Morning News Round-Up -- 10.19.09: Mayor Reed doesn't feel much like dancing...

The (apparent) Word of the Week in San Jose is Sunshine. And Mayor Chuck Reed is apparently joining in with Jonathan Edwards in singing, "Sunshine go away today, I don't feel much like dancing..." San Jose’s Sunshine Reform Task Force, created by Mayor Chuck Reed as a call for open government, saw its final recommendation for open Police records (apparently) squashed by the Mayor’s Rules Committee. Sunshine Chair/ Protect San Jose’s Ed Rast seemed unable to use his statistical prowess to convince his blogging-buddies that Sunshine was good. The Merc’s Editorial Board calls the Tuesday meeting a “major test of San Jose’s commitment to open government…” The Mayor's antagonists (unsurprisingly) on this issue are Councilmembers Ash Kalra, Nora Campos, and Kansen Chu, which Councilmember Sam Liccardo also coming down closer to the side opposite the Mayor. This should be interesting...

And if limiting Sunshine sounds like something Mayor Chuck Reed would be against (but seems to be for), then safeguarding gambling would certainly be something Mayor Reed would be against... right? Wrong. It's funny how $14 million a year to the General Fund can sway a Mayor's position...

A passionate San Jose Councilmember Madison Nguyen is what the Merc’s Scott Herhold misses in the tragic Police shooting of mentally ill Daniel Pham. Nguyen told Herhold she didn’t cede leadership to colleague Kansen Chu because she owes San Jose Police, but rather because the shooting happened in Chu's District. Hmmmm....

Keeping up with local elections, the Merc’s Editorial Board sends props to Cupertino Council candidates Mayor Orrin Mahoney, Housing Commissioner Mahesh Nihalani, and Recreation Commissioner Darcy Paul.

And while there are politics happening this month, the much more interesting stuff will happen next year... the Merc’s Internal Affairs calls Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosen “the real McCoy” in Rosen’s efforts to oust District Attorney Dolores Carr after Rosen hired political consultant Leo Briones. IA also reports Supervisorial wannabe/ Mayor Mike Wasserman landed in (a little) hot water after posting photos of people not endorsing him.

Before the San Jose Flea Market closes the doors permanently, a festive 50th anniversary is planned according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. Also celebrating a golden anniversary the American GI Forum with Damian Trujillo, dinner, and dancing. Perhaps even dancing WITH Damian Trujillo...

For all your governmental Watch Dog pleasure, the week to come…

• San Jose’s City Council keeps busy with discussions of outsourcing city employee jobs, more on campaign finance, gambling, and limiting (or expanding) Sunshine.
• The Santa Clara County Office of Education School Board considers charter schools and test results.
• The East Side Union High School District also focuses on sunshine with a solar project.
• The Cupertino High School plan is on the table for the Cupertino High School District.
• San Jose Unified School District gets the lowdown on (swine) flu shots and budget transfers.

Morning News Round-Up -- 10.22.09: Beam me up...

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed opted out of adding sunshine to a gloomy Tuesday (Remember this? Sunshine go away today...) this week but now says he wants to reconsider releasing 911 tapes from the shooting of Daniel Pham. Perhaps a little late to the table, Reed and San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis are accused of misrepresenting the Sunshine Reform Task Force requests. The Merc’s Editorial Board sends props to Councilmembers Ash Kalra, Nora Campos, Kansen Chu, Sam Liccardo and Madison Nguyen for “standing up for public access.”

Parents at Wilcox High say they warned school officials about teacher/perv Edward Slate’s “flirtatious” emails to their 17 year old daughter. Superintendent Steve Stavis said the District is working closely with Police during the investigation.

The Merc’s Scott Herhold reminds us that the written/ spoken word is a mighty powerful tool, or weapon, as his neighbors talk about the use of ethnicity in describing cyclists (who may be) casing the neighborhood.

Payless Hardware on King Road in San Jose is licking its wounds after realizing it wasn’t the economy causing that slow leak from the till. Accounts Receivable clerk Desiree Herrera and husband Ruben skimmed more than $1.3 million in 7 years. The State tax guys are also pissed, the Herrera’s didn’t pay $182,000 in taxes on their ill-gotten gain. Office Manager Karey Thatcher is given props for the numeric sleuthing that uncovered the crime.

Silicon Valley the home to spies? Say it ain’t so. According to defense attorneys for Lan Lee and Yuefei Ge the Feds got it all wrong, Lee and Ge are super smart geeks who invented the better mouse trap. The FBI and prosecutors say not so fast, Lee and Ge were thieves getting ready to sell secrets to China.

Former Assemblymember Sally Lieber speaks out on campaign finance...

Palo Alto has tossed in the towel, declaring an impasse in negotiations with their largest union after 5 months of contentious talks. Union representative Nick Steinmeier and City Manager James Keene point at the other side for not accepting “reasonable” counter offers.

Trekkies beam in to San Jose this week for “Star Trek: The Exhibition” at geekiest museum of all, the San Jose Tech. The Merc’s Sal Pizarro joined Museum board members Judy Swanson, Steven Moore, and Mike and Joan Hackworth in greeting Mr. Sulu on the bridge. Pizarro reminds us the holidays are around the corner with a variety of gift purchasing opportunities in store.

San Jose Inside’s Fly ran into fake protesters marching in downtown San Jose. The pretend protesters work for Barry Swenson and are trying to increase sales during the housing crash. According to spokesperson Christy Marbry, it works.

Protect San Jose’s irascible Kathleen Flynn said Tuesday’s San Jose City Council meeting left her with “conflicted feelings.” On the one hand she was delighted with the Mayor’s stance against recommendations from the Sunshine Reform Task Force on the other hand she was pissed that Sunshine member/Mercury News Managing Editor Bert Robinson wanted reforms enacted… Bringing up the most puzzling question of all these days: Where is Sunshine Task Force Chair/Protect San Jose blogger Ed Rast?...

Morning News Round-Up -- 10.20.09: Age of Aquarius, but not for Mayor Reed or Bobby Lopez (or Dolores Carr)...

Mayor Reed got together with San Jose Police Officers' Association head honcho to pen an OpEd in the Mercury News today about government Sunshine and how releasing police records would "threaten victims' rights..." Which is it Mayor/Lopez, would it threaten victims' rights or hurt public safety? Watch Dog loves the visual of Mayor Reed sending drafts back and forth to Bobby Lopez... "Bobby, I suggest we make this a little punchier... Love, Chuck." The issue is coming before Council tonight -- so get there early and reserve a seat...

Continuing with the songs about sunshine theme... "Let the sunshine in..." The Merc’s Editorial Board offers an opinion that District Attorney Dolores Carr goofed by not following the tradition of sharing details on high profile Grand Jury cases. The Merc. also offers the opinion that allowing a little Sunshine might be hard in the beginning but hard isn’t a reason not to move forward with the Sunshine Task Force recommendations. Unless, of course your last name is Reed, Lopez, or Carr...

The Merc’s Scott Herhold shares thoughts on Santa Clara County’s missteps leading up to a $500,000 check made out to the California First Amendment Coalition. Perhaps Herhold is hoping San Jose Councilmembers will reconsider what information is meant to be public. We also learn that Scott Herhold is "...pretty much a First Amendment absolutist..."

Gilroy Councilmembers said no to a request to spread out. In a contentious meeting with environmentalists, developers, County representatives, and residents (which included 3 hours of debate) a final 4-3 vote was cast against a proposals from Lucky Day Ranch and Wren Investors. Gilroy Councilmembers also dished out raises to City Administrator Tom Haglund (nearly $10,000) and City Clerk Shawna Freels (nearly $5,000). Really? Raises? We wonder how Dr. Pete Arellano's vote to give City Administrators pay raises will play in the coming election... hmmm...

Milpitas Police stay mum on the subject of a fatal shooting at the Great Mall. Police spokesperson Officer Gene Smith shrugged “there’s not a whole lot of information yet.” If you’ve got something to share call Milpitas police at 408-586-2400. This brings the total homocides in Milpitas to two for the year... but two killings in Milpitas is a crime spree.

Protect San Jose’s Sgt. Jim Unland doesn’t share the Merc’s opinion on openness (shocker) and dismisses proponents as “conspiracy theorists” saying the Merc’s interest is in selling “a few extra papers…” Just a note to Sgt. Unland, selling a few extra newspapers is not going to help the Merc. Selling a LOT of extra newspapers might...

Oops, the allure of all that money may have pushed Silicon Valley money moguls Anil Kumar and Rajiv Goel into trading insider secrets. The Feds think they’re involved in the largest hedge-fund insider trading scandal in history. Perhaps Boots has room in his cell...

Santa Clara University is celebrating as engineering students representing California in the international Solar Decathlon take home the bronze. Empty nesters from Los Gatos will be happy to know the students built the home for them.

Former Mayor/Hispanic Foundation CEO Ron Gonzales was busy celebrating a new gig and adding tables to the Foundations Charity Ball while next door former Mayor Janet Gray Hayes celebrated the 40th anniversary of the San Jose Museum of Art. (Thanks Sal for the update...)

San Jose Insider/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio offers quotes from a public safety meeting on the eve of Council decisions on Police openness. Very original PO...
Mission City Lantern suggests Santa Clarans engage in self-reflection and sends props to Watch Dog (twice).

Morning News Round-Up -- 10.21.09: A John Denver Morning...

It was a busy day in San Jose.

• Continuing with sunshine songs: Sunshine on the Mayor's (and 5 others Councilmembers') shoulders did not make them happy... Sunshine, in their eyes, can make them cry... Mayor Reed complained they were asked to “sail into uncharted waters” while Mercury News Managing Editor/ Sunshine Task Force member Bert Robinson pointed to similar rules in other cities.
• Councilmembers made it easier to send (current) City jobs to private contractors (sort of).
• In 2011, San Jose candidates get to ask for more money from supporters, City Attorney Rick Doyle called the increases “…a need to be constitutional in our limits.”
• Fearing San Jose might lose its gambling revenue ($13.5 million), Councilmembers set about streamlining cardclub regulations.
• And, the City accepted a $200,000 spanking on behalf of firefighters who can’t keep their dirty magazines at home.
  

Senator Barbara Boxer took time out of the healthcare debate to pen an OpEd for the Merc on cleaning up Mt Umunhum. Boxer wants her Congressional colleagues to join her in cleaning Mt Um of decades old Air Force toxics to give Silicon Valley its own Mt Tam.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro issues an invite to join American Leadership Forum CEO Chris Block at the San Jose Rep for a provocative South African play and discussion on race.

A tragic case of domestic violence in Palo Alto led to the death of Jennifer Schipsi. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office hasn’t (yet) filed charges against Schipsi’s boyfriend/(alleged) killer Bulos Zumot.

Palo Alto’s City Council considers garbage-eating bugs to help get rid of compostables. The debate was characterized by Vice Mayor Jack Morton as taking an “impossible situation” and spinning – and we don’t think he means exercise. Morton accused colleagues of not being able to “face up to some realities.” Palo Alto is fun...

In Mountain View, bridges and a tunnel will help Googlers get to work by bike or Segway.

Adobe Founder’s John Warnock and Chuck Geschke made their way to Washington, D.C. for a little confab with the President. Warnock and Geschke were awarded the nation's highest honor for scientists, engineers, and inventors: the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo sends props to San Jose’s Downtown College Prep while questioning East Side Union High Schools rejection of DCP Alum Rock on a technicality…

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.10.09: Watch Dog in the News...

Watch Dog Silicon Valley is mentioned/criticized in the Mercury News by columnist Scott Herhold today. The way the Merc. is going however, more people may read this recap of Herhold's piece than the actual paper version...we will have more (much more) to say about this soon. (San Jose Revealed, also criticized, responded this morning...)

And while we are in a self-praise mode, the COWs (Citizens Of Woodside) love Watch Dog too...

An Atherton resident threw her hat in the ring for Governor...in case you missed it yesterday, Watch Dog wrote about it here and here.

San Jose’s airport will see Mayor Chuck Reed racing through tonight as he catches a red-eye to D.C. in order to meet up with Mayors Antonio Villaragosa (LA) and Jerry Sanders (San Diego). The three will lobby Congress for sending some of those stimulus dollars California's way. Reed hates to travel and says, "…this is my nightmare version of it," but "it's an important trip, or else I wouldn't be doing it." Pressing his Green Vision, Reed will ask for money for clean tech and green jobs, perhaps still hoping/praying to get Tesla into San Jose. As a reminder, you should probably check out this piece that ran in the Metro about the Mayor's D.C. plans. Judging from the timing, it looks like Reed is being dragged to D.C. as opposed to pulling others with him...Reed's original plans were to trek to D.C. in late February/early March...

In the final dramatic change to the County’s dependency courts, the Santa Clara District Attorney’s will no longer represent children. That job now belongs to LACY – Legal Advocates for Children and Youth. The Merc. published a series “Broken Families, Broken Courts” which put the juvenile court system under the spotlight. Judge Katherine Lucero said, “We were very, very impressed with LACY, and it was a unanimous decision. We felt that LACY had a very whole-child approach." That quote would suggest that the DA's office did not...

The Saratoga City Council talked for 30 minutes before approving a fence ordinance that their Planning Commission spent 16 months to hammer out during numerous community meetings. While Councilmember Kathleen King expressed frustration at the time involved she said, “…I can see how much time they put into this ordinance.” Councilmember Jill Hunter said she was nervous about approving the ordinance because fences are so contentious in her neighborhood and expressed surprise that only two community members appeared at the Council meeting to discuss the proposal. Perhaps community members were adding in a few last minute inches and feet on their fences...

What does former Los Gatos Councilmember Steve Glickman have against libraries? While on Council he repeatedly attempted to prevent the Council from moving forward according to Mayor Mike Wasserman who says, "I'm really disappointed. We've had so many public meetings — probably a dozen — and we've had surveys done, and in every case support for the library was high." Now Glickman is hoping to put a ballot measure that would limit Los Gatos’ ability to spend money on capital projects. Weird, since he supported this capital project...

Gilroy held the first public meeting on a Sunshine Ordinace and no one showed up, or almost no one. Councilmember Perry Woodward, who won his seat campaigning against secrecy was there along with Mayor Al Pinheiro. Their colleague, Councilmember Peter Arellano, was stuck in New Mexico. City Administrator Tom Haglund said, "We're working through implementing the ordinance consistent with all of its provisions and we'll continue to do that..." No one from the public was in attendance and the meeting ended 15 minutes after it began. Perhaps the sunshine was keeping people from Sunshine...

The entertaining line of the year may go to Morgan Hill Times reporter Natalie Everett who wrote, “Asking the city's Business Assistance and Housing Services Department how successful they are at attracting and retaining businesses in the current economy is like asking a tugboat captain how he fares in the high seas during a storm.” Department Director Garrett Toy laid out what they don’t control – demographics, population, developers, and property owners before saying the department is only a small factor. Toy accounts for their success in bringing (and keeping) business with an aggressive marketing and retention program combined with tweaking things in their control.

Sally Lieber gets good press in the Mountain View Voice with a very friendly story about the former Councilmember/former Assemblymember/former Speaker Pro Tem’s improbable rise to power. Councilmember Mike Kasperzak said, "Sally and I disagree politically on some things, But I would never accuse Sally of taking the safe way out." Hey Mike, Lieber not running for Supervisor seemed like the 'safe way out.'

Google is making good on its goal to push the green agenda. The Google PowerMeter will help residents watch their household energy usage. The goal is to create the “Prius effect” with homeowners striving to push consumption down once they see it in realtime. The software works with the smart meters being rolled out by PG&E. Googler Michael Terrell, an energy program manager has it at his house, he says, "I'm driving my friends crazy. I'm really into the data,” as he yanks incandescent bulbs that prove to be energy hogs.

Trying to buck the trend of the anonymous, chain coffeehouse, and the dreary economy, Frank and Carole Rast reconfigured her parents aging and unused gas station into a hopping Japantown meeting spot, Roy’s Station Coffee & Teas. Roy Murotsone’s family bought the gas station after being released from WWII internment camps in Arizona. The family ran the gas station and attached diner. Opened yesterday, the updated neighborhood roost saw San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo and attorney Daniel Mayfield enjoying coffee while 5 year-old Madeline Gorman celebrated her birthday.

Morning News Round-Up – 11/19/08: No drunk arrests here...that's coming later

A full update/run-down of the San Jose City Council meeting discussing/arguing drunk arrests last night will follow shortly...

A star studded crowd turned out in Los Gatos as State Insurance Commissioner/Governor-Wannabe Steve Poizner was on hand to give the oath of office to incoming Mayor Mike Wasserman and Vice Mayor Diane McNutt. It was no surprise to the audience that Wasserman was selected by his peers to serve as Mayor for the next year.

Los Gatos native Kathleen Nicholson Hull named the George Mark Children’s House after her brothers George who passed away at 30 from cancer and Mark, killed in a car accident at the age of 16. This is a place where families can be with their children as they make a peaceful transition into death. Director of external affairs, Annie Berlin says of their work "You have to be willing to have your heart broken every single day, in some different kind of way. But everyone here feels it's a privilege to be a part of this. There's no greater gift we could give."

Passing its first open government law, Gilroy has let the sunshine in to City Hall by unanimously passing Councilman Perry Woodward's “sunshine ordinance.” Watch Dog wonders if the “Chris Bone eMail Access” rule made it into the new ordinance.

And labor unrest in South County...

Employees from Rebekah Children’s Services in Gilroy took to the streets to protest meager wage increases. Therapists and crisis workers earn roughly a third to a half of what management takes home. "They definitely created this problem, and now there's no money for the people on the front lines," Counselor Jay Aguilar said.

Just up the road, 100 Morgan Hill teachers picketed the Morgan Hill School District offices Tuesday night to protest a months overdue contract. Board Trustee Bart Fisher said, "We should absolutely look at the opportunity to come together and work together for the betterment of the district. That's going to require more outreach and trust. Hopefully we can come out of this better and stronger."

Not going for sunshine, developers from the Sand Hill Property Company will meet privately with a select group of residents. Project manager John Tze said earlier meetings were open to the "first tier of influence," but now are focusing on the "second tier of influence." Karen White, Duveneck-St. Francis Neighborhood Association president, disagrees saying a letter from Sand Hill titled, "Our Commitment to a Collaborative Public Process," stated the meeting would be public.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.17.09: LOL edition...

It isn't just teenagers that are texting constantly, apparently so are San Jose Councilmembers and lobbyists... Accusations of dragging Sunshine into darkness follow San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed according to Sunshine Task Force Member/ Working Partnerships policy wonk Bob Brownstein. Councilmember Pete Constant, who mostly texts during Council meetings, declined providing text messages to the Merc. but Councilmember Sam Liccardo provided them. (un)Surprisingly, the Merc.’s Editorial Board weighs in calling for release of personal texts and emails.

Former Vice Mayor/Labor Chief Cindy Chavez goes ever more public. Pointing to a 2008 Fair Political Practices Commission report calling uncapped independent expenditures that thwart “the will of the people,” Chavez lends her support to a contentious San Jose City Council vote. Or in text, "wll o d ppl"

Expect a lot of finger pointing as the cost of San Jose’s first Police substation continues to head North. This week the San Jose City Council discusses adding more than $5 million (on top of March’s $4.5 million) to fix design flaws. Like the 15,000 gallon fuel tank listed at 1,500 gallons.

San Jose Firefighters couldn’t have been happy to see the San Francisco Chronicle’s City Insider calling them out as the highest paid of big California cities. Those pesky reporters...

During the State’s trying budget days it’s surprising to see local legislators handing out raises. Assemblymember Joe Coto gave 2 staffers raises, bumping salaries to $56,880. Assemblymember Anna Caballero bumped 6 staffers to a whopping $19,278 annually and Jim Beall increased pay for 4 staff members to $27,510. Actually, scratch that, nothing in Sacramento is surprising...

Following up on last week's news that San Jose State University is making it difficult for unprepared students… The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on high schools to prepare students for college. What a concept…

(un)Happy trails. Fremont’s Nummi plant is packing the bags and heading to Texas leaving nearly 5,000 newly unemployed in its wake. Perhaps a Fremont ballpark can actually happen now? Watch Dog sources say no...

Two groups of teenagers battled at the Alum Rock lightrail station in East San Jose. When the dust settled a 19 year old woman was dead while a 16 year old and 19 year old were hospitalized. The Sheriff’s office won’t (yet) declare this a gang related fight. If you have details, call detective Sgt. Herman Leon or detective Sgt. Ryan Elder at 408-808-4500.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs crew follows the confusing assortment of local legislators as they angle for higher office. (current and former) Assemblymembers Ira Ruskin, John Laird, and Jim Beall plan to duke it out with freshman Assemblymember Paul Fong for Senator Joe Simitian’s seat in 2010. Senator Elaine Alquist hopes to be your next Secretary of State while (current and former) Assemblymembers Joe Coto and Sally Lieber will go after Alquist’s Senate gig. Looming ahead, the inevitable redistricting after the 2010 census.

The fallout from Scott Herhold’s wishful list of District Attorney wannabe’s brought more than a little grief to Deputy District Attorney/”Most Respected” Jeff Rosen.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs also pokes fun at (former) Mayor Ron Gonzales email sign-off.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro celebrates the opening of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce offices and Garden City Construction’s loving restoration of a 1941 bank, more restoration for San Jose’s Civic Center, bike building at Applied Micro, and Cadence employee’s blowing through a fundraising goal to triple the joy.

Local government in action around Silicon Valley…

• The County Board of Supervisors' Health and Hospital Committee discusses reports on County programs for uninsured children – now that the State wants to cut funds.
• Cupertino Union School District talks energy management.
• Fremont Union High School District gets an update on Measure B.
• East Side Union High School gets dollars for sports…
• San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Don Iglesias hopes for an agreement with the San Jose Teachers Association.
• San Jose City Council talks Sunshine and cost overruns. (Or in text: cst ovrrns)
• Santa Clara City Council tackles charter changes for football while a 49er stadium subcommittee recommends a 2nd ballot measure.

Mission City Lantern shares that (special) love with Berryessa Union School District Trustee David Cohen. Lantern is (apparently) pissed over Cohen’s San Jose Inside column remembering Woodstock on the 40th Anniversary.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.19.09: "I coulda been a contenda..."

San Jose Inside’s Fly and Watch Dog both received email from San Jose Council contender Pam Foley saying that she’s no longer a contender. Foley say that when a “thoughtful, ethical, and committed” leader does jump into the race she might endorse. Ouch… Fly anticipates Redevelopment staffer/ Cambrian School Board member/ Rose Herrera (interim) Chief of Staff and (very handsome man) Donald Rocha could leap in to fill the gap. Foley could have been the chief contender...



Earthquakes/A’s owner Lew Wolff wants those soccer fans to show their colors but doesn’t “...give a damn...” what the fans say about the Quakes losing streak. Wolff’s soccer fans (apparently) aren’t ready to cough up the $5 million in annual sponsorship (yet).

Watch Dog loves garbage, it’s nice to see the Merc’s Patty Fisher joining us in the garbage buzz. Fisher is desperately trying to recycle Styrofoam – seems no one wants the flammable, carcinogen containing petroleum product. Perhaps Manny Diaz (a.k.a. Mr. Chemistry Council) has a place for it...

An interesting note about San Jose construction projects, the (over) $9 million cost overrun on San Jose’s police substation is one of hundreds of projects exceeding cost projections. Hundreds?
That sounds like great planning. Bobby Lopez is going to be really pissed now...

San Jose “made a lot of progress,” according to Sunshine Task Force Chair Ed Rast, letting the sun shine on communications but in critical areas calls for “…maintenance of the status quo…” Translation, most of the stuff City Council will make public through City law, is already public. Next up for discussion, ths psky txt msgs. San Jose Inside follows the texting drama and fills us in that the library now takes text queries. That will be good news for lobbyists who want to use the library...

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo is looking forward to her Town Hall – sans healthcare. Eshoo has picked another thorny subject to keep constituents hopping – High Speed Rail. On the Peninsula, she may want to have a healthcare Town Hall...

The report card is in on California schools with the annual (dreaded) STAR report. Silicon Valley schools did slightly better than average. Morgan Hill and Gilroy are celebrating their “slight improvement.”

The least the nasty quagga and zebra mussels could do is make good eats. Instead, they’re a nasty pest keeping pissed off boaters cleaning, scrapping and out of Vasona Lake and Lexington Reservoir.

One step closer to a shared stadium? The 49ers and Oakland Raiders shared the scrimmage field for a work out for the second year.

San Jose (perv) dentist Benva Oshana Lazar keeps his dental practice going while Santa Clara County prosecutors look for more victims of Lazar’s special teeth cleaning/breast exams. If your teeth weren’t the only ones touched give San Jose Police Detective Dawn Marchetti a call at 408-277-4102.

The heat is on in San Jose this weekend. No, no one is calling out the City Council’s (mock) Sunshine. According to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro, it’s the time of year for Salsa to reign. Pizarro also dishes San Jose’s City Hall introduction to Bollywood has hit the big screen in Santa Clara.

San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo “reluctantly” celebrates infusion of $2 million Federal stimulus bucks into the district.

Protect San Jose Tuesday blogger/ Sunshine Chair Ed Rast takes a stab at promoting performance service objectives for San Jose, pointing to Sunnyvale as a leader.

Morning News Round-Up – 1.30.09: Drunks, Fast Cars and Animal Cruelty...

A rift is growing on San Jose’s Drunk Task Force. Community members are demanding a look back while city staff seem to think the past is irrelevant. Watch Dog has been following San Jose’s drunken intrigue from the beginning. Perhaps a sign of things to come…

• "I don't think that we need to have [arrest reports] to take a good and hard look at the way (public intoxication) arrests are conducted now or for us to come up with options to make things better,'' said Deputy City Manager Norberto Duenas. Those who forget history...
• ACLU head, Skyler Porras is pissed and said it’s all about "public relations [rather] than an opportunity to create accountability and transparency."
  
• Metro/De-Bug’s Raj Jayadev agreed saying "It's very strange to be asked to investigate an issue and not be given the most relevant documents to do an a honest examination."
  
• San Jose City Manager Deb Figone wants the Sunshine Reform Task Force to address the issue of report release – of course, Sunshine wants the reports released it’s Rules where the hang-up occurs.
  
• Attorney/Merc attendee at Sunshine committees James Chadwick "The members of the rules committee have been clear they have no interest in providing public access to police reports,"

Splattered all over the old-school news today – Plans to build Tesla plant in San Jose cancelled. Watch Dog issued the warning last year, a month later Watch Dog scooped the competition and yesterday watched as the rest of the media caught up. Tesla is lining up behind banks/states/local mayors for federal money to keep things moving. In a sign that Mayor Chuck Reed has been reading Watch Dog he says (now) the news was disappointing but not unexpected. Company founder Elon Musk will be unveiling the latest edition to the family – in Los Angeles – in March.

SanJoseRevealed gloats a little over the Tesla loss laying responsibility for the economic downfall at the feet of Chuck Reed. Revealed also spent time googling Dan Pulcrano and Chuck Reed – double checking positioning for SJR stories. Revealed didn’t find the multiple mentions of SJR on Watch Dog.

Boots is heading to jail, at least that’s what it looks like with Del Biaggio pleading guilty to at least some of the charges against him. The US Attorney Generals office and Boots’ lawyer Elliot Peters aren’t talking to the press but it’s clear Boots’ is talking to someone.
The Morgan Hill Times editorial board weighs in on efforts in Morgan Hill and Gilroy to cope with the economic crisis and takes issue with a few things. Like, it’s going to take 3 years to study the economic crisis? Looks like Morgan Hill and Gilroy are competing with San Jose in the study-don’t-solve department.

Duffers are among the latest group proposed to help raise state funds and local golf courses are not happy. "It's like getting hit with a sucker punch," said Tony Lauria, director of sales and marketing at Coyote Creek Golf Club north of Morgan Hill. "It's unfair to hit an industry that's struggling, and doing its best to keep our jobs."

Gilroy moved it’s police headquarters into a new building and promptly slapped a sign on the front claiming it was a “green business.” Seems Gilroy needs a lesson in what it means to reduce the carbon footprint. The new building is an energy hog and accounts for 41% of the city’s entire electricity and gas bill. Lisa Jensema, who recently lost her job as Gilroy’s Environmental Programs Coordinator, says the boastful sticker on the front door was not claiming to have reduced the city's carbon footprint, but to have encouraged other green practices - increased recycling, warmer clothes during the winter, shuttered blinds during summer, and so on.

The latest victim of the economic crisis? Animals, specifically animals in rodeos. County Supervisor Don Gage said "We don't feel the animal cruelty ordinance is a high priority right now." Not wanting to leave it at that acting county executive Gary Graves wrote, "we do not believe we have the resources at this time to adequately provide the review and development of options that will allow the board to make an informed decision on the (animal cruelty ordinance)."

There’s a sea change in shopping centers – Cupertino and Sunnyvale plan to capitalize on modern thought rather than rebuild the Edsel. With Sand Hill Property’s Peter Pau at the helm and 34 acre’s of shopping, housing, office space and so on. "We are not trying to create a mall here. We're blowing the mall up," Reed Moulds, Sand Hill project manager said. It looks like mall experts took a trip to Europe, question is, how well will communities adapt to the local mall being integrated in residential neighborhoods?

Abandoned in San Jose, J.R. ended up at the Santa Clara animal shelter. That is, until his mug was spotted by celebrity animal trainer Mathilde DeCagny. Now the formerly homeless terrier is a star in Hotel for Dogs. In the rare occasion where animal cruelty ends up benefitting the critter...

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.10.09: A day without Dolores Carr...

A day without Dolores Carr news is like a San Jose day without (politically damaged and ethically challenged) sunshine...

Gilroy Councilmember Craig Gartman’s wrangling with opponents over Gilroy’s Memorial Day Parade financial records has landed him in the sights of District Attorney Dolores Carr.

The District Attorney hoped to take the nearly $2 million contract away from FACES to create a “more efficient” victim support agency. It looks like the Supervisors don’t agree with Carr’s “baffling” argument... this year.

The Merc’s Scott Herhold says that even though the District Attorney’s “series of blunders” has “wounded” her, it’s doubtful a serious opponent will challenge her re-election. That doesn't stop Herhold from dishing about who might be on the anti-Carr list: Deputy DA/former Mayoral candidate David Pandori, Deputy DA/former La Raza President Chris Arriola, San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo, and Deputy DA Jeff Rosen.

To other news...

It looks like there may be 10 contestants for Palo Alto’s 5 City Council seats. Sole incumbent Larry Klein no doubt hopes he’ll be heard through the fray. Further south, Mark Santoro, elected to replace Patrick Kwok in 2008, isn’t waiting until his term is up in 2009 and has tossed his hat in the ring for one of Cupertino’s open seats.

Ted Scarlett lost in his bid to replace Forest Williams as a San Jose Councilmember, then he fouled up on campaign disclosures. More than a year later he faces fines for poor reporting…

Santa Clara County’s juvenile “boot camp” is now a homey ranch that Barry Krisberg, President of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, hopes will no longer be a “conveyor belt to prison.”

The Merc’s Internal Affairs had some fun last week rounding up these juicy bits…

• Someone at San Jose City Hall reads Watch Dog… Deputy Finance Director Walter Rossmann announced fired Independent Police Auditor Barbara Attard’s underwater condo is up for rent.
• San Jose City Council’s do-over vote for a library landed winners and losers, apparently. Managing to straddle the fence Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilmember Rose Herrera with a little success and a little flop.
• District Attorney Dolores Carr reports hubby John’s only problem was security consultant for Vahid Hosseini’s family. Meanwhile, Judge Kenneth Shapero ordered Carr’s office to handover hundreds of page of paperwork to the defense. This story isn't going away... for proof, see the top three stories of today's Round-Up.
• Those fun-filled Jerry Springer Town Hall meetings taking place across the nation as Congressmembers return home won’t be seen in Silicon Valley. Congressmembers Mike Honda and Zoe Lofgren are holding telephone Town Halls and Eshoo will be at a high-speed rail meeting.

The Merc Editorial Board has joined the Tooth Fairy in support of fluoridating San Jose’s water. Senator Dianne Feinstein is also the focus of an Editorial Board commentary as they ask her to help Congressmembers Mike Honda and Zoe Lofgren turn Mount Um into the Mount Tam of the South.

Happy Hollow Park wasn’t so happy Sunday night when a kid was shot, he’s in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

San Jose Insider Pete Campbell treads into dangerous territory comparing San Jose’s much beloved Cesar Chavez to (Pete Constant's friends) the Minutemen of Southern California.

For your governmental readership enjoyment…

• Sunnyvale City Council talks gas shutoff – for appliances, seriously.
• San Jose City Council considers adding sunshine to campaign finance and hears from the (neutered) Independent Police Auditor.
• San Jose’s Elections Commission ponders anonymous complaints, instant runoff voting, and (the above-mentioned) Ted Scarlett’s pesky filing problems.
• Santa Clara’s Parks and Recreation Commission review’s inventory and amenities at Brachler Park.
• The Mountain View-Los Altos School District looks at a school bond next June.
• The Los Gatos Union School District retreats to review goals and strategize.
• Beleagured/tiny Luther Burbank School District considers (again) their response to grand jury reports and ponders the budget.
• Santa Clara County Office of Education Trustees look at adding Federal Stimulus bucks to the budget.
• Alum Rock Union School District looks at after school programs along with speech and language.
• The Campbell Union School District considers studying a general obligation bond and gets an update to the State budget.

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.13.09: Things Stink Edition (the Merc, spoiled food, and sewage...)

The San Jose City Council “enthusiastically” approved the principles needed to bring A’s baseball to San Jose. Among them: the City ain’t paying for the stadium. Mayor Chuck Reed is calling for a Good Neighbor Committee to address the stadium process and other plans for the area including BART and High-Speed Rail. Baseball takes another step forward...

In other A's news, the hometeam's starting pitcher at tonight's A's/Royals game in Oakland is a guy named Outman. Seriously, a pitcher named Outman. Could you think of a better name for a starting pitcher?

The Merc’s parent company, Media News, plans to start charging for online content. Calling free online content “...an injustice to our print subscribers...” Media News CEO Dean Singleton also plans to gear online content to young people who rely on the internet for news. Good luck media news, the cliff that you are going over is near... this plan stinks...

So does this...

San Jose Fire’s Hazmat Team made a visit to AT&T with 50 firefighters. 325 employees were evacuated, 28 were checked out by paramedics, and 7 landed in the hospital. Why? Someone forgot to toss their old lunch out before it turned noxious. Captain Barry Stallard said when another employee sprayed a cleaner to cover the noxious odor “...that’s when the party started...”

And this...

San Jose’s aging (waste) water treatment plant is headed for an overhaul – and they want you to help plan what comes next. The rebuilt facility is expected to run $1 billion, ideas from energy generation to marshland habitat are all on the table. Perhaps a name like the water treatment plant in San Francisco is in order...

Mr. Roadshow, Gary Richards, stepped out of the car to ask cyclists what would really motivate them to pedal to work. Turns out it’s a hot shower closely followed by safe bike storage. (Sometimes bike-sweaty) San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo said it’s helpful when employers don’t require a three piece suit. Mr. Roadshow also dishes on bike etiquette.

The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on San Jose’s Mayor and City Council to have an open discussion about government Sunshine. The Editorial Board worries that without Sunshine Task Force discussion the City could move deeper into the darkness. A good first step would be to figure out who knew what when about the Independent Police Auditor...

Arizona developer DMB Associates ditched their South County project but not so their plans to build in the Cargill salt ponds. John Bruno says if the project doesn’t land in the salt ponds it will be built in the Central Valley. Save the Bay’s David Lewis calls it a “ridiculous false choice.” Watch Dog San Mateo has the salt ponds/Redwood City updates for DMB's 12,000 units. (That's not a typo, they really want to build 12,000 units...)

Mountain View’s City Council ended the uproar over the Day Worker Center by ignoring the Judicial Watch bigots and NIMBYs with approval of the Center. Councilmember John Inks got a little misty eyed saying “...in my heart, I got to say you have to allow people to improve their condition...”

And it was a busy day for the Palo Alto Police Department's Dan Ryan...

Police Agent Dan Ryan reports a mountain lion was spotted using the San Francisquito creek as a pathway, not unusual according the calm agent. Visitors near University Ave. should be on the look out for large cats. (And large cats should be on the lookout for SUVs and Priuses.)

It isn’t often someone celebrates a computer glitch. Palo Alto Police Detective Jason Jenkins took advantage of a computer foul-up to retrieve $4,800 on its way to a scam artist in Canada. The 99 year old who got her money back was delighted, Police Agent Dan Ryan said the grandmother wants to bake cookies for Jenkins.

The City of Cupertino is warning home owners associations about questionable and aggressive tactics of cable/phone providers. Not technically illegal, the tactics for locking up customers could tread on the edge of violating FCC regulations. Not to mention being in bad form…

Santa Clara University has $50 million in “shovel ready” projects with only one hitch – no money. An anonymous private donor has $7 million on the table while SCU waits on the results of the May 19 ballot measures. If 1A and 1B pass, the University’s Vice President James Purcell hopes SCU will be in the State's priority list.

The last of the ballots has been counted, Cupertino Union School District voters passed their parcel tax by 70%. Phil Quon, District Superintendent, said the campaign was the biggest community effort he’d ever worked on.

The Foothill-DeAnza Community College District is looking for the next Martha Kanter – and wants you to help. Kanter is headed to D.C. as Undersecretary of Education, her replacement has big shoes to fill but terrible budget times to fill them...

San Jose Insider/County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo hopes to remind us of the power and value of the arts. Calling the arts the “one component of a quality public” education that gets “pummeled” in the drive to teach to tests, DiSalvo makes a good case for the arts and Watch Dog has the macaroni sculpture to prove it… You go Joe!

Watch Dog loves a good story about friends… Los Gatos’ Amy Shever watched with sadness as the pets of 9/11 victims were killed or lost in New York. She learned half a million pets are put down annually when their owners die or become disabled. 2nd Chance 4 Pets was born to give critters new families.

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.28.09: Swine flu everywhere (in the news...)

Swine flu is everywhere...at least everywhere in the news, the actual flu isn't everywhere...Silicon Valley is (mostly) ready for Swine Flu, however, except maybe Kaiser. Doug North stepped off the plane from Cabo San Lucas with all the symptoms and still had to lie to get Kaiser let him see a doctor. No kidding, if you flew with the Norths on Frontier last week hang on for his results. Joy Alexiou, the County’s health spokesperson said there was an increase in worried patients but so far no confirmed cases. More details are on Twitter...

The Merc’s Editorial Board, participants on San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s campaign promised Sunshine Reform Task Force, questions whether Mayor Sunshine is holding up his end of the bargain. (Add this to the IPA fiasco/mea culpa and the loss on the Internet filters issue, and this is Mayor Reed's worst month in office, by a long shot...just ask the Merc's Scott Herhold what the Mayor's problem is...)

San Jose’s East Side Union High School District got press coverage... but maybe not how they wanted. "Rumors, poor communication and a lack of leadership...” is how the Merc characterizes East Side's feeble and unrealistic sports fundraising efforts. Trustee Eddie Garcia is hopeful you’ll show up at a meeting tonight, with your checkbook. (In case you forgot...)

Morgan Hill Superintendent Alan Nishino is pulling down $206,000 while Gilroy’s Superintendent, Dr. Deborah Flores made $175,000. Worse, Morgan Hill teachers' salaries are at the bottom with Gilroy and Morgan Hill Principals take home more than Palo Alto’s. Morgan Hill Trustee Bart Fisher is hopeful Nishino will pass up his guaranteed 3% raise. Weird, since (presumably) the Board of Trustees actually gave the Superintendent the raise in the first place...

Everyone is weighing in on the Propositions in the May 19th Special Election. The Merc’s Editorial Board says ignore party loyalists, vote yes on 1A. Morgan Hill Unified School District Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini says the State shortfall will hit $14 billion if both 1A and 1B don’t pass. Which will probably impact some salaries...

Mountain View officials just found out that they’re “jobs rich” and house poor. The Association of Bay Area Governments is asking Mountain View accept its “fair share” of housing around the Bay by building more than 2,000 new units in the coming years. Councilmember Mike Kasperzak says the City goofed and missed previous opportunities to build housing.

The best and brightest from the Mexican American Community Service Agency couldn’t dazzle Gilroy Unified School District trustees and instead went the B.S. route. MACSA leaders dumped 200 pages of class schedules and handwritten calendars in front of Trustees hoping they wouldn’t notice a lack of details about the growing financial (embezzlement) problems. Seems latest figures on MACSA’s embezzling ways at El Portal Leadership Academy is now $800,000. Trustee Denise Apuzzo demands MACSA show remorse. MACSA’s Board President, Louis Rocha said the screw-ups were made by a few administrators and steps were taken.

Now that Judge Kevin Murphy declared that the Santa Clara Valley Water District's fees are unconstitutional, Great Oaks Water Co wants $5 million, and then some. Water District Chair Sig “Methusala” Sanchez plans to appeal. One possible fallout from the Judge's decision, farm failure on a grand scale. (Buried in the story is the news that Supervisor Don Gage plans to run for a seat on the Water District Board next year.)

San Jose Revealed wants former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery to give up his losing ways – with the Sharks – and turn over the reins to another former Mayor. The Sharks are playing golf today, in case you missed it...

San Jose’s Police Officers Association has set up a trust fund for the family of Enrique Flores, stabbed to death at Almaden Expressway and Foxworthy this month. There are leads and Sgt. Ronnie Lopez says it doesn’t look like a gang-related murder. For further information, contact the Association at (408) 298-1133.

The City Manager in Palo Alto sees big cuts on the horizon...with a $10 million budget gap, what else are you going to do...Perhaps raise taxes on businesses? They could foam-containers... but instead are just going to be ban them...

Morning News Round-Up -- 1.22.10: More pot for Spicoli?

Storm, storm, storm... but drought not over... power out because of storm... etc., etc., etc....

The 49ers are headed for the ballot in June. Their ballot initiative qualified and the Santa Clara City Council placed it on the ballot. Good things the football playoffs aren't distracting anyone in the 49ers' organization from their pending political efforts.

Let's hope this press clip doesn't land in San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed's morning reading... or Harry's... or Krutko's... Tesla got its $465 million for their facility in Palo Alto. Ouch.

The Merc Editorial Board gives props to the (likely to be passed) Sunshine enhancement in San Jose that will include texts and personal emails. But the Ed Board can't resist taking this shot first: "...San Jose's mayor and City Council have resisted sunshine reforms for police records..."

The State Supreme Court struck down limits on how much medical marijuana patients and

caregivers can have for medical purposes. A ruling that will make Jeff Spicoli's day, but make the Morgan Hill and San Jose City Councils extremely angry and anxious. You know what can help cure anger and anxiety?

This story will make the San Jose Police Officers' Association a little angry and anxious... a City Auditor's report found that some Police Department desk jobs could be done by civilians rather than sworn officers. The City Council will take up the Auditor's report on February 2nd. Protect San Jose will (probably) take up the issue before that.

Speaking of Auditors and Police... San Jose Inside reports that Chris Constantin is leaving town and heading to San Diego. After being named, then un-named, as the City of San Jose's "Independent" Police Auditor, his stock sank (unfairly) locally. Unfairly because it was some other highly-placed peoples' lack of judgement that got him canned before he could actually get hired. Constantin is headed to San Diego to be the City's Deputy City Auditor. Good bye and good luck.

Yesterday we wrote that Tom Campbell woke up happy in Almaden Valley because the Governor's race which he left got more expensive right after he moved up in the ballot to the Senate race. (We got several wise-ass emails noting that everyone in Almaden Valley is required to wake up happy, it is in the deeds to their homes...) But the truth is that Tom Campbell will wake up even happier today when he checks the news on his HP computer. That's because he is leading the Republican field according to a new poll... and he is the Number 1 Republican contender to take on Senator Barbara "I heart the Oakland A's" Boxer...

Those poll results are being spun by Fiorina's team apparently. Politicon Valley has their press statement where Fiorina spins these results as positive for her camp (she's a strong candidate in the Primary and General) and opens up lines of attack on Campbell (career politician and worked in Sacramento recently). The best comes at the end of Fiorina's press person's statement: "...we expect his number to fall fast -- just like Martha Coakley's in Massachusetts..." Yes, because Carly Fiorina will be the Tea Party Candidate in this race...

Speaking of the increasingly expensive Governor's race, Steve Poizner criticized Meg Whitman's latest influx of $20 million bucks. Poizner says that Whitman is trying to buy the Governor's race... He did not say, "It isn't fair, I was going to try the Governor's race just like I bought the Insurance Commissioners office." Pot, kettle, black, irony... lots of zeros...

Hey, here's some positive news (with a downside)... home prices are up and so are sales. That's great as an economic indicator, bad if you've been saving up... Which makes this story sort of bad timing... or good timing, depending on how you look at it. The City of Mountain View is about to offer City employees $100,000 loans to buy a house in Mountain View.

Light Rail to Los Gatos? Maybe.

And while we are on rails... If State Senator Joe Simitian hosts it, anti-High Speed Rail people will come... that was the scene last night in Palo Alto when hundreds showed up to have their voices heard, or at least have their heads counted...

Morning News Round-Up – 6.5.09: Children in jail, again...

Severely mentally ill, a child was booked into Juvenile Hall days after his 11th birthday, nearly a year ago. Not the first time a young child was tossed in the Santa Clara pokey, this child’s case is now being heard by Judge Paul Bernal. The child’s court appointed attorney David Avila said there’s no easy answer for questions of youth competency but didn't say he'd get the child better accomodations.

A short, scathing editorial in the Merc calls on Mayor Chuck Reed to stick to his “principles... his inclination toward sunshine in government” and allow the release of the Daniel Pham 911 tapes.

Sheriff Laurie Smith demoted Deputy James Council who killed two cyclists after falling asleep at the wheel. Karen Clarkson, Mother of Olympic hopeful Kristy Gough, was happy Council would no longer be behind the wheel. Council lost his 10 year old sister in a car accident and is said to be deeply remorseful, in spite of two previous drunk driving counts and a conviction for racing in Los Angeles.

Fence-gate is over. Monte Sereno has been ordered to pay $1 in compensatory damages – and could be liable for Joe Padgett’s legal fees, (now) estimated at over $2 million. Yikes.

San Jose Councilmembers/pension fund trustees Sam Liccardo and Rose Herrera called on fellow trustees to ditch “due diligence” trips except under “extraordinary” circumstances. City Finance Director Scott Johnson agreed. The rest of the trustees decided to keep travel alive and a split board will talk again at their next meeting when trustee/police officer Conrad Taylor shows up for the vote.

Campbell’s Brad Imamura was pissed about Psycho Donuts and got in touch with his elected officials to complain. The end result was a donut free mental health workshop. Councilmember Dan Furtado said his hands were tied and he’s unable to force a name change on the Psychos enjoying their 15 minutes.

Olivia Soza-Mendiola, Mexican American Community Services Agency CEO, wrote “it is with a heavy heart… MACSA is electing to relinquish the El Portal Charter Petition.” Superintendent Deborah Flores and the trustees said they welcome future collaboration and input from MACSA – they didn’t say, as long as MACSA didn’t do the banking. No word yet about MACSA’s San Jose embezzlement problems or the District Attorney’s decisions…

Facing a $6 million deficit, Mountain View’s city council cut park/street maintenance, code enforcement, public works staff and library services to the tune of $4 million. Councilmember Laura Macias proposed a $3 charge to non-residents using Shoreline park while Councilmember Mike Kasperzak fretted no one would drive there if the charge were in place.

High Speed Rail Authority boardmember Rod Diridon, Sr. says a reversal by the board could make HSR eligible for federal stimulus dollars. Diridon said the Bay Area would be “giving away billions of dollars,” without the switch.

Just as there’s a tiny bit of economic sunshine, commuters get hit with continuing news about fare hikes and service cuts. VTA Chair Dolly Sandoval is hoping for good economic news quick or “we will be in for more pain.”

NASA and the Navy won’t say they can’t agree, just that discussions over how and who pays for re-skinning the toxic Hangar One are a “struggle” and have “slowed.” Seems no one wants the $15 million plus restoration responsibility.

Google hosted Mountain View’s meeting on the future of the city, NASA and Microsoft were there to pitch ideas for Mountain View’s future. Google construction manager said “there is no land to build on… the only way to go is up.” Oh, and Mayor Reed, Mountain View’s planning director thinks they’re the “Capital of Silicon Valley.”

Assemblymember Anna Caballero is angling for promotion to State Senate. Ready to take her seat are Gilroy Unified School District trustee Francisco Dominguez, political consultant/(Caballero) campaign manager Rick Rivas, Watsonville Councilman Luis Alejo, San Benito County Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz, and Hollister Mayor Eugenia Sanchez from going after Caballero’s seat next year.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro shares the news that San Jose’s own great speller, Ramya Auroprem, hits the stage in the Rep’s Spelling Bee. Pizarro can be found tonight at San Jose’s SubZero festival where the public voted to see San Jose’s Mayor, city council and police chief hit the dunk tank. No word if Pizarro will needing a post-dunk towel.

Sports Fan/Merc columnist Mark Purdy points an accusing finger at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for bickering over the fate of the County Fairgrounds. Purdy asks if an intimate music hall attached to a new off-track betting venue might save the crumbling fairgrounds.

Watch Dog plans to ditch the real world Saturday and hit the 3rd Annual Silicon Valley Soap Box Derby in Mountain View. As many as 40 Silicon Valley kids will compete for a chance to head to Akron, Ohio for nationals. Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga and Palo Alto Councilmember Yiaway Yeh will be racing against Mayor’s Cup reigning champion/VTA Chair Dolly Sandoval.

Morgan Hill celebrates the grand opening of the West Little Llagas Creek bike/pedestrian path. Mayor Steve Tate said “it’s a natural coupling of passive recreation” with a needed public facility.

San Jose police have released the image of a man seen just before the city’s 10th murder of the year. Juan Mendoza was shot in early May, if you know the hoody wearing suspect, contact Detective Sergeants Tony Mata or Pete Ramirez of the San Jose Police Department, Homicide Unit, at (408) 277-5283.

San Jose Inside provides more details on San Jose’s consideration of Instant Runoff Voting. An open discussion moderated by San Jose State Professor Terry Christensen follows the Elections Commission discussion next week.

San Jose Revealed makes analogies between the slow demise of Mercury News and the Titanic as well as “the death rattle of the Third Reich,” while congratulating themselves for “scooping” Internal Affairs on the (yawn) news that Councilmember Nora Campos seeks to fill Assemblymember Joe Coto’s shoes.

San Jose Revealed’s review of San Jose’s city council agenda gives us

• The continued ceremonial item race.
• San Jose rents an old police building.
• Pay cuts on tap.
• Giving Tom McEnenry “conniptions”

Morning Round-up -- 11.11.08: Profiling in Palo Alto, Sunshine in Gilroy, Showdown in San Jose...

There was a late-night San Jose update to Watch Dog last night. You can read the recap of the Showdown on Santa Clara Street here.

First North. The Palo Alto City Council officially condemned racial profiling. This issue will continue, obviously, for some time. You'll remember the Palo Alto Police Chief said some really dumb stuff recently that sounded an awful lot like she likes and encourages racial profiling. For the first time though, someone actually defended Police Chief Johnson -- Supervising DA Jay Boyarski. Remember, Watch Dog said the Chief wouldn't make it long. I stand by that...

Now we head South. All is not happy in Garlicland. At next week's Gilroy City Council meeting a second vote will take place on Councilman Perry Woodward's Sunshine Ordinance. But the real fun took place last week at a "study session" when Mayor Al Pinheiro lamented that an email he sent to a Councilman ended up in the Dispatch. Councilman Bob Dillin then suggested that since City emails were generally public information perhaps the Council should give Dispatch Reporter Chris Bone a login and password to their email server. I'm sure Mr. Bone would LOVE that. So would Watch Dog. See the whole thing for yourself at the video here.

Friends of Butch, the 150 year old desert tortoise kidnapped from his Cupertino home in September, will be happy to know the tortoise-nappers have returned him. Caretaker Chuck Carle indicated it may have been the tortoise was beginning his annual winter nap and frightened the would-be thieves into returning him.

Speaking of rambling, two-legged friends of the outdoors will get a second sneak peek of 15 miles of trails on two former ranches purchased by the Open Space Authority. This Saturday, November 15, the 865 acre Blair Ranch will be open to mountain bikers while on the following Saturday, November 22, the 702 acre Doan Ranch will be open to horseback riders. The Open Space Authority needs to go through a complex public process prior to opening these new trails to the public, so, if you're a South County hiker, enjoy your special access days when you can get them.

Los Altos, Los Gatos, Campbell, and now San Jose. Everyone is getting in on the jewel theft act, though this sounds more like A Fish Called Wanda than To Catch a Thief. Zale's at San Jose's Oakridge Mall distracted personnel while a friend broke into one of the cases with a key. A key? Perhaps less A Fish Called Wanda than the Three Stooges. These stooges made off with $50,000 in jewels -- their robbery wasn't discovered until the store manager reviewed the videotape.

San Jose Revealed looks at who funded the No on Measure B (the BART Measure) campaign. In these down times, it looks like several notable names around town have plenty of cash...Dale Warner, Margaret Okuzumi, Greg Perry -- all coughed it up...

Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio chimes in on Veterans' Day on San Jose Inside.

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…