Morning News Round-Up -- 3.15.10: Beware the ides of March, San Jose incumbents...

The Merc's City Hall reporter does his best to untangle where the political powers that be in San Jose come down on the gambling expansion intitiative headed for the June 2010 ballot in San Jose. Reed and Chavez/Labor - for the measure. Chavez/Labor-backed folks on the City Council - against. Police Chief and the Police Officers' Association - against (but at least they agree on something). Former Police Officer/ Councilmember Pete Constant for it. Former Police Office/Council Candidate Larry Pegram against it -- but we learn his so-called Values Advocacy Council must not think that gambling is that bad because they won't make a big issue out of it (more on this below). Pat Dando now neutral as is David Pandori... although in Pat's case, it is hard to tell if this is her position, or just the Chamber not playing a role in City Hall... Desparate times call for desparate measures apparently...

Everyone is filed for office... Larry Pegram is in for District 9, which means that Watch Dog will have something to write/ rant about for the next several months... Some folks up for re-election in San Jose have some challengers -- obviously Madison Nguyen has a few folks running against her, the Mayor has two (including Bill Chew), Pete Constant has one, Sam Liccardo has one... of all the challengers, it seems only one has a web site up... well, sort of!!:

It is a crappy time to be making budget decisions in San Jose, but perhaps it wouldn't be so crappy if City Councils-past hadn't built the Mexican Heritage Plaza and/or taken over the Hayes Mansion? The Merc's Scott Herhold dives even deeper about the dire shape of San Jose's budget... and goes a bit into the why as well...

Maybe this will help the City of San Jose budget woes... an "innovation center" was opened downtown by Ireland. At least someone is investing in downtown O'San Jose.

A brewing controversy over at the County Building where an citizens election oversight committee was formed in 2008 and met exactly zero times since then. One member who was appointed to the committee said this: "...The Supervisors need to get off their duffs..." Yup.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.24.09: Threatened Garbage Strike + Reelection = Mayoral Trouble?

Federal mediators are on their way to San Jose in the hopes of stopping a Teamsters strike against GreenTeam garbage haulers. South Bay Labor Council leader/ former Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez says while she doubts “…anybody wants to strike...” it’s not a threat to take lightly. Something interesting about this story: This is the exact same issue that got Mayor Ron Gonzales into trouble. A threatened garbage strike coupled with fear about a looming reelection campaign. Yet Mayor Chuck Reed is not in this story. Perhaps that is the safest place to be Mayor Reed...

The latest guest at San Jose's texting party (no, not sexting) is environmentalist Ted Smith of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. Mr. Smith is going to court to get email, texts, and “other electronic communications.” Mr. Smith is pissed that the City refused his more congenial request earlier this year. While the Toxics Coalition is fighting City Hall on this front, they are likely supporting a City Hall effort on another because...

The San Jose City Council will think about San Jose’s contribution to the 19,000,000,000 plastic bags leaving California stores each year. American Chemistry Council and their lobbyist Manny Diaz are cheering on Councilmember/ proud anti-environmentalist Pete Constant who says he questions whether plastic bags should be ditched, after all they’re great for scooping poop. Fill in your own Constant poop joke here: ________.

Mr. Smith, make sure to get the emails, texts, and calendars surrounding the plastic bag issue as well... Watch Dog bets the meeting between Manny Diaz and Pete Constant was an interesting one.

Speaking of environmentalists... Larry Ames and Taisia McMahon are hoping to see you at the Planning Commission in support of the Three Creeks Trail. Worried about “trail-severing" development, Ames and McMahon shared their worries on the Merc’s Opinion page.

(so far) No one at San Jose’s Family Camp is sick but news of e-coli tainted water wells gotta be making campers nervous. Ironically, San Jose Inside reports their namesake city is behind only Virginia Beach, Virginia and Madison, Alabama for kid friendliness. Good thing Family Camp is in Yosemite…

Palo Alto is reeling after the suicide death of a 13 year old on Caltrain tracks where two other Gunn High School students died in the past several months. Former Palo Alto Mayor Victor Ojakian and Supervisor/former Palo Alo Mayor Liz Kniss are considering a committee to examine the issue.

Cupertino-ites have a few months to figure out their Council choices with 7 candidates and 3 seats open, the two incumbents are hopeful their names will float to the top. Busy times for Rich Robinson...

Swine Flu joins the back-to-school fun. Kids will learn the Dracula Cough, and hand-scrubbing while they sing Happy Birthday in an attempt to stem the tide.

The Merc’s Patty Fisher is happily chowing down on her daily coco kook as she celebrates peace in the (Psycho) Donut wars. Fisher closes by saying (cynically) “…without all that free publicity, where would Psycho Donuts be today?...” Certainly not in Patty Fisher's column...

Former Independent Police Auditor Barbara Attard’s San Jose pied-à-terre caused the Merc’s Scott Herhold to dust off his calculator and call those pesky IRS tax guys. Herhold chuckles as he reports Attard may owe as much as $6,000 in pillow taxes.

Having had one too many cheap drinks at the “dingy, punky, (puky?)” Caravan Lounge the Merc’s Internal Affairs bemoans its loss as San Jose makes way for a parking garage. Mission City Lantern chimes in on this story as well. James, you know the old adage: don't pick a fight with folks who buy ink by the barrel.

Protect San Jose dished its “Open Forum Friday” with a few (long/ oddly constructed) bits about cost over-runs, police practices, and statistical gurus.

Looking for your own government reform? Check these out…

• Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors finalize decisions on Jeffery Smith as County Executive. (Let's hope Supervisor Shirakawa remembered to check with Smith's previous employers...)
  
• San Jose talks plastic bags (Monday), Pension Trustees (Tuesday), and Pensions (Wednesday).
  
• The Mountain View-Los Altos School District gets the good/bad news about test results.
• Palo Alto Unified School District ponders the State’s budget thievery.

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.23.09: Ponzi Schemes, Bathroom Art and Tap Dancin' DA's!

2010 is shaping up to be an exciting year for voters. Like Santa Clara, San Jose’s City Council will seek voter approval on a stadium deal (to bring the A’s to San Jose) next year. A’s/Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff wants to hear from baseball officials before hitting the ballot box. Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone, supporting baseball and football in his playground, says figuring out which election in 2010 will be tricky “...if one starts going south, it could drag the other one down...” Watch Dog is sure that this is just the spin that the 49ers and A's are trying to get out there...

Tonight Santa Clara City Councilmembers will hear all about why bringing the 49ers to Santa Clara is good, costs/timetable for an election, and fix that pesky City charter to allow the 49ers to select a construction contractor. City Manager Ron Garratt mentioned “good” assumes “a healthier market than exists right now.”

Morgan Hill Councilmember Marby Lee is pissed off when City staff spends money before receiving council approval. Some 42 pre-approval purchases during the past 5 years were presented to Council colleagues Monday. Mayor Steve Tate pointed out the items ultimately received council support and were mostly contract changes anyway.


Santa Clara County Supervisors approved a $4 billion budget last week and are holding their collective breath to see how badly the State money grab affects them. President/Supervisor Liz Kniss offered that the $63 million set aside for State thievery might not be enough…



When you’re sitting on Palo Alto’s Oregon Expressway/Page Mill Road pissed off, you can blame the economy. According to Santa Clara County public affairs director Gwendolyn Mitchell letting you sit in daytime traffic saves the County big bucks.


Santa Clara County wants to hear from you on a critter habitat plan for more than a half-million acres in the county. Plan Manager Ken Schreiber said the plan will address “endangered species over the next 50 years.”


Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards relays information on the daily pas de deux taking place at the “nasty cloverleaf” we call 880/101. Reader M.F. sends a big shout out to fellow ballerinas and danseurs.


Ballet on the freeway deserves poetry in the halls. County Poet Laureate Nils Peterson aims to please by unveiling today the first county poem. The Merc’s Sal Pizarro also dishes the annual satirical slugfest (Monday Night Live) will put District Attorney Dolores Carr into her dancing shoes. Rumors abound that Pizarro will grace the stage.


A tale of two unions… The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on San Jose Firefighters to join with other union colleagues, including their public safety brothers and sisters the police, in negotiating raises to save money (and jobs). Echoing the refrain from former Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez, the Merc also says San Jose should have talked to unions early in the game. San Jose Councilmember/San Jose Insider Pierluigi Oliverio calls it “playground politics.”


Los Gatos councilmember Steve Glickman is being accused of wanting to “retire from politics with a s much tumult as possible” by the Los Gatos Observer. Glickman hired signature gatherers for a ballot measure designed to delay a library, something Glickman refers to as “cleaning up some unfinished business.”


Minton’s Lumber & Supply marked its 112 anniversary the same year owners Herb and Mary Jean Eaton decided to close their doors to make way for more housing. Councilmember Mike Kasperzak calls the new proposal (almost) the “epitome” of a walkable neighborhood.



Morgan Hill will consider eminent domain to raze a house and put in
a parking lot. Property owner Dwight Jungkeit doesn’t much care if the house is gone saying the city’s offer was lower than his asking price. At $100,000 it’s likely Jungkeit and Morgan Hill will settle before the expense of eminent domain kicks in.


Los Altos’ own Jin Chung has been charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with fleecing Korean Americans in an $80 million Ponzi scheme with partner Peter Son.


Mountain View police spokesperson Liz Wylie reports Dorothy Blake was caught cashing bad checks in Mountain View. Hitting up branches of Bank of America, Blake’s fakes were each in the amount of $1,831.49.


San Jose police busted 3 members of the Vagos Motorcycle Club (read Hell’s Angels) for gang rape of a 30 year old woman at their “clubhouse.” Police want your help, anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Officers Marchetti or Robb at 408-277-4102



With mourning families in both San Jose and Mountain View, the support Ronnie Gomez Mires received wasn’t enough to prevent his murder. The sad tale of a young man struggling through two worlds ended when Gomez Mires fought over a woman at a high school graduation party in East San Jose.


“Bathroom art” said their attorney when Karen Hazelwood and Jeffrey Spinello said their Christian faith was taken advantage of by the Thomas Kinkade Company of Morgan Hill. The courts agreed and Thomas Kinkade has been ordered to cough up $2 million.


Those Bellarmine boys done good. The smooth talking team from San Jose took top honors at the National Speech and Debate tournament. Vijay Sridharan, who took first in policy debate, said it was “…surreal – thousands of people watching…”

Morning News Round-Up – 6.17.09:

Yes, that was President Obama in San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez…. Sort of…

San Jose’s big news, there is a budget… At least until the State starts their annual grab-fest. The Merc suggests labor agreements will close the (current) $73 million gap. Former council colleague/South Bay Labor Council Executive Officer Cindy Chavez suggested the Mayor should have come to unions earlier. Chavez’ first time back in chambers included a poke at the Mayor..

San Jose’s Mayor is green, with envy… Gilroy’s Fire union overwhelmingly approved a city council offer that closes one fire station for an unknown number of days, the Police Officers Association put a deal on the table to cut $1.1 million from the budget and other unions are following suit.

Assemblymember Paul Fong is getting support from the Merc’s Patty Fisher in his quest to get reparations for mistreatment of the many Chinese who helped build this country. Fisher does suggest that an actual apology would be more useful than a monument.

San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant has found a new calling, grill-meister. Sal Pizarro reports Constant spent two days preparing ribs before sleeping in his car to baste overnight. The payoff? County Supervisor Ken Yeager, Assistant Fire Chief Teresa Deloach-Reed and Mission College’s Scott Brunson declared Constants ribs tops at the Winchester Business Association cook-off. Next stop no doubt a spot at Way Out West BBQ Championships…

Santa Clara County Supervisors are recommending a 24% cut to the “social safety net” affecting the county’s poorest and most vulnerable.

In her own, inimitable, way, Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr makes it clear what she thinks about sunshine. Saying nothing “legally or factually extraordinary” was found during the initial investigation of Daniel Pham’s death, Carr is keeping the Grand Jury closed.

Meanwhile, in East San Jose a man was shot in the leg during a shootout in an apartment building.

Although foreclosure rates had been declining May saw more Silicon Valley homeowners losing their homes at the years highest rate.

(Former) San Jose Aquatics coach Andy King has perv charges being thrown at him from San Jose, the East Bay and now, thanks to a Merc investigation, Oak Harbor, Washington. USA Swimming has some explaining to do…

In a cost cutting measure the Mountain View police are recommending deregulating taxi companies. Councilmember Mike Kasperzak made a comparison to flying in unregulated airplanes. Councilmember Tom Means, apparently not understanding the analogy, shot back “Are we going to ask the police department now to regulate the number of coffee shops in town?” Regulate the Watch Dog’s lattes? Say it ain’t so.

The Merc’s Editorial Board sends the Milpitas Unified School board to detention. You remember this story from last week, foster child Shontale Taylor is one of the few foster children to graduate high school. Except, she stopped a fight. The school board (of course) stopped her from walking the stage with her peers.

The families of accused gang murderers are pissed off the DA is using the “provocative act murder theory” to try gang members that didn’t pull the trigger. Monica Fernandez, mother of the murdered boy, said “those boys are like my son’s brothers… this was no planned attack.”

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.10.09: Supervisors in the news twice...in one day!

The County Fairgrounds development plans are back on the drawing board after Catellus, a major developer, dropped out. If this makes you feel 'deja vu-y,' you aren't alone. Supervisor Kniss used that word in describing having the latest plans scrapped. (We'll have to wait and see if the San Jose Police Officers Association will pick up Supervisor Kniss' misuse of a word for their next video...)

The Supervisors must have had their busiest day in years yesterday, actually generating two news stories. The one about the Fairgrounds, and this one about their considering looking at a plan to keep Henry Coe Park open, even though the State wants to close it to help the budget. Ken, Dave, George, Liz, and Don must be exhausted after discussing two entire issues in one meeting... As an aside, interesting byline on this story online...







Watch Dog didn't see anything in the newspaper this morning about the Vigil Kathleen Flynn organized yesterday. We did see this posting on MetBlogs, however.

Even MetBlogs noted the timing was tough because as folks were honoring Police Officers, who were represented at the event by Bobby Lopez, Video Gate still rages on... And while the Video Gate video seems to be have been taken down from ProtectSanJose, it is still on YouTube.

The San Jose City Council pay-cut issue was decided last night. They are going to cut their salaries (3.75%) but keep their full ($600/month) car allowance. The vote was 10-1 to drop the car allowance issue from the table (Councilmember Constant wanted to drop the car allowance) and then passed the pay cut unanimously. Apparently Councilmember Chu sharpened his personal financial pencil... or at least his political acumen.

Here's a nice story. Community gardens are growing (pun intended) in Los Gatos and Saratoga. As the economy crumbles, it is time to get everyone's hands dirty, apparently.

With their Santa Monica-named "Third Street Promenade" project almost ready to roll in Morgan Hill, two things need to happen first... luckily, one isn't a full rebound of the economy.

Down 101 a bit further, Gilroy gang violence is a growing problem. The DA and the County Sheriff are using an unusual tactic in prosecuting a gang shooting... she is charging "All of the gang members from both sides..." in the murder of Larry Martinez. That means the gang that Martinez was in and the gang that killed him are going to be charged. Watch Dog guesses that Defense Attorneys are going to have a field day...

And some blog news...

San Jose Revealed gives a little insight into Instant Run-Off Voting, which will be discussed at a forum at the porn-filter-free MLK Library...

ProtectSanJose, the POA's new blog, has a guest post from State Assemblymember Alberto Torrico (and Ed Rast). (The Video Gate video is no longer there... but is here.)

San Jose Inside interviews the Lt. Larry McGrady, whom they dub the "Club Cop"... And the post is by Dan Pulcrano, so perhaps you should check it out. Dan is writing again, which will give San Jose Revealed something to write about too...

Morning News Round-Up – 6.5.09: Children in jail, again...

Severely mentally ill, a child was booked into Juvenile Hall days after his 11th birthday, nearly a year ago. Not the first time a young child was tossed in the Santa Clara pokey, this child’s case is now being heard by Judge Paul Bernal. The child’s court appointed attorney David Avila said there’s no easy answer for questions of youth competency but didn't say he'd get the child better accomodations.

A short, scathing editorial in the Merc calls on Mayor Chuck Reed to stick to his “principles... his inclination toward sunshine in government” and allow the release of the Daniel Pham 911 tapes.

Sheriff Laurie Smith demoted Deputy James Council who killed two cyclists after falling asleep at the wheel. Karen Clarkson, Mother of Olympic hopeful Kristy Gough, was happy Council would no longer be behind the wheel. Council lost his 10 year old sister in a car accident and is said to be deeply remorseful, in spite of two previous drunk driving counts and a conviction for racing in Los Angeles.

Fence-gate is over. Monte Sereno has been ordered to pay $1 in compensatory damages – and could be liable for Joe Padgett’s legal fees, (now) estimated at over $2 million. Yikes.

San Jose Councilmembers/pension fund trustees Sam Liccardo and Rose Herrera called on fellow trustees to ditch “due diligence” trips except under “extraordinary” circumstances. City Finance Director Scott Johnson agreed. The rest of the trustees decided to keep travel alive and a split board will talk again at their next meeting when trustee/police officer Conrad Taylor shows up for the vote.

Campbell’s Brad Imamura was pissed about Psycho Donuts and got in touch with his elected officials to complain. The end result was a donut free mental health workshop. Councilmember Dan Furtado said his hands were tied and he’s unable to force a name change on the Psychos enjoying their 15 minutes.

Olivia Soza-Mendiola, Mexican American Community Services Agency CEO, wrote “it is with a heavy heart… MACSA is electing to relinquish the El Portal Charter Petition.” Superintendent Deborah Flores and the trustees said they welcome future collaboration and input from MACSA – they didn’t say, as long as MACSA didn’t do the banking. No word yet about MACSA’s San Jose embezzlement problems or the District Attorney’s decisions…

Facing a $6 million deficit, Mountain View’s city council cut park/street maintenance, code enforcement, public works staff and library services to the tune of $4 million. Councilmember Laura Macias proposed a $3 charge to non-residents using Shoreline park while Councilmember Mike Kasperzak fretted no one would drive there if the charge were in place.

High Speed Rail Authority boardmember Rod Diridon, Sr. says a reversal by the board could make HSR eligible for federal stimulus dollars. Diridon said the Bay Area would be “giving away billions of dollars,” without the switch.

Just as there’s a tiny bit of economic sunshine, commuters get hit with continuing news about fare hikes and service cuts. VTA Chair Dolly Sandoval is hoping for good economic news quick or “we will be in for more pain.”

NASA and the Navy won’t say they can’t agree, just that discussions over how and who pays for re-skinning the toxic Hangar One are a “struggle” and have “slowed.” Seems no one wants the $15 million plus restoration responsibility.

Google hosted Mountain View’s meeting on the future of the city, NASA and Microsoft were there to pitch ideas for Mountain View’s future. Google construction manager said “there is no land to build on… the only way to go is up.” Oh, and Mayor Reed, Mountain View’s planning director thinks they’re the “Capital of Silicon Valley.”

Assemblymember Anna Caballero is angling for promotion to State Senate. Ready to take her seat are Gilroy Unified School District trustee Francisco Dominguez, political consultant/(Caballero) campaign manager Rick Rivas, Watsonville Councilman Luis Alejo, San Benito County Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz, and Hollister Mayor Eugenia Sanchez from going after Caballero’s seat next year.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro shares the news that San Jose’s own great speller, Ramya Auroprem, hits the stage in the Rep’s Spelling Bee. Pizarro can be found tonight at San Jose’s SubZero festival where the public voted to see San Jose’s Mayor, city council and police chief hit the dunk tank. No word if Pizarro will needing a post-dunk towel.

Sports Fan/Merc columnist Mark Purdy points an accusing finger at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for bickering over the fate of the County Fairgrounds. Purdy asks if an intimate music hall attached to a new off-track betting venue might save the crumbling fairgrounds.

Watch Dog plans to ditch the real world Saturday and hit the 3rd Annual Silicon Valley Soap Box Derby in Mountain View. As many as 40 Silicon Valley kids will compete for a chance to head to Akron, Ohio for nationals. Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga and Palo Alto Councilmember Yiaway Yeh will be racing against Mayor’s Cup reigning champion/VTA Chair Dolly Sandoval.

Morgan Hill celebrates the grand opening of the West Little Llagas Creek bike/pedestrian path. Mayor Steve Tate said “it’s a natural coupling of passive recreation” with a needed public facility.

San Jose police have released the image of a man seen just before the city’s 10th murder of the year. Juan Mendoza was shot in early May, if you know the hoody wearing suspect, contact Detective Sergeants Tony Mata or Pete Ramirez of the San Jose Police Department, Homicide Unit, at (408) 277-5283.

San Jose Inside provides more details on San Jose’s consideration of Instant Runoff Voting. An open discussion moderated by San Jose State Professor Terry Christensen follows the Elections Commission discussion next week.

San Jose Revealed makes analogies between the slow demise of Mercury News and the Titanic as well as “the death rattle of the Third Reich,” while congratulating themselves for “scooping” Internal Affairs on the (yawn) news that Councilmember Nora Campos seeks to fill Assemblymember Joe Coto’s shoes.

San Jose Revealed’s review of San Jose’s city council agenda gives us

• The continued ceremonial item race.
• San Jose rents an old police building.
• Pay cuts on tap.
• Giving Tom McEnenry “conniptions”

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.20.09: "Morgan Hill, the (soon-to-be) Los Gatos of South County..."

While the Guvernator is licking his wounds over yesterday’s election, folks in Morgan Hill are still pouring champagne. Measure A, addressing downtown revitalization, passed with 60% support. Former Mayor/Campaign Chair Dennis Kennedy said it would help make downtown Morgan Hill more like Los Gatos or Santana Row. Really? I guess we'll soon see a downtown Morgan Hill Prada...

As we said yesterday, Election Day was followed up by (bail bonds) Fight Night...

Councilmember Sam Liccardo won the first several rounds... but the fight looks like it will continue as the City Council (unanimously) took the first step towards a temporary ban on new bail bonds. This turn of events must have pissed off Councilmembers Pete Constant, Nora Campos, and Ash Kalra who last week wanted to let the bail bonds folks operate 24 hours a day and have no moratorium. Their proposal wasn't even discussed last night. What did get discussed by several in the audience, was the Merc column from yesterday... much to the (public) chagrine of several City Councilmembers...

San Jose Revealed also jumped into the bail bonds ring this morning calling Liccardo's win "predictable." Really? Why would the Constant/Campos/Kalra Crew have pushed their bail bonds proposal if a loss was so "predictable"?

On to more important stuff... like football...

Santa Clara City Councilmembers took the next big step towards welcoming the 49ers. They worked out a plan to share the financial pain. Mayor Patricia Mahan says the next step is bringing the public in to see the proposal. Jamie McLeod, not a 49er cheerleader, said “I have some pretty strong concerns,” but wasn’t dishing.

Silicon Valley loses another local star to the bright lights of Washington, D.C. A Watch Dog favorite, County legal top dog Ann Ravel, is packing her bags to head up Office of Consumer Litigation. Ravel will be reporting to another local legal rockstar, Tony West who heads the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

Speaking of justice...

The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on Santa Clara County Supervisors to reject District Attorney Dolores Carr’s request to move victim services out of FACES control. Citing improved management and increased victim services the Editorial Board suggests other counties adopt the FACES model.

Friends Outside, a San Jose non-profit helping inmates' loved ones, has an unlikely leader. Former Sheriff’s Deputy, and guard, Dave Gonzales took the helm in a pinch two years ago. Gonzales, who is not a “liberal do-gooder,” has developed friends like District Attorney Dolores Carr, politically connected Mike Fox, Sr., Sheriff Laurie Smith, and Labor to bring Friends the economic support it needs.

Morgan Hill’s Christian bookstore owner Richard Dresser turns out to be a perv, maybe. Dresser was picked up by police after an employee accused the boss of several inappropriate acts. Dresser confessed to most of the charges during the interview but later told reporters he didn’t do it. “These charges are wrong, and I know they’re going to be dropped,” Dresser told the Morgan Hill Times. (Not to be outdone in the sexual assault news today, Watch Dog San Mateo has a piece about the Belmont Chamber of Commerce Board President (allegedly) molesting his step-daughter...)

Mexican American Community Service Agency (MACSA) CEO Olivia Soza-Mendiola sent a last minute email to Trustees for the Gilroy Unified School District asking for a one year transition of their MACSA-managed Charter School to an unnamed partner. Trustee Rhoda Bress called it a stalling tactic and said the students deserved better. (At some point, we'll (hopefully) see what the DA has to say about the MACSA/Charter School/embezzlement case...)

The Los Gatos Planning Commission nixed development plans for Los Gatos Boulevard pointing at a lack of a long term vision for the area. Commission Chair Tom O’Donnell said he was uncomfortable approving plans without knowing the Town Council’s vision.

San Jose residents, welcome to the season of brown... lawns that is. Strict regulations are now there for water hog yards. The upside for scofflaws is the City is depending on your neighbor to rat you out. Adding to the complexity, different parts of the City may end up with different rules.

Thousands of Silicon Valley residents sought heat relief at the beach Sunday. The miserable trip home was caused by Caltrans roadwork which shutdown one lane, leaving beachgoers creeping along for hours. The Merc’s Mr. Roadshow, Gary Richards, asked Caltrans what was up. Repairs, heat, time, and apologies came from “Ben-the-Caltrans-Spokesman.” Watch Dog was in the traffic, panting out the window...

San Jose Insider Eric Johnson dishes on a (possible) battle of the electric cars. Fisker Automotive arrived in San Jose’s Santana Row the day “bitter rival” Tesla announced a deal with Daimler Motors. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed was on hand to welcome Fisker adding it would help make the Bay Area the “electric vehicle capital of the world.” (Last time the Mayor stepped out to declare anything related to electric vehicles, Tesla turned around and screwed San Jose...)

When Foothill-De Anza Chancellor Martha Kanter was tapped by President Obama to be the Undersecretary of Education it left a big hole. Board President Betsy Bechtel announced retired Vice Chancellor Mike Brandy will return with “a steady hand and deep knowledge of the district,” to become the Interim Chancellor. What better time to take over the helm of a Community College than in the worst budget situation ever, and a State on the verge of financial collapse. Welcome back Mike...

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.22.09: The Day After

Internet (Porn) Filters failed to fly in San Jose last night. Watch Dog ran a run-down piece earlier today. Councilmember Sam Liccardo called filters the equivalent of “fighting a global naval strategy by deploying all our ships to Lake Tahoe.” Metro/San Jose Insider reports that the religious right may have won the battle on gay marriage (for now) but they lost the war on porn…

San Jose’s Councilmember Nora Campos wants to strip the Mayor of looking for the next Independent Police Auditor. After the giant screw-up from the Mayor’s office the last time she may get support.

Silicon Valley’s public aid offices are swamped with families trying to keep their lives together during these difficult economic times. The news couldn’t come at a worse time, the Supervisors will start slashing services next month to try and keep up with their growing deficit.

Welcome to Earth Day 2009, now 4 decades old it is no longer restricted to granola crunchers. P.K. Karnik took recycling to a whole new level when he remodeled his Los Gatos home. Using craigslist, Karnik unloaded everything that would normally have hit a landfill. In Saratoga, Hari Sripadanna is giddy to have a LEED Gold place to call home.

Silicon Valley calling ET. In fact, Steve Vogt is calling from Mt. Hamilton with a fancy new telescope designed to look for life among the billions and billions of lights in the sky.

The economy is driving everyone back to school, or so it seems. Thousands of De Anza students were left out in the cold, unable to get into class. College League President Scott Lay called community colleges “Ellis Island” for students on their way to a four year education.

Los Gatos main drag has seen a lot of boutique shops shutter their windows and leave town. Looks like Watch Dog has some new places to sniff around as hip, “moderate” retailers take their place. Soles owner Heidi Rehbock optimistically said "I picked the worst month of the worst year to open, so there's nowhere to go but up."

Los Gatos contractor Channing Verden was busted for being a firebug. Verden screwed up, had no permit to burn brush and was lazy with the stuff he was burning – the end result was 35 homes were lost.

If you ever wanted to hang with the Merc’s Scott Herhold, this is your chance…Filled with lynchings, hangings, and statues that piss people off, Herhold kicks off his walking tour Saturday at the Arena. But, RSVP first. Contact Scott Herhold at sherhold@mercurynews.com or 408- 275-0917. Sounds exciting...

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.13.09: A Porn-Week Preview...

News flash from San Jose Revealed – Porn gets hot. San Jose’s Vice Mayor Judy Chirco and Councilmembers Ash Kalra and Sam Liccardo trumped Rove-wanna-be Pete Constant with an early memo. The Merc’s Scott Herhold calls the Chirco-Kalra-Liccardo memo deft and says Library Director Jane Light “fought a canny rear-guard battle.” The Spartan Daily gets into the act, which makes sense, since it is San Jose State's library facing filters if Porn Kings Pegram and Constant have their way.

Rest assured, Watch Dog will be all over this issue on the coming week -- as we have been in the past. Including pointing out the irony that as this fake porn issue comes forward, Newsweek takes a shot at Larry Pegram by delaring "The End of Christian America"...

The annual salary dish on government salaries is out. Some of San Jose’s retirees are getting hefty bonuses for not staying home sick. Former Assistant Police Chief Charles Younis, now Los Altos’ Police Chief, took home an extra $243,000 while retired Deputy Fire Chief James Carter got almost $300,000. Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio is a little miffed saying sick leave isn’t meant to boost the nest egg.

In order to blunt criticism from the "sick leave" story, some folks went on a PR kick...

The Merc’s Patty Fisher chatted up San Jose’s newest highest ranking female firefighter, Deloach Reed. Assistant Chief Reed spent two decades hauling hoses and climbing ladders while sharing locker rooms, at times the “only girl in a frat house.”

The Merc’s Editorial Board sounds ready for a quick ride to Los Angeles on the future High-Speed Rail. They also drop a little reminder that the NIMBYs in San Mateo County stopped BART from heading south 50 years ago. The Editor's hope that the same NIMBYs today’s NIMBYs (Atherton/Palo Alto/Menlo Park) grow up.

AT&T wants that cable clipper bad and is offering a quarter of a million dollars to the first person who coughs up the clipping culprit who sabotaged 4 locations Thursday.

San Jose State University is trying to get some seniors to call it quits. SJSU had to turn its back on thousands of college wannabes because of the economy and now dishes that they’ve got over a thousand “super seniors” who can’t seem to leave their hallowed halls. With two dedicated seniors who have been there 15 years Provost Carmen Sigler says leave already.

Alviso is set to become a boaters haven once again. With visions of Chris Crafts dancing in their heads, the County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on construction of the final piece in a 4 year project. The Audubon Society’s Bob Power is hopeful San Jose’s legion of boating fanatics use the non-motorized kind.

San Jose’s Mayor Reed had plans for a press conference on home foreclosures while a mysterious "Linda" had other plans and whispered to the press the conference was moved. A pissed off Mayoral spokesperson, Michelle McGurk, said the (late) April Fool’s joke was “sad and pathetic.” Reed and the media did make their date but not without some scrambling.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs dishes San Jose’s City Clerk sent school-marm notes to the City Council reminding them they were welcome to watch the A’s opener in Oakland – on their own dime. (Hint Hint)

San Jose Revealed reveals a bare bones Wiki on San Jose’s political cast of characters. Revealed wants you to make the reveals. Another reveal, this time calling out former Chamber of Commerce mouthpiece Jay Rosenthal as Watch Dog. Revealed’s last Watch Dog reveal didn’t work out so good when Jude Barry turned up at CalBuzz. Keep trying Phillip, you'll pin us down soon...

San Jose Insider Pete Campbell rails against perks for public servants and complains that he doesn’t get a car allowance the San Jose City Council shouldn’t get one either. This was before the salaries were posted online...Campbell is going to be pissed.

Morgan Hill Unified School Board President Don Moody was MIA for Tuesday's big decision on furloughs. Translation: no decision was made. Trustees Shelle Thomas, Peter Mandel, and Bart Fisher said no way to forced furloughs. SEIU President Pam Torrisi said her members want assurances the savings would save jobs.

The economy has taken its toll on the Earthquakes and that’s translating to a loss for Morgan Hill. The Earthquakes were planning a training center there but Vice President David Alioto says that’s on hold. Mayor Steve Tate says he understands. (The Earthquakes tied the Fire yesterday 3-3, in case you are wondering. Perhaps they could use a new practice facility.)

Cupertino Union and Moreland School Districts are keeping their fingers crossed. Mail ballots arrived in voters homes last week. If voters say yes, parcel taxes go up and schools get to breathe again. Fresh off his BART success, political consultant Barry Barnes is hoping voters say yes as well...

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.6.09: Fake Quotes Edition...

The Merc. was on a tear this weekend over accusations of racial profiling. (Perhaps reporters and editors are listening to the Drunk Task Force even though the folks that launched the Task Force aren't):

• A comparison between the approach of San Jose’s former (beloved) Police Chief William Lansdowne and current (not so beloved) Police Chief Rob Davis. Davis says it’s like comparing “apples and oranges” and an unfair to compare San Diego to San Jose. Davis didn't continue to say, "To compare someone who was loved and someone who isn't, isn't fair..."
  
• Up next, the Barrera family was pulled from their home and put face down in the yard before Police realized they were at the wrong house. (Big oops.) As if the story wasn't enough, the Merc. enters the digital age and has a (controversial) video posted that includes interviews with the Barrera’s and others unhappy with SJPD.
• A weekend expose on the huge number of arrests for disorderly conduct and similar "crimes". Guess what? Latinos get arrested more than anyone else.
• The Merc’s Editorial Board wants Mayor Chuck Reed and City Manager Debra Figone to demand an explanation on the large numbers arrested for disorderly conduct and similar "crimes".

In other law enforcement news: Sheriff Laurie Smith cut off access to expensive psychotropic drugs for inmates in order to save money and get folks off of drugs. Apparently some inmates pretend to be schizophrenic to get high. Spokesperson Joy Alexiou says there are other drugs that do the job but won’t cost as much. (Perhaps meth?) Sheriff Smith did not say, "If the San Jose Police Department would stop bringing us all these people that don't really belong here, we'd really appreciate it."

Tuesday is a big day for San Jose's Major League hopes. In chambers for both the County Supervisors and San Jose City Council the words “Play Ball!” will ring out. The Supervisors and Council call the Giants territorial rights nothing more than the creation of “indentured servants” of the South Bay. Not everyone agrees, Giants Executive Vice President Larry Baer says Santa Clara County is “the heart of our business.” What he didn't say was, "and the heart of business is for sale to the A's if the price is right..."

The Merc’s Internal Affairs brings us up to date on the continuing political drama around Silicon Valley -- even though some of it you know because you read Watch Dog...

• The Manuel Herrera-Xavier Campos battle for San Jose’s City Council District 5 seat is lining up. The X Man (Shirakawa staffer/Nora Campos' brother Xavier Campos) tells us that he is “seriously considering” a run at the seat. Really? Watch Dog is shocked! Shocked! (Except we wrote about on March 20th.)
  
• In the Alum Rock School District, former/current Superintendent Norma Martinez quit last year but is still pulling down the big bucks, draining much needed dollars from a cash-strapped School District, and making the District look horrible...
• GOP rivals for the Governor’s office flew together out of San Jose, which is pretty funny. But that story that both campaigns wanted everyone to know about (which Internal Affairs didn't mention) was that the two m/billionaires were both flying Southwest and the candidates want everyone to know that they are "of the people." Steve and Meg, good work -- we believe it. Whitman was not heard saying, "I like this brand new airline...Southwest."

San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo’s bad decision to take Sharks tickets might not be turn out so badly. The tickets weren’t as expensive as Liccardo thought so there’s (apparently) no violation of State rules. (Watch Dog spies have let us know that the 18th floor of City Hall is scrambling to figure out who else may have taken tickets but not reported them. Remember, Liccardo actually reported the tickets...) One spy did not say, "Everyone accepts tickets, Sam is the only one silly enough to even report it..." (Actually, someone did say that...)

San Jose Revealed amps up the angst over the Liccardo mishap but sets their aims at City Attorney Rick Doyle with a rather long tirade.

Mr. Roadshow’s Gary Richards handed the reins over to Mrs. Roadshow so he could head out for a little baseball. The Mrs. gets the chance to dish on the Mr.’s driving habits.

The community member of the Merc's Editorial Board is changing over. Teresa Alvarado is out and Michelle Lew is in. Lew is the President of Asian Americans for Community Involvement.

Vasona Park was the site of the Iranian community’s annual NoRouz celebration. San Jose Planning Commissioner/Festival organizer Matt Kamkar hopes the crowd of over 20,000 will work together to raise $100 million for a community center in San Jose. Not great timing for that fundraising effort -- but at least the weather was good.

Here’s where you can go to be a part of government in action this week:

• The County Board of Supervisors will hear Supervisor Dave Cortese’s request for more details on the lock-up of a 10 year old boy and his 11, 12 year old siblings. (Oh, and a request to have Major League Baseball let San Jose out of San Francisco's grip...)
• The San Jose City Council will also discuss Major League Baseball and a downtown San Jose stadium...and sidewalk cafes, surplus land, and fee increases for tree removal.
• Monte Sereno’s City Council (they have a City Council?) will consider pay for City Council members. Good timing for that discussion...
• The San Jose Elections Commission will consider the complaint against former Mayor/Lobbyist Tom McEnery, discuss procedures for anonymous complaints, and campaign finance and limits to contributions.
  

And in our School Districts...

• The Franklin-McKinley School District hosts a workshop to figure out how to chop $2 million out of the budget, including increasing class sizes.
• The Los Altos School District discusses removing money from programs to feed the general fund.
• The Alum Rock Union School District will consider formation of multiple committees and consider a supplemental retirement plan for teachers. Wouldn't it be great if the District had a Superintendent to guide this discussion?
• The Cupertino Union School District also considers moving money from programs to keep the general fund afloat.
• East Side Union High School District Trustees will consider approval of a charter for Downtown College Prep, lockers, and an agreement with the teachers union.

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.23.09: Never a dull day in the DA's office...or at San Jose City Hall

Life at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office gets better and better. Last year, Prosecutor Marc Buller accused a Valley Medical Center nurse of lying about the existence of medical exam videotapes. This year, District Attorney Dolores Carr said she would release the tapes which could put sexual predators back on the street (from trials as long as 17 years ago). The hubbub isn’t over yet. Carr accuses VMC’s Dr. David Kerns of causing the problem for not "… consulting the District Attorney's Office," while defense attorney Lawrence Gibbs says the DA’s office still has a legal problem because they knew the tapes existed. In legal terms, it looks as if the circumstantial evidence is mounting...this time, against the Prosecutors...

Questions are swirling, legal action is in the works, and Councilmembers are snapping at each other...but it looks like the San Pedro Urban Market (a.k.a. The McEnery Plan) will move forward this week. Former Mayor/registered lobbyist Tom McEnery hopes to open a public market in 2010 with $6 million in grants and loans from San Jose. Councilmember Nora Campos has launched a new (potential Brown Act violation) salvo saying she received a voicemail message from her colleague Sam Liccardo who hoped she would set aside partisan politics during the plan's initial consideration...Interesting how Campos didn't bring this up when her opposition to the plan failed to kill it. Perhaps she hopes it will now?

Armageddon is how the California Transit Association describes the outcome from the (long-delayed) budget resolution in Sacramento. VTA alone is facing cuts of $50 million. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission does not see any BART to San Jose dollars coming from their pockets, so local hopes are pinned on Federal stimulus dollars.

San Jose’s (one-school) Luther Burbank School District received a mild slap when a long-awaited second audit was released a year after it was ordered. Fernando Elizondo, the District's Interim Superintendent said, "We need to eliminate the sloppiness and tighten down the ship." You'd think keeping track of money and running a tight ship would be easier when a District only has one school...but perhaps not...

Fremont residents squawked loudly about the "Fremont" A's. So loudly, in fact, that the plan seems close to dead. The neighborhood grumpiness (and NUMMI's grumpiness) is causing Oakland A’s owner Lew Wolff to rethink his plans to move to Fremont. San Jose A's?

Joint Venture: Silicon Valley announced the formation of the Silicon Valley Climate Prosperity Council on Friday with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed at the helm. The Merc’s Editorial Board celebrates Silicon Valley’s new color saying, “A green agenda crossing city lines and promoted by private and public sector leaders can put Silicon Valley in a better position to recover.”

The Merc.'s Mr. Roadshow/Gary Richards let readers cut loose on angry man Grant Paulson who grumpily attacks Senator Joe Simitian’s cell phone law via a well-viewed billboard on 101. Our sister blog, Watch Dog San Mateo has more on the East Palo Alto billboard.

Speaking of Watch Dog San Mateo...

Ah, lifestyles of the rich and famous…the Merc’s Patty Fisher fills us in…Sun Microsystems Scott McNeely sheepishly admitted he hadn’t bothered getting permission before building his private, blimp-like ice rink in the hillsides above Palo Alto. It looks like Ms. Fisher reads Watch Dog San Mateo, because they wrote a (really funny) piece about the ice rink last week...

The Merc.'s Internal Affairs caught Mount Pleasant School District Superintendent George Perez hopping mad. Perez cut loose about the recently approved budget saying, "It's a crime and a sin what they are doing to public education.”

Hunger striker/freedom fighter Ly Tong has turned up in Orange County splattering red paint on a photo exhibit. He really sounds like a swell guy.

On tap for local elected officials this week:

• San Jose’s City Council will consider ordering nightclub owners to help pay for the Police and try to make downtown more inviting.
• Sunnyvale’s City Council will revise the ethics code for elected and appointed officials, taking away a Board Chair’s ability to punish said officials and making sure Councilmembers know they have to listen to public speakers. Really?
• Mountain View’s City Council will hear a midyear budget report on Tuesday. That should be fun...
• Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Subcommittee on Children, Seniors, and Families will talk about the changing child welfare system Thursday. The passage of the State budget should be helpful to that cause...except it isn't...
  
• Fremont Union High School District Trustees will hear a budget update and consider setting a cap on enrollment on Tuesday.
  
• San Jose Unified School District will attempt to figure out who to fire to make next years budget.

San Jose Inside's Editor voices support for beleaguered San Jose Councilmember Madison Nguyen and calls for a no vote on the recall. Inside points out Nguyen’s mistake was one of judgment...like she misjudged that this Little Saigon thing would be a big deal, she misjudged that her opponents would rally at City Hall for months, she misjudged that her opponents would get enough signatures to recall her...let's hope she doesn't misjudge the campaign her opponents are running...

Watch Dog note to Los Gatos Observer: How about some news? Or at (the very least) some more frequent Tweets...

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.9.09: A quarter, a dime, and four pennies...

San Jose is gearing up for a contentious battle with downtown nightclub owners. The City wants club owners to help pay for Police services in downtown, at roughly 39 cents/patron. Club owners, unsurprisingly, are complaining the request is “nonsensical” in the words of Dave Powell, owner of three downtown establishments. Councilmember Sam Liccardo believes a compromise is achievable and says, "We'd like to see a model which is more consistent with community Policing as it's understood: an officer walking the street engaging people in a friendly manner."

The Merc’s Editorial Board also weighs in and lets us know that part of the problem is a stubborn Police Chief Rob Davis and says the current proposal doesn’t address the problem – pointing to Austin, Texas as a good model and calling for smaller clubs. You can see the proposed charges to your favorite drinking hole on page 17 here.

Watch Dog will get back to this story, but the City of San Jose is considering a ban on plastic bags. That is mildly interesting. Plastic's lobbyist is wildly interesting. It seems Manny Diaz (finally) saw The Graduate:



The Merc's Internal Affairs has been prowling through local Legislator compliance and fundraising filings… Among the news:

• New Assemblymember Paul Fong has started to campaign for re-election – less than 3 months in office. (Is he scared this guy is going to run against him again?)
  
• Assemblymember Ira Ruskin is running to replace termed out Senator Joe Simitian. (Watch Dog San Mateo has some insights into who wants to replace Ruskin...)
  
• Assemblymember Joe Coto wants termed out Senator Elaine Alquist's seat. (Perhaps this guy can give Coto some (bad) advice...)

Alum Rock Board of Trustees is back in the news…They yanked the golden parachute away from resigned/fired Superintendent Norma Martinez, with an entertaining side effect – the former Super is now Super again. Board President Gustavo Gonzalez said the golden parachute was worth more than a half-million dollars, but facing pissed off teachers and community members the Board decided to reverse themselves. Is this the most disfunctional School District in the City, the State, or the World? Your call...

The Merc’s Editorial Board echoes support for the preservation of regional open space – adding that the smartest green initiative is open land. In a report from the Bay Area Open Space Council, Association of Bay Area Governments, and The Greenbelt Alliance, the recommendation is for parks to be available within 10 minutes of every home in the Valley of Heart’s Delight.

Calling it a “win-win-win” San Jose’s Department of Transportation head Jim Helmer, is excited San Jose is getting rid of the yellow streetlights and replacing them with LED lights that cut energy costs, are easily programmed, and won’t alter colors or confuse drivers. If the Mayor gets the Federal dollars he hopes for the project, it will be completed sooner – if not, look for 2022 as the date when the last of the lights are converted.

Bruce Davis, head of Arts Council Silicon Valley, is happy with the new President and says, "The President is a smart guy. He gets it. …he sees [the arts] as part of the whole economy and the whole cultural aspect of the United States' identity in the world. It's important to him." Although the proposed arts funding is less than one-tenth of 1% of the stimulus package, Lisa Mallette with San Jose’s City Lights Company says “There’s no way to go but up.” With an estimated 700% return for every dollar invested in the arts it sounds like everyone should be buying their own puppies playing poker painting.

On tap around the Valley this week…

• The Board of Supervisors will hear from Acting County Executive Gary Graves on the budget (looks grim) and year-end projections for the general fund (looks grimmer).
• In addition to having someone else pay for Police, the San Jose City Council will look at changing funding to the arts and letting parking scofflaws pay more for the privilege of breaking the rules.
• In Sunnyvale they’re talking about signs.
• Mountain View’s City Council reviews a youth program.
• The Santa Clara Water District will hear from staff about the water supply (looks grim) and what to do if the drought continues (looks grimmer).
• Alum Rock is back in session still talking lawyers – will they hire Trustee Esau Herrera’s old firm?
• The Los Altos School District will review proposed reductions and hear about a parent survey.
• Campbell is talking employee contracts.
• Cupertino’s School District will consider a parcel tax, good luck with that. During the Great Recession?

Apple’s Other Steve (Wozniak) will show off his twinkle toes in this season’s Dancing with the Stars.

Morning News Round-Up – 1.28.09: Are you shovel-ready?

County Supervisor Liz Kniss created a list of 32 “shovel-ready” projects that the County will use to ask for Federal dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Supe’s list comes to $174 million, a fraction of the $1.6 billion San Jose’s Mayor Chuck is asking for. Reed has requested for 50 projects. As the Merc. points out Reed’s request represents “a good chuck of the City’s total…” A little Freudian slip with your coffee? As the Metro pointed out, Chuck doesn't really play an active role in politics outside of San Jose -- which may or may not help his chances at Federal cash...

San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber CEO Pat Dando left San Jose’s City Hall pissed yesterday saying, “this is policy run amok,” after the City Council voted to review a 12 year old policy on outsourcing City jobs. Ever chipper, Councilmember Nancy Pyle said, “If the current policy isn’t working, we need to find out why.” Perhaps because every discussion at the City Council takes 4 hours?...

Symantec CEO John Thompson will/may be heading to D.C. as President Obama’s Secretary of Commerce, filling the last remaining seat in the Cabinet. Thompson had already announced his departure from Symantec to be replaced by Enrique Salem. (Watch Dog guesses that the talk of San Jose’s Congressman Mike Honda getting a new gig was Honda-hype...because he is still in Congress and no one is asking Honda to serve...)

The USGS released new maps detailing seismic safety along San Jose’s Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek, home to San Jose’s tech companies and new housing. For a bunch of scientists, the USGS provides some fun stuff for the non-geeks among us. For developers and homeowners, perhaps not so much fun as a warning on encroachment into the liquefaction zone. According to Mineta San Jose International Airport's David Vossbrink, the new construction meets current standards and the concrete runways are less vulnerable than a building. (This isn't Vossbrink's first time speaking for folks on shaky ground.)

Following a closed door meeting Tuesday, San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed and Bobby Lopez with the Police Officers Association (POA) emerged happy about a new contract. Lopez said, “We gave a little to get a lot… we felt it was important to increase salaries significantly.” Alex Gurza said it was cheaper to increase salaries by 5.5% than agree to the pension demands. Maybe the POA saw the billion dollar pension fund loss as a sign of the future. San Jose Inside/Metro’s Erin Sherbert has been following the deal the POA cut with Mayor Reed. POA’s Bobby Lopez is quoted as saying, “We didn’t want to be accused of being the greedy filthy cops that everyone thinks we are.” Was that the message Lopez was supposed to deliver?

Probably not. Watch Dog blames/commends Erin Sherbert for Lopez's off-message (but certainly not misquoted) quote. She has a way of making people say things they probably shouldn't. Remember when Shirakawa (jokingly) called himself a "corrupt lobbyist" in one of her stories?

San Jose Revealed has some fun coupling news of the Merc’s location within the liquefaction zone with their economic problems and shrinking size.

Cupertino’s City Council approved Shashi Corp’s request to build a high-end luxury hotel but not before arguing over the aesthetics of the proposed design. Shashi representatives were adamant about receiving approval on the revised design, approved by the Planning Commission who also argued the original didn’t appear to be “luxurious” enough. "If you're trying to put in a high-end hotel in Cupertino and it's going to be that big and massive, you might as well have something that makes people say,`Wow, that looks neat' rather than`Wow, that looks big,'" said Councilman Mark Santoro. Cupertino Watch Dogs, if you saw the plans please weigh in. This is not the first time folks in Cupertino have had controversy about a hotel and growth...

Sunnyvale’s Planning Commission will review development plans for housing for mostly low or extremely low-income seniors early February. The Commission issued concerns about density and a lack of open space. NIMBYs don't like less-wealthy people in their neighborhoods...expect a battle in Sunnyvale. Otto Lee is going to be pleased he missed this one...

Saratoga’s City Council will be hosting a community meeting to talk about the $4,700 use permit fee – if you’re interested the meeting is next week at City Hall. If you aren't...join the club.

Get your credit cards ready. The Boss is coming to town, in fact, he begins his world tour on April Fool’s day at the Shark Tank. Tickets on sale Monday. This should help the Mayor with some of those tax dollars...

Romeo and Juliet, a.k.a. James Palmerson and Roselyn Marshall, were found sleeping in grandpa’s car at a mall outside the Mile High City. Los Altos Sgt. John Korges says, “Thank god they’re safe. This was a happy ending.” (Happy ending Sgt.? They are teenagers...) Not too shabby for a 14 year old, over 1,000 miles, through the Sierra, the Wasatch, and into the Rockies. Rosylyn’s dad, Steven Marshall was surprised his mild daughter, “..would feel empowered enough to do something like this.”