Morning News Round-Up -- 1.19.10: A bankrupt Merc?

It has been a long, long weekend, so if you haven't had your coffee yet, go get it and come back to Watch Dog caffeinated...

This isn't good... the owner of the Mercury News are filing for bankruptcy. Is it possible that the paper could lose more reporters and more pages? The Mercury News Weekly perhaps? Watch Dog cannot fill the void, unfortunately, we just go Wii...

But remember, Merc. Columnist Cassidy says that they will succeed because they provide unique local content... or at least they used to...

In other stellar economic news, office vacancies may be through the roof (again) this year...

Here's one way to increase air traffic at SJC: have SFO-bound planes make emergency landings at SJC because of high wind gusts... "SJC, when the weather is too shitty for SFO..." That would be a hella cool ad campaign...

The Merc got into the weedily-witty headlines about local marijuana dispensaries this weekend with this: San Jose says pot clubs popping up like weeds; city starts cracking down. Is it fair to say that when the headlines aren't serious, neither is the actual issue? Of course, we often write Watch Dog stoned, so who are we to question anyone...

The County is finally helping folks who are facing misdemeanor charges by providing some with a public defender... which everyone should be shocked didn't happen before a Sean Webby news story last week. But remember, this is the same County that wants to do away with pre-trial services in order to get more business to bail bonds shops, so nothing should surprise you... Kudos to Supervisors Yeager and Cortese for realizing that having folks face charges without being represented by a lawyer is a horrible idea and is part of Criminal Justice 101.

Speaking of Criminal Justice 101, the good folks at Protect San Jose encourage you to be honest with police and tell them exactly what they want to hear when they pull you over. Of course, that flies directly in the face of "right to remain silent" and could find you in the County Courthouse without a lawyer (see above)... in case you believe (like Watch Dog) that incriminating yourself doesn't sound like such a hot idea when you get pulled over, here is some different advice about what to do when you get pulled over from a source other than police officers: "...Silence is not an admission of guilt and cannot be used against you in court..." So far, the advice on Protect San Jose is to respond to Police Officers like you were in kindergarten and provide them all the answers they ask for. Thank you Protect San Jose... The Fifth Amendment is still intact, right?

In an un(?)related note, the Chronicle gets in on the Freedom Train controversy between San Jose's NAACP, who pulled out of this year's Train, and the San Jose Police Officers' Association, who is one of the sponsors. In the Chronicle piece, we find another hard-hitting quote from Pastor Moore of the NAACP: "While Rev. Dr. King stood for nonviolence and against police brutality, we find ourselves honoring police, who talk to our community members in derogatory tones, who beat innocent citizens in our community, who unlawfully arrest people, and in extreme cases kill members who dare to speak up and stand up for their rights."

Update: It turns out the ride was well-traveled, even with the controversy and even without the NAACP... but a Freedom Ride without the NAACP is an issue that is not going away.

The Merc's Scott Herhold writes about Tom Campbell's running (again) for the Senate after dropping his bid for Governor. And ends with a prediction, of sorts, about whether Campbell, if unsuccessful this time in his third run for the Senate might look ahead to 2012: "Could Campbell try for a fourth time? If it happened, I wouldn't be surprised." Oh, and referring to previous races and other Republicans, Herhold assures us that: "...He [Campbell] wouldn't have been caught dead in a strip club..." Thank you.

Pete Constant is trying to up-end the plastic bag ban in San Jose by hitting up his misspelling cohorts (the Chamber of Commerce) for support -- or sopurt. He says the cost is too high. As usual, Constant was the lone vote against the plastic bag ban. Which brings up the question: What did Councilmember Constant think it meant when he voted for the Mayor's Green Vision which has this included in it:

5. Divert 100 percent of the waste from our landfill and convert waste to energy.

The good folks at Internal Affairs had a busy week writing for Sunday. First, they give us a "reversal of fortunes" of the highest order with Phil Angelides heading a serious, and newsworthy, Inquiry panel and Governor Schwarzenegger becoming the lamest of ducks. Next, they provide all of us more than we probably need to know about the dress code in the DA'soffice, and how it got relaxed an effort to help Dolores Carr politically. And finally, Larry "Boo" Stone calls the San Francisco Giant's efforts to fuck up the A's move to San Jose "...classic San Francisco politics..." We agree with Stone, but not for nothing: classic San Francisco politics launched the career of the Speaker of the House...

On a serious note: the post office is moving in downtown Los Altos.

If at first you don't succeed... the Fremont Union High School District to approve a parcel tax (again!) in May. They just packed up the stuff from their campaign office in November, but are going to give it another go. Desperate times, etc.

Aren't you glad you had your coffee? Stay safe out there folks...

Morning News Round-Up -- 12.1.09: Chief Burns in Palo Alto?

Ascension Calderon wanted to know why San Jose Police had stopped his nephew. For Calderon that day in 2006 escalated into a nightmare with pepper spray and racial epithets. When Bruno Figueroa, the Mexican Counsel General, asked for more police accountability, Calderon’s case became international headline news. Today, San Jose’s City Council is expected to authorize $97,000 to make a lawsuit about it go away. City Attorney Rick Doyle points to possible “exposure to substantial attorney’s fees” as one reason to avoid the courtroom. Bobby Lopez gives us an interesting quote in the Merc story as well. Here is the paragraph from the story:

Figueroa's criticism drew a rebuke from the head of the officers' union, Bobby Lopez, who suggested the Mexican government solve its own police problems "before he tries to solve ours."

Is Mr. Lopez admitting that there are police problems in San Jose? Just asking...

Alviso may again be a launching point for fishermen, children, and marsh enthusiasts when the first boat launch in 25 years opens next year. County Supervisor Dave Cortese now worries a new dock will invite abandonment of boats “the last thing we want is for it to look like a junkyard on the water.” Way to lighten up the day Supervisor Cortese...

Great Oaks Water Company is doing the happy dance. A judge has ordered the Santa Clara Valley Water District to refund Great Oaks more than $4.6 million for overcharging.

On the heels of (more) bad news for the Water District, Sig Sanchez has announced his retirement after 55 years in public service. From 4 terms on the County Board of Supervisors to (nearly) 30 years on the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors, Sanchez has seen it all. About retirement Sanchez says “I’ve just updated my TV service and I’ve got 24 hour cartoons coming.”

San Jose lost an icon when developer Jim Fox passed away last week. Fox made sure San Jose’s old buildings were brought back to their former glory, he kept his promises, and smoked his favored cigars on the ledges of his restored buildings. The Merc’s Scott Herhold sends a fond farewell to Fox who left San Jose a better place.

It may be called the Rose Garden but San Jose residents are mighty pissed at the thought of losing a 70 year old Sycamore tree.

Busted. Gilroy’s medical marijuana dispensary owner Goyko “Batzi” Kuburovich refused to let City inspectors stroll through the joint and was tossed into the pokey. Gilroy Councilmember Craig Gartman was curious as to why Police were part of a code enforcement problem and said he didn’t “think the City should try to intimidate a business owner.” The Wild West Weed War...

It was a star-studded night for the swearing in of Palo Alto’s new Police Chief Dennis Burns. Former Secretary of State George Schultz did the honor of swearing in the replacement for Palo Alto’s ousted/ embarrassment Lynn Johnson, relatives from Ireland were on hand and Burns 11-year-old daughter pinned Daddy’s new badge on. Hopes are high for an end to the racial controversies that plagued Burns' predecessor.

Palo Alto’s sit-lie ordinance has been used once for prosecution since enacted 12 years ago to get homeless folks upright. Council candidate/ panhandler Victor Frost drew the lucky straw during his sit-lie candidacy at Whole Foods. Frost’s troubles mount as his public defender ditches Palo Alto for San Jose.

San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo is having a ‘60’s flashback chanting Books Not Bombs. DiSalvo expresses fading hope the new administration will focus on closing the achievement gap and educating the 40% of Latinos and African-Americans who do not graduate from high school.

Protect San Jose notes the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity released their much anticipated quarterly report without fanfare. Protect San Jose plans to dig deep in the 8 page report with regular updates. The first CPLE report concludes by suggesting San Jose Police should change the way racial arrest data is collected and make it public, tell CPLE whether arrests resulted from officer or citizen call, and create a community/police executive ongoing dialogue. Bobby Lopez did not say, "Why doesn't the CPLE solve its own police problems before trying to solve ours..."

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.26.09: A Supreme Tuesday Edition...

As we come back from a long weekend, the news today will be dominated by Supreme legal stuff... California Supreme Court's decision on Proposition 8 and Obama's pick for the US Supreme Court.

But Watch Dog must ask that you don't forget the local stuff... luckily, the Merc’s Internal Affairs never forgets the local stuff…

• Supervisor/President Liz Kniss is fighting with Supervisor Dave Cortese over foster kids. (No, this isn't a custody battle...)
• San Jose Councilmember Nora Campos has a friend in the White House, Adolfo Carrion. Unfortunately, Carrion is accused of taking bribes while a New York Bronx borough president and might not be there long enough to help. (Which is ironic, since Campos' mentor was also written about in the Merc this weekend... we'll get to this later.)
• San Jose’s normally genteel Councilmember Nancy Pyle got testy over accusations she met more than once with bail bonds lobbyists Tom Saggau and Dustin DeRollo and snapped at members of the public. Saggau said if he’s riding the elevator “with someone who's reportable, and I just mention Bad Boys Bail Bonds” he reports the contact.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed is facing off (again) with labor leader/former Mayoral opponent Cindy Chavez. This time it’s a 34 page set of recommendations on how to handle the City's budget crisis. Reed did not say this, however.

San Jose Police are refusing to release 911 tapes from the fatal Mother’s Day shooting of mentally ill Daniel Pham. Santa Clara Police Lt. Phil Cooke crossed the Blue Line and sounded less convinced about the need for San Jose Police Department's secrecy saying, “Police departments live on public trust. You take that away and you have nothing.” Unfortunately, Watch Dog thinks the public trust in the San Jose Police Department may have been bruised well before this incident... (See: Drunk Task Force and IPA selection.)

The Merc Editorial Board sends kudos to the City of San Jose for helping to add Rancho San Vicente to Silicon Valley’s open spaces. The Merc credits San Jose Planners with resisting pressure from developers and lobbyists wanting to build luxury estates. (A much more contentious issue dealing with developers, open space, and lobbyists is brewing in Redwood City, for those of you interested in things north of the Santa Clara/San Mateo County line...)

It was a violent weekend in San Jose…

• A “melee” left 4 men with stab wounds at a South San Jose party. If you have info dish to the San Jose Police Department's assaults unit at 408-277-4161. (Watch Dog doubts many of our readers attend such parties, but you never know...)
• Paul Leyva was beaten and left brain-dead outside a San Jose pizzeria. Call Sgt. Merlin Newton or Detective Bill Hoyt of the San Jose Police Department's homicide unit at 408-277-5283.
• A 25 year old man was shot near McKee and Capitol. Anonymous callers can call Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP (7867).

On a less violent crime note... Lincoln High School’s Jeremy Talamantes saw himself as an artist with all the walls of San Jose as his canvas. San Jose Police, and residents, didn’t agree. Talamantes was yanked out of art class when busted as a member of the Toon Goons.

Morgan Hill’s sparkling new courthouse is headed for its own courtroom battle. In a finger pointing drama, County Supervisor Don Gage says the builder blew it while Paul Thompson with West Bay Builders points at County staff for errors. At issue is $20 million which the County says it doesn't owe the builder -- and the builder kindly disagrees.

An (apparent) joyrider stole a Mountain View Police car during a Shoreline concert. Police later found the car ditched in an apartment complex parking garage. (The Officer left the keys in the car... oops!)

A Monte Sereno “good neighbor” fence was anything but neighborly for Darla Padget who says City Manager Brian Loventhal sent threatening letters. The 10 year old “fence” trial heads to the jury this week.

Here for your Watch Doggers pleasure… the week around Silicon Valley government, with mad props to the Merc's Government Watch (on-again/off-again) crew...

• The City of San Jose Rules Committee talks pay cuts for Councilmembers and management as well as the growing maintenance backlog.
• The Cupertino Union School District studies the Governor’s revised/slashed education budget.
• Franklin-McKinley School District reviews (horrible) financial projections.
• Palo Alto Unified has a full plate with talks of enrollment, boundary changes, Mandarin immersion, and a delayed reopening Garland Elementary. Oh, and the (crappy) budget.

San Jose’s Oak Grove students who come from 13 countries, speak 9 languages, and have to work while in high school, need your help. Dig deep people, send the Valley’s smart kids to D.C. to compete. Donations for the "Eaglebots" can be sent to Oak Grove High School, Attn: Jeanie Romanoff, 285 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, CA 95123.

If you were anywhere near San Jose’s downtown you couldn’t miss Fanime’s costumed conventioneers. If you missed it, you really missed it...

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.1.09: "Size does matter..." according to Mayor Reed

Trying to catch up with Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio's use of inappropriate, sexual references in public, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed declared, “Size does matter” discussing San Jose's population (finally) hitting 1 million residents. (Rumors that Mayor Reed blushed and giggled after uttering the double entendre are unconfirmed...)

Swine Flu update: Four more Silicon Valley schools shut their doors for flu days. While Watch Dog is ready to ditch the Swine Flu mania it is nice to see all the kids wandering aimlessly, in public, with school doors shuttered.

San Jose City Manager Debra Figone put the budget axe to the grindstone. The result, no one is going to be happy. San Jose, trying to close a $77.5 million deficit, is losing nearly 150 people, closing libraries half the week, ditching the mounted police, and closing parks on slow days.

Fire Marshal David Schoonover isn’t a fan of San Jose restaurants’ tents and won’t be a welcome guest for garlic fries and Amber Ale. Visits from Schoonover to the Poor House Bistro, Gordon Biersch, and Smoke Tiki Lounge landed restaurant owners in hot water for their tents. Downtown Councilmember Sam Liccardo is hopeful the businesses and the Fire Marshal will work it out without costing businesses big bucks.

Former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery hoisted a celebratory beer and danced a jig in the tent-free O’Flaherty’s when San Jose Elections Commissioners dismissed the anonymous complaint. Elections Commission Chairman Fred de Funiak was pissed saying the “commission was used,” to go after McEnery. Big guns Supervisor Dave Cortese and Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino showed up to tell the Commission not to accept anonymous complaints. Way to use the Rolodex, Tom. Yesterday, San Jose Revealed posted a scathing challenge to the Merc’s Editors to actually read the report...

Speaking of Dave Cortese... Supervisor Cortese hopes to prevent little kids from landing in the pokey and Silicon Valley from having the youngest child ever locked up.

Silicon Valley hookers will be happy to hear the news, Dean Rish from San Ramon was busted for robbing women in the world’s oldest profession. Public safety officials working with the District Attorney’s office used the internet to find hookers with information about the East Bay robber before busting him.

Alum Rock Union School District Trustees have renegotiated outgoing Superintendent Norma Martinez’ severance package. Gone (finally) are the half million in cash and monthly benefits over $1,500. Martinez’ revised deal of less than $200,000 and half the benefits will allow the District to “move forward” according to Board President Gustavo Gonzalez.

Earlier in the week we wrote about a development in Palo Alto that got shot down by the City's Planning and Transportation Committee... well, the developers had this to say: "This project has been in the works for five years, and this is the kind of dysfunctional process that drives business and tax revenue out of Palo Alto..." How do you really feel?

A grumpy Saratoga Planning Commission approved plans to expand the Inn at Saratoga but let owner Kwan Lee know they were pissed about his refusal to roll in improved handicap access. Commissioner Linda Rodgers said she was disappointed while Commissioner Mary-Lynne Bernald symbolically voted ‘no.’

Sunnyvale’s City Council is declaring Sunnyvale will be a safe place for bicycles and pedestrians at the same time and street parking will have to be sacrificed for the bicycle when needed. That’s putting the green vision where it counts…

Also insisting on going green… Saratoga Mayor Chuck Page is visiting each of his restaurants to ask they ditch the Styrofoam voluntarily. We understand that the American Chemistry Council is trying to track down Mayor Page...

Saratoga’s City Council has been working with Civica Software since November to update the website and settled on the new design this week. Mayor Chuck Page asked the background be white for easy reading while Councilmember Howard Miller said simply “it might be good to find out how to simplify this design to have less words and less clutter,” Miller continued with "one of the problems with websites for infrequent users ... is that they can get lost if there's too much going on." Apparently, this conversation about web-design is what constitutes hard-hitting news coverage in Saratoga...

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro can be found tonight ambling through San Jose’s SoFA district celebrating First Friday with music, art, and a little shopping. Pizarro also dishes former Mayor Ron Gonzales pouring a little red at a Silicon Valley Capital Club fundraiser and former Councilmember/Supervisorial wannabe Forrest Williams has declared himself green from his name to his business cards.

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.8.09: San Jose A's...the first pitch

“Play Ball!” erupted from the usually very mellow Mayor Chuck Reed as discussion began for baseball’s migration to San Jose. Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino calmly ran the numbers reflecting support from local large business. Joining Guardino in support of baseball were local luminaries, former Mayor Janet Gray Hayes, former Mayor Susan Hammer, County Assessor Larry Stone, and Pro Baseball San Jose’s co-founder Michael Mulcahy. Plus a bunch of ballpark neighbors in support, and far fewer in opposition. Lew Wolff must be smiling widely today. San Jose's stadium moving forward (seemingly) and the A's big bats showed up yesterday.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported a letter drafted by freshman Supervisor Dave Cortese to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. The letter reads, in part “When the Giants obtained its territorial rights to San Jose in 1992, it was based upon the assumption that the Giants were going to move from one wealthy enclave to another; namely from San Francisco County to Santa Clara County.”

San Jose’s financial woes are mounting…First finding out that the City's deficit could reach $78 million within the year and now the devastated pension funds (remember, they lost $1 billion). City Manager Debra Figone had to present the bad news -- the pension fund could force an additional $50 million out of the cash strapped City. Mayor Chuck Reed said the City is head towards “major layoffs.” Councilmember Sam Liccardo called it delusional to ask taxpayers to keep up with current funding levels.

Metro/San Jose Insider Erin Sherbert muses Chief Davis might not survive the current Drunk Task Force/Arresting Latinos everywhere crisis. The ever-quotable Police Officers Association President Bobby Lopez says “[Chief Davis] is adamantly in the hot seat right now… Issues are cascading. And at the bottom of them is the signature ‘Robert L. Davis’” Lopez and Sherbert aren't wrong, in Watch Dog's view. Davis is getting hit from all sides right now -- and the City Council's support seems to be cracking...

Mountain View also faces serious budget problems. City Manager Kevin Duggan’s proposal of a “hybrid” strategy that included use of rainy day funds had Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga saying “it’s pouring.” Mountain View Councilmembers are asking residents to get involved early reviewing proposals leading up to decisions later this year.

The Veterans are leaving the Valley. Senator Barbara Boxer’s office says Vets must travel farther to find an open base and is one reason for leaving. Another is the naturally declining population. But the largest reason seems to be a migration of war Vets abandoning the city to head to the country.

The Merc’s Editorial Board sends a message to high school and college graduates facing a grim job future – consider domestic service with AmeriCorps. As President Obama prepares to sign the Serve America Act of 2009 thousands of two year positions will open up with programs like City Year San Jose.

Programs that train high school students and career changing adults could see their funds disappear altogether after the State budget gave flexibility to local districts on using the money. Schools face terrible decisions and program loyalists clamoring to keep their programs running. Nora Ho, Principal of San Jose’s Ruskin Elementary worries bright children will lose the special programs that keep them motivated.

In a sign of the times Kip Berdiansky and Jordan Zewigoron are capitalizing on the Valley’s need to laugh in hard times. The partners took their strange sense of humor and added the American sugar laden treat – the doughnut – to come up with Psycho Donuts. The Merc’s Patty Fisher wasn’t impressed with the tasteless trappings and thinks minor tweaks will remove the offense while keeping the funny.

Things aren’t easy on Mountain View’s Easy Street – some residents arrived home to find they’d been burgled. The cops set off looking for the teens who’d been hanging around earlier and found them with jewelry and a game console stuffed in their pants.

San Jose Revealed muses that it might not be in San Jose’s best interest to subsidize a newsletter featuring politicized commentary bashing Revealed’s friends at Labor. Revealed says the Chamber of Commerce’s six figure subsidy might be an area to look for budget cuts. Revealed has also been prowling survey’s from the Pew Research Center – this time the (un) surprising news that “Latinos have substantially lower confidence in the police” than others. Revealed offers Chief Davis the link to the report, in case he’s interested.

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.6.09: Fake Quotes Edition...

The Merc. was on a tear this weekend over accusations of racial profiling. (Perhaps reporters and editors are listening to the Drunk Task Force even though the folks that launched the Task Force aren't):

• A comparison between the approach of San Jose’s former (beloved) Police Chief William Lansdowne and current (not so beloved) Police Chief Rob Davis. Davis says it’s like comparing “apples and oranges” and an unfair to compare San Diego to San Jose. Davis didn't continue to say, "To compare someone who was loved and someone who isn't, isn't fair..."
  
• Up next, the Barrera family was pulled from their home and put face down in the yard before Police realized they were at the wrong house. (Big oops.) As if the story wasn't enough, the Merc. enters the digital age and has a (controversial) video posted that includes interviews with the Barrera’s and others unhappy with SJPD.
• A weekend expose on the huge number of arrests for disorderly conduct and similar "crimes". Guess what? Latinos get arrested more than anyone else.
• The Merc’s Editorial Board wants Mayor Chuck Reed and City Manager Debra Figone to demand an explanation on the large numbers arrested for disorderly conduct and similar "crimes".

In other law enforcement news: Sheriff Laurie Smith cut off access to expensive psychotropic drugs for inmates in order to save money and get folks off of drugs. Apparently some inmates pretend to be schizophrenic to get high. Spokesperson Joy Alexiou says there are other drugs that do the job but won’t cost as much. (Perhaps meth?) Sheriff Smith did not say, "If the San Jose Police Department would stop bringing us all these people that don't really belong here, we'd really appreciate it."

Tuesday is a big day for San Jose's Major League hopes. In chambers for both the County Supervisors and San Jose City Council the words “Play Ball!” will ring out. The Supervisors and Council call the Giants territorial rights nothing more than the creation of “indentured servants” of the South Bay. Not everyone agrees, Giants Executive Vice President Larry Baer says Santa Clara County is “the heart of our business.” What he didn't say was, "and the heart of business is for sale to the A's if the price is right..."

The Merc’s Internal Affairs brings us up to date on the continuing political drama around Silicon Valley -- even though some of it you know because you read Watch Dog...

• The Manuel Herrera-Xavier Campos battle for San Jose’s City Council District 5 seat is lining up. The X Man (Shirakawa staffer/Nora Campos' brother Xavier Campos) tells us that he is “seriously considering” a run at the seat. Really? Watch Dog is shocked! Shocked! (Except we wrote about on March 20th.)
  
• In the Alum Rock School District, former/current Superintendent Norma Martinez quit last year but is still pulling down the big bucks, draining much needed dollars from a cash-strapped School District, and making the District look horrible...
• GOP rivals for the Governor’s office flew together out of San Jose, which is pretty funny. But that story that both campaigns wanted everyone to know about (which Internal Affairs didn't mention) was that the two m/billionaires were both flying Southwest and the candidates want everyone to know that they are "of the people." Steve and Meg, good work -- we believe it. Whitman was not heard saying, "I like this brand new airline...Southwest."

San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo’s bad decision to take Sharks tickets might not be turn out so badly. The tickets weren’t as expensive as Liccardo thought so there’s (apparently) no violation of State rules. (Watch Dog spies have let us know that the 18th floor of City Hall is scrambling to figure out who else may have taken tickets but not reported them. Remember, Liccardo actually reported the tickets...) One spy did not say, "Everyone accepts tickets, Sam is the only one silly enough to even report it..." (Actually, someone did say that...)

San Jose Revealed amps up the angst over the Liccardo mishap but sets their aims at City Attorney Rick Doyle with a rather long tirade.

Mr. Roadshow’s Gary Richards handed the reins over to Mrs. Roadshow so he could head out for a little baseball. The Mrs. gets the chance to dish on the Mr.’s driving habits.

The community member of the Merc's Editorial Board is changing over. Teresa Alvarado is out and Michelle Lew is in. Lew is the President of Asian Americans for Community Involvement.

Vasona Park was the site of the Iranian community’s annual NoRouz celebration. San Jose Planning Commissioner/Festival organizer Matt Kamkar hopes the crowd of over 20,000 will work together to raise $100 million for a community center in San Jose. Not great timing for that fundraising effort -- but at least the weather was good.

Here’s where you can go to be a part of government in action this week:

• The County Board of Supervisors will hear Supervisor Dave Cortese’s request for more details on the lock-up of a 10 year old boy and his 11, 12 year old siblings. (Oh, and a request to have Major League Baseball let San Jose out of San Francisco's grip...)
• The San Jose City Council will also discuss Major League Baseball and a downtown San Jose stadium...and sidewalk cafes, surplus land, and fee increases for tree removal.
• Monte Sereno’s City Council (they have a City Council?) will consider pay for City Council members. Good timing for that discussion...
• The San Jose Elections Commission will consider the complaint against former Mayor/Lobbyist Tom McEnery, discuss procedures for anonymous complaints, and campaign finance and limits to contributions.
  

And in our School Districts...

• The Franklin-McKinley School District hosts a workshop to figure out how to chop $2 million out of the budget, including increasing class sizes.
• The Los Altos School District discusses removing money from programs to feed the general fund.
• The Alum Rock Union School District will consider formation of multiple committees and consider a supplemental retirement plan for teachers. Wouldn't it be great if the District had a Superintendent to guide this discussion?
• The Cupertino Union School District also considers moving money from programs to keep the general fund afloat.
• East Side Union High School District Trustees will consider approval of a charter for Downtown College Prep, lockers, and an agreement with the teachers union.

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.31.09: Butterflies, Earthquakes, and Porn, OH MY!

In case you missed it, Watch Dog had late breaking baseball news yesterday…MLB Commissioner Bud Selig named a panel to study the A’s options. The Merc’s Morning Buzz tries to spray some water on San Jose’s excitement…the apparently aren't impressed with Lew Wolff's ability to attract microphones magnetically to his mouth...

A minor 4.3 earthquake in the foothills near Mt. Hamilton yesterday shook nerves around Silicon Valley and beyond and uncovered a brand new fault line. Oh, goody. The new fault line runs parallel to the more active Calaveras line which shook the area last in 2007. You can tell the USGS all about your shaking here...

The Merc’s Editorial Board wonders why Supervisor Dave Cortese is the only one seeking a public explanation as to why a 10 year old was tossed in the pokey. In case you missed it, tossing the 10 year old into jail is also a violation of Federal law. Oops…The DA’s office recently turned over kid cases to LACY, none too soon it would seem.

Neighbors around Watson Park are pissed off. It seems San Jose once used the park as a toxic dump. When the sludge was re-discovered the City offered to help. Now that the cleanup is over, the neighbors are trying to deal with the aftermath (home prices, health effects)…

Morgan Hill’s "mixed-use" Measure A plan could be considered panacea by proponents, at least the Morgan Hill Times seems to think so. With support by everyone from the Greenbelt Alliance and Sierra Club to the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Association it looks like former Mayor Dennis Kennedy is keeping his promise to not take anything for granted. Not everyone seems to think mixed use is a good idea, downtown property owner Gary Walton claims it’s “like fitting a square peg in a round hole.” Walton must not get out of Morgan Hill much…

Gilroy’s Safeway has a creep prowling the parking lot. An 18 year old woman was the third victim attacked while heading back to the car. The attacker looks for women traveling solo, until they catch him, take the baggers on their offer for help back to your car...

San Jose Revealed offers a new target to porn crusaders Councilmember Pete "Ball Gag" Constant and former Councilmember Larry Pegram: Sexy San Jose. We would give you an idea about what Revealed wrote, but the website is down -- and has been since (before?) Revealed posted about it...

San Jose Insider/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio keeps his partying ways going. This time celebrating the San Jose Bike Party with a “Psychedelic Robot Ride.” Watch Dog note from one blogger to another, too much rode-here-rode-there, blah blah blah.

According to the Merc’s Chris O’Brien, Senator Dianne Feinstein is trying to clean up the bureaucratic quagmire that surrounds the patent office. Local giants Cisco and Google have been complaining about patent messes that cost them big bucks and squelch the free flow of ideas... looks like they found their advocate.

The Merc’s Scott Herhold spends too much time wandering the halls of Justice. His column is all about the white or khaki shirts that watch as your worldly possessions roll through the x-ray machine, and how much those shirts make.

Sal Pizzaro shares a celebration with the Amigos de Cesar Chavez who will be delivering over 250 lunches to farm workers in Santa Clara County in honor of Cesar Chavez’ birthday today.

Those fluttering leaves everyone is seeing around the Valley are actually Painted Lady butterflies making their annual migration North. De Anza biologist Ryan Phillips is giddy with excitement and called the mass migration “truly spectacular.”

San Jose Police are investigating a late night shooting in San Jose. Sounds like neighbors on Sebasian Way were feuding, the gunman shot at men standing outside his neighbors home. Luckily for the victims (and shooter), neither victim was critically injured.

Meanwhile, Santa Clara Police are still looking into Sunday's murder/suicide...Neighbors are shocked by the deaths of 6 Sunday night. Neighbor Amit Sinha said, "It's such a quiet neighborhood. I don't even hear anybody speaking in a loud voice. And then there are 20 police with semi-automatic guns."

A Mountain View woman who disappeared for four days last year after partying in Mountain View is now heading to jail. To stay out of trouble with the parents she lied to the Police saying she’d been kidnapped and assaulted...now she’s ‘fessed up to concocting the story. Liz Wylie, Police spokesperson, said something was amiss about the story…Y'think?

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.24.09: Drunk Corsortium/Task Force Edition...

San Jose Inside/Metro’s Fly questions the invitation to the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity, saying Police Chief Rob Davis likely had them in mind before the Drunk Task Force was a gleam in the Mayor and Councilmember Nora Campos’ eyes. Seems the Chief made plans with the Consortium sometime before mentioning it to the Task Force. He is said to have been eager to participate with the Consortium as of November last year and has San Jose Police Department as a participating organization on the CPLE website. So, back to Watch Dog’s original post: was there ever a plan by Mayor Reed or Councilmember Campos for the Task Force to be anything other than a place for community members to vent? Or was Councilmember Sam Liccardo prescient when he said: “…the place where good ideas go to die...” If Liccardo was right, then Reed and Campos must have known the bait and switch, Task Force and Consortium, was the plan all along...

San Jose Insider/Silicon Valley De-Bug(er) Raj Jayadev blogs his irritation with San Jose’s (apparent) drunk in public, racial (Latino) profiling problem.

Santa Clara District Attorney Dolores Carr finally has something to celebrate, a huge drug bust in a joint effort with Alameda and Monterey Counties. Over a million dollars in cash, weapons, and spy toys were captured along with 200 pounds of cocaine worth $5 million – leaving local coke-heads out of luck. Of course, the story also says the deliveries from Mexico take place every few weeks so how long the pipeline stays dry is up in the air.

San Jose and the County of Santa Clara are back at it with a tussle over money. Supervisor Don Gage seems hopeful saying under the previous regime (whose name he doesn’t share) they’d all be marching into court. This time the bickering is low key and private, like a tense couple at a party slugging down Martinis.

Would you rat out your neighbor for wasting water washing the Winnebago? The Santa Clara Valley Water District hopes you do. Facing an ongoing drought the District is contemplating cutbacks at today’s meeting. By the way, District Board members also consider allowing voters to decide term limits.

The Merc’s Editorial Board cheers for Supervisor Dave Cortese’s push towards solar and urges the Supervisors to look for rooftops and paved areas – rather than open space – for panel placement. Like, maybe their parking lot on North First?

The Merc’s Ann Killion, focused on sports, questions the wisdom of the A’s Lew Wolff bad mouthing Oakland and the stadium. Wolff initially called the Oakland stadium aging and backtracked a few days later saying he hadn’t intended to insult Oakland. Perhaps not, but Wolff wants a spiffy new place for his team to play and San Jose wants to give it to him.

Passage of Prop 1A and support from the Feds has high speed rail moving forward at a full gallop, which terrifies NIMBY’s between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Gilroy Mayor Al Pinheiro and Councilmember Perry Woodward agree the train is a boon to the Gilroy economy saying, “great European cities grew up around train stations.” Even Gilroy’s Chamber of Commerce gets in on the pro-train chant calling it an economic boon. The challenge for the High Speed Rail Authority is both how to prevent building a modern day Berlin Wall and letting NIMBY’s know their communities won’t be divided. And no offense Gilroy, but you'll never be a great European city...

Morgan Hill is into recycling – at least when it comes to ballot measures. The former Measure H has been repackaged as Measure A for May’s special election. Councilmembers hope to gain support for 500 homes they want downtown. Former Mayor Dennis Kennedy is leading the charge to May and vows not to get complacent – this time.

San Jose Revealed goes into mind-boggling (and mind-numbing) detail with charts and graphs analyzing the turnout in this month’s recall effort against San Jose Councilmember Madision Nguyen. (They lost me at Hello...) Bottom line in all the pointy-headed details: turnout was good not great and more people are voting absentee with each election. Mission City Lantern’s James Rowen also read Revealed’s analysis, Rowen calls it the “most accurate set of predictions of voting trends…”

Revealed uses their joy of analysis to look at local 2010 races. They agree with Watch Dog that San Jose’s Pete Constant and Sam Liccardo will have boring races, Madison Nguyen will face challengers and remain successful, oddly doesn’t bother to mention Nora Campos’ brother-in-waiting to fill his sister’s shoes. A fuller Watch Dog recap of Revealed's recap will appear here later today.

San Jose Insider/San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio complains he’s not part of closed door meetings with labor and calls for a city wide vote on making all negotiations public. Careful what you wish for Councilmember. Public negotiations are a sure way to kill any and all projects...and is what the Labor community was pushing with Community Benefits Initiative years ago...

The clerical screw-up that left the Gilroy Unified School District short $6 million has Supervisorial freshman Dave Cortese lending a hand. Cortese agrees with Supervisor Don Gage that something needs to be done immediately. With all the talking going on, Watch Dog hopes they figure it out soon. It is significantly less interesting to watch the screw-up drag on endlessly than it is to find (and share) solutions to them.

Mountain View residents and eight mediators met to talk about building affordable housing on a parking lot. One resident complained the area would be ghetto-ized with the ROEM development alongside the PacificEuro hotel. Jonathan Emami, a ROEM Vice President, promised a project that was “richly detailed” and would look like a market rate project. Pissed off residents have to wait until July for the design meeting. (If the name ROEM looks familiar, it is because they are the company looking to fast-track an expensive loan from the City of San Jose Housing Department...)

San Jose’s Bill Carlson is bringing good eats to the streets of San Jose – and hoping he’s found the next big thing in downtown eating: beer-bathed sausages. You can find Carlson, and your next brat, at Market & Santa Clara.

Silicon Valley’s Dancing ‘Teletubbie’ Geek Steve Wozniak fills in concerned Mr. Roadshow readers on his various injuries and his dancing exploits. Remember, Vote for Woz and your Prius speeding sins shall be forgiven.

The arts may be struggling with the economic downturn but that hasn’t stopped the Arts Council from naming Nils Peterson as Santa Clara County’s Poet Laureate. Peterson calls himself a ‘coffee shop poet,’ Watch Dog hopes that means we can see him wandering between Trieste and Peet's for a local reading.

Your Los Altos Town Crier mobile update will fill you in on PG&E’s planned power outages Wednesday.

On a (somewhat) related note...

There was a power outage in Palo Alto over the weekend, but that isn't the most interesting part of the story. Check out this media tid-bit about Palo Alto's Utility Department during the outage:

No city utilities officials were available Sunday afternoon or evening to provide information about what was happening.

Oops...

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.17.09: MACSA meet Dolores Carr...

A harsh report confirms that MACSA skimmed/stole $400,000 from teachers at Gilroy’s only charter school. To add to the financial misery, students are underperforming and the schools (there is one in San Jose as well) haven’t met their diversity goals. District Attorney Dolores Carr is noodling over criminal charges, the School District is contemplating yanking the school’s charter. But wait...there's more...The report doesn’t include the $250,000 MACSA skimmed from teachers at San Jose’s Academia Calmecac. Former El Portal office coordinator Lucy Patereau says MACSA’s bad behavior started the day the school opened....expect the damage from this story to reach deep into San Jose politics...

Baseball is in the news...again...Here is the gist: The Giants think they heard good news from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig when he said MLB's stance on the Giants' territorial rights hasn't changed...Lew Wolff probably disagrees. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed waits patiently...

Speaking of education…The Merc’s Editorial Board cheers the collaboration between NASA, Foothill-DeAnza, and UC Santa Cruz to create a $1 billion research/education facility.

Supervisor Dave Cortese envisions arrays of solar panels soaking up the sun, decreasing the County’s energy cost/carbon footprint, and possibly generating revenue. Mike Mendizabal, President of the Milpitas Unified board points out they’re saving millions annually in electricity costs while covering 75% of their energy needs...Have you noticed that since Cortese and Shirakawa become Supervisors the Board is in the news a lot more?...

San Jose Revealed (apparently) spent the weekend reading San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s budget message. Sadly, the somnorific (look it up) did nothing to improve Revealed’s mood. Fair warning to the reader, it’s not the lively, biting Revealed we’re familiar with but a heavy handed grouch.

San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio blogs for San Jose Inside his solutions for the budget crisis. No surprises. Oliverio wants to generate new revenue with a utility tax and cut costs with a wage reduction.

San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo assesses the fiscal benefits for encouraging teachers close to retirement to ditch the classroom. The bottom line: new teachers cost less than those who have been around the block a few times. (On the flip side, they may not be as good in the classroom...)

The Merc’s Scott Herhold is in full-tirade mode about the San Jose Elections Commission. Herhold wants to disband it. (Is this Herhold's way to distract the reader from accusations of bad behavior by former Mayor/Lobbyist Tom McEnery?) Remember, Herhold hate anonymity...

Morgan Hill’s $4 million Third Street Promenade Project could be held up for the simplest of reasons…Morgan Hill declines to assume responsibility should any of the Dasovic family homes they want to work on get destroyed. Speaking mainly in bureaucratic gobblydegook Morgan Hill City Attorney Danny Wan shrugged his shoulders.

It seems like it’s all garbage all the time these days…Gilroy Dispatch Editor’s are urging the County Supervisor’s to just say no to garbage collector GreenWaste's 14% increase. (Good thing Gilroy isn't in San Mateo County -- the Dispatch would have a field day with the Garbage Saga of San Mateo County...)

Gilroy hasn’t seen the last of their gang problem. Friday the 13th included murder, arson, a sawed off shotgun, and a 15 year-old hiding in the bushes. Jason would have been so proud.

Silicon Valley giant Cisco is poised to do battle with longtime (soon to be former) partners HP and IBM by stepping directly into their playpens. Cisco’s John Chambers started the effort 3 years ago calling it Project California: to catch the next wave in the tech revolution.

A trio of teens were tossed in the pokey by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department. San Jose’s Nicholas Masouris, Sunnyvale's Mitchell Azevedo, and an unnamed teen from Campbell are suspected of a string of auto break-ins netting high end electronics and other goodies.

(late again) Morning News Round-Up 1.14.09: Disappointed Edition...

Sorry to disappoint you with the long delay...Watch Dog has been recovering from the Mayor's State of the City (Budget)...more on that later (or tomorrow)...

On to old news...

Garlic Ta-Ta’s closed before it ever opened. Ante Bilic withdrew his application Tuesday morning for a gentleman's club in Gilroy after news broke of the 10 year old prohibition of flaunting ta-ta’s in Gilroy. The sleuthing was uncovered by Home Depot's lawyers. No word yet if the more than $4,000 in fees already paid to Gilroy by Bilic will be refunded. Bilic did not say, "The whole experience with Gilroy was like being in a gentleman's club for an evening -- it's fun while it lasted, but we leave disappointed..."

Speaking of disappointed...at yesterday's Council meeting, San Jose City Councilmembers heard from new Retirement Director Russell Crosby. Crosby described the loss of more than $1 billion from the City employee pension funds. Mayor Chuck Reed said, "We need to restructure the [oversight] boards to bring in outside expertise..." You think? Could this be a signal that Reed-ally/pensioner/pension board overseer/Councilmember Pete Constant is on his way off the board after a dismal two years? Councilmember Sam Liccardo seems to think so, saying “…something is seriously broken here...” calling out massive market losses, a travel audit that uncovered excessive and undocumented expenses, and multi-million dollar over-payments.

Vegas hoteliers called him only “Mr. S” and catered to his every wish -- bowls of Glitterati Mentissimo, chilled Dom Perignon and Kurosawa Sake, silk socks, porn, and (of course) condoms. (Disappointed) John, Randy, and Dave Fry know him as the check-kiting/former exec/jailbird Ausaf Umar Siddiqui. Thanks to the Merc., we all know both sides of the Baccarat embezzler. We've learned that the rumors are untrue that Boots Del Biaggio has applied for a job at Fry's...

San Jose Redevelopment Agency is hoping that divided loyalties may prevent the Santa Clara Supervisors from fighting to prevent the Agency from taking a larger share of property taxes. Will former Councilmembers Dave Cortese, Ken Yeager, and George Shirakawa, Jr. side with the needs of the County and area school districts in battling with San Jose over property taxes? The hearing is set for March in San Jose, stayed tuned...Mr. Mavrogenes, don't be too disappointed if the old adage holds true that "where you stand depends on where you sit"...Dave, Ken, and George sit somewhere new now.

Once a month teachers and students descend upon Barker Elementary School on a Friday night (a.k.a. parents' Date Night) while the school gets to raise some much needed funds. Computer lab specialist Ann West said the kids love hanging out in the library, playing twister, surfing the net, and getting crafty. The funds raised help close budget gaps...

Los Altos native Sargent Binkley has been found not guilty by reason of insanity for robbing a Mountain View pharmacy at gunpoint. The landmark decision handed down by a Santa Clara County jury recognized post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following addiction to morphine as the cause of Binkley's insanity. Prosecutor Deborah Medved argued Binkley was sane and said the law does not allow for insanity based on addiction -- just insanity due to Twinkies...

San Jose welcomed it’s first Indo-American onto the City Council yesterday. Ash Kalra says he didn’t run as an ethnic candidate but is proud to represent his community.

San Jose Revealed wants you to Tweet sjrevealed from San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s annual breakfast (as if Revealed won’t be there...). Revealed also takes time to liken the Madison Nguyen fiasco to a coup in which the beleaguered San Jose Councilmember's peers are attempting to take her out – and insert a new Vietnamese leader who will obediently take orders.

San Jose Inside weighs in on the new Chief Yahoo! Carol Bartz, formerly of AutoDesk. Bartz could be a refreshing change saying she wanted to help Yahoo! “get some friggin’ breathing room.” Watch Dog likes the idea of a 60 year old, female, Yahoo! talking about kickin’ butt...

Morning News Round-Up – 12.22.08: (Unfortunately...) Drunk Driving Edition...

The non-lethal(?) taser stays in the news this weekend. Edwin Rodriguez was killed Friday after being tased, his family says he suffered from schizophrenia and may have been confused when he was tased by police officers. Campbell Police Captain David Dehaan insists Rodriguez was struggling and not handcuffed when he was tased. Sgt. Donald Morrissey of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is keeping mum and won’t comment on the investigation. (Un)Surprising based on San Jose's experience last week...

Hoping to keep the Peralta Action Plan (McEnery Plan) under scrutiny, Councilmember Nora Campos has requested Council access to all legal documents saying, “In order to ensure openness and transparency, the City Council must have access to all documents related to this investigation." Mayor Chuck Reed said the request will be considered in Committee before a decision to discuss in public. The problem for Campos is that the Committee in question is far more likely to delay the request due to a lack of strong Campos allies.

The Merc.'s Internal Affairs reports former San Jose police officer Sandra Woodall will, for now, keep her job as an investigator with the District Attorney’s office. Woodall confessed to drunk driving, is serving time in jail, and, more importantly, undergoing rehab. It seems to Watch Dog she’s owning up and paying penance, what about Sgt. Will Manion and Officer Patrick D'Arrigo, who covered up her drunk driving?

The Gilroy Dispatch is publishing the names of DUI repeat offenders as they’re re-arrested. Watch Dog wonders - is this an attempt to embarrass them into AA or just warn their neighbors? Sandra Woodall should take notice and avoid Gilroy...

Gilberto Vasquez Reyes blew through the red light in San Jose, hitting a mother of four. Debi Dee Parsons-Mason was on her way home from the corner market where she and her youngest son were buying chocolate bars. Police Officer Kathryn Kraus sent the grieving family a condolence card after arresting Reyes for felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter.

San Jose Inside posted a few more Rants & Raves over the weekend, including a gripe that there are too many new daily blogs on SJI (there’s a problem reading – or not reading – more than one story?) and an invitation from Editor Eric Johnson to Kathleen for coffee. Her grumping about editing (by removing libelous remarks) was apparently sufficient to warrant a free cuppa Joe.

Sorry, Barbara Attard, no big fat check for you. But as a lovely parting gift you get all the coffee and chocolate you need to stay wired looking for your next job. Mayor Chuck Reed politely thanked Attard (after unceremoniously dumping her) with a basket of Peet’s and Schurra’s. Not to be left out, Police Chief Rob Davis thanked Attard for the things she did to make San Jose a better place to live (that he stood in the way of) -- like pushing for use of breathalyzers...Mayor Reed was busy shopping, he gave a basket with San Jose Giants tickets and ball caps to outgoing Vice Mayor (supervisor-elect) Dave Cortese and tickets to the Jazz Society to outgoing Councilmember (soon to be Supervisorial intern/candidate) Forrest Williams. Both also received some of the delicious Schurra’s chocolates. A couple of things...does Chuck Reed not notice that a their are locally-owned coffee shops downtown? Does Dave Cortese need to report receiving these gifts from the San Jose Mayor as part of his Supervisorial reporting?...

Sunnyvale Councilmember Otto Lee has been busy since he received notification of his impending deployment to Iraq. Lee has had to wrap up his business affairs, make sure his family is cared for, attend the usual series of holiday parties, and make sure his Council seat is kept warm while he’s away (and that he can get it back when he returns). Dean Chu, who contacted only Lee before his temporary appointment, said he was surprised and had expected an appointment process. Watch Dog wonders if Chu thought that he’d get the seat only after others were invited to apply?

Merc. columnist Patty Fisher lends a voice of support for First 5 in support of keeping their $30 million out of the hands of state Legislators. Tobacco tax money funds the agency allowing them to insure children, improve preschools, keep families together, and provide parenting skills. With the state facing a deepening financial crisis Fisher is right to be worried...

Morning News Round-Up --- 12.17.08: Sports teams leaving, coming, and (hopefully) building downtown...

If using the Taser stops being cool, will police departments go back to bullets? This summer, after the dismissal of 70 lawsuits, TASER International was found partly responsible in the death of Robert C. Heston. (Apparently not related to this gun-loving Heston.) Yesterday, the City of San Jose agreed to pay $70,000 to the wife and child Jose Angel Rios – the City’s first Taser-death-related settlement. San Jose officials face the dismal prospect of two more lawsuits for Taser-related deaths.

After nearly three decades as a public servant, Supervisor Blanca Alvarado attended one last heated meeting as the Supervisors decided to renovate, not expand, the William F. James Boys Ranch. Supervisor Don Gage fought to expand the ranch saying, "We need to go for the 108 beds — this society is getting more violent." (Not everywhere Supervisor Gage, mostly just in your neck of the woods...)

At the same County Supervisors' meeting, and in a presumably much less contentious discussion, Supervisors decided to continue inspecting boats for the invasive quagga mussel.

Crackberry users might need a ranch of their own soon. Mr. Roadshow reminds us that texting while driving joins playing an accordion while driving as a jail-ready offense beginning January 1, 2009. Put the Crackberry and accordions down while driving people...

In spite of a request from San Jose’s outgoing Vice Mayor (Supervisor-elect) Dave Cortese and patients, Good Samaritan Hospital is closing a medical rehab program for cardiac patients. San Jose businessman Tim Bumb says it’s a mistake to close, because he has been using the facility since his quadruple bypass last year. Between Bay 101 and the San Jose Flea Market, Bumb can probably afford a treadmill if not an entire spa.

An excited Lana Malloy took office Tuesday as a Monte Sereno’s Councilmember. A fan of protecting hillsides, Malloy said serving on the Towns Site and Architectural Committee was a must before election to council and reported working on pressing issues such as correct story poles. (story poles?) Malloy fears a proposal from Russ Stanely to convert the La Hacienda Inn into a multi-story senior housing complex saying, "My fear is if [Stanley] gets his way with multi-family housing, it puts the city in jeopardy." After all, who wants those pesky seniors living nearby.

While some cities still can’t manage to get their council meetings on television (Attention Watch Dog San Mateo -- your cities of Atherton and East Palo Alto can't seem to get this right...) Morgan Hill has taken the fireside chat to a new level. As if the world was clamoring for it, now you can get your fix of City Manager Ed Tewes via podcast. Most recently Tewes chatted with Councilmember Marby Lee about the economic struggles faced by Morgan Hill.

As Sunnyvale’s Sailor/Councilmember Otto Lee leaves for Iraq the City Council voted to appoint former Councilmember Dean Chu to keep Lee’s seat warm until his return. Chu came closest (but still lost) in the November 2007 election. David Whittum (the highest vote-getter) and Chris Moylan voted against the proposal. (In an unrelated note, for those of you interested in San Mateo politics...check out what happened yesterday in San Mateo County when a seat opened up -- our northern Watch Dog is an angry dog...)

The Merc's Sal Pizzaro reports Santa Clara University’s Father Paul Locatelli accepted a replica of the St. John’s Bible worth nearly $100,000 from university benefactor Tita Crilly Diepenbrock. If you’re able to repeat the name of the Bible’s home three times “Harrington Learning Commons, Sobrato Technology Center, and Orradre Library” you can visit, and touch the beautiful reproduction.

Opera lovers are a passionate bunch but they don’t normally pay in blood. Opera San Jose’s General Director Irene Dalis is giving opera lovers the opportunity to win tickets to the opening night of Cosi fan Tutti with a donation to the Red Cross. An offer even Dracula would love.

Saratogans will soon be able to get their tea fix locally, Maria Tran’s Teas the Season received approval from the Saratoga Planning Commission – along with a request that the restaurant stay open past 4 p.m. daily and have outdoor seating.

Cupertino is filling a position for Environmental Coordinator in spite of a heated debate on the Council. Councilmember Dolly Sandoval was determined to keep the position funded saying, “I am hoping that we're not going to backtrack on that decision by being penny-wise and pound-foolish. This position is going to pay for itself over and over again." Colleague Gilbert Wong worried the State might (might?) take more money from local jurisdictions – seeking to ease concerns City Manager David Knapp said Cupertino is “…very careful with our pennies. We have an organization that knows how to react in hard times." Famous last words...

The Merc Editorial team cheers the idea of a A’s ballpark in downtown San Jose. Lew Wolff is encouraged to look for private funding ala SBC/Pac Bell/AT&T park. Unfortunately, Major League Baseball hates that idea, but Scott Knies probably loves it...

Music makes the news in Saratoga – the drum major along with the rest of the marching band of Redwood Middle School head to D.C. for an appearance in the Obama inaugural parade. The kids need your help getting there – sending 115 kids will cost $200,000. The Merc’s Patty Fisher asks you send your check for the Saratoga Music Boosters to Redwood Middle School at 13925 Fruitvale Ave Saratoga, CA 95070.

Vova and Jenny Ekhilevsky lost their 4 year old daughter to a mysterious illness and want to know why. Originally thought to be meningitis, the child’s death had parents in Los Gatos and the Santa Cruz mountains terrified. Now, the Coroner’s office has no idea why this otherwise healthy child died.

Apparently seeking to outdo Supervisor-elect George Shirakawa, Jr. for expensive taste, Morton's Steakhouse in downtown San Jose saw the New England Patriots chow down following their victory of the Oakland Raiders. San Jose Inside’s The Fly says that while the steaks are expensive at Morton’s it was the champagne and cognac that helped the bill tip the scales at $30,000.

Also hanging out in San Jose restaurants, Sal Pizzaro attended a farewell party for San Jose’s (fired) Independent Police Auditor Barbara Attard at Smoke Tiki Lounge. The party included De-Bug’s Raj Jayadev, former IPA now Superior Court Judge Teresa Guerrero-Daley along with a host of Councilmembers. Attard promises to continue consulting on police-oversight issues saying, "I'll still be a thorn in the sides of those who need that, and a beacon of light to others.”

San Jose Inside's Tom McEnery chides The Fly for referring to the boys in blue as “rogues” preferring instead to lay that moniker at the feet of federal judges considering the release of 52,000 inmates due to overcrowded prisons. McEnery worries that poor neighborhoods may see an influx of ex-cons.

The death of the SaberCats leads San Jose Revealed to a long diatribe about the various sporting maneuvers underway in San Jose.

Can it really be MacWorld without Apple? Yep, Steve Jobs has yanked Apple and himself from MacWorld after next months event. Rumors abound that Jobs’ health is the real reason for the disappearance from MacWorld...and the tumble in the stock price...