the Beatles do for Liverpool.

Three teenagers were satisfying that midnight need for In-N-Out when a party pooper stole their ride right out from under them – with a gun in hand. If you have news to share you are encouraged to call Mountain View Police at 650-903-6344.

An evening commuter Caltrain hit and killed a pedestrian. No word on whether suicide was involved.

Mission City Lantern calls out San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed for picking on Councilmember Ash Kalra’s Chief of Staff, suggestion the Mayor beat up his own staff before sharing the love.

San Jose Insider/San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio uses his bully pulpit for a (yawning) description of musical chairs (jobs) before coming to his (un)surprising conclusion that it’s hard to let go of civil servants.

Protect San Jose blogger/Council wannabe Jim Cogan shares his observation that National Night Out was a success because a Police Officer could be overhead saying “now that I know about it…” and neighbors started a neighborhood watch group. Thank you Jim.

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.8.09: A football field and a ben field...

And you thought the Swine Flu stories were over. Unfortunately, Silicon Valley had its first Swine Flu death. You may not have heard about it because of the 24/7 Jacko watch...

(Soon to be termed out) State Senator Elaine Alquist has a problem with public bids (for a 49ers stadium) and is angling to change State law. Alquist’s problem is with the requirement to pick the lowest bidder because the 49ers want to do the picking themselves. At least Alquist is focusing on the really important stuff in Sacramento...

As the head of the South Bay Labor Council, Cindy Chavez is wasting no time in shaking things up... a lot. Santa Clara County Prosecutor Ben Field, facing suspension for abuse of power, will join Chavez as her right hand leaving his $180,000 gig and Los Gatos digs behind.

Los Altos neighbors (NIMBYs) are really pissed at the thought of a bigger retirement home. Retirees and cranky neighbors will descend on City Hall this week in what promises to be an exciting meeting. An exciting meeting and Los Altos -- those two thing don't often go together.

Gilroy’s City Council ditched planning guidelines and ignored growth limits to approve a large hillside proposal – much to the joy of the South Valley Community Church. While agreeing the Council repeatedly makes such decisions, Councilmember Dion Bracco said it wouldn’t “…open the flood gates...”

The (volunteer) Utilities Advisory Committee in Palo Alto is growing as Palo Alto staff is shrinking. Mayor Peter Drekmeier called for the expansion to take advantage of resident expertise. (And may we suggest better oversight of the Utility...)

Santa Clara County’s Civil Grand Jury attack on local school officials made it to Mountain View. The Mountain View Voice calls attention to School District Trustee benefits, from $121,000 to Fremont Union Trustees and $0 to Loma Prieta’s.

Four developers are drooling over the thought of getting their hands on 77 acres at NASA Ames for a research park…

Morgan Hill aims to become the Silicon Valley electric vehicle retail site. San Jose’s Eco-Sparc (Sorry, not Tesla) showed off their electric cars in the Fourth of July parade and will open doors in the Downtown Mall this month.

Taking a pay cut and refusing raises was the least they could do, according to Gilroy’s City Council, to show solidarity with City employees taking paycuts. Largely symbolic, the part-timers will save the city $8,000 and keep personal benefits. (Perhaps they learned from San Jose's Kansen Chu...)

No surprises here: The South Bay ranks as the 6th most congested commute in the nation. The good (?) news, between the economy and fuel prices, congestion is at its lowest in 15 years.

Bizzare: Stanford physicist Suwen Wang took his family to Nebraska for the International Children’s Painting Competition (where his daughter won the North America division). While at the Competition, Wang and his wife were busted for child abuse. When Wang and his wife got out of jail, the kids were kept behind in foster care…

Yesterday, San Jose Inside got in on the news story about Ron Gonzales' job prospects. The weird part is that it seems Inside is getting into the news aggregation game, because they linked their "news" back to the Mercury News... then they did it again today with the story about Ben Field joining the South Bay Labor Council team.