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 – 10.13.09:

Peninsula residents met with High-Speed Rail Authority experts to review the over/under/through options to move those 100 mph trains from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The anti-roller coaster requirement takes all the fun out of transitions between grades and is giving some residents headaches. You still have time for an “Alternative Analysis” meeting tonight in San Francisco. San Jose resident Larry Ames was pleased to see his curvy high-rise proposal on the chalk board…

Mountain View was planning for a rainy day when they bought up small bits of land and identified it as possible parklands. Their rainy day has arrived and those crusty old apartment buildings will soon make way for small parks and playgrounds along Mariposa and Del Medio Avenues.

Los Gatos’ Mayor Mike Wasserman finally ‘fessed up. Yes, he is running to replace Supervisor Don Gage. The Mayor announced he’s running on a cost-saving platform, after all, he is a tax preparer.

The Palo Alto Daily News has made their choice for City Council: Larry Klein, Corey Levens, Gail Price, Leon Leong and Dan Dykwel.

The Merc’s Editorial Board is fed up with the political wrangling preventing downtown San Jose from building a new urgent care center. “… each day of delay is a further shame” in the 5 years since San Jose’s downtown hospital was closed, according to the Merc and there’s no better time than the present to jump start replacement.

Paul “not a doormat” McCauley thought he was doing a favor when he moved a billboard sporting van for the owner of “Hassle Free Process Service.” The Merc’s Scott Herhold reports McCauley is the one facing the hassle and legal beagle Jim McManis stands to benefit from McCauley’s lapse in judgment.

Kudos to Voodoo Lounge owners David Powell and Tony Beers for pulling the plug on homophobic musicians Buju Banton, according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. Also tops on the Pizarro list of good, the InnVision homage to 007, complete with “shaken, not stirred.”

Protect San Jose sent props to MADD on passage of the breathalyzer ignition switch for first-time drunk drivers…

From previous San Jose Council meetings we know Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio’s thoughts run through the gutters (Library content filters anyone?), now we learn he’s dragged the rest of his body through the gutter during a sewer tour.

Palo Alto thieves made off with Gamble Gardens froggy and are politely asked to return both the frog and his lilypad says Executive Director Vanessa Roach.

As the first of the Winter storms hits, look forward to flooding and crashes on local roadways. Sounds like a good day for racking up some tele-commute time.

Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards dishes on good eats, police-style, for food-lovin’ road warriors. Best advice, look for those patrol cars in the parking lot when hitting your neighborhood eatery.

Morning News Round-Up – 9.28.09: Back in the news...

The Valley Transit Authority has gotten an earful about slow light rail from riders and Mr. Roadshow. They aim to do something about it but some of the Valley’s biggest transit supporters are less than excited about light rail 2.0. Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s Carl Guardino votes for the “less expensive” alternative of “bus rapid transit.”

Also interested in putting happy wheels on the road… San Jose gets federal stimulus dollars to repave 19 of their 2,300 road miles. According to San Jose Transportation deputy director Hans Larsen the $15 million drop in the bucket is appreciated but hardly covers San Jose’s $283 million backlog.

Local Deputy Dogs are pissed off over a county report saying they pay too much for e-booking bad guys. Federal law enforcement pays nothing for computerized booking while poor Los Altos Hills paid nearly $11,000 for one booking in 2007. The answer, of course, is sending law enforcement officers driving to county offices to file reports. Or, LAH arrests more people.

Rosemary Stasek was a catholic and a staunch supporter of women’s rights. “A society is really built up on how it treats women,” according to Stasek and a big part of the reason she landed in Afghanistan. The Merc’s Patty Fisher shares details on the remarkable Silicon Valley woman who left home for less green pastures.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs did a mighty-lot of sleuthing last week…

• The case of District Attorney Dolores Carr & spouse (ethical) screw-up ranked a letter from attorney/friend B. Robert Allard (apparently) to the prosecutor’s chief opponent asking to let bygones be bygones.
  
• Round 2 – the Government Attorney’s Association was asked to investigate a vote of no-confidence against their big dog, District Attorney Dolores Carr. The mystery is who asked...
  
• Sunnyvale, according to IA, needed “schooling in the California Public Records Act” before dishing on home loans to 6 Sunnyvalian employees including nearly $900,000 to City Manager Gary Luebbers.
  
• (former)Hewlett Packard Tech giant/senatorial wannabe Carly Fiorina takes a ribbing from the Merc’s Internal Affairs the Huffington Post as well as a host of bloggers for the “Worst Political Website Ever.”
  

The Merc’s Scott Herhold takes his readers on a sentimental journey through the tale of two weddings (no funerals) and a peek into his daughter’s wedding of the future. Along the way Herhold offers his thought that the legalization of gay marriage will happen, it’s only a matter of time…

Homeless pooches are the beneficiaries of the Humane Society’s annual Walk N’ Wag this weekend while pampered pooches can hang at Pooch in Sunnyvale for only $100 a night according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro.

The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on Senator Dianne Feinstein to fight for the $4 million Congressman Mike Honda wants to clean up Mt Umunhum. Calling the sum a “pittance in the context of billions in military spending” the Merc hopes Feinstein will “make this project a bright light in an otherwise dark hour of investment in public facilities.”

San Jose Insider/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio argues against a “plastic bag bureaucracy” and suggests instead banishment of the single-use poopy diaper. Also Inside, Jack Van Zandt had a rockin’ good time with Joan Baez kicking off the Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival.

Protect San Jose’s Mary Klotzbach shares the wrenching story of her son’s death at the wheel of a drunk driver and the costs associated with drunk driving.

Normally a 49ers booster, Mission City Lantern sends props to the Vikings for their “marvelous” win. Really, James?

If watching your local elected officials is your thing, here’s the hap’s for this week…

• San Jose’s Community and Economic Development Committee talks outsourcing, no, they’re not sending street paving to India.
  
• San Jose’s City Council reviews a contract for the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity (nearly a year after the fiasco that go this ball rolling), considers letting anyone buy low income housing and hopes to make it easier on city landmarks.
  
• The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and San Jose City Council meet together to talk flu pandemic and census. Apparently, none of the other Silicon Valley cities plan on having pandemics.
  
• The Mountain View-Whisman School District considers proposals on school size, boundaries, transportation, enrollment priorities and independent study. And, as if that weren’t enough fun, Trustees talk salaries.

Morning News Round-Up – 9.10.09: The finger-pointing edition…

Economics? We don’t need no stinking economics… Experts on the financial returns of baseball stadiums (there’s a gig for that?) aren’t sure moving the A’s to San Jose paints the same rosy picture. Redevelopment Agency assistant executive director John Weis disagrees saying holding out for offices could lead to 20 years of empty land.

Also thinking about sports, Sunnyvale wants more time to mull over Santa Clara’s 49er impact report. Worried about traffic Sunnyvale Councilmember Melinda Hamilton said “it is not our problem” to fix.

Union leader Brian Ward accused Palo Alto city officials of hiding $22 million in the cookie jar while crying poor. Administrator Lalo Perez says that money is all but spent on approved projects.

Give it up or dish seem to be the options facing text-addict San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant. Texting is “a way of life” complains Constant when faced with a possibility of council meetings becoming a no-text zone. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed countered pointing to Saratoga where Mayor Chuck Page shrugged “we owe it to our citizens to pay 100% attention.”

Santa Clara County will scrounge their cookie jar for $3.7 million to pay builders for the Morgan Hill courthouse. More interesting, (apparently) no one knows the final tally for courthouse costs.

San Jose Councilmember Nora Campos hopes you’ll be there for a groundbreaking on a new East San Jose park. The Merc’s Sal Pizarro also dishes Applied Materials vice president Joe Pon is ditching the corporate life to move to San Francisco’s James Irvine Foundation while philanthropists Michael and Susan Eckhardt chided Silicon Valley residents for being chintzy.

Cupertinites can look forward to more creative signage aimed at “people traveling 50 mph” but don’t bother asking for any “tacky” signs, those are still a no-no.

Los Gatos Mayor Mike Wasserman hopes to “…help Los Gatos on a larger scale” and is tossing his hat in the ring to replace termed-out Supervisor Don Gage. The Merc noted the Supervisors oversee county jails, health and human services and the Valley Transportation Agency.

Congressmember Anna Eshoo hosted a lively town hall on healthcare. Pointing to hidden costs of emergency care Eshoo told the rambunctious crowd overall costs would drop. Not everyone agreed and the normally polite residents from the toney towns of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Palo Alto hurled accusations of liar at Eshoo.

Los Altos Hills joined the top 10 on Forbes list of expensive places to live. With a median home $3.28 million Los Altos Hills landed 8th on the list of toney zipcodes.

Los Altos Hills resident/former San Jose fire protection engineer Ed Munyak landed a spread in Metro for the growing support of his theory that the World Trade Center couldn’t have come down without pre-planted explosives.

San Jose’s 20th homicide of the year happened in a parking garage while the Dub Show Tour ’09 raged above. San Leandro’s Lake Eric Calvin was covered in so much blood paramedics didn’t know how many times he’d been shot. Protect San Jose’s Officer James Gonzales (apparently) thinks the link between the E-40 event and the shooting is more obvious. Anyone with information is urged to contact Sgt. Dave Tindall or detective John Barg of the San Jose Police Department's homicide unit at 408-277-5283.

Metro’s Fly did the math on the failed recall effort… A recall election in Monte Sereno would cost the taxpayers $200,000 while paying those pesky councilmembers $300 runs $21,600. Fly followed San Jose’s City Council discussion on budget busting golf courses.

A plethora of screw-ups landed the Live Oak High School theatre project in the rarified air of having a 2nd state inspector. Sanchez Inc’sNancy Sanchez pointed at the engineer and architect for things like an (un)disinfected drinking fountain and other screw-ups.

San Jose Insider/De-Bug coordinator Raj Jayadev reappeared to chat with students about President’s virtual visit. According to Jayadev, students without textbooks were unimpressed.

Morning News Round-Up – 9.7.09: A Political Carr Crash…

The dish according to the Merc’s Internal Affairs…

• District Attorney Dolores Carr stuffed her pointy toes in her mouth – again. Seems the DA won't be opening up the Grand Jury for the police shooting of a mentally ill Vietnamese man.
  
• State Senator Joe Simitian wasn’t snubbed. The Senator said leaving his water-loving self out was merely sound political maneuvering.
  
• San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency will not be pouring drinks at the Caravan.
  
• Republican/gubernatorial wannabe Steve Poizner tied fellow Republican/gubernatorial wannabe Meg Whitman to the entertaining Mr. (Van) Jones Leaves Washington saga. On an (un)related note, no word if Jones will return to his old gig…

The Merc’s Scott Herhold dishes another Dolores Carr story. Hoping no one would notice, the District Attorney’s office released the news late Friday afternoon that she was tossing the murder of Vahid Hosseini into the lap of Attorney General Jerry Brown. This after Hosseini’s widow uncovered a big no-no, (husband) Carr created a major conflict of interest in this potential death penalty case...

These folks had to enjoy the long weekend filled with (crashing) Carr news…

Disastrous Economy + 8 Years Red Ink = San Jose City Council Oversight?

Not an A’s fan, U of Maryland economics professor Dennis Coates said the “novelty effect” of a new baseball stadium wouldn’t last. San Jose’s chief development officer, Paul Krutko, countered saying city costs would be so low it wouldn’t be San Jose’s problem.

Gavilan College is pissed. A little annexation, paving a golf course and dorms caused Gilroy planners to declare Gavilan a developer – not a governmental agency. This is a problem because developers have to fork over extra bucks for city services. Expect a redux next year…

In 2005 San Jose’s Ambassador’s Lounge was the site of a shooting spree that landed co-owner E-40 in hot water. Over the weekend a young man was shot in the garage while upstairs in the convention center E-40’s latest gig was in full swing. Police Sgt. Ronnie Lopez says SJPD is investigating “whether or not this was related to the show.”

Meanwhile, no one was shot at San Jose’s Tapestry Arts Festival.

The Merc’s Editorial Board takes a peek at the new lives of former Agnews Developmental Center residents. Verdict: the developmentally disabled can live in neighborhoods more cheaply and receive top care. The editors cheer on private investment in green tech as Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla builds a $1 Billion clean/green tech fund.

Silicon Valley Reads takes on a controversial read with Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto.” Health Trust CEO Fred Ferrer helps and won’t be grabbing a double-double, extra fries on the way to the January kickoff. The Merc’s Sal Pizarro also dishes there’s wine and jewelry from State Senator Elaine Alquist and Assemblymember Jim Beall at Korks for Kids.

It’s a short week for government watch dogs…

• Santa Clara County’s Finance and Government Operations Committee does a double take on the county’s vehicle fleet following a critical audit.
  
• The Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Systems Collaborative Case Systems and Processes Work Group (mouthful much?) tries to move kids from jail to court faster.
  
• Those fun loving Elections Commissioners in San Jose noodle over ditching anonymous complaints. (Whistleblowers watch out)
  
• San Jose’s City Council talks parks and recreation.

Mission City Lantern’s James Rowen is sharing a cuppa with Santa Clara Councilmember Jamie McLeod. Legislators for (and against) State Senator Elaine Alquist’s 49er/SB43 are called out. Party poopers Tom Ammiano and Fiona Ma said no.

San Jose Insider Eric Johnson tried to kick off Rants and Raves over the long weekend, as of Monday there were no takers. Ouch. Insider/San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio spanks General Plan colleagues and invites you to “the scariest film” at Sundance. No, not this…

Morning News Round-Up -- 9.3.09: Mr. Pegram goes to Washington?

Most Gilroy schools are celebrating. California High School Exit Examination results were posted. Gilroy winners include Gilroy High with 81% and 80% of students passing Math and English respectively. At the bottom of the barrel the beleaguered MACSA-managed El Portal with less than 45% of students passing math and English. Ouch. Maybe if the folks running the schools paid the teachers instead of embezzling, test scores would go up...

Porn king Larry Pegram has a new adventure in store for unsuspecting voters. On top of recent announcements that he is recruiting people to look over your shoulder at libraries as well as collecting money for a ballot measure to overturn San Jose City Council’s decision to keep San Jose out of the Big Brother role at libraries, Pegram’s longing for a Congressional gig came out at the ChamberPAC's annual picnic. (carpetbagger)/ Congressional wannabe Pegram told the Metro’s Fly he’s ready to move to Tracy. Watch out, Congressman Jerry McNerney, the porn king is on your trail.

If Second Harvest Food Bank didn’t know the power of social media 3 weeks ago, they do now. Carolee Hazard asked her Facebook friends what do to with an extra $93. More than $10,000 and 10 countries later, Second Harvest celebrates the $93 Dollar Club.

The Merc’s Mr. Roadshow (a.k.a. Gary Richards) is looking out for everyone, including Mountain View City Councilmember Laura Macias. Worried about hitting California’s “craziest” traffic after a holiday in Tahoe, Macias wants to know if she should hit the road before dawn or after sunset Monday?

Silicon Valley Leadership Group revealed plans to honor former San Jose Mayors Susan Hammer and Tom McEnery to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. Also on tap, a look at gubernatorial wannabe’s in separated conversations. The only candidate not showing up, Meg Whitman. That should be awkward for the folks sitting in the eBay seats...

The Merc’s Editorial Board has a message for the City of San Jose – get serious about trails. The Board suggests a missing trail between the Los Gatos Creek and Guadalupe River is the same as leaving out sections of Highway 101.

The City of San Jose got a little love (not the kind of love that makes Larry Pegram blush, however) from the Civil Grand Jury according to San Jose Inside. The sucking sound was dollars disappearing in the links at Los Lagos and Rancho del Pueblo golf courses...

The San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce got props during a recent Los Altos City Council meeting. Under discussion, should the Los Altos Chamber model itself like San Jose’s Chamber. Councilmember David Casas thinks so saying the “clear line” between business and politics would make it easier for Los Altos to hand money to the Chamber. If only San Jose Revealed was still up to comment on this story...

Los Altos residents on Blue Oak Lane want to ditch their septic tanks, but cost and giant holes have some worried. Elementary school teacher Mildred McColloch is pissed about the $40,000 (+) price tag saying “I’m basically being booted out…" And that just stinks...

Business owners and planners in Los Altos are at odds over strengthening downtown. The economic downturn hurts business owners who believe that revitalization is great but the real pain is now.

Those pesky (toxic) Perchlorate chemicals found in wells around Silicon Valley are disappearing. Of course, if the drought disappears those Perchlorates could continue their journey.

Morgan Hill City employees will breathe a sigh of relief: the City Council decided no mid-year layoffs. Mayor Steve Tate and Councilmember Larry Carr have their fingers crossed the unions will give up raises to help out.

Morning News Round-Up -- 9.01.09: Don't all plug your Teslas in at once... please

It is football season in Sacramento, sort of. State Senator Elaine Alquist lends her support to the 49ers request for picking their stadium builder. Alquist penned a piece for the Merc. complimenting Santa Clara’s City Council and touting the benefits of SB43 as it winds its way through Sacramento.

San Jose Councilmember/San Jose Insider Pierluigi Oliverio provides a blow by blow of last week’s retirement board governance meetings, for the 99.95% of San Jose who didn’t go. Peace Officers Research Association Director/ Protect San Jose’s Pete Pomerleau joined Oliverio and dished his own opinion noting “…Councilmembers Ash Kalra and Rose Herrera sat through both community meetings…” Must not have notice Oliverio taking prodigious notes.

Like they say, almost only counts in horseshoes and… Monte Sereno recall backers failed in their attempts to gather the necessary 602 signatures to take out Mayor Curtis Wright, Vice Mayor Don Perry, and Councilmember Lana Malloy for voting themselves a $300 monthly salary. Recall-meister Lon Allen promises/ threatens this isn’t his last foray into politics. Perhaps it should be...

The economic disaster has hit home for Silicon Valley’s small banks. Focus Bank (celebrating one year in the trenches) looks at a $1.5 million loss. The good news is local banks point out they are “well capitalized” and should “weather the storm.”

Put on your hiking shoes… Fans of the great outdoors will be happy to hear the Stevens Creek Trail is gaining momentum. Mountain View accepted funds to complete a section. Sunnyvale had a “breakthrough” when fears of crime proved unfounded according to Mayor Christopher Moylan. Los Altos Councilmember Val Carpenter is hopeful Sunnyvale’s breakthrough gets more options on the table.

Palo Alto’s greenies are abuzz over Tesla’s impending arrival. Palo Alto Utilities Electrical Engineering Manager Patrick Valath want you to know if everybody plugs in their car at the same time “it could have an impact.” A vision of all of Palo Alto plugging in simultaneously has the words “hot app” for smart meters falling like water.

Being a parent is tough. The Merc’s Scott Herhold provides some insight into the nostalgia and sadness that comes with watching the youngest walk out the door and into adulthood. Or, whatever adulthood means for a college freshman.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro dishes the news that Wyatt Earp, ok, it’s really Hugh O’Brian, is riding into town.

The Los Gatos Union School District was still doing the math when they learned their numbers were down. “Math is more developmentally challenging” as you grow up, explained curriculum director Dr. Bitsey Stark when looking at Los Gatos sinking STAR numbers.

Mission City Lantern sings a love song for Santa Clara Mayor Patricia Mahan...

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.22.09: Mayor Gage... Again?

We'll start in South County...

Former Gilroy Mayor/County Supervisor Don Gage is aiming for the Garlic Capitol’s top job again. Gage has his sites set on being Mayor once more, if Mayor Al Pinheiro is ousted on the recall, Gage won’t wait til next year’s election. Gage is running because “...morale at the city sucks...” and back when he was mayor “…there was no whining or crying on the council...”

The Merc dug a little deeper into the Club Wet re-opening (after Watch Dog broke the news Monday). It seems the Club’s consultant/ lobbyist agreed to drastic, monumental modifications to get the Club’s entertainment permit back. Oh, wait. Actually, Wet agreed to close 15 minutes early and shrink its occupancy by 15 people. What about holding bad apples accountable?

A pair of San Jose scam artists was busted in Canada. Amir Rashidifar and Mary Delvecchio stole as much as a half million from desperate homeowners. If you have info detective Dave Solis of the San Jose Police Department's Fraud Unit at 408-277-4521.

The folks at Psycho Donuts may have bit off more than they can chew here. Co-Owner/ Head Psycho Kipp Berdiansky will debate Oscar Wright, CEO of United Advocates for Children and Families. Look for the sparks to fly this weekend on KTVU.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro helped local radio when he posted a request from KKUP for a financial boost last month. They’re a little shy of their goal and have on a few days left. If you get KKUP on your dial, perhaps you could cough it up... Pizarro also provides us with today's "Geek Alert!" Douglas Engelbart will be visiting San Jose’s Tech Museum. Don’t know him? Hint: your mouse calls him Papa.

Also in fundraising mode: San Jose’s Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center is desperate for funding, according to interim Executive Director Paul Wysocki.

Morgan Hill Unified School District (former) grant writer Dan Ehrler landed a $1 million Teaching American History grant before his departure. Now he’s coming back as grant coordinator.

Circling the Blogosphere…

• San Jose Insider/ Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo is pissed at California’s “Gang of Five” calling their recent budget decisions “the beginning of the end for California’s world leadership.”
• San Jose Revealed’s mid-June departure has turned into “Oops! This link appears to be broken.” According to Mission City Lantern, Revealed’s demise was caused by a kerfuffle on San Jose City Hall's 18th floor and the fear of a lawsuit. James is expecting the phoenix to arise under a new moniker…

And from our North County friends…

• Palo Alto’s City Manager, Jim Keene, announced (again) he’s ditching the bonus program for management and professional employees.
• The Veterans Affairs clinic in Palo Alto may have blinded 7 patients. Really. Lawsuits are pending…
• Art by committee wins out. A proposed $185,000 sculpture by artist Bruce Beasley was ditched as the Palo Alto Arts Commission decided $50,000 was enough for art. Don’t worry about Beasley, he’ll be putting a $280,000 art in the Mitchell Park Library.
• Zibibbo will be closed for the month after their weekend fire. Guess our plans for herb roasted sirloin will have to wait…

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.20.09: School Districts Gone Wild...

The Luther Burbank School District Board of Trustees was undoubtedly (not) excited to see Board President called out in last weeks Civil Grand Jury Report. They must have spent the weekend cringing over new stories they aren’t paying teachers and they were so afraid of telling parents what they thought about the Report they delayed the discussion – after 4 hours of unrelated talk. The Luther Burbank Superintendent did not say, "Thank goodness East Side Union High School District is also in the news..."

Also vying for (negative) attention, the East Side Union High School Trustees getting some special love from a County Office of Education audit accusing District officials of financial shenanigans. Not the first time the District has been in hot water: in 2004 then-Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas took Trustee credit cards away. Can (unelected) Trustee Eddie Garcia save the day? Or did he come by his bad habits honestly through years of training from former East Side Trustee/ former Councilmember/ current Supervisor George Shirakawa, Jr.? (Click through the previous link for a memorable cartoon...)

The Merc.’s Scott Herhold sat with retired San Jose firefighter/ Author/ track star Jerry Williams to put a local face on the Sonia Sotomayor hearings. Herhold also reminds us that having a great kid isn’t always enough to avoid tragedy.

Sal Pizarro got an earful about parking from more San Joseans angry at the $3 charge for evening parking. Pizarro also reports the Pat Tillman Foundation received a $5,000 boost from patrons of the Britannia Arms and asks you to support Martha’s Kitchen when you head out to see Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire this week.

San Jose Insiders shared their parking peeves on Insides Rants & Raves while Baretta picks at San Jose Revealed with a little sleuthing work of their own.

Mission City Lantern shares details on three of their San Jose Revealed favorites...

San Jose Insider/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio talks at length about the joys of iPods before getting to the point – no, he won’t be taking home lifetime benefits after 8 years on the San Jose City Council. Santa Clara County Supervisors make more and keep benefits after 12 years.

The flu that won’t go away is taking Twitter by storm, or so Joy Alexiou with Santa Clara County Public Health hopes. This is one viral they hope makes the top 10 Tweets.

And even though San Jose Revealed joined the San Jose City Council on hiatus, the Merc wants us to know there are still other cities in Silicon Valley and some are actually doing work…

• Palo Alto’s City Council interviews candidates hoping to join their Planning Commission.
• Santa Clara’s Planning Commission talks demolition and condo conversion.
• The Campbell Union High School District reconsiders open enrollment and how to snag some of those federal stimulus dollars.
• San Jose Unified School District looks at bringing back some of the 96 teachers they laid off.

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.10.09: The Los Altos Giants

Hoping to nuke San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s “A’s to San Jose” dreams, Giants CEO Bill Neukom laid down the law at the Los Altos Rotary. “It’s our territory,” Neukom said, confident San Jose and Bud Selig take marching orders from Los Altans.

Looks like everyone has now read the recent Civil Grand Jury report on local school districts “questionable” expenses. The Merc’s Editorial Board joins the chorus calling for financial restructuring. Like zapping health benefits for Trustees. If they do, what’ll Unelected East Side Trustee/Supervisorial staffer Eddie Garcia do, after all, you might remember that he generously turned down County health benefits in exchange for a (much) larger salary…

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro sends kudo’s to San Jose Museum of Art, Children's Musical Theater of San Jose, TheatreWorks, and San Jose Jazz for landing some of those Federal dollars. Pizarro also chatted with Poor House Bistro owner Jay Meduri whose Saturday gig should raise the roof, literally.

Just in time for some of that school district re-vamp… The Foothill-De Anza College District Board is looking for a new board member. That would be where Assemblymember Paul Fong and D.C. bound Hal Plotkin got their feet wet…

Palo Alto’s College Terrace neighborhood board wants to make sure the City Council knows how they feel about the JJ&F grocery’s “inadequate” neighborhood benefits. JJ&F owner John Garcia is getting frustrated and said if they don’t want a grocery “they can keep fighting this.”

Speaking of Palo Alto... Expect the next City Council race to be a biggy. Councilman John Barton is not seeking another term. That makes three Council-folk from Palo Alto that won't be on the ballot in November: Barton, Yoriko Kishimoto, and Jack Morton. The other folks up in November are Larry Klein, who is running again, and Peter Drekmeier, who will let us all know on Monday. Hold on to your hats, it could be a real barn burner in Palo Alto in November.

Morgan Hill is tired of dumping dollars into the Cochrane Commons and is moving on to greener pastures…

Cabbie/kidnapper Tarandeep Singh “might” have had the proper papers to pick up passengers in San Jose according to Morgan Hill Police Sgt. Jerry Neumayer. After all, attorney Richard Pointer says, Alpha Cab wouldn’t let him drive “...if he was not properly permitted...”

San Jose Inside doubts BART will find its way to San Jose… But, more interesting it looks like San Jose Inside has bailed on the time honored tradition of newspaper reporters and moved to news aggregation. Imitation being the sincerest form, etc., etc.

In other blog news:

• James Rowen at Mission City Lantern has a theory about Ben Field joining the South Bay Labor Council and how that relates to San Jose Revealed's "pneumonia"...
• San Jose POA Chief Bobby Lopez is a good writer... who knew? See for yourself at Protect San Jose...
• And Bobby Lopez's BFF, Silicon Valley De-Bug checks in on the possibility of San Jose getting an "Independent" Police Auditor...