Santa Clara’s City Council received bad news while they approved the 49ers environmental impact report, the happy folks at Great America will sue. Adding to the confusion were different community groups offering a voter initiative to avoid environmental reviews. 49ers spokesperson Lisa Lang said the team “is not prepared” to talk about going directly to the voters.
With 200 pissed off college employees watching, Trustees for the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District ditched (immediate) plans to lay off 106 people. An investigation into District finances uncovered (suspected) financial abuse by Chancellor Rosa Perez. (now) Retiring Chancellor Perez will temporarily be replaced by Vice Chancellor Jeanine Hawk.
Calling conventioneers response an “overreaction” San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed joined colleagues in sending Team San Jose back to the drawing board to fix the problem of pissed off (San Francisco) Teamsters and conventioneers. Councilmember Sam Liccardo expressed dismay over the problem saying “didn’t anybody say to you… ‘Hey, this could be a problem’?”
There’s a new Chancellor coming to town. Foothill-DeAnza Community College District has selected Arizona’s Rio Salado college president Linda Thor to fill the hole created when Martha Kanter heard the siren call of the Obama Administration.
Palo Alto Unified School District Trustees had a busy night. A mail-in ballot is (likely) on tap to increase parcel taxes to an annual $598. Trustee Barb Mitchell said bluntly not receiving voter approval would mean the loss of 95 teachers. Teachers or taxes...
The Merc’s Editorial Board wants to see the sun shine on arbitration hearings between the city of San Jose and unions. Mayor Chuck Reed adds hearings in the dark might be illegal and a violation of the Brown Act.
When you head out to grab a bite today, local elected officials will gather for a memorial service recognizing the 67 men and women who died living on the streets this year. The annual EHC LifeBuilders memorial service is open to the public.
San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo wants all jailed kids to learn to FLY. Fresh Lifelines for Youth offers kids alternatives and saves taxpayers 10 times the money it costs to run the program, according to DiSalvo who had his eggs served with FLY graduate testimonials.
Mission City Lantern posted their top ten ways to prevent Santa Clara Councilmember Jamie McLeod from becoming the next Mayor. Including are such gems as asking McLeod’s friend/Campbell Mayor Evan Low to declare her “uncool” and preventing seniors from voting.
PoliticonValley notes San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed joined Councilmembers Sam Liccardo and Madison Nguyen to create an “unconventional” approach to keeping homeowners from being tossed on the streets.
Showing posts with label sam liccardo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sam liccardo. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 10.27.09: It's bad news Tuesday....
According to attorney Terry Bowman, representing the San Jose police officer caught on video striking San Jose State math student Phuong Ho with a police baton, “Mr. Ho is responsible…” San Jose Councilmembers Madison Nguyen, Sam Liccardo and Ash Kalra stated they were “saddened the Vietnamese American community has recently experienced two incidents with the San Jose Police Department regarding possible use of excessive force.” The Merc’s Scott Herhold steps into the fray with his own analysis of Phuong Ho’s videotaped interview offering this “It’s hard to think he’s making this up… it is extraordinarily hard to make charges against cops stick before a jury.”
Following the death of Beverly Head when she got tangled up by a dog leash, San Jose takes on bikes and pooches. Somewhere, someone is hoping bikes and pooches become a leading story...
Santa Clara’s City Council tackles one hurdle standing in the way of bringing the 49ers to town. Up tonight, letting the team pick the builder of their (planned) Santa Clara Stadium…
The Merc’s Editorial Board wants Sunnyvale voters to know they’re not getting all the facts. The Merc takes a swipe at endorsed candidates Mayor Tony Spitaleri and Councilmember Chris Moylan for telling pieces of a story…
Love is in the air for the Mountain View Whisman School District. Superintendent Maurice Ghysels sheepishly admitted he’s been getting cozy with elementary school principal Carmen Mizell.
San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency released their bad news budget. After $75 million was taken by the State and facing decreased property tax revenues the Agency did some fancy (internal) footwork slashing budgets. Set your sights lower for the convention center expansion…
If you’re looking for your swine flu shot make sure you’re tops on the list. Public Health Officer Marty Fenstersheib had to shuffle after learning fewer (anti) swine-ish shots would be arriving. Kids and pregnant moms top the list… Keeping in mind, not all flues are swine-ish…
Speaking of budgets… San Jose Insider/San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio takes a stab at explaining the financial benefits of outsourcing city jobs and how San Jose’s budget works…
Also a San Jose Insider, Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo is eternally optimistic that San Jose’s 19 school districts can be organized into 4, DiSalvo wants to hear from you. Do you think 19 school boards, 19 superintendents, 19 sets of district staff, 19, well, you get the picture… willing to give up turf for the good of the children?
Protect San Jose’s numeric guru/Sunshine Task Force chair Ed Rast digs into the mind-numbing world of “item 3.5” and suggests the City Manager is reading Protect San Jose. Still no word about Sunshine…
Following the death of Beverly Head when she got tangled up by a dog leash, San Jose takes on bikes and pooches. Somewhere, someone is hoping bikes and pooches become a leading story...
Santa Clara’s City Council tackles one hurdle standing in the way of bringing the 49ers to town. Up tonight, letting the team pick the builder of their (planned) Santa Clara Stadium…
The Merc’s Editorial Board wants Sunnyvale voters to know they’re not getting all the facts. The Merc takes a swipe at endorsed candidates Mayor Tony Spitaleri and Councilmember Chris Moylan for telling pieces of a story…
Love is in the air for the Mountain View Whisman School District. Superintendent Maurice Ghysels sheepishly admitted he’s been getting cozy with elementary school principal Carmen Mizell.
San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency released their bad news budget. After $75 million was taken by the State and facing decreased property tax revenues the Agency did some fancy (internal) footwork slashing budgets. Set your sights lower for the convention center expansion…
If you’re looking for your swine flu shot make sure you’re tops on the list. Public Health Officer Marty Fenstersheib had to shuffle after learning fewer (anti) swine-ish shots would be arriving. Kids and pregnant moms top the list… Keeping in mind, not all flues are swine-ish…
Speaking of budgets… San Jose Insider/San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio takes a stab at explaining the financial benefits of outsourcing city jobs and how San Jose’s budget works…
Also a San Jose Insider, Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo is eternally optimistic that San Jose’s 19 school districts can be organized into 4, DiSalvo wants to hear from you. Do you think 19 school boards, 19 superintendents, 19 sets of district staff, 19, well, you get the picture… willing to give up turf for the good of the children?
Protect San Jose’s numeric guru/Sunshine Task Force chair Ed Rast digs into the mind-numbing world of “item 3.5” and suggests the City Manager is reading Protect San Jose. Still no word about Sunshine…
Monday, October 26, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 10.26.09: No singing in San Jose...
Across California, San Jose has landed in the news…
Sunnyvale dentist John Licking bucked the sagging home value trend after the city of San Jose offered to settle a lawsuit and buy up property near a planned BART station for a cool $2 million. San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo said, in “technical legal terms” the deal was “twofer” noting the end of the lawsuit and purchase of needed land.
The Merc’s Internal Affairs uncovered a little gloating in District Attorney Dolores Carr’s office. Carr let loose a “final salvo” at (former) Deputy DA/Councilmember Sam Liccardo and (former) defense attorney/Councilmember Ash Kalra for supporting the dangerous promotion of Sunshine. After a Pacific Research Institute report that said Los Altos elementary school, Santa Rita, suspended 81% of their little tykes for “obscene, disruptive, hostile or intimidating behavior” IA went to the source only to find Los Altos is not a hotbed of violent crime.
Thanks to a Watch Dog tipster this blurb from last week. Porn king/Values Advocacy Council president Larry Pegram has officially tossed his hat in the ring to unseat Congressional representative Jerry McNerney. Pegram plans to ditch San Jose for Plesanton. Oddly, the Pegram press release made no mention of Pegrams penchant for censorship.
The Merc’s Patty Fisher was reminded of the importance of friends during the memorial service for former Mountain View Mayor Rosemary Stasek. Email was Stasek’s favored communications tool as she maintained lives, and friendships around the world. Still mourning Stasek, husband Morne du Preez said his wife love parties but always liked leaving while “she was still having fun.”
For your government Watch Dog pleasure…
- San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis put 4 officers on leave after a videotape wound up in the hands of Attorney Duyen Hoang Nguyen.
- (apparently) Showing a brutal beating of San Jose State University math student Phuong Ho, the video is disturbing.
- Former San Francisco Police Chief/Mayor Frank Jordan joined others in asking if the beating was necessary.
- Following a yearlong series of questions about San Jose police (possibly) profiling or behaving badly, this has to sting.
- The Merc’s Editorial Board reminds San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed of his previous statements that it’s not enough to avoid breaking the law, it’s doing the right thing that counts.
- The Merc calls on District Attorney Dolores Carr to open the (inevitable) grand jury hearings on this case.
- San Jose Inside shares Mayor Reed’s comment that he is “troubled” by the contents of the video and notes Chief Rob Davis launched an Internal Affairs investigation after learning from the Merc about the video.
Following two deaths from illegal road races in San Jose, the Merc’s Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards did a little digging. Thousands of racers are ticketed in the Bay Area. It’s tough tracking down races. And…. California Highway Patrol Sgt. William Bradshaw says the solution is to give kids their own race track, Sonoma’s Infineon is too far and, well, kids will be kids…
Former Vice Mayor/Labor leader Cindy Chavez says calls by San Jose City Manager Debra Figone for drastic cuts will damage the city and isn’t very creative. Figone, facing a $90 million budget gap is calling for reductions in pay and benefits including elimination of “redundant compensation” to police and firefighters.Sunnyvale dentist John Licking bucked the sagging home value trend after the city of San Jose offered to settle a lawsuit and buy up property near a planned BART station for a cool $2 million. San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo said, in “technical legal terms” the deal was “twofer” noting the end of the lawsuit and purchase of needed land.
The Merc’s Internal Affairs uncovered a little gloating in District Attorney Dolores Carr’s office. Carr let loose a “final salvo” at (former) Deputy DA/Councilmember Sam Liccardo and (former) defense attorney/Councilmember Ash Kalra for supporting the dangerous promotion of Sunshine. After a Pacific Research Institute report that said Los Altos elementary school, Santa Rita, suspended 81% of their little tykes for “obscene, disruptive, hostile or intimidating behavior” IA went to the source only to find Los Altos is not a hotbed of violent crime.
Thanks to a Watch Dog tipster this blurb from last week. Porn king/Values Advocacy Council president Larry Pegram has officially tossed his hat in the ring to unseat Congressional representative Jerry McNerney. Pegram plans to ditch San Jose for Plesanton. Oddly, the Pegram press release made no mention of Pegrams penchant for censorship.
The Merc’s Patty Fisher was reminded of the importance of friends during the memorial service for former Mountain View Mayor Rosemary Stasek. Email was Stasek’s favored communications tool as she maintained lives, and friendships around the world. Still mourning Stasek, husband Morne du Preez said his wife love parties but always liked leaving while “she was still having fun.”
For your government Watch Dog pleasure…
- San Jose’s City Council talks further cutbacks and critter care.
- The Los Altos School District (not a hotbed of kiddie violence) considers renewal of a parcel tax.
- School closure is on the minds of Trustees for the Alum Rock Union School District with 5 schools facing darkness.
- The Cupertino Union School District considers technology and special education.
- In Palo Alto the Unified School District noodles over plans for student achievement and Gunn and Palo Alto High buildings. The board also considers a pre-kindergarten plan.
- San Jose’s Franklin-McKinley School District hears Rocketship Education's plans to open charter schools.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 6.25.09: Nothing but words, baby...
First, the Environmental Protection Agency wants to know if toxic chromium from Cupertino’s Lehigh Cement plant made its way to an elementary school. Now, proposed new rules from those pesky regulators are causing neighbors to jump for joy while Lehigh’s Tim “We’re safe” Matz is worried.
As if public employee pension funds (especially in the City of San Jose) don't have enough problems, a Pension Trustee from San Jose was arrested in San Mateo following a domestic violence call... Patrick G. Skillsky then attacked police called to the scene Perhaps he was just really, really upset about all the market losses he didn't see coming... Ironically, the City of San Jose is considering having professionals oversee the Pension Funds rather than appointed, untrained folks. It seems like there is no time like the present...
Santa Clara County Supervisors found a replacement for outgoing executive Pete Kutras. Dr. Jeffery Smith, executive director of the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center steps in during the worst economic disaster since the depression. President Liz Kniss said the supervisors were impressed by Smith’s range of experience in “medical, legal and public policy.” Smith will need his multiple degrees, and a healthy sense of humor...
East Side Union High School athletes will breath a sigh of relief, the board of trustees are expected to approve a budget that moves money from an insurance settlement to partially fund sports. The remaining $1 million is expected to come from athletes and donors who have so far stepped up with $150,000. Fundraiser/Trustee Eddie Garcia expressed rousing optimism saying “I think we’re going to get there.”
Gilroy’s divided police union approved a contract saving the city $1.1 million by just 5 votes. Police Officer Association President Mitch Madruga blamed city council saying there had been a “total lack of leadership” calling the 3 months of negotiations “ridiculous.”
Mountain View’s city council unanimously rejected a proposal to rehab a “blighted” building for reuse as affordable housing. Councilmember Ronit Bryant said the developer had provided “nothing but words.” City planning staff said it was tough to see how an existing “slum” could be rehabilitated sufficiently to remain habitable for another 55 years. Councilmembers also agreed to purchase the United Pentecostal church for $3.5 million, Councilmember Jac Siegel called it a “strategic location.”
Cupertino city councilmembers have an “economic uncertainty fund” to hold them over when the Governator comes calling with his hand out. Councilmember Dolly Sandoval reminds us the state’s budget crisis is “not going to be solved in one fiscal budget year.” No doubt Sandoval is (not) looking forward to hearing from the Guv again next year…
Updated 2010 campaigning news… A Watch Dog tipster pointed out an oversight, the Merc’s Sal Pizarro mentioned yesterday a potential candidate for San Jose’s downtown area. Nightclub owner Mauricio Mejia is contemplating a run against incumbent Sam Liccardo. Thanks, tipster.
Busted. Peter Be of Beohana Solar fleeced Silicon Valley residents of hundreds of thousands of dollars, promising a free solar system. Santa Clara County deputy district attorney Ken Rosenblatt said green minded residents got the bad news that nothing in life is free after writing big checks. Those with information on Beohana Solar may contact the District Attorney's Office at 408-792-2572
Attempted cop killer Pete Valdez III has been declared mentally unfit, for a second time. County deputy district attorney Dana Overstreet will figure out whether to go to trial, ask for a 3rd doctor or send Valdez to the rubber room; she’ll get back to us on July 8.
Caption-free artwork at the Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC for frequent flyers) is driving the Merc’s Scott Herhold to distraction. Perhaps one of the 54 Silicon Valley hand models in Christian Moeller’s “Hands” will help Herhold find the pithy comment he seeks as he opens a Valley wide competition.
Finally, one Watch Dog tipster kept their television tuned in to San Jose’s Planning Commission soap opera. Big surprise, the center chair is filled by co-conspirator Thang Do, again.
As if public employee pension funds (especially in the City of San Jose) don't have enough problems, a Pension Trustee from San Jose was arrested in San Mateo following a domestic violence call... Patrick G. Skillsky then attacked police called to the scene Perhaps he was just really, really upset about all the market losses he didn't see coming... Ironically, the City of San Jose is considering having professionals oversee the Pension Funds rather than appointed, untrained folks. It seems like there is no time like the present...
Santa Clara County Supervisors found a replacement for outgoing executive Pete Kutras. Dr. Jeffery Smith, executive director of the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center steps in during the worst economic disaster since the depression. President Liz Kniss said the supervisors were impressed by Smith’s range of experience in “medical, legal and public policy.” Smith will need his multiple degrees, and a healthy sense of humor...
East Side Union High School athletes will breath a sigh of relief, the board of trustees are expected to approve a budget that moves money from an insurance settlement to partially fund sports. The remaining $1 million is expected to come from athletes and donors who have so far stepped up with $150,000. Fundraiser/Trustee Eddie Garcia expressed rousing optimism saying “I think we’re going to get there.”
Gilroy’s divided police union approved a contract saving the city $1.1 million by just 5 votes. Police Officer Association President Mitch Madruga blamed city council saying there had been a “total lack of leadership” calling the 3 months of negotiations “ridiculous.”
Mountain View’s city council unanimously rejected a proposal to rehab a “blighted” building for reuse as affordable housing. Councilmember Ronit Bryant said the developer had provided “nothing but words.” City planning staff said it was tough to see how an existing “slum” could be rehabilitated sufficiently to remain habitable for another 55 years. Councilmembers also agreed to purchase the United Pentecostal church for $3.5 million, Councilmember Jac Siegel called it a “strategic location.”
Cupertino city councilmembers have an “economic uncertainty fund” to hold them over when the Governator comes calling with his hand out. Councilmember Dolly Sandoval reminds us the state’s budget crisis is “not going to be solved in one fiscal budget year.” No doubt Sandoval is (not) looking forward to hearing from the Guv again next year…
Updated 2010 campaigning news… A Watch Dog tipster pointed out an oversight, the Merc’s Sal Pizarro mentioned yesterday a potential candidate for San Jose’s downtown area. Nightclub owner Mauricio Mejia is contemplating a run against incumbent Sam Liccardo. Thanks, tipster.
Busted. Peter Be of Beohana Solar fleeced Silicon Valley residents of hundreds of thousands of dollars, promising a free solar system. Santa Clara County deputy district attorney Ken Rosenblatt said green minded residents got the bad news that nothing in life is free after writing big checks. Those with information on Beohana Solar may contact the District Attorney's Office at 408-792-2572
Attempted cop killer Pete Valdez III has been declared mentally unfit, for a second time. County deputy district attorney Dana Overstreet will figure out whether to go to trial, ask for a 3rd doctor or send Valdez to the rubber room; she’ll get back to us on July 8.
Caption-free artwork at the Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC for frequent flyers) is driving the Merc’s Scott Herhold to distraction. Perhaps one of the 54 Silicon Valley hand models in Christian Moeller’s “Hands” will help Herhold find the pithy comment he seeks as he opens a Valley wide competition.
Finally, one Watch Dog tipster kept their television tuned in to San Jose’s Planning Commission soap opera. Big surprise, the center chair is filled by co-conspirator Thang Do, again.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Goodnight Drunk Task Force...
Well, we said it would be six months until San Jose's Public Intoxication Task Force (the Drunk Task Force) set up by Mayor Reed and Councilmember Campos came to some conclusion... We didn't expect this to be the conclusion, however.
Seven members of the Task Force symbolically resigned on the eve of their final meeting. Expressing frustration with the constraints placed on their investigation, seven members joined forces to walk out. The latest blow up in the Drunk Task Force drama got Watch Dog to look back to see how events unfolded…
10.08: The Merc broke the news, San Jose arrests a disproportionate number of Latinos in San Jose.
11.08: San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed joined forces with Councilmember Nora Campos to form the Public Intoxication Task Force. Councilmember Sam Liccardo, channeling the President-elect, expressed the opinion that task forces were “…the place where good ideas go to die…”
1.09: San Jose Drunk Task Force member/De-Bug Silicon Valley’s Raj Jayadev said perhaps the Task Force was where good ideas went to die. Jayadev then expressed the hope that it was within the Task Force’s power to make it work…
3.09: The honeymoon for the Reed/Campos Drunk Task Force was officially over. Reed, Chief Rob Davis, and City Manager Debra Figone ignored and replaced the Task Force with the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity. Task Force member/ACLU leader Skyler Porras called the move an “end run” around the Task Force. Watch Dog predicted a big blow up…
4.09: Following weeks of bickering the Task Force flashed a (figurative) finger to their bosses saying they didn’t like the way they were being treated…
5.09: The San Jose City Council officially tossed their Drunk Task Force baby under a bus approving the Consortium.
And here we are, the Drunk Task Force, the brain child of Mayor Reed and Councilmember Campos is left with only three members: Rod Schisler (Hunters Video Bar), Jorge Wong (Asian Americans for Community Involvement), and Kathy Cordova (Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley).
Farewell, Rev. Jeff Moore (NAACP), Raul Colunga (La Raza Roundtable), Alfredo Morales (La Raza Lawyers Association), Pete Carrillo (Silicon Valley Latino Democratic Club), Raj Jayadev (Silicon Valley DeBug), Walter Wilson (African-American Community Services Agency), and Skyler Porras (ACLU).
Watch Dog hates to say I told you so… but...
Seven members of the Task Force symbolically resigned on the eve of their final meeting. Expressing frustration with the constraints placed on their investigation, seven members joined forces to walk out. The latest blow up in the Drunk Task Force drama got Watch Dog to look back to see how events unfolded…
10.08: The Merc broke the news, San Jose arrests a disproportionate number of Latinos in San Jose.
11.08: San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed joined forces with Councilmember Nora Campos to form the Public Intoxication Task Force. Councilmember Sam Liccardo, channeling the President-elect, expressed the opinion that task forces were “…the place where good ideas go to die…”
1.09: San Jose Drunk Task Force member/De-Bug Silicon Valley’s Raj Jayadev said perhaps the Task Force was where good ideas went to die. Jayadev then expressed the hope that it was within the Task Force’s power to make it work…
3.09: The honeymoon for the Reed/Campos Drunk Task Force was officially over. Reed, Chief Rob Davis, and City Manager Debra Figone ignored and replaced the Task Force with the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity. Task Force member/ACLU leader Skyler Porras called the move an “end run” around the Task Force. Watch Dog predicted a big blow up…
4.09: Following weeks of bickering the Task Force flashed a (figurative) finger to their bosses saying they didn’t like the way they were being treated…
5.09: The San Jose City Council officially tossed their Drunk Task Force baby under a bus approving the Consortium.
And here we are, the Drunk Task Force, the brain child of Mayor Reed and Councilmember Campos is left with only three members: Rod Schisler (Hunters Video Bar), Jorge Wong (Asian Americans for Community Involvement), and Kathy Cordova (Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley).
Farewell, Rev. Jeff Moore (NAACP), Raul Colunga (La Raza Roundtable), Alfredo Morales (La Raza Lawyers Association), Pete Carrillo (Silicon Valley Latino Democratic Club), Raj Jayadev (Silicon Valley DeBug), Walter Wilson (African-American Community Services Agency), and Skyler Porras (ACLU).
Watch Dog hates to say I told you so… but...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
(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...
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...
Friday, December 19, 2008
Six Months?!
Well, well, well...the data on drunk arrests don’t support San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis' version of events as to why San Jose Police Officers arrest so many drunk folks and why so many of those folks are Latino.
First, let's see how our leaders are responding to the new news...
The issue of drunk arrests first came up in mid-October...which led to accusations of racial profiling...which led to the City Council deciding to take a look at the issue in mid-November.
Prior to that mid-November meeting, Councilmember Sam Liccardo put forth a set of changes that would track, monitor, and implement how drunk arrests are done in San Jose. At the actual (long, long) City Council meeting, Mayor Reed and Councilmember Campos thought it would be best to study the issue further and called for a Task Force. Liccardo responded by saying Task Forces are “…the place where good ideas go to die...” Nonetheless, the Council moved forward on the Task Force idea...
Since the City Council meeting, three weeks went by and nothing happened until...a flurry of activity this week when...
A question that the Mayor, or Campos, or Constant, or Chief Davis, or the City Manager should answer before they leave town:
What will we know about the problem and possible solutions in April that we don't know today...or that we didn't know in October?
First, let's see how our leaders are responding to the new news...
- Chief Davis, at a loss to explain the data which contradicts everything he's said thus far, says, “the simple answer is that the more we look at all of the data, the more obvious it is there are no simple answers.” Which is what some folks have been saying for some time. Ironically, Chief Davis is actually shielding more information than he is sharing...
- (Even as he stabs them in the back) Councilmember Pete Constant continues to defend the Chief and Police Officers saying that the police are trying to do the right thing and statistics don’t paint a complete picture...what is the complete picture then Pete? Perhaps you should have shown up to the Council meeting when this issue was being discussed to help paint that picture...
- Mayor Chuck Reed, well known to be a fan of data and analysis, is seeing the light, apparently. Now saying, "It's pretty clear to me that we have some problems that need to be fixed." Which is (close to) the exact opposite from what he said in a KCBS story two months ago: "...Mayor Chuck Reed says it's a socioeconomic problem..."
The issue of drunk arrests first came up in mid-October...which led to accusations of racial profiling...which led to the City Council deciding to take a look at the issue in mid-November.
Prior to that mid-November meeting, Councilmember Sam Liccardo put forth a set of changes that would track, monitor, and implement how drunk arrests are done in San Jose. At the actual (long, long) City Council meeting, Mayor Reed and Councilmember Campos thought it would be best to study the issue further and called for a Task Force. Liccardo responded by saying Task Forces are “…the place where good ideas go to die...” Nonetheless, the Council moved forward on the Task Force idea...
Since the City Council meeting, three weeks went by and nothing happened until...a flurry of activity this week when...
- ...we learned that Officers are now offering Breathalyzer tests to those folks who want them...(one of Liccardo's ideas that the Mayor/Campos want to study for three months)
- ...City Manager Debra Figone finally submitted a Memo with a timeline for Task Force meetings along with groups who should participate. (It only took three weeks to write a 6 page Memo...2 pages a week ain't, bad I guess...)
- ...we all got some data about the actual drunk arrests and they don't support anything the Police Department has been saying...(surprise, surprise)
- It takes three months for the City Council to set out a three month strategy to address a pressing problem...which seems to be ok with the Mayor, the Police Chief, Councilmember Campos, and Councilmember Constant...
- Chief Davis didn't give the City Council a clear picture of what was going on in his Department, either because he didn't know or didn't want to say...either way, that's a problem...
- Councilmember Liccardo was right -- Task Forces are a place where good ideas go to die...if the Task Force ever gets off the ground...
A question that the Mayor, or Campos, or Constant, or Chief Davis, or the City Manager should answer before they leave town:
What will we know about the problem and possible solutions in April that we don't know today...or that we didn't know in October?
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