Morning News Round-Up -- 2.2.10: Ground-Hog Fundraising Reports...

There was a big, 2009 year-end political filing due yesterday which had candidates all over the place scrambling to get their stuff in.

In the oft-written-about race for District Attorney, it looks like challenger Jeff Rosen raised about the same amount of money as the incumbent Dolores Carr. Welcome to the big leagues Mr. Rosen... Rumors that Rosen sent a thank you note to the Mercury News Editorial Board earlier in the week are unfounded...

In the race to replace outgoing County Supervisor Don Gage, Teresa Alvarado and Forrest Williams lead the fundraising pack with $116k and $113k respectively. Next comes Mike Wasserman with $81k and way back is Water District Board Member Rosemary Kamei ($51k) and Gilroy Councilmember Dr. Peter Arrellano with ($26k)... perhaps Kamai and Arrellano could team up, pool their money, and make a real run for it...

And to some San Jose races...

• Mayor Chuck Reed is running for re-election and his challenger raised $50... not $50k, just $50. (Reed raised just under $70k... not $70, $70k...)
• In the District 5 race for Nora Campos' seat: Xavier Campos raised just over $32k with challengers far behind. Of course, the newest entry to the race, Magdalena Carrasco wasn't in the race before December 31st, so she didn't raise any money -- but that doesn't mean Xavier & Co. aren't really, really worried...
• In the District 9 race for Judy Chirco's seat: Don Rocha and Jim Cogan both 'raised' about $21k, but Rocha plopped down $10k of his own money so he leads the fundraising race out there.
• District 1: Pete Constant raised about $13k (he has no opponent yet)
• District 3: Sam Liccardo raised about $29k (his opponent Tim Hennessey didn't file anything)
• District 7: Madison Nguyen raised $34k and may face a real re-election battle

In the huge primary battle for the Democratic nomination for the 21 Assembly seat (the one Ira Ruskin will be leaving) -- race newcomer Josh Becker kicked everyone's ass in fundraising and has the most cash on hand going into the new year, over $200k+ to be exact. San Mateo County Supervisor Rich Gordon has $133k+ on hand and Palo Alto City Councilwoman Yoriko Kishimoto has just over $100k to work with... of course, Kishimoto put in $40k of her own money this period, so she is being way outpaced on the fundraising side of the campaign.

The respect and goodwill that Republican Gubernatorial candidates Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman are showing each other is heartwarming... really. Yesterday Poizner told reporters that Whitman's campaign guru Mike Murphy threatened him to drop out of the race. (Poizner had an email sent from Murphy to a Poizner staffer to back up his claim...) Murphy, obviously much funnier than Poizner, then questioned Poizner's "mental condition"... Murphy went on to call Dianne Feinstein old and that Poizner might want to take on an old Democratic Senator in a few years rather than stay and fight in a race where he'll be outspent and beat up... I'm not sure this race is helping democracy any, and it certainly isn't good for the Republican Party, but it is good reading...

San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo put pen to paper (or finger to keypad) in today's Mercury News defending VTA and talking about innovation in tough economic times. Personal Rapid Transit, coming to an airport near you...

The Merc Editorial Board (finally) gives a nod to San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis for promoting Phan Ngy to Deputy Chief.

Here is something that should surprise absolutely nobody: our County's property tax base is taking a major hit to the tune of $70 million...

And while that's happening, the City of Gilroy (and everyone else) is trying to figure out what to do with ballooning retirement costs of city employees... today's nightmare story is about Gilroy.

And if property taxes are falling, why not look to increase the property taxes?

Foothill-De Anza Community College may become the first Community College District in the state to put a parcel tax measure on the ballot... they are moving forward with a poll to see what voters will swallow.

Protect San Jose wants body armor to be banned for felons -- that makes sense. But if you outlaw body armor, only outlaws will have body armor... or something like that. I read that on a bumper sticker once.

There was a bad accident in Los Gatos yesterday that killed a bicyclist.

Morning News Round-Up -- 12.2.09: Coolest Mayor in Silicon Valley Award...

West Valley cities are all the rage today... giving the SJPD a well-deserved break. Cupertino has a majority Asian-American City Council with Gilbert Wong taking the center seat on the dais and Campbell has "one of the youngest gay and youngest Asian American mayors in the country" according to the Chronicle (Evan Low). Watch Dog will refer to him as the coolest Mayor in Silicon Valley. (No offense Chuck...)

And while SJPD (and the District Attorney) get a break today, loyal reader Kathleen posted this in the comments of yesterday's Round-Up: how to have your voice heard with the Consortium looking into San Jose Police practices as well as the search for the new "Independent" Police Auditor...

San Jose's City Clerk's office is entering the year 2000 with some real technological advances. The City Council decided yesterday to mandate Council candidates file online. That should make the filings for the City Council races in 2002 so easy to access...

The Merc Editorial Board gives a thumbs up to Alviso, and provides us all with an Alviso 101 with this:

Alviso is a small town uncomfortably annexed to San Jose but separate from the rest of the city and little changed through the years.

Really? You mean Vahl's hasn't changed through the years?

Mountain View is looking to head off the easy-to-predict NIMBYism about a downtown affordable housing development they are subsidizing to the tune of $9 million. Interesting that they should be concerned about that because the developer of the project, ROEM Development Corp, has had its problems with neighbors...

Good thing they have a new Police Chief, because the riff-raff are on their way to Palo Alto for the opening of PA's first Trader Joe's on Friday. Bad Hawaiian shirt sales are through the roof...

Perhaps the new revenue from the Trader Joe's will help fill a gap a budget manager in Palo Alto that mistakenly caused a $4.8 million accounting error in this year's budget. That manager, Sharon Bozman, was not mentioned by name at the meeting where Palo Alto officials continued to grapple with the gigantic budget hole -- but the complete revamping of the budget process in Palo Alto was a pretty good indication that she isn't welcome back anytime soon. Rumors that Palo Alto is now interviewing former Enron executives to fill the budget management role are unfounded...

And while Palo Alto looks to improve its budget process, Los Gatos is leaving their traffic patrol to a group of elementary school students from Van Meter Elementary... seriously. They are tracking traffic violations near their school. Thank you Los Gatos Observer.

Morning News Round-Up -- 11.16.09: Untrusted Trustees...

East Side Union High School District has a “line of troubles” and a “string of scandals” according to the Merc’s Editorial Board. They call on Trustees to do a national search for a “charismatic, ethical, reform-minded” Superintendent to replace their most recently disgraced leader. There’s also a hint of what incumbent Trustees 2010 election could look like with this Editorial pointing to the Board's own scandals. (Don't say we didn't warn everyone...)

Back in the news… Are kids committing adult crimes old enough to serve adult sentences? Santa Clara District Attorney Dolores Carr is staying out of the public eye while the Supreme Court weighs in on a case that could affect her chances to send teenagers to jail forever in the Halloween attack on children.

San Jose Police busted two teens, 15 and 16, for the murder of Santa Teresa High sophomore Michael Russell. While the names of the kids are kept under wraps, students and parents figured it out and scoured their MySpace pages looking for clues to the senseless attack.

The Merc’s Scott Herhold shines a light on pressing reader questions over the return of medical services to downtown San Jose. Herhold’s guess as to the biggest risk “a suburban-style clinic with parking and fence” could do in chances for “an intelligent urban mix of homes and shops,” with a medical clinic.

Patience is a virtue and it pays well. Cargill Salt dickered with the IRS for 6 years over how big a tax break they should receive for sale of the salt flats. Pesky environmentalists aside, Cargill walks away with a cool $100 million tax break.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs reports District Attorney Dolores Carr couldn’t help getting chummy with pal/ contributor/ attorney Jim McManis. In spite of the recent hot water Carr got in over her relationship with McManis, Carr was sharing cocktails with chum him. We wonder which one of McManis' clients are going to get a deal this week...

IA also notes the 2010 races are heating up as Gilroy Councilmember Peter Arellano jumps into the crowded pool of contenders for Supervisor Don Gage’s (termed out) seat.

IA has the hots for opposing San Jose City Council aspirants, Don Rocha and Jim Cogan. IA calls this a “swoon-inducing contest.” Watch Dog has to wonder how folks would respond to such language if the two candidates were women...

The final Environmental Impact Report for the (proposed) 49ers Santa Clara stadium popped up late Friday afternoon, just in time for a little light weekend reading. According to Assistant City Manager Ronald Garratt, traffic and parking were – of course – the big issues. Garrett suggests you need an actual game day to see if the planning worked.

San Jose Unified School Districts chief nurse Melinda Landau is heading to downtown San Jose with a basket of swine flu shots for kids. San Jose Unified is the only District shooting for mass inoculation. According to District Superintendent Don Igelesia’s District-wide inoculation is Landau’s “mission.”

Los Gatos molester Del Colegrove is heading to jail – until 2063. Busted for molesting a 16 year old, Colegrove was also accused of molesting the girl’s older sister 20 years ago.

Editors at the Mountain View Voice wonder if their City Council considered the conflicting message sent when they ok'ed a freeway accessible shopping mall at the same time setting aggressive goals for greenhouse gas reductions. The Voice suggests a shopping mall might be a better idea downtown with a park and housing on their new found land next to the Stevens Creek Trail.

Morning News Round-Up -- 11.12.09: Economic good news... and bad...

The good news is the economy just might be at the very beginning parts of a recovery... maybe. The bad news? Well, Silicon Valley companies are using this opportunity to keep cutting their workforce... the latest is Applied Materials. Adobe was last week. Sun and Electronic Arts the week before. Expect more folks spending the day at Starbucks and Peet's...

In other economic news... current tech giant HP is buying former tech giant (?) 3Com.

More details are coming out about the 25th homicide of the year in San Jose was a sophomore at Santa Teresa High School. He was stabbed to death in his own backyard. There don't seem to be a lot of details about what happened or who did it.

There is at least one really good job that will be opening up soon: The Chancellor at San Jose/Evergreen Community College District will step down at the end of the year. The official cause of the soon-to-be-vacancy? Health reasons. The unofficial/ unmentioned cause? Financial problems and union issues. Between the Mountain View-Whisman School District, the Los Altos School District, and the San Jose/ Evergreen Community College District -- there will be a lot of new faces in Silicon Valley education circles next year...

Scott Herhold gets in on the "Berlin Wall 20 years later" action. He has his own interesting twist about being approached to be a spy, but it does remind Watch Dog of this...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Legends of the Wall
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

There is an Opinion piece in the Merc today about how prosecutorial misconduct costs taxpayers money and hurts credibility of law enforcement. Yup. At least the San Jose Police Department aren't mentioned in the story...

Speaking of prosecutors... the suspects accused of killing Mark Achilli in Los Gatos are going to be in court on Monday to possibly get their trial date. The prosecutor in this high-profile case? Jeff Rosen. Does that name sound familiar Dolores Carr?

Palo Alto Unified is looking to April 2010 to renew their tiny ($493) parcel tax... They must be encouraged by these results... and these...

Morning News Round-Up -- 9.29.09: Lawyers = Prostitutes?

Stanford Law grad Cristina Warthen surprised the feds and the Judge when she continued advertising an evening of “companionship” while she was on trial for evading taxes on the ill-gotten gains of “companionship.” Assistant U.S. Attorney David Callaway said Warthens internet ads were “a wink and a nod” to “advertising high end prostitution.” The oldest profession practiced by lawyers -- we know there is a joke there somewhere about screwing people...

Putting Stanford grads in a less-imprisoned light… Googlers Sergey Brin and Larry Page had high praise for their old friend and mentor Rajeev Motwani saying the “impact he had through the many researchers and entrepreneurs” out shown his own numerous accomplishments. Following Motwani’s death earlier this year Brin and Page decided to create an endowed chair at Stanford in their friends honor.

The Soul of the Community is pretty good, according to a survey funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. San Jose residents found affordable housing one of the biggest problems and a few were unhappy about the closing of stab-ariffic Club Wet

The community’s soul may be good for some but for others it’s about to get worse. The Emergency Housing Consortium announced closure of half the beds available to the homeless. Santa Clara County Office of Affordable Housing Director Margie Matthews said “this is all about the economy, and EHC – like all nonprofits… “ is “having to cut back…”

East Side Union Trustees ended Friday night without a decision on their embattled Superintendent Bob Nunez, currently on paid leave from his $225,000 gig. Marisa Hanson, President of the East Side Teachers Association, said delaying the decision was the right thing to do “the County report found him innocent … but then the board went ahead with another investigation…” Nobody mentioned the court of public opinion...

San Jose High celebrates the small victories. Test scores are up following “unrelenting hard work” with teachers and the principal showing the love. Not as happy was East Side Union School Board President Patricia Martinez-Roach who said there was “absolutely no excuse” for their low test scores. Except maybe those pesky budget problems and the ongoing Bob Nunez controversy. Or perhaps because they have twice un-elected officials on their Board...

Los Gatos sold 13 acres of Vasona Park last year for $6 million, then they voted unanimously to use half that to purchase 2.7 acres near Vasona Park, with ready buildings, for a mega-sports complex... y'know, for kids...

Gilroy Schools saw an increase in students even as districts across the state are closing schools. District enrollment coordinator Roger Cornia blamed the economy saying private school wasn’t in the cards for many students, not when Mom and Dad are facing layoffs.

Gilroy Mayor Al Pinheiro hosted a 5 hour community round-table that drew criticism from Council colleague Perry Woodward “Let’s be honest – this was the mayor’s show… how he intends to defeat the recall… Councilmembers should be allowed to participate… instead of the mayor imposing his political views…” Gilroy sure has more interesting politics than San Jose...

Palo Alto City Managers and professional employees contemplate becoming Teamsters even as some of their prospective members argue wage cuts with unionized service workers.

Mission City Lantern takes a poke at “wonderful human being, a great person to have as a friend” Labor leader/(former) Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez. With friends like that...

Morning News Round-Up -- 9.11.09: The Honorable Councilmember Slumlord...

Here is a ballot designation Cupertino Councilmember Gilbert Wong probably won't put next to his name next time he runs: Slumlord. Wong refused to meet with property owners in San Jose’s Hoffman Via Monte neighborhood for year. When property owner Nubia Ramirez and neighbors threatened with a letter to the Cupertino City Clerk Wong found time to talk. Post-meeting, Ramirez says Wong asked her not to dish details to the press. Oops.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro enjoyed a lesson in history as San Jose’s Mexican Heritage Plaza celebrated its 10th birthday. Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilmembers Nora Campos and Sam Liccardo were on hand to honor founder Blanca Alvarado with a mosaic.

Speaking of folks no longer working at the County Building...

Retired Santa Clara County executive Pete Kutras sends a smack down to San Jose State University Professor Terry Christensen and lobbyist Pete Carrillo. Kutras is truly pissed off at the idea he, and his County Executive colleagues, are unknown and need a Mayor of Silicon Valley to provide accountability. As rebuttal to being unknown Kutras rattles off the names of County Exec’s crying “I never knew we were unknown.” Is this the most obscure fight you have ever heard of? It is almost the beginning of a joke: A retired County Executive, a lobbyist, and a professor walk into a bar...

Santa Clara County Sheriffs shot a man in East San Jose. A slight problem: they were in the City of San Jose. The man who was shot was not identified and was taken to the hospital.

Los Gatos developers are hoping offers of new (soccer) turf and LED’s for trees will help sway minds for storage building on University Ave. Planning Commissioner Marcia Jensen said she wonders how a soccer field offset “the traffic impact…” right before she voted for the project.

Busted. Acupuncturist/perv Tung Wei Pan secretly videotaped patients as they undressed. A sharp eyed woman saw the tell-tale red light and sent Santa Clara County Sheriff’s to expose the child porn filmmaker.

The new look at Palo Alto’s City website is courtesy of a citizen committee pissed off at the (nearly) quarter million face-lifts the site received 2 years ago. (Former) Committee member David Voelker ditched the community effort complaining discussions on the basics could have been done quickly if the pros were left alone. (We just like using the phrase "face-lift" and "Palo Alto" in the same story...)

Forget the rabbit’s foot, Palo Alto has a lucky building. Saeed Amidi’s office on University Avenue has seen the birth of Google, Logitech, and PayPal along with Amidi’s own American Liquid Packaging Systems. UpMo CEO Jack Abraham is the latest to pin their hopes on technology and a lucky building, not to mention Amidi’s angel investor status.

Mountain View City Councilmembers prefer wildflowers. Looking at ways to build the Stevens Creek Trail residents and City staff proposed picnic tables, restoration of the cherry orchard, a community farm, and trees. Led by Councilmember Ronit Bryant, the Council settled on flowers, if there was money for it. Councilmember Mike Kasperzak said of the farm idea “I don’t think we want people bringing their hoes and rakes on the trail.”

More Students = More Headaches for Mountain View-Whisman.

San Jose Inside and Mission City Lantern shared the news: San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant is not happy at the thought of losing his crackberry during meetings. Constant did not say, "I really don't like my colleagues, so why should I listen to them when they speak?"

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.14.09: The announcement Raj has been waiting for...

Usually we cover blogs at the end of the Round-Up, but today we moved one blog up: Protect San Jose. Today, Bobby Lopez, the head of San Jose Police Officers Association, let us know that he will be leaving his union post at the end of this year. We will miss his quotability... but Raj probably won't.

While we are on the topic... San Jose Police are dealing with the City’s 19th murder – a 46 year old sex offender was stabbed to death on The Alameda. As they deal with the 19th murder, the 13th murder makes news: gang member Ray Murillo was busted for San Jose’s – he’s accused of shooting an 18 year old at a house party.

Speaking of crime (sort of)... It’s bad enough the Department of Justice is investigating Palo Alto's Utility Department for falsification of their employee qualification tests… Now a breakdown in communications caused a breakdown in gas service for customers – for the second time this year.

Speaking of crime (really)... Gilroy Police Sgt. Chad Gallacinao was worried the early spike in gang activity signaled a tough year ahead. So far, the summer has been quiet as gang activity has dropped dramatically. (Oddly?) The drop in activity coincides with the bust of Nortenos and Surenos on trial for Larry Martinez.

and

California Youth Soccer Hall of Famer Thomas Anderson faces an additional molestation charge after a second child came forward.

Morgan Hill’s pedestrian-(un)friendly Third Street Promenade is mired in construction leaving pedestrians confused (and wounded) and businesses crying foul.

Now something significantly more shopper-friendly… Local Farmers Markets taking home over $100,000 weekly? According to the math in the Mountain View Voice it’s possible. That’s some kinda lettuce… (Watch Dog thinks the Voice might be a little jealous...)

Mountain View – Los Altos High School District Trustees are debating a “green bond” that could save the District over $400,000 annually. Superintendent Barry Groves looks forward to a committee working out details that could lead to a June 2010 vote.

Former Olympic Wrestler/New Gilroy High School Principal Marco Sanchez is busily making friends and hiring teachers. Superintendent Deborah Flores is delighted indicating he’s confirmed her first impressions. Could one Gilroy school be facing renewal?

California Highway Patrol’s Cristina Tagle suggested Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards readers leave their “emotions at home” in anticipation of Monday’s BART strike.

Mary Ann Cook reports through Mainstreet Los Gatos that library supporters have a new friend in the petition battle – the recumbent bicycle-riding activist. Also, Los Gatos’ own Dave Schaub will head out on a solo trip dubbed 49 in 9 for Ronald McDonald House -- that's 49 states and 9,000 miles. He will definately need a delicious Fred's steak after that...

San Jose Insider Pete Campbell joins the great American healthcare debate suggesting insurance for all should come with rules like: fat people can’t eat out or go to bars, no one gets more than 2 drinks, and tobacco is outlawed.

Mission City Lantern engages in a thinly veiled tale of San Jose politics and people.

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 -- 7.30.09: ESUHSD (again) and Blogwars (still)

The East Side Union School District uncovered the problem behind (alleged) racial discrimination, financial irregularities, and the sidelining of athletics. The culprit (apparently) was Superintendent Bob Nunez, who is now sidelined himself. Trustee Lan Nguyen had a few choice words for the rest of the Board (taking a page out of Watch Dog's book) “We as a Board have inadequate oversight of our fiscal issues…” The Merc. Editorial Board weighed in on the Nunez forced/ paid holiday saying high time the Board hired an auditor.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed declared the “Legloland” of solar panels on his rooftop good, especially since it cost him (initially) $1,500 for enough juice to keep the air-conditioning going.

During an economic meltdown, it’s good to be the top dog. The El Camino Hospital Board of Directors handed out raises of (nearly) 5% to the top dozen administrators. CEO Ken Graham will now bring home more than $600,000. In an (un)related note, you may have noticed that a national discussion is happening on healthcare...

Federal stimulus dollars continue to find their way to Silicon Valley. This time the Santa Clara Valley Water District helps to bring in $44 million for bridges, recycling and flood protection. Good thing the money was allocated before someone in the Federal government read Herhold's piece earlier this week...

Saratoga’s Planning Commission is making dreams come true (according to the Merc.): Rosalba Sokhanvari will open a Spanish Language immersion school in the heart of the Village while Muhammad Hussain gets his dream home.

With roughly $7 million set aside for economic uncertainty or rainy days, Los Gatos officials aren’t worried about the Guvernator’s (possibly) illegal money grab. Mayor Mike Wasserman says the Guvernator and Legislature are grabbing because “they screwed up” and “what they’re doin' is not right.” Neighboring Saratoga is “ecstatic” the Gov is taking only $660,000.

Los Altos City Council hears (for a second time) Pilgrim’s Haven request for expansion. Facing well orchestrated NIMBY opposition, Mayor Megan Satterlee said “every piece of information provided is reviewed and considered.” This includes the mega dose of anti-Haven lawn signs along Los Altos Avenue.

“Hunger doesn’t take a vacation,” and Community Services Agency Associate Director Maureen Wadiak issues a call for support. The need is up 14% while available food is down 17%.

Animal cruelty hits a new low with a bunny killer on the loose in San Jose. Seriously, a monster is killing bunnies living near San Jose’s Easterbrook School. Dr. Lily Lee and PAWS are working with the School District to address the growing bunny population while the Moreland Woods bunny killer is being hunted. (For those who read Watch Dog San Mateo, animal cruelty is usually relegated to the County to the north... We also learned this morning that Phillip Bump is also doing his part to fight animal cruelty -- more on that later.)

San Jose’s blogwars made the big time -- an actual newspaper. Not once but twice. Scott Herhold assesses the likelihood of Phillip Bump as the author of San Jose Revealed. Like a (literary) forensic examiner, Herhold studies language and cadence. We will wait to see how the next episode of CSI: San Jose handles the evidence.

Herhold's piece got the blogosphere buzzing...

• Phillip Bump thanked Scott Herhold for the web-traffic...
• In an (un?)related update, San Jose Revealed remains on hiatus waiting for San Jose’s City Council to return.
• San Jose Metblogger Matt Bruensteiner regurgitates the Mission City Lantern Reveals Revealed story. We have our own San Jose-centric echo-chamber happening here...
• Mission City Lantern can't help himself from posting regularly (hourly?) about the blogwar and opens his blog up to some of the suspects to clear their good names... (James is very busy - the Stadium EIR was released in Santa Clara.)

And in non-blogwars related blog news, Attorney General Jerry Brown gets in on Protect San Jose's (vast) readership. Ironically, he is bashing fake charities. We say ironic, because the words "Attorney General Jerry Brown" and "charities" appeared on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday... and it was not that flattering. Brown on Protect San Jose is interesting for a variety of reasons...

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.24.09: San Jose's lost lover is back...

Tesla Chronicles Continue... Tesla nailed a loan from the Feds to the tune of $465 million and has plans to announce where in the Bay Area a battery production plant will land. San Jose’s Nanci Klein is thrilled and confident San Jose will land the electric fish gushing “Tesla’s success is our success.” Really? Even though they left San Jose at the alter previously? Let's hope that the on-again/off-again San Jose/Tesla romance continues for a while. Or at least until they burn through taxpayers' $465 mill...

San Jose’s City Council moves closer to reforms for the beleaguered Employee Pension Funds. Consultant Cortex Applied Research said the existing Boards lack expertise and have little incentive to save taxpayer money. Perhaps that, coupled with the economic melt-down, explains the billion (plus) dollar losses...

San Jose’s Planning Commission landed in hot water last month with accusations of a Brown Act open government violation. City Attorney Rick Doyle lowered the temperature and is requiring a re-vote in the election of a new Commission Chair. Watch Dog prediction: one of the four alleged co-conspirators Xavier Campos, Chris Platten, Hope Cahan, or Thang Do lands in the center chair.

Santa Clara County Open Space Authority mails notices to hundreds of thousands of property owners fessing up to an illegal tax and offering a refund. Sierra Club’s Melissa Hippard suggests refusing, others suggest taking the $130 and donating it back (read tax deduction). The Open Space Authority loses $51 million for their screw-up. The winner is Tony Tanke, a Davis attorney, who walks away with $7.4 million in legal fees.

Former Los Altos Police Chief Bob Lacey may be “crude” and “inappropriate” but the Judge says porn on a flash drive, fat jokes for a pregnant lady, discussions of testicles, and photos of a naked transgender person did not make for a hostile workplace.

The Merc’s Scott Herhold likens the ongoing squabble between NASA and the Navy over who is responsible for Moffett’s Hangar One to an officious clerk making your life miserable. Herhold says it’s time to cut through the nonsense and call in White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Congressmember Anna Eshoo agreed it was “absolutely absurd” for the Navy to move forward without an end game but wasn’t so sure about calling Emanuel. (Watch Dog doesn't blame Eshoo... here's why.)

While the rest of the Valley is grilling and hanging out for the fireworks, three Monte Sereno Councilmembers have local fireworks to deal with. The recall effort over the (very badly timed) Council salary decision heads into high gear on the 4th of July. Recall proponent Fred Hawkes doesn’t want his Councilmembers wasting their time or money on Countywide groups like the Association of Bay Area Governments or the Santa Clara Cities Association.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is all over the news. He’ll get his dream mansion, Woodside keeps parts of an historic home, and Jobs ill health was confirmed when a Tennessee hospital confirmed Jobs’ liver transplant. We guess is that he'd rather be in the news discussing the latest and greatest iPod...

Saratoga Planning Commissioners approved plans to relocate a San Jose business (Demetri's the Hair People) onto Saratoga’s main drag. Commissioner David Reis was impressed with plans to update the exterior. Also approved, enlarging outdoor seating for Cinnabar Winery. Expensive hair cuts and expensive wine... perfect for Saratoga.

Sunnyvale’s newest City Manager, Gary Luebbers, says patience is his biggest challenge. Mayor Anthony Spitaleri likes that Luebbers isn’t “analyzing to death” and is hopeful this bodes well for Sunnyvale’s (Albatross) Town Center project.

What do Halle Berry, Paris, New York, Monte Carlo, and Palo Alto have in common? Doris Payne and It Takes a Thief, of course.

Busy times in South County: Gilroy had more gang problems, an “elaborate” car theft, and big robbery last week. Trustees for Gilroy Unified hired a new principal for Gilroy High and three new administrators to see them through tough times ahead.

Upscale Los Gatos hopes you’ll join them for Jazz on the Plazz but doesn’t want your crummy turf damaging blanket and has a slew of rules for those lawn chairs. Welcome to Los Gatos, don't leave a mark...

San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo weighs in on class size reduction standing firmly on the fence. DiSalvo also continues his push for increased teacher salaries. Thank you (?) Joe.

Bucking the trend towards cheap, Cisco Systems handed out $1.26 million in grants including to 53 local non-profits.

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.12.09: Why Larry Stone gets booed...

Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone is lowering the assessed value of nearly 90,000 properties, dropping the County’s tax roll by $17 Billion. Always the master of understatement, Stone says “that’s serious.” School districts, redevelopment agencies, community colleges, the Valley Water District, and the County will all be hit by the revenue drop. No wonder this guy gets booed all over town...

Santa Clara County Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden took San Jose Police off the hook reporting it was an “astronomical” amount of meth, not tasers, that killed San Jose’s Richard Lua in February this year. San Jose Inside Editor chimes in with a repeat of the Merc. story.

The Valley Transportation Authority managed to pass a (so far) balanced budget according to VTA Boardmember/County Supervisor Don Gage. VTA Board Chair Dolly Sandoval said they had some tough decisions to make like raising rates and cutting service but plan to continue providing “residents with a quality transportation system.”

San Jose’s Lynhaven Elementary School was attacked by thieves. Not after computers. These guys stole farm and science equipment the children spent 3 years raising money to buy. Principal Lesa Nieri said this really hurts during the economic crisis when the school cannot replace the equipment. The Police Officers Association is raising cash to help out.

Which got us wondering... so Watch Dog checked out You Tube and the Video-Gate video is still up.

Before San Jose’s Elections Commissions looks at letting the voters consider instant-runoff voting (IRV), Councilmembers Sam Liccardo and Ash Kalra joined forces with the New America Foundation and Common Cause to support the idea.

It’s official, the Sunnyvale City Council will let you (legally) make that left when you leave Kaiser Santa Clara. Cost to the City to make the left legal: $1,000. Payback for Sunnyvale residents trying to go home: Priceless.

The Environmental Protection Agency wants to know if cancer causing toxins made it to Cupertino’s Stevens Creek School, two miles from the Lehigh Cement plant. Lehigh’s Tim Matz grumpily reports “Bottom line? We’re safe.” A hundred residents showed up at last night's community meeting for a lively debate regarding safety.

Parking wars have hit Los Gatos... again. Chase Bank is pissed that Jim Zanardi wants their customers to stop parking in his lot. Zanardi shrugged saying Chase customers take too many spaces, won’t help pay for repaving, and he wants to rent out vacant retail space – tough to do when the parking lot is full of bank customers. You have got to love Los Gatos battles... so person and so nasty.

Morgan Hill residents can point out their own historic Granada Theatre in a Thomas Kinkade painting. Referred to as “sentimentalists” by the Morgan Hill Times local historic preservationists are (again) trying to save the Granada from demolition. Mayor Steve Tate says goodbye already, unless the developer wants to save it.

The Morgan Hill City Council and Morgan Hill Unified School District Board met to “bring each other up to speed.” School Board president Don Moody read a list of school accomplishments and Police Chief Bruce Cumming did the same for the Police. Mayor Steve Tate said it was a good first step to “building bridges between the two governments.” Because, of course, without long-boring-feel-good meetings they could never work together. (Watch Dog San Mateo recommends this same type of meeting for Foster City and their School District...)

It’s good to be a City employee in Mountain View. The City Council approved a low interest home loan program for all City employees. With pay cuts hitting, could be everyone qualifies.

Mountain View residents disagreed over the benefits of affordable housing and housing density while agreeing that High-Speed Rail sounds good – underground. The General Plan meeting focused on the Whisman neighborhood where residents complained highways, freeways, and the Central Expressway cut them off from Mountain View. Hell ya, let’s get rid of the freeway!

Assemblymember Paul Fong wants the State (then the Feds) to apologize to Chinese immigrants and is being coy about how much money he wants the Feds to pay. Fong noted that when Japanese-Americans were given reparations for internment he hoped the Feds would “eventually apologize for the Chinese exclusion.” Angel Island Immigration Station Director Eddie Wong says it isn’t reparations but education that counts.

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.8.09: Watch Dog in the news...again

Well, well, well... Watch Dog actually made it into (another) Scott Herhold article in the Merc. This time because we were observant enough in the San Jose City Council discussion about a pay cut to point out that San Jose City Councilmember calling himself a "recent" immigrant may not have been completely accurate and for linking folks with some public finance information that shows that Chu is probably better off financially than many of his colleagues. Thanks for the hat tip Scott. (Herhold's column is all about the political spin coming out of San Jose City Hall. Aside from Chu's spin, Herhold points to DA Dolores Carr's spin about the highly-guarded 9-1-1 tapes, VTA's spin about a recent Civil Grand Jury report, and San Jose Pension Board member David Bacigalupi's insistence on taking junkets...)

In another late-Friday-afternoon press event, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed released a new budget proposal that protects most "core services" like police officers and police stations, fire fighters and fire stations, and parks and libraries. To do this, the Mayor is banking on increased property tax assessments (wishful thinking?), reserves, employee pay freezes, and presumably spending cuts elsewhere in the City budget. Watch Dog expects that this plan will get wide support on the Council. This plan seems reasonable, but what happens when the State steals even more money from San Jose?

One local government has declared a "fiscal emergency" in an attempt to thwart the State's raids...

The Merc's Internal Affairs recaps Video Gate (the POA/Anti-De-Bug video and its response). (Watch Dog did that already...)

But it seems the POA is freaked out by De-Bug...

Because an interesting outcome of Video Gate is that the POA launched its own blog, complete with a first post from POA Chief Bobby Lopez. But even more interesting that that is that Protect San Jose is a place where the POA are going to "defend themselves" against the 'attacks' they have been facing. Two folks that will be coming to POA's defense are Ed Rast and Kathleen Flynn. Kathleen Flynn? Is this the same 'Kathleen' of prolific blogging fame (check out some of Kathleen's greatest hits)?

In other Internal Affairs news, the political folks at the Merc. delve into the 2-faced-ness (if that's a word) of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's pitch to Santa Clara voters in the 49ers deal, a County car audit that was wrong, and San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio getting booed/heckled off-stage at an Organized Labor rally at City Hall. Councilmember Oliverio, what did you think was going to happen?

The Chronicle's version of Internal Affairs, Matier and Ross (actually, it is the other way around) also has a piece about Newsom and the 49ers. The 49ers had some serious concerns with the stadium deal in San Francisco, specifically the lack of highway access and Newsom's insistence that the stadium be LEED certified, have solar panels to power the stadium, and have showers for folks who bike-commute to the game... Watch Dog would have to agree about fans showering, but actually AT the game?

Also getting in on the Santa Clara/49ers action is the Chronicle's (most angry/spurned lover) sports columnist Ray Ratto... he has some advice for the City of Santa Clara.

And...

Willie Brown chimes in too, suggesting that if Mayor Newsom is really pissed about the 49ers move, he will funnel campaign cash to the Santa Clara-based opponents of the 49ers. Watch Dog thinks that probably won't help his chances of becoming Governor much.

Shifting gears to some crime/police stuff:

• A local swim coach is accused of molesting young girls for 30 years. A steady string of victims seem to be coming forward in this case...
• Palo Alto Police and San Mateo County Sheriffs are beefing up their patrols of Caltrain tracks, which have been the scene of two teen suicides and one attempted suicide in the past month alone.
• No doubt you heard about a 15-year-old girl who was "abducted" from over the weekend... well, she actually ran away.

And controversy is brewing in Los Gatos over spending, libraries, and a petition circulating around town. The Merc's Patty Fisher weighs in, so does Mission City Lantern... Watch Dog thinks this is small town politics at its best/worst...

A busy week around local governments this week as most agencies begin to wind down their work for June for a July break...

• The County Board of Supervisors will look at development recommendations at the County Fairgrounds. Again?
• The Cupertino Union School District will look at the 2009-2010 budget, which should be a lot easier now that they passed a parcel tax...
• The Los Gatos Union School District will hear an update on the State budget... that ought to be fun.
• Ah, and never a slow week in San Jose: The City Council will once again look decreasing their pay. (We'll see how Councilmember Chu votes... and the City Council will also look at approving concessions in some union contracts.
• But the real work in San Jose City Hall will be in the Elections Commission... they'll talk about independent expenditures and changing the limits of campaign contributions.

Finally, a big day for Cisco Systems. Today, San Jose's Cisco Systems will join the Dow Jones industrial average. You go John!

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.4.09: Close the Fence Gate...

49ers spokesperson Lisa Lang said there’s a long road ahead before Silicon Valley will be tail-gating. Environmental reports, voter approval, two cranky Santa Clara Councilmembers, and chatter of a Great America parking lot lawsuit lay ahead. Stepping up in support of tail-gating, Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone with friends State Senator Elaine Alquist, Assemblymember Joe Coto, and San Jose Councilmembers Sam Liccardo and Pete Constant.

Here is your crime news for the week...

San Jose Police won’t be asked to release the 911 tape from the deadly shooting of Daniel Pham, yet. The Rules and Open Government Committee heard a plea from District Attorney Dolores Carr for secrecy. After a Grand Jury investigation they’ll reconsider unless Police Chief Rob Davis or District Attorney Dolores Carr object, again.

Fry’s former exec/Baccarat-loving/embezzler Ausaf “Omar” Siddiqui is generating a lot of business for local lawyers. No less than 5 lawsuits are filling the courthouse. Fry’s is suing Siddiqui, vendors are suing Fry’s, and casinos around the country are after Siddiqui for millions in unpaid gambling debt. Nonetheless, your best buys are always...

A would-be bank robber hit up a grocery bound Mountain View B of A. The robber left without the cash, or groceries, when he figured out the silent alarm was ringing. Begging the question, if a robber doesn't leave with any merchandise or money...?

It was not a good day for Ernest Latta. Dude busted the window of an auto body shop in Mountain View, cut himself, tried to hot wire a Volvo, and was hauled off to jail. Police Officer Liz Wylie said Latta , “...wasn’t in the right frame of mind...” She's probably right...

Early this year 5 twenty-something cretins from San Jose tried to kill a man taking an evening stroll. They are all behind bars and looking at possible charges from other crimes. SJPD Jermaine Thomas hopes you’ll share what you know and call 408-277-4166.

San Jose’s Officer Jermaine Thomas is a busy guy. Thomas reports a possible gang-related shooting ended with a man in the hospital.

This doesn't fit in "crime news" but... San Jose Inside’s Fly "stumbled across" the San Jose Police Officers Association/Bobby Lopez’ clumsy video making fun of De-Bug’s Raj Jayadev. Fly asks if Jayadev’s bald head was scary and suggests Councilmember Pete Constant has trouble with numbers.

For your trash protection needs… San Jose residents are offering the Merc’s Mr. Roadshow tips on keeping wild boars out of the garbage. Suggestions include the miraculous duct tape, mountain lion pee, and eating the boars…

Business owners are threatening to leave Palo Alto if a tax on gross-receipts becomes reality. Terry Conner with Thoits, Love, Hershberger and McLean wants the City to tax business by employee, not income. So do a group of business owners along with Councilmembers Larry Klein and Pat Burt. On the other side, Councilmembers Jack Morton and Greg Schmid say it’s just as easy to report receipts as employees. Not to mention a few lawyers generate more money than the local bookstore…

Former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery teamed up with Mexican Heritage Plaza CEO Marcela Aviles to ask that money for the arts not suffer during the Great Recession. As an example of benefit they point to “40 million media impressions” coming from the Mariachi Festival. (We expect San Jose Revealed to go on an anti-McEnery tirade on this... just because.)

The Monte Sereno decades-old fence fiasco (Fence Gate?) made the list for the Merc’s Scott Herhold. Pointing out the big winner are the lawyers, Herhold suggests a loss for the City could result in covering $1 million in legal fees for the “litigious couple.” Would it be appropriate to call for the closing of the Fence Gate?

The battle for Los Gatos term limits and capital expenditure limits is heating up. Lunardi’s had Tim Smith with San Francisco’s Pacific Petition competing with volunteers from Friends of the Library over shopper signatures. Lunardi’s Manager Steve Pinney was pissed at the controversy and suggested Smith “go to Nob Hill.”

Developers David Rossi and Gary Naillon are pitching designs for the Village Shopping Center that some say fits in San Jose’s Santana Row – not Saratoga. Councilmember Jill Hunter wants a “new and improved design” before she supports the project. Oh yeah, and Not In My BackYard...

Saratoga Planning Commissioners were giddy at the prospect of a microbrewery in the Village and unanimously approved plans for St. Stan’s Brewing Company. Commissioner Manny Cappello said “it fills a need” for the Village and suggested the microbrewery would soon need a much larger location. Watch Dog likes that a brewery would fill a need in Saratoga. We guess beer has been hard to find over there...

Cupertino’s Bill Moody said the relationship between real estate prices and good schools is enough for him to contribute as much as $50,000 from his real estate sales to the Cupertino School District. Moody promises to track donations on his website.

The Sunnyvale City Council is looking at a proposal to upgrade their 50 year old water pollution control plant. At issue is finding the $380 million to do it and whether the plant is new or updated. No word if Sunnyvale hopes to turn their sewage facility into a tourist attraction like San Jose...

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.21.09

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters estimated 40% of the Valley’s voters would take part in the May 19 bloodbath, turns out they were optimistic. Roughly 25% of Santa Clara County voters showed up. Better than the State average where the ballot decisions were made by 23% of voters.

Speaking of (future) elections...

The moment Santa Clara’s City Council happily announced a (tentative) deal with the 49ers, owner Jed York was dishing. Also excited, Councilmember Dominic Caserta who said “I’m so excited, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.” The San Francisco Chronicle's coverage is (predictably) less enthusiastic... Expect an election in March 2010, if you live in Santa Clara.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed will meet with People Acting in Community Together (PACT) to wrangle over East San Jose’s high foreclosure rates, crime, City neglect, and mistrust of Police. PACT co-chair Margie Marquez said “...we want to get him to focus on the pain and concern in our community.”

Joe White, with the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District, said the impact of Tuesday's election was still unclear, but it would be ugly. Foothill-DeAnza’s Andy Dunn agreed saying community colleges and K-12 have some tough (impossible) decisions ahead.

Santa Clara County prosecutor Troy Benson said he “freaked out” when he learned a child sex-abuse victim’s medical exam had been videotaped. He promptly told the defense. Superior Court Judge Paul Bernal’s testimony pokes holes in Benson’s story and it seems the DA’s office can’t get their stories straight.

The folks in Mountain View are looking forward to (praying for) a shopping center face lift... The Thoits family will sell a corner slice of their San Antonio shopping center to San Diego developer Merlone Geier Partners. Mountain View Councilmember Ronit Bryant is happy and says the shopping center was not living up to its potential. Bryant looks forward to a mixed use project.

Speaking of shopping centers...

The Merc’s Scott Herhold reports Silicon Valley Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren is stepping in to help Sunnyvale’s downtown. Lofgren shot letters to the Presidents of Wells Fargo and Bank of America demanding to know why they turned off the money to developer Peter Pau, especially after federal bailouts.

The Los Altos Planning Commission expects a full house tonight while they talk about a proposal for 28 new senior homes. Even NIMBYs have parents.

Los Gatos contractor/(accused) firebug Channing Verdan now has former Deputy District Attorney Dennis Lempert by his side. After telling reporters he was a “poor man” Verdan is no longer talking to the press and hasn’t entered a plea.

East San Jose teacher Janine Henderson’s students were out of shape, fighting, and 92% failed the President’s Physical Fitness test last year. Los Gatos Rotary President Beth Smith and Rotary buddies stepped in with a one year fitness program. The Merc’s Joe Rodriguez dishes all the sweaty details.

Merc. sports maven Ann Killion dishes her own version of tapas with two local nibbles…

• 49ers – let the chaos begin.
• A’s – Brad Pitt to play Billy Beane

Sunnyvale’s NetApp is the big deal in Silicon Valley with plans to buy Santa Clara based Data Domain for $1.5 Billion. NetApp CEO Daniel Warmenhoven dismissed rumors of becoming a takeover target…

Metro reporter Alastair Bland took time to visit the San Jose-Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (the stuff you flush). After 53 years of continuous operation the plant faces a $1 billion overhaul. The Plant's Mike Ortega shares tales of Plant humor, the ill-gotten gains of a bank robbery, and drunken seagulls among them.

They coulda used a little water pollution control… The Environmental Protection Agency spanked California Waste Solutions and American Metal and Iron for dumping pollutants into San Jose waterways.

SaveBAREC was unable to save itself. The grassroots group lost an appeal in Santa Clara Superior Court to stop development on a former pesticide test site and has called it quits. Summerhill Homes has to clean the site of toxins which SaveBAREC brought attention to according to Gordon Stemple, an attorney representing residents in another lawsuit.

San Jose Revealed lets loose with Thursday Quick Notes, among them…

• Glee over newsworthy Chamber of Commerce leaders (which they got from us yesterday...),
• Mayor Reed’s trip to East San Jose, and
• Girls Gone Wild bus visits downtown San Jose.

Metro/San Jose Inside Editor posts a lament that San Jose will never lose its “soulless corporate blandness” as long as it kicks out local eateries like La Taqueria and replaces them with Carl’s Junior. The Editor expresses hope that the (McEnery) San Jose Public Market will give priority to local businesses, “not soul-sucking chains.”

San Jose Insider Pete Campbell posts his last Inside blog with a nostalgic look backwards and a cranky view of today.

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.20.09: "Morgan Hill, the (soon-to-be) Los Gatos of South County..."

While the Guvernator is licking his wounds over yesterday’s election, folks in Morgan Hill are still pouring champagne. Measure A, addressing downtown revitalization, passed with 60% support. Former Mayor/Campaign Chair Dennis Kennedy said it would help make downtown Morgan Hill more like Los Gatos or Santana Row. Really? I guess we'll soon see a downtown Morgan Hill Prada...

As we said yesterday, Election Day was followed up by (bail bonds) Fight Night...

Councilmember Sam Liccardo won the first several rounds... but the fight looks like it will continue as the City Council (unanimously) took the first step towards a temporary ban on new bail bonds. This turn of events must have pissed off Councilmembers Pete Constant, Nora Campos, and Ash Kalra who last week wanted to let the bail bonds folks operate 24 hours a day and have no moratorium. Their proposal wasn't even discussed last night. What did get discussed by several in the audience, was the Merc column from yesterday... much to the (public) chagrine of several City Councilmembers...

San Jose Revealed also jumped into the bail bonds ring this morning calling Liccardo's win "predictable." Really? Why would the Constant/Campos/Kalra Crew have pushed their bail bonds proposal if a loss was so "predictable"?

On to more important stuff... like football...

Santa Clara City Councilmembers took the next big step towards welcoming the 49ers. They worked out a plan to share the financial pain. Mayor Patricia Mahan says the next step is bringing the public in to see the proposal. Jamie McLeod, not a 49er cheerleader, said “I have some pretty strong concerns,” but wasn’t dishing.

Silicon Valley loses another local star to the bright lights of Washington, D.C. A Watch Dog favorite, County legal top dog Ann Ravel, is packing her bags to head up Office of Consumer Litigation. Ravel will be reporting to another local legal rockstar, Tony West who heads the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

Speaking of justice...

The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on Santa Clara County Supervisors to reject District Attorney Dolores Carr’s request to move victim services out of FACES control. Citing improved management and increased victim services the Editorial Board suggests other counties adopt the FACES model.

Friends Outside, a San Jose non-profit helping inmates' loved ones, has an unlikely leader. Former Sheriff’s Deputy, and guard, Dave Gonzales took the helm in a pinch two years ago. Gonzales, who is not a “liberal do-gooder,” has developed friends like District Attorney Dolores Carr, politically connected Mike Fox, Sr., Sheriff Laurie Smith, and Labor to bring Friends the economic support it needs.

Morgan Hill’s Christian bookstore owner Richard Dresser turns out to be a perv, maybe. Dresser was picked up by police after an employee accused the boss of several inappropriate acts. Dresser confessed to most of the charges during the interview but later told reporters he didn’t do it. “These charges are wrong, and I know they’re going to be dropped,” Dresser told the Morgan Hill Times. (Not to be outdone in the sexual assault news today, Watch Dog San Mateo has a piece about the Belmont Chamber of Commerce Board President (allegedly) molesting his step-daughter...)

Mexican American Community Service Agency (MACSA) CEO Olivia Soza-Mendiola sent a last minute email to Trustees for the Gilroy Unified School District asking for a one year transition of their MACSA-managed Charter School to an unnamed partner. Trustee Rhoda Bress called it a stalling tactic and said the students deserved better. (At some point, we'll (hopefully) see what the DA has to say about the MACSA/Charter School/embezzlement case...)

The Los Gatos Planning Commission nixed development plans for Los Gatos Boulevard pointing at a lack of a long term vision for the area. Commission Chair Tom O’Donnell said he was uncomfortable approving plans without knowing the Town Council’s vision.

San Jose residents, welcome to the season of brown... lawns that is. Strict regulations are now there for water hog yards. The upside for scofflaws is the City is depending on your neighbor to rat you out. Adding to the complexity, different parts of the City may end up with different rules.

Thousands of Silicon Valley residents sought heat relief at the beach Sunday. The miserable trip home was caused by Caltrans roadwork which shutdown one lane, leaving beachgoers creeping along for hours. The Merc’s Mr. Roadshow, Gary Richards, asked Caltrans what was up. Repairs, heat, time, and apologies came from “Ben-the-Caltrans-Spokesman.” Watch Dog was in the traffic, panting out the window...

San Jose Insider Eric Johnson dishes on a (possible) battle of the electric cars. Fisker Automotive arrived in San Jose’s Santana Row the day “bitter rival” Tesla announced a deal with Daimler Motors. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed was on hand to welcome Fisker adding it would help make the Bay Area the “electric vehicle capital of the world.” (Last time the Mayor stepped out to declare anything related to electric vehicles, Tesla turned around and screwed San Jose...)

When Foothill-De Anza Chancellor Martha Kanter was tapped by President Obama to be the Undersecretary of Education it left a big hole. Board President Betsy Bechtel announced retired Vice Chancellor Mike Brandy will return with “a steady hand and deep knowledge of the district,” to become the Interim Chancellor. What better time to take over the helm of a Community College than in the worst budget situation ever, and a State on the verge of financial collapse. Welcome back Mike...

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.14.09: Sweaty Co-Worker Day...

It's Bike to Work Day... expect CalTrain to be busier than usual... Also, expect your cubicle neighbor to be sweatier than normal...

It is also all about the 408… (at least for the Merc's Mark Purdy...)

While Purdy was declaring his love for the 408, Abdirahman Ismail Abdi was getting the hell out... the Feds are hot on the trail of Abdi because he is being accused of embezzling $9 million before he quit California Water Service Company a.k.a. San Jose Water Company. Abdi’s wire transfers were found out and the money returned, but not before Abdi sent his family out of the country and disappeared.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro tells the sloth among us Ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes will be in town to encourage couch potatoes to take part in a little downtown San Jose running (or walking). Pizarro also sends props to San Jose music festival Left Coast Live where Councilmember Sam Liccardo said, in spite of hours of kazoo prep, you won’t see him rocking on stage.

Silicon Valley remains the trendsetter. Nationally, the growth of Asian and Latino populations has slowed while here in Silicon Valley growth remains strong. Berkeley professor Ling-Chi Wang said most Americans look for a view and a pool in their homes, Asians look for great schools.

The Merc’s Karen D’Souza loves books… One of the few San Jose independent bookstores was making it’s final loop around the drain when savior Roland Vierra stepped in to buy Willow Glen Books. Santa Clara County’s poet laureate Nils Peterson is celebrating the rescue calling Willow Glen Books a hub of San Jose’s cultural and intellectual life.

The Henry W. Coe State Park is hot, seriously. A fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in what is being called the Mustang Incident. (No, Councilmember Constant, not these Mustangs.) By nightfall the fire was over 600 acres.

Santa Clara County prosecutors Victoria Brown and James Gibbons-Shapiro deny knowing about videos of sexual assault exams until recently. Public Defender Al Lopez is trying to prove otherwise by digging up an old email...

They had to see it coming, Monte Sereno’s City Council voted themselves $300 a month salary (during the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression) and now chatter about a recall is growing. Former Mayor Mike Brodsky isn’t helping colleagues saying, "I thought you were supposed to lose money… There will be a recall. This will not stand." Of course, one could assume Brodsky is pissed he didn’t think of it first…

Los Gatans get an in depth look at the economic disaster hitting home. Town Manager Greg Larson said there’s a $2.5 million “gap,” revenues are lower, and Larson is looking at possible cuts. Also in Los Gatos news, the City Council agreed with the Planning Commission and said no to the monster house proposal on Santa Rosa Drive.

Tossing garbage in Silicon Valley’s Westside towns will soon cost you more. The West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority Board raised rates blaming vehicle impact (and other) fees. Local jurisdictions say they have no choice, garbage trucks trash streets at a good clip. (Oh, and cities can raise garbage rates to pay for roads without calling it a tax increase...)

Los Altos pedestrians on San Antonio Road will be cheering. The City is planning $1.5 million in sidewalk upgrades making it easier, and prettier, to go for a romantic walk. Other revitalization is moving more slowly, developer Randy Lamb says he’s eager to break ground on a downtown project. Assistant City Manager James Walgren blames Safeway for holdup saying, “the recession doesn’t help.” (Some of you may already know this, but Lamb is Watch Dog San Mateo crossover…)

Mountain View-Los Altos High School District Trustees slashed $1.3 million from the Adult School with administrators saying it is only the beginning. Trustees are anxiously holding their breath until the May 19 special election. Good luck... Superintendent Barry Groves says if Propositions 1A and 1B don’t pass another $2 million could get cut.