Morning News Round-Up -- 1.27.10: Joe Friday Wednesday...

We never came back for a post yesterday, apologies to everyone... we'll include some stories from yesterday, just in case you missed them...

The story about the toddler who lost his life because of a tree that crashed into the parked truck in San Jose took an interesting turn into yesterday's paper. Of course this is a huge tragedy, but yesterday's story shed light onto the City of San Jose's budget cuts over the past few years that has meant trees in front of houses (but in the public right-of-way) are now homeowners' responsibility... expect neighbors to show up at the next round of budget discussions talking about trees. Trees, police officers (and pensions), firefighers (and pensions), public employees (and pensions), library hours, parks, community centers -- the budget discussions will not be particularly fun this year.

And...

There is already a response from the City about trees in today's paper in the form of an "aggressive public awareness campaign"...

And...

The Merc Editorial Board chimes in and says San Jose's tree law make sense... which is perhaps the last popular position of the day.

Sheriff Laurie Smith is in a much better re-election position than the other County law enforcement officer (DA Dolores Carr) this year, but that doesn't mean she is getting a free re-election pass... there are three folks lining up to challenge Smith. The Merc singles out one candidate, retired SJPD Captain Richard Calderon, as a candidate that "...has issues of his own..." (Rich Robinson, clip that sentence from the story for your "op research" file...)

And if it is Wednesday (or any day, for that matter), Dolores Carr will be in the paper. Today she is there defending her boycott of a local judge. Using a double negative (sort of) she wrote to the Merc via email and said that boycotting a judge is "not unheard of"... Maybe, there are some legal experts in the story that have a different opinion. Until tomorrow's story about Dolores Carr...

San Jose's Club Wet is back open... but the Police Chief's ability to close down clubs in the future is about to be curbed by the City Council. Stemming from a lawsuit Club Wet brought against the City last year, the City (and club owners) have reworked the ordinance, started talking to each other, and apparently the clubs aren't the brawl-magnets they once were... for now. Anyway, club owners and the City (but perhaps not the Police Chief) seem happier than they were late last fall. That doesn't mean Watch Dog will be rolling into Club Wet anytime soon, but maybe...

Mayor Reed and Councilmembers Sam Liccardo and Rose Herrera proposed a job-spurring package this week to be heard in a few weeks that would encourage businesses to stay and grow or relocate to San Jose. Watch Dog doesn't know if it will help, but it probably can't hurt... Liccardo wrote about it this week on San Jose Inside.

Santa Clara County is the new Belmont? If a measure gets traction to ban smoking in apartment buildings, the County will join Belmont... it is one of the ideas Board of Supervisors President Ken Yeager is proposing. He also gave his State of the County yesterday and it was nice to see all of you there... it was perhaps the most political crowd ever at a State of the County with all the candidates and glad-handing. Is the County Building sexy again?

The 49er's vote in June in Santa Clara is even closer than it was. The Santa Clara Council voted on a procedural measure to move it forward. But the quote in this Merc story is a gem, from Councilmember Jamie Matthews: "Ultimately, the people will decide, and they are smarter than all of us..." ...Especially smarter than the Santa Clara City Council... just kidding. Perhaps the "no on stadium" folks can use that quote against Matthews in a Gavin-esque manner...

Protect San Jose gives us the (Just the) "Facts About Cannabis Use"... which was not written by Sgt. Joe Friday (or Chief Davis), but it might as well have been... Damn hippies!

Monday's gun-point gas station robbery in north Gilroy was caught on tape... Don't expect this video to appear on one of those late-night "America's Scariest Videos" anytime soon. The whole thing went down in a pretty orderly and mellow way actually. They were probably stealing money for pot...

A (YouTube) brawl at Club Wet... who could have predicted it?

Guess what? Club Wet is in the news again. This time with a YouTube video of a 4 minute brawl and (another) seemingly weak crackdown by the Police Department.

Here is the key line from our blog-friends at San Jose Inside about the "punishment" the Club received:

Wet was served late Friday. Club officials say the timing gave them no opportunity to challenge the action in court. The club will be open and be able to serve alcohol and play music, just won’t have live entertainment.

Here is the video. A Watch Dog warning, you'll be pretty disturbed by the video.



Where to even begin with this story...

The History: It is important to remember the history of Club Wet... There have been multiple stabbings there over the past six months. As a result, they got slapped with a penalty (?) in July whereby they had cut their capacity by 15 people (that's not a typo) and close 15 minutes early (also not a typo). Based on the video, we don't think those cautionary measures worked.

The Lobbyist/Apologist: Let's remember what Wet's lobbyist said the last time (but certainly not the first time) there was a stabbing at Club Wet:

"...It was one individual bad apple that spoiled the barrel..." and
"...We don't think this was preventable...

From the video is looks like it may have been a barrel-full of bad apples and not all of those bad apples were necessarily patrons... Was this brawl preventable Mr. DeRollo?

The Incredibly Weak Punishment/Accountability: It is amazing enough that Club Wet is allowed to stay open after all this history and the newest brawl. Not only that, but Club Wet is sill being allowed to sell alcohol and play music. Where is the accountability to the owners, promoters, and security in Club Wet? How long before someone is killed at Club Wet?

The Most Shameless: "...Club officials say the timing gave them no opportunity to challenge the action in court..." Really? Club officials want to challenge the City's action in court? Really? Instead of taking the City to court, they should kiss Chief Davis on the lips for the kid gloves with which they are being treated...

We are absolutely positive that this story is not over. If history is any guide, Club Wet will continue to operate, relatively free from punishment, until someone dies in the Club. It is sad, but seemingly true.

Obviously the Club has influence at City Hall and that seems to be the only thing that matters these days. In the meantime, stay safe club-goers...

Club Wet - 15 Patrons/15 Minutes = No Stabbings?

We learned earlier this week that (thankfully?) Club Wet will be opened this weekend after a couple of days off. They were forced to take a short hiatus because of a series of stabbings that occurred at Club Wet over the past couple of months.

Club Wet's lobbyist (Dustin DeRollo) should get paid extra for getting the City of San Jose to allow for a quick re-opening...

The City did insist on some punishment for Club Wet, but the punishment seems like barely a slap on the wrist. The "punishment" includes limiting the occupancy of Club Wet by 15 people (not a typo) and closing 15 minutes early (not a typo)...

To give you an idea of the difference that 15 people make in a Club the size of Club Web, check out this photo (from Wet's website) and you tell me if removing 15 folks from this shot makes a difference.

Check out Club Wet for yourself, visit their website. Don't' miss the galleries and the videos.

And, we look forward to seeing you this Friday and Saturday night at Club Wet.

I'll get us on the VIP list for DJ Fashen if you sign us up for House of Wax/ DJ Sid Vicious...

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.22.09: Mayor Gage... Again?

We'll start in South County...

Former Gilroy Mayor/County Supervisor Don Gage is aiming for the Garlic Capitol’s top job again. Gage has his sites set on being Mayor once more, if Mayor Al Pinheiro is ousted on the recall, Gage won’t wait til next year’s election. Gage is running because “...morale at the city sucks...” and back when he was mayor “…there was no whining or crying on the council...”

The Merc dug a little deeper into the Club Wet re-opening (after Watch Dog broke the news Monday). It seems the Club’s consultant/ lobbyist agreed to drastic, monumental modifications to get the Club’s entertainment permit back. Oh, wait. Actually, Wet agreed to close 15 minutes early and shrink its occupancy by 15 people. What about holding bad apples accountable?

A pair of San Jose scam artists was busted in Canada. Amir Rashidifar and Mary Delvecchio stole as much as a half million from desperate homeowners. If you have info detective Dave Solis of the San Jose Police Department's Fraud Unit at 408-277-4521.

The folks at Psycho Donuts may have bit off more than they can chew here. Co-Owner/ Head Psycho Kipp Berdiansky will debate Oscar Wright, CEO of United Advocates for Children and Families. Look for the sparks to fly this weekend on KTVU.

The Merc’s Sal Pizarro helped local radio when he posted a request from KKUP for a financial boost last month. They’re a little shy of their goal and have on a few days left. If you get KKUP on your dial, perhaps you could cough it up... Pizarro also provides us with today's "Geek Alert!" Douglas Engelbart will be visiting San Jose’s Tech Museum. Don’t know him? Hint: your mouse calls him Papa.

Also in fundraising mode: San Jose’s Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center is desperate for funding, according to interim Executive Director Paul Wysocki.

Morgan Hill Unified School District (former) grant writer Dan Ehrler landed a $1 million Teaching American History grant before his departure. Now he’s coming back as grant coordinator.

Circling the Blogosphere…

• San Jose Insider/ Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo is pissed at California’s “Gang of Five” calling their recent budget decisions “the beginning of the end for California’s world leadership.”
• San Jose Revealed’s mid-June departure has turned into “Oops! This link appears to be broken.” According to Mission City Lantern, Revealed’s demise was caused by a kerfuffle on San Jose City Hall's 18th floor and the fear of a lawsuit. James is expecting the phoenix to arise under a new moniker…

And from our North County friends…

• Palo Alto’s City Manager, Jim Keene, announced (again) he’s ditching the bonus program for management and professional employees.
• The Veterans Affairs clinic in Palo Alto may have blinded 7 patients. Really. Lawsuits are pending…
• Art by committee wins out. A proposed $185,000 sculpture by artist Bruce Beasley was ditched as the Palo Alto Arts Commission decided $50,000 was enough for art. Don’t worry about Beasley, he’ll be putting a $280,000 art in the Mitchell Park Library.
• Zibibbo will be closed for the month after their weekend fire. Guess our plans for herb roasted sirloin will have to wait…

Club Wet Goes to City Hall...

You will all be happy to know that Club Wet is back... (bad grammar and all...) We recommend taking some extra safety precautions if you plan to go dancing there, however.

What the hell are we talking about? Well, you may remember a story from last week about a series of stabbings at downtown San Jose's Club Wet. We thought we'd share some info that came to us thanks to some non-Club Wet-going 18th Floor workers...

Last weekend, Club Wet's representative (a.k.a. lobbyist) Dustin DeRollo said, with regards to the latest stabbing, that:

"...It was one individual bad apple that spoiled the barrel..." and
"...We don't think this was preventable..."

Between all the stabbings and increased attention their (weak) security has been receiving, Club Wet has known for some time that it was in trouble. So much trouble, in fact, they hired a lobbyist two months ago. (See lobbyist filing below.)

Just to recap:

• Club Wet had problems with security and stabbings for at least six months.
  
• Instead of doing something about their security, they decide to do something about their image at City Hall.
  
• Club Wet hires a "high-priced" lobbyist to spin away the Club's problems rather than improving security to actually address the problem.

Why does all this matter?

Well, for all you astute observers, this is the same lobbyist (and lobbying firm) that works for the bail bonds shops in town. Remember, these guys have big clout with some folks on the City Council, as pointed out by Merc. columnist Scott Herhold: "...The lobbying firm of Saggau-DeRollo and their clients have given generously to councilmembers: As a group, they gave $10,000 to helping Madison Nguyen beat recall, $3,400 to help elect Rose Herrera..."

So, is Club Wet going to get as warm a reception at City Hall as the Bail Bonds seem to get? Or, will Club Wet be seen as the bad apple spoiling the downtown nightlife barrel...

Club Wet's Lobbyist Filing