Morning News Round-Up -- 4.1.10: XXL Round-Up...

We picked the wrong day to slack off yesterday... there were several fun, reoccurring stories that updated yesterday. Where to start?...

A Mercury News poll finds that 62 percent of San Jose voters would approve a baseball stadium for the A's. That's good news for Lew Wolff... But when will MLB make their decision? That's what the Merc Editorial Board would like to know... Word on the street is that the news is forthcoming...

A federal court ruled that San Jose Police Officers did not use excessive force during Mardi Gras 2006 against three San Jose State students... A ray of light in a dark, dark PR year for the San Jose Police Officers...

Club Wet is reopened, but without the fun. No alcohol for 60 days because the State ABC thinks they are running "...a disorderly premise..." Y'think? The City of San Jose figured that out a long time ago. So did the people who were stabbed on the dance floor... Too bad Club Wet's lobbyists don't contribute to the campaigns of ABC members...

$35 million could be generated by a hotel tax in Santa Clara for the 49ers new stadium... hotel owners will have to vote on it first, but this is a slam dunk. (Sorry to mix a basketball metaphor into a football story...)

While we are in Santa Clara... the Merc gives a little ink to the 49ers opponents in today's paper (is it ironic that the story ran on April 1st?)... this has James at Mission City Lantern all worked up and ready to barf...

And while Santa Clara is going to finance part of their stadium with a hotel tax, San Jose is considering funding part of its budget debt with taxes on pot clubs... maybe. They will reconsider the issue in June and perhaps place a pot tax on the November ballot. (Surprising absolutely no one at City Hall, there were only 10 Councilmembers at the meeting when the vote on the pot club was taken... guess which Councilmember wasn't there...)

Folks still love the Jude Barry blacklisted story... seventeen (ok, 5) Watch Doggers forwarded this blog post from Fox & Hound. Most were of the "Cindy Chavez is behind this" camp, while a few were of the "Jude Barry is a snake" camp. The blog post is very much in the "organized labor are thugs" camp and asks the question: "Perhaps Jerry Brown could be added to the “Do Not Patronize” list. It makes more sense to ban him than it does to ban Jude Barry." (Because Jerry Brown wants to limit government, cut workers, etc., etc., etc.) Only 3 Watch Doggers forwarded this posting on CalBuzz.com...

Steve Poizner is having a lot of trouble these days. His run for Governor is stalled... and his book (book?) is pissing people off. Remember, Poizner taught at Mount Pleasant High School after he made a cool billion... now his book bashes Mount Pleasant, much to the chagrin of the folks in the East Side Union High School District.

The Merc Editorial Board says you should vote yes on Proposition 15 -- as it would run a pilot project with public campaign financing for the Secretary of State's race in 2014 and 2018... that is, if the state has any money in 2014...

Scott Herhold at the Merc talks about saving an icon at Moffett... and he isn't talking about Hangar 1, he is talking about the throwing field that you can see from 101...

So you know, Watch Dog has not stopped reading Protect San Jose. It is just a little obvious these days. The City needs to make cuts... Police Officers and Fire Fighters are the largest budget items... they want to avoid cuts... news at 11... If they used their blog to propose something new, that would be one thing, but to harp on "if you cut police officers, bandits will roam the streets" is a little stale... sorry.

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.19.10: A very healthcare weekend?

The East Side Union High School District is facing signficant cuts. Parents and teachers and community leaders showed up to protest. That's not unusual. That's what's been happening in many/all school districts -- but not all school districts get a negative audit from the County Office of Education that criticizes how they spend money... and not all school districts fire their superintendent... and not all school districts appoint members to their board twice, even though voters said no to the twice-appointed member...

Gilroy Unified is also in pink-slip mode...

While East Side Union and Gilroy Unified would have a more difficult time doing the same thing, Cupertino Union parents are fundraising to save 100 teachers' jobs...

Meg Whitman spoke to a group from the Great Silicon Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce yesterday at Santana Row. (Which is the strangest part of that sentence? Meg Whitman speaking to the Hispanic Chamber or the fact that it was at Santana Row?)

Mountain View has something called the "Shoreline Community" fund, which seems to act kind of like a Redevelopment Agency for the Shoreline area in Mountain View. The problem with that is school districts sometimes get screwed in Redevelopment Areas -- and in the Shoreline Community area that seems to be the case. Essentially, the Mountain View-Whisman Elementary School District would like to get a bigger piece of Google's property tax. Unsurprisingly, not everyone on the Mountain View City Council likes the idea of sharing that tax money...

The League of California Cities is trying to get a measure on the November ballot to stop (again) the State from stealing local money to balance the State budget. But (unbelievably) two folks on the Saratoga City Council don't support it... Kathleen King and Jill Hunter. It seems King and Hunter don't want the County to get screwed even if Saratoga does ok under the measure. We wonder why Kathleen King is so concerned about the County... hmmmm...

With the old Mervyn's out of their Campbell store on Hamilton Avenue, Safeway is looking to build a cool new store.

Speaking of stores... What's the one thing folks in Milpitas need more than anything? How about an even bigger Walmart?

Morning News Round-Up – 1.04.10: The Brownstein Report...

Starting the New Year on a high note. San Jose’s controversy mired pension systems board heard the bad news about more retiree overpayments and one retiree not receiving enough. Oops.

The Merc sends props to two new years day babies.

Sunnyvale’s (rotating) Mayoralship is turning into a catfight. Councilmember/Community Administrator Ron Swegles issued a surprise statement saying the “critical issues” facing Sunnyvale (almost) require a “full-time mayor… I think I have more time” than fellow candidates Vice Mayor Melinda Hamilton and Mayor/Retiree Tony Spitaleri.

(rotating) Mayors are also on the minds of Palo Alto’s City Council as they welcome newcomers and elect the new Mayor.

Palo Alto wants to keep its geek-chic and proposes becoming a living laboratory exploring wages. Neil Struthers, CEO for the Building and Construction Trades Council, argues offering a “prevailing wage” doesn’t come with hidden costs and (probably) looks forward to the experiment.

Parents are hoping active courtship will bring Summit Preparatory Charter High to San Jose’s Eastside. Summit CEO Diane Tavenner calls it “wonderful” that parents are pushing and sends a reminder the competitive process continues.

Match fancy new Taser International CopCams with police accused of excessive force, sue Ferrari for not changing your life, and give Working Partnerships’ Bob Brownstein his own, very special, report are among the Merc’s Scott Herhold’s 2010 kickoff.

The Merc’s Joe Rodriguez kicks off the new year on a positive note. Former Teatro Vision director Raul Lozano’s career change helps put food into the yards of Eastside residents. With friends like the Health Trusts Fred Ferrer and Poncho Guevara from Sacred Heart, Lozano is well on his way.

Rough kick off to the new year in San Jose. Two dudes landed in the hospital after a knife fight. After the burning death of a homeless man was ruled murder, San Jose’s 2009 murder toll reached 28.

Thanks to the Merc, government watchers have a list of options this week…

• The County’s Juvenile Justice Systems Collaborative appoints a group to review the disproportionate number of kids of color landing in juve. Funny, this sounds familiar…
• San Jose City Council’s Rules and Open Government Committee looks at ways to push biofuels, makes appointments and offers changes to public meeting rules.
• Santa Clara’s Historical and Landmarks Commission considers a property tax break in exchange for a historic building.
• The Los Gatos Union School District digs into an audit report.
• Sex (education) is on the minds of the Milpitas Unified School District trying to fill the Sex Ed Advisory Committee.

Protect San Jose adds a new name to their blogroll, Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney/Candidate Jeff Rosen pens his opposition to the open grand jury and offers it’s the District Attorney’s job to decide whether to prosecute an officer following the use of deadly force. Strong words for a Police Officer Association blogger.

Mission City Lantern pokes Santa Clara Councilmember Jamie MacLeod to dish on meetings with Santa Clara Plays Fair.

Morning News Round-Up -- 12.10.09: Re-Election Campaign, Already?

Surprise. San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed announced he’s running for re-election. This time around Reed plans to fix the economy, really bring Sunshine to local government, and keep you safe (translation – more Police?). Also hitting the ground in the re-election zone are Councilmembers Pete Constant, Sam Liccardo, and Madison Nguyen. (Although you may not get that impression from their web presence: Liccardo is up and running, but Constant is asking volunteers to walk precincts (in 2006) and Nguyen is still celebrating not getting thrown out of office.)

The 49ers are hoping a citizen-backed ballot initiative will have them finding their way to Santa Clara. Composed of Santa Clara’s power elite, Santa Clarans for Economic Progress now faces a confused City Council to explain why their way is better. 49ers spokesperson Lisa Lang scoffed at accusations the 49ers were trying to skirt any review process saying the move put them “on a surer path to know what the voters really want.” It looks like there could be two measures that are pro-pro football in June in Santa Clara.

The San Jose City Council will be sharing text messages received during Council meetings, if colleagues agree with Mayor Chuck Reed. For future reference, Watch Dog texts look like this “Woof.”

A tale of two bills… San Jose Assemblymember Joe Coto is hoping the Assembly Education Committee members will agree that tying teacher incentives to student performance and closing failing schools are good. So far, his bill is hung up for changes… Palo Alto’s State Senator Joe Simitian fared better, his geeky bill flew through with committee support.

The Merc’s Editorial Board sends props to the East Side Union High School District Trustees after taking steps to keep an eye on the money with an Audit Committee. Editors want you to know you have until today to get your application in for this fun gig.

(Former) County Counsel/ Justice Department Deputy Assistant Attorney General Ann Ravel receives another “Atta-girl” from Watch Dog. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Ravel’s lawsuit against big pharmaceutical companies was right on and ordered 10 of them to stop overcharging local clinics serving the poor.

Joy Alexiou, spokesperson for the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, was happy to announce $2.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money would be headed to a San Jose clinic for the homeless.

Because you didn’t have enough fun with water rationing before… The Santa Clara Valley Water District wants you to keep those lawns brown until next Summer. (Outgoing) Board Chair Sig Sanchez offered “we’re facing another season of water supply uncertainty.”

InnVision the Way Home tried for a second time to give away a fancy Silicon Valley home. Grand prize winner/San Jose resident Dale Swanson didn’t get a house in the hills but did walk away with an extra $100,000. Third times a charm?

More janitorial news… (Former) Los Altos Christian School janitor James Carroll heads to the pokey for a year after his kiddy porn conviction. Pissed off parent Lisa Maxe said parents filed numerous complaints and were really pissed when Carroll was spotted working on campus after his arrest.

Creekside dwellers in Morgan Hill are pissed about project delays stopping the flood. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson J.D. Hardesty said we’d “love to do this project” but the money ain’t there. Call your Congressional reps…

Gilroy Councilmembers heard from pissed off residents about vicious dogs before they added police chief Denise Turner’s “teeth” to dog laws. People with biting pooches watch out, your dog could be heading to doggy hell if deemed “vicious.”

West Valley-Mission Community College Chancellor John Hendrickson sends a request your way: Tell State Senator Elaine Alquist and Assemblymember Ira Ruskin the economic turnaround depends on community colleges and they need money to make it real.

Protect San Jose’s Beat Cop dishes on Cops Care Cancer Foundation fun times at NASA this weekend for kids combating cancer.

San Jose Insider Pete Campbell wants the fed’s to show us the money before snagging San Jose’s old City Hall to use as a courthouse.

And then there is this tid-bit: former Cindy Chavez campaign manager Justin Schall has found his way into another community's blogosphere... Lehigh Valley, to be exact. This isn't particularly nice, but it does reference San Jose Revealed, so we thought we'd post it.

Morning News Round-Up – 10.12.09:

Senator Joe Simitian breathed a sigh of relief, the Governor took time to sign his SB19 bill that puts California in line for as much as $4.5 Billion in federal Race to the Top dollars. Also a winner in the Schwarzenegger signing frenzy was San Jose State Senator Elaine Alquist (digital textbooks/health information/instructional materials). Not faring as well were Assemblymembers Joe Coto (pawnbrokers), Paul Fong (community colleges), and Jim Beall (aging). There's a joke in here somewhere about aging pawnbrokers....

(soon to be retired) San Jose Police Officer Association president Bobby Lopez is pissed Dr. Rajiv Das wants injured retirees to have doctors sign a 2 page form. The Merc dug deep to uncover statistics : San Jose has the highest rate of retired police and firefighters on disability in the state and saying “No” isn’t part of the Trustees game plan. (un)Surprisingly, Lopez is calling for Das’ ouster…

The Merc’s Internal Affairs was sniffing around the San Jose Police Officers Association website and found president Bobby Lopez talking retirement, and encouraging his colleagues to do the same. Suggestions that Lopez may be trying to strip San Jose of experienced officers as a bargaining ploy caused Lopez to respond “am I being disingenuous?” Also in IA blogger/former South Bay Labor Council political director Philip Bump landed in his hometown paper as juror #3 causing a stir at a San Jose Downtown Association confab according to San Jose Inside, and IA boredom and annoyance at the NASA Ames LCROSS lunar bashing.

Sports loving San Jose is adding the Sacramento Kings to the list of San Jose hopefuls.

“It’s so much cheaper… to give somebody a flu shot than to let a child make a whole classroom sick,” according to Health Trust spokesperson Nicole Kohleriter at Saturdays free Flea Market health clinic. With 400 volunteers the Health Trust poked and prodded the thousands showing up for free medical care this weekend.

Also thinking healthcare… The Merc’s Scott Herhold took pity on Congressman Mike Honda for never having tasted the delights of a Gilroy Garlic Milkshake. Herhold, without claiming culinary expertise, mailed a shake to D.C. for the Congressman’s enjoyment – or not. All Watch Dog can say is we’re glad Herhold doesn’t experiment in the kitchen on our behalf…

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro offers an invitation to “golf with a shotgun” benefitting the San Jose Police Foundation, rent a shotgun for $175, or bring your own, to shoot clay pigeons out of the sky. Also in Pizarro news… A Bert George wine tasting treat, boot camp for event organizers and Santa Clara University’s Professor Francisco Jimenez is honored by the Governor of Jalisco.

On to the week in government…

• San Jose’s Elections Commission looks at changing city campaign finance and lobbying laws as well as forbidding anonymous complaints.
• The Los Altos School District considers parcel-tax renewal and talks about funding retiree health benefits.
• In Mountain View the Mountain View – Los Altos School District talks tests with SAT/ACT results.
• Fiscal manager reclassification is on tap for the Los Gatos Union School District.
• The tiny, one school district, Luther Burbank, considers a response to grand jury reports spanking the district and approving a contract with preschool teachers.
• Budget reductions and pre-school programs are on the minds of the Palo Alto Unified School District Trustees.
• Mountain View – Whisman considers approving site plans for Crittenden Middle and Bubb Elementary schools.
• Trustees in San Jose’s East Side Union High School District listen to the public on proposed audit committee guidelines.

Protect San Jose’s Open Forum Friday is on tap with complaints of speeders in Willow Glen and PAL salaries…

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.26.09: Ich bin ein Berliner Day...

Seriously, it is Ich bin ein Berliner Day...

The estranged wife of San Jose pension fund Trustee Patrick Skillsky has come to his defense calling him a wonderful man. The Mrs. blames booze and stress for her husband trying to kill her and beating the tar out of San Mateo Police Officers. Stress and booze leading to domestic violence, sounds like just the type of guy you want overseeing billions of public employee pensions...

Aspiring politicos love to be on the San Jose Planning Commission. Unless, of course, you are involved in a controversy just as you prepare to run for City Council. That's what's happening right now on the Planning Commissioners. At the center of the controversy seems to be Xavier Campos, who denies that he violated the Brown Act open government rules.

East Side Union High School District Trustees saved sports! The formal (one time) money shuffle is complete. The future of East Side Union sports is up to athletes and donors to find another $1 million. Now, onto the academics...

The dip in White Road was not your imagination, there’s a busted water pipe leaking thousands of gallons of water a day. Santa Clara Water District spokesperson Susan Siravo is hoping the pipe and road will be up and running in a week. Your shocks and struts may not be so lucky...

The Merc’s Editorial Board cheers the County’s decision to bring Lawyer/Former Supervisor/Dr. Jeffrey Smith on board as the new County Executive. The Editorial closes with a nudge for the Supervisors “…find the political will to back him up...”

After “VIGOROUSLY” objecting to Morgan Hill’s “low-ball” offer for their downtown home, Dwight and Linda Jungkeit asked the City Council to delay the decision on eminent domain. Next time the attorney is expected to be in the room for what promises to be a fun discussion.

The party is over (for now) in Gilroy. Officials from the Department of Justice along with Morgan Hill and Gilroy Police swept up a “bevy” of coke, shrooms, pot, and the “Love Drug” along with guns not meant for a deer hunt.

A little over a decade ago, Morgan Hill Unified School District was ordered to stop harassment of gay students and pay over $1 million in damages to six gay students. The settlement period is finished. Status reports to the ACLU will stop, as will training. Oh, by the way, complaints of discrimination are up, according to Board President Don Moody.

Gilroy Unified School District needs a new Superintendent and is giving themselves 16 weeks to find the new Super. Watch Dog San Mateo has an idea...

Checking in on the local blogosphere:

San Jose Revealed seems to be sticking to the "pneumonia" excuse for a long, long time. Not to sound unsympathetic, but Watch Dog is skeptical... they haven't posted since June 14th. According to WebMd:

For most people, pneumonia can be treated at home. It often clears up in 2 to 3 weeks.

San Jose Inside gets in on Mayor Reed's trip up to the Most Dysfunctional Place on Earth (a.k.a. Sacramento) to tell the Governor to keep his hands off local funds. Sounds like an awesome meeting. (Mission City Lantern likes this story too...)

Protect San Jose has some reader-generated ideas about how to solve the City's budget mess. Most interesting to Watch Dog is that Councilmember Pete Constant takes aim at the Mariachi Festival. He and Bobby Lopez must share talking points...

Morning News Round-Up – 6.25.09: Nothing but words, baby...

First, the Environmental Protection Agency wants to know if toxic chromium from Cupertino’s Lehigh Cement plant made its way to an elementary school. Now, proposed new rules from those pesky regulators are causing neighbors to jump for joy while Lehigh’s Tim “We’re safe” Matz is worried.

As if public employee pension funds (especially in the City of San Jose) don't have enough problems, a Pension Trustee from San Jose was arrested in San Mateo following a domestic violence call... Patrick G. Skillsky then attacked police called to the scene Perhaps he was just really, really upset about all the market losses he didn't see coming... Ironically, the City of San Jose is considering having professionals oversee the Pension Funds rather than appointed, untrained folks. It seems like there is no time like the present...

Santa Clara County Supervisors found a replacement for outgoing executive Pete Kutras. Dr. Jeffery Smith, executive director of the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center steps in during the worst economic disaster since the depression. President Liz Kniss said the supervisors were impressed by Smith’s range of experience in “medical, legal and public policy.” Smith will need his multiple degrees, and a healthy sense of humor...

East Side Union High School athletes will breath a sigh of relief, the board of trustees are expected to approve a budget that moves money from an insurance settlement to partially fund sports. The remaining $1 million is expected to come from athletes and donors who have so far stepped up with $150,000. Fundraiser/Trustee Eddie Garcia expressed rousing optimism saying “I think we’re going to get there.”

Gilroy’s divided police union approved a contract saving the city $1.1 million by just 5 votes. Police Officer Association President Mitch Madruga blamed city council saying there had been a “total lack of leadership” calling the 3 months of negotiations “ridiculous.”

Mountain View’s city council unanimously rejected a proposal to rehab a “blighted” building for reuse as affordable housing. Councilmember Ronit Bryant said the developer had provided “nothing but words.” City planning staff said it was tough to see how an existing “slum” could be rehabilitated sufficiently to remain habitable for another 55 years. Councilmembers also agreed to purchase the United Pentecostal church for $3.5 million, Councilmember Jac Siegel called it a “strategic location.”

Cupertino city councilmembers have an “economic uncertainty fund” to hold them over when the Governator comes calling with his hand out. Councilmember Dolly Sandoval reminds us the state’s budget crisis is “not going to be solved in one fiscal budget year.” No doubt Sandoval is (not) looking forward to hearing from the Guv again next year…

Updated 2010 campaigning news… A Watch Dog tipster pointed out an oversight, the Merc’s Sal Pizarro mentioned yesterday a potential candidate for San Jose’s downtown area. Nightclub owner Mauricio Mejia is contemplating a run against incumbent Sam Liccardo. Thanks, tipster.

Busted. Peter Be of Beohana Solar fleeced Silicon Valley residents of hundreds of thousands of dollars, promising a free solar system. Santa Clara County deputy district attorney Ken Rosenblatt said green minded residents got the bad news that nothing in life is free after writing big checks. Those with information on Beohana Solar may contact the District Attorney's Office at 408-792-2572

Attempted cop killer Pete Valdez III has been declared mentally unfit, for a second time. County deputy district attorney Dana Overstreet will figure out whether to go to trial, ask for a 3rd doctor or send Valdez to the rubber room; she’ll get back to us on July 8.

Caption-free artwork at the Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC for frequent flyers) is driving the Merc’s Scott Herhold to distraction. Perhaps one of the 54 Silicon Valley hand models in Christian Moeller’s “Hands” will help Herhold find the pithy comment he seeks as he opens a Valley wide competition.

Finally, one Watch Dog tipster kept their television tuned in to San Jose’s Planning Commission soap opera. Big surprise, the center chair is filled by co-conspirator Thang Do, again.

Morning News Round-Up – 6.16.09: Nerd Birds mixing it up with America's Pastime...

Still just a glimmer in the eyes of Santa Clara leaders… The Santa Clara 49er’s stadium hopes to be a dream mashup of green, Silicon Valley and Notre Dame ideas. Architectural project director Joe Diesko said direction from team owners, the York family, was to make this the first of a new generation of the football experience. Of course, that all depends on a March 2010 election…

Gubernatorial wannabe/San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom chows down at San Jose Rotary this week. No word if he’ll pitch the 49ers bad move line to Rotarians…

State and County investigations underway, allegations of embezzlement and a closed school have led Mexican American Community Services Agency CEO Olivia Soza Mendiola to resign. El Portal School in Gilroy lost its charter and San Jose’s Academia Calmecac headed down that path as the East Side Union High School District Board began charter revocation.

San Jose’s budget woes seem to grow worse by the hour. The perennial bearer of bad tidings, Mayor Chuck Reed, announced last night lower sales revenues would add millions to the deficit and next year pension fund losses would add $52 million. The Merc’s Editorial Board and Downtown Association Executive Director Scott Knies are pointing an accusatory finger at the city’s labor unions. Look for more fireworks today when the Council chimes in…

The economy adds more victims to its growing list.

• The original “Nerd Bird” geek filled flight between San Jose and Austin, Texas is being cancelled this summer.
• Morgan Hill roads to become “bumpier and narrower” with darkness descending on city streets.
• The Merc’s Scott Herhold weighs in on the VTA’s plans to cut expenses. Including the loss of San Jose’s own “Tweetsie Train.”
• State Senator Joe Simitian called the next few years of funding for public schools bad, unbelieveable, downright scary and said he doubts people understand how dire things are.
• From our Sister blog, Watch Dog San Mateo… Palo Alto passed their budget. The budget wasn't pretty... Neither is their proposed business license tax, but that's moving forward too...

Brilliant, but nerdy, scientists at Stanford keeping up with Moore’s Law have found a possible silicon replacement. That’s all well and geeky but, Bismuth Telluride Valley doesn’t have the same panache as Silicon Valley.

Gilroy’s City Council will stay out of the mix as the County’s first pot shop moves through bureaucratic channels. Dude…

Morgan Hill City Manager Ed Tewes is getting ready to take Dwight Jungkeit’s Victorian home and replace it with 8 parking spaces. Mayor Steve Tate said the property was “instrumental in creating the type of parking we want downtown.” Several other properties will add to parking making surface parking all the rage in Morgan Hill.

Morgan Hill School District is hunting for a search firm, estimated cost to the district to find Superintendent Alan Nishino’s replacement is roughly $23,000. This time trustees promise to dig deeper, Board President Don Moody said the board would be more prepared and Google applicants.

The “Great American Food & Music Fest” left a sour taste and pissed off customers. Co-organizer Jim Lewi is apologizing profusely and handing out refunds.

Home invasion survivor Chris Cote stuck barbed wire on his fence, pissing off the city and garlic king Don Christopher. Cote heads to the planning commission to plead his case. Oh, and former/current sweetheart Joan Spencer is on the commission.

Watch Dog didn’t miss the Police Officers Association opinion piece, we’ll get back to that later…

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 -- 3.30.09: What if Lew Wolff shared his microphone with Tom Campbell?

Watch Dog has said it before, but Lew Wolff is a microphone magnet. So much so that his statements from last week about wanting to move to San Jose just keeping getting covered. As a review, Wolff came out with his stongest stance yet on the status of the A's plans:

"...We are really saying that we'd love to stay in Northern California, and go to San Jose..."

Now to a local guy that has trouble finding a microphone to speak into...Tom Campbell. Did you know he is running for Governor? The Chronicle threw Campbell a bone and covered his long-shot effort to become the next Governor. Campbell's pitch? He knows the budget really, really well. In normal times, we'd advice Campbell to get a different political message, but extraordinary times may call for an extraordinarily boring messages...and Campbell's understanding of the State's complex budget is extraordinary (and dry)...

San Jose’s firefighters have offered to give themselves a wage freeze for the next year. City Manager Debra Figone should have been happy to hear about it but was pissed off the firefighters went around her to make the offer directly to the Mayor and City Council. (Former Vice Mayor) Chamber CEO Pat Dando didn’t seem to care who heard the offer and called it a “...bold step in saving the city a great deal of money this year...” (a million bucks that is)

Residents in San Jose’s Gardner neighborhood in Willow Glen say High Speed Rail is ok, just don’t take their homes to make it happen. It wouldn’t be the first time transportation took over the neighborhood. In the early 1900’s the railroads secretly bought land to build the Southern Pacific line.

The Merc’s Charlie McCollum seeks answers to America’s burning question: How does Steve Wozniak manage to keep on dancing (with the stars)? As everyone in Silicon Valley knows: geeks rule. In this case, the computers are humming with Woz love. With a broken foot, torn hamstring, and questionable dancing skills, the Woz still has fans (voteWoz.com). Gary ‘Mr. Roadshow’ Richards continues his love for our dancing Teletubbie as well.

The Merc’s Editorial Board adds their support to Congressman Mike Honda’s efforts to open Mount Umunhum to the public. The challenge is cleaning up the old Air Force Base and radio station...oh, and the $11 million required to do it. If Honda has his way the Midpeninsula Open Space District will have a new jewel. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren said there’s an incredible vista and it would be a nice place to hike.

The Santa Clara County Office of Education hosted their annual History Day Competition, appropriately held at San Jose’s History Park. Students created, and defended, projects on everyone from famed United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta to Oprah Winfrey.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs expresses love for San Jose’s HP Pavilion after attending a Streisand concert and reading a study released from Sports Economics which says thousands of jobs have been created and millions pumped into the local economy. The lovefest is to support a theory that local sports officials are hoping to steal the Sacramento Kings. It doesn’t hurt San Jose's MLB ambitions either…Also in IA, their own list of Quick Notes this weekend…

• Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to ditch his Tesla...probably because the Governor read the Tesla Chronicles on Watch Dog...
• While the classes for East Side Union High School will be taking more students, and teachers no extra pay, the teachers in Palo Alto are getting a 5% raise...proving that it’s good to be in a town where property taxes keep on giving.
• Jude Barry apparently ditched John Garamendi’s Gubernatorial race because the Lt. Governor can’t raise any money. The rumors are not true that Barry was too busy writing Watch Dog to run Garamendi's race...
  

Santa Clara is reeling from the apparent murder-suicide of 6 people, including 3 children, over the weekend. Very little information has been released about this incident.

A former Marine reservist, distraught about losing his business, threatened to kill himself in his San Jose home. Members of the San Jose Police Department surrounded the house, barricaded the neighborhood, and readied themselves for a patient siege. Turns out the guy snuck away and later called the cops from a payphone to give them permission to enter the home.

San Jose Revealed voices loud support for making San Jose’s Fire Station One a historic landmark. Apparently the best reason for giving it landmark status is to prevent former Mayor Tom McEnery from having his way with it. Others in the community also hope for landmark status and want to restore the structure and convert it to a museum.

On tap around the Valley for your elected officials:

• Palo Alto Unified School District talks about growing elementary schools, changing school boundaries, and the aforementioned staff raises. Get ready for some wild discussions -- school boundaries are a big deal in Palo Alto...
• Santa Clara County’s Committee on School District Organization meets to talk about moving property from Saratoga's Union School District to the Los Gatos Union School District...again, heads up when discussing school boundaries in fancy towns...
• The San Jose City Council Salary Setting Commission considers a freeze on the Mayor and Council salaries...
• Mountain View’s City Council talks about financial goals – like staying afloat in difficult times...perhaps Tom Campbell could give a Power Point Presentation on budgeting...
  

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.23.09:

Odd couple Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilmember Nora Campos are itching to move a few Redevelopment dollars away from traditional tasks of repairing dilapidated buildings and code enforcement into the City’s general fund. Not everyone agrees, (ever the contrarian) Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio calls it “not fiscally prudent.” He didn't say that he would like to move all Redevelopment funds to fund crossing-guards, however.

Speaking of Code Enforcement...San Jose’s East Side has taken a battering from gangs, crime, and neglect. For a while it looked like the riches of the Silicon Valley were starting to help. But the economic crisis and the housing crash have made the East Side the epicenter of San Jose home foreclosures. Code Enforcement Division Manager/Santa Clara Councilmember Jamie Matthews spends his days picking through bullet riddled houses tossing out teenage lovers and squatters.

Sunnyvale’s grand plans for downtown are being battered by the economy. Sand Hill Property is asking for more loans and trying to figure out what to cut or delay. Looks like Sunnyvale gets a Target but the high end hotel might have to wait until the recession is over.

The rumor about Wal-Mart violence pops up every few years. This year the urban myth merged with the violence at Evergreen Valley High and kept students home Friday. Parent William D. Brockmeyer III kept his daughter home and is pissed that principal Cari Vaeth and the Board of Trustees haven’t offered counseling or shut the school down. Trustee/President Patricia Martinez-Roach says it’s up to the public to be more alert, and principal Vaeth (apparently) prefers to ignore the whole thing.

San Jose’s former Mayor Susan Hammer has partnered with Councilmember Nora Campos and the Executive Director of People Acting in Concert Together’s (PACT) Matt Hammer to bring a new charter school to the embattled Alum Rock School District. Hammer (son Matt not Mayor/Mother/Baseball fan Susan) said 70% of Alum Rock’s children cannot read well or do math when they leave 8th grade and he wants to change that. (Luckily the plans don’t call for MACSA to manage the finances for the new school.)

San Jose’s unions have to be watching the public beating Gilroy’s administration is taking for automatic raises and wondering: will they get their raises in light of San Jose’s growing deficit? Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio seems to be sending a lightly veiled threat – skip the raise or lose jobs…

The Merc’s Scott Herhold isn’t happy some of his City Council seem to take off just when the going gets tough. Herhold calls out Councilmembers Kansen Chu, Pete Constant, Ash Kalra, Rose Herrera, and Madison Nguyen (and Liccardo and City Manager Deb Figone) for missing out on painful Council meetings.

Some of Merc columnist Joe Rodriguez’s neighbors live on top of a toxic sludge left behind by a turn-of-the-century San Jose city dump. Parents and homeowners are pissed about what they say was partial and vague information relating to clean-up while San Jose faces another legal challenge. City attorney Rick Doyle (unsurprisingly) says the City has done it’s job properly while Councilmember Sam Liccardo says he hopes to rebuild trust before the mediation starts.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs muses over a possible Silicon Valley (wonky) brain drain as the new administration in D.C. taps area wonks. IA doesn’t seem to know whether San Jose should be flattered or pissed off by the loss of staff. San Jose’s battered employee pension fund was honored by Money Management Letter – of course if they hadn’t lost a Billion dollars the award might not have been as a mid-size plan…Failed Santa Clara Council candidate Ciaran O’Donnell forgot to check his mail or read the reg’s – he got dinged by the city for fouling up the last of his campaign paperwork.

It’s all about the Merc’s Editorial pages…

• On loan, Tere Barbella could be the next casualty in East Side Union’s budget cutting. The teacher had the chutzpah to call the District Administration and Board of Trustees out for poor leadership and bad decisions.


• Editors send props to San Jose Assemblymember Joe Coto for his attempts to get the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board to adopt reforms including term limits.


• and… the Merc calls for an open mind from San Jose’s Drunk Task Force following the City’s partnership with the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity. Seems the Merc doesn’t agree with Watch Dog that Task Force founders Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilmember Nora Campos are tossing their baby under a bus. We’re almost looking forward to the eventual blow up…

From Charter schools to sun power there’s a lot to digest this week with your elected officials…

• Tonight the Los Altos School District will cut jobs and review a Bullis Charter School proposal...


• The Supervisors will figure out if the sun will power their future...


• San Jose’s City Council will review $4.5 million in overruns for a South San Jose Police Substation, approve the Mayor’s budget, honor Cesar Chavez with a walkway, and argue over outsourcing City jobs...


• The Santa Clara Valley Water District will decide if we’re really in a drought, and (finally) decide whether to let voters choose term limits or not. Sorry Sig, Watch Dog sides with the Merc and Assemblymember Joe Coto on this one...


• San Jose Unified School District meets Thursday to (also) talk Charter Schools.

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.20.09: Is there any good news out there?

Wednesday’s Palo Alto shooting has the police trying to ease resident fears about a possible incursion of gangs. Police Agent Dan Ryan says Daniel Gil-Fernandez was a wannabe gansta’. Yep, Ryan says, Gil-Fernandez and friends wore red, talked about being Nortenos, sported gang tattoos, and had been involved in violent and drug related crime but… Ryan says “They're intimidating other kids in their mostly white junior high or high school, but if they were to go to Mountain View they could get murdered." Take that, Mountain View.

Also exhibiting ostrich-like behavior… Vandals (wannabe Nazis’?) attacked Evergreen Valley High School leaving a giant 20’ swastika etched into the lawn and chopping down 13 tiny trees. In a potentially related note, envelopes with a (harmless) white powder were mailed to the school office. Principal Cari Vaeth says she hasn’t organized discussions with the students because race relations are just fine, thank you very much. (Really?) East Side Union High School District Associate Superintendent Alan Garafolo seems to disagree and says once an arrest is made the District will push for hate-crime charges.

It wasn’t bad enough that muralist Frank Torres’ work was attacked by San Jose wannabe Surenos who tossed blue paint everywhere. Former gang member/Veteran/ex felon/ex-dealer Torres was profiled by the Merc’s Joe Rodriguez following the damage to his mural this week, the next day he was back on the job when eight wannabe’s showed up to beat the crap out of him in East San Jose. Silicon Valley De-Bug’s Raj Jayadev is collecting donations while Marcos Gutierrez with the San Jose State University Foundation has offered Torres a job teaching and is organizing a fundraiser.

Los Altans need never be far from the latest happenings in town, the Town Crier is now offering breaking news flashes to your cell phone.

If you’d had your mobile news service you’d have known the Los Altos Hills' City Council was slapping some property owners for illegal sewer hook-ups to the tune of nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Mayor Jean Mordo is trying to be nice and says there’s a sewer amnesty program – pay up in two months and you’ll get a discount.

Mobile updates no doubt included this too: Los Altos sold its sewer land for $6.5 million and Mayor Megan Satterlee wants to use it after the sewer master plan is ready for action next year while Councilmember Ron Packard urges holding off until the current financial crisis is over. Maybe Los Altos can just sneak a hook-up to the Los Altos Hills sewer system.

Former eBay Chief/Gubernatorial wannabe Meg Whitman’s Fortune magazine cover has the blogosphere buzzing about the comparisons with former Governor/President Ron Reagan. The Merc’s Tech Notebook pulls other details out of the story like… Whitman hasn’t purchased a suit in 11 years, her friends are helping her shop at Stanford, and she’s planning to drop $50 million of her own fortune to be the next Governator.

You remember this story…Somehow an unnoticed clerical screw-up left taxes for Gilroy Unified off last years property tax bill. Not bad if you’re one of those knuckleheads who pretends not to notice your bill doesn’t match the stuff in your bag, but if you’re a School District losing $6 million it’s a big problem. The School Board decided this week not to re-send the tax bill and is hoping to hold County Supervisor Don Gage to his word: "They’re going to be made whole one way or another.” Deputy Superintendent Enrique Palacios has the dubious distinction of juggling the County’s clerical screw-ups and the “… moral issue…” of MACSA’s theft from teachers…

Speaking of the MACSA (Mexican American Community Services Agency)… More than 100 students, parents, teachers, and administrators crowded the Gilroy Unified School District Board meeting to ask the Board not to punish students for MACSA’s embezzlement. Tearful students spoke about grades going from F’s to A’s and B’s, seemingly overnight. Trustee Denise Apuzzo wondered how, with grades shooting up dramatically, students were still failing State tests.

Gilroy Councilmember Bob Dhillon wants to stop the bleeding and says the public is truly pissed. Gilroy’s City Administrator Tom Haglund is (apparently) begging the City Council to wallow in Gilroy’s daily operations and figure out who gets raises and who does not. Councilmembers (and residents) are pissed off that Haglund has been handing out raises to some while others lose their jobs. Councilmember Cat Tucker took a 25% pay cut in her day job and wants to see City Staff cut back as well. The Gilroy Dispatch Editorial Board gets in on the act calling it one of those “you-couldn't-make-this-stuff-up" situations.

Give a little, get a lot…City staff unions in Morgan Hill have figured out a way to keep jobs: they voluntarily reduced raises by 3% to 4% for as long as 5 years. Don’t worry about employees, the starting point was a 9.5% raise. Councilmember Larry Carr praised the leadership of the unions in meeting the challenge while offering a mild slap to other communities (Gilroy?).

What’s the loss of a little green belt if it makes the Pope happy? The Diocese of San Jose is hoping to buy up another 20 acres of agricultural land in Morgan Hill to add to the 20 acres they bought last year. The land is part of Morgan Hill’s last remaining “green belt” to be chopped up into developable portions. There’s still that pesky Environmental Impact Report, rezoning, and the obscure "LAFCO review," so don’t count on ground breaking before 2011.

San Jose Insider Eric Johnson calls the cries of impending doom for the Chronicle premature and is predicting a new paper in town, the MerChronicle. The Chronicle did that once before when they became the ExOnicle/ChronAminer following a merger with the Examiner. Lot of good that did either of those papers.

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.9.09: Pink Slip Week...

This Morning News Round-Up delay is brought to you by Daylight Savings Time...
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Watch Dog has said it before: things just keep getting worse for San Jose’s Police Department. Turns out PD kept disagreements over fingerprint identifications to themselves. Michael Kresser, Director of the Sixth District Appellate Program was dismayed the law enforcement agency blithely broke the law. Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney David Angel got little support from his own office and encountered resistance from SJPD when he tried to correct the problem.

Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga wonders what the City’s rainy day fund is for if not to address the immediate fiscal crisis. Finance Director Patty Kong confirms the City has $37 million set aside that could be used for a budget emergencies, but warns that without budget cuts Mountain View could face a $20 million shortfall in ten years. (On an unrelated note, Mayor Abe-Koga is a sought-after endorsement, apparently. A candidate for San Mateo City Council received her thumbs up recently as reported on Watch Dog San Mateo.)

Like everyone else, the City of San Jose is facing dire times and let go 28 from their Planning Department – except, they didn’t really. All but two landed other jobs within the City. Neighborhood activist/accountant/resident-grinch Ed Rast wonders how the faux layoffs saved the City money.

San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency’s Kip Harkness has been quietly negotiating to bring an urgent care facility downtown after the Hospital Corporation of American (HCA) closed the San Jose Medical Center. The grim economy seems to have a silver lining in that the land is now affordable enough for the Gardner Health Clinic to take over. It’s certainly not a done deal but, San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo believes they are close.

The Department of Alcohol and Drug Services (DADS) is struggling to resolve a $230 million shortfall. DADS Director Bob Garner doesn’t want to end services, saying the County either pays a little through DADS or a lot with more folks heading to jail, child welfare, and hospitals.

Throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, the FBI raided homes early Sunday morning arresting 42 gangmembers calling themselves “The Taliban.” The Fed’s, working with local police, picked up enough weapons, drugs, and money to fuel a small country. Officials acknowledged that while these bad guys are going away it could make room for others to move in, they vow to remain vigilant.

East Side’s Superintendent Bob Nunez moved Tuesday’s meeting to the gym at Independence High in anticipation of a large (angry) crowd of parents and students. Maybe after they hear he won’t be shutting down swimming – at least for now – they’ll ease up. Board President Patricia Martinez-Roach thinks pool maintenance is unreasonable but is hoping a fundraising committee can raise $1 million with a 5k run/2k walk. Good luck with that.

Supervisor George Shirakawa, Jr.’s cozy lobbying of officials from the Raiders and Niners is pissing off County Assessor Larry Stone. The Assessor has been having his own meetings and stands by Santa Clara as the ideal location for. Shirakawa staffer Andrea Flores-Shelton dismisses the irritation saying Grand Poobah supports Stone’s plan but says the fairgrounds are “an ideal backup plan.”

The Merc’s Editorial Board takes time to remind San Jose Councilmembers that it’s more helpful to work together if they really want the A’s to move on down. After the Fremont meltdown, Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilmember Sam Liccardo expressed interest in meeting with A’s/Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff. Councilmember Nora Campos, excited about the possibility of being in the Major Leagues, shot off proposals for meetings, a poll, and having staff start negotiations with the League over territories. Wolff, no doubt flattered by the San Jose giddiness, reminded everyone that negotiating with the MLB Commissioner was his job, not their's...

Palo Alto businesses are the only ones in Santa Clara County that don’t pay a business tax, but that could end if the City Council (and voters) agree. Councilmember Larry Klein says he sees two sides of the argument – thus proving politicians can successfully be indecisive making no one happy. The economic crisis is driving City staff to make the proposal, City Manager Jim Keene points out the ballot measure wouldn’t show up until November. Apparently Mr. Keene believes the economic crisis will be long gone by then...

Four years of construction delays and a possible $15 million cost overrun but the County’s new Morgan Hill courthouse will open next month. Supervisor Don Gage looks forward to having the new facility online to handle everything from traffic to criminal cases.

The Gilroy math teacher, Alberto Gomez Vicuna, Jr., who raped a 14 year old girl was in court Friday. Vicuna met the girl, and 100 others, while posing as a 15 year old boy on an online social networking site, Tagged.com. If you have additional information on this case, you can call Detective Kendra Nunes or Detective Sgt. Randy Schriefer of the San Jose Police Department's Child Exploitation Detail at 408/277-4102.

Mountain View’s Alvaro Urbina is getting props from McDonald’s and the Merc’s Patty Fisher. Urbina is giddy after being named as one of McDonald’s top 1% of restaurant managers. Urbina arrived in East Palo Alto as a 13 year old who spoke no English and joined a gang. He took a job sweeping the floor at McDonald’s, and, as they say, the rest is history. Congratulations, Alvaro Urbina. Oh, Watch Dog note, McDonald’s is one of the few whose stock prices are rising. I guess Wall Street must read Patty Fisher...

Silicon Valley’s Raging Grannies made it to the big screen. Mountain View documentary filmmaker/director/producer Pam Walton followed the Grannies to create ‘Raging Grannies: The Action League.’

A quick review of what's on tap for our elected officials this week:

• Tonight San Jose’s Envision San Jose 2040 Task Force will discuss scenarios for future job and housing growth...
• On Tuesday, San Jose’s City Council will talk sidewalk cafés: make them permanent or let them disappear. Also on tap, raising the hotel occupancy tax...
• San Jose’s Elections Commission will weigh next steps in the pending complaint filed against the San José Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce's Political Action Committee over mailers in the 2006 mayor's race and discuss a request from former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery, to reconsider procedures for the filing of anonymous complaints. I guess if you don't like the rules, try to change them...If you don't like the rules, try to change them...
• East Side Union High School Trustees will consider eliminating about 120 teaching and support-staff jobs, as well as a proposal to fund and continue after-school athletics...and
• The Mountain View-Los Altos High School Board will consider issuing preliminary layoff notices for 2009-10...and
• The Los Gatos Union School Board will consider reducing 7.4 full-time-equivalent positions...and
• The ever exciting Alum Rock School board will consider issuing preliminary layoff notices to administrators and support staff...and
• On Thursday the Campbell Union board will consider a contract with the union representing support staff...and
• Santa Clara Unified School District Trustees will consider approving a lease for Curtis Middle School, cutting adult ed staff, and a possible May parcel tax...and
• Speaking of pink slips and layoffs at schools, check this out...

Morning News Round-Up – 1.12.09: Manny Diaz for Secretary of Commerce?

Watch Dog San Mateo was way ahead of the City of San Jose in sniffing out recycling pilferers...But San Jose wants you on the hunt as well. San Jose leaders plan to stop would-be thieves from stealing recycling/money from the pros by asking you to turn in scavengers. Add this to your list of things the City wants you to patrol for. The list now includes watching to see if your neighbors are lighting a winter fire or an any other way are violating City codes. Perhaps we should all ask Mayor for a pay increase. Or at least a bonus to our pensions...

East Side Union High School District appointed Eddie Garcia for his second (unelected) stint on the Board. This is not a surprise -- it was a done deal a long time ago. What is surprising is the appointment was unanimously supported. Trustee Frank Biehl had originally supported Barbara Boone but gave in when three of his colleagues indicated support for Garcia. (Frank Biehl...a profile in courage...) Garcia faces yet another election in 2010, if he loses that one who will be there to get him re-appointed? Don't worry about Mr. Garcia though, he has landed a plum job as Supervisor George Shirakawa's Chief of Staff at the County. (Care to guess what a Chief of Staff at the County makes?) So, Garcia has Shirakawa to thank for this paycheck and his unelected political office -- the George and Eddie Show continues...

San Jose’s City Council will discuss a dollar for dollar match of Redevelopment funds with money from area hotels hoping to cash in on an expansive new convention center. With a little luck, the famously ugly blue tent will disappear along with the old library. The first City Council meeting of the year will also welcome newcomers Ash Kalra and Rose Herrera. Planning Commission Chair Jim Zito says of his former colleague "[Kalra] was well-informed, diligent, and did his research well." Zito's nice words about Kalra come in pretty stark contrast to the stories about Herrera in the past few weeks: first she hires then fires a staffer, then she puts the (apparent) kibosh on her former opponent's dream of becoming a Planning Commissioner...it sounds like she'll fit in fine on the 18th floor...

The Merc’s Internal Affairs heard from former Congressman Tom Campbell – coming clean to say, yep, he’s considering a run for the Guv’s seat. His two biggest challengers right now for the Republican nomination include eBay's Meg Whitman and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner – along with their giant pocketbooks. Just some inside baseball stuff -- Meg Whitman leaked her possible run for Governor in an AP story that was covered State- and Nation-wide. Perhaps Campbell should think about a larger platform to make such announcements. Internal Affairs is widely read...but...

Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio may have been feeling a little saucy last week when he told the Merc. he would not be speaking with attorney James McManis about the McEnery as lobbyist saga and called the complaint a joke. McManis told the Merc.’s, “I don't think Pierluigi Whatever-his-name-is is serving the city by making cracks like that." McManis didn't go on to say, "...and his beard is weird..."

Internal Affairs also dishes on recommendations by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of prominent Latinos to fill the Cabinet shoes of embarrassed New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson when he had to withdraw his bid to be Obama’s Commerce Secretary. Among the locals nominated by LULAC is Hector Ruiz, whose claim to fame having been fired after driving AMD into the ground. IA was also a little mystified to see "Manny Diaz" listed until they realized it wasn’t San Jose’s own on again/off again politician/lobbyist.

Santa Clara University is celebrating the success of alumni Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and former Congressman Leon Panetta (a.k.a. Leo McGarry) as President-elect Obama taps them to head to D.C. with the administration.

The Merc.’s Patty Fisher jumps into the political tug-of-war over Moffett Field's Hangar One. The Navy says preservationists can keep it – after they strip it bare of walls leaving only a giant exoskeleton behind. The new landlord, NASA, sent Deputy Director Lewis Braxton a note to say that unless the hangar was in use-able condition, NASA didn’t want any part of it – and that restoration was part of the deal. The costs are dizzying with $30 million to tear away the old siding and possibly $15 million to get something else installed. If only there was someone who had local knowledge of the issue, held an elective office, and had a connection to the Navy...

Violence is erupting around San Jose. A hostage situation in Councilmember Judy Chirco’s District ended late Sunday night without injuries. In Councilmember Kansen Chu’s North San Jose District, two people were stabbed at a mobile home park. Perhaps downtown is the safest place to be...with the number of arrests and all...

Around Silicon Valley, elected officials shake off the last vestiges’ of the holidays and begin the New Year with a vengeance. San Jose’s City Council will review the $1 billion dollar losses in pension funds, attempt to correct chronic deficits, and review a cost-benefit analysis for the Convention Center. Sounds like fun... New Supervisors Dave Cortese and George Shirakawa, Jr. take their seats for the first time and Liz Kniss takes the helm as Board Chair.

Tenet Healthcare, which is operating Community Hospital, has given Los Gatos residents until April 10 to use the hospital and emergency room. After that, the doors close until the new owner, El Camino Hospital moves in June 1. The Town's Mayor Mike Wasserman said of the temporary closing, "My concern is that the residents of Los Gatos know what's going on and where to go in an emergency." The El Camino Hospital District Board will meet Wednesday to talk about the acquisition, and perhaps an early opening?

Proving it’s never too late to give bad news, the Morgan Hill Times reported yesterday the Salvation Army was burglarized nearly two weeks before Christmas losing bicycles, food, and toys intended for needy families. Really? You are running a story a month late?

The Appointment Do-Over: "Congratulations Trustee Garcia"

Well folks, today is the big day -- at least if you are Eddie Garcia.

Mr. Garcia will be reappointed to the East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees tonight. You think I'm jumping the gun because there are others that will be interviewed and considered tonight? Don't worry, I'm not. This is a sure thing.

If you want a complete history of how this came to pass, you can read this, this, or this. But don't think that because there was a public process that involved applicants and a Community Advisory Panel that the deck is anything but stacked for Garcia.

But just for the fun of it...

Here is a piece from YouTube of Eddie Garcia on Comcast News Makers in advance of his last (unsuccessful) election in November. Note that he and the host use the term "re-election" and "re-elected" a number of times referring to what he was running for -- even though he was not elected in the first place...















...and compare that to this footage. Here, he uses the phrase, "...running to retain my seat..." as opposed to re-elected.

(For both of these videos, the 'embed' function has been disabled on YouTube, so you have to click on them to view...)

Morning News Round-Up – 1.8.09: The Blogosphere of Influence Battle

San Jose’s City Attorney, Rick Doyle, made an offhand comment last year that has erupted into a battle royale yesterday. Doyle said Councilmembers (Nora Campos) who wanted to review private legal documents created in his office for downtown's Peralta Plan (McEnery Plan) would need their colleagues’ approval. Using this (mis)information yesterday, San Jose’s Rules Committee told her to take a hike with her request to make those documents public. It turns out Doyle goofed. Campos does have a right to review those documents after all. Which is not nearly as interesting as the battle raging between San Jose Revealed and San Jose Inside about who 'won' and who 'lost' in yesterday's Rules Committee/Elections Commission/Reed-McEnery-Campos dust-up. (Since McEnery's project is getting $6 million, it is safe to say he thinks he won...) Watch Dog points out that (seemingly) Campos got the idea to push on this issue from reading Revealed. See Watch Dog's "blogosphere of influence"...

The Alum Rock School District quietly talked with East Side Union about a plan to swap Pala Middle School for East Side's Adult Ed. Independence. When news first leaked Alum Rock Trustee Gustavo Gonzalez expressed concern about a growing need for schools that could make existing crowding problems worse. In today’s news, Board President Gonzalez seems to switch gears, saying “We have to look at the whole District and how we are running all our schools. We have some work to do to shore up our budget.” Watch Dogs can join the now public fun tonight at the Alum Rock Board meeting -- and if you've never been to an Alum Rock Board meeting, you should go...

Ash Kalra, San Jose’s newest Councilmember, faces some trouble in his District from Day 1. His old alma mater, Oak Grove High (part of the East Side Union High School District), has been the site of two teen stabbings recently. This week a 12 year old was arrested for armed robbery after he and a friend attacked a 16 year old and stole a cell phone. Last year a 16 year old girl stabbed a student in a gang-related incident. Have fun Councilmember Kalra...

San Jose is (supposedly) a mecca for electric cars… Mayor Chuck Reed unveiled the City’s first public "Smartlet"charging stations for electric cars. While you can now park and charge your Tesla car at the Fourth Street garage, it is the parking of the Tesla company in San Jose that is in real danger.

Greg Larson took over as Los Gatos Town Manager last year, not knowing the economic disaster that loomed internationally. This week, Larson reported Los Gatos is sitting on a $3.7 million reserve with $4.4 million in revenue stabilization reserve. In something of a small world story, Larson started his career in San Jose and was (then Mayor) Tom McEnery’s Budget and Policy Director before a series of moves including San Jose (again), Sacramento, Arizona, and Santa Cruz before landing in Los Gatos. Oh yeah, he also famously served with his famous buddy as Stanford's student body co-president...

Saratogans still have time to apply for openings on the Planning and Heritage Preservation Commission (a.k.a. the NIMBY Commission of Saratoga...) Applications are due today as City Hall is closed Friday with the new “9/80” schedule.

Use of City facilities in Cupertino may soon be free if you’re a non-profit or promoting cultural ties. Councilmember Gilbert Wong worries about the loss of revenue, "I think that with the economic times not doing so well...You're just going to open up a huge can of worms."

Los Gatos pooches have a new/old hangout with the reopening of the elegantly named Los Gatos Creek County Dog Park. The park previously sported real turf which was torn up and turned to mud causing pooch people to stay away. (Watch Dog suspects pooches would have loved the mud but the good folks of The Town don't like dirty dogs in their homes...) The recent renovations to do away with the mud cost the County nearly $227,000, the original park ran $325,000.