Morning News Round-Up -- 3.12.09: More Former Mayors in the News...

Baseball is back in the news…Mayor Chuck Reed and Company settled on an April 7 public meeting about bringing the A’s to San Jose. The decision followed input from the A's to San Jose Study Group Co-Chair Michael Mulcahy...and residents for and against a little springtime action. Metro’s Erin Sherbert weighs in on the growing excitement about the A’s. So does the Baseball San Jose blog...

The Merc’s Scott Herhold dedicates his space to musings over the Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins/Cindy Chavez shuffle at the South Bay Labor Council -- the impact to the Labor movement, to City Hall, and to local politics overall. (Herhold also mentions another Former Mayor in his piece...bringing the week's total of San Jose's Former Mayors mentioned on Watch Dog to 2, Former Mayoral Candidates remain at 3, and Current Mayors at 1.)

San Jose Inside/Metro’s Fly has been cruising Facebook (again) and found San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant's Chief of Staff, Jim Cogan, once again expressing an opinion in opposition to his boss. High on the list of all time best lines, Fly accuses Cogan of “performing rhetorical backflips” to explain his support of an anti-Internet filter group ‘Books Not Filters’. (There is no truth to the rumor that Constant is searching for his ball gag for Jim...)

San Jose Inside blogger/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio blogs that those who “choose to live outside” (i.e., homeless) are here because San Jose is unable to put a border around itself. Tough talk for a guy with a guaranteed job…

The Merc’s Editorial Board puzzles over the "layoffs" at San Jose’s City Hall. Expect a loud (obvious) response from San Jose Revealed...

The San Jose Medical Center closed its doors in 2004, with neighbors in an uproar over the loss of a downtown hospital. The Merc’s Editorial Board lends its support to a Gardner Family Health Network urgent care facility to replace at least some of the medical services for San Jose’s growing downtown. A few obstacles lay in the path of making this real – most notably the former SJMC owner HCA who is not likely to support a competitor. (HCA also runs/owns Regional Medical Center...)

San Jose’s Elections Commission is irritated by the anonymity of a complaint against former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery. (Former Mayor count is now at 3 for the week...) Chairman Fred de Funiak is irked that Commission rules allow for anonymous sources but is unwilling to change those rules in the middle of the McEnery complaint. Attorney James McManis points out the complaint is based on public information...

McManis is busy these days...

James McManis is pleased to see the end of the decade long gambling lawsuit. His client, Bay 101 and San Jose’s other gambling paradise, Garden City, will be able to remain open 24 hours. Gamblers must, however take a mandatory 4 hour bet-free break. One wonders exactly how that will be enforced…

San Jose Revealed uncovers the insecurities that San Jose struggles with: does anyone know the way to San Jose, does anyone really care? Revealed poses questions about San Jose’s political relevance both State- and nation-wide while wondering when San Jose Mayors will get press for something other than being a stiff, a philanderer, a criminal, or all three.

Saratoga Mayor Chuck Page calls it a victory in the making. The Council has asked staff to examine Saratoga's permitting process with an eye towards decreasing the number of eyes that have to review. Will Saratoga NIMBYs still be allowed to oppose permits?

Warning to anyone living near a Caltrain line: an improvement project will be keeping you up at night, at least temporarily. Eventually the rail grinding project will decrease the noise but for now anyone hoping to sleep between 10 pm and 4:30 am better get earplugs.

A suspicious package in Palo Alto down the street from a Jewish day school caused the school's evacuation. The make-shift package was made to look like a bomb and carried with it a menacing note...That is a scary story...

So is this...Sunnyvale as beach front property? The Pacific Institute has released a report identifying Alviso, along with hazardous dump sites, power plants, sewer plants, and communities around the Bay as being in danger as sea levels rise. Jim Wunderman, CEO of the Bay Area Council, recommends moving at high speed to resolve the problem. (Watch Dog San Mateo laments the possible loss of a blog-buddy during the rising tides...)

The City of Palo Alto and Stanford University don't always get along. Although neighbors and inextricably linked, land-use and taxes and traffic and housing cause all kinds of disputes. Take the proposed new hospital Stanford would like to build. Palo Alto is concerned about the impacts to roads, housing, etc. The City of Palo Alto and Stanford officials are set to meet to discuss the hospital and other Stanford-expansion projects in 3 days...in a thinly-veiled move to make the hospital look better to residents (and perhaps to the Palo Alto City Council as well) -- Stanford released a report yesterday pointing out that the hospital expansion would add $18 million in revenue to the City of Palo Alto...

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.11.09: "San Jose's Mayor, former Mayor, and three former Mayoral candidates walk into a bar..."

There was a lot of fast-breaking news yesterday. The two big stories involved the Current San Jose Mayor, a Former San Jose Mayor, and 3 Former San Jose Mayoral Candidates...(these folks are bolded for your reading pleasure...)

Former Mayoral Candidate Story 1:
The South Bay Labor Council broke the news that Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins would be moving to Oakland to head up Green For All a non-profit dedicated to building the green economy. Former Mayoral Candidate Cindy Chavez is taking over the helm of the South Bay Labor Council. This news has big political implications, but the roll-out of the news speaks a lot about who is covering and driving news in Silicon Valley these days:

Here’s a rundown of how the news broke.

• 9:39 a.m.: San Jose Revealed broke the news (hmmm...)
• 10:01 a.m.: Watch Dog caught the news from Revealed and published a brief piece
  
• 10:05 a.m.: KLIV broadcast the story, including props from Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Leader/Former Mayor Candidate Pat Dando on the selection of former Councilmember Cindy Chavez as the new Labor leader...
• 11:19 a.m.: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal posted props from Congressman Mike Honda.
• 12:58 p.m.: The Merc finally caught up in the afternoon. To their credit it was a detailed story with a quote from Ellis-Lamkins that watching families earn more made “it worthwhile at 2 in the morning.”
• 1:25 p.m.: San Jose Inside’s The Fly (apparently) reads Revealed and congratulates themselves for predicting the departure of Ellis-Lamkins.
  

Former Mayor/Former Mayoral Candidate Story 2:
Former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer and Former Mayoral Candidate Michael Mulcahy are Co-Chairing the A's to San Jose Study Group. The San Jose Rules and Open Government Committee, Chaired by Current Mayor Chuck Reed will discuss baseball's prospects today. (That is different than Billy Beane discussing baseball prospects...) It’s unlikely that anyone on the Council will object, since Current Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilmember Sam Liccardo first raised the issue, their colleagues “have practically been tripping over each other to demonstrate support” according to the Merc. We also re-welcome Baseball San Jose to the local blogosphere -- we like your look...

Mountain View’s City Council doesn’t share their neighbors' (Palo Alto) disdain for high speed rail. Councilmember Mike Kasperzak has asked Mountain View be considered for a station though he’s doubtful the State will agree. Councilmember Laura Macias said no to the request saying Mountain View didn’t have room for a station.

Mountain View-Los Altos Adult Education is letting go 119 folks. The program serves 11,000 adults annually. I guess Watch Dog won’t be brushing up on those cooking skills after all…

The East Side Union High School Trustees will ditch 129 teachers, 116 staffers, charge $200/year/student for after-school sports, and ask students to raise $500,000 on their own. Superintendent Bob Nunez acknowledged the cuts will affect students and said “certain things just won’t get done anymore…” Like teaching?

Morgan Hill’s Ann Sobrato High School is raising the next generation of soil chemists, biologists, and agriculturists with the help of Cal Poly grads/teachers Myndi Muzik and Tanya Salo. Their enthusiasm and support have junior Tracey Salvador lusting for a career in floral design and sophomore Joey Cassibba heading to veterinary school. Muzik says her goal is teaching ag literacy which is critical when 2% of the population supports the other 98%.

Palo Alto business owners won’t easily accept the proposed business tax. Dozens of business owners showed up for a Finance Committee meeting to protest. Pat Sausedo, executive director of a local Realtors association, complained this was the wrong time to consider a tax. The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce also took a stance against the proposal and called for a Task Force. Councilmembers Pat Burt and Larry Klein suggested a possible compromise was in the offing.

The Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits’ Patricia Gardner reports that only 7% of their 100 members are financially strong. More than half will be issuing pink slips and those who support the homeless and mentally ill are flooded with new clients.

San Jose Inside’s man-about-education, Santa Clara County Board of Education Member, Joseph DiSalvo, voices outrage that federal income guidelines aren’t indexed to the community. Welcome to the real world Joe...

The news from South County has reached San Jose. The new courthouse will be open in less than a month. Judge Edward Lee won’t miss their current digs which are filled with vermin of the 4 legged kind. Morgan Hill leaders are hoping the new digs are pedestrian friendly and everyone at the courthouse will schlep over to downtown to spend their hard earned dollars.

Khaled Hosseini’s family fled Afghanistan and landed in East San Jose when he was 15 and spoke no English. A year at Independence High paved the way for Hosseini to become a doctor and a celebrated author. Although Hosseini’s first novel, ‘The Kite Runner’ has been made into a movie and praised by renowned author Isabel Allende, Hosseini says it’s surreal to see his story come to life in a play in the town where his family lived on welfare.

Watch Dog note to Los Gatos Observer’s Dan Pulcrano – when you decide to publish news again let us know…

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.19.09: "Your Cell Phone Law Sucks" Edition...

San Jose/Santa Maria State Senator Abel Maldonado got his wish while others called it "blackmail, extortion, and skulduggery." This morning, the State Senate approved the budget along with Maldonado’s proposed Constitutional Amendments for an open primary system and banning legislative pay increases during deficit years. Legislative leaders refused to cut their pay altogether when the budget is late. Maldonado said, “I'd like to have seen somebody else vote for this budget. And it would have been easy for me to cast a 'no' vote." San Jose State Senator Elaine Alquist said, "I'm a realist and I understood we needed a two-thirds vote. I did what I had to do."

Speaking of Sacramento...

"Senator Joe Simitian: Your cell phone law sucks." That's not Watch Dog saying that, that is a billboard on 101 in East Palo Alto, thanks a wasteful-spending angry man named Grant Paulson...

San Jose Revealed said something we never thought we’d hear: they agree with San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio. Mayor Chuck Reed has given City Manager Debra Figone free rein in developing the strategy for this daunting task. Revealed doesn’t agree with this approach and Oliverio is struggling with it as well. Revealed and Oliverio agreeing...can hell freezing over be far behind?

San Jose Inside’s Pete Campbell was also keeping an eye on San Jose’s budget workshop. Campbell’s take was a little different: he proposes outsourcing economic development to the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and giving the Office of Cultural Affairs funding to private donors, corporations, and “other groups.” Campbell also proposes handing the Housing Department over to the County. That's pretty radical stuff...incredibly unlikely, but radical...

Also on San Jose Inside: Metro's Fly asks some questions about Labor leader Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins' sabbatical and what that means for former Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez. From 'working on the transition' for several months to being on 'sabbatical'...Really? Watch Dog predicts more news on this front...

Be careful what you wish for...young, “scrappy” lawyers with Legal Advocates for Children and Youth will take representation of Santa Clara County’s foster youth away from the District Attorney’s office in the coming months. The new lawyers earn a fraction of prosecutors $188,000 salary and plan to spend oodles of time working with each child. They want a case load of 175 children per lawyer, well below the State standard of 188 and a fraction of the sometimes over 400 per lawyer seen at the DA’s office. Get ready to work your ass off Legal Advocates...

Speaking of the DA's office...

The Merc.’s Scott Herhold takes a day off, instead letting readers that are annoyed at him for his support of troubled District Attorney Ben Fields (and other things) fill his column. Herhold pokes fun at readers comments along the way...careful Scott, those readers are fewer and farther between than they used to be...

Santa Clara County’s Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team made a field trip to San Francisco to raid ‘the Castle’ and arrest 4 people for dealing meth. Meth users in the “more affluent residential areas” of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties can look for their dealer in jail. David Hendrickson, an investigator with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office who headed the task force said the investigation started with informants in San Mateo County.

In front of a packed house, the Los Altos City Council selected plans for their new Civic Plaza. Dominant in the drawings are trees – lots and lots of trees.

It was standing room only at the Los Altos School District meeting when the discussion was cutting $3.4 million from programs. Randy Kenyon, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, said “…programs mean people...” Board member Mark Goines said he wants to review cuts totaling $5 million, to prepare for years of deficits the District faces down the line. The Board meets March 2nd to make its final decisions.

Parts of Stevens Creek will be moved, others restored as it flows through Cupertino. (The actual Creek not the street.) Ralph Qualls (of San Jose fame), Cupertino's Director of Public Works is planning for a 4th of July re-opening. Cupertino spent more than 20 years cobbling together the land along the corridor.

Like the rest of America, Sunnyvale is slashing expenses. With a $12 million shortfall this year and a $9 million deficit the loser in this economic crisis is likely to be the Morse Park near Tasman. Developer fees cover construction but the more than $100,000 in projected annual maintenance is more than Sunnyvale can bear. Morse Park Neighborhood Association Chair Adam Berkan said that by not building the park "they've actually hurt a neighborhood." City Manager Gary Luebbers said, "Things are tough right now, and I don't see the park in the mix this year."

Perhaps this will help...

Sunnyvale joined San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed in asking for federal dollars. Asking for $64.5 million to support 15 projects, City spokesman John Pilger said, "there's a significant trickle-down within private industry if we have a major construction job like the rehabilitation of a bridge." Adam Berkan is looking for some of the trickling to flow towards Morse Park.

Maybe she was trying to be efficient, or maybe she just really, really wanted her Starbucks fix. Whatever the reason, an unnamed woman drove her gold Jaguar through the window of Gilroy’s Starbucks. Sgt. Jim Gillio said no alcohol (perhaps caffeine?) was involved and, "It was pretty shocking but these types of things happen now and again."

A week ago, the Gilroy Pontiac Buick GMC left 26 people without jobs as they shuttered their doors. This week, it’s Gilroy Ford Lincoln Mercury leaving town, with 31 people getting cut. City Administrator Tom Haglund met with owner Don Malinoff and General Manager Joe Lopez Tuesday to see if the city could dig up extra cash for the dealership, but Lopez said Wednesday that it was not likely any arrangement would be reached. As tough as it is to have folks lose their jobs...this must be a huge sales tax hit to Gilroy. That's why the Gilroy Economic Development Director didn't say, "Pretty please come to the outlets..."

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.17.09: Soggy Biking Edition...

In case you were on lucky enough to be on vacation yesterday and missed our Morning News Round-Up, check out yesterday's goings on here. The real highlight of the day, however, was the national attention Assemblymember Joe Coto's blanket and sleeping habits received...

The Merc.’s Editorial Board is calling for San Jose Police Department to release reports on drunk arrests, no doubt making the Drunk Task Force, Councilmember Nora Campos, and the ACLU very happy. While at the same time, making this guy very nervous...Watch Dog has been covering the ever tipsy story on skyrocketing arrests of Latinos in San Jose here, here, and here.

San Jose/Santa Maria Legislator Senator Abel Maldonado is enjoying his time in the catbird seat and issued a list of demands in exchange for his Republican vote on the State budget proposal. Maldonado’s list includes eliminating partisan primaries, stopping Legislator paychecks (when the budget is overdue), and refusing raises when the State runs a deficit. Colleague/San Jose Senator Elaine Alquist has released a list of projects in Santa Clara County that will be affected if the Governor keeps his promise to stop funding if there’s budget agreement today. No wonder Coto couldn't stand to watch this rerun...Maldando will cave and be a big hero...

Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager thinks the County may have too many cars in its garage and has started an audit saying, "I was concerned that the County was purchasing a lot of automobiles, and I wanted to make sure everyone who is assigned a car needs one." High time too. It’s been nearly three decades since an audit was done of County vehicles. There are currently 144 county employees who have “take-home” cars, including Yeager’s colleague Supervisor Don Gage. I guess a 12-year job at over $100k isn't enough for Gage, he wanted the car too...

At least Supervisor Gage drives his County car...According to an informal survey by the Merc’s Mr. Roadshow Gary Richards, Gage drives solo from Gilroy to San Jose in a GMC SUV but takes light rail from County offices to events in downtown San Jose. Gage must have worried when he received the call from Mr. Roadshow as he said, "Please be nice to me. I am responsible for many key transportation projects completed under budget and ahead of schedule in South County." Check out the story to see how other local leaders get to work...

The Amgen Tour of California will zip through town today as cyclists race out of San Jose on their way to the Central Valley amidst buckets of rain. Cyclist/cancer survivor Lance Armstrong tweeted a request to move the race to April, had a bike stolen, and crashed with a photography motorcycle. The Merc’s Ann Killion covers the race in all its dripping glory.

Local Legislator’s continue dealing with the Great Recession. Around the Valley meetings are in full swing after a wet three day weekend:

• Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will get a report from Acting County Executive Gary Graves with an update on the budget, including staffing impacts and year-end projections for the general fund. This won't be good...
• Santa Clara Valley Water District hears from staff regarding water supply and possible drought restrictions. Ironic, since it has been an incredibly wet week...
• San Jose’s City Council will look at budget corrections, changes to an arts stabilization fund, and new fees for parking violations. Now in real person speak: "corrections" mean things aren't going well, "changes" mean there isn't enough money to stabilize the arts, and "new fees" mean hold on to your wallets...
• Santa Clara's City Council will discuss a grant for police equipment...
• Sunnyvale’s Council considers changes to their sign code...
• The every-entertaining Alum Rock School District Trustees are still talking about lawyers, as in, who to keep/fire/hire.
• Campbell Union School District looks at their strategic plan, facility needs, and talks contracts with the teachers. Again, in real person speak: discussing contracts means the contracts are going to get contracted...
• Cupertino Union School District Trustees meet with the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation Board to discuss instructional technology, the budget, and the parcel tax...
• Los Altos School District looks at the parent survey results and hears about proposed budget cuts.

According to the Merc’s Sal Pizzaro, there is an unlikely duo voicing support for San Jose’s beleaguered Councilmember Madison Nguyen. San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber CEO Pat Dando and Labor Leader Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins have joined forces for a public service spot on KLIV and KRTY. Both stations are owned by local legend (and Nguyen fan) (and Little Saigon business owner) Bob Kieve. Watch Dog would have loved to be in the studio when those two cut that spot...

Pizzaro also lets us know that when we see him out and about this week he won’t be covering local stories, he’s taking a one-week furlough imposed by the Merc. because times are tough.

Watch Dog Weather Report: You might be thinking, as you slog through rising puddles, that all threats of drought imposed sanctions are over. Not so fast. So far this season we’ve received about 8 inches, according to Santa Clara Water District spokesperson Susan Siravo, "This doesn't get us out of the woods yet. We need eight inches plus of rain [more] to get us to where we need to be." Let's hope that those 8 inches don't all fall today...

In spite of the wet weather, San Jose’s rare peregrine falcon’s have returned to City Hall. Clara and Carlos will again be on the City’s webcam giving you the opportunity to be a 24-7 voyeur. The Merc notes that anyone interested in helping to support the San Jose City Hall falcons and the work of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group may do so by making tax deductible donations by check or online.

The Morgan Hill City Council is considering a 2% utility hike to help ease their budget woes. Measure G on last year's ballot failed miserably. Councilmember Marby Lee said of the failure, "I think part of it may be the public didn't trust us to use the money for what we said it would go for." Y'think? This week council will consider a June or November ballot measure.

Hoping to drag an East Bay sports team South, Morgan Hill property/business owner Julie Borina Driscoll sent letters to the Board of Supervisors and the Oakland Raiders urging them to consider Morgan Hill as their new home. Supervisor Don Gage suggested that Morgan Hill might not be the best solution and offered that conversion of (County owned) Hellyer Park in South San Jose is a better idea. Morgan Hill Councilmember Greg Sellers said having the Oakland A’s in Morgan Hill would be a “dream come true” but wondered about the fiscal impacts saying, "If it would cost the community money, I don't think it would be appropriate right now." Especially given the proposed 2% utility tax hike being considered...

Nearly 35 years ago Gilroy was embroiled in “Sewergate” after news broke that City Administrator Jay Baksa’s predecessor and other top-level employees had orchestrated and covered up sewage dumping into a local creek after two years of heavy rain overwhelmed the system. The State imposed a building moratorium on Gilroy. This year, the Morgan Hill/Gilroy South County Regional Wastewater Authority received the Plant of the Year Award from the California Water Environment Association. Gilroy’s Public Information Officer Joe Kline reports Gilroy is now poised to grow. He didn't say, "We need more outlets...a lot more outlets..."