According to attorney Terry Bowman, representing the San Jose police officer caught on video striking San Jose State math student Phuong Ho with a police baton, “Mr. Ho is responsible…” San Jose Councilmembers Madison Nguyen, Sam Liccardo and Ash Kalra stated they were “saddened the Vietnamese American community has recently experienced two incidents with the San Jose Police Department regarding possible use of excessive force.” The Merc’s Scott Herhold steps into the fray with his own analysis of Phuong Ho’s videotaped interview offering this “It’s hard to think he’s making this up… it is extraordinarily hard to make charges against cops stick before a jury.”
Following the death of Beverly Head when she got tangled up by a dog leash, San Jose takes on bikes and pooches. Somewhere, someone is hoping bikes and pooches become a leading story...
Santa Clara’s City Council tackles one hurdle standing in the way of bringing the 49ers to town. Up tonight, letting the team pick the builder of their (planned) Santa Clara Stadium…
The Merc’s Editorial Board wants Sunnyvale voters to know they’re not getting all the facts. The Merc takes a swipe at endorsed candidates Mayor Tony Spitaleri and Councilmember Chris Moylan for telling pieces of a story…
Love is in the air for the Mountain View Whisman School District. Superintendent Maurice Ghysels sheepishly admitted he’s been getting cozy with elementary school principal Carmen Mizell.
San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency released their bad news budget. After $75 million was taken by the State and facing decreased property tax revenues the Agency did some fancy (internal) footwork slashing budgets. Set your sights lower for the convention center expansion…
If you’re looking for your swine flu shot make sure you’re tops on the list. Public Health Officer Marty Fenstersheib had to shuffle after learning fewer (anti) swine-ish shots would be arriving. Kids and pregnant moms top the list… Keeping in mind, not all flues are swine-ish…
Speaking of budgets… San Jose Insider/San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio takes a stab at explaining the financial benefits of outsourcing city jobs and how San Jose’s budget works…
Also a San Jose Insider, Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo is eternally optimistic that San Jose’s 19 school districts can be organized into 4, DiSalvo wants to hear from you. Do you think 19 school boards, 19 superintendents, 19 sets of district staff, 19, well, you get the picture… willing to give up turf for the good of the children?
Protect San Jose’s numeric guru/Sunshine Task Force chair Ed Rast digs into the mind-numbing world of “item 3.5” and suggests the City Manager is reading Protect San Jose. Still no word about Sunshine…
Showing posts with label swine flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swine flu. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 10.1.09: Wet Goes to Court...
The other Club Wet shoe dropped when Club owners filed a federal lawsuit asking a Judge to block closure claiming San Jose’s regulations on nightclubs are "completely lacking in constitutionally required procedural safeguards." San Jose Police shrugged saying the Club had at least 49 chances to fix problems during the 5 months when customers were being stabbed or mauled in brawls. We wish Club Wet would let their lobbyists speak. Mr. DeRollo and Mr. Saggau were always so eloquent in Wet's defense.
Santa Clara District Attorney Dolores Carr is back in the news following (preliminary) reports that the DA’s office withheld at least 5 videotapes in child sexual assault cases. In addition to screwing up child predator convictions, Santa Clara County could be on the hook for expensive lawsuits from pissed off, imprisoned predators.
Speaking of DA Office screw ups... Protect San Jose’s Kathleen Flynn put her foot down declaring “enough is enough.” While Flynn never mentioned Vahid Hosseini it’s clear she’s pissed District Attorney Dolores Carr’s (un-ethical) handling of the case and tossing it to the Attorney General’s office gets more air time than the case itself.
Beverly Head was distressed enough about dogs racing (on leash) alongside their owners on trails that she commented to her husband about possible animal cruelty. Two days later, a leashed Siberian Husky tripped her during a walk causing her death. San Jose Parks spokesperson Mona Favorite-Hill said “there was no way to anticipate this.”
ACORN is cutting classes in San Jose following an East Coast conservative sting operation. In San Jose, ACORN is credited with raising the red flag on predatory lending practices in East San Jose where hundreds of homeowners face foreclosure. East Side Supervisor George Shirakawa, Jr., said “we probably should have listened a lot closer.”
(As an aside, Supervisor Shirakawa probably could apply that quote to Bob Nunez's former employers...)
The California High-Speed Rail Authority opened the doors to public comment after handing out the “alternative analysis” on moving people between San Francisco and San Jose. NIMBY neighbors in fancy Peninsula cities and towns will be happy to hear tunnels are under discussion. The Merc’s Editorial Board was also talking HSR, sending a message to the Fed’s in support of $4.5 billion for High-Speed Rail.
Disagreeing with the Merc's Editorial board... San Jose Insider Pete Campbell argues San Jose shouldn’t keep federal stimulus dollars and should instead send the $15 million targeted for street repair to impoverished Mississippi.
Mountain Views NASA/Ames Research Center is the place to land today as “a panel of Silicon Valley heavyweights” talks economic recovery in the South Bay – and using Silicon Valley recovery as a model for California. State Senator Elaine Alquist leads the charge with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Carl Guardino from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Chuck Weis and a host of “heavyweights.” Begging the question, the South Bay has recovered?
Los Altos retirement home Pilgrim Haven missed the added joys of a lawsuit when the North Los Altos Concerned Neighbors dropped plans “…to pursue litigation…”
Los Altos City Councilmembers approved a Retiree Health Savings Plan for Police Officers. Los Altos acts as trustee but is not financially responsible for investments and the “plan will incur no cost to the city” according to city human resources manager Patrick Alvarez.
Swine Flu stays in the news… Santa Clara County has declared a swine-ish emergency to open community vaccination clinics.
The Merc’s Scott Herhold wants to know why Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone is “so weird,” according to Stone he simply has a love for campaigning and the democratic process. Stone’s deputy, David Ginsborg was in the midst of collecting endorsements when Stone announced the desire to kick off his 70th birthday with a new term in office. Ginsborg dropped his plans.
Looking to get a little college experience without the pain of homework or tests? This is your chance, according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. San Jose State University kicks off Classes Without Quizzes.
Santa Clara District Attorney Dolores Carr is back in the news following (preliminary) reports that the DA’s office withheld at least 5 videotapes in child sexual assault cases. In addition to screwing up child predator convictions, Santa Clara County could be on the hook for expensive lawsuits from pissed off, imprisoned predators.
Speaking of DA Office screw ups... Protect San Jose’s Kathleen Flynn put her foot down declaring “enough is enough.” While Flynn never mentioned Vahid Hosseini it’s clear she’s pissed District Attorney Dolores Carr’s (un-ethical) handling of the case and tossing it to the Attorney General’s office gets more air time than the case itself.
Beverly Head was distressed enough about dogs racing (on leash) alongside their owners on trails that she commented to her husband about possible animal cruelty. Two days later, a leashed Siberian Husky tripped her during a walk causing her death. San Jose Parks spokesperson Mona Favorite-Hill said “there was no way to anticipate this.”
ACORN is cutting classes in San Jose following an East Coast conservative sting operation. In San Jose, ACORN is credited with raising the red flag on predatory lending practices in East San Jose where hundreds of homeowners face foreclosure. East Side Supervisor George Shirakawa, Jr., said “we probably should have listened a lot closer.”
(As an aside, Supervisor Shirakawa probably could apply that quote to Bob Nunez's former employers...)
The California High-Speed Rail Authority opened the doors to public comment after handing out the “alternative analysis” on moving people between San Francisco and San Jose. NIMBY neighbors in fancy Peninsula cities and towns will be happy to hear tunnels are under discussion. The Merc’s Editorial Board was also talking HSR, sending a message to the Fed’s in support of $4.5 billion for High-Speed Rail.
Disagreeing with the Merc's Editorial board... San Jose Insider Pete Campbell argues San Jose shouldn’t keep federal stimulus dollars and should instead send the $15 million targeted for street repair to impoverished Mississippi.
Mountain Views NASA/Ames Research Center is the place to land today as “a panel of Silicon Valley heavyweights” talks economic recovery in the South Bay – and using Silicon Valley recovery as a model for California. State Senator Elaine Alquist leads the charge with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Carl Guardino from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Chuck Weis and a host of “heavyweights.” Begging the question, the South Bay has recovered?
Los Altos retirement home Pilgrim Haven missed the added joys of a lawsuit when the North Los Altos Concerned Neighbors dropped plans “…to pursue litigation…”
Los Altos City Councilmembers approved a Retiree Health Savings Plan for Police Officers. Los Altos acts as trustee but is not financially responsible for investments and the “plan will incur no cost to the city” according to city human resources manager Patrick Alvarez.
Swine Flu stays in the news… Santa Clara County has declared a swine-ish emergency to open community vaccination clinics.
The Merc’s Scott Herhold wants to know why Santa Clara County Tax Assessor Larry Stone is “so weird,” according to Stone he simply has a love for campaigning and the democratic process. Stone’s deputy, David Ginsborg was in the midst of collecting endorsements when Stone announced the desire to kick off his 70th birthday with a new term in office. Ginsborg dropped his plans.
Looking to get a little college experience without the pain of homework or tests? This is your chance, according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. San Jose State University kicks off Classes Without Quizzes.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 9.28.09: Back in the news...
The Valley Transit Authority has gotten an earful about slow light rail from riders and Mr. Roadshow. They aim to do something about it but some of the Valley’s biggest transit supporters are less than excited about light rail 2.0. Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s Carl Guardino votes for the “less expensive” alternative of “bus rapid transit.”
Also interested in putting happy wheels on the road… San Jose gets federal stimulus dollars to repave 19 of their 2,300 road miles. According to San Jose Transportation deputy director Hans Larsen the $15 million drop in the bucket is appreciated but hardly covers San Jose’s $283 million backlog.
Local Deputy Dogs are pissed off over a county report saying they pay too much for e-booking bad guys. Federal law enforcement pays nothing for computerized booking while poor Los Altos Hills paid nearly $11,000 for one booking in 2007. The answer, of course, is sending law enforcement officers driving to county offices to file reports. Or, LAH arrests more people.
Rosemary Stasek was a catholic and a staunch supporter of women’s rights. “A society is really built up on how it treats women,” according to Stasek and a big part of the reason she landed in Afghanistan. The Merc’s Patty Fisher shares details on the remarkable Silicon Valley woman who left home for less green pastures.
The Merc’s Internal Affairs did a mighty-lot of sleuthing last week…
Homeless pooches are the beneficiaries of the Humane Society’s annual Walk N’ Wag this weekend while pampered pooches can hang at Pooch in Sunnyvale for only $100 a night according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro.
The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on Senator Dianne Feinstein to fight for the $4 million Congressman Mike Honda wants to clean up Mt Umunhum. Calling the sum a “pittance in the context of billions in military spending” the Merc hopes Feinstein will “make this project a bright light in an otherwise dark hour of investment in public facilities.”
San Jose Insider/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio argues against a “plastic bag bureaucracy” and suggests instead banishment of the single-use poopy diaper. Also Inside, Jack Van Zandt had a rockin’ good time with Joan Baez kicking off the Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival.
Protect San Jose’s Mary Klotzbach shares the wrenching story of her son’s death at the wheel of a drunk driver and the costs associated with drunk driving.
Normally a 49ers booster, Mission City Lantern sends props to the Vikings for their “marvelous” win. Really, James?
If watching your local elected officials is your thing, here’s the hap’s for this week…
Also interested in putting happy wheels on the road… San Jose gets federal stimulus dollars to repave 19 of their 2,300 road miles. According to San Jose Transportation deputy director Hans Larsen the $15 million drop in the bucket is appreciated but hardly covers San Jose’s $283 million backlog.
Local Deputy Dogs are pissed off over a county report saying they pay too much for e-booking bad guys. Federal law enforcement pays nothing for computerized booking while poor Los Altos Hills paid nearly $11,000 for one booking in 2007. The answer, of course, is sending law enforcement officers driving to county offices to file reports. Or, LAH arrests more people.
Rosemary Stasek was a catholic and a staunch supporter of women’s rights. “A society is really built up on how it treats women,” according to Stasek and a big part of the reason she landed in Afghanistan. The Merc’s Patty Fisher shares details on the remarkable Silicon Valley woman who left home for less green pastures.
The Merc’s Internal Affairs did a mighty-lot of sleuthing last week…
- The case of District Attorney Dolores Carr & spouse (ethical) screw-up ranked a letter from attorney/friend B. Robert Allard (apparently) to the prosecutor’s chief opponent asking to let bygones be bygones.
- Round 2 – the Government Attorney’s Association was asked to investigate a vote of no-confidence against their big dog, District Attorney Dolores Carr. The mystery is who asked...
- Sunnyvale, according to IA, needed “schooling in the California Public Records Act” before dishing on home loans to 6 Sunnyvalian employees including nearly $900,000 to City Manager Gary Luebbers.
- (former)Hewlett Packard Tech giant/senatorial wannabe Carly Fiorina takes a ribbing from the Merc’s Internal Affairs the Huffington Post as well as a host of bloggers for the “Worst Political Website Ever.”
Homeless pooches are the beneficiaries of the Humane Society’s annual Walk N’ Wag this weekend while pampered pooches can hang at Pooch in Sunnyvale for only $100 a night according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro.
The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on Senator Dianne Feinstein to fight for the $4 million Congressman Mike Honda wants to clean up Mt Umunhum. Calling the sum a “pittance in the context of billions in military spending” the Merc hopes Feinstein will “make this project a bright light in an otherwise dark hour of investment in public facilities.”
San Jose Insider/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio argues against a “plastic bag bureaucracy” and suggests instead banishment of the single-use poopy diaper. Also Inside, Jack Van Zandt had a rockin’ good time with Joan Baez kicking off the Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival.
Protect San Jose’s Mary Klotzbach shares the wrenching story of her son’s death at the wheel of a drunk driver and the costs associated with drunk driving.
Normally a 49ers booster, Mission City Lantern sends props to the Vikings for their “marvelous” win. Really, James?
If watching your local elected officials is your thing, here’s the hap’s for this week…
- San Jose’s Community and Economic Development Committee talks outsourcing, no, they’re not sending street paving to India.
- San Jose’s City Council reviews a contract for the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity (nearly a year after the fiasco that go this ball rolling), considers letting anyone buy low income housing and hopes to make it easier on city landmarks.
- The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and San Jose City Council meet together to talk flu pandemic and census. Apparently, none of the other Silicon Valley cities plan on having pandemics.
- The Mountain View-Whisman School District considers proposals on school size, boundaries, transportation, enrollment priorities and independent study. And, as if that weren’t enough fun, Trustees talk salaries.
Monday, August 24, 2009
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.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 7.8.09: A football field and a ben field...
And you thought the Swine Flu stories were over. Unfortunately, Silicon Valley had its first Swine Flu death. You may not have heard about it because of the 24/7 Jacko watch...
(Soon to be termed out) State Senator Elaine Alquist has a problem with public bids (for a 49ers stadium) and is angling to change State law. Alquist’s problem is with the requirement to pick the lowest bidder because the 49ers want to do the picking themselves. At least Alquist is focusing on the really important stuff in Sacramento...
As the head of the South Bay Labor Council, Cindy Chavez is wasting no time in shaking things up... a lot. Santa Clara County Prosecutor Ben Field, facing suspension for abuse of power, will join Chavez as her right hand leaving his $180,000 gig and Los Gatos digs behind.
Los Altos neighbors (NIMBYs) are really pissed at the thought of a bigger retirement home. Retirees and cranky neighbors will descend on City Hall this week in what promises to be an exciting meeting. An exciting meeting and Los Altos -- those two thing don't often go together.
Gilroy’s City Council ditched planning guidelines and ignored growth limits to approve a large hillside proposal – much to the joy of the South Valley Community Church. While agreeing the Council repeatedly makes such decisions, Councilmember Dion Bracco said it wouldn’t “…open the flood gates...”
The (volunteer) Utilities Advisory Committee in Palo Alto is growing as Palo Alto staff is shrinking. Mayor Peter Drekmeier called for the expansion to take advantage of resident expertise. (And may we suggest better oversight of the Utility...)
Santa Clara County’s Civil Grand Jury attack on local school officials made it to Mountain View. The Mountain View Voice calls attention to School District Trustee benefits, from $121,000 to Fremont Union Trustees and $0 to Loma Prieta’s.
Four developers are drooling over the thought of getting their hands on 77 acres at NASA Ames for a research park…
Morgan Hill aims to become the Silicon Valley electric vehicle retail site. San Jose’s Eco-Sparc (Sorry, not Tesla) showed off their electric cars in the Fourth of July parade and will open doors in the Downtown Mall this month.
Taking a pay cut and refusing raises was the least they could do, according to Gilroy’s City Council, to show solidarity with City employees taking paycuts. Largely symbolic, the part-timers will save the city $8,000 and keep personal benefits. (Perhaps they learned from San Jose's Kansen Chu...)
No surprises here: The South Bay ranks as the 6th most congested commute in the nation. The good (?) news, between the economy and fuel prices, congestion is at its lowest in 15 years.
Bizzare: Stanford physicist Suwen Wang took his family to Nebraska for the International Children’s Painting Competition (where his daughter won the North America division). While at the Competition, Wang and his wife were busted for child abuse. When Wang and his wife got out of jail, the kids were kept behind in foster care…
Yesterday, San Jose Inside got in on the news story about Ron Gonzales' job prospects. The weird part is that it seems Inside is getting into the news aggregation game, because they linked their "news" back to the Mercury News... then they did it again today with the story about Ben Field joining the South Bay Labor Council team.
(Soon to be termed out) State Senator Elaine Alquist has a problem with public bids (for a 49ers stadium) and is angling to change State law. Alquist’s problem is with the requirement to pick the lowest bidder because the 49ers want to do the picking themselves. At least Alquist is focusing on the really important stuff in Sacramento...
As the head of the South Bay Labor Council, Cindy Chavez is wasting no time in shaking things up... a lot. Santa Clara County Prosecutor Ben Field, facing suspension for abuse of power, will join Chavez as her right hand leaving his $180,000 gig and Los Gatos digs behind.
Los Altos neighbors (NIMBYs) are really pissed at the thought of a bigger retirement home. Retirees and cranky neighbors will descend on City Hall this week in what promises to be an exciting meeting. An exciting meeting and Los Altos -- those two thing don't often go together.
Gilroy’s City Council ditched planning guidelines and ignored growth limits to approve a large hillside proposal – much to the joy of the South Valley Community Church. While agreeing the Council repeatedly makes such decisions, Councilmember Dion Bracco said it wouldn’t “…open the flood gates...”
The (volunteer) Utilities Advisory Committee in Palo Alto is growing as Palo Alto staff is shrinking. Mayor Peter Drekmeier called for the expansion to take advantage of resident expertise. (And may we suggest better oversight of the Utility...)
Santa Clara County’s Civil Grand Jury attack on local school officials made it to Mountain View. The Mountain View Voice calls attention to School District Trustee benefits, from $121,000 to Fremont Union Trustees and $0 to Loma Prieta’s.
Four developers are drooling over the thought of getting their hands on 77 acres at NASA Ames for a research park…
Morgan Hill aims to become the Silicon Valley electric vehicle retail site. San Jose’s Eco-Sparc (Sorry, not Tesla) showed off their electric cars in the Fourth of July parade and will open doors in the Downtown Mall this month.
Taking a pay cut and refusing raises was the least they could do, according to Gilroy’s City Council, to show solidarity with City employees taking paycuts. Largely symbolic, the part-timers will save the city $8,000 and keep personal benefits. (Perhaps they learned from San Jose's Kansen Chu...)
No surprises here: The South Bay ranks as the 6th most congested commute in the nation. The good (?) news, between the economy and fuel prices, congestion is at its lowest in 15 years.
Bizzare: Stanford physicist Suwen Wang took his family to Nebraska for the International Children’s Painting Competition (where his daughter won the North America division). While at the Competition, Wang and his wife were busted for child abuse. When Wang and his wife got out of jail, the kids were kept behind in foster care…
Yesterday, San Jose Inside got in on the news story about Ron Gonzales' job prospects. The weird part is that it seems Inside is getting into the news aggregation game, because they linked their "news" back to the Mercury News... then they did it again today with the story about Ben Field joining the South Bay Labor Council team.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Morning News Round-Up – 5.22.09: There's a new Sheriff in town?
Swine Flu alert, swine flu alert! Santa Clara County health officials reported 14 more people have the porcine peril. Before you panic, health officials want you to remember that, while new and scary, the swine flu is less dangerous than the annual fall flu.
The first San Jose union to heed Mayor Chuck Reed’s call for a wage freeze was the Association of Building, Mechanical and Electrical Inspectors. Building Inspectors union president Tom Brim said it was easy “if you care about the people you work with, you’ve got to step up.” Reed, hoping the other unions care, announced he’d spare libraries, community centers, fire stations and park rangers in the face of a $78 million shortfall and the State’s threats .
San Jose Fire Captain/pension trustee/(former) union VP Mark Skeen will be joining the ever growing ranks of the pink slip proud. Skeen is pissed, city manager Debra Figone isn’t talking and San Jose’s controversy ridden pension fund stays in the news.
San Jose Inside’s Fly reports San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant has a hankering to be Sheriff. Constant isn’t ready to make up his mind, saying “I have about two years before I have to make a decision,” on whether to run for Sheriff, Mayor, assembly or dogcatcher in 2010. Assuming Constant decides to stick with his council gig (and wins) he’ll have plenty of time to campaign as a (part-time) councilmember.
Sometimes you do your homework, sometimes you cross your fingers and pray. City attorney Michael Martello told Mountain View’s city council missing paperwork prevented them from approving developer Wayne Aozasa’s senior housing project. Councilmember Jac Siegel said $700,000 was hardly affordable senior housing. Aozasa left wondering if there’s more to it than prayer…
Also in Mountain View, Councilmembers will use federal stimulus dollars to give energy saving tools to local homeowners.
Morgan Hill teachers settled a year long battle, Federation president Donna Ruebusch expressed relief with the union contract ratification. In the end, no teacher furloughs but less teacher training.
Morgan Hill teachers can use the breathing room, now the contract is settled it’s back to the books. Morgan Hill schools showed slight improvement in the annual (dreaded) Academic Performance Index tests. The Morgan Hill Charter School dropped the most, signaling big problems to fix. School Board president Don Moody said “there’s a lot of work ahead.”
Signaling a lack of faith in promises from the Mexican American Service Agency, Gilroy Unified School District Trustees took the first step towards closing Gilroy’s only charter school, El Portal. Trustees pointed to embezzlement, possible illegalities and a lack of a balanced budget as reasons to close MACSA’s Gilroy school. Board president, Javier Aguirre, held up the school's charter saying “MACSA has not met those goals laid out in the charter."
Gilroy Councilmember Perry Woodward accused Gilroy’s labor lawyer Charles Sakai of misleading the city council on the complexities of binding arbitration, he wants a do-over. Woodward will be asking his council colleagues to put binding arbitration on the ballot and let the voters decide…
San Jose Insider Stett Holbrook let his passion for beer shine with two Inside brew pub tips. Rumors are flowing that the Tied House could be leaving downtown San Jose, hot on the heels of the rumor Holbrook follows with confirmation – Tied House out, The Hermitage is in. Yup, former Tied House brewmaster Peter Licht is opening a Belgian brewery in San Jose’s SoFA district.
Speaking of altered minds....
Silicon Valley has a new home grown, family business and it’s all about the green, money and dope not energy savings... Commander Bob Nishiyama, with the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, said Josey Shun, Phat Nguyen and Randy Gip had a pot farm in Ukiah with HQ in San Jose and Santa Clara. The rumor Mayor’s Chuck Reed and Patricia Mahan will be cheering this small business is untrue.
The Environmental Protection Agency agency has given the initial go-ahead on the Navy’s plans for Moffett’s toxic Hangar One. The EPA asked the Navy to work up a “comprehensive work plan” including prevention of toxic spread. Lenny Siegel, member of the Moffett Field Restoration Advisory board, said there’s agreement on skeletal cover-up, and “no one wants to pay for it.”
Proving it's not all about knocking heads, by day he’s a tough San Jose police officer, by night he (sometimes) grooves the brass funk with Tower of Power or Journey. Robert Payne dreams of the day when he can ditch the gun for a full time trumpet, Mic Gillette, a Tower original, said of Payne, “he delivers, man.”
The first San Jose union to heed Mayor Chuck Reed’s call for a wage freeze was the Association of Building, Mechanical and Electrical Inspectors. Building Inspectors union president Tom Brim said it was easy “if you care about the people you work with, you’ve got to step up.” Reed, hoping the other unions care, announced he’d spare libraries, community centers, fire stations and park rangers in the face of a $78 million shortfall and the State’s threats .
San Jose Fire Captain/pension trustee/(former) union VP Mark Skeen will be joining the ever growing ranks of the pink slip proud. Skeen is pissed, city manager Debra Figone isn’t talking and San Jose’s controversy ridden pension fund stays in the news.
San Jose Inside’s Fly reports San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant has a hankering to be Sheriff. Constant isn’t ready to make up his mind, saying “I have about two years before I have to make a decision,” on whether to run for Sheriff, Mayor, assembly or dogcatcher in 2010. Assuming Constant decides to stick with his council gig (and wins) he’ll have plenty of time to campaign as a (part-time) councilmember.
Sometimes you do your homework, sometimes you cross your fingers and pray. City attorney Michael Martello told Mountain View’s city council missing paperwork prevented them from approving developer Wayne Aozasa’s senior housing project. Councilmember Jac Siegel said $700,000 was hardly affordable senior housing. Aozasa left wondering if there’s more to it than prayer…
Also in Mountain View, Councilmembers will use federal stimulus dollars to give energy saving tools to local homeowners.
Morgan Hill teachers settled a year long battle, Federation president Donna Ruebusch expressed relief with the union contract ratification. In the end, no teacher furloughs but less teacher training.
Morgan Hill teachers can use the breathing room, now the contract is settled it’s back to the books. Morgan Hill schools showed slight improvement in the annual (dreaded) Academic Performance Index tests. The Morgan Hill Charter School dropped the most, signaling big problems to fix. School Board president Don Moody said “there’s a lot of work ahead.”
Signaling a lack of faith in promises from the Mexican American Service Agency, Gilroy Unified School District Trustees took the first step towards closing Gilroy’s only charter school, El Portal. Trustees pointed to embezzlement, possible illegalities and a lack of a balanced budget as reasons to close MACSA’s Gilroy school. Board president, Javier Aguirre, held up the school's charter saying “MACSA has not met those goals laid out in the charter."
Gilroy Councilmember Perry Woodward accused Gilroy’s labor lawyer Charles Sakai of misleading the city council on the complexities of binding arbitration, he wants a do-over. Woodward will be asking his council colleagues to put binding arbitration on the ballot and let the voters decide…
San Jose Insider Stett Holbrook let his passion for beer shine with two Inside brew pub tips. Rumors are flowing that the Tied House could be leaving downtown San Jose, hot on the heels of the rumor Holbrook follows with confirmation – Tied House out, The Hermitage is in. Yup, former Tied House brewmaster Peter Licht is opening a Belgian brewery in San Jose’s SoFA district.
Speaking of altered minds....
Silicon Valley has a new home grown, family business and it’s all about the green, money and dope not energy savings... Commander Bob Nishiyama, with the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, said Josey Shun, Phat Nguyen and Randy Gip had a pot farm in Ukiah with HQ in San Jose and Santa Clara. The rumor Mayor’s Chuck Reed and Patricia Mahan will be cheering this small business is untrue.
The Environmental Protection Agency agency has given the initial go-ahead on the Navy’s plans for Moffett’s toxic Hangar One. The EPA asked the Navy to work up a “comprehensive work plan” including prevention of toxic spread. Lenny Siegel, member of the Moffett Field Restoration Advisory board, said there’s agreement on skeletal cover-up, and “no one wants to pay for it.”
Proving it's not all about knocking heads, by day he’s a tough San Jose police officer, by night he (sometimes) grooves the brass funk with Tower of Power or Journey. Robert Payne dreams of the day when he can ditch the gun for a full time trumpet, Mic Gillette, a Tower original, said of Payne, “he delivers, man.”
Monday, May 11, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 5.11.09: A 'Hypocritical Grandstanding'-Free Zone...
Swine Flu mania persists as County officials review the results of this test to their pandemic plan. Outcome? Things could be better. County health officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib bought a new gizmo to test your fluish samples but as of Friday there were still 800 untested samples. The “pandemic” never turned into a hospital filler but folks were scared.
Valley Transit Authority Board Chair Dolly Sandoval recommended her fellow Board members ditch their $200/month stipend. It won’t cover the $79 million gap but Sandoval hopes it will send “...a message that we are willing to step up...” This brings up the obvious question: VTA Board members get a stipend?
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed has declared a solution to keeping libraries open so the unemployed have computer access. City employees give up raises for the next year. According to Reed he, the City Manager, and all senior staff have given up pay raises. Of course, when you make almost $300,000 a year… This brings up the obvious question: Why are folks due pay-raises anyway? Hasn't the budget been a mess for years?
A’s/Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff will be asked to foot the bill for the new San Jose A’s baseball stadium. Tuesday the City Council will discuss details for negotiations and community outreach. Reminding neighbors to be part of the conversation, former neighborhood association president Harvey Darnell said stopping the ballpark won’t mean “...you’ll get nothing. You’ll still get a lot of something...”
The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on San Jose’s Mayor and City Council to repair the growing rift with the Drunk Task Force. The Merc also calls on the Consortium brought in to displace the Task Force to reach out to the communities that are most affected by this City/Community rift.
The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s political arm, COMPAC, wasted no time filing a lawsuit against the City of San Jose. They’re pissed off about a $5,000 fine after a judge agreed with them there are no limits to free speech. (We hear Revealed furiously typing away now...)
Will the Independent Police Auditor with the shortest reign in history run for termed out Councilmember Judy Chirco’s seat? The Merc’s Internal Affairs wants to know. Chris Constantin is being coy but candidate Jim Cogan says Constantin isn’t a threat. (Watch Dog sort of said the same thing about Cogan a while back... much to Cogan's displeasure...)
Thanks to a Watch Dog tipster we learned… San Jose’s Assemblymember Joe Coto got press for working with the Greenlining Institute and the Florida Minority Community Reinvestment Coalition to get $30 million set aside as support for Hispanic run non-profits. (Hopefully not this Hispanic run non-profit...)
Internal Affairs also dishes Councilmember Nora Campos has her sights set on Sacramento, not the Mayor's seat...yet. Campos’ recent missteps over the too public former Mayor/lobbyist complaint, Independent Police Auditor, and tossing her Task Force baby under a bus may have helped make the decision.
Which brings us to the Merc’s Scott Herhold's column about Councilmember Campos. He takes time to dis San Jose Councilmember (and new Mom) Nora Campos on Mothers Day. Herhold doesn’t restrict himself to Campos and calls out Campos' staffers Ryan Ford and Rolando Bonilla for getting the boss noticed through “hypocritical grandstanding.”
San Jose Police shot and killed a young man in East San Jose Sunday morning as they responded to a domestic disturbance and he answered the door wielding a knife.
Gilroy Police busted three gang members for stabbing a 20 year old man during a Saturday afternoon gang fight. A fourth assailant is being sought, if you’ve got info call investigator Geoff Guerin of the Gilroy Police Department at 408-846-0650.
For all you Silicon Valley City Hall Watch Dogs, here’s where to get your fix this week:
Valley Transit Authority Board Chair Dolly Sandoval recommended her fellow Board members ditch their $200/month stipend. It won’t cover the $79 million gap but Sandoval hopes it will send “...a message that we are willing to step up...” This brings up the obvious question: VTA Board members get a stipend?
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed has declared a solution to keeping libraries open so the unemployed have computer access. City employees give up raises for the next year. According to Reed he, the City Manager, and all senior staff have given up pay raises. Of course, when you make almost $300,000 a year… This brings up the obvious question: Why are folks due pay-raises anyway? Hasn't the budget been a mess for years?
A’s/Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff will be asked to foot the bill for the new San Jose A’s baseball stadium. Tuesday the City Council will discuss details for negotiations and community outreach. Reminding neighbors to be part of the conversation, former neighborhood association president Harvey Darnell said stopping the ballpark won’t mean “...you’ll get nothing. You’ll still get a lot of something...”
The Merc’s Editorial Board calls on San Jose’s Mayor and City Council to repair the growing rift with the Drunk Task Force. The Merc also calls on the Consortium brought in to displace the Task Force to reach out to the communities that are most affected by this City/Community rift.
The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s political arm, COMPAC, wasted no time filing a lawsuit against the City of San Jose. They’re pissed off about a $5,000 fine after a judge agreed with them there are no limits to free speech. (We hear Revealed furiously typing away now...)
Will the Independent Police Auditor with the shortest reign in history run for termed out Councilmember Judy Chirco’s seat? The Merc’s Internal Affairs wants to know. Chris Constantin is being coy but candidate Jim Cogan says Constantin isn’t a threat. (Watch Dog sort of said the same thing about Cogan a while back... much to Cogan's displeasure...)
Thanks to a Watch Dog tipster we learned… San Jose’s Assemblymember Joe Coto got press for working with the Greenlining Institute and the Florida Minority Community Reinvestment Coalition to get $30 million set aside as support for Hispanic run non-profits. (Hopefully not this Hispanic run non-profit...)
Internal Affairs also dishes Councilmember Nora Campos has her sights set on Sacramento, not the Mayor's seat...yet. Campos’ recent missteps over the too public former Mayor/lobbyist complaint, Independent Police Auditor, and tossing her Task Force baby under a bus may have helped make the decision.
Which brings us to the Merc’s Scott Herhold's column about Councilmember Campos. He takes time to dis San Jose Councilmember (and new Mom) Nora Campos on Mothers Day. Herhold doesn’t restrict himself to Campos and calls out Campos' staffers Ryan Ford and Rolando Bonilla for getting the boss noticed through “hypocritical grandstanding.”
San Jose Police shot and killed a young man in East San Jose Sunday morning as they responded to a domestic disturbance and he answered the door wielding a knife.
Gilroy Police busted three gang members for stabbing a 20 year old man during a Saturday afternoon gang fight. A fourth assailant is being sought, if you’ve got info call investigator Geoff Guerin of the Gilroy Police Department at 408-846-0650.
For all you Silicon Valley City Hall Watch Dogs, here’s where to get your fix this week:
- The San Jose City Council Chambers will be the site of baseball negotiation principles and how to talk to the community. (Oh, and that pesky budget problem is on tap as well.)
- San Jose’s Elections Commission will consider charging you for the privilege of complaining, campaign contribution limits, and anonymous filings...
- The Mountain View City Council talks about the Day Worker Center of Mountain View (the bigot’s of D.C. will be there as well)...
- The Santa Clara City Council talks dollars (or lack thereof)...
- In Sunnyvale, there’s a plan hatching to create City-generated email spam letting you know about public meetings. (Please include us...)
- The Alum Rock Union School District considers small schools and how much to pay the interim Superintendent. (How about with savings from not having to pay the last one?)
- The Cupertino Union School District studies revised budgets. (Revised down, we guess...)
- Los Gatos Union School District talks union contracts. (Have fun...)
- The Mountain View-Los Altos High School District will consider laying off one teacher, and bringing back adult education...
- Federal stimulus dollars helping San Jose’s homeless.
- It’ll cost you more to recycle those old cans.
- Garbage, garbage and more garbage.
- Crime at local gambling joints is on the rise, hookers down, child abuse up.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 5.6.09: Shading sunshine in San Jose...
Yawn, Watch Dog hopes this is the end of the Swine Flu updates. Yesterday was the last day of the Swine Flu vacation, today schools are open and expecting your kids at their desks. Santa Clara County Health Officer Marty Fenstersheib made the bold decision shortly after the Centers for Disease Control backed off rigid closing requirements. “This novel virus looks exactly like the seasonal flu...” except for the school closures and mass-hysteria... (or Mask Hysteria.)
On to the fun stuff -- yesterday's San Jose City Council meeting...
There’s a new gig up for grabs, again. The San Jose City Council agreed to reopen the hiring process for the Independent Police Auditor and keep the original applicants in the mix. Yep, that’s right, Chris Constantin has a second shot at being the guy to review his brother's (and his brother's brothers-in-blue) work. But this isn't the most interesting part of the City Council meeting yesterday... this is:
Mayor Chuck Reed was a little testy, trying hard to get colleagues to tell all of the closed door session discussion when the chose Constantin, who apparently wasn't Mayor Reed's first choice. Remember, Councilmember Nora Campos was spinning the tale that she didn't know about Constantin's police-relations when she voted to make him the new IPA. The Mayor (apparently) knows that Campos is not telling the truth -- and so do some Councilmembers. The Mayor tried, unsuccessfully, to get the Council to release the notes from the Closed Session meeting where Constantin was approved. But the majority on the City Council said, unbelievably, that they would like to decide in private whether to keep the private conversation private. (That sentence makes sense, read it again...) So much for sunshine...
San Jose Revealed weighs in on the new/old IPA hunt (Reed screwed up) and the Earthquakes land deal (the City lost money). Revealed also shares opinions on the Mayor’s biennial Ethics Review Memo.
San Jose Inside’s Fly dishes the news that members of the Elections Commission are hinting that Councilmember Nora Campos was the source of the anonymous complaint against Tom McEnery. Campos’ Chief of Staff Ryan Ford heard the hints and suggested the Elections Commission go ahead, try to find out saying, “we had nothing to do with that.” City Clerk Lee Price says the Commission doesn’t have the authority to investigate. Perhaps evidence would point to the (blo)sphere of influence between Campos and San Jose Revealed and the complaint...
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! Is expected to be heard in San Jose. Tuesday the City Council unanimously approved sale of land to Earthquakes/A’s owner Lew Wolff to build a soccer stadium, a hotel, and some retail shops. Soccer Silicon Valley president Don Gagliardi expressed his inner soccer joy saying “...this is the culmination of five years of effort...”
Home value tracking site Zillow.com provided the news that the plunging housing market has slowed, a little. Wet blanket Santa Clara Assessor Larry Stone offered his thoughts that the home value losses were greater than the $57 billion estimated by Zillow.com. “I was surprised it was so low, there has been a serious erosion of equity,” said party pooper Stone.
Vahid Hosseini was a respected shopkeeper in a tough neighborhood with occasional gang violence. The Willow Market was the place where neighbors could cash their paychecks and get groceries. Police Chief Rob Davis announced Tuesday Alejandro Mendoza has been arrested for last years murder of Hosseini. Chief Davis said “the investigation is still ongoing – literally – as we speak,” and asked anyone with information call 408-277-5283.
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Liz Kniss is expecting unprecedented federal support and says without it “our financial boat would barely be afloat.” The President (Kniss) is referring to federal stimulus dollars coming from D.C. to provide support for some of the County’s mental health, alcohol/drug abuse programs, and those gentle Nightingales who poked a needle in your Swine Fluish arm. Not helped by the federal bucks will be seniors, the disabled, and unemployed families – all of whom can expect continued budget cuts. (While Kniss is making her case in the newspaper, Supervisors in San Mateo County were actually testifying on Capitol Hill...)
Lest we forget, yesterday was an Election Day in some parts of the County. Voters in the Moreland and Cupertino Union School Districts agreed to help schools and passed their parcel tax measures, in spite of the gloomy economy.
It was a geeks paradise where San Jose’s Harker Academy eighth-grader Sierra Lincoln proved herself the geekiest of all. Lincoln took three awards in all and won top awards for programming and robot skills at the international VEX Robotics championship competition in Omaha, Nebraska. Geek on, sister.
Saratoga wants more of those fed dollars and is fighting for more than the $851,580 street paving dollars guaranteed. Saratoga is hoping to move City offices completely off the electric grid and is banking on federal green bucks to help make that happen.
Monte Sereno’s City Council had the unenviable chore of voting itself a salary during the worst economic disaster in decades. Councilmember Marshall Anstandig vows to return the salary or donate it to charity. Monte Serenan Lon Allen wants the Council to delay the vote a month in order to mail a postcard to everyone in town letting them know about the $300/month proposal. Estimated cost of mailing postcards: $3,600.
Morgan Hill’s Chamber of Commerce decided to move the popular Friday Night Music Series out of the street and into the amphitheatre – against the wishes of downtown merchants who see revenue disappearing into the amphitheatre along with the music. As of press time it was not known how many Chamber members voted for the move.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District meets to vote on a proposal to raise South County water rates. Great Oaks attorney Tim Guster called the rate raising process “flawed” and plans to attend the Wednesday night meeting to say so.
On to the fun stuff -- yesterday's San Jose City Council meeting...
There’s a new gig up for grabs, again. The San Jose City Council agreed to reopen the hiring process for the Independent Police Auditor and keep the original applicants in the mix. Yep, that’s right, Chris Constantin has a second shot at being the guy to review his brother's (and his brother's brothers-in-blue) work. But this isn't the most interesting part of the City Council meeting yesterday... this is:
Mayor Chuck Reed was a little testy, trying hard to get colleagues to tell all of the closed door session discussion when the chose Constantin, who apparently wasn't Mayor Reed's first choice. Remember, Councilmember Nora Campos was spinning the tale that she didn't know about Constantin's police-relations when she voted to make him the new IPA. The Mayor (apparently) knows that Campos is not telling the truth -- and so do some Councilmembers. The Mayor tried, unsuccessfully, to get the Council to release the notes from the Closed Session meeting where Constantin was approved. But the majority on the City Council said, unbelievably, that they would like to decide in private whether to keep the private conversation private. (That sentence makes sense, read it again...) So much for sunshine...
San Jose Revealed weighs in on the new/old IPA hunt (Reed screwed up) and the Earthquakes land deal (the City lost money). Revealed also shares opinions on the Mayor’s biennial Ethics Review Memo.
San Jose Inside’s Fly dishes the news that members of the Elections Commission are hinting that Councilmember Nora Campos was the source of the anonymous complaint against Tom McEnery. Campos’ Chief of Staff Ryan Ford heard the hints and suggested the Elections Commission go ahead, try to find out saying, “we had nothing to do with that.” City Clerk Lee Price says the Commission doesn’t have the authority to investigate. Perhaps evidence would point to the (blo)sphere of influence between Campos and San Jose Revealed and the complaint...
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! Is expected to be heard in San Jose. Tuesday the City Council unanimously approved sale of land to Earthquakes/A’s owner Lew Wolff to build a soccer stadium, a hotel, and some retail shops. Soccer Silicon Valley president Don Gagliardi expressed his inner soccer joy saying “...this is the culmination of five years of effort...”
Home value tracking site Zillow.com provided the news that the plunging housing market has slowed, a little. Wet blanket Santa Clara Assessor Larry Stone offered his thoughts that the home value losses were greater than the $57 billion estimated by Zillow.com. “I was surprised it was so low, there has been a serious erosion of equity,” said party pooper Stone.
Vahid Hosseini was a respected shopkeeper in a tough neighborhood with occasional gang violence. The Willow Market was the place where neighbors could cash their paychecks and get groceries. Police Chief Rob Davis announced Tuesday Alejandro Mendoza has been arrested for last years murder of Hosseini. Chief Davis said “the investigation is still ongoing – literally – as we speak,” and asked anyone with information call 408-277-5283.
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Liz Kniss is expecting unprecedented federal support and says without it “our financial boat would barely be afloat.” The President (Kniss) is referring to federal stimulus dollars coming from D.C. to provide support for some of the County’s mental health, alcohol/drug abuse programs, and those gentle Nightingales who poked a needle in your Swine Fluish arm. Not helped by the federal bucks will be seniors, the disabled, and unemployed families – all of whom can expect continued budget cuts. (While Kniss is making her case in the newspaper, Supervisors in San Mateo County were actually testifying on Capitol Hill...)
Lest we forget, yesterday was an Election Day in some parts of the County. Voters in the Moreland and Cupertino Union School Districts agreed to help schools and passed their parcel tax measures, in spite of the gloomy economy.
It was a geeks paradise where San Jose’s Harker Academy eighth-grader Sierra Lincoln proved herself the geekiest of all. Lincoln took three awards in all and won top awards for programming and robot skills at the international VEX Robotics championship competition in Omaha, Nebraska. Geek on, sister.
Saratoga wants more of those fed dollars and is fighting for more than the $851,580 street paving dollars guaranteed. Saratoga is hoping to move City offices completely off the electric grid and is banking on federal green bucks to help make that happen.
Monte Sereno’s City Council had the unenviable chore of voting itself a salary during the worst economic disaster in decades. Councilmember Marshall Anstandig vows to return the salary or donate it to charity. Monte Serenan Lon Allen wants the Council to delay the vote a month in order to mail a postcard to everyone in town letting them know about the $300/month proposal. Estimated cost of mailing postcards: $3,600.
Morgan Hill’s Chamber of Commerce decided to move the popular Friday Night Music Series out of the street and into the amphitheatre – against the wishes of downtown merchants who see revenue disappearing into the amphitheatre along with the music. As of press time it was not known how many Chamber members voted for the move.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District meets to vote on a proposal to raise South County water rates. Great Oaks attorney Tim Guster called the rate raising process “flawed” and plans to attend the Wednesday night meeting to say so.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 5.4.09: Falcons with an inferiority complex?
Editors at the Merc must be incredibly bored... Apparently, it’s important to call out Stephen Colbert for not noticing San Jose’s City Hall peregrine falcon papa shares his moniker. You know a City has a massive inferiority complex when the paper of record begs for national airtime. Perhaps he sees the falcons' names for what they were -- a cheap way to get San Jose some exposure.
Perhaps the Merc Editors (or reporters) should have been following the internal politics at City Hall a little closer than the falcons... Fortunately for all of us, the Metro was on the case. The tit for tat on the 18th floor between Mayor Reed and Councilmember Campos got a bit (a lot) more heated on Friday. The Mayor asked Campos to apologize for making a stink about not knowing that the IPA candidate's brother was a sworn officer when she probably/actually did. Reed is calling Campos a liar. This qualifies as a ratcheting up of the war of words between the Mayor and Campos. But it also shows that the Mayor took the bait. Watch Dog believes that this is what Campos has wanted for a long, long time...
Swine flu mania kept attendance (and Drunk Arrests) low at San Jose’s annual Cinco de Mayo. American G.I. Forum member/Alum Rock School District Trustee Dolores Marquez still declared the day a success saying, “we’re so grateful the weather held up and the people showed up.”
While we are Spine flu -- San Jose State’s Spartan Daily declares the first casualty of the swine flu to be common sense. Sometimes the student newspaper hits the nail on the head...
And where healthcare and the tanking economy meet, we have some problems. Valley Medical Center’s CEO, Kim Roberts, worries her emergency room is “the safety net of the safety net.” Their safety net is reaching its breaking point, even before swine flu mania VMC saw a 10% increase in uninsured patients.
Silicon Valley nonprofits, don’t bother seeking help from San Jose Councilmembers Pierluigi Oliverio or Pete Constant. Constant and Oliverio have suggested most of the City’s nonprofit support be suspended. Constant wants the tobacco money to pay for City services saying that while it’s nice to give money to nonprofits he wants to take care of “family first.” Agencies like Meals on Wheels, the Blind Center, and Big Brother Big Sister don’t qualify as family.
BART fans will be cheering in Milpitas Friday. The Valley Transit Authority will be joined by Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s CEO Carl Guardino and San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo to break ground on phase one of BART to San Jose. (Ironically, Councilmember Constant also said no to BART...)
San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio’s Chief of Staff Denelle Fedor, has joined the boss in contributing local news. Fedor questions the wisdom, and financial benefits, of ending San Jose’s mounted police patrol. Fedor has a horse in the race, she founded Friends of the San Jose Mounted Unit and complains City Manager Debra Figone never asked her to help cover the cost of keeping the horses on the street.
San Jose Revealed dishes on San Jose’s upcoming government doings… Revealed hints at a preference for plastic bags? Say it ain’t so. Wells Fargo gets to keep San Jose’s business, no more tossing toxic dental waste down the drain, San Jose Earthquakes want a stadium, and you will be able to buy food at the airport.
And, finally "Government Watch" is back at the Merc -- but isn't that interesting this week:
The Merc’s Internal Affairs took note of San Jose’s Community and Economic Development committee meeting and complaints from the nonprofit community and San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Chief Pat Dando that a late memo from Councilmember Ash Kalra seemed quite familiar to a few in the audience.
Perhaps the Merc Editors (or reporters) should have been following the internal politics at City Hall a little closer than the falcons... Fortunately for all of us, the Metro was on the case. The tit for tat on the 18th floor between Mayor Reed and Councilmember Campos got a bit (a lot) more heated on Friday. The Mayor asked Campos to apologize for making a stink about not knowing that the IPA candidate's brother was a sworn officer when she probably/actually did. Reed is calling Campos a liar. This qualifies as a ratcheting up of the war of words between the Mayor and Campos. But it also shows that the Mayor took the bait. Watch Dog believes that this is what Campos has wanted for a long, long time...
Swine flu mania kept attendance (and Drunk Arrests) low at San Jose’s annual Cinco de Mayo. American G.I. Forum member/Alum Rock School District Trustee Dolores Marquez still declared the day a success saying, “we’re so grateful the weather held up and the people showed up.”
While we are Spine flu -- San Jose State’s Spartan Daily declares the first casualty of the swine flu to be common sense. Sometimes the student newspaper hits the nail on the head...
And where healthcare and the tanking economy meet, we have some problems. Valley Medical Center’s CEO, Kim Roberts, worries her emergency room is “the safety net of the safety net.” Their safety net is reaching its breaking point, even before swine flu mania VMC saw a 10% increase in uninsured patients.
Silicon Valley nonprofits, don’t bother seeking help from San Jose Councilmembers Pierluigi Oliverio or Pete Constant. Constant and Oliverio have suggested most of the City’s nonprofit support be suspended. Constant wants the tobacco money to pay for City services saying that while it’s nice to give money to nonprofits he wants to take care of “family first.” Agencies like Meals on Wheels, the Blind Center, and Big Brother Big Sister don’t qualify as family.
BART fans will be cheering in Milpitas Friday. The Valley Transit Authority will be joined by Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s CEO Carl Guardino and San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo to break ground on phase one of BART to San Jose. (Ironically, Councilmember Constant also said no to BART...)
San Jose Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio’s Chief of Staff Denelle Fedor, has joined the boss in contributing local news. Fedor questions the wisdom, and financial benefits, of ending San Jose’s mounted police patrol. Fedor has a horse in the race, she founded Friends of the San Jose Mounted Unit and complains City Manager Debra Figone never asked her to help cover the cost of keeping the horses on the street.
San Jose Revealed dishes on San Jose’s upcoming government doings… Revealed hints at a preference for plastic bags? Say it ain’t so. Wells Fargo gets to keep San Jose’s business, no more tossing toxic dental waste down the drain, San Jose Earthquakes want a stadium, and you will be able to buy food at the airport.
And, finally "Government Watch" is back at the Merc -- but isn't that interesting this week:
- San Jose’s City Council thinks about a new process for hiring the Independent Police Auditor. Maybe this time not having a family member on the force will make the top ten. Also on tap, the agreement with the consortium replacing/augmenting the community Drunk Task Force.
- The Santa Clara County Office of Education talks about charter school intents (intent? Like educating students?) and how do deal with a potential surge in charter schools.
The Merc’s Internal Affairs took note of San Jose’s Community and Economic Development committee meeting and complaints from the nonprofit community and San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Chief Pat Dando that a late memo from Councilmember Ash Kalra seemed quite familiar to a few in the audience.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 5.1.09: "Size does matter..." according to Mayor Reed
Trying to catch up with Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio's use of inappropriate, sexual references in public, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed declared, “Size does matter” discussing San Jose's population (finally) hitting 1 million residents. (Rumors that Mayor Reed blushed and giggled after uttering the double entendre are unconfirmed...)Swine Flu update: Four more Silicon Valley schools shut their doors for flu days. While Watch Dog is ready to ditch the Swine Flu mania it is nice to see all the kids wandering aimlessly, in public, with school doors shuttered.
San Jose City Manager Debra Figone put the budget axe to the grindstone. The result, no one is going to be happy. San Jose, trying to close a $77.5 million deficit, is losing nearly 150 people, closing libraries half the week, ditching the mounted police, and closing parks on slow days.
Fire Marshal David Schoonover isn’t a fan of San Jose restaurants’ tents and won’t be a welcome guest for garlic fries and Amber Ale. Visits from Schoonover to the Poor House Bistro, Gordon Biersch, and Smoke Tiki Lounge landed restaurant owners in hot water for their tents. Downtown Councilmember Sam Liccardo is hopeful the businesses and the Fire Marshal will work it out without costing businesses big bucks.
Former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery hoisted a celebratory beer and danced a jig in the tent-free O’Flaherty’s when San Jose Elections Commissioners dismissed the anonymous complaint. Elections Commission Chairman Fred de Funiak was pissed saying the “commission was used,” to go after McEnery. Big guns Supervisor Dave Cortese and Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino showed up to tell the Commission not to accept anonymous complaints. Way to use the Rolodex, Tom. Yesterday, San Jose Revealed posted a scathing challenge to the Merc’s Editors to actually read the report...
Speaking of Dave Cortese... Supervisor Cortese hopes to prevent little kids from landing in the pokey and Silicon Valley from having the youngest child ever locked up.
Silicon Valley hookers will be happy to hear the news, Dean Rish from San Ramon was busted for robbing women in the world’s oldest profession. Public safety officials working with the District Attorney’s office used the internet to find hookers with information about the East Bay robber before busting him.
Alum Rock Union School District Trustees have renegotiated outgoing Superintendent Norma Martinez’ severance package. Gone (finally) are the half million in cash and monthly benefits over $1,500. Martinez’ revised deal of less than $200,000 and half the benefits will allow the District to “move forward” according to Board President Gustavo Gonzalez.
Earlier in the week we wrote about a development in Palo Alto that got shot down by the City's Planning and Transportation Committee... well, the developers had this to say: "This project has been in the works for five years, and this is the kind of dysfunctional process that drives business and tax revenue out of Palo Alto..." How do you really feel?
A grumpy Saratoga Planning Commission approved plans to expand the Inn at Saratoga but let owner Kwan Lee know they were pissed about his refusal to roll in improved handicap access. Commissioner Linda Rodgers said she was disappointed while Commissioner Mary-Lynne Bernald symbolically voted ‘no.’
Sunnyvale’s City Council is declaring Sunnyvale will be a safe place for bicycles and pedestrians at the same time and street parking will have to be sacrificed for the bicycle when needed. That’s putting the green vision where it counts…
Also insisting on going green… Saratoga Mayor Chuck Page is visiting each of his restaurants to ask they ditch the Styrofoam voluntarily. We understand that the American Chemistry Council is trying to track down Mayor Page...
Saratoga’s City Council has been working with Civica Software since November to update the website and settled on the new design this week. Mayor Chuck Page asked the background be white for easy reading while Councilmember Howard Miller said simply “it might be good to find out how to simplify this design to have less words and less clutter,” Miller continued with "one of the problems with websites for infrequent users ... is that they can get lost if there's too much going on." Apparently, this conversation about web-design is what constitutes hard-hitting news coverage in Saratoga...
The Merc’s Sal Pizarro can be found tonight ambling through San Jose’s SoFA district celebrating First Friday with music, art, and a little shopping. Pizarro also dishes former Mayor Ron Gonzales pouring a little red at a Silicon Valley Capital Club fundraiser and former Councilmember/Supervisorial wannabe Forrest Williams has declared himself green from his name to his business cards.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 4.30.09: Candidate Campos Gets a Challenger...
Hot off the presses, Roy Avila KICU’s Community Affairs Representative, has tossed his hat in the ring to replace outgoing Assemblymember Joe Coto. Avila will be hosting a campaign kickoff meeting on Cinco de Mayo at the very un-Cinco de Mayo 180 Restaurant and Fondue Lounge in Los Gatos. Avila's first political mistake is having his kickoff event in Los Gatos, outside the Assembly District -- especially at a place like the 180 Lounge... this will be one party not to miss... No word yet from Councilmember Nora Campos... but perhaps she'll swivel her sites from bashing Mayor Reed to bashing Avila.
Unless you live under a rock, you know Swine Flu mania has hit the world. Santa Clara County’s Dr. Sara Cody declared a local state of emergency but is not ready to cancel the large May Day immigration march or shut down all schools. Health officials point out that while 150 people have died in Mexico and 1 in the US, the plain old flu kills 36,000 Americans annually. Santa Clara County now has 4 confirmed cases. Morgan Hill Councilmember Perry Woodward took off for Cabo San Lucas with his family before the CDC issued travel precautions, he reports Cabo remains a party scene. (An elected official admitting he is part of a "party scene" sounds pretty dumb...)
San Jose Insider Pete Campbell demands all San Jose’s Councilmembers dish on the closed door proceedings surrounding Chris Constantin’s brotherly love. Campbell receives support from another Insider, Silicon Valley De-Bug’s Raj Jayadev who posts a letter sent to City Attorney Rick Doyle asking for public records related to the Independent Police Auditor fiasco. Mayor Reed has to be happy the Swine Flu arrived.
The Merc’s Sal Pizzaro dishes that neither the economy nor the Swine Flu are stopping this weekend’s big festivals. The GI Forum’s Letetia Rodriquez said it’s the Forum’s duty to step up and host the 27th annual Cinco de Mayo festival at Discovery Meadow. This time without controversial City funds. Over at San Jose History Park the annual Greek Spring Festival Elliniki Protomayia will have you sipping ouzo and kicking up your heels.
San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed couldn’t have been happy to read the biotech firm AnaSpec was ditching San Jose to set up new, bigger, digs in Fremont. Anita Hong, AnaSpec’s President, called the new digs “functionally and aesthetically light-years beyond our San Jose facility.”
Santa Clara is the first in the County to say no to big box retail (yes, Wal-Mart, that means you). Vice Mayor Jamie Matthews called it a “moral imperative” and Rev. John Sullivan said “superstores make a race for the bottom.” The Building and Construction Trades Council’s Neil Struthers supported the ban saying big box stores were “predatory” retailers. Mayor Patricia Mahan and Councilmember Will Kennedy opposed the measure worried the ban would affect the City’s ability to draw new retailers.
Steve Jobs will have to wait to demolish the historic 14-bedroom home in Woodside. The Woodside Town Council (or COWncil) delayed their action on Tuesday night. The meeting was running late, and folks in Woodside need to get to bed early. Mark your calendars for May 13th...
The Palo Alto Planning Commission said no to a $50 million project on El Camino last night, even after the developers promised to save JJ&F Market.
The Merc’s Editorial Board declares the anonymous complaint filed against former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery an abuse of power and a vendetta against a friend of current Mayor Chuck Reed. The Merc calls for changes to rules designed to protect whistle blowers declaring anyone rich enough to hire attorney James McManis free of fear of retaliation from McEnery. This will send Revealed to the moon...
The Merc and Los Altos Town Crier send recommendations for the May 19 special election... a lot of yeses and one no...
Dude… that pot was $10 million down the tubes. Santa Clara County Sheriff’s were destroying a “marijuana garden” when they stumbled across San Jose resident Othoniel Rivas Buelna. Buelna sits in the pokey on $1 million bail.
The Los Altos City Council held a last minute special meeting to approve a revised plan for housing. The revisions helped make sure Los Altos complied with State law, always a good thing. Though Councilmembers were wary about increasing height limits, City Manager James Walgreen clarified they only had to “consider” height limits – not actually do anything about them.
Campbell’s Planning Commission put off a “contentious” decision for a 24 hour service station mini-mart, again. Commissioner Bob Alderete urged colleagues to make sure they had all the details when the issue returns for a third time.
If you’ve been wondering what the heck road was being built over 280, let the wonderment cease. Mr. Roadshow shares the news that the iconic white flyway is for pedestrians and cyclists with the hope that as many as 265,000 will wave at the carbon spewing vehicles below annually. John Brazil, head of San Jose’s pedestrian program calls it a landmark and Cupertino’s public works director, Ralph Qualls, calls it spectacular.
It could have been your worst nightmare, school lunch ladies from 4 different school districts gathered to cook – and assigned a “mystery” ingredient to make the dish more intriguing. This was no nightmare, this was the Iron Chef cookoff for the women who put food on your kids plates – and not a man to be seen behind the stove. Franklin-McKinley’s Elvia Ho and her team took home the grand prize for a little N’Olean’s gumbo.
Santa Clara High is struggling with mixed feelings. School nurse Eileen Bowden saved the life of Coach John Rahbar after he collapsed during practice, then she collapsed and died before arriving at the Valley Medical Center.
NASA Ames has offered over 400 employees cash to ditch their jobs by the end of June. Can Watch Dog get in line...
San Jose Revealed landed safely in Los Angeles to take a potshot at Republican Steve Mullen who took the reins of the local GOP last year. Revealed pokes fun of Mullen’s credentials, a failed attempt at school board and volunteer treasurer for the failed assembly race of Virginia Chang Kiraly before pointing out his party counterpart received an award from the Dalai Lama.
Unless you live under a rock, you know Swine Flu mania has hit the world. Santa Clara County’s Dr. Sara Cody declared a local state of emergency but is not ready to cancel the large May Day immigration march or shut down all schools. Health officials point out that while 150 people have died in Mexico and 1 in the US, the plain old flu kills 36,000 Americans annually. Santa Clara County now has 4 confirmed cases. Morgan Hill Councilmember Perry Woodward took off for Cabo San Lucas with his family before the CDC issued travel precautions, he reports Cabo remains a party scene. (An elected official admitting he is part of a "party scene" sounds pretty dumb...)
San Jose Insider Pete Campbell demands all San Jose’s Councilmembers dish on the closed door proceedings surrounding Chris Constantin’s brotherly love. Campbell receives support from another Insider, Silicon Valley De-Bug’s Raj Jayadev who posts a letter sent to City Attorney Rick Doyle asking for public records related to the Independent Police Auditor fiasco. Mayor Reed has to be happy the Swine Flu arrived.
The Merc’s Sal Pizzaro dishes that neither the economy nor the Swine Flu are stopping this weekend’s big festivals. The GI Forum’s Letetia Rodriquez said it’s the Forum’s duty to step up and host the 27th annual Cinco de Mayo festival at Discovery Meadow. This time without controversial City funds. Over at San Jose History Park the annual Greek Spring Festival Elliniki Protomayia will have you sipping ouzo and kicking up your heels.
San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed couldn’t have been happy to read the biotech firm AnaSpec was ditching San Jose to set up new, bigger, digs in Fremont. Anita Hong, AnaSpec’s President, called the new digs “functionally and aesthetically light-years beyond our San Jose facility.”
Santa Clara is the first in the County to say no to big box retail (yes, Wal-Mart, that means you). Vice Mayor Jamie Matthews called it a “moral imperative” and Rev. John Sullivan said “superstores make a race for the bottom.” The Building and Construction Trades Council’s Neil Struthers supported the ban saying big box stores were “predatory” retailers. Mayor Patricia Mahan and Councilmember Will Kennedy opposed the measure worried the ban would affect the City’s ability to draw new retailers.
Steve Jobs will have to wait to demolish the historic 14-bedroom home in Woodside. The Woodside Town Council (or COWncil) delayed their action on Tuesday night. The meeting was running late, and folks in Woodside need to get to bed early. Mark your calendars for May 13th...
The Palo Alto Planning Commission said no to a $50 million project on El Camino last night, even after the developers promised to save JJ&F Market.
The Merc’s Editorial Board declares the anonymous complaint filed against former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery an abuse of power and a vendetta against a friend of current Mayor Chuck Reed. The Merc calls for changes to rules designed to protect whistle blowers declaring anyone rich enough to hire attorney James McManis free of fear of retaliation from McEnery. This will send Revealed to the moon...
The Merc and Los Altos Town Crier send recommendations for the May 19 special election... a lot of yeses and one no...
Dude… that pot was $10 million down the tubes. Santa Clara County Sheriff’s were destroying a “marijuana garden” when they stumbled across San Jose resident Othoniel Rivas Buelna. Buelna sits in the pokey on $1 million bail.
The Los Altos City Council held a last minute special meeting to approve a revised plan for housing. The revisions helped make sure Los Altos complied with State law, always a good thing. Though Councilmembers were wary about increasing height limits, City Manager James Walgreen clarified they only had to “consider” height limits – not actually do anything about them.
Campbell’s Planning Commission put off a “contentious” decision for a 24 hour service station mini-mart, again. Commissioner Bob Alderete urged colleagues to make sure they had all the details when the issue returns for a third time.
If you’ve been wondering what the heck road was being built over 280, let the wonderment cease. Mr. Roadshow shares the news that the iconic white flyway is for pedestrians and cyclists with the hope that as many as 265,000 will wave at the carbon spewing vehicles below annually. John Brazil, head of San Jose’s pedestrian program calls it a landmark and Cupertino’s public works director, Ralph Qualls, calls it spectacular.
It could have been your worst nightmare, school lunch ladies from 4 different school districts gathered to cook – and assigned a “mystery” ingredient to make the dish more intriguing. This was no nightmare, this was the Iron Chef cookoff for the women who put food on your kids plates – and not a man to be seen behind the stove. Franklin-McKinley’s Elvia Ho and her team took home the grand prize for a little N’Olean’s gumbo.
Santa Clara High is struggling with mixed feelings. School nurse Eileen Bowden saved the life of Coach John Rahbar after he collapsed during practice, then she collapsed and died before arriving at the Valley Medical Center.
NASA Ames has offered over 400 employees cash to ditch their jobs by the end of June. Can Watch Dog get in line...
San Jose Revealed landed safely in Los Angeles to take a potshot at Republican Steve Mullen who took the reins of the local GOP last year. Revealed pokes fun of Mullen’s credentials, a failed attempt at school board and volunteer treasurer for the failed assembly race of Virginia Chang Kiraly before pointing out his party counterpart received an award from the Dalai Lama.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 4.28.09: Swine flu everywhere (in the news...)
Swine flu is everywhere...at least everywhere in the news, the actual flu isn't everywhere...Silicon Valley is (mostly) ready for Swine Flu, however, except maybe Kaiser. Doug North stepped off the plane from Cabo San Lucas with all the symptoms and still had to lie to get Kaiser let him see a doctor. No kidding, if you flew with the Norths on Frontier last week hang on for his results. Joy Alexiou, the County’s health spokesperson said there was an increase in worried patients but so far no confirmed cases. More details are on Twitter...
The Merc’s Editorial Board, participants on San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s campaign promised Sunshine Reform Task Force, questions whether Mayor Sunshine is holding up his end of the bargain. (Add this to the IPA fiasco/mea culpa and the loss on the Internet filters issue, and this is Mayor Reed's worst month in office, by a long shot...just ask the Merc's Scott Herhold what the Mayor's problem is...)
San Jose’s East Side Union High School District got press coverage... but maybe not how they wanted. "Rumors, poor communication and a lack of leadership...” is how the Merc characterizes East Side's feeble and unrealistic sports fundraising efforts. Trustee Eddie Garcia is hopeful you’ll show up at a meeting tonight, with your checkbook. (In case you forgot...)
Morgan Hill Superintendent Alan Nishino is pulling down $206,000 while Gilroy’s Superintendent, Dr. Deborah Flores made $175,000. Worse, Morgan Hill teachers' salaries are at the bottom with Gilroy and Morgan Hill Principals take home more than Palo Alto’s. Morgan Hill Trustee Bart Fisher is hopeful Nishino will pass up his guaranteed 3% raise. Weird, since (presumably) the Board of Trustees actually gave the Superintendent the raise in the first place...
Everyone is weighing in on the Propositions in the May 19th Special Election. The Merc’s Editorial Board says ignore party loyalists, vote yes on 1A. Morgan Hill Unified School District Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini says the State shortfall will hit $14 billion if both 1A and 1B don’t pass. Which will probably impact some salaries...
Mountain View officials just found out that they’re “jobs rich” and house poor. The Association of Bay Area Governments is asking Mountain View accept its “fair share” of housing around the Bay by building more than 2,000 new units in the coming years. Councilmember Mike Kasperzak says the City goofed and missed previous opportunities to build housing.
The best and brightest from the Mexican American Community Service Agency couldn’t dazzle Gilroy Unified School District trustees and instead went the B.S. route. MACSA leaders dumped 200 pages of class schedules and handwritten calendars in front of Trustees hoping they wouldn’t notice a lack of details about the growing financial (embezzlement) problems. Seems latest figures on MACSA’s embezzling ways at El Portal Leadership Academy is now $800,000. Trustee Denise Apuzzo demands MACSA show remorse. MACSA’s Board President, Louis Rocha said the screw-ups were made by a few administrators and steps were taken.
Now that Judge Kevin Murphy declared that the Santa Clara Valley Water District's fees are unconstitutional, Great Oaks Water Co wants $5 million, and then some. Water District Chair Sig “Methusala” Sanchez plans to appeal. One possible fallout from the Judge's decision, farm failure on a grand scale. (Buried in the story is the news that Supervisor Don Gage plans to run for a seat on the Water District Board next year.)
San Jose Revealed wants former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery to give up his losing ways – with the Sharks – and turn over the reins to another former Mayor. The Sharks are playing golf today, in case you missed it...
San Jose’s Police Officers Association has set up a trust fund for the family of Enrique Flores, stabbed to death at Almaden Expressway and Foxworthy this month. There are leads and Sgt. Ronnie Lopez says it doesn’t look like a gang-related murder. For further information, contact the Association at (408) 298-1133.
The City Manager in Palo Alto sees big cuts on the horizon...with a $10 million budget gap, what else are you going to do...Perhaps raise taxes on businesses? They could foam-containers... but instead are just going to be ban them...
The Merc’s Editorial Board, participants on San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed’s campaign promised Sunshine Reform Task Force, questions whether Mayor Sunshine is holding up his end of the bargain. (Add this to the IPA fiasco/mea culpa and the loss on the Internet filters issue, and this is Mayor Reed's worst month in office, by a long shot...just ask the Merc's Scott Herhold what the Mayor's problem is...)
San Jose’s East Side Union High School District got press coverage... but maybe not how they wanted. "Rumors, poor communication and a lack of leadership...” is how the Merc characterizes East Side's feeble and unrealistic sports fundraising efforts. Trustee Eddie Garcia is hopeful you’ll show up at a meeting tonight, with your checkbook. (In case you forgot...)
Morgan Hill Superintendent Alan Nishino is pulling down $206,000 while Gilroy’s Superintendent, Dr. Deborah Flores made $175,000. Worse, Morgan Hill teachers' salaries are at the bottom with Gilroy and Morgan Hill Principals take home more than Palo Alto’s. Morgan Hill Trustee Bart Fisher is hopeful Nishino will pass up his guaranteed 3% raise. Weird, since (presumably) the Board of Trustees actually gave the Superintendent the raise in the first place...
Everyone is weighing in on the Propositions in the May 19th Special Election. The Merc’s Editorial Board says ignore party loyalists, vote yes on 1A. Morgan Hill Unified School District Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini says the State shortfall will hit $14 billion if both 1A and 1B don’t pass. Which will probably impact some salaries...
Mountain View officials just found out that they’re “jobs rich” and house poor. The Association of Bay Area Governments is asking Mountain View accept its “fair share” of housing around the Bay by building more than 2,000 new units in the coming years. Councilmember Mike Kasperzak says the City goofed and missed previous opportunities to build housing.
The best and brightest from the Mexican American Community Service Agency couldn’t dazzle Gilroy Unified School District trustees and instead went the B.S. route. MACSA leaders dumped 200 pages of class schedules and handwritten calendars in front of Trustees hoping they wouldn’t notice a lack of details about the growing financial (embezzlement) problems. Seems latest figures on MACSA’s embezzling ways at El Portal Leadership Academy is now $800,000. Trustee Denise Apuzzo demands MACSA show remorse. MACSA’s Board President, Louis Rocha said the screw-ups were made by a few administrators and steps were taken.
Now that Judge Kevin Murphy declared that the Santa Clara Valley Water District's fees are unconstitutional, Great Oaks Water Co wants $5 million, and then some. Water District Chair Sig “Methusala” Sanchez plans to appeal. One possible fallout from the Judge's decision, farm failure on a grand scale. (Buried in the story is the news that Supervisor Don Gage plans to run for a seat on the Water District Board next year.)
San Jose Revealed wants former Mayor/lobbyist Tom McEnery to give up his losing ways – with the Sharks – and turn over the reins to another former Mayor. The Sharks are playing golf today, in case you missed it...
San Jose’s Police Officers Association has set up a trust fund for the family of Enrique Flores, stabbed to death at Almaden Expressway and Foxworthy this month. There are leads and Sgt. Ronnie Lopez says it doesn’t look like a gang-related murder. For further information, contact the Association at (408) 298-1133.
The City Manager in Palo Alto sees big cuts on the horizon...with a $10 million budget gap, what else are you going to do...Perhaps raise taxes on businesses? They could foam-containers... but instead are just going to be ban them...
Monday, April 27, 2009
Morning News Round-Up -- 4.27.09
In case you missed it Friday, San Jose’s Mayor Chuck Reed ‘fessed up to f’ing up the Independent Police Auditor selection. Reed isn’t going down alone, he’s taking Councilmembers Nora Campos and Pete Constant with him saying they reviewed all the applications as well as agreeing with him on the final four and final two. Constant and colleague Pierluigi Oliverio back the Mayor saying the Chris Constantin brother-on-the-force-conflict-of-interest wasn’t a big deal. Another closed meeting this week will let the fighting colleagues battle it out in private…
Surprise, it’s not easy finding $2 million for sports when schools are failing… East Side Union High School District Trustees aren’t raising the money they need and (apparently) aren’t telling District athletes the sports programs are in trouble. Board President Patricia Martinez-Roach is staying optimistic in the face of failed fundraising attempts through prayer. Associate Superintendent Alan Garafalo said raising the needed money is like “…changing water into wine.”
The Merc’s Internal Affairs is playing follow the bouncing legislators, again. If John Garamendi wins Ellen Tauscher's Congressional seat the Governator would appoint Garamendi's replacement. Senator Abel Maldonado is getting misty eyed at the thought of ditching the cranky Democrats to become the next Lt. Governor. IA also investigates the drama of the $720,000 pizza maker purchase by San Jose Unified School District. The pizza maker was a hot topic for ABC 7’s Dan Noyes, but IA’s own investigation is not as exciting...
Michael Kaiser, with the National Cyber Security Alliance, chastises local school districts for not preparing students for online safety. Kaiser says sending kids online without preparation is like leaving a playground full of rambunctious youngsters unsupervised and hoping for the best.
Santa Clara Police Chief Stephen Lodge says he doesn’t have enough police on call should the 49ers find their way South. Lisa Lang, spokesperson for the 49ers, promises taxpayers won’t be on the hook for the new officers. Mission City Lantern calls it a touchdown.
Santa Clara County health officials are bracing for a Swine Flu breakout. The first (possible) case is in the Sacramento area and with plenty of Silicon Valley travelers returning home from Mexico it’s only a matter of time before the world wide panic arrives. Before you feel feverish, keep those hands washed and cover your mouth when you sneeze.
Going solar in Silicon Valley can be pricey, depending on where you live. Monte Sereno and Los Altos Hills want solar so badly there are no city fees. Solar panels in Cupertino can set the well meaning homeowner back a hefty chunk of change. Kurt Newick, the Sierra Club’s local watch dog, snooped to find the most solar friendly cities.
Last call at the Los Gatos Brewing Company took on a whole new meaning when the fireplace didn’t keep the fire contained. No one was hurt, more importantly, the beer survived.
Former Mayor/lobbyist/Sharks ticket holder Tom McEnery called it an exoneration of the “tissue of lies and half truths” filed against him while Anonymous’ legal beagle James McManis said the independent evaluators report was confirmation of McEnery’s guilt. San Jose’s Elections Commission reviews the report, and 20 recommended violations, this week. San Jose Revealed slaps Anonymous for silly mistakes and slams the investigation team for violations of the “smell test.”
San Jose had its eighth murder Sunday when a young man was found stabbed to death outside a 24 Hour Fitness.
The Toon Goons were busted by San Jose’s finest for leaving their toon tags all over downtown. Downtown Association director Scott Knies said the teenager taggers were hitting the downtown hard, pissing off anyone who had skin in downtown buildings. Knies promised the Downtown Association promised to be “more relentless than the taggers.”
Surprise, it’s not easy finding $2 million for sports when schools are failing… East Side Union High School District Trustees aren’t raising the money they need and (apparently) aren’t telling District athletes the sports programs are in trouble. Board President Patricia Martinez-Roach is staying optimistic in the face of failed fundraising attempts through prayer. Associate Superintendent Alan Garafalo said raising the needed money is like “…changing water into wine.”
The Merc’s Internal Affairs is playing follow the bouncing legislators, again. If John Garamendi wins Ellen Tauscher's Congressional seat the Governator would appoint Garamendi's replacement. Senator Abel Maldonado is getting misty eyed at the thought of ditching the cranky Democrats to become the next Lt. Governor. IA also investigates the drama of the $720,000 pizza maker purchase by San Jose Unified School District. The pizza maker was a hot topic for ABC 7’s Dan Noyes, but IA’s own investigation is not as exciting...
Michael Kaiser, with the National Cyber Security Alliance, chastises local school districts for not preparing students for online safety. Kaiser says sending kids online without preparation is like leaving a playground full of rambunctious youngsters unsupervised and hoping for the best.
Santa Clara Police Chief Stephen Lodge says he doesn’t have enough police on call should the 49ers find their way South. Lisa Lang, spokesperson for the 49ers, promises taxpayers won’t be on the hook for the new officers. Mission City Lantern calls it a touchdown.
Santa Clara County health officials are bracing for a Swine Flu breakout. The first (possible) case is in the Sacramento area and with plenty of Silicon Valley travelers returning home from Mexico it’s only a matter of time before the world wide panic arrives. Before you feel feverish, keep those hands washed and cover your mouth when you sneeze.
Going solar in Silicon Valley can be pricey, depending on where you live. Monte Sereno and Los Altos Hills want solar so badly there are no city fees. Solar panels in Cupertino can set the well meaning homeowner back a hefty chunk of change. Kurt Newick, the Sierra Club’s local watch dog, snooped to find the most solar friendly cities.
Last call at the Los Gatos Brewing Company took on a whole new meaning when the fireplace didn’t keep the fire contained. No one was hurt, more importantly, the beer survived.
Former Mayor/lobbyist/Sharks ticket holder Tom McEnery called it an exoneration of the “tissue of lies and half truths” filed against him while Anonymous’ legal beagle James McManis said the independent evaluators report was confirmation of McEnery’s guilt. San Jose’s Elections Commission reviews the report, and 20 recommended violations, this week. San Jose Revealed slaps Anonymous for silly mistakes and slams the investigation team for violations of the “smell test.”
San Jose had its eighth murder Sunday when a young man was found stabbed to death outside a 24 Hour Fitness.
The Toon Goons were busted by San Jose’s finest for leaving their toon tags all over downtown. Downtown Association director Scott Knies said the teenager taggers were hitting the downtown hard, pissing off anyone who had skin in downtown buildings. Knies promised the Downtown Association promised to be “more relentless than the taggers.”
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