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 dennis burns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dennis burns. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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:
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..."
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..."
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