It's National Vinyl Record day...
San Jose’s City Council seems to have wrapped up the 2006 election, at least the finances part. In spite of dire warnings from their beloved City Attorney Rick Doyle and Mayor Chuck Reed who said “…we’ll be giving a gift to lawyers… and we’ll lose,” the Council retains its “soft money” cap…
Foothill-De Anza Trustee/Incumbents Pearl Cheng and Bruce Swenson got a walk on the election this year. You have till Monday if you want to duke it out to replace Hal Plotkin.
3 Meetings + Pilgrims Haven + 104,503 square feet = 37 new retirees in Los Altos Hills
San Jose’s Biblioteca Latinoamericana replaced the alleyway where Lavonna McLaughlin was murdered 15 years ago. Yesterday Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosen painted a picture of the era as the trial for her accused killer started quietly in a Santa Clara County courtroom.
Firefighters halted a wildfire that started at Recology Pacheco Pass before it hit the methane pipes. Parent company, Norcal Waste Systems, breathed a sigh of relief but now worries over how the fire started.
Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards received an inbox full of email from grumpy backseat drivers. Easy people, the police asked for the warning about Cell-Phone Tuesday. You may now return to dangerous driving.
The Merc’s Sal Pizarro dishes… the yummy stuff is on order from local restaurateurs for Sunnyvale’s Saturday Jazz (green and line free, nice), Second Harvest Food Bank welcomes new CEO Kathryn Jackson, Spamalot lovers can whet their appetites at the Starlight presentation of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” last, but not least Happy Birthday Jack Aberle of San Jose State University’s Biz Admin.
Speaking of big birthdays… Los Gatos’ Betsy and David Fullagar’s 2007 birthday safari and growing friendship with Alweet Hlungwani set them on a journey that resulted this year in a library for the Makuleke tribe of South Africa.
Tweet this… That painful roller coaster ride is shut down for 2 months while engineers scratch their heads and the Twitverse keeps yakking. Stuck upside down for hours, Dominic Angel told his friends “gravity is not our friend right now.”
The Philip Bump/Revealed saga is a source of never ending fun for Mission City Lantern. An advisor to New York Public Advocate candidate Eric Gioia, Bump is getting a little West Coast love on the East Coast blogs.
Fan of students/San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education’s Joseph DiSalvo has a few suggestions for parents checking out the neighborhood school.
Protect San Jose has joined the ranks of the anonymous blogger for a mildly comprehensible rundown on why San Jose should ditch CQ Press rankings, as the FBI did in 2004. According to CQ, they’re patiently waiting for the FBI to figure out what to use.
Showing posts with label garbage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garbage. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 3.17.09: MACSA meet Dolores Carr...
A harsh report confirms that MACSA skimmed/stole $400,000 from teachers at Gilroy’s only charter school. To add to the financial misery, students are underperforming and the schools (there is one in San Jose as well) haven’t met their diversity goals. District Attorney Dolores Carr is noodling over criminal charges, the School District is contemplating yanking the school’s charter. But wait...there's more...The report doesn’t include the $250,000 MACSA skimmed from teachers at San Jose’s Academia Calmecac. Former El Portal office coordinator Lucy Patereau says MACSA’s bad behavior started the day the school opened....expect the damage from this story to reach deep into San Jose politics...
Baseball is in the news...again...Here is the gist: The Giants think they heard good news from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig when he said MLB's stance on the Giants' territorial rights hasn't changed...Lew Wolff probably disagrees. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed waits patiently... Speaking of education…The Merc’s Editorial Board cheers the collaboration between NASA, Foothill-DeAnza, and UC Santa Cruz to create a $1 billion research/education facility.
Supervisor Dave Cortese envisions arrays of solar panels soaking up the sun, decreasing the County’s energy cost/carbon footprint, and possibly generating revenue. Mike Mendizabal, President of the Milpitas Unified board points out they’re saving millions annually in electricity costs while covering 75% of their energy needs...Have you noticed that since Cortese and Shirakawa become Supervisors the Board is in the news a lot more?...
San Jose Revealed (apparently) spent the weekend reading San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s budget message. Sadly, the somnorific (look it up) did nothing to improve Revealed’s mood. Fair warning to the reader, it’s not the lively, biting Revealed we’re familiar with but a heavy handed grouch.
San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio blogs for San Jose Inside his solutions for the budget crisis. No surprises. Oliverio wants to generate new revenue with a utility tax and cut costs with a wage reduction.
San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo assesses the fiscal benefits for encouraging teachers close to retirement to ditch the classroom. The bottom line: new teachers cost less than those who have been around the block a few times. (On the flip side, they may not be as good in the classroom...)
The Merc’s Scott Herhold is in full-tirade mode about the San Jose Elections Commission. Herhold wants to disband it. (Is this Herhold's way to distract the reader from accusations of bad behavior by former Mayor/Lobbyist Tom McEnery?) Remember, Herhold hate anonymity...
Morgan Hill’s $4 million Third Street Promenade Project could be held up for the simplest of reasons…Morgan Hill declines to assume responsibility should any of the Dasovic family homes they want to work on get destroyed. Speaking mainly in bureaucratic gobblydegook Morgan Hill City Attorney Danny Wan shrugged his shoulders.
It seems like it’s all garbage all the time these days…Gilroy Dispatch Editor’s are urging the County Supervisor’s to just say no to garbage collector GreenWaste's 14% increase. (Good thing Gilroy isn't in San Mateo County -- the Dispatch would have a field day with the Garbage Saga of San Mateo County...)
Gilroy hasn’t seen the last of their gang problem. Friday the 13th included murder, arson, a sawed off shotgun, and a 15 year-old hiding in the bushes. Jason would have been so proud.
Silicon Valley giant Cisco is poised to do battle with longtime (soon to be former) partners HP and IBM by stepping directly into their playpens. Cisco’s John Chambers started the effort 3 years ago calling it Project California: to catch the next wave in the tech revolution.
A trio of teens were tossed in the pokey by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department. San Jose’s Nicholas Masouris, Sunnyvale's Mitchell Azevedo, and an unnamed teen from Campbell are suspected of a string of auto break-ins netting high end electronics and other goodies.
Baseball is in the news...again...Here is the gist: The Giants think they heard good news from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig when he said MLB's stance on the Giants' territorial rights hasn't changed...Lew Wolff probably disagrees. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed waits patiently... Speaking of education…The Merc’s Editorial Board cheers the collaboration between NASA, Foothill-DeAnza, and UC Santa Cruz to create a $1 billion research/education facility.
Supervisor Dave Cortese envisions arrays of solar panels soaking up the sun, decreasing the County’s energy cost/carbon footprint, and possibly generating revenue. Mike Mendizabal, President of the Milpitas Unified board points out they’re saving millions annually in electricity costs while covering 75% of their energy needs...Have you noticed that since Cortese and Shirakawa become Supervisors the Board is in the news a lot more?...
San Jose Revealed (apparently) spent the weekend reading San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s budget message. Sadly, the somnorific (look it up) did nothing to improve Revealed’s mood. Fair warning to the reader, it’s not the lively, biting Revealed we’re familiar with but a heavy handed grouch.
San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio blogs for San Jose Inside his solutions for the budget crisis. No surprises. Oliverio wants to generate new revenue with a utility tax and cut costs with a wage reduction.
San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo assesses the fiscal benefits for encouraging teachers close to retirement to ditch the classroom. The bottom line: new teachers cost less than those who have been around the block a few times. (On the flip side, they may not be as good in the classroom...)
The Merc’s Scott Herhold is in full-tirade mode about the San Jose Elections Commission. Herhold wants to disband it. (Is this Herhold's way to distract the reader from accusations of bad behavior by former Mayor/Lobbyist Tom McEnery?) Remember, Herhold hate anonymity...
Morgan Hill’s $4 million Third Street Promenade Project could be held up for the simplest of reasons…Morgan Hill declines to assume responsibility should any of the Dasovic family homes they want to work on get destroyed. Speaking mainly in bureaucratic gobblydegook Morgan Hill City Attorney Danny Wan shrugged his shoulders.
It seems like it’s all garbage all the time these days…Gilroy Dispatch Editor’s are urging the County Supervisor’s to just say no to garbage collector GreenWaste's 14% increase. (Good thing Gilroy isn't in San Mateo County -- the Dispatch would have a field day with the Garbage Saga of San Mateo County...)
Gilroy hasn’t seen the last of their gang problem. Friday the 13th included murder, arson, a sawed off shotgun, and a 15 year-old hiding in the bushes. Jason would have been so proud.
Silicon Valley giant Cisco is poised to do battle with longtime (soon to be former) partners HP and IBM by stepping directly into their playpens. Cisco’s John Chambers started the effort 3 years ago calling it Project California: to catch the next wave in the tech revolution.
A trio of teens were tossed in the pokey by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department. San Jose’s Nicholas Masouris, Sunnyvale's Mitchell Azevedo, and an unnamed teen from Campbell are suspected of a string of auto break-ins netting high end electronics and other goodies.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Morning News Rond-Up – 3.13.09: It's another (Pink Slip) Friday the 13th...
San Jose’s Elections Commission had some fun this week. First, dealing with their irritation over an anonymous complaint against former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery. Next, deciding the fine to be levied against the political arm of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, COMPAC, for a violation of the city’s limit on independent campaign contributions. The COMPAC challenge has the added wrinkle that once a fine is decided the city will land in court, according the COMPAC chair/Lawyer/former Planning Commissioner Jay Ross who calls the rules unconstitutional.
And so it begins slowly, the grim economy offers residents a painful choice – convenience being green or saving money. South county wanted to make it easier to be green, right up to the point where it would cost more. Green Waste Recovery, apparently unable to accommodate new customers at a lower rate may lose South county to their less green competitor. Morgan Hill Times’ editorial board suggests you let Supervisor Don Gage know how you feel. Watch Dog loves garbage, especially when the story is the same…
With the help of congressman Jerry McNerney, Morgan Hill’s Llagas Creek will receive $287,000 to protect homes, businesses and native habitat. Mayor Steve Tate applauded McNerny’s help in footing the $130 million bill, with help from the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Army Corps of Engineers and the city.
Speaking of the water district…
Apparently reversing themselves the Santa Clara Valley Water District directors say they are now open to letting the voters decide whether or not to impose term limits on them. The latest tactic is to remind voters that putting the question on the ballot will cost from $1 to $4 million dollars. District directors were taken to task by the Merc’s Scott Herhold in 2007 for their liberal definition of “meeting,” one which allows Director Richard Santos to attend softball games and travel extensively. Sig “Methusala” Sanchez has no objection to voter imposed term limits – of course, he thinks people still vote by chiseling on rock.
It’s good to be one of the top dogs in city government, even in bad times. Gilroy’s Human Resources Director LeeAnn McPhillips got a pay bump to over $171,000 – while she was in the process of dishing out pink slips to 40 city employees. City Manager Tom Haglund handed out nearly $100,000 in special raises to 23 employees, including 5 who were laid off. Sounds like the city manager’s actions could lead to heavier scrutiny by the council – never a welcome addition to a bureaucrat’s day.
Gilroy’s economy czar, otherwise known as Larry Cope CEO for the Economic Development Corp, heads to Washington, D.C. next week to channel the Presidents stimulus dollars towards Gilroy before leaving for his new gig as Tuolumne County’s economy czar. The Visitor’s Bureau chief/Count Board of Education Trustee Jane Howard, is hosting a lunch with partners to talk it over while Mayor Al Pinheiro, councilmember Bob Dhillon and South Valley National Bank VP Kurt Michielssen will meet with EDC’s board in April to discuss its future.
Santa Clara County teachers will receive pink slips at a record pace this week. Decimated retirement accounts keep possible retirees from leaving, and has some retirees asking to return to work. Because the economy and drastic funding cuts by the state require slashing budgets, more than 1,000 Silicon Valley teachers will lose their jobs – most of them young teachers. East Side Union High School District and Oak Grove School District both report a record drop in retirees.
The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on school districts to make their Teach for America fellows feel welcome and supported. TFA has 100 teachers in the Alum Rock and San Jose Unified school districts, including Silicon Valley Educational Foundation’s Teacher of the Year, Scott Wolf. Alum Rock is called out for not making these young idealists feel welcome.
The San Jose Catholic Diocese hopes to build a new school on land they purchased in Morgan Hill, the land is currently zoned for agricultural use so there’s this little challenge of rezoning but with the Catholic Church asking to ditch the zoning…
(As predicted, Revealeds reaction ...) SanJoseRevealed offers to take over the task of writing the Merc’s headlines saying the Merc’s current headlines don’t reflect story content, they need new staff and, best of all, swearing is funny. Tell that to the thousands of parents chasing their children with bars of soap…
SanJoseInside looks at the post-election challenges facing the California High-Speed Rail Authority as they begin the public meetings required for rollout. With visions of the Berlin Wall jumping to mind neighborhoods are freaking out over the thought of a rail system merging with the existing Cal Train line, some are suing others are demanding tunnels. Our sister blog, Watch Dog San Mateo, reports the High-Speed Rail Authority is strapped for on cash …
And, just to prove Silicon Valley does have a lighter side even in the worst of times…
The Merc’s Joe Rodriguez took time out to visit one of San Jose’s artists – body painter Celeste Oda who won last years masters face-painting award at the annual Face and Body Art International Convention. Rodriguez channeled his inner animal in allowing Oda to turn him into a Jaguar for a day.
He may not be a world class ballroom dancer but the Woz has YouTube fans flocking to see his impression of a “Teletubby going mad in a gay pride parade.”
And so it begins slowly, the grim economy offers residents a painful choice – convenience being green or saving money. South county wanted to make it easier to be green, right up to the point where it would cost more. Green Waste Recovery, apparently unable to accommodate new customers at a lower rate may lose South county to their less green competitor. Morgan Hill Times’ editorial board suggests you let Supervisor Don Gage know how you feel. Watch Dog loves garbage, especially when the story is the same…
With the help of congressman Jerry McNerney, Morgan Hill’s Llagas Creek will receive $287,000 to protect homes, businesses and native habitat. Mayor Steve Tate applauded McNerny’s help in footing the $130 million bill, with help from the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Army Corps of Engineers and the city.
Speaking of the water district…
Apparently reversing themselves the Santa Clara Valley Water District directors say they are now open to letting the voters decide whether or not to impose term limits on them. The latest tactic is to remind voters that putting the question on the ballot will cost from $1 to $4 million dollars. District directors were taken to task by the Merc’s Scott Herhold in 2007 for their liberal definition of “meeting,” one which allows Director Richard Santos to attend softball games and travel extensively. Sig “Methusala” Sanchez has no objection to voter imposed term limits – of course, he thinks people still vote by chiseling on rock.
It’s good to be one of the top dogs in city government, even in bad times. Gilroy’s Human Resources Director LeeAnn McPhillips got a pay bump to over $171,000 – while she was in the process of dishing out pink slips to 40 city employees. City Manager Tom Haglund handed out nearly $100,000 in special raises to 23 employees, including 5 who were laid off. Sounds like the city manager’s actions could lead to heavier scrutiny by the council – never a welcome addition to a bureaucrat’s day.
Gilroy’s economy czar, otherwise known as Larry Cope CEO for the Economic Development Corp, heads to Washington, D.C. next week to channel the Presidents stimulus dollars towards Gilroy before leaving for his new gig as Tuolumne County’s economy czar. The Visitor’s Bureau chief/Count Board of Education Trustee Jane Howard, is hosting a lunch with partners to talk it over while Mayor Al Pinheiro, councilmember Bob Dhillon and South Valley National Bank VP Kurt Michielssen will meet with EDC’s board in April to discuss its future.
Santa Clara County teachers will receive pink slips at a record pace this week. Decimated retirement accounts keep possible retirees from leaving, and has some retirees asking to return to work. Because the economy and drastic funding cuts by the state require slashing budgets, more than 1,000 Silicon Valley teachers will lose their jobs – most of them young teachers. East Side Union High School District and Oak Grove School District both report a record drop in retirees.
The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on school districts to make their Teach for America fellows feel welcome and supported. TFA has 100 teachers in the Alum Rock and San Jose Unified school districts, including Silicon Valley Educational Foundation’s Teacher of the Year, Scott Wolf. Alum Rock is called out for not making these young idealists feel welcome.
The San Jose Catholic Diocese hopes to build a new school on land they purchased in Morgan Hill, the land is currently zoned for agricultural use so there’s this little challenge of rezoning but with the Catholic Church asking to ditch the zoning…
(As predicted, Revealeds reaction ...) SanJoseRevealed offers to take over the task of writing the Merc’s headlines saying the Merc’s current headlines don’t reflect story content, they need new staff and, best of all, swearing is funny. Tell that to the thousands of parents chasing their children with bars of soap…
SanJoseInside looks at the post-election challenges facing the California High-Speed Rail Authority as they begin the public meetings required for rollout. With visions of the Berlin Wall jumping to mind neighborhoods are freaking out over the thought of a rail system merging with the existing Cal Train line, some are suing others are demanding tunnels. Our sister blog, Watch Dog San Mateo, reports the High-Speed Rail Authority is strapped for on cash …
And, just to prove Silicon Valley does have a lighter side even in the worst of times…
The Merc’s Joe Rodriguez took time out to visit one of San Jose’s artists – body painter Celeste Oda who won last years masters face-painting award at the annual Face and Body Art International Convention. Rodriguez channeled his inner animal in allowing Oda to turn him into a Jaguar for a day.
He may not be a world class ballroom dancer but the Woz has YouTube fans flocking to see his impression of a “Teletubby going mad in a gay pride parade.”
Friday, December 26, 2008
(Some) Morning News Update -- 12.26.08: A Boxing Day for Everyone...
It is Boxing Day for our British (Empire) friends...enjoy...
And what would a holiday season be without a story of someone doing some unselfish...oh wait...this is the opposite. Police Chief Rob Davis said, "It's unbridled greed. Minor dishonesties build upon themselves, and (this is) the criminal house of cards crumbling down." Garbage is a favorite topic for Watch Dog San Mateo, but now the juiciest garbage story is here...James Lucero, owner and president of Resource Development Services, (not to be confused with Tony Soprano) managed to dump millions of pounds of waste without paying fees to the Kirby Canyon landfill for nearly a decade. Lucero collected waste and charged customers who (may have?) thought they were paying for proper disposal. Lucero, however, slipped landfill workers $50 - $100 for each load and dumped whatever he liked – construction waste, perhaps hazardous waste requiring special treatment, no one really knows. Employees at Kirby may have taken home as much as $100,000 a year from Lucero’s operation. San Jose Police estimate Lucero bilked Waste Management out of $13 million, prominent in each of the numerous stories is an unknown cost to the city of San Jose due to loss of fees and taxes. A City employee led to Lucero’s downfall, having heard rumors of illegal dump activity the employee blew the whistle in 2007. Lucero’s lavish lifestyle is coming to a close, this means goodbye to his Andalusian show horse named Fugitivo, along with his Carmel home and Bentley. Perhaps Chief Davis would have been on the case sooner had Lucero been Latino and drunk...
Los Gatos Councilmembers have given the go-ahead to convert the Bay Tree apartments to condos. Residents and neighbors expressed concern over parking and inconvenience to residents during construction. Lyon Capital Ventures proposes to increase parking, neighbor Wilfrid Houde says the existing parking is untenable, “You cannot park SUVs, vans, or pick-ups."
At the same meeting the Council awarded construction of the new police building to Swenson Development and Construction and anticipate a September 2009 move-in date. (Because public buildings are always finished on time...)
San Jose Inside’s Tom McEnery wishes all a tranquil Christmas and hopeful New Year while cheering the strongest start in Sharks' team history (he discloses that he’s an owner) and realizing the economic crisis is real (an attempt to return jewelry to a bankrupt Whitechapel Jewelry proved impossible).
Metro’s Fly reports former Metro publisher David Cohen (not to be confused with Berryessa Union School District board president David Cohen) is now the former head of Silicon Valley Community Newspapers having been dumped by new owner Merc.
Oh...and unlike some of our friends...Watch Dog will continue to post over the next week...including at least one more (shocking!) East Side Union High School District update...
And what would a holiday season be without a story of someone doing some unselfish...oh wait...this is the opposite. Police Chief Rob Davis said, "It's unbridled greed. Minor dishonesties build upon themselves, and (this is) the criminal house of cards crumbling down." Garbage is a favorite topic for Watch Dog San Mateo, but now the juiciest garbage story is here...James Lucero, owner and president of Resource Development Services, (not to be confused with Tony Soprano) managed to dump millions of pounds of waste without paying fees to the Kirby Canyon landfill for nearly a decade. Lucero collected waste and charged customers who (may have?) thought they were paying for proper disposal. Lucero, however, slipped landfill workers $50 - $100 for each load and dumped whatever he liked – construction waste, perhaps hazardous waste requiring special treatment, no one really knows. Employees at Kirby may have taken home as much as $100,000 a year from Lucero’s operation. San Jose Police estimate Lucero bilked Waste Management out of $13 million, prominent in each of the numerous stories is an unknown cost to the city of San Jose due to loss of fees and taxes. A City employee led to Lucero’s downfall, having heard rumors of illegal dump activity the employee blew the whistle in 2007. Lucero’s lavish lifestyle is coming to a close, this means goodbye to his Andalusian show horse named Fugitivo, along with his Carmel home and Bentley. Perhaps Chief Davis would have been on the case sooner had Lucero been Latino and drunk...
Los Gatos Councilmembers have given the go-ahead to convert the Bay Tree apartments to condos. Residents and neighbors expressed concern over parking and inconvenience to residents during construction. Lyon Capital Ventures proposes to increase parking, neighbor Wilfrid Houde says the existing parking is untenable, “You cannot park SUVs, vans, or pick-ups."
At the same meeting the Council awarded construction of the new police building to Swenson Development and Construction and anticipate a September 2009 move-in date. (Because public buildings are always finished on time...)
San Jose Inside’s Tom McEnery wishes all a tranquil Christmas and hopeful New Year while cheering the strongest start in Sharks' team history (he discloses that he’s an owner) and realizing the economic crisis is real (an attempt to return jewelry to a bankrupt Whitechapel Jewelry proved impossible).
Metro’s Fly reports former Metro publisher David Cohen (not to be confused with Berryessa Union School District board president David Cohen) is now the former head of Silicon Valley Community Newspapers having been dumped by new owner Merc.
Oh...and unlike some of our friends...Watch Dog will continue to post over the next week...including at least one more (shocking!) East Side Union High School District update...
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