Morning News Round-Up -- 5.21.10: "NUMMI A's" no more...

Go Sharks! (Please win... pretty please?)

Well, we guess the Oakland A's won't be going to the former NUMMI plant after all... that's because Tesla and Toyota will move in to build electric cars. Of course, Tesla track record of sticking to its word is someone less-than-desirable, just ask San Jose, but we wish Fremont, Tesla, and Toyota well. (Here is a full run-down of the Tesla Chronicles...)

As a reminder, Watch Dog predicted the NUMMI/A's effort last August...

"...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?...

Maybe now Bud Selig can make a decision?...

The Mercury News Editorial Board continued to look at their ballots... and today they have made the 18th floor a very exciting place to be. They endorsed Don Rocha for San Jose City Council District 9 to replace Vice Mayor Judy Chirco. They say he has "...the potential to continue in the tradition of Chirco..." They also give some ink to Jim Cogan (too close to public safety unions) and Larry Pegram (too close to Jerry Falwell)...

The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce put out a reward for clues leading to catching the culprits behind the hit pieces sent against Magdalena Carrasco... ironically, the place to call with your tip is Crime Stoppers -- whose President is the aforementioned Jim Cogan, running for City Council in a different District. Hypothetically, what if someone called with a tip that identified a Cogan supporter as the culprit? Just asking... (Mission City Lantern is on the fake-mailer case too...)

While we're in District 5, ProtectSanJose.com brought us a message from Xavier Campos...

A San Josean will head to the Senate... no, not Tom Campbell (yet)... but County Superior Court Judge Edward Davila has been tapped for the federal bench by the Obama administration...

This will be bad news piled on top of bad news... property assessments are down... way down... boooooooo...

Dear Gilroy Unified Voters... thank you for passing the school bond in 2008... we are over budget... so Christopher High School will have portables instead of a great new facility... will you trust again with your vote and your cash? Love, the Gilroy Unified School District.

Sunnyvale may lose its seat on VTA, and Sunnyvale Councilmember Chris Moylan is pissed about it: "...Based on population, the one city other than San Jose that should have a permanent seat on the board is Sunnyvale..." No word on dweeb.org yet on the issue...

Some folks in Silicon Valley will be voting on June 8th and June 22nd... the 22nd being the date that the Special Election to replace Senator-turned-Lt. Gov Abel Maldonado's seat will be voted on... and if no one gets 50 percent plus, a run-off will happen on August 17th. Expect an influx of Sam Blakeslee and John Laird visits in the coming weeks...

The Lame (Duck) Governor was at Google yesterday... no doubt in an effort to shift attention from Google's bad European news this week...

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.23.10: How to fix California? Eat lots of steak...

Fresh off his State of the City, Mayor Reed welcome some CEOs and other "Big City" Mayors to the San Jose to talk about how to fix California... Sending strong messages about frugality, being in touch with Everyman, and open government, they met behind closed-doors at Morton's in downtown San Jose...

Over at Protect San Jose, Jim Unland, the VP of the San Jose Police Officers' Association, seems to be hedging the organization's political bets. While they have endorsed incumbent District Attorney Dolores Carr in this year's race, they are also saying really, really, nice things about challenger Jeff Rosen. The only thing they say about Rosen that is negative is this: "...within the DA's office, he has limited supervisorial experience..." But Unland also has this to say about Rosen: "...Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosen has also earned broad support and respect as a prosecutor from within the law enforcement community. Many of our officers speak highly of him. He has successfully prosecuted some very difficult and high-profile cases..." So they win if Carr wins, but don't really lose if Rosen wins. With "friends" like the POA, Dolores Carr is in for a long campaign season...

More recycled water could be finding its way to your tap... if the Santa Clara Valley Water District has anything to say about it. And they do. (Remember Mayor Reed drank some recycled water?)

How many preschools one street are too many preschools on one street? That is the question folks in Mountain View will be considering. The real question, obviously, is how many SUVs can fit on one street during drop-off/pick-up times?

At one time, Palo Alto had grand visions of a City-run fiber optic high-speed Internet network. That was a while ago and the vision has gone away... but then Google came calling, and now Palo Alto's high-speed Internet eggs are in the Google basket. This probably puts Councilmember Sid Espinosa in a weird spot. Espinosa works for Google's arch enemy: Microsoft...

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.18.10: Guess who is coming to breakfast?

There was a bad plane crash in East Palo Alto yesterday. Unless you were under a rock, you know that three Tesla Motors employees were killed in the tragic crash. It also caused major damage to Palo Alto Utilities.

Guess who is coming to the Mayor's breakfast this morning? Lew Wolff, the Oakland A's owner. Not only is he coming, but he is introducing the Mayor, so at least one part of the speak won't be Ambien-like. Perhaps an MLB announcement will be forthcoming? Or perhaps Lew Wolff likes runny eggs... and the Mayor.

We joked that the Mardi Gras in San Jose was planned to have a "normal police presense," whatever that means... So it stands to reason that Police categorized Mardi Gras as like 'a calm weekend night'... as if that exists...

Hate the card clubs, love the card club money. That's what San Jose is all about. Here's what to look forward to in the coming weeks/ months: San Jose will put a ballot measure on a ballot to increase taxes on card clubs, then card clubs threaten to fight the ballot measure, then the City will allow more tables to allow card clubs to make more money so the card clubs don't oppose the ballot measure. Sort of like political racketeering by the card clubs... Too bad San Jose Revealed's coverage of the issues isn't linkable right now...

Do Not Cross, Park Closed... apparently San Jose Park Rangers mean it. Really, really mean it.

Does someone really have plan to redo Hangar One? Eddie Orton thinks he's got a plan and the money to do it. Eddie Orton is an Emeryville developer... Emeryville? Perhaps a Mountain View Ikea inside an enormous hangar?

In other Mountain View-area development news... Google doesn't want Mountain View to do evil in the North Bayshore neighborhood. In Google's view, evil = development...

Morning News Round-Up -- 1.14.10: Nothing Snarky to Write Here...

The Oakland A's desire to move to San Jose continue to light up the sports/blog/news world. Here are a few samples... from the Tri-Valley Herald, and editorial about the NUMMI site as a possibility, pointing out this: "...Ironically, it was the NUMMI plant and Toyota that helped torpedo Fremont's last pitch to the A's for a new ballpark..." And a story from USA Today, includes this gem of a quote from A's owner Lew Wolff: "It is like we are bing held hostage... We tried to make it work in Oakland. We exhausted everything we could in our area. It can't work. For us to compete, we've got to have revenue, and for us to get revenue we have to move to San Jose. It's that simple."

Andrew King, the swim coach/molester, will face his victims in court...

Here's another heartwarming story... a San Jose woman's car was repossessed because she was late with her payments. Ok, that happens all the time. But her 2-year old son was in the car. Oops.

The Mercury News Editorial board comments (positively) on the Tom Campbell political switcheroo (from Guv's race to Senate race)... The Editorial board also chimes in (positively) on Google's pulling out of China. A very positive day on Ridder Park Drive...

Nothing is easy to build/upgrade/restore in Los Gatos, but (finally) plans to rebuild/restore the Los Gatos Public Library passed the Town Council on Monday. Kudos all around.

El Camino Real and Stanford Avenue, perhaps one of the worst intersections in Silicon Valley, is going to get redesigned... thank goodness. Maybe this is the one thing that everyone in Palo Alto can agree on... it got a 5-0 vote on the Planning and Transportation Commission.

Small town politics can be wacky... like in Morgan Hill. Years ago, a local attorney/Commissioner Bruce Tichinin hired a spy to keep tabs on the City Manager... the City Council condemned him and asked him to step down. Tichinin filed a lawsuit... yada, yada, yada... the California Supreme Court denied a legal petition by the City of Morgan Hill. Just be happy you aren't involved in Morgan Hill politics... sorry Larry Carr...

Gilroy is still obsessed with pot. We learn from today's Dispatch that there are at least 4 "quiet" dispensaries there... Watch Dog is fan of the loud dispensaries, rather than the quiet ones...

Most cities would love a downtown grocery store... heck, San Jose tried 30 years to get one and now has two. But the Mountain View City Council said no to two proposals for downtown grocery stores this week...

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 – 6.18.09: Enviable talent...

Another day, another garbage story. This time, district attorneys around the bay and the State, including District Attorney Dolores Carr, are joining forces in a lawsuit alleging Target dumps “…flammable liquids and toxic chemicals in local landfills...”

Seems the County Supervisors weren’t interested in cutting services to the County’s vulnerable. Before the public had a chance to speak, Supervisor Liz Kniss took Social Services Agency cuts off the table. The Merc’s Editorial Board congratulates the Supervisors for saving services and tells the County streamlining opportunities exist elsewhere.



The Merc’s Scott Herhold offers a backhanded compliment to San Jose Police Officers Association president Bobby Lopez saying Lopez has an “enviable talent for lobbing a verbal grenade into a crowded room.” Herhold and Lopez are at odds over the cost/benefit of police officers at festivals and the culture wars.

It’s a fact, fewer students in class pays off, especially for low-income and minority students. And still, the current economic climate is forcing San Jose Unified School District to consider increasing class sizes for K-2. Janice Allen, president of the San Jose Teachers Association said teachers in 3-12 already have 30 kids, laying them off to keep kindergarten classes small would not be fair.

San Jose’s dream of becoming the Bay Area’s transit hub isn’t guaranteed. First up, overcoming NIMBY chants (and money) High-Speed Rail NIMBYs (from Menlo Park and Atherton) are raising money for the NIMBY lawsuit against the California High-Speed Rail Authority. On one hand, it’s a tough time to raise money. On the other hand, if you have to raise NIMBY money, Menlo Park and Atherton are (probably) great places to start...

And, with more NIMBY/train news…

Mountain View NIMBY’s were vocal in their opposition to a housing proposal near Caltrain. Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga disagreed, calling the location for density “one of the best” as the council supported the Minton’s proposal.

Here's a Watch Dog San Mateo/Watch Dog Silicon Valley story for you: Gubernatorial candidates (maybe) snarled as they passed on the 101 yesterday. Republican Tom Campbell spoke to a joint session of Congress, well, actually it was a joint session of the Burlingame, Foster City, and San Mateo Rotaries in Foster City. Democrat Gavin Newsom spoke to the San Jose Rotary. We’lll let you decide which event was more high-profile and let pundits describe candidates chances of success...

In a creative move to generate revenue, Morgan Hill Police Commander David Swing says the city should open it’s own vehicle impound yard. Dion Bracco (owner of Bracco’s Towing and Transport/Gilroy Councilmember) says Morgan Hill will “turn this thing into a fiasco.”

Silicon Valley Realtors descended upon Sacramento to oppose legislation removing illegal/unenforceable restrictions from title records. Assemblymember Joe Coto was moved by the Realtors and arranged for a meeting with the bill’s author. Other Silicon Valley legislators were unable to meet with the Realtors due to the pesky business of being in session.

Some will call Stanford Hospital's $124 million investment in "community benefits" a way for Stanford to be a good neighbor to their Palo Alto "friends". Others will call this investment a way to buy good will... If the latter, the cost of good will is pretty steep...

Bad news for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, a grand jury report accuses the District of being “awash in cash while county and cities drown in red ink.” Board Chairman, Sig Sanchez, chided the Grand Jury for not digging deeply. Sanchez will dig more deeply himself and provide a formal response in a month.

Gilroy’s economic woes have Councilmember Perry Woodward heading for the hills. Woodward hits the road for a two week solo trek to the top of Mt. Whitney.

Cupertino’s Ramya Auroprem was a ringer at the Rep’s Spelling Bee, pulled on stage to be part of the performance. To get the show back on track the cast resorted to made up words to fool the 13 year old’s keen sense of wordology.

Do you Facebook? Creation of a new verb, ala Google, is what Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is dreaming about. Looks like the trendy Silicon Valley startup may have its dreams come true.

Times are tough when you’re stealing tips from Barristas… Watch out Starbucks, there’s a serial tip thief on the loose.

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.5.09: Cinco de Mayo Corrections and Elections

Unbelievably (ha!), Watch Dog was wrong yesterday. Mayor Reed is not (was not) asking for an apology from Councilmember Campos regarding the Independent Police Auditor issue, he was asking her for an apology on the McEnery lobbyist complaint issue... Thank you Anonymous...

But the Merc. Editorial Board seems to want to get to the bottom of the Independent Police Auditor issue. They are calling for the records of the closed session meeting to be released so everyone can find out who knew what when about the IPA's brother.

The Editorial Board also demands for San Jose to be represented on regional boards like the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Sounds reasonable enough...

And while we are drinking IPA... San Jose Insider/De-Bug’s Raj Jayadev calls for a slowdown in finding San Jose’s new Independent Police Auditor. Jayadev will no doubt be at today’s Council meeting where the new IPA selection process should prove entertaining.

Swine flu still dominates the news:

• Dr. Douglas Owens uses the craziness to advocate for better funding for local health departments. Nothing like a well-timed crisis to avoid budget cuts...
  
• Two more children were added to the list of confirmed Swine flu sufferers. Santa Clara County now has an even dozen cases.
  
• And, for all your Swine Flu news, the Merc. has their own Special Reports section. Nothing like a well-timed crisis to avoid budget cuts...

Today is also an election day... sort of. Voters in the Cupertino Union and Moreland School Districts need to turn in their mail-in ballots today. Don’t drop it in the mail, take it directly to the Santa Clara County Registrars office. The Merc reports that as of yesterday roughly 30% of voters had returned the ballot deciding on parcel taxes for schools.

In the world of blogs versus newspapers, San Jose Revealed takes a shot... Revealed had some fun with the “leak” from the Mayor’s office to the Merc. (let’s not forget the Metro). According to Revealed the “confidential” letter sent by the Mayor to Councilmember Nora Campos, the City Attorney, and the rest of the City Council made it to the Merc. at roughly the same time it was given to Campos. Revealed smacks the Merc., John Woolfolk, and Scott Herhold for neglecting their journalistic duties.

The Merc’s Mr. Roadshow supports the suggestion to name the 101-280-680 interchange for former San Jose City Councilmember Joe Colla. Colla may be best remembered for plopping an old Chevy on San Jose’s “Monument to Nowhere.” Mr. Roadshow received a letter from Colla’s daughter, Colette Blakely, offering support and Supervisor Dave Cortese, calling Colla the “pride of the Italian-American community” voices his support as well.

The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce gave Garden City Construction’s Jim Salata the go ahead to restore the sign found during building clean up. The Merc’s Sal Pizarro reports no one anticipated the controversy over restoring the “Anglo California National Bank." The Chamber's Chief Anglo, Pat Dando, has been receiving complaints since last weeks unveiling. They didn't see this coming? Really?

It’s up to the County Supervisors now: Support the environment or the American Chemistry Council. The Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission voted for the environment and recommends the Supervisor’s follow their lead.

Gilroy’s rapist/math teacher Alberto Vicuna pleaded no contest to nine counts of sex crimes with a 14 year old girl from Oak Grove High School. The 32 year old Vicuna listed himself as a 15 year old on his online profile, but when he met the girl told her he was really 28 but had “forgotten” to update his Tagged.com profile. Deputy District Attorney Ray Mendoza said no other potential victims have come forward, yet.

Gilroy issued a challenge to its unions, compromise or layoffs. Mayor Al Pinheiro doesn’t want to touch the rainy day fund and is asking City employees to do with smaller paychecks. Union representative Jim Buessing says the City’s cushy reserves make it tough to even consider more layoffs. And by the way Mayor Pinheiro, it is both figuratively and literally a rainy day today...

Palo Alto, beware of the phony grandson. Grandparents in Palo Alto received calls from a man pretending to be a favorite grandson, in desperate need of money. The creep duped more than $11,000 out of this Palo Alto townsfolk. Police Agent Dan Ryan says, "Anyone who calls you and asks for money right away, it's probably not good..."

Scott Herhold got sentimental for the herpes ridden Koi at San Jose’s Japanese Friendship Garden. Someone out there, you know who you are, set diseased Koi free in the pond, infecting and killing most of the 265 fish. Park Ranger Penny Lee reports once the international disease hit the West Coast there was no stopping it. Not very friendly...

Facebook is ditching the virtual campus created in downtown Palo Alto for a real one at Stanford Research Park. To keep its geeks in check, and on campus, employees will get a Caltrain pass and a cafeteria with readily available meals and snacks. Say farewell to seeing your favorite Facebook geek at University Coffee all day long.

Google hired 200 Googlegoats to clear Googleweeds near the Googleplex in Google (Mountain) View. If you missed them this year, you can catch them in action next Googleyear.

staying with farm animals…

The economic crisis could be seen as chickens coming home to roost and it is exactly that for many local families. Sam’s Downtown Feed and Pet Supply partners with the 4-H to sell live chicks and has recently seen a huge increase in the number of families bringing home their own egg layers. The McCarty family of Willow Glen has 6 chicks and plans to sell eggs to the whole neighborhood. And, if local laws matter to you, you can have up to 6 chickens without a permit.

Cupertino’s City Council reviews their General Plan update today, in it ways to accommodate more than 1,000 new homes most of them affordable housing. Which won't be easy... Witness Mountain View...

Mountain View residents freaked out about an affordable housing proposal talked the City Council into studying the affects of 51 affordable units near downtown. With words like “ghetto,” two residents blamed their recent property decreases on the proposal. Councilmember Tom Means pointed out the global economic crisis might have had a bigger affect. Councilmember Laura Macias said she’s tired of reports that tell her what she already knows and says this will “...confirm what ROEM and I already believe…” this is a nice project that will increase property values. (Councilmember Macia, please take a look at ROEM's history with unhappy neighbors here...)

A new, and unreasonable, way to deal with High-Speed Rail emerged in Palo Alto yesterday... Palo Alto Vice Mayor Jack Morton called for the High-Speed Rail Authority to be disbanded and replaced with some other agency, like CalTrain... Really? Perhaps that would have been a stronger argument before the State (and a majority of folks on the Peninsula) voted FOR High-Speed Rail last November...

There’s no word yet from the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce on the controversial proposal to move the Friday Night Music Series out of West Second Street. Chamber Executive Director Chris Giusiana is anxiously awaiting the results of the eVote with the event kickoff next month.

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.10.09: Watch Dog in the News...

Watch Dog Silicon Valley is mentioned/criticized in the Mercury News by columnist Scott Herhold today. The way the Merc. is going however, more people may read this recap of Herhold's piece than the actual paper version...we will have more (much more) to say about this soon. (San Jose Revealed, also criticized, responded this morning...)

And while we are in a self-praise mode, the COWs (Citizens Of Woodside) love Watch Dog too...

An Atherton resident threw her hat in the ring for Governor...in case you missed it yesterday, Watch Dog wrote about it here and here.

San Jose’s airport will see Mayor Chuck Reed racing through tonight as he catches a red-eye to D.C. in order to meet up with Mayors Antonio Villaragosa (LA) and Jerry Sanders (San Diego). The three will lobby Congress for sending some of those stimulus dollars California's way. Reed hates to travel and says, "…this is my nightmare version of it," but "it's an important trip, or else I wouldn't be doing it." Pressing his Green Vision, Reed will ask for money for clean tech and green jobs, perhaps still hoping/praying to get Tesla into San Jose. As a reminder, you should probably check out this piece that ran in the Metro about the Mayor's D.C. plans. Judging from the timing, it looks like Reed is being dragged to D.C. as opposed to pulling others with him...Reed's original plans were to trek to D.C. in late February/early March...

In the final dramatic change to the County’s dependency courts, the Santa Clara District Attorney’s will no longer represent children. That job now belongs to LACY – Legal Advocates for Children and Youth. The Merc. published a series “Broken Families, Broken Courts” which put the juvenile court system under the spotlight. Judge Katherine Lucero said, “We were very, very impressed with LACY, and it was a unanimous decision. We felt that LACY had a very whole-child approach." That quote would suggest that the DA's office did not...

The Saratoga City Council talked for 30 minutes before approving a fence ordinance that their Planning Commission spent 16 months to hammer out during numerous community meetings. While Councilmember Kathleen King expressed frustration at the time involved she said, “…I can see how much time they put into this ordinance.” Councilmember Jill Hunter said she was nervous about approving the ordinance because fences are so contentious in her neighborhood and expressed surprise that only two community members appeared at the Council meeting to discuss the proposal. Perhaps community members were adding in a few last minute inches and feet on their fences...

What does former Los Gatos Councilmember Steve Glickman have against libraries? While on Council he repeatedly attempted to prevent the Council from moving forward according to Mayor Mike Wasserman who says, "I'm really disappointed. We've had so many public meetings — probably a dozen — and we've had surveys done, and in every case support for the library was high." Now Glickman is hoping to put a ballot measure that would limit Los Gatos’ ability to spend money on capital projects. Weird, since he supported this capital project...

Gilroy held the first public meeting on a Sunshine Ordinace and no one showed up, or almost no one. Councilmember Perry Woodward, who won his seat campaigning against secrecy was there along with Mayor Al Pinheiro. Their colleague, Councilmember Peter Arellano, was stuck in New Mexico. City Administrator Tom Haglund said, "We're working through implementing the ordinance consistent with all of its provisions and we'll continue to do that..." No one from the public was in attendance and the meeting ended 15 minutes after it began. Perhaps the sunshine was keeping people from Sunshine...

The entertaining line of the year may go to Morgan Hill Times reporter Natalie Everett who wrote, “Asking the city's Business Assistance and Housing Services Department how successful they are at attracting and retaining businesses in the current economy is like asking a tugboat captain how he fares in the high seas during a storm.” Department Director Garrett Toy laid out what they don’t control – demographics, population, developers, and property owners before saying the department is only a small factor. Toy accounts for their success in bringing (and keeping) business with an aggressive marketing and retention program combined with tweaking things in their control.

Sally Lieber gets good press in the Mountain View Voice with a very friendly story about the former Councilmember/former Assemblymember/former Speaker Pro Tem’s improbable rise to power. Councilmember Mike Kasperzak said, "Sally and I disagree politically on some things, But I would never accuse Sally of taking the safe way out." Hey Mike, Lieber not running for Supervisor seemed like the 'safe way out.'

Google is making good on its goal to push the green agenda. The Google PowerMeter will help residents watch their household energy usage. The goal is to create the “Prius effect” with homeowners striving to push consumption down once they see it in realtime. The software works with the smart meters being rolled out by PG&E. Googler Michael Terrell, an energy program manager has it at his house, he says, "I'm driving my friends crazy. I'm really into the data,” as he yanks incandescent bulbs that prove to be energy hogs.

Trying to buck the trend of the anonymous, chain coffeehouse, and the dreary economy, Frank and Carole Rast reconfigured her parents aging and unused gas station into a hopping Japantown meeting spot, Roy’s Station Coffee & Teas. Roy Murotsone’s family bought the gas station after being released from WWII internment camps in Arizona. The family ran the gas station and attached diner. Opened yesterday, the updated neighborhood roost saw San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo and attorney Daniel Mayfield enjoying coffee while 5 year-old Madeline Gorman celebrated her birthday.

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.4.09: Hoping for Rain Edition...

(Before we begin...Last evening, Watch Dog posted a correction to its latest Tesla story. Please click here to see the correction...)

A good Samaritan from San Jose found a cell phone at the Club Monte Carlo in Mountain View and offered to return the phone. During the phone exchange, the 23 year old was stabbed for his good deeds. That'll teach you to be nice...

In other violent news...A young man was attacked and beaten while 3 dozen horrified middle-schoolers watched. His attackers took off when on field adults ran to him. A suspect, possibly a Yerba Buena student, was arrested Tuesday.

Finally, a feel good story today...The sons of Mexican immigrant day laborers went to Stanford, worked at Google, and now have a start-up of their own. Bismarck and Bel Lepe, along with fellow Stanford grad and friend Sean Knapp, founded Ooyala. 45-employees strong and growing.

Publicly funded campaigns are on hold in Sunnyvale...again. This time, the discussion has been moved to 2010 to study. At the same time the City Council will discuss moving elections to even numbered years for a potential cost savings of $300,000. Vice Mayor Chris Moylan says public funding would level the playing field and make it easier for more people to run. Councilmember Dave Whittum suggested the public funding could be $5,000 rather than the suggested $25,000. Whittum managed to run his 2007 campaign with just over $5,000, of course, most of which appears to be in loans to himself.

Also in Sunnyvale...officials have moved one step closer accomplishing a nearly 20 year old vision and connecting the Stevens Creek Trail along a (not even) quarter mile route through the City.

The Ford Store in Morgan Hill will be getting its own form of bailout bucks. The City Council voted to let the store keep more of their tax dollars through 2012. Short-term gain for the store will turn into long term benefits for the City (if they stay in business). Councilmember Greg Sellers called the restructured tax deal a “triple win for the City.” Ford Store president Tim Paulus has sold cars for 35 years and says he’s very appreciative of the City’s help. Watch Dog should think so...

In a poll that’s a disheartening sign of the times, the Morgan Hill Times wants to hear from homeowners – do you owe more than your home is worth?

San Jose Inside’s (and the County Office of Education Board Member) Joseph DiSalvo voices support for prevention over cure when it comes to gang violence. DiSalvo quotes Ghandi in saying, “If we are to teach real peace we must begin with the children,” and asks the County Board of Education to direct their dollars towards prevention at their March 18 meeting.

Mission City Lantern gives props to Watch Dog Silicon Valley and urges his readers to visit – thank you James. Lantern takes time to praise Santa Clara’s Planning Commission and, it would seem, the members of Santa Clara’s City Council – calling all of them caring, respectful, and intelligent.

The US's biggest science fan in D.C. will be happy to hear the Youth Science Institute exceeded their fundraising goal. The kids at San Jose’s Lietz Elementary pulled together 150,000 pennies and a generous (unnamed) husband and wife science team gave a very generous $50,000. Executive Director Suzanne Mulcahy said, “we are very, very grateful.” Board president Mark Lohbeck, himself a beneficiary of the YSI programs, called the campaign’s success “…a testament to the impact YSI has made through the years.”

Morning News Round-Up – 12.09.08: Alleged corruption at City Hall...it's like 2003 all over again...

Today’s San Jose Council meeting promises to be full of fireworks as downtown's “Peralta Action Plan” is up for grabs. Former Mayor Tom McEnery has been accused by Councilmember Nora Campos of meeting with the Mayor to discuss the plan to get his neck of downtown $5m+. Mayor Chuck Reed calls McEnery a confidante and notes that they, "have a lot of mutual interests and mutual friends" that they have discussed in private conversations, but not the Peralta Action Plan. (Reed and McEnery also have similar mutual enemies...as was proven by this being filed against McEnery today and this being written about the filing...Watch Dog will revisit this later...) Watch Dog likes the idea of Pike Place South and hopes everyone can play nice. The Merc. calls McEnery “a political lightening rod” while encouraging continued open and transparent discussion. Tom McEnery’s San Jose Inside gets into the act as well with Eric Johnson’s historic retrospective.

Also on tap for the City of San Jose today is a continued discussion about Inclusionary Zoning. Inclusionary is a way to have developers set aside, build, and make a profit (albeit a smaller profit) from affordable housing. The Merc. supports Councilmember Sam Liccardo’s proposal, calling out developers who are opposed to the plan because they deal with inclusionary almost everywhere else in the Bay Area. Not to be outdone by Team Oliverio-Constant, Memos are again flying this time from the Mayor, the team of Cortese-Pyle-Chu, City Manager-City Attorney, and the Director of Housing.

Mountain View’s City Council meeting tonight will be entertaining as they address the critical issue of...allowing Segway’s on trails but not sidewalks. Segway fan Richard Roeder is seeking sidewalk use saying, "I have no way legally to get away from traffic that I have to deal with on the road." At least Mt. View is focusing on things that are affecting their residents?...

The County Board of Supervisors will swear in former San Jose Vice Mayor Dave Cortese – if Cortese has resigned from the San Jose City Council...there’s no indication on his website.

Alternative ways to commute are the topic du jour for Merc. columnist Scott Herhold who tests a Google cycling route from San Francisco. Although Herhold wasn’t able to achieve the typical time of roughly 2 hours he did enjoy sausage, soccer, and getting lost. Concluding his trip with Milk Duds and a movie he’s doubtful of being Google material. Participate in the SF2G challenge yourself here.

Continuing toward multi-cultural melting pot – Cupertino joins 18 cities in the nation with a majority Asian population. The same demographic study found San Jose continues to have an ethnic plurality – with no single ethnic majority.

A Los Gatos preschool student died of meningitis, the parents of students at Stratford preschool have been advised of possible exposure. The girl's brother attended Loma Prieta Elementary where parents have also been notified.

Ranking high on the cool scale a ghost town is visible as the water level drops in the Lexington Reservoir. Historian Bill Wulf says this is the third or fourth time in 56 years it has been visible.

Morning News Round-Up – 12.05.08: With a theme...

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed is in a mad dash for $1 billion in aid from the Feds saying, “We want to make sure we get our share.” First on the Honey-Do list, the ever sexy street paving for a mere $100 million, and BART, and green tech, and...and...and...Isn't it times like these that it would be helpful for Mayor Reed to be a little bit more political? Did he help Obama or any other Democrats in the past election? Too bad, because as Senator Boxer famously said, "elections have consequences..."



Alum Rock gets reprimanded by the Merc for their massive bungling of the Norma Martinez bailout. Pointing out it’s about the children, “This latest giveaway is more evidence that voters aren't electing trustees worthy of their children's abilities.” (Chuck Reed added that some of the money that went to Martinez would be better spent on San Jose roads...)

Sunnyvale’s new City Manager, Gary Luebbers atteneded his first Sunnyvale City Council meeting to learn the Council, and the job, he’d just left was paying him the $309,000 they owed him. With the quarter million Sunnyvale is ponying up it’s a good guess that the taxman will be knocking on his door...(Chuck Reed hopes that the tax that Luebbers will pay will be returned directly to Silicon Valley for BART...)

Thanks to a Watch Dog tipster we know Sunnyvale Councilmember/former Sup. candidate Otto Lee will be leaving for Iraq to continue his job as a Naval Supply Officer. Lee must have updated his Wikipedia page to scoop the media. (Chuck Reed asked that Lee's meeting-stipend that Sunnyvale Councilmembers get be transfered to a "green tech" economic development fund...)

Oops! U.S. District Judge James Ware ruled as many as 900,000 people may be eligible to collect damages from American Corrective Counseling Services – used by Santa Clara County and others as debt collectors. If you got dinged any time between 1997 and now you could be part of the class action. (Chuck Reed believes the City of San Jose is owed part of this money...)

The Mercury News gives their take on the Big Three Bailout. Automakers showed up in Washington without the private jets and contrition in evidence. Among the Merc’s suggestions – drop the battle with states wanting higher fuel standards. (...and Chuck Reed wants some of that bailout too...)

Area gossip blog Valley Wag reports Google CEO Eric Schmidt could be setting up girlfriend #2 with a job at Google rather than funding her floundering documentary film company, Kate Bohner Productions. Wife Wendy deals with the very public mistress by running a bookstore 3,000 miles away. (Chuck Reed thinks that if Google has enough money to hire the CEO's mistress, than perhaps they could spare a few bucks for San Jose...pretty please?)

The folks at San Jose Revealed are grumpier than usual taking a whack at Tom McEnery, Sam Liccardo, and Lew Wolff in one long (grumpy) breath. (Chuck Reed knows enough to not ask the San Jose Revealed folks for money...)

And finally this nugget...San Jose has had some high-profile problems with arresting drunks downtown and entering them into 'the system'. In most places, drunks go into the drunk tank until they sober up -- keeping drunk people off the street for the night but not clogging the justice system with small 'crimes'...San Jose doesn't have a drunk tank anymore, contributing to this problem. But when San Jose did have a drunk tank, they didn't use it. (Reed promises to get a new drunk tank with Federal money if it comes...)