Morning News Round-Up – 8.7.09: And you thought you had problems...

Watch Dog breathing a deep sigh of relief... The folks at Customer Service were servicing today.

Now back to the rug for a well deserved belly rub and a nap...

Yep, those modified Caltrain horns were awfully loud, think chainsaw. Caltrain CEO Michael Scanton was joined by Deputy CEO Chuck Harvey in doing the defensive dance explaining why they piss off residents, at least for a while. Board Chair/Supervisor/(future) Gilroy Mayor Don Gage joined the defense.

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed hits the big time today with CNBC chatting about Silicon Valley leading the way out of recession...

Parents with Padres Unidos have defined the necessary criteria for their next School District Superintendent: Latino, but, “not just any Latino.” Board President Don Moody said “their hearts are in the right place… I respect their opinions…” offering he plans on thinking about the children’s needs.

Mental Health advocate Robin Salak hopes her threats to Psycho Donuts will get those crazy names off the charts saying darkly “If [owner Jordan Zweigoron] doesn’t do what we want …” Meanwhile, psycho Kipp Berdiansky turned in his straight jacket leaving psycho Jordan Zweigoron holding the bag and the blog.

If you’re angling for that Honorific today is the deadline to get your papers filed for City Council and school district races in November. So far Sunnyvale’s incumbents (and the open seat) heard some chatter but no one wants to run, yet…

Speaking of elections…

Foothill-DeAnza Trustee hopefuls are now online after the League of Women Voters suggested it would be helpful. You have until August 17 to join Joan Barram and Richard Bernhardt on the list…

San Jose brothers Kulbir and Amritpal Dhaliwal are back in the news, busted in San Mateo for lying and drunk driving. Sweet kids…

San Jose Parks Manager Matt Cano hopes the city’s new Greenprint will balance promises with delivery. San Jose wants to hear from you before raising the cost of those golf lessons.

The sparkly new courthouse in Morgan Hill will join the ranks of the furloughed, along with all other courthouses across the State. So, if you have jury duty, you can now join your doctor on the links every 3rd Wednesday…

Morgan Hill’s Redevelopment Agency will be fixing the 101/Tennant interchange, without benefit of Federal Stimulus bucks.

Farmer Andy Mariani says of his stone fruit (no, not stoned fruit) orchard it would all “be houses sooner or later… In the meantime, we’re just trying to survive.” As the pressure to pave over agricultural lands grows. Richard Barberi added “people who live in town love their farmer’s markets… But that’s all gone if farming’s not allow to happen in this valley.”

A big Watch Dog Woof to all the local seniors kicking butt at the Olympics…

Santa Clara County Tax Assessor/Jazzman Larry Stone ditched his sax to pay for grad school but not his love of music. Stone leads the way for tonight’s kick off of the annual At&T San Jose Jazz Festival in downtown San Jose according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. San Jose Metblogger Matt Bruensteiner is also all over the weekends musical offerings.

The Merc’s Joe Rodriguez takes us inside the life of East San Jose’s Father Son team of Rudy Contreras Sr & Jr. Senior headed deep into gang territory before turning his life around, Junior just returned from war.

Stanford law professor John Barton was hit while riding his bicycle last month. The University announced the respected teacher died as a result of his injuries. No word on the driver who killed him… Condolences.

San Jose Inside cares the San Jose Mineta International Airport was named 2008 Airport of the Year by the Air Line Pilots Association… And that was before the new terminal started to open.

Mission City Lantern bids a (not so) fond farewell to San Jose Revealed, complete with poem. James also shares the sad news of one very confused porpoise who made his way from the Bay up San Tomas Aquino Creek before dying of injuries suffered in transit.

Morning News Round-Up – 8.4.09: Wanna great deal on a plasma...

It’s the time of year to turn on your porch lights and head outdoors, it’s National Night Out. All around the Valley neighbors will meet each other, it helps when you see someone sneaking around late at night.

Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone has “reluctantly concluded” California needs a constitutional convention.

First, Chamber head-honcho Pat Dando writes an OpEd calling for a San Jose City Council decision about the bids for a library be reconsidered... the obvious retort was in today’s paper: Robert Baldini, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council fires back. The Merc weighs in (again) on this issue as they discuss the City of San Jose's massive budget problem... Even San Jose Inside’s Fly is buzzing around this smelly mess...

Pointing to a desire for transparency, Morgan Hill School District Trustees invited local unions to join them during interviews of Superintendent replacements. Search firm Cosca Group is a little pissed saying they earned their creds on confidentiality.

Gilroy’s City Council moves a little closer to allowing the County’s first medical marijuana clinic. Councilmember Bob Dillon called marijuana an unethical med and worries the feds will be here to bust up the party.


From our Sister blog, Watch Dog San Mateo we learn more about Palo Alto finances (and problems)…

• “Huge” is the word the Palo Alto Weekly uses to describe the cost of Palo Alto public employees' health benefits. Perhaps it is a good time for some on the Palo Alto City Council to step aside and let new folks deal with the problem they helped create...
• Then again, maybe burgeoning health care costs aren't hurting the City of Palo Alto that bad. They are spending $70K because they don't trust the California High Speed Rail Authority. Really.

The Merc’s Scott Herhold reports on more fallout from San Jose’s unceremonious dismissal of Independent Police Auditor Barbara Attard. Local digs for Attard included a city loan, and is now part of the great underwater real estate disaster. Here’s an idea for San Jose, keep the condo, rent it to the new IPA until you fire them. Last years numbers from the IPA receive full council review this month.

A big ol’ “infomercial for Psycho Donuts” was how Brian Miller, Executive Director for the local National Alliance on Mental Illness, described last weeks “debate” between head (donut) psycho Kipp Berdiansky and Oscar Wright, CEO United Advocates for Children and Families.

Former soccer coach/accused perv Thomas Anderson’s Pastor Erik Swanson showed up in court to proclaim Andersons innocence. If you have an alternative view, Santa Clara Police detective Sgt. Daniel Moreno wants to hear from you 408-615-4813.

The economic meltdown (possibly) coupled with email enthusiasm is contributing to pain at the United States Postal Service. Slated for closure, post offices in San Jose’s Oakridge Mall and Colonnade.

Sal Pizarro says you have no excuse for adding your 2 cents to San Jose’s “Envision San Jose 2040,” heck you can even do it in your bathrobe and slippers. Pizarro also dished Team San Jose CEO Dan Fenton now heads the Destination Marketing Association International board – does this make San Jose a destination dream?

Also thinking about San Jose’s future. Neighbors are getting together with planners to think about the connection between San Jose’s Diridon Station, (possible) major league baseball, high-speed rail, BART and residents. Party pooper/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio said ideas are great but the State’s money theft makes dreams unlikely.

Speaking of State thievery… Campbell is looking at a loss of more than $3 million according to city manager Dan Rich who called the theft an “illegal, irrational sham.”

Darryl Williams and Vernon Green visited San Jose to sell “gag” gifts. The joke was on the purchaser when the gift turned out to be a fake plasma TV or broken computer. Don’t be shy, if you had these new age door-to-door salesmen show up call detective Kristin Anderson at 408-808-4500.

San Jose Insider Joseph DiSalvo continues his support for charter schools.

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…