The year’s end is a good time for reflection, and we plan to reflect on the habits of our local elected officials… next year.
Gilroy’s personal pot shop is really, this time, facing the music. The City Council approved, for a second time, calling in the legal beagles to head to court with MediLeaf.
The pesky Taser ruling this week has police in Palo Alto looking to define what “reasonable” means before releasing the zap. Police Chief Dennis Burns says “what we want… is a clear policy where everyone understands when it’s appropriate…” (former San Jose) Los Altos Police Captain Andy Galea (seems to) agree saying he still needs to “analyze” the ruling.
The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on San Jose police to keep track of who uses force calling it necessary to help officers. Assistant Police Chief Daniel Katz says the department agrees with the Merc (sort of) and is planning on counseling for officers with a zap-happy hand.
Pissed off developer John Mozart is suing Mountain View arguing affordability fees are an “illegal tax.”
The rotating Mayoralship changes hands in Mountain View on Tuesday when Councilmember Ronit Bryant (assumes she will) take the reins from outgoing Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga. Bryant aims to be Mountain View’s “Green Mayor” for a year.
Also aiming for green-ness… Los Altos plans to lower gas emissions and no, they don’t mean ditching your favorite restaurant. The ambitious (little) town plans on an 80% reduction by 2050.
Palo Alto’s naked California Avenue will get a little love from volunteers in the opening days of 2010. Volunteers hit the streets to start replacing trees. If you want to join the California Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project email or call Sharon Kelly, (650)964-6110 or visit Canopy on the web.
The Merc welcomes a new voice to the Opinion pages with Sami Monsur, a neighborhood leader in downtown San Jose. Monsur asks for changes to San Jose police shift rotations calling them a deterrent to building relationships of trust and respect within communities.
Caltrain called a temporary halt to trains this morning following a(nother) fatal train vs. person incident.
The Merc’s Scott Herhold closes the decade with a touching reminder of the fragility of life and a gentle reminder to carry the pink dot.
A paramedic, (former) drunk drivers and victims band together in Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards New Year’s Eve message – take a cab, get a designated driver, ride the bus or a train when you head out tonight for your last night of drinking debauchery in 2009.
Protect San Jose has no comment on the Merc’s call to count but does want to see you on the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Train.
San Jose’s $100 million deficit drove San Jose Insider Pete Campbell to a Wall Street Journal story calling on American cities to rethink the way they do business.
Mission City Lantern throws a bone to 49ers foes and suggests they should break $100 before fundraising for 2009 is over.
A big Watch Dog Woof for tonight’s revelry, we’ll see you next year.
Showing posts with label abe-koga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abe-koga. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 10.16.09: The Biggest Little City in the World is NOT San Jose...
The Merc’s Editorial Board calls moves by San Jose (retired) Police Officer David Bacigalupi and the Police Officers' Association “tone deaf” and filled with “chutzpah” about wanting to get rid of the doctor that makes disability recommendations to the City's pension boards. Following stories in the Merc. that “Dr. No’s” own job was in danger Police Officer Association President/Protect San Jose blogger Bobby Lopez writes he’s not interested in firing Dr. Das, he wants to clone him… We wonder where Councilmember Constant comes down on this issue...
Mayor Chuck Reed wasn’t in Reno for the roulette. San Jose’s “green mayor” went to take home an award from the International Economic Development Council for his Green Vision. San Jose Inside found Reed hopes to inspire “other cities around the world…” Isn't Reno a weird place for this type of award to be given out? It is the definition of suburban sprawl with big, energy-guzzling casinos with indoor smoking... but it is the Biggest Little City in the World... funny, we thought that was San Jose.
“Mayor Green” will be happy to hear San Jose is on its way towards 100 miles of trails with a little over 50 miles ready for action. Save Our Trails President/Willow Glen resident Taisia McMahon hopes to keep Willow Glen trailheads in the mix…
The debate over the tree-free California Avenue roared on during Palo Alto’s Architectural Review Committee. Committee members (strangely) prefer an architectural aesthetic to tree selection. Board member David Solnick complained “there’s really no design guidance here…” Only-in-Palo Alto...
Los Altans have an election on their hands… 4 candidates are competing for 3 Trustee seats on the Los Altos School District Board. Mark Goines (incumbent), Doug Smith, Tamara Logan and Rowene Hood agreed financial solvency tops the list of concerns, but not without taking shots at the Charter school in town.
Mountain View’s Rengstorff Park will become a “safe and enjoyable” place if Councilmembers have their way. Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga said summer use of the Community Center was unbearable and colleague Mike Kasperzak hopes to rebuild the Community Center as tall as possible, maybe even 4 stories… 4 stories in Mountain View passes for tall, we guess.
Hoping to see City employees pedaling more, Cupertino looks at the purchase of as many as 5 EZip bikes. City spokesperson Rick Kitson hopes employees will ride/pedal their way to cross town meetings.
Mani-pedi with that hip surgery? Seems to be the question for Los Gatos businessman Bobby Sarnevesht hoping to open a physician owned hospital in Campbell. What looked like a simple business proposition got heated when the opposition started coming from Congressional representative Mike Honda, nurses, and the South Bay Labor Council.
Mayor Chuck Reed wasn’t in Reno for the roulette. San Jose’s “green mayor” went to take home an award from the International Economic Development Council for his Green Vision. San Jose Inside found Reed hopes to inspire “other cities around the world…” Isn't Reno a weird place for this type of award to be given out? It is the definition of suburban sprawl with big, energy-guzzling casinos with indoor smoking... but it is the Biggest Little City in the World... funny, we thought that was San Jose.
“Mayor Green” will be happy to hear San Jose is on its way towards 100 miles of trails with a little over 50 miles ready for action. Save Our Trails President/Willow Glen resident Taisia McMahon hopes to keep Willow Glen trailheads in the mix…
The debate over the tree-free California Avenue roared on during Palo Alto’s Architectural Review Committee. Committee members (strangely) prefer an architectural aesthetic to tree selection. Board member David Solnick complained “there’s really no design guidance here…” Only-in-Palo Alto...
Los Altans have an election on their hands… 4 candidates are competing for 3 Trustee seats on the Los Altos School District Board. Mark Goines (incumbent), Doug Smith, Tamara Logan and Rowene Hood agreed financial solvency tops the list of concerns, but not without taking shots at the Charter school in town.
Mountain View’s Rengstorff Park will become a “safe and enjoyable” place if Councilmembers have their way. Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga said summer use of the Community Center was unbearable and colleague Mike Kasperzak hopes to rebuild the Community Center as tall as possible, maybe even 4 stories… 4 stories in Mountain View passes for tall, we guess.
Hoping to see City employees pedaling more, Cupertino looks at the purchase of as many as 5 EZip bikes. City spokesperson Rick Kitson hopes employees will ride/pedal their way to cross town meetings.
Mani-pedi with that hip surgery? Seems to be the question for Los Gatos businessman Bobby Sarnevesht hoping to open a physician owned hospital in Campbell. What looked like a simple business proposition got heated when the opposition started coming from Congressional representative Mike Honda, nurses, and the South Bay Labor Council.
Friday, June 5, 2009
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
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”
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 5.7.09: The Guvernator is on the line...
Calling MACSA one of “San Jose’s oldest, largest and most politically powerful Latino” institutions the Merc’s Joe Rodriguez investigates the embezzlement of teacher retirement funds. MACSA board president, Louis Rocha, Jr., this week said he was “outraged” and vowed commitment to a “full investigation” and making the teachers whole. The Santa Clara County District Attorney and the Office of Education have asked a state investigative team to dig into "fraud, misappropriation of funds or other illegal fiscal practices.” Meanwhile, this week’s initial meeting between MACSA and investigators was postponed without rescheduling.
The State of California wants to “borrow” $1 Million from Gilroy? The Guvernator wants to take from Gilroy, and other cities, more than $2 Billion in local property taxes. Ouch.
Gilroy’s unions could be facing a public vote on binding arbitration if the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce has its way. Chamber president Susan Valenta said it was a “very innocent request, so there wasn't anything that would or should cause any problems.”
The Gilroy Union School District is under the watchful eye of Standard & Poor’s all because of the clerical screwup that left payment of Measure J off this years property tax bill.
Mountain View’s city council will be adding fees and cutting services in an attempt to fix the $6 million deficit. Councilmember Laura Macias argued against raising fees for preschool. Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga disputed Macias position that it was low income families using the preschool services and said the fee increase was ok. Cat fight?
The Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition showed off a little this week with the grand opening of senior housing in Mountain View. The dreaded words “affordable housing” didn’t seem to correlate with the $31 million remodel.
Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino has teamed up with Jim Wunderman of the Bay Area Council to encourage CEO’s (and others) to ditch their cars and bike to work. May 14 is the date for the annual CEO/Celebrity Cycle-To-Work-Day Challenge – watch out for local celebrities as they navigate to work next week.
Palo Alto’s College Terrace neighborhood wishes Stanford students and employees would bike to campus. Neighbors are sick of non-resident cars clogging the streets and have demanded permit parking.
Santa Clara County firefighters rolled to Apple Computer this week to when a white powdery substance was left in the cafeteria. Sorry, kids, looks like your motivation has left the building… Oh, Apple wants to buy Twitter, (apparently) so does Google.
Gilroy’s rapist/teacher Alberto Vicuna, Jr. gets a slap on the wrist for his nine sex crimes. Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Ray Mendoza said he did not charge Vicuna with rape because he didn’t think the jury would believe the girl was forced.
As if it’s not bad enough just going to the dentist… San Jose dentist Benva Lazar pled guilty to groping patients, claiming he needed to do a breast exam to ensure their health.
Metro/San Jose Insider Erin Sherbert reports the Santa Clara Valley Water District has, at long last, selected a CEO. Beau Goldie fills the 18 month vacancy created when former CEO Stan Williams was forced out for his own hiring screwup.
San Jose Revealed lets loose with a few Quick Notes
The State of California wants to “borrow” $1 Million from Gilroy? The Guvernator wants to take from Gilroy, and other cities, more than $2 Billion in local property taxes. Ouch.
Gilroy’s unions could be facing a public vote on binding arbitration if the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce has its way. Chamber president Susan Valenta said it was a “very innocent request, so there wasn't anything that would or should cause any problems.”
The Gilroy Union School District is under the watchful eye of Standard & Poor’s all because of the clerical screwup that left payment of Measure J off this years property tax bill.
Mountain View’s city council will be adding fees and cutting services in an attempt to fix the $6 million deficit. Councilmember Laura Macias argued against raising fees for preschool. Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga disputed Macias position that it was low income families using the preschool services and said the fee increase was ok. Cat fight?
The Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition showed off a little this week with the grand opening of senior housing in Mountain View. The dreaded words “affordable housing” didn’t seem to correlate with the $31 million remodel.
Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino has teamed up with Jim Wunderman of the Bay Area Council to encourage CEO’s (and others) to ditch their cars and bike to work. May 14 is the date for the annual CEO/Celebrity Cycle-To-Work-Day Challenge – watch out for local celebrities as they navigate to work next week.
Palo Alto’s College Terrace neighborhood wishes Stanford students and employees would bike to campus. Neighbors are sick of non-resident cars clogging the streets and have demanded permit parking.
Santa Clara County firefighters rolled to Apple Computer this week to when a white powdery substance was left in the cafeteria. Sorry, kids, looks like your motivation has left the building… Oh, Apple wants to buy Twitter, (apparently) so does Google.
Gilroy’s rapist/teacher Alberto Vicuna, Jr. gets a slap on the wrist for his nine sex crimes. Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Ray Mendoza said he did not charge Vicuna with rape because he didn’t think the jury would believe the girl was forced.
As if it’s not bad enough just going to the dentist… San Jose dentist Benva Lazar pled guilty to groping patients, claiming he needed to do a breast exam to ensure their health.
Metro/San Jose Insider Erin Sherbert reports the Santa Clara Valley Water District has, at long last, selected a CEO. Beau Goldie fills the 18 month vacancy created when former CEO Stan Williams was forced out for his own hiring screwup.
San Jose Revealed lets loose with a few Quick Notes
- The Merc puts a personal face on low wage earners being dumped by San Jose.
- Accusations that Mayor Chuck Reed is trying to keep councilmember Nora Campos out of next years mayoral race. Yawn.
- Following up on the Earthquakes, declaring Revealed is right.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 3.9.09: Pink Slip Week...
This Morning News Round-Up delay is brought to you by Daylight Savings Time...
--
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:
--
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...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 1.22.09: Bigots, Beignets, and BART...
The County’s lawyers are in trouble – again. (District Attorney Dolores Carr must keep a bottle of the good stuff ready for when the Merc. calls.) This time, Peter Waite has the dubious honor of being the first prosecutor to get spanked by the State Bar in 20 years. He pissed them off when he hid testimony in a murder trial. Oops. Waite said, "I've always agreed it was a screw-up and a mistake, and that the case would be done differently than nine years ago.'' DA Carr kept mum. The DA’s office is also awaiting results in Deputy DA Ben Fields prosecution. More recently, Carr’s office fessed up they withheld interviews of sexual assault victims and kept the doors of justice closed while investigating a police cover-up. Not so Law and Order-y, is it...
The Merc.’s Editorial board gives props to the Alum Rock Union Elementary School Board of Trustees. The Board has granted a 5 year extension to KIPP Heartwood Academy, a charter school with results. In the past, with golden parachute Superintendent Norma Martinez, charter schools were under attack. In a signal that children are more important than politics, Interim Superintendent Jose Manzo supported KIPP. Watch Dog note to Merc. Editors: her last name is not Rodriguez, unless you’ve heard about a recent name change that we missed.
In case Mountain View bigots haven’t heard – this is a "post racial" world. Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga, Mountain View’s first Asian-American female Mayor received a disturbing email, students lives were threatened, and a school sign was vandalized. Chamber CEO/Mesa de la Communidad Oscar Garcia has teamed up with failed City Council candidate/Human Rights Commissioner Alicia Crank to create “Not in Our Town,” to combat an increase in local hate crimes.
It isn’t bad enough that Steve Jobs is (maybe) fighting for his life, now the SEC is investigating when and how much Jobs and other high-ranking Apple folks knew about Jobs' health. Apparently the SEC is now on the ball -- as opposed to this...
Los Altans are celebrating now, they get to keep their precious, non-degradable/free plastic bags for groceries. The Los Altos City Council rejected joining a regional effort to charge impoverished Los Altos residents 25 cents per bag. Perhaps the local fashionistas were worried about losing the raw materials for creative/recycled ball gowns.
The Merc.’s Scott Herhold dedicates his space to the grieving family of Quy Tran, killed at a dangerous intersection by a hit-and-run driver over the weekend. Tran’s son Hung has generously (incredibly) said her killer is a good person and, “I think all his life, he'll live in suffering." This is not the first accident at Senter Road and Independence Drive, Herhold reports several seniors have been hit here where there is no crosswalk or traffic signal. No doubt San Jose’s Department of Transportation removed the crosswalk to make life safer for someone – clearly not pedestrians. Not the first time DOT has goofed, remember little Breanna Eck, DOT also thought a lack of crosswalks in her neighborhood was a good idea.
San Jose Revealed received a "tipster’s fax" with questions about McEnery's Peralta Action Plan. The "fax" asked if the 3% loan and the $400,000 developer fees being paid by McEnery is normal and/or appropriate. There’s also a rumor that Revealed was blocked from some/all City Hall computers. Perhaps Councilmember Pete Constant and Larry Pegram are to blame...
Metro/San Jose Inside’s news sleuth Erin Sherbert weighs in on San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s chances of getting Obama dollars (for BART and green-tech) because of his complete lack of support during the Prez’s race. (At least his lack of support for the guy who won...) In a break from Reed, Mayoral senior staff Jeff Janssen doesn’t share the Mayor’s optimism. If Obama dollars land in San Jose it’s more likely due to hard work by DiFi, Boxer, Lofgren and Honda – who all voted for and worked for Obama. Sherbert's story also gives a timeline of when the Mayor will be in D.C. -- the first trip is slated for late February/early March. Really? Because Watch Dog heard something about an economic recovery plan that will be done by Presidents' Day Congressional recess. Plus, these guys were in D.C. schmoozing this week while our Mayor was not...
Gilroy may not be getting Garlic Ta-ta’s but they do have beignets coming thanks to restaurateur/blues fan Dan Craig. Local developer Gary Walton will be opening a tapas and wine bar nearby. Craig said he wants a place for “mature” guests, “You know, a respectable place where you can see live music." He didn’t say “there’s no room for ta-ta’s near my beignets.” Watch Dog note to Chris Bone, you need to visit the Big Easy – it’s not “benet.”
The Merc.’s Editorial board gives props to the Alum Rock Union Elementary School Board of Trustees. The Board has granted a 5 year extension to KIPP Heartwood Academy, a charter school with results. In the past, with golden parachute Superintendent Norma Martinez, charter schools were under attack. In a signal that children are more important than politics, Interim Superintendent Jose Manzo supported KIPP. Watch Dog note to Merc. Editors: her last name is not Rodriguez, unless you’ve heard about a recent name change that we missed.
In case Mountain View bigots haven’t heard – this is a "post racial" world. Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga, Mountain View’s first Asian-American female Mayor received a disturbing email, students lives were threatened, and a school sign was vandalized. Chamber CEO/Mesa de la Communidad Oscar Garcia has teamed up with failed City Council candidate/Human Rights Commissioner Alicia Crank to create “Not in Our Town,” to combat an increase in local hate crimes.
It isn’t bad enough that Steve Jobs is (maybe) fighting for his life, now the SEC is investigating when and how much Jobs and other high-ranking Apple folks knew about Jobs' health. Apparently the SEC is now on the ball -- as opposed to this...
Los Altans are celebrating now, they get to keep their precious, non-degradable/free plastic bags for groceries. The Los Altos City Council rejected joining a regional effort to charge impoverished Los Altos residents 25 cents per bag. Perhaps the local fashionistas were worried about losing the raw materials for creative/recycled ball gowns.
The Merc.’s Scott Herhold dedicates his space to the grieving family of Quy Tran, killed at a dangerous intersection by a hit-and-run driver over the weekend. Tran’s son Hung has generously (incredibly) said her killer is a good person and, “I think all his life, he'll live in suffering." This is not the first accident at Senter Road and Independence Drive, Herhold reports several seniors have been hit here where there is no crosswalk or traffic signal. No doubt San Jose’s Department of Transportation removed the crosswalk to make life safer for someone – clearly not pedestrians. Not the first time DOT has goofed, remember little Breanna Eck, DOT also thought a lack of crosswalks in her neighborhood was a good idea.
San Jose Revealed received a "tipster’s fax" with questions about McEnery's Peralta Action Plan. The "fax" asked if the 3% loan and the $400,000 developer fees being paid by McEnery is normal and/or appropriate. There’s also a rumor that Revealed was blocked from some/all City Hall computers. Perhaps Councilmember Pete Constant and Larry Pegram are to blame...
Metro/San Jose Inside’s news sleuth Erin Sherbert weighs in on San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s chances of getting Obama dollars (for BART and green-tech) because of his complete lack of support during the Prez’s race. (At least his lack of support for the guy who won...) In a break from Reed, Mayoral senior staff Jeff Janssen doesn’t share the Mayor’s optimism. If Obama dollars land in San Jose it’s more likely due to hard work by DiFi, Boxer, Lofgren and Honda – who all voted for and worked for Obama. Sherbert's story also gives a timeline of when the Mayor will be in D.C. -- the first trip is slated for late February/early March. Really? Because Watch Dog heard something about an economic recovery plan that will be done by Presidents' Day Congressional recess. Plus, these guys were in D.C. schmoozing this week while our Mayor was not...
Gilroy may not be getting Garlic Ta-ta’s but they do have beignets coming thanks to restaurateur/blues fan Dan Craig. Local developer Gary Walton will be opening a tapas and wine bar nearby. Craig said he wants a place for “mature” guests, “You know, a respectable place where you can see live music." He didn’t say “there’s no room for ta-ta’s near my beignets.” Watch Dog note to Chris Bone, you need to visit the Big Easy – it’s not “benet.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)