Morning News Round-Up -- 5.6.10: Too...Many...Margaritas...

Oh, poor Mineta San Jose (International?) Airport. They are considering cutting positions, contracting out services, and generally driving Cindy Chavez absolutely bonkers... the proposed cuts/contracting could save a whole bunch of cash all in an effort to get airlines to start coming back, or at least to stop cutting flights...

And no amount of cutting or contracting out will bring Tapestry in Arts back this year apparently... it joins the fireworks display downtown as canceled events in San Jose...

Scott Herhold follows the County budget closer than some Supervisors do. Especially Supervisor George Shirakawa. (Remember, Herhold told the story about District Attorney Dolores Carr's car...) Shirakawa and his fiscally responsible staff, headed up by Eddie Garcia, are over budget and don't seem to know why, which is reassuring. The curious part is that Herhold's story doesn't mention the second in charge to Garcia: Xavier Campos. You'd think Campos would be able to deal with the budget in the office, y'know, because of the bang-up job he did as MACSA's Chief Operating Officer...

San Jose District 5 got the breakdown treatment this week, so did Districts 1 and 3 (from Joe Rodriguez), and now it is District 7's turn, where incumbent Madison Nguyen runs for that seat for the 17th time... John Woolfolk at the Merc has been very, very busy...

Speaking of the District 3 run-down, it seems Councilmember Sam Liccardo disagrees with some (or all) of what Joe Rodriguez wrote according to Liccardo's letter to the editor...

George Beattie, the not-nearly-as-much-fun successor to Bobby Lopez at the San Jose Police Officers' Association, writes for Protect San Jose about the back and forth and back and forth between the POA and the City of San Jose, with copies of the letters that are flying between North 4th and Santa Clara Street...

Guess what Steve Poizner's internal polls say? That he's catching up. Guess what Sarah Palin's polls said about her? That she was qualified... it doesn't make it so Steve, it doesn't make it so...

In other political news (about people way behind in the polls), Yoriko Kishimoto gets a write up in the Almanac/Palo Alto Weekly. She is running for State Assembly for Ira Ruskin's seat against Josh Becker and Rich Gordon.

Stanford Hospital and nurses still aren't getting along nicely. The hospitals just rejected a proposal from the nurses... who previously had rejected the "last, best, and final" offer from the hospital.

Just to give you fair warning, four students were sent home from school at Live Oak High School yesterday for wearing American flag t-shirts on Cinco de Mayo, it was viewed as incendiary. (Perhaps it was the t-shirts and the tight-cropped hair cuts...) This will be a controversial issue that will likely make Fox News, the Rush Limbaugh Show, and probably spark a Tea Party rally as well.

This is a story from Watch Dog San Mateo.. the Almanac actually... but it will send shock-waves up and down Silicon Valley. Menlo Park is imposing a two-tier pension system for its municipal employees. The beginning of a trend, or the shot heard round the union world?

More from San Mateo County... To Tweet (or Facebook) or not to Tweet during a City Council meeting... something that more than one Watch Dog has commented on in the past related to at least one San Jose City Council member whose name starts with P and ends in ETE. A Tweet from a Councilmember in San Carlos has stirred up the usually sleepy town...

Finally, Tom Campbell's campaign has released an online campaign video (and taken their gloves off) that you absolutely have to see. Seriously. It makes the weird sheep thing Carly Fiorina's campaign put out a while ago seem mild. Take a gander... love the head-bob...

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.30.10: DeadbeatDellums.com...

Sharks won Game 1... and not because the Red Wings were grounded for missing curfew either...

From the sublime to the ridiculous...

Because we can't help ourselves, Watch Dog Silicon Valley is now the "point out Mayor Ron Dellums' shortcomings" blog... yesterday we wrote about his Palin-esque (or was it Yoda-esque) quote in the paper. Today it is a story from the Chronicle about Mayor Dellums going back on his pledge to take a 10 percent paycut. (He needs the money to pay the IRS who probably have their own internal blog about Dellums' shortcomings... DeadbeatDellums.com) But should MLB really listen to guy who can't pay his taxes and goes back on his $18,000 paycut pledge? Just asking. We'll add this to the "things that won't happen in San Jose when the A's move here" list: there will be no anti-Wolff banners, there will be no anti-A's City Attorney, and there will be no Mayor that gives back his paycut... San Jose looks better and better everyday... don't you think Bud?

Super Bowl in Santa Clara? It could happen, and James Rowen will absolutely be there... His blog-enemies will absolutely not be...

But a story in today's Merc brings up the prospects of "...Raider Nation -- and its rough-and-tumble reputation -- descending on Silicon Valley for football Sundays..." and how that might impact the vote in June. It ain't the wine and cheese-going 49er crowd, that's for sure...

High-Speed Rail could be in trouble, according to a new State audit because it... "...suffers from 'weak oversight,' 'lax' management and a shaky funding plan..." Funny, we thought that was the norm for things coming out of Sacramento... One thing for sure, this audit will be the talk of the country-club set in Menlo Park and Atherton this weekend...

We'll let Sean Webby continue his work on this story and we won't comment at all: Prosecutor: San Jose cop's work on sex assault cases sloppy, but no charges...

Our only comment on this story is that the formatting, probably for a split second yesterday, was a bit screwy... so we share because we can't resist...

While we are on the San Jose Police, the San Jose POA's Vice President didn't mince words when he expressed regret that the Police Chief didn't get the Dallas job, sort of... "Chief Davis has lost the confidence of his troops..." tick tock Chief Davis, tick tock. Of course, we've said that before...

• Medical Cannabis Dude A: Dude, let's file a lawsuit against the City of San Jose for trying to screw with us...
• Medical Cannabis Dude B: Dude... let's do it...

(Don't worry all you medical cannabis users out there. I support you. But it is funnier to write about this story if we throw the word "dude" in once and awhile...)

If you life isn't boring enough, there will be public workshops will start this weekend about how to develop 2,600 acres of land around San Jose's "water treatment"/ sewage plant. Either your life isn't boring enough OR you ran out of your Ambien prescription...

Become the Lt. Governor go on Colbert... that is Maldo's path to fame.

But the special elections that the Governor is pushing got dinged in the Merc Editorial pages today... because of cost ($3 million) and because of politics...

The Board of Supervisors' plan to ban fast food toys gets some love on SFist.com... at the same time that George Shirakawa goes out for steak for a good cause (Dining Out for Life) and presumably not handing out toys... BUT wait, the comments on San Jose Inside tell a different story: apparently Shirakawa wasn't going to be there after his press release was sent out...

The City of Cupertino is laying out some cash ($2.1 million) now (with Siemens) to reap energy efficiency savings later (through cuts in energy and water bills)... How'd they find $2.1 million? $438k in grants, $562k in capital improvement reserves, and the other $1.1 will come from a private lender or reserves...

The Minton's project in Mountain View got approved. 203 "luxury apartments" will be built on the site of the old lumber yard... Prometheus Real Estate Group 1, NIMBYs 0...

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.22.10: Opposed versus Opposing...

The San Jose Police Officers' Association has opposed the gambling measure on the San Jose ballot in June since it was put on the ballot a few months ago. Of course, they didn't oppose it enough to actually write an "argument against Measure K" for the ballot guide. Instead, they blogged about. So I guess we can say the POA are "opposed" but they aren't really "opposing."

But inside the story in today's Merc there are even more interesting details, if you read between the lines:

• Cindy Chavez still isn't talking to the Merc, but answered a question on Measure K through her spokesperson with a "no comment" -- thus violating Rule 1 of press relations.
• Even more interesting in the story is this: Ed McGovern pushing a yes on Measure K campaign on behalf of the card clubs and Jude Barry is a political consultant for the Police Officers' Association, which is opposed to the measure. This is interesting because Ed McGovern and Jude Barry are working together in Santa Clara on the 49ers' stadium campaign. Politics makes strange bedfellows... (No Councilmember Oliverio, we don't mean that kind of bedfellow...)

Here we go again... again. Senator Maldonado is gunning for Lieutenant Governor. Can't we all just get along?

While we are in Sacramento... Mr. Smith (well, Mr. Guardino actually) went to Sacramento, and got a piece written in the Merc about their trip... which we are sure will make the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce less than pleased because they went to Sacramento this week and got nothing written...

Speaking of Mr. Guardino, he comes to the defense of Cindy Chavez with a Letter to the Editor in today's Merc. He makes no mention, however, of why she has been in the paper lately: heavy-handed political tactics. But Cindy should send Carl flowers today...

Wouldn't it be great to buy alcohol and Advil in the same place? That way, you can get the cause and the cure for a hangover in one space... Well, the Campbell City Council doesn't think it is such a good idea and denied Walgreens' the proper permits...

The City of Palo Alto hired a consulting firm to see how it might be able to see how to trim costs from the fire department... of course, they forgot to find out if the consulting firm had every actually recommended reducing staffing levels of fire departments ever. The answer? No. Never. Not once. Well, that was money well spent by the City of Palo Alto...

A woman was violently attacked and robbed at the Gilroy outlets on Wednesday in the bathroom. Scary.

What a buzz kill... and during the week of 420: Mountain View Police busted a grow house with $100,000 of pot plants...

On the blogs...

San Jose Inside lets us all know about Sam Liccardo's birthday cake at his campaign kick-off, and that Zoe Lofgren was there. We also learn that candidate Tim Hennessey has "friends" on Facebook that are mad at him...

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.19.10: When in Munich...

The Sharks won game two... but lost game three in OT...

Speaking of Silicon Valley professional sports... The Merc's Editorial Board loves Measure J: "...The site near highways and rail is perfect for football, and Santa Clara is a well-run city that can capably handle this project..." So does the Merc's Scott Herhold, who says the 49ers' stadium makes sense, even if it didn't make cents... (Mission City Lantern is happy...)

This will make everyone at Protect San Jose very, very angry. (As if they weren't angry enough!) The Merc won a bunch of awards at the California Newspaper Publishers Association annual contest, and the stories that Sean Webby wrote about the use of force by the San Jose Police Department are now "award-winning stories by Sean Webby"...

Oh, and this: Sean Webby has a profile of LaDoris Cordell as she gets ready to move into the Independent Police Auditor's office in San Jose. We learn about her background, her time on the bench, her time in Palo Alto City Hall, and how she will approach the IPA job. We also get a choice quote from Councilmember Pete Constant, who along with the Mayor and Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio, voted against her appointment: "...I have concerns that her star power may overshadow the role of the IPA..." Because why would we want an Independent Police Auditor that is independent or that audits the police?

Patty Fisher of the Merc dives into the deep end with her column today criticizing the firefighters unions in Palo Alto and San Jose. And even calls out the San Jose firefighters union and their ideas to help close the budget deficit in the city: "...Their idea of concessions is to defer some vacation and their $495 annual uniform allowance. Hey heroes, let's get real..."

It was Sunday yesterday, which means the Merc's Internal Affairs is reason enough to get the paper... usually. This week we learned that San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio gets more girls without the beard, even if it is the NHL playoffs and that Dr. Phil is helping State Senator Leland Yee get a bill passed in Sacramento...

Who said that only Southern California could have a 3rd Street Promenade? Not Morgan Hill... their's opened up this weekend to much fanfare... at least a lot of fanfare for Morgan Hill...

There was a brutal attack during a home invasion in Gilroy on Tuesday. The two victims are still in the hospital and one is still in critical condition. Police think the home, and the victims, were targeted.

A group of musicians from Los Gatos High School had a great trip to Europe to play some concerts... on their way back home, they had a layover in Munich, which is where they have been since Friday because of the volcano in Iceland. Don't worry, they are having a great time in Germany and they are enjoying missing class too. Thank you Luftansa! Here is some advice for you high schoolers, from Rick Steves...

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.14.10: LaDoris LaWednesday...

It was a big day in San Jose... where to begin, where to begin...

How about the San Jose Independent Police Auditor?

There is a new one -- former Judge/ former Palo Alto City Councilmember LaDoris Cordell, which will make some people excited (like maybe those that would like an independent Independent Police Auditor) and will make some people less-than-excited (like those of you who like the way it's been). Watch Dog asks one question: Has there ever been an Independent Police Auditor that the Police Officers' Association liked? We'll take our answer off the air... (And our first call is from Scott Herhold, who called Cordell an "odd choice"... Herhold also wrote this: "...And I fear she may get frustrated living with the shackles..." Probably not the best choice of words...) San Jose Inside has a fresh quote from the San Jose POA chief George Beattie: “I have serious concerns about Ms. Cordell’s ability to be independent and objective. While she has a right to be associated with community groups that have historically been critical and antagonistic to our officers, this should raise questions about her ability to be objective, just as Chris Constantin was considered biased because of his relationships. I consider this a double standard.” Does Ms. Cordell's brother works at the ACLU and her sister works at DeBug that we don't know about?

The San Jose City Council tried to make having events in downtown San Jose a little bit easier to produce (cheaper actually)... of course, it may be too little too late for Tapestry and the fireworks...

San Jose Sharks are headed to the playoffs... let the bandwagon grow...

Speaking of the bandwagon growing... the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is looking to ban "single-use" plastic and paper bags. Surprise, surprise, Republican Don Gage is opposed to the ban and has found himself with an unlikely ally, former San Jose Councilmember/former Assemblymember/American Chemistry Council shill Manny Diaz... Diaz and Gage on the same side of things -- who'd a thunk?

Here's a shocker... a politically and ethically questionable tactics from the Dolores Carr camp. This time it isn't a conflict of interest with her husband's job or hiring two PR flacks while closing the cold-case unit or botching a rape case... rather, it is about her purchasing billboards throughout the County with her name on and have it paid for by the District Attorney's office... shady, shady, shady. But, we (ok, nobody) expects anything different...

Speaking of County politics... the race to replace Supervisor Gage heated up last night. (Honestly though, could anyone really replace Don Gage?) The candidates -- Forrest Williams, Teresa Alvarado, Tom Kruse (so handsome) and Mike Wasserman -- debated last night... (Peter Arellano pulled a Pete Constant and didn't show up...) From the story, it sounds like the key issue was who had the support of labor unions and if those that could could actually make real change at 801 W. Hedding... (Note: Only one candidate has had their consultant put on the California Labor Federation's "do not patronize" list, perhaps that is the one the union-bashing crowd should get behind. Just a thought.)

A San Jose State professor apprehended a guy trying to rob the downtown San Jose Wells Fargo bank yesterday. Seriously...

A major economic development project in Santa Clara is moving forward that hasn't been written about on Mission City Lantern... Yahoo!

While we're talking about economics... the economics of the City of Gilroy will be discussed in a Special City Council closed session tonight. Specifically they will discuss "unspecified aspects of the contract negotiations with police and fire"... Let Watch Dog specific: the contract negotiations aren't going well and the pension costs are going to bankrupt the City. Even if we all shopped at the outlets, it won't help Gilroy balance its future obligations... well, maybe if we went to Brooks Brothers.

A woman fell into an open manhole on Stanford's campus yesterday. No word if Senator Simitian is a looking to pass a "no texting while walking" law...

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 -- 2.19:10: The State of the City is... like canned brocolli

You may have read or heard that the Mayor of San Jose gave his annual State of the City address yesterday morning. It isn't good. The speech included big cuts to the City budget and a big ask for employee concessions. Most disappointing, however, is that the Mayor never actually said, "The State of the City is ____..." But Lew Wolff introduced the Mayor... which was the highlight, according to Watch Dogs who were there...

The Merc Editorial Board said it was "...a plate of canned broccoli..." among other things... Dan Pulcrano (actually) wrote something about it too on San Jose Inside...

But in bigger political news than a bad City of San Jose budget has been announced: The San Jose Police Officers' Association is endorsing District Attorney Dolores Carr over challenger Jeff Rosen. That said, Rosen has lots of other public safety-types, like other police department unions and the Deputy Sheriffs, on his side...

That wasn't the only POA endorsement announced... but it was the only one in the Merc. Here are the rest, courtesy of Protect San Jose: Incumbents Mayor Chuck Reed, Councilmember Pete Constant, and Councilmember Madison Nguyen. For open seats, the POA is getting into bed with Xavier Campos for District 5, Jim Cogan for District 9, and JoAnne McCracken for Judge. If you don't see your favorite candidate in your favorite race, here's why: "In city or county races not listed here, the POA chose not to endorse a candidate." Which probably pisses off Forrest Williams to no end...

Either Rosen or Carr may get to bring charges in the 4th homocide of the year in San Jose which took place last night/ this morning at a restaurant on Berryessa Road and Capitol Avenue...

Our sister blog, Watch Dog San Mateo, has been pointing out what a big deal a "two-tier" retirement system for municipal employees is, as South San Francisco considers the idea... well, Gilroy has taken some preliminary (and ceremonial) action on the idea too... Guess what? Municipal employees don't like it...

Morning News Round-Up -- 1.21.10: Nazis, Tornadoes, and Parcel Taxes, OH MY!

It is no secret that Reverend Jethroe Moore II, the head of the Silicon Valley branch of the NAACP, has been vocal about his displeasure with the San Jose Police Officers' Association overall. It came to the forefront recently when Moore pulled the NAACP's support for the Freedom Train ride on Martin Luther King Day because the POA were sponsors. Well, it turns out Moore's colorful quotes about the POA may have been a little too colorful during a KCBS interview. He likened the POA's support of the Freedom Train to Nazis supporting Jewish causes. San Jose Inside nails the story. Watch Dog predicts that the NAACP Board may be trying to get Rick Callendar back soon... but for the sake of colorful future quotes, we hope Moore stays put.

It was (another) $20 million week for Meg Whitman... Can you just imagine the campaign

strategists sitting around plotting how to approach Ms. Whitman about plopping more money into the campaign? It must be sort of like siblings strategizing how to ask their parents for more money:

Campaign Staff/Kid 1: "Um Meg... can we get another $20 million?"

Whitman/Parent: "What did you do with the last $20 million I gave you?"

Campaign Staff/Kid 2: "Kid 1 spent it all on sports talk radio..."

Whitman/Parent: "Ok, here's $20 million more, but don't spend it all in one place.

Expect Poizner's staff/kids to be asking for a bigger allowance some as well... Meanwhile, in

Almaden Valley, Tom Campbell woke up today very pleased with his decision.

Those days of Councilmembers in San Jose furiously texting away in advance of their vote on important issues may be behind us. The Council is due to consider (and probably approve) some legislation that makes those texts more public -- and therefore less frequent. Rumors that both the South Bay Labor Council and the Chamber of Commerce leaders will be learning (and teaching the Council) sign language are apparently not true.

Santa Clara County's Superior Court Judge Lucy Koh is being nominated

for a Federal Judgeship in California's Northern District Court by President Obama. Senator Barbara Boxer recommended Ko. If confirmed, Ko will be the first Korean-American Federal Court judge in the country. Of course, the Senate just got a little less blue-state friendly...

Sunnyvale Town Center, the major project that is stalled "indefinitely" is still the center-piece of Sunnyvale's 5 year development plans... perhaps 5 years the economic double whammy (downtown Sunnyvale overall and the Recession) might be over... might...

While we are in Sunnyvale... (recently) former Mayor Tony Spitaleri spoke at a public protest of the sale of the preschool at the Congregational Community Church and it may have jeopardized the sale of the building, which kind of sucks. And that's why the Church is raising ethical questions about Spitaleri's actions. Intrigue in Sunnyvale...

And one more nugget from Sunnyvale... the City will be considering (again, again) publicly funding City Council campaigns. Just what the general fund of Sunnyvale needs, another line item...

We know the weather has been wacky the past few days -- hail,

thunder, lightening, wind -- but did you know that Dorothy Gale almost visited South County at around 2:30 p.m. yesterday?

While we are in South County... Politicon Valley gets in on the "make fun of misspellings" game as they watch Peter Arellano's "campaing" website go live...

In education news, the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District may ask voters for a parcel tax at some point soon. We often mention parcel taxes that School Districts are putting forward, but this would be the first Community College District is in the State to go for one. Which will certainly piss off the School Districts located in the Community College District. Why? Because voters generally won't support too many property taxes on the same ballot. Our guess is that there are a dozen or more School Districts in the same geography as Foothill-DeAnza, and some (or all) are thinking about going for a parcel tax or renewing one already in place...

Morning News Round-Up – 12.30.09: The busted edition…

The Governator continues to make his mark on the judicial scene in Santa Clara County. Schwarzenegger adds 6 new Superior Court judges bringing his appointments to nearly 2 dozen. Welcome to the bench Julia Emede, Maureen Folan, Ronald Toff, Daniel Nishigaya, Jesus Valencia Jr., and Theodore Zayner.

Misdemeanor + Broke = Guilty?

San Jose police were watching this week as the U.S. Court of Appeals restricted the use of Tasers. City Attorney Rick Doyle shrugged saying San Jose police already used Tasers only as a “reasonable” level of force under “some immediate threat.” The attorney for San Jose State student Phoung Ho disagreed.

Count on seeing more of the San Jose Conservation Corps, at least $160,000 more.

The Merc’s Editorial Board looked past the uproar over Alum Rocks closing of Pala Middle School to see new schools and opportunities. Editors send props to Superintendent Jose Manzo for accepting the charter school competition.

Life is filled with opportunity. For example, Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards knows before you got your first DUI you (probably) offered the police 87 other opportunities.

Busted. Frances Stewart is behind bars accused of stealing $100,000 from the Silicon Valley Community foundation flexible spending accounts. Translation, Stewart skimmed employee health care money.

San Jose police are looking for Jennifer Bautista as a “person of interest” in the brutal death of Alviso’s Norma Leticia Martinez. If you have information, call the San Jose police at (408)277-5283.

Protect San Jose gives themselves year-end props and wants to hear from you before making improvements. Reader suggestions to the Police Officer Association bloggers include a more active politicking along with advertising in the local paper.

San Jose Insider Danny Wool jumps into the Tech Museum fracas with a rehash of the Merc story.

Brian Darby gets a little (un)love from Mission City Lantern.

Morning News Round-Up – 12.29.09: Still time for your 2009 scandal...

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.

The Merc’s Editorial Board is pissed the wealthy in Silicon Valley aren’t stepping up to feed the hungry. Second Harvest Food Bank has seen donations drop 20% and demand rise nearly 40%. So, step it up, people.

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.

Mission City Lantern uncovers a new spin for the anti-49ers team. Environmental racism.

Morning News Round-Up -- 11.17.09: Tom Campbell for Governor (of Almaden)

Former Silicon Valley Congressman Tom Campbell tops a San Jose State University poll of Silicon Valley Republicans. That's good news for Campbell, but bad news for Whitman and Poizner. (It is good news for Almaden Valley too... imagine a Governor from Almaden?)

Team San Jose’s Dan Fenton is confident an expansion and face-lift at San Jose’s 20 year old Convention Center will help conventioneers find their way to San Jose, again. Matt DiNapoli and cousin Michael Mulcahey agree and don’t think the scaled down version is a problem. University of Texas public administration professor Heywood Sanders snorts when he hears Fenton argue San Jose has something special, saying San Francisco says “effectively the same thing.”

Who says your vote doesn’t count? The Orchard School District saw Trustee incumbent Ken Riley edged out by Bambi Ann Fleming by 2 votes. With less than 15% of registered voters showing up, the squeaker brought to mind other recent close races. Remember Gilroy’s School Board race last year decided by 6 votes and San Jose Councilmember Ash Kalra forced into a runoff with a candidate who beat out the 3rd place finisher by 12 votes.

The teens who killed Michael Russell have been outed, their MySpace pages scoured and friends chatted up by the press. In the week since Russell’s death the Santa Clara District Attorney’s office has decided to try the 15 and 16 year olds as adults.

(Former) Sunnyvale resident/Scout Leader/Mormon youth leader William Knox was called out as molester by his 3 step-sons. The Mormon Church is identified in lawsuits for ignoring the boy's pleas for help. If only there was another established church that had experience dealing with stuff like this...

It’s the high life in Gilroy as MediLeaf keeps the doors open. Councilmember/attorney Perry Woodward worries a legal battle over legitimacy could cost the City as much as $600,000. Mayor Al Pinheiro is pissed saying it’s about obeying a Council vote. Supervisorial wannabe/MediLeaf-friend Peter Arellano and colleagues Perry Woodward and Craig Gartman made history by boycotting a closed session discussion discussing possible litigation. Is everyone stoned in Gilroy?

Gilroy’s City Council is ready to renegotiate with firefighters. Councilmember Cat Tucker argues the union request for 4 firefighters to an engine is unreasonable, “we’re a small town. We can’t afford to have 4 (firefighters) on an engine.” Meanwhile, folks near the Sunrise fire station better ready their own hoses, Sunrise is open 3 days until the end of the year.

The blinding light on Palo Alto’s California Avenue will start to diminish this year. Following the unexpected removal of 63 trees, and the ensuing meetings with pissed off residents, a mix of 6 tree species was unanimously approved by the City Council. The California Avenue Area Development Association had hoped for selection of a single species for aesthetic purposes. Isn't it often about aesthetics in Palo Alto?

If you’re a South Bay cyclist, life is pretty good. San Jose’s City Council is prepared to double the number of bike lanes. The Valley Transportation Authority is ready to have loaner bikes waiting at the train. Thousands of bike lockers are on the way and multiple bike bridges, underpasses, and trail extensions opened this year. Bike commuter/ San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo says “obviously, we’re no Copenhagen…. but, that’s extraordinary progress…”

“...all children, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity or religion...” should have access to success, according to San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo, hopeful his readers agree. That's really going out on a limb Trustee DiSalvo...

San Jose Police Officer Association President/Protect San Jose’s Bobby Lopez wants everyone to listen to the recently released 911 tapes from the shooting of Daniel Pham. Lopez argues the Merc didn’t do much fact checking before posting their story.

Morning News Round-Up -- 11.11.09: Veterans Day Edition...

This will come as a (welcome) surprise to many... Medical care is coming back to downtown San Jose. Five years after Health Corporation of America (suddenly) closed the San Jose Medical Center, HCA appears ready to sell the roughly 14 acres for a medical center, retail, and housing to the County. Councilmember Sam Liccardo offered HCA had “… some responsibility to a City where they closed a hospital and limited care for the poor...” at HCA’s other local hospital.

San Jose’s 25th murder happened the same day that a community meeting happened in East San Jose to discuss the Halloween attack on two children. The victim of yesterday’s murder was a teenage boy. Councilmember Nora Campos joined the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force and Mayor Chuck Reed to talk to 300 pissed off community members in an attempt to stem gang violence.

It was a busy day at the San Jose City Council meeting: Absent from the proceedings were Councilmembers Pete Constant (obviously), Kansen Chu, and Madison Nguyen. San Jose’s City Council officially ditched Styrofoam at special events and hundreds packed the meeting to ask San Jose not kill their affordable housing program.

Gilroy City Manager Tom Haglund has plans to rein on Medileaf’s pot parade by issuing a “cease and desist” order. Haglund disputes owner Batzi Kuburovich’s claim that non-profits don’t need business permits. Get your "prescription" in Gilroy fast, this time tomorrow it’s likely you'll only be able to buy pot on the street, not in the club...

Mountain View-Whisman School District Superintendent Maurice Ghysels is looking to leave his gig following revelations of his relationship with Landels Elementary principal Carmen Mizell.

Here is a weird coincidence: The Superintendent of the Mountain View-Whisman's next door neighbor, the Los Altos School District, is leaving at the end of the school year...

Congressmember Anna Eshoo was in town pitching healthcare and to make sure Hangar One isn’t “de-skinned and left” like a freak of nature. Eshoo emphasized “we have to have a plan.”

Also hoping to talk to Mountain View residents, Supervisor/President Liz Kniss talks swine flu Thursday.

If you were hoping to send your post-high school student to a CSU far from home, think again. With less money from the State, all CSU’s are tightening belts and offering fewer seats to freshmen. CSU San Jose President Jon Whitmore plans to cut thousands of incoming seats saying “we’re downsizing.”

San Jose Police Officer Association President/Protect San Jose’s Bobby Lopez continues the chant that if it weren’t for the pesky media, San Jose’s Police force would not be in so much hot water – or, at least, no one would know about the hot water. Funny, if Lopez spent half as much time addressing the problem as he does accusing the Merc of “trying to sell one more paper” there might not be any problem.

San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo received a “tsunami of racist comments” following last week’s discussion and suggests this provides a “teachable moment” for the less enlightened. DiSalvo remains optimistic that the achievement gap can be erased, pointing out “there will always be critics to any bold initiative.”

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.18.09: The Final Tesla Chronicle Chapter?

San Jose has been jilted by fickle lover Tesla one last time. Ditched by Elon Musk for the allure of a geek filled campus next door, San Jose is mum about news of Tesla’s powertrain manufacturing moving to Palo Alto. But Watch Dog has not been mum... heck, we've been writing about this for ever...

San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed (apparently) reads the Merc’s Editorial pages. Feeling the sting following an Editorial Board call to dish on lobbyist driven texts, the Mayor released a Memo calling on colleagues to ‘fess up on those lobbyist texts. [CR is POed... LMAO!]

(soon to be former) Police Officers Association President/ Blogger Bobby Lopez was one pissed off cop when he learned “wasteful spending” at City Hall caused a $5 million cost overrun on SJPD’s “second home.” The architectural professionals explaining themselves today are no doubt shaking in their boots.

If rumors of San Jose Revealed’s ties to the South Bay Labor Council are to be believed, maybe San Jose Revealed morphed into Politicon Valley. Politicon Valley started blogging, and Tweeting, late June – sans anonymous blogger snark. Recently, Politcon Valley landed a story direct from the South Bay Labor Council… Welcome to Silicon Valley Politicon Valley...

Gilroy Unified School District Trustees “enthusiastically” supported 60 hours of community service before high school graduation. Trustee Javier Aguirre said he was excited because the volunteer hours would “allow our graduates to continue being competitive.”

The Mountain View Voice Editorial Board was pissed when the El Camino Hospital Board of Directors gave a (nearly) 5% raise to a dozen top execs. Pointing to the collapsing economy, national debate on soaring healthcare costs, and the ever increasing unemployment rates, the Voice reminds readers there are 2 elected seats up for grabs in the November election.

In other healthcare news… Governor Schwarzenegger’s cuts to Healthy Families could affect 9,000 Silicon Valley children according to Saratoga Councilmember/ Executive Director Santa Clara Health Plan’s Kathleen King. Thank you Governor.

In a contentious radio debate on the elixir of life (no, not this) Palo Alto’s Senator Joe Simitian took a stab at explaining the finer points of the great Delta (water) debate – and what it means for Silicon Valley.

Great America’s dangling roller riders might be surprised to learn they weren’t the first ones to get hung up on Invertigo. Mission City Lantern joins the fray pointing at another of James Rowen’s favorite targets – Cedar Fair.

Mischief + Scott Herhold = Quarterly puppy update

Silicon Valley’s favorite philanthropists, Mike and Mary Ellen Fox, celebrated their golden anniversary and received some love from the Merc’s Sal Pizarro.

Morning News Round-Up – 7.1.09: Post Dominatrix hangovers....

Twitter it ain’t… Palo Alto’s policy committee spoke to a nearly empty room on the fate of Peak Democracy’s online Palo Alto forum. Councilmember Sid Espinosa said the forum was of “no value” while colleagues disagreed keeping the site running.

Silicon Valley De-Bug director Raj Jayadev called on San Jose’s Police Officers Association to end the “name-calling” at a rally Tuesday night. Tossing a little humor in the mix, Jaydev had a new t-shirt on declaring “Thug.” POA leader Bobby Lopez thought better of his “ticked off” response to the Merc and allowed as how he would meet with Jayadev. Psst, the video link on Protect San Jose goes straight to YouTube. Way to make promises…

Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith apologized with tears in her eyes following the deaths of cyclists Matt Peterson and Kristy Gough last year. Yesterday Peterson’s family got the news the County is coughing up $2.3 million.

Joining San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio for the San Jose Stage political fundraiser were the Merc’s own Man About Town, Sal Pizarro, San Jose Inside’s Fly and Mission City Lantern. Show stealer, Councilmember Judy Chirco, kept her dignity and her seat. Fly reports more sex humor, less political satire while Mission City wants to know more about Councilmember Pete Constants fascination with the dominatrix.

The assemblymember formerly known as “Mr. Insurance” is currying favor with the Da Mayor. Joe “Gotcha Covered” Coto carried a controversial (San Francisco) state law change for former San Francisco Mayor/former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown – much to the surprise of San Francisco leaders. SF Supe’s weren’t pleased and killed the end run around State law.

Los Altos declared its NIMBY heart over Mountain View’s housing proposal with worries Mountain View residents would clog Los Altos streets. Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga pointed out neighbors share…

Good fences make good neighbors, does good policy do the same? San Jose Councilmembers Pierluigi Oliverio and Sam Liccardo are voicing support for the Distinctive Neighborhoods program which might give residents more say in who their neighbors are…

Drama runs high in the preliminary hearing for gang members sharing the defense table in Gilroy. Norteno’s defense attorney, Edward Sousa, wants his clients out since one of their gang was killed.

Santa Clara County’s new courthouse in Morgan Hill hasn’t translated to more downtown dollars – yet. Could it be the economic downturn affects even judges?

San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo read the recently released Civil Grand Jury report hinting it ain’t the kids benefitting from education dollars. DiSalvo muses the 31 different school districts in Santa Clara County might not serve the children…

In Los Gatos the Parks Commission issued a concern that sometimes local regulations get ignored as trees are mowed down. Really? Naked hills are a problem for Councilmember Steve Rice.

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.12.09: Why Larry Stone gets booed...

Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone is lowering the assessed value of nearly 90,000 properties, dropping the County’s tax roll by $17 Billion. Always the master of understatement, Stone says “that’s serious.” School districts, redevelopment agencies, community colleges, the Valley Water District, and the County will all be hit by the revenue drop. No wonder this guy gets booed all over town...

Santa Clara County Medical Examiner Dr. Michelle Jorden took San Jose Police off the hook reporting it was an “astronomical” amount of meth, not tasers, that killed San Jose’s Richard Lua in February this year. San Jose Inside Editor chimes in with a repeat of the Merc. story.

The Valley Transportation Authority managed to pass a (so far) balanced budget according to VTA Boardmember/County Supervisor Don Gage. VTA Board Chair Dolly Sandoval said they had some tough decisions to make like raising rates and cutting service but plan to continue providing “residents with a quality transportation system.”

San Jose’s Lynhaven Elementary School was attacked by thieves. Not after computers. These guys stole farm and science equipment the children spent 3 years raising money to buy. Principal Lesa Nieri said this really hurts during the economic crisis when the school cannot replace the equipment. The Police Officers Association is raising cash to help out.

Which got us wondering... so Watch Dog checked out You Tube and the Video-Gate video is still up.

Before San Jose’s Elections Commissions looks at letting the voters consider instant-runoff voting (IRV), Councilmembers Sam Liccardo and Ash Kalra joined forces with the New America Foundation and Common Cause to support the idea.

It’s official, the Sunnyvale City Council will let you (legally) make that left when you leave Kaiser Santa Clara. Cost to the City to make the left legal: $1,000. Payback for Sunnyvale residents trying to go home: Priceless.

The Environmental Protection Agency wants to know if cancer causing toxins made it to Cupertino’s Stevens Creek School, two miles from the Lehigh Cement plant. Lehigh’s Tim Matz grumpily reports “Bottom line? We’re safe.” A hundred residents showed up at last night's community meeting for a lively debate regarding safety.

Parking wars have hit Los Gatos... again. Chase Bank is pissed that Jim Zanardi wants their customers to stop parking in his lot. Zanardi shrugged saying Chase customers take too many spaces, won’t help pay for repaving, and he wants to rent out vacant retail space – tough to do when the parking lot is full of bank customers. You have got to love Los Gatos battles... so person and so nasty.

Morgan Hill residents can point out their own historic Granada Theatre in a Thomas Kinkade painting. Referred to as “sentimentalists” by the Morgan Hill Times local historic preservationists are (again) trying to save the Granada from demolition. Mayor Steve Tate says goodbye already, unless the developer wants to save it.

The Morgan Hill City Council and Morgan Hill Unified School District Board met to “bring each other up to speed.” School Board president Don Moody read a list of school accomplishments and Police Chief Bruce Cumming did the same for the Police. Mayor Steve Tate said it was a good first step to “building bridges between the two governments.” Because, of course, without long-boring-feel-good meetings they could never work together. (Watch Dog San Mateo recommends this same type of meeting for Foster City and their School District...)

It’s good to be a City employee in Mountain View. The City Council approved a low interest home loan program for all City employees. With pay cuts hitting, could be everyone qualifies.

Mountain View residents disagreed over the benefits of affordable housing and housing density while agreeing that High-Speed Rail sounds good – underground. The General Plan meeting focused on the Whisman neighborhood where residents complained highways, freeways, and the Central Expressway cut them off from Mountain View. Hell ya, let’s get rid of the freeway!

Assemblymember Paul Fong wants the State (then the Feds) to apologize to Chinese immigrants and is being coy about how much money he wants the Feds to pay. Fong noted that when Japanese-Americans were given reparations for internment he hoped the Feds would “eventually apologize for the Chinese exclusion.” Angel Island Immigration Station Director Eddie Wong says it isn’t reparations but education that counts.

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.8.09: Watch Dog in the news...again

Well, well, well... Watch Dog actually made it into (another) Scott Herhold article in the Merc. This time because we were observant enough in the San Jose City Council discussion about a pay cut to point out that San Jose City Councilmember calling himself a "recent" immigrant may not have been completely accurate and for linking folks with some public finance information that shows that Chu is probably better off financially than many of his colleagues. Thanks for the hat tip Scott. (Herhold's column is all about the political spin coming out of San Jose City Hall. Aside from Chu's spin, Herhold points to DA Dolores Carr's spin about the highly-guarded 9-1-1 tapes, VTA's spin about a recent Civil Grand Jury report, and San Jose Pension Board member David Bacigalupi's insistence on taking junkets...)

In another late-Friday-afternoon press event, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed released a new budget proposal that protects most "core services" like police officers and police stations, fire fighters and fire stations, and parks and libraries. To do this, the Mayor is banking on increased property tax assessments (wishful thinking?), reserves, employee pay freezes, and presumably spending cuts elsewhere in the City budget. Watch Dog expects that this plan will get wide support on the Council. This plan seems reasonable, but what happens when the State steals even more money from San Jose?

One local government has declared a "fiscal emergency" in an attempt to thwart the State's raids...

The Merc's Internal Affairs recaps Video Gate (the POA/Anti-De-Bug video and its response). (Watch Dog did that already...)

But it seems the POA is freaked out by De-Bug...

Because an interesting outcome of Video Gate is that the POA launched its own blog, complete with a first post from POA Chief Bobby Lopez. But even more interesting that that is that Protect San Jose is a place where the POA are going to "defend themselves" against the 'attacks' they have been facing. Two folks that will be coming to POA's defense are Ed Rast and Kathleen Flynn. Kathleen Flynn? Is this the same 'Kathleen' of prolific blogging fame (check out some of Kathleen's greatest hits)?

In other Internal Affairs news, the political folks at the Merc. delve into the 2-faced-ness (if that's a word) of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's pitch to Santa Clara voters in the 49ers deal, a County car audit that was wrong, and San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio getting booed/heckled off-stage at an Organized Labor rally at City Hall. Councilmember Oliverio, what did you think was going to happen?

The Chronicle's version of Internal Affairs, Matier and Ross (actually, it is the other way around) also has a piece about Newsom and the 49ers. The 49ers had some serious concerns with the stadium deal in San Francisco, specifically the lack of highway access and Newsom's insistence that the stadium be LEED certified, have solar panels to power the stadium, and have showers for folks who bike-commute to the game... Watch Dog would have to agree about fans showering, but actually AT the game?

Also getting in on the Santa Clara/49ers action is the Chronicle's (most angry/spurned lover) sports columnist Ray Ratto... he has some advice for the City of Santa Clara.

And...

Willie Brown chimes in too, suggesting that if Mayor Newsom is really pissed about the 49ers move, he will funnel campaign cash to the Santa Clara-based opponents of the 49ers. Watch Dog thinks that probably won't help his chances of becoming Governor much.

Shifting gears to some crime/police stuff:

• A local swim coach is accused of molesting young girls for 30 years. A steady string of victims seem to be coming forward in this case...
• Palo Alto Police and San Mateo County Sheriffs are beefing up their patrols of Caltrain tracks, which have been the scene of two teen suicides and one attempted suicide in the past month alone.
• No doubt you heard about a 15-year-old girl who was "abducted" from over the weekend... well, she actually ran away.

And controversy is brewing in Los Gatos over spending, libraries, and a petition circulating around town. The Merc's Patty Fisher weighs in, so does Mission City Lantern... Watch Dog thinks this is small town politics at its best/worst...

A busy week around local governments this week as most agencies begin to wind down their work for June for a July break...

• The County Board of Supervisors will look at development recommendations at the County Fairgrounds. Again?
• The Cupertino Union School District will look at the 2009-2010 budget, which should be a lot easier now that they passed a parcel tax...
• The Los Gatos Union School District will hear an update on the State budget... that ought to be fun.
• Ah, and never a slow week in San Jose: The City Council will once again look decreasing their pay. (We'll see how Councilmember Chu votes... and the City Council will also look at approving concessions in some union contracts.
• But the real work in San Jose City Hall will be in the Elections Commission... they'll talk about independent expenditures and changing the limits of campaign contributions.

Finally, a big day for Cisco Systems. Today, San Jose's Cisco Systems will join the Dow Jones industrial average. You go John!

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.3.09: Big Buzz at City Hall...

The 49ers are one step closer to ending a 6 decade relationship with the City by the Bay. In the wee hours this morning, the Santa Clara City Council agreed on a $114 million subsidy, well below what the 49ers originally wanted. Next up, a March 2010 election. (We wonder how this will play into the politics of the 49ers...)

San Jose’s Drunk Task Force recommendations were heard by the City Council last night. Among the recommendations is to release people after they get a chance to sober up, offer up the breathalyzer (and document results), properly documenting arrests, and enhanced officer training. Well, the six months (plus) had some real results, we guess. Too bad nobody thought of these things months ago...

Which leads us to what was all the buzz around City Hall yesterday...

San Jose Police (apparently) felt compelled to seek out the (negative) limelight. Police Officers' Association head Bobby Lopez and SJPD retiree/Councilmember Pete Constant defended a controversial POA video saying Raj Jayadev (of the obscure De-Bug) used poor grammar. Seriously? Making fun of folks at a Council meeting. What's worse, POA actually paid for their video. San Jose Revealed adds to the stupidity calling it a phony controversy concocted by POA advisor Jude Barry. Watch Dog doubts that, but we do have a different theory, perhaps this was Lopez's clumsy attempt to divert attention from the Drunk Task Force findings. Here is the POA video:




The folks that the POA made fun of also put out their own video... perhaps the video editing software on Apple computers is too easy to use?


San Jose Pension Fund Chair David Bacigalupi sent a letter to fellow Trustees encouraging them to take as many “due diligence” trips as needed. (Apparently $1 billion in the hole doesn't call for restraint...) Which probably isn't the best idea. The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on Trustees to “curb their lust for travel.”

Saratoga native/film producer Andrew Trapani is turning Hollywood’s bright lights on Sarah Winchester’s spooky home. Team San Jose CEO Dan Fenton isn’t afraid of the ensuing gore and says “we welcome the chance to put San Jose on the big screen.”

Last year San Jose State’s LGBT students received a home of their own, last month SJSU graduates/Los Gatos residents/philanthropists Larry Arzie and David Stonesifer made a $1 million bequest to the center. Arzie and Stonesifer don’t want anyone to suffer the same abuse they did in the 1960’s as young gay men.

School districts around Silicon Valley will open their doors for a few this summer, everyone else can head to private offerings like those from science teacher Curtis Schneider. Oak Grove Superintendent Manny Barbara said there’s no chance of summer school next year because “we are getting hammered.”

San Jose Councilmembers are unhappy with the suggestion they cut their salary to $86,625 and get (only) $350/month for a car. Councilmember Kansen Chu complained that as a “recent immigrant” he didn’t have other resources. Watch Dog notes Councilmember Chu has been here more than 3 decades, owns rental property, and sold a successful restaurant last year…

County Supervisor/VTA Boardmember Don Gage predicted last month Caltrain would keep rolling South to Gilroy. Yesterday the “cut Gilroy” proposal was off the table.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro will be found walking the streets of downtown San Jose today checking out restaurant samples for the kick off of “Dine Downtown.”

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.18.09: The Appointed One Writes...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing the once unthinkable: Consolidation of the Bay Area's daily newspapers. On a related note: Watch Dog is thriving, even though we are anonymous Mr. Herhold...

The Merc's Editorial Board stands up for Councilmember Pete Constant in his pissing match with the San Jose Police Officers Association. The union is not happy with their former police colleague because (they believe) he turned their back on them on the City Council. (They are so mad, in fact, that they are seeking candidates to run against him next year.) But reading the Editorial, Watch Dog couldn't help but notice that the Editorial Board had to distance themselves from Constant twice, while standing up for him once. Take a look at these two lines:

• "...We don't always agree with him..."
• "...Constant's calls on some issues are definitely worth debating..."

The Editorial Board also chimes in a spat between the South Bay and the Association of Bay Area Governments...

Supervisorial Chief of Staff/The Appointed One/(unelected) School Board member Eddie Garcia also graces the back of today's front section and stands up for sports in the East Side Union High School District in the pages of the Merc...(and yes, wise ass, everything is spelled correctly.)

It has been a devastating year for the young folks at Los Gatos High School. Three students have died in one school year.

Cupertino's 'green coordinator' gets profiled in the Courier...so does Sunnyvale's new Library Director in the Sun...(both papers are 'powered by the Mercury News'...Watch Dog would be petrified if we were 'powered by the Mercury News' these days...)

First Saratoga raised garbage rates to pay for road repairs...now Campbell gets in on the action. Watch Dog predicts San Jose (and other cities) will get in on the action...

This should make you feel safer...a San Jose man was arrested for stealing guns from a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Morgan Hill. Does this mean he'll never pass a background check...probably not.

San Jose Revealed has a Quick Note and a history lesson about Tom McEnery, Bill Clinton, and a sluethy phone call from Arkansas...

Mission City Lantern doesn't like baseball...or does he?

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.16.09: Great chefs are within SF's territorial rights?

Lew Wolff sent a big raspberry to Oakland on Friday saying thanks for the memories but it’s time for the A’s to hit the road. (Baseball San Jose's blog channeled Sarah Palin's "thanks, but no thanks"...) The move was predicted by former San Jose Insider Jude Barry four years ago. It looks like Barry may have been more prescient than he knew. Inside's Eric Johnson gleefully quotes sports experts Gary Radnich and Bruce Jenkins agreeing with Barry. The Chronicle's Matier & Ross fill us in on who’s fighting to keep the A’s where they are…some heavy hitters. Watch Dog hopes that Senators Boxer and Feinstein remember that folks in Santa Clara County voted for them too (oh yeah, and funded their campaigns...)...

The Merc’s Sal Pizzaro had a yummy task as Iron Chef America hit Silicon Valley. Los Gatos’ Manresa chef (and Michelin 2-star chef) David Kinch whirled around Kitchen Stadium with cabbage as his secret ingredient. In the end, it was Kinch over renowned chef Bobby Flay. The viewing party at Manresa cheered. It is unclear if Senators Boxer and Feinstein think that good chefs are actually within the territorial rights of San Francisco...

Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Jay Boyarsky (former candidate for Judge) thinks a surge in anti-gay hate crimes is related to the passage of Proposition 8 -- increased visibility translates to increased “gay-bashing.” No doubt worried straight, white men might feel left out, Boyarsky added "We're not playing political favorites. Certainly, we've had Christian victims of hate crimes."

Speaking of the DA's office. Santa Clara County DA Dolores Carr has to be wondering why she wanted the job of top prosecutor. A national report released by the Innocence Project accuses the DA’s office of improperly investigating crime lab errors. Hoping to make the case that the fox can guard the hen house, DA spin-meister Nick Muyo says it is not true that they can’t properly investigate themselves.

NASA has asked the Navy to pay for re-skinning Hangar One. In exchange, NASA offered to clean up the toxic soup left behind by the Navy. To sweeten the pot for neighbors, NASA announced Friday a collaboration with the Foothill-De Anza Community College District to provide a $1 billion research facility focusing on renewable-energy and resource-conservation. Foothill-De Anza Chancellor Martha Kanter is giddy about the possibilities...

El Camino Hospital officials are starting to dish on their plans to expand services at their new Los Gatos home (the hospital formerly known as Community). Silicon Valley men will be happy to hear a fancy machine that turns kidney stones to dust is in the works. The League of Women Voters has joined forces with El Camino Hospital execs to host a forum at the end of the month.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs is dishing on the goodies our elected take home from their loyal (lobbyist) fans. Senators Elaine Alquist and Joe Simitian enjoyed a spa retreat in Lodi...(hopefully not at the same time). Senator Simitian reported his wife’s business brought in a healthy chunk of change. Assemblymember Joe Coto went to a charity ball courtesy of Verizon and got an unhealthy supply of liquor thanks to Diageo...he must have been preparing for St. Patrick's Day. (Coto should be careful if he plans to drink that stuff in San Jose...)

Prospective candidates hoping to replace San Jose’s Pete Constant should call the San Jose Police Officers Association. They are not happy that one of their own has “turned a deaf ear” to them.

His friends call him the Don Quixote of San Jose’s Clock Tower, but Naglee Park resident John Mitchell is determined to see his 30 year obsession brought to a happy conclusion. The tower, built in 1892, stopped working in 1906 when that pesky earthquake toppled the tower. (How very Back to the Future...) Mitchell calls it the heartbeat of San Jose. It is unclear if the clock tower would need to 1.21 gigawatts to get going again...

There’s more than green beer on tap this week. Plan on a busy Council/Board week around the Valley...

• San Jose’s City Council will hear the Mayor’s budget message. (You’ll need lots of green beer for this one...)
• Cupertino’s Fremont Union High School District goes over their financials and meets with students...no doubt to ready them for the grim news ahead.
• The Alum Rock Union School District will consider a teachers' contract, talk about closing Pala Middle School, and revisit their policies on small schools (probably hoping to make them much bigger)...
• Palo Alto Unified School District discusses budgets for remodeling, contracts, high school master plans, and staff reductions.
  

Speaking of Palo Alto...

You could sort of see this coming if you read this and this...but the community-wide, Palo Alto broadband project may be quickly dying. Palo Alto has no money and the company that was going to do the project, Axia Netmedia Corporation, doesn't really want any part of it anymore either...

You'll remember last-week's perfectly timed study by Stanford showing that its hospital expansion projects would bring in $18 million to the City of Palo Alto coffers. The timing was perfect because Stanford and Palo Alto had a meeting about the impacts/benefits of Stanford's development this week. Now, Palo Alto would like to see more of the "community benefits" that Stanford could/should/will do in order to get Palo Alto to stand back from its adversarial position...