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.
Showing posts with label rick doyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rick doyle. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 12.17.09: Going Rogue?
We hate to make this the top story today for fear that we'll hear from Kathleen about it... but a San Jose Police Lieutenant is suing the SJPD and Chief Davis for alleged racial discrimination. This is probably just what Chief Davis wants to deal with right now. On the positive side, it allows City Attorney Rick Doyle to answer media inquiries, which provided this gem of a quote:
"I think San Jose has a very good record of not having any racial discrimination in employment..." You think San Jose has a very good record? You don't know? We'll probably find out in the course of this lawsuit which will almost certainly end in a settlement...
To baseball:
We found this from an NBC Sports blog "Circling the Bases" about how Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums wants to not only use Oakland Revedevelopment dollars to keep the A's in Oakland, he wants to use some of your Federal tax dollars (stimulus) too. I'm sure that project will go over big in D.C.
On the same topic, there was a meeting about the neighborhood/traffic impacts of a new stadium downtown last night. But the best part of today's story about that meeting is what the Mayor had to say about the San Jose Giants involvement in opposing the MLB plans downtown: "Did they [the San Jose Giants] not notice the million dollars we spent on Muni Stadium? It's kind of funny... But I don't expect people to be consistent when it gets to these political issues." If I read that right, it seems the Mayor used sarcasm and humor...
And on the topic of stadiums... the Merc Editorial Board supports baseball, but with a "limited public investment." Watch Dog likes any Editorial where "beer batter" is referenced...
It is obvious today that reporters/editors at the Merc rely on Watch Dog to read "out of town" newspapers for them. Yesterday morning we spotted a Matier & Ross piece on sfgate.com that talked about a pretty unfavorable audit of Valley Medical Center doctors' travel. Then last night, (after reading Watch Dog?) the Merc got on the story... (We also kind of joked about it yesterday with this: It is a good thing that we have a local newspaper to cover local topics...
The Fly/San Jose Inside "has heard" that the Chamber of Commerce may be Going Rogue at their annual Legends and Leaders event... Which begs the question, is Sarah Palin a legend or a leader?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 10.14.09: Dirty magazines in a fire station? Watch Dog is shocked...
San Jose City Attorney Rick Doyle told the City Council they should settle (outside a courtroom) the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by fire engineer Julie LeBlanc. Doyle said the $200,000 settlement was “…a good settlement...” and sent props to LeBlanc for her courage in ferreting out the hard-core porn, including the “illest men’s magazine ever.”
San Jose walked off with California’s “highest and most prestigious environmental award” when they took the GEELA home from Los Angeles. Mayor Chuck Reed was “delighted” San Jose received recognition for keeping (recyclable) garbage out of the landfill.
Between depressed home values and fewer kids in school the Alum Rock School District talks school closure. Superintendent Jose Manzo looks at the shutdown of 2 elementary schools and a middle school due to the “financial dilemma.” Perhaps this is a fall-out from their previous "Superintendent dilemma..."
Mountain View’s City Attorney gig will soon be open as 16 year veteran Michael Martello heads into the sunset (possibly) to write a tome on conflict-of-interest. A subject Martello is familiar with having faced the music for possible conflicts during his affair with Foothill Disposal General Manager/Chamber of Commerce Board President Pamela Read.
A 2 year Mayor? Mountain View is thinking up ways to make the ceremonial rotation seat more inviting. Last years (1 year) Mayor Tom Means said the influential position means “you do get invited to things… oversee functions… set the agenda on a lot of things.”
Assemblymember Joe Coto did a happy dance Sunday night when the Governator put Santa Clara Valley Water District board reforms into state law. Reforms endorsed by the board allowed Coto to (seemingly) join forces with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed as a Sunshine distributor.
Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Trustees President Don Moody feels “pretty darn good” about their choice for a replacement Superintendent but isn’t dishing on the name.
Medical marijuana for Gilroy and Los Gatos has to wait until lawsuits meander through the courts or another 90 days. Deputy District Attorney Steve Lowney told the Gilroy City Council to avoid the same over-the-counter problems seen in Los Angeles. Los Gatos Councilmembers are waiting for the League of California cities to provide direction. Dude...
Gilroy survived the first storm of the season with fewer power outages and lots of flooding. Morgan Hill residents headed to church to avoid flooded roads. The biggest storm in nearly 50 years took its toll dumping over 2 inches of rain in San Jose while water district Chairman Sig Sanchez said “this is a great start!”San Jose walked off with California’s “highest and most prestigious environmental award” when they took the GEELA home from Los Angeles. Mayor Chuck Reed was “delighted” San Jose received recognition for keeping (recyclable) garbage out of the landfill.
Between depressed home values and fewer kids in school the Alum Rock School District talks school closure. Superintendent Jose Manzo looks at the shutdown of 2 elementary schools and a middle school due to the “financial dilemma.” Perhaps this is a fall-out from their previous "Superintendent dilemma..."
Mountain View’s City Attorney gig will soon be open as 16 year veteran Michael Martello heads into the sunset (possibly) to write a tome on conflict-of-interest. A subject Martello is familiar with having faced the music for possible conflicts during his affair with Foothill Disposal General Manager/Chamber of Commerce Board President Pamela Read.
A 2 year Mayor? Mountain View is thinking up ways to make the ceremonial rotation seat more inviting. Last years (1 year) Mayor Tom Means said the influential position means “you do get invited to things… oversee functions… set the agenda on a lot of things.”
Assemblymember Joe Coto did a happy dance Sunday night when the Governator put Santa Clara Valley Water District board reforms into state law. Reforms endorsed by the board allowed Coto to (seemingly) join forces with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed as a Sunshine distributor.
Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Trustees President Don Moody feels “pretty darn good” about their choice for a replacement Superintendent but isn’t dishing on the name.
Medical marijuana for Gilroy and Los Gatos has to wait until lawsuits meander through the courts or another 90 days. Deputy District Attorney Steve Lowney told the Gilroy City Council to avoid the same over-the-counter problems seen in Los Angeles. Los Gatos Councilmembers are waiting for the League of California cities to provide direction. Dude...
According to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro there’s a lotta life in the annual Day of the Dead celebrations. “Five Minutes of Heaven” is on tap with San Jose’s Irish Sister city and kids get good dish with Seedfolks.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 10.5.09: A little Bloody Mary with that garlic shake?
Hoping to jump start development, San Jose is ditching requirements on affordable housing six months at a time for specified developments. Not everyone is happy with the news, Kyra Kazantzis with the Public Interest Law Firm called it “a shame” San Jose gave up “45 years of affordability.”
Residents in the fancy peninsula towns of Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Atherton voiced their opinion that they should get an underground High-Speed Rail. After all, it would “tremendously increase property values,” according to architect Tony Carrasco and it would only increase the cost of the 8 mile stretch by $2 Billion… There’s no truth to the rumor Palo Alto is holding a bake sale to cover the costs…
Stanford’s Hoover Institution fellow Eric Hanushek thinks education in California so bad the state is “dragging down the nation.” Hanushek shared his opinion following the news that school leaders will sue over the states ever decreasing funding for public education with parts of the state ranked 47th in funding for public education in the state. San Jose Unified’s Don Iglesias supports the lawsuit saying “without litigation the state won’t properly fund schools.”
San Jose police put perv Jeffrey Minkin behind bars when he showed up at schools without mentioning his Megan’s Law status– and for hosting those sleepovers .
It doesn’t pay to key the car of a nerdy Silicon Valley millionaire. Howard Herships is off to jail for a month following the end of 4 years of legal wrangling over his keying of Steve Kirsch’s electric RAV4.
The Republican gubernatorial wannabe’s are having some kind of fun reminding each other of their (past) Democratic support. Meg Whitman pointed out Steve Poizner wrote some mighty big checks to presidential hopeful Al Gore while Poizner pointed out Whitman’s support for Senator Barbara Boxer.
With visions of steelhead trout in mind environmentalists are lining up support for the Calaveras Dam rebuild. The current dam, celebrating it’s 84th birthday, could be replaced as soon as 2015.
Disagreeing with the San Jose Parks representative, the Merc’s Scott Herhold says Beverly Head’s tragic death was not “an unpredictable accident.” Bike and dog owner Herhold advocates for more enlightened trail users.
Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone is getting more than the usual “boo” in his own cafeteria. Stone’s remarks about pensions has county co-workers posting anonymous/angry signs – Stone says he’s trying to prevent the same public uproar that caused Prop 13. Labor doyenne Cindy Chavez welcomes predecessor Amy Dean next week when Dean shares insights on weaving the “labor movement into the civic fabric…”
San Jose Congressman Mike Honda thinks garlic is a fine treat so it’s no surprise he was unhappy with Republican colleague John Boehner’s disparaging remarks. Honda offered Boehner a basket filled with the Gilroy treat, the fun that goes on in D.C…
Protect San Jose’s Bobby Lopez offers District Attorney Dolores Carr, and all challengers, a Police Officers Association interview. Lopez wanted to “clear the air” saying no endorsement has been made…
San Jose Insiders let loose in Rants and Raves… Pat Waite and John Galt quote Ayn Rand, James Rowen takes time off from Mission City to celebrate a Stanford win and spank San Jose City Attorney Rick Doyle while SteveO wonders about the Merc’s use of plastic bags…
Mission City Lantern wants a great Santa Clara and suggests Bill Bailey try a Mary-free Bloody. Now, where’s the fun in that?
Residents in the fancy peninsula towns of Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Atherton voiced their opinion that they should get an underground High-Speed Rail. After all, it would “tremendously increase property values,” according to architect Tony Carrasco and it would only increase the cost of the 8 mile stretch by $2 Billion… There’s no truth to the rumor Palo Alto is holding a bake sale to cover the costs…
Stanford’s Hoover Institution fellow Eric Hanushek thinks education in California so bad the state is “dragging down the nation.” Hanushek shared his opinion following the news that school leaders will sue over the states ever decreasing funding for public education with parts of the state ranked 47th in funding for public education in the state. San Jose Unified’s Don Iglesias supports the lawsuit saying “without litigation the state won’t properly fund schools.”
San Jose police put perv Jeffrey Minkin behind bars when he showed up at schools without mentioning his Megan’s Law status– and for hosting those sleepovers .
It doesn’t pay to key the car of a nerdy Silicon Valley millionaire. Howard Herships is off to jail for a month following the end of 4 years of legal wrangling over his keying of Steve Kirsch’s electric RAV4.
The Republican gubernatorial wannabe’s are having some kind of fun reminding each other of their (past) Democratic support. Meg Whitman pointed out Steve Poizner wrote some mighty big checks to presidential hopeful Al Gore while Poizner pointed out Whitman’s support for Senator Barbara Boxer.
With visions of steelhead trout in mind environmentalists are lining up support for the Calaveras Dam rebuild. The current dam, celebrating it’s 84th birthday, could be replaced as soon as 2015.
Disagreeing with the San Jose Parks representative, the Merc’s Scott Herhold says Beverly Head’s tragic death was not “an unpredictable accident.” Bike and dog owner Herhold advocates for more enlightened trail users.
Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone is getting more than the usual “boo” in his own cafeteria. Stone’s remarks about pensions has county co-workers posting anonymous/angry signs – Stone says he’s trying to prevent the same public uproar that caused Prop 13. Labor doyenne Cindy Chavez welcomes predecessor Amy Dean next week when Dean shares insights on weaving the “labor movement into the civic fabric…”
San Jose Congressman Mike Honda thinks garlic is a fine treat so it’s no surprise he was unhappy with Republican colleague John Boehner’s disparaging remarks. Honda offered Boehner a basket filled with the Gilroy treat, the fun that goes on in D.C…
Protect San Jose’s Bobby Lopez offers District Attorney Dolores Carr, and all challengers, a Police Officers Association interview. Lopez wanted to “clear the air” saying no endorsement has been made…
San Jose Insiders let loose in Rants and Raves… Pat Waite and John Galt quote Ayn Rand, James Rowen takes time off from Mission City to celebrate a Stanford win and spank San Jose City Attorney Rick Doyle while SteveO wonders about the Merc’s use of plastic bags…
Mission City Lantern wants a great Santa Clara and suggests Bill Bailey try a Mary-free Bloody. Now, where’s the fun in that?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 8.12.09: Ditch Twitter and cell-phones...
It's National Vinyl Record day...
San Jose’s City Council seems to have wrapped up the 2006 election, at least the finances part. In spite of dire warnings from their beloved City Attorney Rick Doyle and Mayor Chuck Reed who said “…we’ll be giving a gift to lawyers… and we’ll lose,” the Council retains its “soft money” cap…
Foothill-De Anza Trustee/Incumbents Pearl Cheng and Bruce Swenson got a walk on the election this year. You have till Monday if you want to duke it out to replace Hal Plotkin.
3 Meetings + Pilgrims Haven + 104,503 square feet = 37 new retirees in Los Altos Hills
San Jose’s Biblioteca Latinoamericana replaced the alleyway where Lavonna McLaughlin was murdered 15 years ago. Yesterday Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosen painted a picture of the era as the trial for her accused killer started quietly in a Santa Clara County courtroom.
Firefighters halted a wildfire that started at Recology Pacheco Pass before it hit the methane pipes. Parent company, Norcal Waste Systems, breathed a sigh of relief but now worries over how the fire started.
Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards received an inbox full of email from grumpy backseat drivers. Easy people, the police asked for the warning about Cell-Phone Tuesday. You may now return to dangerous driving.
The Merc’s Sal Pizarro dishes… the yummy stuff is on order from local restaurateurs for Sunnyvale’s Saturday Jazz (green and line free, nice), Second Harvest Food Bank welcomes new CEO Kathryn Jackson, Spamalot lovers can whet their appetites at the Starlight presentation of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” last, but not least Happy Birthday Jack Aberle of San Jose State University’s Biz Admin.
Speaking of big birthdays… Los Gatos’ Betsy and David Fullagar’s 2007 birthday safari and growing friendship with Alweet Hlungwani set them on a journey that resulted this year in a library for the Makuleke tribe of South Africa.
Tweet this… That painful roller coaster ride is shut down for 2 months while engineers scratch their heads and the Twitverse keeps yakking. Stuck upside down for hours, Dominic Angel told his friends “gravity is not our friend right now.”
The Philip Bump/Revealed saga is a source of never ending fun for Mission City Lantern. An advisor to New York Public Advocate candidate Eric Gioia, Bump is getting a little West Coast love on the East Coast blogs.
Fan of students/San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education’s Joseph DiSalvo has a few suggestions for parents checking out the neighborhood school.
Protect San Jose has joined the ranks of the anonymous blogger for a mildly comprehensible rundown on why San Jose should ditch CQ Press rankings, as the FBI did in 2004. According to CQ, they’re patiently waiting for the FBI to figure out what to use.
San Jose’s City Council seems to have wrapped up the 2006 election, at least the finances part. In spite of dire warnings from their beloved City Attorney Rick Doyle and Mayor Chuck Reed who said “…we’ll be giving a gift to lawyers… and we’ll lose,” the Council retains its “soft money” cap…
Foothill-De Anza Trustee/Incumbents Pearl Cheng and Bruce Swenson got a walk on the election this year. You have till Monday if you want to duke it out to replace Hal Plotkin.
3 Meetings + Pilgrims Haven + 104,503 square feet = 37 new retirees in Los Altos Hills
San Jose’s Biblioteca Latinoamericana replaced the alleyway where Lavonna McLaughlin was murdered 15 years ago. Yesterday Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosen painted a picture of the era as the trial for her accused killer started quietly in a Santa Clara County courtroom.
Firefighters halted a wildfire that started at Recology Pacheco Pass before it hit the methane pipes. Parent company, Norcal Waste Systems, breathed a sigh of relief but now worries over how the fire started.
Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards received an inbox full of email from grumpy backseat drivers. Easy people, the police asked for the warning about Cell-Phone Tuesday. You may now return to dangerous driving.
The Merc’s Sal Pizarro dishes… the yummy stuff is on order from local restaurateurs for Sunnyvale’s Saturday Jazz (green and line free, nice), Second Harvest Food Bank welcomes new CEO Kathryn Jackson, Spamalot lovers can whet their appetites at the Starlight presentation of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” last, but not least Happy Birthday Jack Aberle of San Jose State University’s Biz Admin.
Speaking of big birthdays… Los Gatos’ Betsy and David Fullagar’s 2007 birthday safari and growing friendship with Alweet Hlungwani set them on a journey that resulted this year in a library for the Makuleke tribe of South Africa.
Tweet this… That painful roller coaster ride is shut down for 2 months while engineers scratch their heads and the Twitverse keeps yakking. Stuck upside down for hours, Dominic Angel told his friends “gravity is not our friend right now.”
The Philip Bump/Revealed saga is a source of never ending fun for Mission City Lantern. An advisor to New York Public Advocate candidate Eric Gioia, Bump is getting a little West Coast love on the East Coast blogs.
Fan of students/San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education’s Joseph DiSalvo has a few suggestions for parents checking out the neighborhood school.
Protect San Jose has joined the ranks of the anonymous blogger for a mildly comprehensible rundown on why San Jose should ditch CQ Press rankings, as the FBI did in 2004. According to CQ, they’re patiently waiting for the FBI to figure out what to use.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 6.24.09: San Jose's lost lover is back...
Tesla Chronicles Continue... Tesla nailed a loan from the Feds to the tune of $465 million and has plans to announce where in the Bay Area a battery production plant will land. San Jose’s Nanci Klein is thrilled and confident San Jose will land the electric fish gushing “Tesla’s success is our success.” Really? Even though they left San Jose at the alter previously? Let's hope that the on-again/off-again San Jose/Tesla romance continues for a while. Or at least until they burn through taxpayers' $465 mill...
San Jose’s City Council moves closer to reforms for the beleaguered Employee Pension Funds. Consultant Cortex Applied Research said the existing Boards lack expertise and have little incentive to save taxpayer money. Perhaps that, coupled with the economic melt-down, explains the billion (plus) dollar losses...
San Jose’s Planning Commission landed in hot water last month with accusations of a Brown Act open government violation. City Attorney Rick Doyle lowered the temperature and is requiring a re-vote in the election of a new Commission Chair. Watch Dog prediction: one of the four alleged co-conspirators Xavier Campos, Chris Platten, Hope Cahan, or Thang Do lands in the center chair.
Santa Clara County Open Space Authority mails notices to hundreds of thousands of property owners fessing up to an illegal tax and offering a refund. Sierra Club’s Melissa Hippard suggests refusing, others suggest taking the $130 and donating it back (read tax deduction). The Open Space Authority loses $51 million for their screw-up. The winner is Tony Tanke, a Davis attorney, who walks away with $7.4 million in legal fees.
Former Los Altos Police Chief Bob Lacey may be “crude” and “inappropriate” but the Judge says porn on a flash drive, fat jokes for a pregnant lady, discussions of testicles, and photos of a naked transgender person did not make for a hostile workplace.
The Merc’s Scott Herhold likens the ongoing squabble between NASA and the Navy over who is responsible for Moffett’s Hangar One to an officious clerk making your life miserable. Herhold says it’s time to cut through the nonsense and call in White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Congressmember Anna Eshoo agreed it was “absolutely absurd” for the Navy to move forward without an end game but wasn’t so sure about calling Emanuel. (Watch Dog doesn't blame Eshoo... here's why.)
While the rest of the Valley is grilling and hanging out for the fireworks, three Monte Sereno Councilmembers have local fireworks to deal with. The recall effort over the (very badly timed) Council salary decision heads into high gear on the 4th of July. Recall proponent Fred Hawkes doesn’t want his Councilmembers wasting their time or money on Countywide groups like the Association of Bay Area Governments or the Santa Clara Cities Association.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is all over the news. He’ll get his dream mansion, Woodside keeps parts of an historic home, and Jobs ill health was confirmed when a Tennessee hospital confirmed Jobs’ liver transplant. We guess is that he'd rather be in the news discussing the latest and greatest iPod...
Saratoga Planning Commissioners approved plans to relocate a San Jose business (Demetri's the Hair People) onto Saratoga’s main drag. Commissioner David Reis was impressed with plans to update the exterior. Also approved, enlarging outdoor seating for Cinnabar Winery. Expensive hair cuts and expensive wine... perfect for Saratoga.
Sunnyvale’s newest City Manager, Gary Luebbers, says patience is his biggest challenge. Mayor Anthony Spitaleri likes that Luebbers isn’t “analyzing to death” and is hopeful this bodes well for Sunnyvale’s (Albatross) Town Center project.
What do Halle Berry, Paris, New York, Monte Carlo, and Palo Alto have in common? Doris Payne and It Takes a Thief, of course.
Busy times in South County: Gilroy had more gang problems, an “elaborate” car theft, and big robbery last week. Trustees for Gilroy Unified hired a new principal for Gilroy High and three new administrators to see them through tough times ahead.
Upscale Los Gatos hopes you’ll join them for Jazz on the Plazz but doesn’t want your crummy turf damaging blanket and has a slew of rules for those lawn chairs. Welcome to Los Gatos, don't leave a mark...
San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo weighs in on class size reduction standing firmly on the fence. DiSalvo also continues his push for increased teacher salaries. Thank you (?) Joe.
Bucking the trend towards cheap, Cisco Systems handed out $1.26 million in grants including to 53 local non-profits.
San Jose’s City Council moves closer to reforms for the beleaguered Employee Pension Funds. Consultant Cortex Applied Research said the existing Boards lack expertise and have little incentive to save taxpayer money. Perhaps that, coupled with the economic melt-down, explains the billion (plus) dollar losses...
San Jose’s Planning Commission landed in hot water last month with accusations of a Brown Act open government violation. City Attorney Rick Doyle lowered the temperature and is requiring a re-vote in the election of a new Commission Chair. Watch Dog prediction: one of the four alleged co-conspirators Xavier Campos, Chris Platten, Hope Cahan, or Thang Do lands in the center chair.
Santa Clara County Open Space Authority mails notices to hundreds of thousands of property owners fessing up to an illegal tax and offering a refund. Sierra Club’s Melissa Hippard suggests refusing, others suggest taking the $130 and donating it back (read tax deduction). The Open Space Authority loses $51 million for their screw-up. The winner is Tony Tanke, a Davis attorney, who walks away with $7.4 million in legal fees.
Former Los Altos Police Chief Bob Lacey may be “crude” and “inappropriate” but the Judge says porn on a flash drive, fat jokes for a pregnant lady, discussions of testicles, and photos of a naked transgender person did not make for a hostile workplace.
The Merc’s Scott Herhold likens the ongoing squabble between NASA and the Navy over who is responsible for Moffett’s Hangar One to an officious clerk making your life miserable. Herhold says it’s time to cut through the nonsense and call in White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Congressmember Anna Eshoo agreed it was “absolutely absurd” for the Navy to move forward without an end game but wasn’t so sure about calling Emanuel. (Watch Dog doesn't blame Eshoo... here's why.)
While the rest of the Valley is grilling and hanging out for the fireworks, three Monte Sereno Councilmembers have local fireworks to deal with. The recall effort over the (very badly timed) Council salary decision heads into high gear on the 4th of July. Recall proponent Fred Hawkes doesn’t want his Councilmembers wasting their time or money on Countywide groups like the Association of Bay Area Governments or the Santa Clara Cities Association.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is all over the news. He’ll get his dream mansion, Woodside keeps parts of an historic home, and Jobs ill health was confirmed when a Tennessee hospital confirmed Jobs’ liver transplant. We guess is that he'd rather be in the news discussing the latest and greatest iPod...
Saratoga Planning Commissioners approved plans to relocate a San Jose business (Demetri's the Hair People) onto Saratoga’s main drag. Commissioner David Reis was impressed with plans to update the exterior. Also approved, enlarging outdoor seating for Cinnabar Winery. Expensive hair cuts and expensive wine... perfect for Saratoga.
Sunnyvale’s newest City Manager, Gary Luebbers, says patience is his biggest challenge. Mayor Anthony Spitaleri likes that Luebbers isn’t “analyzing to death” and is hopeful this bodes well for Sunnyvale’s (Albatross) Town Center project.
What do Halle Berry, Paris, New York, Monte Carlo, and Palo Alto have in common? Doris Payne and It Takes a Thief, of course.
Busy times in South County: Gilroy had more gang problems, an “elaborate” car theft, and big robbery last week. Trustees for Gilroy Unified hired a new principal for Gilroy High and three new administrators to see them through tough times ahead.
Upscale Los Gatos hopes you’ll join them for Jazz on the Plazz but doesn’t want your crummy turf damaging blanket and has a slew of rules for those lawn chairs. Welcome to Los Gatos, don't leave a mark...
San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo weighs in on class size reduction standing firmly on the fence. DiSalvo also continues his push for increased teacher salaries. Thank you (?) Joe.
Bucking the trend towards cheap, Cisco Systems handed out $1.26 million in grants including to 53 local non-profits.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 1.8.09: The Blogosphere of Influence Battle
San Jose’s City Attorney, Rick Doyle, made an offhand comment last year that has erupted into a battle royale yesterday. Doyle said Councilmembers (Nora Campos) who wanted to review private legal documents created in his office for downtown's Peralta Plan (McEnery Plan) would need their colleagues’ approval. Using this (mis)information yesterday, San Jose’s Rules Committee told her to take a hike with her request to make those documents public. It turns out Doyle goofed. Campos does have a right to review those documents after all. Which is not nearly as interesting as the battle raging between San Jose Revealed and San Jose Inside about who 'won' and who 'lost' in yesterday's Rules Committee/Elections Commission/Reed-McEnery-Campos dust-up. (Since McEnery's project is getting $6 million, it is safe to say he thinks he won...) Watch Dog points out that (seemingly) Campos got the idea to push on this issue from reading Revealed. See Watch Dog's "blogosphere of influence"...
The Alum Rock School District quietly talked with East Side Union about a plan to swap Pala Middle School for East Side's Adult Ed. Independence. When news first leaked Alum Rock Trustee Gustavo Gonzalez expressed concern about a growing need for schools that could make existing crowding problems worse. In today’s news, Board President Gonzalez seems to switch gears, saying “We have to look at the whole District and how we are running all our schools. We have some work to do to shore up our budget.” Watch Dogs can join the now public fun tonight at the Alum Rock Board meeting -- and if you've never been to an Alum Rock Board meeting, you should go...
Ash Kalra, San Jose’s newest Councilmember, faces some trouble in his District from Day 1. His old alma mater, Oak Grove High (part of the East Side Union High School District), has been the site of two teen stabbings recently. This week a 12 year old was arrested for armed robbery after he and a friend attacked a 16 year old and stole a cell phone. Last year a 16 year old girl stabbed a student in a gang-related incident. Have fun Councilmember Kalra...
San Jose is (supposedly) a mecca for electric cars… Mayor Chuck Reed unveiled the City’s first public "Smartlet"charging stations for electric cars. While you can now park and charge your Tesla car at the Fourth Street garage, it is the parking of the Tesla company in San Jose that is in real danger.
Greg Larson took over as Los Gatos Town Manager last year, not knowing the economic disaster that loomed internationally. This week, Larson reported Los Gatos is sitting on a $3.7 million reserve with $4.4 million in revenue stabilization reserve. In something of a small world story, Larson started his career in San Jose and was (then Mayor) Tom McEnery’s Budget and Policy Director before a series of moves including San Jose (again), Sacramento, Arizona, and Santa Cruz before landing in Los Gatos. Oh yeah, he also famously served with his famous buddy as Stanford's student body co-president...
Saratogans still have time to apply for openings on the Planning and Heritage Preservation Commission (a.k.a. the NIMBY Commission of Saratoga...) Applications are due today as City Hall is closed Friday with the new “9/80” schedule.
Use of City facilities in Cupertino may soon be free if you’re a non-profit or promoting cultural ties. Councilmember Gilbert Wong worries about the loss of revenue, "I think that with the economic times not doing so well...You're just going to open up a huge can of worms."
Los Gatos pooches have a new/old hangout with the reopening of the elegantly named Los Gatos Creek County Dog Park. The park previously sported real turf which was torn up and turned to mud causing pooch people to stay away. (Watch Dog suspects pooches would have loved the mud but the good folks of The Town don't like dirty dogs in their homes...) The recent renovations to do away with the mud cost the County nearly $227,000, the original park ran $325,000.
The Alum Rock School District quietly talked with East Side Union about a plan to swap Pala Middle School for East Side's Adult Ed. Independence. When news first leaked Alum Rock Trustee Gustavo Gonzalez expressed concern about a growing need for schools that could make existing crowding problems worse. In today’s news, Board President Gonzalez seems to switch gears, saying “We have to look at the whole District and how we are running all our schools. We have some work to do to shore up our budget.” Watch Dogs can join the now public fun tonight at the Alum Rock Board meeting -- and if you've never been to an Alum Rock Board meeting, you should go...
Ash Kalra, San Jose’s newest Councilmember, faces some trouble in his District from Day 1. His old alma mater, Oak Grove High (part of the East Side Union High School District), has been the site of two teen stabbings recently. This week a 12 year old was arrested for armed robbery after he and a friend attacked a 16 year old and stole a cell phone. Last year a 16 year old girl stabbed a student in a gang-related incident. Have fun Councilmember Kalra...
San Jose is (supposedly) a mecca for electric cars… Mayor Chuck Reed unveiled the City’s first public "Smartlet"charging stations for electric cars. While you can now park and charge your Tesla car at the Fourth Street garage, it is the parking of the Tesla company in San Jose that is in real danger.
Greg Larson took over as Los Gatos Town Manager last year, not knowing the economic disaster that loomed internationally. This week, Larson reported Los Gatos is sitting on a $3.7 million reserve with $4.4 million in revenue stabilization reserve. In something of a small world story, Larson started his career in San Jose and was (then Mayor) Tom McEnery’s Budget and Policy Director before a series of moves including San Jose (again), Sacramento, Arizona, and Santa Cruz before landing in Los Gatos. Oh yeah, he also famously served with his famous buddy as Stanford's student body co-president...
Saratogans still have time to apply for openings on the Planning and Heritage Preservation Commission (a.k.a. the NIMBY Commission of Saratoga...) Applications are due today as City Hall is closed Friday with the new “9/80” schedule.
Use of City facilities in Cupertino may soon be free if you’re a non-profit or promoting cultural ties. Councilmember Gilbert Wong worries about the loss of revenue, "I think that with the economic times not doing so well...You're just going to open up a huge can of worms."
Los Gatos pooches have a new/old hangout with the reopening of the elegantly named Los Gatos Creek County Dog Park. The park previously sported real turf which was torn up and turned to mud causing pooch people to stay away. (Watch Dog suspects pooches would have loved the mud but the good folks of The Town don't like dirty dogs in their homes...) The recent renovations to do away with the mud cost the County nearly $227,000, the original park ran $325,000.
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