Although ‘The Lioness’ has left the Chambers on Hedding her presence will still be felt. Supervisor Blanca Alvarado’s career had dramatic ups and downs, she’ll take some time off and return to San Jose to continue her work. Alvarado was San Jose’s first Latina Councilmember and the County’s first Latina Supervisor, appointed when Congresswoman (former Supervisor) Zoe Lofgren left for D.C. (after Lofgren beat-up on this guy.)
Whether the booze is to dull the pain of the economic crisis or to celebrate the holidays – watch out. Without any drunk tanks it could cost you as much as $8,000 in addition to the night in jail if you get pulled over for a DUI. A drunk tank might have prevented the death of a Sunnyvale man this week. A drunk driver driving North in the Southbound lanes of 280 killed one man and injured another.
But not everyone gets arrested for being drunk in San Jose. District Attorney Dolores Carr is expected to ask a secret grand jury to investigate a possible cover-up by two San Jose police officers for driving drunk. (Ironic, given the zero-tolerance policy usually in place.) Earlier this year District Attorney investigator (and former San Jose police officer) Sandra Woodall smashed her Cadillac Escalade into two cars injuring a teenager. Officers then (reportedly) helped her answer questions and delayed a blood alcohol test long enough to render any results inaccurate.
Angry parents, students, and coaches yelled at East Side Union Superintendent Bob Nunez for his threat to take away sports in an attempt to balance the budget. The San Jose Earthquakes (Lew Wolff) and Oakland A’s (Lew Wolff) have stepped up with offers to help the District raise money for sports. Watch Dog gnaws on this bone, come June when the final decision is made how likely is it sports remain while teachers, administrators, and staff disappear? What do you think, should East Side toss sports?
Without athletics to unload, the City of Morgan Hill is laying off as many as 13 employees in an effort to cut $2.1 million from its budget. At a community meeting, attendees offered ideas ranging from a 10% pay cut for management (savings: $40,000) to shutting off street lights (savings: $150,000). Councilmember Greg Sellers expressed concern that the budget cuts made now might be a prelude to a more painful situation if the state again takes/cuts City funds.
The Merc. makes a case to the Alum Rock Board of Trustees to put aside rancor and move forward – put the children, not the personalities, first. That truly would be a first in that school District...
Monte Sereno has selected Curtis Wright as its new (rotating) Mayor and Don Perry as Vice Mayor.
It was a mix of celebration and nostalgia as Campbell said farewell to Mayor Don Burr who has spent 50 years supporting his community in various roles and welcomed new (recycled and rotating) Mayor Jane Kennedy and Vice Mayor Evan Low. While Kennedy celebrated her fourth Mayoral appointment, newcomers Mike Kotowski and Jason Baker were sworn in to their Council seats in front of friends and family.
New VTA Board Chair Dolly Sandoval has asked her colleagues to stop bickering and get behind implementation of BART saying, "If we are going to max federal stimulus dollars or our own local dollars, we've got to make sure we are singing from the same hymn book." Amen sister...Outgoing VTA Chair Liz Kniss reportedly told a packed room of Measure B supporters she didn’t expect to see BART in her lifetime. Looking surprised, Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino voiced an expectation of the first trains rolling through in 2017. Perhaps 2017 if we all sing from Dolly's hymnal...
Showing posts with label measure b. Show all posts
Showing posts with label measure b. Show all posts
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Morning News Round-Up – 12.04.08
Locate a ballpark near a rail station? The Merc. Editorial board thinks it might be a good idea while Lew Wolff, owner of both the A’s and the Earthquakes, is hoping to make it real. The recent passage of Measure B may be having positive economic benefits already, Wolff looks for a 2014 opening. "We're happy to sit down with them," said BART spokesman Linton Johnson, who noted team officials approached the transit agency about a week ago. "We'll see what they have to say."
Watch out - Watch Dogs (and potential employers) are sniffing around the Facebook, the Metro’s Fly this week highlights dissension in the ranks. In a move contrary to the time honored tradition of holding ones tongue, Councilmember Pete Constant’s Chief of Staff Jim Cogan declared his support for Measure B even while his boss blasted Measure B fan Carl Guardino at a fundraiser for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Could this explain Constants attitude problem on the dais?
The Metro also looks into Madison Nguyen's recall campaign and catches her admitting that she didn't foresee the ability of her foes to qualify a recall measure...oops...
Women’s sports also make the news – Brandi Chastain is confident the new soccer team FC Gold Pride will be knocking on her door. The Merc.’s Ann Killion, herself a trailblazer, hopes it’s true.
In a move that might signal support for “small schools,” the Alum Rock School Board voted 3-1 to allow Superintendent Norma Martinez to end her stormy relationship with nearly $300,000 in walk-away money. Trustee Tanya Fruedenberger missed the meeting and was “outraged” the Board was so generous. (Perhaps she could have shown up to vote and turned her outrage into action...) Then, in a confusing statement, Trustee Frank Chavez indicated he thought they saved money in the move while Trustee Gustavo Gonzalez voted against the generous package. Watch Dog notes that the hurried move took place before two new Trustees were seated.
San Jose City Council refers to it as the “Peralta Action Plan,” hoping to bring an open air version of the Pike Place Market to downtown San Jose. Others call it the Tom McEnery retirement package. Councilmembers Nora Campos and Forest Williams insisted this summer an economic analysis be part of the request for $5 million. Watch Dog thinks it sounds cool and hopes it’s more Pike Place than San Jose Pavilion. Any Watch Dog insiders who watch this at next weeks Council meeting are invited to dish.
In a sign of the times, the three towers on the Guadalupe River, affectionately known as Adobe, will see fewer folks as Adobe lets go 600 people. "The global economic crisis significantly impacted our revenue during the fourth quarter," said Chief Executive Shantanu Narayen.
Following the European tradition of B.Y.O., Los Gatos is hoping to make shoppers pay for bags if they’ve forgotten their own. County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commissioner Steve Glickman says plastic bags are the biggest concern.
Not keeping up with collecting money owed has cost the City of Gilroy and is now going to cost residents. Gilroy City Council decided this week to raise rates for drinking water and toilet flushes. Embarrassed Councilmember Perry Woodward said, "If you were doing a better job collecting what you're owed, you wouldn't need 5 percent more from residents," referring to the City’s forgetfulness in collecting more than $20 million from businesses that have not paid up
. The largest debtor is West Coast Linens, they recently ditched employees and Gilroy so it’s not likely any payments will come from that quarter.
Mountain View will allow the ubiquitous big city cool toy on park trails but not sidewalks. Earlier this year Segway commuter Richard Roeder complained to Mayor Tom Means that he wasn’t being allowed to get to work and wanted changes. The Council agreed but doesn’t want them roaming around town.
Watch out - Watch Dogs (and potential employers) are sniffing around the Facebook, the Metro’s Fly this week highlights dissension in the ranks. In a move contrary to the time honored tradition of holding ones tongue, Councilmember Pete Constant’s Chief of Staff Jim Cogan declared his support for Measure B even while his boss blasted Measure B fan Carl Guardino at a fundraiser for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Could this explain Constants attitude problem on the dais?
The Metro also looks into Madison Nguyen's recall campaign and catches her admitting that she didn't foresee the ability of her foes to qualify a recall measure...oops...
Women’s sports also make the news – Brandi Chastain is confident the new soccer team FC Gold Pride will be knocking on her door. The Merc.’s Ann Killion, herself a trailblazer, hopes it’s true.
In a move that might signal support for “small schools,” the Alum Rock School Board voted 3-1 to allow Superintendent Norma Martinez to end her stormy relationship with nearly $300,000 in walk-away money. Trustee Tanya Fruedenberger missed the meeting and was “outraged” the Board was so generous. (Perhaps she could have shown up to vote and turned her outrage into action...) Then, in a confusing statement, Trustee Frank Chavez indicated he thought they saved money in the move while Trustee Gustavo Gonzalez voted against the generous package. Watch Dog notes that the hurried move took place before two new Trustees were seated.
San Jose City Council refers to it as the “Peralta Action Plan,” hoping to bring an open air version of the Pike Place Market to downtown San Jose. Others call it the Tom McEnery retirement package. Councilmembers Nora Campos and Forest Williams insisted this summer an economic analysis be part of the request for $5 million. Watch Dog thinks it sounds cool and hopes it’s more Pike Place than San Jose Pavilion. Any Watch Dog insiders who watch this at next weeks Council meeting are invited to dish.
In a sign of the times, the three towers on the Guadalupe River, affectionately known as Adobe, will see fewer folks as Adobe lets go 600 people. "The global economic crisis significantly impacted our revenue during the fourth quarter," said Chief Executive Shantanu Narayen.
Following the European tradition of B.Y.O., Los Gatos is hoping to make shoppers pay for bags if they’ve forgotten their own. County Recycling and Waste Reduction Commissioner Steve Glickman says plastic bags are the biggest concern.
Not keeping up with collecting money owed has cost the City of Gilroy and is now going to cost residents. Gilroy City Council decided this week to raise rates for drinking water and toilet flushes. Embarrassed Councilmember Perry Woodward said, "If you were doing a better job collecting what you're owed, you wouldn't need 5 percent more from residents," referring to the City’s forgetfulness in collecting more than $20 million from businesses that have not paid up
. The largest debtor is West Coast Linens, they recently ditched employees and Gilroy so it’s not likely any payments will come from that quarter.Mountain View will allow the ubiquitous big city cool toy on park trails but not sidewalks. Earlier this year Segway commuter Richard Roeder complained to Mayor Tom Means that he wasn’t being allowed to get to work and wanted changes. The Council agreed but doesn’t want them roaming around town.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Measure B (BART to Silicon Valley) drama coming to an end? The legal eagle update...
Election drama and nail biting appeared to be over when Measure B passed mid-November.
(Measure B was a tax measure to continue funding the BART extension to downtown San Jose.)
Not so fast, cried Measure B opponents last week as they filed a last minute lawsuit to delay certification and force a recount. As Watch Dog readers know, only yesterday a judge in San Jose sent them packing when it turned out the lawsuit was filed in the wrong county.
Fast-forward to today.
In a gloomy San Francisco morning in San Francisco Superior Court where arguments were heard by Judge Peter Busch for a temporary restraining order to prevent certification of election results.
Slight problem - the Registrar is good at PR and law. The Registrar this morning dropped the certified results in the mail this morning before going to court.
(No surprise) Judge Busch denied the restraining order as results had already been certified.
Is this the end of the drama? Only time will tell.
David Schonbrunn of TransDef.org, the chief opponents of Measure B, says "No one knows how the voters of Santa Clara County really voted on this." Well, the Judge, the Registrar, Carl Guardino, and more than 2/3 of the voters know how the County voted on this...the only people that don't seem to get it are the TransDef.org folks...
The Registrar graciuosly pointed out TransDef could request a recount -- at TransDef.org's cost -- for an estimated $400,000. Does T.J. Rogers have that kind of money to put behind a recount?
Stay tuned as the drama continues to unfold.
(Measure B was a tax measure to continue funding the BART extension to downtown San Jose.)
Not so fast, cried Measure B opponents last week as they filed a last minute lawsuit to delay certification and force a recount. As Watch Dog readers know, only yesterday a judge in San Jose sent them packing when it turned out the lawsuit was filed in the wrong county.
Fast-forward to today.
In a gloomy San Francisco morning in San Francisco Superior Court where arguments were heard by Judge Peter Busch for a temporary restraining order to prevent certification of election results.
Slight problem - the Registrar is good at PR and law. The Registrar this morning dropped the certified results in the mail this morning before going to court.
(No surprise) Judge Busch denied the restraining order as results had already been certified.
Is this the end of the drama? Only time will tell.
David Schonbrunn of TransDef.org, the chief opponents of Measure B, says "No one knows how the voters of Santa Clara County really voted on this." Well, the Judge, the Registrar, Carl Guardino, and more than 2/3 of the voters know how the County voted on this...the only people that don't seem to get it are the TransDef.org folks...
The Registrar graciuosly pointed out TransDef could request a recount -- at TransDef.org's cost -- for an estimated $400,000. Does T.J. Rogers have that kind of money to put behind a recount?
Stay tuned as the drama continues to unfold.
Morning News Round-Up -- 12.02.08: Campos as Reed's attack-dog?
Still trying to fill retail space in San Jose City Hall? It took Councilmember Pete Constant almost a year to come up with his solution to the retail space conundrum at City Hall, causing his already irritated colleagues further annoyance. "Last-minute recommendations to change terms developed in an extensive, yearlong outreach process circumvent the City's efforts to conduct an open, inclusive process and deny the council sufficient time to explore potential repercussions," responded Councilmember Nora Campos. Perhaps this response from Campos to Constant shows what role she would play as Mayor Reed's Vice Mayor -- similar to the role by this famous "Vice"...
San Jose Inside blogger and San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio has concluded that the way to build community is with more sporting events.
Garbage is all the rage in San Mateo County according to Watch Dog San Mateo – but it is termed out (and charming) Santa Cruz Assemblymember John Laird who will join the California Integrated Waste Management Board for a nice retirement salary - $132,178.
Charm doesn’t seem to be winning friends for the opponents of Measure B. Superior Court Judge Mary Jo Levinger scolded them for filing a lawsuit in the wrong County and sent them scurrying for San Francisco in an attempt to force a recount – at the County’s expense. Transportation Solutions Defense Fund pPresident David Schonbrunn complained they were being forced "… to go to two different courts." Watch Dog will try to get an update out as soon as possible about what happens in San Francisco today.
Former San Jose Councilmember/Current DA David Pandori and Merc columnist Scott Herhold are taking it on the chin from San Jose Revealed for an old Herhold piece defending Pandori on the Kali-Rai/Arreolla incident.
James Rowen at Mission City Lantern is heading to San Francisco to shop (so much for tax dollars in his home community) but not before posting his own gadfly musical.
The City of Campbell is trying to figure out how to get 892 new homes built –- and they’re getting plenty of comments from residents according to Housing Coordinator Sharon Teeter.
Meanwhile, cold weather homeless shelters opened in Sunnyvale and Gilroy last night. Jennifer Loving, CEO for EHC Lifebuilders says they’ve seen a substantial increase in people seeking shelter, “The economic crisis, coupled with the rising unemployment rate and high cost of living in Silicon Valley is creating a challenging situation for many Santa Clara County residents."
Outgoing Supervisor Blanca Alvarado was pleased to hear county employees donated over $1 million this year to area non-profits, "While our country is going through economic uncertainty and so many people are struggling, I'm heartened by the generosity of County employees."
Folks in Palo Alto were also feeling generous – Oak Investment Partners gave Arianna Huffington $25 million for her political blog site The Huffington Post.
The labor ire continues in Morgan Hill as teachers' union rep’s are transferred. In a move that sounds a tiny bit retaliatory, teacher John Loyd was given one days notice before being told about the transfer. School Board President Julia Hover-Smoot said the transfers were not retaliatory, “The district would not do that, and the board would never support that activity." Ok...
Building permits in Gilroy? Take asprin and meditate. Gilroy’s Community Development Department has been slashed and the loss is expected to result in long lines and stressed out employees. Parks and Recreation Commissioner (and area developer) Steve Ashford had a few thoughts, "It seems like they're keeping all the higher-ups instead of the folks who know what's going on, the people out in the streets and roads and parks -- the workers. They're the people doing the work. They need to clean house."
San Jose Inside blogger and San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio has concluded that the way to build community is with more sporting events.
Garbage is all the rage in San Mateo County according to Watch Dog San Mateo – but it is termed out (and charming) Santa Cruz Assemblymember John Laird who will join the California Integrated Waste Management Board for a nice retirement salary - $132,178.
Charm doesn’t seem to be winning friends for the opponents of Measure B. Superior Court Judge Mary Jo Levinger scolded them for filing a lawsuit in the wrong County and sent them scurrying for San Francisco in an attempt to force a recount – at the County’s expense. Transportation Solutions Defense Fund pPresident David Schonbrunn complained they were being forced "… to go to two different courts." Watch Dog will try to get an update out as soon as possible about what happens in San Francisco today.
Former San Jose Councilmember/Current DA David Pandori and Merc columnist Scott Herhold are taking it on the chin from San Jose Revealed for an old Herhold piece defending Pandori on the Kali-Rai/Arreolla incident.
James Rowen at Mission City Lantern is heading to San Francisco to shop (so much for tax dollars in his home community) but not before posting his own gadfly musical.
The City of Campbell is trying to figure out how to get 892 new homes built –- and they’re getting plenty of comments from residents according to Housing Coordinator Sharon Teeter.
Meanwhile, cold weather homeless shelters opened in Sunnyvale and Gilroy last night. Jennifer Loving, CEO for EHC Lifebuilders says they’ve seen a substantial increase in people seeking shelter, “The economic crisis, coupled with the rising unemployment rate and high cost of living in Silicon Valley is creating a challenging situation for many Santa Clara County residents."
Outgoing Supervisor Blanca Alvarado was pleased to hear county employees donated over $1 million this year to area non-profits, "While our country is going through economic uncertainty and so many people are struggling, I'm heartened by the generosity of County employees."
Folks in Palo Alto were also feeling generous – Oak Investment Partners gave Arianna Huffington $25 million for her political blog site The Huffington Post.
The labor ire continues in Morgan Hill as teachers' union rep’s are transferred. In a move that sounds a tiny bit retaliatory, teacher John Loyd was given one days notice before being told about the transfer. School Board President Julia Hover-Smoot said the transfers were not retaliatory, “The district would not do that, and the board would never support that activity." Ok...
Building permits in Gilroy? Take asprin and meditate. Gilroy’s Community Development Department has been slashed and the loss is expected to result in long lines and stressed out employees. Parks and Recreation Commissioner (and area developer) Steve Ashford had a few thoughts, "It seems like they're keeping all the higher-ups instead of the folks who know what's going on, the people out in the streets and roads and parks -- the workers. They're the people doing the work. They need to clean house."
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Morning News Round-Up –- 11.27.08: "Final" Semi-Official Results...
The election is over...really. The Santa Clara Registrar of Voters has posted the “Final – Semi-Official Results.” Only the Registrar could use the phrase "Final" and "Semi-Official" right next to each other...Automatic re-counts happened in 3 races West Valley/Mission Community College District, Gilroy Unified School District, and Berryessa Union. So what happened in these ‘recount’ seats?:
Santa Clara Unified School District Trustee Don Bordenave hung on to his seat by just 29 votes, while newcomer Albert Gonzalez came in nearly 6,000 votes ahead of Bordenave. What happened there? Incumbents don’t usually get smoked.
Did all the election silliness get your juices flowing? Well, it ain’t over yet. The election of George Shirakawa, Jr. to the Board of Supervisors has left a vacancy in San Jose’s East Side Union High School District, applications will be accepted through December 10. If Eddie Garcia didn’t burn bridges perhaps he can get back on, after all, Eddie is one of the Bay Areas Most Inspirational Latino Leaders.
The Mission City Lantern offers gift suggestions for everyone from Mayor Reed's bud Vic Ajlouny to Erlinda Estrada – all this was all posted a minute after wishing everyone a peaceful and joyous 2009...ironic.
Letterman would be proud... Scott Herhold wrote the Ten Reasons to be Thankful. Among them the end (for now) of the mania for Coyote Valley development and Little Saigon. Wait until March, however, when the Little Saigon issue will be all over the place in the recall election of San Jose Councilmember Madison Nguyen.
The Thanksgiving free-for-all dates back to 1991 when Los Gatos residents Matt Ober, Brock Baxter, Kevin Sweatt, Ted Sweatt, Joey Alvarado, Wes Coy, Craig Evansa, Mike Ortega, Jeff Frederick, Huy-Lin Nguyen, and Jeremy Harms headed out to play pad-free football at LGHS. It has since grown to be the National Turkey Bowl League, "Where Athletes Are Reborn Once A Year — Thanksgiving Day."
Saratoga Councilwoman Jill Hunter learned the Village Post Office would be leaving town for the first time at a hastily called community meeting.
Facing a $3.3 million shortfall Morgan Hill will be adding to its financial woes. After more than 3 years of negotiations, the City Council unanimously approved purchase of Associated Concrete’s property for $3.9 million.
The Gilroy Dispatch wants to know your thoughts on which local governmental agency is the worst run. Your choices are the Water District, VTA, Gilroy Unified School District, or the City of Gilroy. So far, Gilroy itself is running away with the vote. Perhaps Watch Dog should run the “Which local newspaper is the worst run”…
- …West Valley/Mission will see incumbent Chris Constantin and newcomer Adrienne Grey taking seats.
- …the Berryessa drama concluded with Richard Claspill and Khoa Nguyen taking seats, incumbent Rudy Nasol lost his.
- ...in Gilroy, Fred Tovar, Rhoda Bress, and Mark Good held on. Jaime Rosso lost his seat by a mere 6 votes…if only Rosso had walked/called 7 more voters...
Santa Clara Unified School District Trustee Don Bordenave hung on to his seat by just 29 votes, while newcomer Albert Gonzalez came in nearly 6,000 votes ahead of Bordenave. What happened there? Incumbents don’t usually get smoked.
Did all the election silliness get your juices flowing? Well, it ain’t over yet. The election of George Shirakawa, Jr. to the Board of Supervisors has left a vacancy in San Jose’s East Side Union High School District, applications will be accepted through December 10. If Eddie Garcia didn’t burn bridges perhaps he can get back on, after all, Eddie is one of the Bay Areas Most Inspirational Latino Leaders.
The Mission City Lantern offers gift suggestions for everyone from Mayor Reed's bud Vic Ajlouny to Erlinda Estrada – all this was all posted a minute after wishing everyone a peaceful and joyous 2009...ironic.
Letterman would be proud... Scott Herhold wrote the Ten Reasons to be Thankful. Among them the end (for now) of the mania for Coyote Valley development and Little Saigon. Wait until March, however, when the Little Saigon issue will be all over the place in the recall election of San Jose Councilmember Madison Nguyen.
The Thanksgiving free-for-all dates back to 1991 when Los Gatos residents Matt Ober, Brock Baxter, Kevin Sweatt, Ted Sweatt, Joey Alvarado, Wes Coy, Craig Evansa, Mike Ortega, Jeff Frederick, Huy-Lin Nguyen, and Jeremy Harms headed out to play pad-free football at LGHS. It has since grown to be the National Turkey Bowl League, "Where Athletes Are Reborn Once A Year — Thanksgiving Day."
Saratoga Councilwoman Jill Hunter learned the Village Post Office would be leaving town for the first time at a hastily called community meeting.
Facing a $3.3 million shortfall Morgan Hill will be adding to its financial woes. After more than 3 years of negotiations, the City Council unanimously approved purchase of Associated Concrete’s property for $3.9 million.
The Gilroy Dispatch wants to know your thoughts on which local governmental agency is the worst run. Your choices are the Water District, VTA, Gilroy Unified School District, or the City of Gilroy. So far, Gilroy itself is running away with the vote. Perhaps Watch Dog should run the “Which local newspaper is the worst run”…
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