Morning News Round-Up -- 5.13.10: Bike to Work... (or think about it at least...)

San Jose will join forces with other right-minded (or is it left-minded) California communities in pushing for some sort of boycott of Arizona... Don Gage and Pete Constant are the only (tea party) hold outs and are supporting the Arizona law -- sort of. Expect lots of American flag t-shirts and a Tea Party rally before the Council meeting in June...

When the San Jose City Council does take up the issue in June, it is likely that they won't get a lot of text messages during the Council meeting... John Woolfolk at the Merc looks into the lack of texting between lobbyists and the Council during Council meetings, which they banned a few months backed -- it wasn't so much as a ban as much as it was that those texts were open to the Public Records Act. We did learn something interesting from Councilmember Ash Kalra:

"Councilman Ash Kalra said he was messaging back and forth with his staff about unrelated upcoming agenda items, something he does frequently because "it's the one time of the week when they have me captive and I can get stuff done.""

That probably isn't very reassuring to all those public speakers (and City Staff) who think that Kalra is actually listening to them... silly public speakers (and City Staff)...

Yesterday was the Merc's deep-dive into the Dolores Carr half of the DA's race, today is Jeff Rosen's moment in the spotlight. There is lots of good information in the piece about his background, his law school days, how he didn't like being an associate at a law firm, and this little tidbit: he weighs 140 pounds...

Just to pile on...

The Metro's endorsements have been piling up on someone's desk, because they are all coming out at once. First it was Magdalena Carrasco and now it is Jeff Rosen. Just so we are clear, Metro endorsed Dolores Carr last go'round, but not this time...

49ers in. Yahoo in. The Santa Clara City Council is having a very busy year...

The Mercury News Editorial Board agrees with just about everyone else that the Water District should redo how it redrew their District lines... the District has scrapped the old plan and now is looking for a new plan...

The Merc Ed Board also commends the East Side Union High School District Board for cutting their own stipend and insisting on paying part of their medical benefits... which begs the question: East Side Union Board members get a stipend and health benefits?

We can't believe we've missed out on another local blog... Sunnyvale City Councildweeb Jim Griffith is writing frequently and brings us an insider's perspective to the goings on in Sunnyvale. Read more at dweeb.org... the latest updates are about Nokia opening up their Nor Cal headquarters in downtown Sunnyvale, which is "huge" according to Jim's Council Blog... He recommends: "...every one of us should immediately go out and buy our City Manager, our City Attorney, and their respective staffs a large bottle of their favorite alcoholic beverage..." That would be a sleepy party...

In sad news, the ACLU is closing its San Jose office because of budget cuts. That will make San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis and the POA pretty happy... but it makes Watch Dog sad. Why? First, the ACLU protects idiots like Watch Dog... and second, the ACLU local person, Skyler Porras, was a great quote. Remember these highlights?:

• About Mayor Reed: "...petulant political posturing..."
• About a plan for the San Jose Police Department to police themselves: "...Asking the police department to police themselves has been about as effective as asking a teenager to ground themselves after missing curfew..."
• About San Jose's plan to hire a group of social scientists to study the drunk arrest problem: "...a bumbling way to appease a scandal-plagued but politically powerful police department..."

While we are on the topic, did you know that a west coast big city mayor forced out the city's police chief? There were concerns about how the police department was dealing with vulnerable populations in the city... hmmm...

Finally, there is a woman at Valley Medical Center that they are trying to identify. If you know an elderly Asian woman that is missing, please take a look at the photo.

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.18.10: Hungover? 420

John Woolfolk, the City Hall beat reporter for the Merc, has a piece in today's paper about pension costs rising in San Jose. The story is short, but the message is clear: the City of San Jose is in deep financial doo-doo. The City's pension costs are going up nearly 43 percent this year to clost to $200 million in the coming fiscal year. So all you folks who love neighborhood centers, libraries, and paved roads -- get ready.

Speaking of budget cuts... the East Side Union High School District is cutting just about everything in their budget for next year. You know what would probably help in these difficult times out there? A Superintendent...

San Jose has a pot club problem. You see, they are sprouting up -- and their landlords are being threatened to close them down. To add insult to injury, here is San Jose's chief Code Enforcement dude: "...It's not that we don't want to welcome medical marijuana dispensaries in San Jose. We just haven't had a chance to try to figure out where we want them, and how many we want..." Huh? It sounds like he's been to one too many clubs...

Yesterday we learned about a possible firefighter-backed ballot measure in Palo Alto (headed up by a Sunnyvale City Councilmember...). Today, we learn that the firefighters in Gilroy are just as pissed -- and so is the City of Gilroy. They keep sending nasty letters back and forth to each other (and to the Gilroy Dispatch). Perhaps the firefighters should call Councilmember Tony Spitaleri in Sunnyvale...

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.3.10: Scrappy or Wimpy?

Unbelievably, there is no story about District Attorney Dolores Carr today...

Downtown San Jose may start looking a downtown in real city now that the City Council has allowed more electronic signs. Now the "going out of business" signs will attract a lot more attention... just kidding everyone, just kidding.

Poor Republican Gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner. Obviously not the 'poor' like he has not money, but the 'poor' like he keeps tripping over himself... In a sad piece, the Merc's Scott Herhold rips into Mr. Poizner (as the students once called him and will call him again... soon) for his weak press conference earlier in the week where he likened the 'threats' the Whitman camp had thrown at him to the Sopranos... Herhold calls him a "laughingstock"... Poizner's Last Stand got another story today about whether the press conference made Poizner look scrappy or wimpy, wimpy, wimpy... We know what Herhold thinks...

Another local rich guy is running for statewide office as well... Chris Kelly of Facebook fame, put in $2 million into his own campaign last year to lead all the Attorney General candidates in "fundraising"... of course, his rivals actually had to fundraise rather than get out their checkbooks. Leading the real fundraising is Kamala Harris ($1,247,353) then Rocky Delgadillo ($1,185,429) then Silicon Valley's neighbor Alberto Torrico ($1,125,982) then Ted Lieu ($1,023,357)... Watch Dog guesses that anyone who is willing to put $2 million into a race is probably willing to put at least $2 million more... sort of the Meg Whitman strategy. (Thank you Politicon Valley...)

In other campaign finance news...

No shock here, the 49ers are putting money into the campaign that will (they hope) get them a new stadium in Santa Clara. So far, the 49ers have spent $350k on campaign stuff... expect more, a lot more. The 49ers must be freaked out... their opponents raised $825. Plus, the 49ers have James Rowen beating up the opposition everyday at Mission City Lantern...

The East Side Union High School District had some good news in the paper today...

Eddie Garcia, the President of the Board of the East Side Union High School District, adapted his State of the District speech for the Mercury News Editorial pages today. He lays out what 2010 will look like for the ESUHSD. Which brings up the question: How did someone who voters neglected to put into office actually become President of the Board? (Remember, Garcia is a twice-appointed Board member...)

and some East Side Union High School District bad news...

"Audit blames East Side board, not former Superintendent Bob Nunez, for lapses" Perhaps the voters were right...

You remember the story of the Sarah Botill (daughter of a Firefighter) in Gilroy who died after a night drinking (at a former City Councilmembers house). Well, the toxicology report came back and it says that she only had a "moderate amount of alcohol in her blood."

Joe DiSalvo over at San Jose Inside recaps a Charter School Summit that happened last Saturday. He hopes the Summit will start to heal old wounds... good luck with that Mr. DiSalvo.

Morning News Round-Up -- 11.16.09: Untrusted Trustees...

East Side Union High School District has a “line of troubles” and a “string of scandals” according to the Merc’s Editorial Board. They call on Trustees to do a national search for a “charismatic, ethical, reform-minded” Superintendent to replace their most recently disgraced leader. There’s also a hint of what incumbent Trustees 2010 election could look like with this Editorial pointing to the Board's own scandals. (Don't say we didn't warn everyone...)

Back in the news… Are kids committing adult crimes old enough to serve adult sentences? Santa Clara District Attorney Dolores Carr is staying out of the public eye while the Supreme Court weighs in on a case that could affect her chances to send teenagers to jail forever in the Halloween attack on children.

San Jose Police busted two teens, 15 and 16, for the murder of Santa Teresa High sophomore Michael Russell. While the names of the kids are kept under wraps, students and parents figured it out and scoured their MySpace pages looking for clues to the senseless attack.

The Merc’s Scott Herhold shines a light on pressing reader questions over the return of medical services to downtown San Jose. Herhold’s guess as to the biggest risk “a suburban-style clinic with parking and fence” could do in chances for “an intelligent urban mix of homes and shops,” with a medical clinic.

Patience is a virtue and it pays well. Cargill Salt dickered with the IRS for 6 years over how big a tax break they should receive for sale of the salt flats. Pesky environmentalists aside, Cargill walks away with a cool $100 million tax break.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs reports District Attorney Dolores Carr couldn’t help getting chummy with pal/ contributor/ attorney Jim McManis. In spite of the recent hot water Carr got in over her relationship with McManis, Carr was sharing cocktails with chum him. We wonder which one of McManis' clients are going to get a deal this week...

IA also notes the 2010 races are heating up as Gilroy Councilmember Peter Arellano jumps into the crowded pool of contenders for Supervisor Don Gage’s (termed out) seat.

IA has the hots for opposing San Jose City Council aspirants, Don Rocha and Jim Cogan. IA calls this a “swoon-inducing contest.” Watch Dog has to wonder how folks would respond to such language if the two candidates were women...

The final Environmental Impact Report for the (proposed) 49ers Santa Clara stadium popped up late Friday afternoon, just in time for a little light weekend reading. According to Assistant City Manager Ronald Garratt, traffic and parking were – of course – the big issues. Garrett suggests you need an actual game day to see if the planning worked.

San Jose Unified School Districts chief nurse Melinda Landau is heading to downtown San Jose with a basket of swine flu shots for kids. San Jose Unified is the only District shooting for mass inoculation. According to District Superintendent Don Igelesia’s District-wide inoculation is Landau’s “mission.”

Los Gatos molester Del Colegrove is heading to jail – until 2063. Busted for molesting a 16 year old, Colegrove was also accused of molesting the girl’s older sister 20 years ago.

Editors at the Mountain View Voice wonder if their City Council considered the conflicting message sent when they ok'ed a freeway accessible shopping mall at the same time setting aggressive goals for greenhouse gas reductions. The Voice suggests a shopping mall might be a better idea downtown with a park and housing on their new found land next to the Stevens Creek Trail.

Morning News Round-Up -- 11.2.09: Change of Culture Edition...

Well, Sunday's paper had some more bad news for the embattled San Jose Police Department. Let's review: first it was drunk arrests, then it was attitude arrests, then it was a shooting of a mentally-ill man and the corresponding non-release of the 911 tapes, then it was the beating/ Tasing of the San Jose State student. All of this has kept the Merc's Sean Webby extremely busy. Sunday's expose on the San Jose Police Department was thorough -- and while we await Protest San Jose's response, you should read the story. In a nutshell, the San Jose Police Department uses force a lot in resisting-arrest cases, which comes as no surprise to some, but may surprise a few folks on the City Council...

The Sunday Merc also had some pretty shocking examples of use of force during fairly innocuous stuff... followed by today's paper with another story about a female San Jose State student who was roughed up during the evening of the 2006 Mardi Gras. (It isn't all bad news for San Jose PD however, a rookie Officer saved a toddler from choking on candy this weekend.)

And, of course, the corresponding Merc Editorial calling for a "culture change" for San Jose Police.

Ironically, it is the second call for a change in culture in the Merc Editorial pages this week. The first was for Wilcox High School after Teacher/Sex Gate and the Broom Closet Modeling Agency was uncovered...

And if that all wasn't enough news about the need for a change of culture, another one bites the dust in the East Side Union High School District. Superintendent Bob Nunez was finally sacked after 12 hours of hearings and lots and lots of expensive Starbucks coffees... (read that story, that is a pun...) Perhaps this is an an elaborate effort to get the seat warm again for Joe Coto when his stint in Sacramento is over...

You may have heard that these are tough economic times... well, VTA is feeling the tough economic times as hard, or harder, than anyone else. They have an operating deficit of $98 million over the next 2 years. That should be fun to deal with...

And if it is Monday, that means we read Internal Affairs this weekend. IA goes in depth about the Forbe's Magazine safe cities rankings... ironic, given what else was the in paper on Sunday (see top story above)... the Santa Clara Valley Water District passed The Dick Santos Project in Alviso, much to the delight of the opposition researchers in the Supervisor's race next year... and Deputy District Attorney is officially looking to remove the word Deputy from his name and is taking on embattled DA Dolores Carr.

Gilroy Unified has a new high school and by the accounts in the story in the Dispatch, it is one cool high school.

And could it be that the same golf course that gave headaches (both golf and political) to former San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales could host a PGA Tour event? The Morgan Hill Times asks and answers the questions...

Morning News Round-Up -- 10.29.09: Need a space of my own (san jose downtown)

Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr is finding herself in hot water (again). This time, DA Carr persuaded one of her staff to reduce the charges for one of her big donor's clients. District Attorneys across California are publicly disagreeing with DA Carr’s suggestion that she was doing “what public servants do.” DA wannabe/ Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosen suggested “there can’t be two systems of justice… Ms. Carr’s integrity and ethics … have harmed the reputation of the District Attorney’s office." District Attorney Carr, here is a number Watch Dog wants you to keep on speed-dial: 1-800-238-4427.

Here is another story of ethics in government, sort of. The Merc’s Editorial Board calls for the (temporary for now) ouster of Wilcox High Principal Tab Taber following the recent spate of bad news: a teacher (allegedly) having sex with a student/students and a janitor running a teen modeling agency out of the school's broom closet. In the Merc's view, “it's time to rebuild the culture at Wilcox High.” It sounds like they might be on to something...

And ethical issues are front-and-center in another school district this week: East Side Union High School District Trustees meet this week to decide the fate of Superintendent Bob Nunez, currently on paid leave while Trustees investigate (alleged) conflict of interest and (questionable) credit card use.

Oops, that pesky little problem holding up the Environmental Impact Report for San Jose’s plans for a Major League Baseball stadium turns out to be Hexagon Transportation Consultants’ mistake. Seems fewer baseball fans translated into more traffic for Hexagon. Acting Transportation Director Hans Larsen is busily doing the apology dance after blaming VTA for the screw-up.

“Rules are made for people who don’t have common sense,” according to San Jose resident/City Council Chief of Staff Edesa Bitbadal arguing in favor of stronger leash laws. City Councilmember Nancy Pyle said her office has been inundated with email and phone calls following the death of Beverly Head and “we are not in the business of coming up with a million rules.”

The ongoing saga of Summerhill Apartments code violations and blue-tarped roof continues in Mountain View as the City Council said no to owner Sal Teresi’s re-roofing request. City Attorney Michael Martello pointed to workers camping in the parking lot and (apparent) attempts to set up residency in an “uninhabitable building.”

That isn't funny business in Mountain View, but this is... really funny business... the Superintendent from the Mountain View-Whisman School District has a "romantic relationship" with a Principal -- which is a no-no.

Gang violence struck (again) in Gilroy. A 17 year old (alleged) Sureño was shot by (alleged) Norteño’s in his car with other (alleged) gang members. Police said (however) there’s no evidence this is retaliation for a gang murder earlier this month in Morgan Hill.

Morgan Hill’s Christian bookstore owner/perv Richard Dresser pleaded guilty to sexual battery and lewd conduct and will be registering as a sex offender following his 6 months in jail.

Meanwhile, Palo Alto High School students engaging in the annual “Egg War” used frozen eggs instead of the traditional raw to pelt each other. Students were stopped from using their normal field of battle after the Police beat them to their Stanford stomping grounds. (Please don't read into that sentence too much. The Palo Alto Police didn't actually beat them -- we mean that the Police got to Stanford first. It is Palo Alto, not San Jose...) Assistant Principal Todd Feinberg is hoping students rat each other out in exchange for a shorter suspension.

Googlers hosted U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu when he announced big federal dollars for green in Silicon Valley.

Mountain View neighbor Los Altos is worried plans to remodel the San Antonio Center might take shopping dollars out of Los Altos while adding children to the Los Altos School District. City officials will meet over a negotiation table to talk turkey. Los Altos Councilmember/(former) Mountain View Vice Mayor Ron Packard offered “it’s a wonderful development for Mountain View, I wish it were happening in Los Altos.” Please use this time to shed a tear for Los Altos...

If you’re hoping for your anti-swineish shot, get in line. Santa Clara County got short changed in the dosage department and is (im)patiently waiting. The Merc notes all the other (much smaller) counties in the Bay Area received (a lot) more shots to hand out. State Health Department spokesperson Mike Sicilia blamed the computers... good excuse.

We end today on a political note about 2010. There is a new face downtown San Jose political circuit... that is, of course, if you consider Morgan Hill part of downtown San Jose. Let us explain...

Anxious to get an office job after 4 years of medical retirement, Morgan Hill resident/ (former) security guard/ bartender/ bouncer Tim Hennessey has his heart set on San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo’s seat. Hennessey complains he doesn’t want to wait until he’s 50 or 60 to run, he wants to “act now.” Hennessey’s biggest supporter, night club owner Ray Shafazand, is eager to engage in a “dirty…big war” to oust Liccardo for his night club-backed candidate, according to San Jose Insider Jessica Fromm. Oh, Hennessey is also a Republican. We found this listing on Craigslist... Could it be Hennessey is close to landing his new downtown apartment?:
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$700 Need a space of my own (san jose downtown)

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Date: 2009-10-28, 1:00PM PDT
Reply to: hous-rdn3y-1441756047@craigslist.org

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Hi, I need a place of my own. I don't want a room in someone's house . I like to have guests and not feel that I'm invading someone else's home. I like to come and go as I please without worrying about waking my roomates if it's late when I get back. I'm looking for anything from a studio to a one bedroom, but am having a hard time finding one in my price range. $700 is is over a third of my monthly income so it's the most I can afford. Please let me know if you can help me. Thanks

Morning News Round-Up -- 10.19.09: Mayor Reed doesn't feel much like dancing...

The (apparent) Word of the Week in San Jose is Sunshine. And Mayor Chuck Reed is apparently joining in with Jonathan Edwards in singing, "Sunshine go away today, I don't feel much like dancing..." San Jose’s Sunshine Reform Task Force, created by Mayor Chuck Reed as a call for open government, saw its final recommendation for open Police records (apparently) squashed by the Mayor’s Rules Committee. Sunshine Chair/ Protect San Jose’s Ed Rast seemed unable to use his statistical prowess to convince his blogging-buddies that Sunshine was good. The Merc’s Editorial Board calls the Tuesday meeting a “major test of San Jose’s commitment to open government…” The Mayor's antagonists (unsurprisingly) on this issue are Councilmembers Ash Kalra, Nora Campos, and Kansen Chu, which Councilmember Sam Liccardo also coming down closer to the side opposite the Mayor. This should be interesting...

And if limiting Sunshine sounds like something Mayor Chuck Reed would be against (but seems to be for), then safeguarding gambling would certainly be something Mayor Reed would be against... right? Wrong. It's funny how $14 million a year to the General Fund can sway a Mayor's position...

A passionate San Jose Councilmember Madison Nguyen is what the Merc’s Scott Herhold misses in the tragic Police shooting of mentally ill Daniel Pham. Nguyen told Herhold she didn’t cede leadership to colleague Kansen Chu because she owes San Jose Police, but rather because the shooting happened in Chu's District. Hmmmm....

Keeping up with local elections, the Merc’s Editorial Board sends props to Cupertino Council candidates Mayor Orrin Mahoney, Housing Commissioner Mahesh Nihalani, and Recreation Commissioner Darcy Paul.

And while there are politics happening this month, the much more interesting stuff will happen next year... the Merc’s Internal Affairs calls Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosen “the real McCoy” in Rosen’s efforts to oust District Attorney Dolores Carr after Rosen hired political consultant Leo Briones. IA also reports Supervisorial wannabe/ Mayor Mike Wasserman landed in (a little) hot water after posting photos of people not endorsing him.

Before the San Jose Flea Market closes the doors permanently, a festive 50th anniversary is planned according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. Also celebrating a golden anniversary the American GI Forum with Damian Trujillo, dinner, and dancing. Perhaps even dancing WITH Damian Trujillo...

For all your governmental Watch Dog pleasure, the week to come…

• San Jose’s City Council keeps busy with discussions of outsourcing city employee jobs, more on campaign finance, gambling, and limiting (or expanding) Sunshine.
• The Santa Clara County Office of Education School Board considers charter schools and test results.
• The East Side Union High School District also focuses on sunshine with a solar project.
• The Cupertino High School plan is on the table for the Cupertino High School District.
• San Jose Unified School District gets the lowdown on (swine) flu shots and budget transfers.

Morning News Round-Up -- 9.29.09: Lawyers = Prostitutes?

Stanford Law grad Cristina Warthen surprised the feds and the Judge when she continued advertising an evening of “companionship” while she was on trial for evading taxes on the ill-gotten gains of “companionship.” Assistant U.S. Attorney David Callaway said Warthens internet ads were “a wink and a nod” to “advertising high end prostitution.” The oldest profession practiced by lawyers -- we know there is a joke there somewhere about screwing people...

Putting Stanford grads in a less-imprisoned light… Googlers Sergey Brin and Larry Page had high praise for their old friend and mentor Rajeev Motwani saying the “impact he had through the many researchers and entrepreneurs” out shown his own numerous accomplishments. Following Motwani’s death earlier this year Brin and Page decided to create an endowed chair at Stanford in their friends honor.

The Soul of the Community is pretty good, according to a survey funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. San Jose residents found affordable housing one of the biggest problems and a few were unhappy about the closing of stab-ariffic Club Wet

The community’s soul may be good for some but for others it’s about to get worse. The Emergency Housing Consortium announced closure of half the beds available to the homeless. Santa Clara County Office of Affordable Housing Director Margie Matthews said “this is all about the economy, and EHC – like all nonprofits… “ is “having to cut back…”

East Side Union Trustees ended Friday night without a decision on their embattled Superintendent Bob Nunez, currently on paid leave from his $225,000 gig. Marisa Hanson, President of the East Side Teachers Association, said delaying the decision was the right thing to do “the County report found him innocent … but then the board went ahead with another investigation…” Nobody mentioned the court of public opinion...

San Jose High celebrates the small victories. Test scores are up following “unrelenting hard work” with teachers and the principal showing the love. Not as happy was East Side Union School Board President Patricia Martinez-Roach who said there was “absolutely no excuse” for their low test scores. Except maybe those pesky budget problems and the ongoing Bob Nunez controversy. Or perhaps because they have twice un-elected officials on their Board...

Los Gatos sold 13 acres of Vasona Park last year for $6 million, then they voted unanimously to use half that to purchase 2.7 acres near Vasona Park, with ready buildings, for a mega-sports complex... y'know, for kids...

Gilroy Schools saw an increase in students even as districts across the state are closing schools. District enrollment coordinator Roger Cornia blamed the economy saying private school wasn’t in the cards for many students, not when Mom and Dad are facing layoffs.

Gilroy Mayor Al Pinheiro hosted a 5 hour community round-table that drew criticism from Council colleague Perry Woodward “Let’s be honest – this was the mayor’s show… how he intends to defeat the recall… Councilmembers should be allowed to participate… instead of the mayor imposing his political views…” Gilroy sure has more interesting politics than San Jose...

Palo Alto City Managers and professional employees contemplate becoming Teamsters even as some of their prospective members argue wage cuts with unionized service workers.

Mission City Lantern takes a poke at “wonderful human being, a great person to have as a friend” Labor leader/(former) Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez. With friends like that...

Morning News Round-Up -- 9.16.09: One lobbying firm, two news stories...

Not a ton of news, but what the news lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quantity...

After the drama of previous San Jose City Council meetings last night was calm when the bail bonds issue came back around. Councilmember Sam Liccardo asked colleagues to support a 22 month moratorium, residents talked about moving ahead with “real work,” and a unanimous vote gave residents their wish. Pro-bailbonds/anti-moratorium champion Councilmember Pete Constant, after attending the afternoon session, was home due to illness. (Spies tell us he was not absent from Facebook all day, however. Thank you for the email Spy #1.)

And… San Jose’s Club Wet is closed for the next month in an attempt to fix their ongoing problems with stabbings and fights.

The previous two stories (bail bonds and Club Wet) share a lobbying firm. Today is a hell-of-a news day for Saggau & DeRollo...

“The community deserves a DA with integrity and ethics,” said Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Rosen after filing papers to replace integrity challenged (?) District Attorney Dolores Carr next year. San Jose Inside’s Fly poked at Rosen for spelling errors and suggests it’s the Merc’s fault Rosen is running.

East Side Union High School District wanted a foundation really bad. So, they hired “the thickest Rolodex in the valley” according to (former) Trustee/ Supervisor George Shirakawa, Jr. -- (former) Vice Mayor/labor leader Cindy Chavez. When asked if Chavez earned her (nearly) $80,000, (former) Trustee Shirakawa shrugged “… that is a question for [Superintendent Bob Nunez]…” Ok, but the thick Rolodex produced some pretty thin results -- according to this story.

Because once is not enough, Protect San Jose’s Kathleen Flynn doubled her column, literally. Flynn is worried about the Governor's early release proposal, apparently San Jose is the intended relocation zone. {Editors note: we have corrected Kathleen's name and added a second link to the story. It appears can be too much of a good thing.}

San Jose Insider Jessica Fromm goes into details as San Jose’s City Council rolls out the red carpet for the San Jose A’s.

Morning News Round-Up -- 9.14.09: Welcome to Club Wet, here's a card for Bad Boys

If you were online and reading Watch Dog this weekend, you probably saw a post from Friday evening about Club Wet's latest and greatest. It includes a YouTube video, so you should probably check it out if you are trying to ease into your Monday morning without doing any real work -- but turn down the volume. (We thank San Jose Inside for being on top of all things Wet.) The Merc followed up with a story on Saturday about the Club. We are especially fond of the quotes of Club Wet's lobbyists/ spokesmen Tom Saggau:

"...No one was hurt, no one was arrested..."
"...every once in a while, people act inappropriately..."

Flashback: Remember, these quotes below that followed a stabbing at Club Wet made by Saggau's partner, Dustin DeRollo, not so long ago

"...It was one individual bad apple that spoiled the barrel..."
"...We don't think this was preventable..."

We bring this up because the firm of Saggau and DeRollo is in the paper again today... but not about Club Wet, about bail bonds. We wonder if Saggau and DeRollo hand out Bad Boys Bail Bonds cards inside the Club...

Speaking of bail bonds, the issue is back and it looks like a 22-month moratorium for new bail bonds will be voted on. The Merc's Editorial Board chimed in supporting the moratorium and called it a "gift" to bail bonds operations. (They also call out the aforementioned lobbyists...)

(Former) Mayor Tom McEnery is moving forward with plans for his Urban Market hoping San Jose’s (already struggling) restaurateurs will help with mini-eateries. The Merc’s Sal Pizarro reports more than a little eye-rolling at the thought of expansion during the economic crisis.

and, speaking of (receiving) anonymous complaints… San Jose’s Elections Commission isn’t interested in hearing from anonymous whistleblowers unless they use the phone. (Former) Mayor Tom McEnery’s 20 “unintentional” paperwork screwups pissed off Commissioners and McEnery neighbors.

Proving nepotism runs strong in San Jose, Councilmember Nora Campos hopes to hand the keys to her office to brother Xavier in San Jose’s 2010 council race. The Merc’s Internal Affairs checked with Campos about the little problem of embezzlement charges facing former employer MACSA to learn the former Chief Operations Officer didn’t get involved in day-to-day operations. (If that is true, we love the ironic job title Campos had...) IA also dishes local judges are refusing furlough days. No doubt the folks making a lot less than the judicial $170,000 would like to do the same. Also in the news, the Boots (Del Biaggio) heading to prison pulled out all the stops with everyone from Catholic Bishops to San Jose Redevelopment Agency staff writing “he’s a nice guy who made a boo-boo” letters to lessen the sentence. Finally, the Van Jones leaves D.C. story won’t end with a return of former labor leader Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins.

The economic crunch continues to pound public libraries. The Santa Clara County Library shut down a third of their computers leaving (unemployed) web-surfing wannabe’s in the lurch when the demand for high intensity data shot up.

For government Watch Dogs, this week is full of fireworks… thank you Merc.

• The County Board of Supervisors discusses passing the State’s cutbacks on to foster care and AIDS prevention.
• San Jose’s City Council hears a debate between experts about San Jose A’s bringing a pretty penny and (finally) concludes the long discussion about bail bonds moratoriums.
• Figuring out whether there are enough textbooks is on tap at the Fremont Union High School District.
• County pockets could become part of the City of Monte Sereno and the Monte Sereno City Council reviews a hazard mitigation plan.
• The Franklin-McKinley School District talks test results.
• During the economic disaster, and with schools losing State money hand over fist, the Santa Clara County Office of Education reviews policies on Board compensation, benefits, and travel.
• The Campbell Union High School District gets an update on the strategic plan. Wonder if this economic crisis was predicted 3 years ago.
• Superintendent Bob Nunez is the discussion at the East Side Union High School District... again.
  
• Hearing about test results and studying student enrollment, attendance areas and transportation is in the works for the Mountain View-Whisman School District.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.21.09: The DA and East Side Union... again

Hoping to move investigations along faster, Trustees for East Side Union High School District have hired their own law firm to investigate Superintendent Bob Nunez’s (possible) embezzlement. The Board also received $115,000 from Save Our Sports because, as parent Patty Carrillo put it, “...the kids need sports, and that’s what we’re focused on...”

San Jose Inside is back... and the Insiders are very pleased with themselves. Inside has discovered “tagging” and direct replies… San Jose Inside also reports District Attorney Dolores Carr is not happy with Governor Schwarzenegger's plan to evict nearly 40,000 prison inmates. Well, not that many people are pleased with DA Carr either.

Fix that leaky faucet is the message coming from the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Word is Silicon Valley residents haven’t made the grade on the 15% voluntary water usage reduction. World Toilet Day is just around the corner, so you better get with the program...

Looking for someone “… qualified to build an NFL stadium...” 49ers spokesperson Lisa Lang is hopeful Santa Clara’s newly minted Charter Review Committee will find a way to make it so. Senator Elaine Alquist has similar legislation moving through the hallowed halls of Sacramento.

Supervisor (and Gilroy Mayoral wannabe?) Don Gage joins the garbage fracas telling pissed off residents “GreenWaste Recovery was able to do more for less...” (and had better lobbyists no doubt) than competitor/current provider South Valley Disposal and Recycling. Representatives from South Valley's parent company NorCal Waste Systems will (probably) show up at the Supervisor’s meeting to disagree…

Assemblymember Bill Monning (apparently) took offense to a recent story about legislators handing out raises… Monning made sure the Morgan Hill Times knew none of his staff got raises and he asked for a 10% paycut. Not to be outdone, Assemblymember Anna Caballero also took a 10% cut from her $116,000 salary…

Mountain View’s Googler/(accused) thief Leonard Izbicki was busted after walking out (and selling) $80,000 in tech-dream hardware.

Neighbors are happy. So is Babe Ruth Baseball. But there’s one very pissed off Mountain View Councilmember. Using money from “Clean Safe Creeks and Flood Protection” Santa Clara Valley Water District engineer Afshin Rouhani says all promises will be kept in creating a park/flood basin -- but that means losing some parkland but gaining two refurbished baseball fields. Councilmember Laura Macias shot back the Water District was using “basic psychology” and behaving outrageously and she is acting in her own, I mean her neighbors', best interst.

(perv/rapist) Swim coach Andrew King is landing in another court soon. Jane Doe, one of King’s dozen (so-far) victims, is suing. Also lawsuit bound are USA Swimming and Pacific Swimming with accusations of negligent hiring…

David Pilipina was busted for the stabbing death of 19 year old Kristina Harris Perkins during a brawl at the Alum Rock Lightrail Station in San Jose. The Sheriffs are looking for others, if you know anything, call Sgt. Herman Leon at 408-808-4500.

Our Psycho Donut friends want to be “the most unusual doughnut shop on the planet” but not by pissing off the entire mental health contingent. So, (new) chief Psycho/music lover Jordan Zweigoron says you’ll now see “Headbanger” instead of “Massive Head Trauma” with more musical transitions are yet to come…

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro sends props to Bert George for receiving the Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award. Pizarro also dishes there’s a kid-filled Sunday on the horizon at San Jose State University with Lemony Snicket’s The Composer is Dead.

Fighting a different sort of tagging was on the mind of Protect San Jose’s Beat Cop. Beat Cop reports San Jose Police has a new online tool to send graffiti photos, as long as it’s under 100k…

Finally, let’s end this week of perv’s and embezzlers on a high note… The Merc’s Linda Goldston weaves a tale of love and horse whispering. Maddie Hodgson is living every little girls fantasy as she works with blind, and a little broken, Misty at Kids Love Horses.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.20.09: A Correction to Start...

We start with a correction this morning because screwed up. And boy did we heard about it from many, many people. We misread a Merc. story yesterday about the City of San Jose wasting money on cost overruns for capital projects. In fairness to us, the sentence was (somewhat) confusingly written:

...the substation is one of just three San Jose capital projects out of hundreds over the past decade or so to exceed their construction contingency budgets...

We believe one could read this sentence two ways, but we apparently read it the wrong, more cynical way. Apologies all around -- and thank all of you for reading so diligently.

On to the Round-Up...

The Merc’s Editorial Board is tickled Tesla stays in Silicon Valley with its “cool Roadster.” San Jose's Office of Economic Development is considerably less tickled... it sort of makes this press release look silly... and this one too.

It seems an Op-Ed on Sunday struck a nerve, if you believe what you read in the Letters to the Editor in the Merc. Remember, Cindy Chavez wrote (but did not text) about campaign finance reform in San Jose. Bill Baron, the chair of the Chamber of Commerce's political arm COMPAC, responded yesterday in Letters... our favorite line: "...you're being robbed of 'sunshine' in broad daylight, one dollar and one text at a time..." Colorful language Mr. Baron...

It has been a couple days since Dolores Carr's name has been in the paper -- and her name isn't in this story either. But we sort of wonder why... There is a story in today's Merc. about a defendant that was found "factually innocent" on a burglary charge. It seems both the San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County DA's office made mistakes which could have screwed up one 20-year old's life (and his family's loves) for the next 6 years. No word from Protect San Jose on this issue... yet. (For those of you who are considering a run against Carr, you should cut out this story for your opposition research file. Just a helpful hint from your friends at Watch Dog.)

East Side Union High School Superintendent Bob Nunez (apparently) left his last gig with a (huge) black mark. (Un)Suprisingly, East Side Union Trustees didn’t know about it because they didn’t ask his former employer for references. Now, (un)surprisingly, similar accusations are coming to haunt Nunez. Former Trustee/Superintendent George Shirakawa, Jr. shrugged off (possible) thievery saying “…Bob brought labor peace…” So, if we get this straight, misusing District funds is ok as long as nobody is on strike? Bloggers at The Unruly Advocate are not surprised with the shenanigans… Neither are we.

Facing a $44 million deficit San Jose State University President Jon Whitmore is ditching 200 faculty members. Whitmore will share the news during his Welcome Back speech today… He probably won't say, "Welcome back, don't let the door hit you on the way out..." What he should do is blame the strong leadership in Sacramento.

Congressmember Anna Eshoo announced she’s moving forward with a healthcare Town Hall – via phone. Constituents can register online (and then Eshoo's staff can hand-pick questioners...) We aren't kidding, check out this NPR story from yesterday...

Moto Amore owner John Bettancourt is one pissed off scooter rider. Bettancourt accuses San Jose bureaucracy of forcing him out of business while code enforcement’s Mike Hannon says having a tax certificate is not the same as having necessary permits. Downtown Councilmember Sam Liccardo is still hoping to talk to Bettancourt…

Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards dedicates his (generally) car-centric time to the two wheelers in our midst. It’s the time of month again for the San Jose Bike Party to hit the street, cyclists ask Mr. Roadshow about trails and parking…

The Merc.’s Scott Herhold also talks bikes, this time with (bike vs. drunk driver) survivor MaryAnn Levenson. Back in the saddle, Levenson teaches bike safety when she’s not kicking ass in competition.

The Alameda (State Route 82/El Camino Real) is getting a face-lift and plans are underway to ditch the “highway” moniker.

There’s big trouble in Garlic-land… Gilroy Police, while looking for (wife beater) Joel Barnes, wound up with a meth dealing teenage girl (apparently) shacking up with machine gun toting 30 something’s Raul Maciel and Thomas Esparza. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Joel Barnes may call the Sheriff's office at 299-2311. We have to say, nothing goes with meth like garlic.

The Los Altos Town Crier caught up with the news that Pilgrims Haven is a go…

The tanking economy is driving Los Altos library lovers to call for renewal (and increase) of a 20 year old parcel tax. Los Altos Hills Councilmember/library fan Jean Mordo said the (up to) $90 proposed tax “is not a lot of money” and looks forward to a June 2010 ballot measure.

It’s a booze-free (not free-booze) day for the Los Altos Community Picnic after the City Council said no to the proposed sale of donated beer. Mayor Megan Satterlee called the “novel” idea “excellent, out-of-the-box thinking” but joined colleagues in saying drinking would contradict the “family-spirited thing.”

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.17.09: LOL edition...

It isn't just teenagers that are texting constantly, apparently so are San Jose Councilmembers and lobbyists... Accusations of dragging Sunshine into darkness follow San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed according to Sunshine Task Force Member/ Working Partnerships policy wonk Bob Brownstein. Councilmember Pete Constant, who mostly texts during Council meetings, declined providing text messages to the Merc. but Councilmember Sam Liccardo provided them. (un)Surprisingly, the Merc.’s Editorial Board weighs in calling for release of personal texts and emails.

Former Vice Mayor/Labor Chief Cindy Chavez goes ever more public. Pointing to a 2008 Fair Political Practices Commission report calling uncapped independent expenditures that thwart “the will of the people,” Chavez lends her support to a contentious San Jose City Council vote. Or in text, "wll o d ppl"

Expect a lot of finger pointing as the cost of San Jose’s first Police substation continues to head North. This week the San Jose City Council discusses adding more than $5 million (on top of March’s $4.5 million) to fix design flaws. Like the 15,000 gallon fuel tank listed at 1,500 gallons.

San Jose Firefighters couldn’t have been happy to see the San Francisco Chronicle’s City Insider calling them out as the highest paid of big California cities. Those pesky reporters...

During the State’s trying budget days it’s surprising to see local legislators handing out raises. Assemblymember Joe Coto gave 2 staffers raises, bumping salaries to $56,880. Assemblymember Anna Caballero bumped 6 staffers to a whopping $19,278 annually and Jim Beall increased pay for 4 staff members to $27,510. Actually, scratch that, nothing in Sacramento is surprising...

Following up on last week's news that San Jose State University is making it difficult for unprepared students… The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on high schools to prepare students for college. What a concept…

(un)Happy trails. Fremont’s Nummi plant is packing the bags and heading to Texas leaving nearly 5,000 newly unemployed in its wake. Perhaps a Fremont ballpark can actually happen now? Watch Dog sources say no...

Two groups of teenagers battled at the Alum Rock lightrail station in East San Jose. When the dust settled a 19 year old woman was dead while a 16 year old and 19 year old were hospitalized. The Sheriff’s office won’t (yet) declare this a gang related fight. If you have details, call detective Sgt. Herman Leon or detective Sgt. Ryan Elder at 408-808-4500.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs crew follows the confusing assortment of local legislators as they angle for higher office. (current and former) Assemblymembers Ira Ruskin, John Laird, and Jim Beall plan to duke it out with freshman Assemblymember Paul Fong for Senator Joe Simitian’s seat in 2010. Senator Elaine Alquist hopes to be your next Secretary of State while (current and former) Assemblymembers Joe Coto and Sally Lieber will go after Alquist’s Senate gig. Looming ahead, the inevitable redistricting after the 2010 census.

The fallout from Scott Herhold’s wishful list of District Attorney wannabe’s brought more than a little grief to Deputy District Attorney/”Most Respected” Jeff Rosen.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs also pokes fun at (former) Mayor Ron Gonzales email sign-off.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro celebrates the opening of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce offices and Garden City Construction’s loving restoration of a 1941 bank, more restoration for San Jose’s Civic Center, bike building at Applied Micro, and Cadence employee’s blowing through a fundraising goal to triple the joy.

Local government in action around Silicon Valley…

• The County Board of Supervisors' Health and Hospital Committee discusses reports on County programs for uninsured children – now that the State wants to cut funds.
• Cupertino Union School District talks energy management.
• Fremont Union High School District gets an update on Measure B.
• East Side Union High School gets dollars for sports…
• San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Don Iglesias hopes for an agreement with the San Jose Teachers Association.
• San Jose City Council talks Sunshine and cost overruns. (Or in text: cst ovrrns)
• Santa Clara City Council tackles charter changes for football while a 49er stadium subcommittee recommends a 2nd ballot measure.

Mission City Lantern shares that (special) love with Berryessa Union School District Trustee David Cohen. Lantern is (apparently) pissed over Cohen’s San Jose Inside column remembering Woodstock on the 40th Anniversary.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.3.09: $20 million here, $20 million there...

San Jose employee unions can't be happy about a new audit the City Council will be hearing about this week. The audit says that the City could save $20 million/ year just be bringing employee health benefits in line with the private sector AND in line with other government agencies. Expect a backlash from labor-backed City Councilmembers. (Too bad there isn't a local blog reacting to the audit...) Local public employee unions should be glad they don't operate in San Mateo County. Up there, there is a County-wide task force looking at public employee benefits and pensions... The Merc. Editorial Board also thinks health benefits and pensions should be a priority.

The Merc's Scott Herhold must read Watch Dog. His piece in Sunday's paper was titled: DA Dolores Carr deserves a re-election opponent. Amen Brother. We even listed some potential (re-election) suspects (through links) last week.

Changes as the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International (?) Airport are being seen as a good thing by passengers. Unfortunately, as the airport gets better, the flights get fewer...

The East Side Union High School District has a new Acting Superintendent. Raising the obvious question, wasn't the last one just an "acting" Superintendent. (That's a pun people...)

Did you know that the next Secretary of State (?) is getting re-married? That's right. You just probably don't know who the next Secretary of State was going to be. But it's State Senator Elaine Alquist... and she is about to be off the market again.

Gilroy Mayor Al Pinheiro is under fire... and it isn't (all) about the Recall. This time he is getting dinged for cuts to public safety. Actually, this is all about the Recall -- and the saga is growing. Mayor Gage?

The Merc's Internal Affairs can't get enough of the blogwars in San Jose, probably because San Jose Inside is getting new (?) information out every Friday afternoon. This time, they SHOW ME THE MONEY... sort of.

Speaking of Phil Bump...

According to Mission City Lantern, the former Campaign Manager for Cindy Chavez for Mayor (Justin Schall) and former Political Director for the South Bay Labor Council (Phil Bump) are working on the campaign for Eric Goia for New York City Public Advocate. The Dream Team reunites... Somewhere on the 18th floor, Mr. Jansen is smiling.

While we are on the topic... San Jose Revealed seems to be down today. But Phil Bump did have time to see 500 Days of Summer this weekend and wrote a review. Whether Phil Bump is Revealed or not, he is a good writer. In short, 500 Days of Summer sucked, according to Phil Bump.

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.30.09: ESUHSD (again) and Blogwars (still)

The East Side Union School District uncovered the problem behind (alleged) racial discrimination, financial irregularities, and the sidelining of athletics. The culprit (apparently) was Superintendent Bob Nunez, who is now sidelined himself. Trustee Lan Nguyen had a few choice words for the rest of the Board (taking a page out of Watch Dog's book) “We as a Board have inadequate oversight of our fiscal issues…” The Merc. Editorial Board weighed in on the Nunez forced/ paid holiday saying high time the Board hired an auditor.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed declared the “Legloland” of solar panels on his rooftop good, especially since it cost him (initially) $1,500 for enough juice to keep the air-conditioning going.

During an economic meltdown, it’s good to be the top dog. The El Camino Hospital Board of Directors handed out raises of (nearly) 5% to the top dozen administrators. CEO Ken Graham will now bring home more than $600,000. In an (un)related note, you may have noticed that a national discussion is happening on healthcare...

Federal stimulus dollars continue to find their way to Silicon Valley. This time the Santa Clara Valley Water District helps to bring in $44 million for bridges, recycling and flood protection. Good thing the money was allocated before someone in the Federal government read Herhold's piece earlier this week...

Saratoga’s Planning Commission is making dreams come true (according to the Merc.): Rosalba Sokhanvari will open a Spanish Language immersion school in the heart of the Village while Muhammad Hussain gets his dream home.

With roughly $7 million set aside for economic uncertainty or rainy days, Los Gatos officials aren’t worried about the Guvernator’s (possibly) illegal money grab. Mayor Mike Wasserman says the Guvernator and Legislature are grabbing because “they screwed up” and “what they’re doin' is not right.” Neighboring Saratoga is “ecstatic” the Gov is taking only $660,000.

Los Altos City Council hears (for a second time) Pilgrim’s Haven request for expansion. Facing well orchestrated NIMBY opposition, Mayor Megan Satterlee said “every piece of information provided is reviewed and considered.” This includes the mega dose of anti-Haven lawn signs along Los Altos Avenue.

“Hunger doesn’t take a vacation,” and Community Services Agency Associate Director Maureen Wadiak issues a call for support. The need is up 14% while available food is down 17%.

Animal cruelty hits a new low with a bunny killer on the loose in San Jose. Seriously, a monster is killing bunnies living near San Jose’s Easterbrook School. Dr. Lily Lee and PAWS are working with the School District to address the growing bunny population while the Moreland Woods bunny killer is being hunted. (For those who read Watch Dog San Mateo, animal cruelty is usually relegated to the County to the north... We also learned this morning that Phillip Bump is also doing his part to fight animal cruelty -- more on that later.)

San Jose’s blogwars made the big time -- an actual newspaper. Not once but twice. Scott Herhold assesses the likelihood of Phillip Bump as the author of San Jose Revealed. Like a (literary) forensic examiner, Herhold studies language and cadence. We will wait to see how the next episode of CSI: San Jose handles the evidence.

Herhold's piece got the blogosphere buzzing...

• Phillip Bump thanked Scott Herhold for the web-traffic...
• In an (un?)related update, San Jose Revealed remains on hiatus waiting for San Jose’s City Council to return.
• San Jose Metblogger Matt Bruensteiner regurgitates the Mission City Lantern Reveals Revealed story. We have our own San Jose-centric echo-chamber happening here...
• Mission City Lantern can't help himself from posting regularly (hourly?) about the blogwar and opens his blog up to some of the suspects to clear their good names... (James is very busy - the Stadium EIR was released in Santa Clara.)

And in non-blogwars related blog news, Attorney General Jerry Brown gets in on Protect San Jose's (vast) readership. Ironically, he is bashing fake charities. We say ironic, because the words "Attorney General Jerry Brown" and "charities" appeared on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday... and it was not that flattering. Brown on Protect San Jose is interesting for a variety of reasons...

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.29.09: SaveThePlasticBag.com... (Seriously)

It was a big night for the East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees. They had to show how angry they were at their Superintendent Bob Nunez for his questionable spending. The spending was called into question initially by an audit conducted by the County Office of Education. (Note: The audit was not conducted by either the Board or the District.) But, why didn't the Board know about this in advance? Why weren't they asking questions? No wonder parents are pissed. It turns out the Board did do a good job at acting angry. The Superintendent is now on paid (?) administrative leave until further notice. Watch Dog was drawing attention to this Board for some time. We hate to say we told you so, but but but but...

While this isn't from a local paper, a local insider did direct us to it... A big city police department in a high-profile case released 911 calls. And no, the sky is not falling. Perhaps San Jose could learn a lesson?

The thief who robbed the SLAC National Accelerator Lab was a former employee hoping to reverse "bad karma"... we guess getting caught proved that it didn't work.

The plastic bag war has been settled, for now, in Palo Alto. The City can't implement the bag ban without an environmental review. Incredibly, the group that brought suit against Palo Alto is called SaveThePlasticBag.com. There are somethings worth saving, like baby seals and the rain forest, but who would have thought that a plastic bag would be worth a "save"? I mean, aside from these folks and this guy.

HP employees got an interesting welcome to work yesterday: Greenpeace was protesting at their facility. (Ironically) They are concerned about plastics in HP products. Perhaps Greenpeace should protest SaveThePlasticBag.com headquarters next. Here is a map.

Los Altos is banning former City Councilmembers and former Planning Commissioners from "volunteering" at City Hall. All to combat the perception that these folks have too much influence and power at Los Altos City Hall. Good thing San Jose doesn't do such a thing: What would he, she, she, or she do?

The Gilroy Police Department will be three officers bigger thanks to a US Department of Justice Grant. May we suggest putting them in an anti-gang unit? Because...

...Monday night there was a drive-by shooting in North Gilroy caused damage to cars, but no injuries leading to this headline: Gang-related drive-by jolts soccer players, residents chatting in park.

To blogs:

• Mission City Lantern is still fighting the blogwar (you know the one) -- while San Jose Inside and San Jose Revealed seem to have taken a (well-deserved) break.
• Protect San Jose is still serving its mission to speak for/ defend police officers. Fair enough. But they haven't talked about the DA having to step back from (and put at risk) a prosecution that they handed to her (seemingly) on a silver platter.
• Finally, on a sad note, we learn that frequent commenter "Kathleen" will no longer be commenting on San Jose Inside and San Jose Revealed. We are thankful that she made this announcement on Watch Dog, and hope she will not stay silent on this site.
  

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.21.09: A Garbage Saga in Cupertino?

Cupertino Public Works Director Ralph Qualls asked his City Council to hold off on a deciding whether to stick with garbage collectors Los Altos Garbage. Perhaps nervous about Qualls, LAGCo sent a letter directly to Councilmembers, bypassing staff, with their new proposal. This story would seem to be of limited interest to most folks, except... Los Altos Garbage's parent company (Norcal) is prominently featured in Watch Dog San Mateo's Garbage Saga. But even more intriguing, the same company was also involved in Gonzales/Garbage Gate in San Jose.

Speaking of Mayor's being roughed up... Gilroy Mayor Al Pinheiro faces a recall effort from conservative activist Mark Zappa and the Police Officers Association. Zappa said recalling the Mayor would “...send a strong message to the other starry eyed members of council who the real boss is...” Watch Dog wonders if San Jose's Bobby Lopez is getting any ideas...

The Merc’s Editorial Board joins the growing chorus of those unhappy with finances in local school districts. The Editorial Board goes so far as to say Luther Burbank School District, with one school and 575 students, shouldn’t be a District. East Side Union’s questionable spending is called out and a lack of documentation questioned.

Those Federal bucks stimulating the economy have found their way to San Jose. Early beneficiaries are roads and trails. (Not this place, which a recent emailer suggested was a good place for stimulus dollars to be spent.)

San Jose Police have (again) opted not to release 911 tapes from the murder/suicide by Jian Ming Liang. In a letter to the Mercury News, Chief Rob Davis (with City Attorney Rick Doyle) said “...it is not the department’s intent to deny every request for 911 information...” Though, (apparently) it is the result…

Joining the band of cities pissed at the Guvernator, Cupertino is part of a lawsuit from the League of California Cities fighting the jurisdictional dollar theft.

The unique gang murder case underway in Morgan Hill has a new Judge and new charges for Christian Jimenez. The trial restarts Wednesday after the new Judge has had time to catch up.

Hank Nijmeh’s family owns San Jose’s iconic Falafel’s Drive-In. He’s lived in Silicon Valley for over 40 years, graduated from Campbell’s Del Mar High School, and is now being deported by U.S. immigration to Israel. His crime appears to be mental illness and smoking pot.

For decades the fact she flew military planes during WWII was a State secret. San Jose’s Marcella Tucker was one of 25,000 American women trained to fly military aircraft. Soon she’ll receive the Congressional Gold Medal recognizing her efforts.

Local restaurateur, Tom Muller of Lou’s Village fame, shared memories of Walter Cronkite’s visit with the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. "And that's the way it is..."

The Merc’s Scott Herhold tossed his curmudgeonly attitude overboard for his first Bike Party with 2,500 cycling revelers.

And to the local blogosphere...

• Mission City Lantern is hosting a new poll on the identity of San Jose Revealed.
• Speaking of Revealed... you know what's not fun? Your blog these days...