Sunnyvale’s (rotating) Mayoralship is turning into a catfight. Councilmember/Community Administrator Ron Swegles issued a surprise statement saying the “critical issues” facing Sunnyvale (almost) require a “full-time mayor… I think I have more time” than fellow candidates Vice Mayor Melinda Hamilton and Mayor/Retiree Tony Spitaleri.
(rotating) Mayors are also on the minds of Palo Alto’s City Council as they welcome newcomers and elect the new Mayor.
Palo Alto wants to keep its geek-chic and proposes becoming a living laboratory exploring wages. Neil Struthers, CEO for the Building and Construction Trades Council, argues offering a “prevailing wage” doesn’t come with hidden costs and (probably) looks forward to the experiment.
The Merc’s Joe Rodriguez kicks off the new year on a positive note. Former Teatro Vision director Raul Lozano’s career change helps put food into the yards of Eastside residents. With friends like the Health Trusts Fred Ferrer and Poncho Guevara from Sacred Heart, Lozano is well on his way.
Rough kick off to the new year in San Jose. Two dudes landed in the hospital after a knife fight. After the burning death of a homeless man was ruled murder, San Jose’s 2009 murder toll reached 28.
Thanks to the Merc, government watchers have a list of options this week…
The County’s Juvenile Justice Systems Collaborative appoints a group to review the disproportionate number of kids of color landing in juve. Funny, this sounds familiar…
San Jose City Council’s Rules and Open Government Committee looks at ways to push biofuels, makes appointments and offers changes to public meeting rules.
Santa Clara’s Historical and Landmarks Commission considers a property tax break in exchange for a historic building.
The Los Gatos Union School District digs into an audit report.
Sex (education) is on the minds of the Milpitas Unified School District trying to fill the Sex Ed Advisory Committee.
Protect San Jose adds a new name to their blogroll, Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney/Candidate Jeff Rosen pens his opposition to the open grand jury and offers it’s the District Attorney’s job to decide whether to prosecute an officer following the use of deadly force. Strong words for a Police Officer Association blogger.
Mission City Lantern pokes Santa Clara Councilmember Jamie MacLeod to dish on meetings with Santa Clara Plays Fair.
The San Jose Conservation Corps also exits 2009 with an embarrassing story. Seems a city audit uncovered overcharges of nearly a half million. San Jose City Attorney Rick Doyle said it was due to “a lack of financial management” and “decentralizing” city departments would “get better results.”
San Jose police are investigating the brutal murder of Alviso’s Norma Leticia Martinez. While police don’t believe this is a hate crime, shopkeeper Jose Lujan said of the beating “that’s a lot of hate. Nobody deserves that.”
When San Jose High’s Matt Blea returned home from the hospital, the Merc’s Scott Herhold took pen to paper to call for reforms. Herhold calls on the California Interscholastic Federation to step in with “tough new protocols” preventing kids from getting back into the game after serious injury.
Also closing 2009 with reflections, the Merc’s Joe Rodriguez puts a gentle touch on some of the year’s traumas. With reflections from 90-year-old Quaker Ian Thiermann who went back to work after Bernie Madoff stole his life savings, muralist Frank Torres who suffered a gang beating for his art and Khmer Rouge survivor Sophany Bay whose interviews with other victims are used in court proceedings a world away, Rodriguez puts a hopeful close on 2009.
Busted. Some good news for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s REACT Task Force. Pascal Chaubard won’t be using Craigslist to scam discount seeking travelers for a while.
And just when you thought 2009 could end without another scandal… Seems nepotism remains alive and well in San Jose. Tech Museum President, Peter Friess, and the board. Hired Friess’ wife to “spruce up” the Tech’s image for a nice $400,000.
Protect San Jose has uncovered a “disturbing trend” from the Mercury News, reporters are digging around in court records. Incoming Police Officers’ Association President George Beattie suggests blog responses might not be worth his time.
It seems someone at the Chronicle is finally paying attention to what happens south of SFO. Last week it was this story, this week it is Matier & Ross getting into the action talking about how a 2-team option is included in the 49er's Environmental Impact Report that was passed unanimously by the Santa Clara Planning Commission. (Thank you very friendly Mr./Ms. Anonymous...)
San Jose usually loves being unique, but this is not be one of those times. Sunday’s headline on the Merc “S.J. Strategy in mental disturbances questioned.” Those pesky paper-sellers chatted up police in New York and Memphis to learn how officers with mental health training are sent when mental illness is a factor in dispatch calls. San Jose Police Sgt. Teresa Jeglum says SJPD doesn’t “have the staffing for an automatic trigger.” Probably not the best choice of words Sgt. Jeglum when responding to a story about a Police shooting...
Let the mud fly. Silicon Valley’s GOP gubernatorial wannabe’s are getting their YouTube experience early as they slap each other around in an early war of the words. According to the Merc’s Internal Affairs a recent Merc story drew claws from the teams of Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman. At least these two will be prepared for the childish games in Sacramento should either of them beat Jerry Brown...
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed hopes to freeze Redevelopment Agency spending, slicing Redevelopment chief Harry Mavrogenes budget of $132 million. Reed also supports alternatives to dishing the $58 million owed to the County, like handing over the keys to the former City Hall, saying “their obligations are subordinate…” County Executive Jeff Smith is unlikely to go along “the fact they are overleveraged… is a problem we didn’t create.”
Judge Edward Lee loves his new “Soviet-bloc-style” courthouse in Morgan Hill, in spite of the smell of sewage, a flooded parking lot, a messed up sound system, an unusable jury room, and a door that won’t close. Lee admits there are “minor quirks” staff “has put up with” but is confident the County can fix problems not covered under warranty. This is the story that keeps on giving...
The week kicks off with the obligatory Carr/Rosen moment-by-moment campaign reporting. This week's update: the two work on different floors in the County building... Thank you Internal Affairs for that critical bit of information. Internal Affairs could also barely contain themselves after learning Palo Alto marketing firm Global Fluency wasn’t as fluent on the local media. It seems the Merc received a pitch to cover the (apparently) unknown berg of San Jose. Mayor Reed’s spokesperson Michelle McGurk sniffed “a pitch like this to the local paper is not something I consider a priority.” Unless it is part of her own job...
In other "News of the Weird" from Palo Alto... A homeless City Council candidate is being asked by Palo Alto Police not to take up residence outside Whole Foods. (Watch Dog guesses it might lead to some serious liberal guilt if he was living outside of Whole Foods...)
The Merc’sJoe Rodriguezdidn’t get asked his opinion on un-doing the problems of the “monumental flop” called the Mexican Heritage Plaza, but that didn’t stop him from posting ideas from readers. Ideas for re-tooling the 1987 vision by then-Councilmember Blanca Alvarado include a Seattle-style Space Needle with a rotating Mexican restaurant.
Other opinions from Merccolumnists... The unveiling of a piece of the Mineta San Jose International Airport drew kudos from the Merc’sSal Pizarro who toured with “dozens of dignitaries.” Begging the question, San Jose has "dozens" of dignitaries?
Mountain View Police will soon take advantage of Google’s free WiFi. The WiFi system will also be used to enhance the water meters at the Pulte Homes' development.
Neighbors in Los Altos (NIMBYs) are still pissed off about a proposed Senior housing proposal approved by the Planning Commission in May. After a contentious meeting this week where NIMBY’s grumped about the noise and dust of construction, the City Council voted to have another meeting to delay their decision.
(Apparently) Worried the Los Gatos City Council might not know where they were, the Los Gatos Arts Commission has remade the Council Chambers with an exhibit called “You Are Here.” No word if City Manager Greg Larson has Facebooked about the exhibit yet... (Watch Dog spies are constantly updating us on Larson's status...)
San Jose Insider/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio engages in a little political-blogger-suck-up and writes about his Breakfast with the Chamber. Unfortunately, we also learn a little about PO's sleeping habits...
Once fueled by double macchiato bolstered techies, Silicon Valley is hit hard by the economy. According to a Merc. analysis of new data from those folks at the Employment Development Office, tech accounted for 21% of lost jobs for the first part of the year. Why do you think we blog?...
Furlough and layoff are the new buzzwords in Silicon Valley and it’s creating huge demand for services at local non-profits. Nancy Tivol, with Sunnyvale Community Services, gets the same questions from reports all the time, “Are you seeing the middle-class line up for bags of food?”
San Jose’s Oak Grove School District promoted Assistant Superintendent Tony Garcia to replace outgoing Manny Barbara. It is unclear if Manny Barbara will go back to his former job as an animator...(I know the spelling is off...work with me people!)
Faber’s Cyclery is the subject of the Merc’s Joe Rodriguez passion this week. A San Jose cyclery since 1921, owner Alex LaRievere dreams of turning it into the cycle museum San Jose has been waiting for, one with beer. Adding to the allure, before it was a cyclery haven it was a blacksmith, stage coach stop, and saloon (complete with brothel). If you have the deep pockets, LaRievere is looking for give him a call (408) 294-1314. Perhaps if he brought back the brothel, folks would give money...
In case you missed it…Watch Dog posted breaking news yesterday, Planning Commissioner/Shirakawa Staffer Xavier Campos is facing a formidable challenger if he hopes to take his sisters seat on the San Jose Council dais next year…Oh yeah, and if you read Watch Dog regularly, you would have seen the hints dropped a while ago.
Gilroy Dispatch reporter Chris Bone is hot on the trail of a very complex story involving millions of dollars, shady deals, and violence. Local developer Chris Cote has interests in South Africa, a development in Gilroy, owes millions to the bank and workers, was beaten nearly to death last year, and fears the assailant will return. There’s a lawsuit against school trustee Denise Apuzzo, destroyed bloodstained documents, and Superior Court Judge Socrates Manoukian. Bone does his best to lay out the timeline and the story.
Next week, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors will act on a proposal requesting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to clear up the San Jose/Giants pesky territorial rights problem and help the A’s find their way to San Jose. (This is the third story in a month about Supervisors trying to stay relevant in the South Bay sports landscape...49ers/Raiders at the fairgrounds were the first two...)
Local public pools have to dump out the water in their pools in order to install a device to prevent little folks from getting trapped in public pools. Although the law took effect in 2007, folks have chosen a drought year to start dumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of water. Susan Siravo with the Santa Clara Valley Water District calls the dumping “significant.” Dan Anderson, with Campbell’s Scuba Pool Repair, says they can do the work without dumping the water.
Props to the Gilroy High School Chamber Singers – they knocked it out of the park for their Carnegie Hall debut. Check out the video – and the standing ovation. Practice, practice, practice...
It’s a frat party unlike any other. Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers from the late ‘50’s are saying farewell to brother Bob Saunders who’s been given 3 months to live. From around the state and country old frat boys and their sorority sisters descended upon San Jose for the last hurrah. Thanks to the Merc’s Joe Rodriguez we have an inside seat.
Urban blight junkie/Metro/San Jose Insider Gary Singh joined marchers along the Cesar E. Chavez walkway last week and shares his discovery of San Jose’s “hidden gems” along the route.
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…
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.
Watch out Morgan Hill dog lovers, scoop your poop lest you fall prey to doggie doo battles. Max Hamlin was arrested after a doody dispute that turned to fisticuffs with a fellow dog lover – who happened to be an off-duty San Jose police officer.
In a sad (un)neighborly tale, a woman was murdered in her home in South San Jose by a man who shot her at her front door with her children there. The next door neighbor, who couldn’t be bothered to investigate or call the police, said “It’s been a challenge living next to them these past months.” The woman’s home was frequently the site of domestic violence, her challenges are over.
Merc columnist Joe Rodriguez does a “Where Are They Now” reflection on stories for the past year. Rodriguez should have included himself, three Eastside/Westside columns in 2008?
In the wee hours Sunday morning Sophie Belknap was already on the road when she lost control of her car – by the time it came to a rest, two other cars had hit her and a young life was ended. The CHP reported Belknap, a college sophomore home on vacation, was not wearing her seatbelt.
Gilroy’s Top 10 starts with fire and ends with applause for Police Chief Denise Turner for managing, thus far, not to layoff any sworn officers, as opposed to the police staff getting the boot. Turner has her police increasing visibility on streets in an effort to stem gang warfare (and not a bad p.r. move either).
Morgan Hill City Manager Ed Tewes is recommending the layoff of 10 AFSCME union members along with 3 police offers and a reduction in hours and no raises. The Police Officers Association offered a plan that would cut costs and keep police jobs – the POA isn’t sharing until its members and the city council have seen the plan. No doubt it means letting other (un)noticiables slip, Mayor Tate maybe you’d like to decrease gang abatement or stop responding to emergency calls?
Staying in Morgan Hill… the Redevelopment Agency wants to give Third Street a facelift, approval for a mixed use design was given in July (pre-meltdown). In December the agency met in closed session to talk about purchasing property (site of Jesus Restaurant) - one teeny problem – no one thought to ask the owner.
