Archive for April, 2009

Morning News Round-Up — 4.30.09: Candidate Campos Gets a Challenger…

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

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.

Posted in 420, avila, campbell, Chuck Reed, coto, franklin-mckinley, los altos hills, nasa, Nora Campos, Revealed, roadshow, santa clara high, steve jobs, swine flu | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 4.30.09: Sharp Park Showdown, 1 p.m. (and Swine Flu)

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Local flu news: Perhaps it is just Watch Dog is sick of the sick news… Peninsula schools prepare for it, but no cases yet. Santa Clara County has 7 probable cases, including a high school student, forcing Branham High School to close down for a week…

In more important news, today is the Sharp Park Golf Course showdown in San Francisco. Get your seats early, according to Pacifica Riptide… the meeting starts at 1 p.m.

Add this to the long list of animal cruelty cases in San Mateo County in the past year… A Daly City couple were neglecting their 10 year-old German shepherd because they were financial strapped. They will face misdemeanor charges…

There are some folks that say fewer elected officials is probably a good thing. In Millbrae, the job of City Treasurer may go from being an elected post to a non-elected post. The job currently held by Mary Vella Treseler is (apparently) become too stressful in these tough times… upon her departure, the position may go in-house (as opposed to on-ballot).

The long-awaited Downtown San Mateo Area Plan is due to be discussed in the coming weeks. Housing, transit, businesses large and small, etc., etc. Sort of like Downtown San Mateo now — and Jon Mays at the Daily Journal loves it.

California’s Senator Barbara Boxer is up for re-election next year and she left it up to the “the people” to design and vote on a campaign poster… Lorene Lederer from San Carlos won (see left). You can decide for yourself if you love it or not…

Perhaps it isn’t the best idea to steal $20,000 in order to make your perfect wedding… because you may spend your expensive wedding day in jail. That’s what Briana Nicole Balancier did and she’ll go on trial in September for the wedding-related robbery…

More Students + Less Revenue = More Crowded Classrooms in Menlo Park City Schools…

In other bad-economy-related news, unionized employees in Redwood City are taking a one-year pay freeze. That makes two of us.

The Landlords vs. East Palo Alto Saga is in the news again (again)… A Judge said that the Page Mill Properties, which has filed a complaint against the City of EPA, must refile because their filing “has failed to allege an actual controversy”… you’d think with Page Mill Properties’ high-priced lawyers they’d get it right…

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.

In the all important category of ‘dog news’ — our fellow dogs may be able to roam at Foothills Park in Palo Alto on weekends soon. Currently, we can go there on weekdays, but not weekends…

Posted in boxer, city of palo alto, daly city, downtown san mateo, EPA, jon mays, redwood city, sharp park, steve jobs, swine flu, woodside | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 4.29.09: Swine Flu Day 2

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

The national panic begins and Silicon Valley is not immune. San Jose’s Branham High School has one student out with the Swine flu. Campbell Union High School District website let’s us know that Branham will be closed for a week, other updates on the Swine flu can be read on Twitter on @swineflunews…

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed starts to repair the damage after his Independent Police Auditor (IPA) mea culpa. He pronounced the initial process bad. Next time, he suggests, all candidates get reviewed by all Councilmembers. You may recall, the last time around Reed, along with Councilmembers Nora Campos and Pete Constant, selected the final four IPA candidates and the final two. The stress is making even the normally bland Reed a little snarky “My councilmembers usually have pretty good ears,” in reference to the brewing battle with Campos over who knew and when about the brotherly conflict.

At yesterday’s San Jose City Council meeting $4.8 million was approved for removing the toxic sludge in Watson Park and downtown club owners will share the cost of policing downtown on weekends. (These two things are unrelated, by the way… although, former Mayor Tom McEnery probably feels like the sludge and downtown club owners are pretty closely related.)

Los Altos School District hired four new Principals with none of the drama seen last year when parents and Trustees battled over the selection of Terri Stromfeld. Joining the Los Altos ranks are Wade Spenader, Kimberly Attell, Erin Green, and Amy Rettberg.

The Merc is celebrating as staff writer Karen de Sa takes home the Silver Gavel from the American Bar Association for her series on juvenile dependency courts – the same series that landed the District Attorney’s office in hot water. Merc Editor David J. Butler said the award “underscores the commitment of the Merc’s staff to continue its tradition of producing world-class journalism.”

It’s good to be green. When Silicon Valley gets there Watch Dog will let you know. Santa Clara County received an ‘F’ from the American Lung Association on the 10th annual “State of the Air” report card. Joining Silicon Valley were 37 other counties mostly in Southern California and the Central Valley.

What does Palo Alto have against plastic? Chemical lover Manny Diaz screwed up again as Palo Alto’s City Council joined the growing ranks of cities banning polystyrene, those foam boxes you call a doggie bag. Palo Alto estimates the foam box ban will affect only 30% of local restaurants, everyone else having moved away from the chemical killers before now.

The Koi donated to San Jose by Sister City Okayama are dying of herpes, no kidding. Mona Favorite-Hill, spokesperson for San Jose Parks, said chances are someone wanted their own herpes ridden fish to roam free among their Japanese cousins.

A teenager in Palo Alto kept a lot more than fireworks at home. The PA Police found explosive components when they went home with the kid.

Watch Dog enjoyed the celebration at Morgan Hill’s two year old dog park. Councilmember Marilyn Librers said it was paws up for the work done by MHDOG.

Morgan Hill revenues are down. With the crashing economy and no one hitting the stores it comes as no surprise sales and property taxes are in the toilet.

According to venture capitalist Peter Thiel, it’s the fairer sex that f’d up the world once they started voting. Yep, ladies, according to the Facebook backer/former Paypal CEO “the vast increase in welfare beneficiaries and the extension of the franchise to women … have rendered the notion of “capitalist democracy” into an oxymoron.” Thiel also shares his opinion that the only ones not on drugs are idiots.

Watch Dog had to list this, blogger Will Wilson works with his pooch Dora the boxer on political blogging, among other things. San Jose’s recent adventure into porn filters caught Dora’s keen eye.

San Jose Insider/County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo worries about a brain drain from public schools as Charter Schools take off in popularity.

San Jose Revealed is hopping a plane to LA and leaves us with this question: Is the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce the leading voice in business in the Valley? Revealed’s snarky afterthought indicates the Chamber might be the leading party organizer.

In a related (?) story…

This note from the South Bay Labor Council, Steve Preminger, Director of Working Partnerships and Chair of the local Democratic Party, was honored by the Dalai Lama as one of the worlds “Unsung Heroes” for 2009.

Posted in baseball san jose, chamber of commerce, city of palo alto, constant, inside, ipa, los altos schools, manny diaz, mayor reed, Morgan Hill, Nora Campos, Revealed, sblc, swine ful | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 4.29.09: Swine and Pot Edition…

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Yesterday, Swine Flu was everywhere in the news, but not many places in real life. 24 hours later, more and more cases are showing up. Including some in the Bay Area.

In other “medical news” — the County Board of Supervisors approved a medical marijuana ordinance yesterday. Perhaps pot can treat the new flu?…

Belmont (and a few other cities) have a big sewer bill to pay. So, to pay for it, Belmont is considering (and reconsidering) raising water/sewer rates. Last night, they spent two hours talking about what a bad idea it was to raise rates on residents and businesses during this economy, and then went ahead and increased rates. Councilman Bill Dickenson voted against the plan. Apparently he believes money to pay for the sewer is going to fall from the sky…

But that wasn’t the only thing on the Belmont agenda yesterday…

The Belmont City Council wants to know the history of the garbage-overseeing agency the South Bayside Waste Management Authority before formally asking for elected officials to serve on its Board. Belmont City Councilmember Bill Dickenson is concerned that having a Board comprised of staff members from each member agency has lead to “back room” deals. Ironically, San Carlos City Councilmember Omar Ahmad is defending the status quo, saying that elected officials overseeing big contracts can lead to the same thing…Watch Dog guesses no one can be trusted.

San Bruno is looking at cutting costs and services and increasing fees/taxes. Get in line…

San Carlos said yes to annexing Devonshire Canyon… and to the 5 new homes that go along with it. All of this over NIMBY objections and apparently in spite of the dusky-footed woodrat. (Vice Mayor Randy Royce disagreed with his colleagues on this issue and voted no…)

Watch Dog finds inter-government squabbles fun. So we will watch closely as the City of Menlo Park and the Menlo Park City School District try to work out their differences on the District’s plans for Hillview Middle School…

“Restore Sharp Park” gets some ink in Pacifica Riptide…pretty good writing on Ian Butler’s behalf, even though he agrees with San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkirimi…

While we’re on it, if you want your voice heard on the Sharp Park Golf Course issue, there will be a public hearing San Francisco tomorrow at 1 p.m. at San Francisco City Hall, Room 263. (Hat tip Bruce…)

Posted in belmont, city of san carlos, mp, mpcsd, riptide, san bruno, sbwma, sewer, sharp park, swine flu | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 4.28.09: Swine flu everywhere (in the news…)

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

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…

Posted in Chuck Reed, city of palo alto, don gage, East Side Union, eddie garcia, gilroy unified, macsa, morgan hill schools, mt. view, Revealed, sjpoa, swine flu, water district | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 4.28.09: Swine flu everywhere (in the news…)

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Swine flu is everywhere…everywhere in the news, the actual flu isn’t everywhere…

But just because there is a possible pandemic flu going around, doesn’t mean the Belmont City Council can’t continue the Garbage Saga… Belmont doesn’t really like the SBWMA, the folks that run the garbage contracts in most of the County. Belmont wants to replace the SBWMA Board, which is made up of City staff from each City/Agency in the jurisdiction, with elected officials.

The on-again, off-again House of Representatives Financial Services Hearing on San Mateo County’s (and other communities’) losses from the Lehman Brothers’ fiasco is on-again, but it won’t be local. May 5th in DC.

The Safeway/Roti credit card scheme trials continue…this time, a Safeway clerk pleaded no contest to helping use stolen credit card numbers (from Roti) to buy stuff (at Safeway)…

In other Safeway news…Burlingame’s Safeway plans are taking shape. Last Thursday, the Burlingame Planning Division got an official application for demolition for the current Safeway and the Walgreens.

Michelle Durand gets into the 2010 Governor’s race in today’s Daily Journal…Who’s running…Guess?

The City of East Palo Alto and developers that own apartments in East Palo Alto still aren’t getting along…surprise, surprise…

The November Millbrae City Council election is taking shape. Former Mayor Nadia Holober is in the race… with the backing of Congresswoman Jackie Speier, no less… (and just about every other political big wig…)

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 COWS in Woodside remind us that the Woodside Elementary School District has a parcel tax on the May 5th (NOT MAY 19TH) ballot…

Posted in burlingame, city of palo alto, durand, EPA, lehman, millbrae, swine flu, woodside elementary | No Comments »

CORRECTION: Watch Dog was wrong…

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Watch Dog has written about the story of the Domestic Partners in Pacifica whose family is on the verge of being torn apart by the Federal government.

Here is what we wrote on April 3rd, when this story first came out:

The Chronicle features a Pacifica couple who have been together for 23 years and are Registered Domestic Partners in California. One (major) problem, the Federal government wants to deport one of the partners because she is not a legal citizen. Half of our County’s aforementioned Dynamic Duo (Congresswoman Speier) got a three-week stay of deportation for Shirley Tan…everyone is waiting to see what is going to happen next, including Watch Dog.

And here are excerpts of what we wrote on April 24th:

…In Pacifica, a family (which happened to be lesbian couple with children) was about to be ripped apart by the Federal government as one of the registered domestic partners was set to be deported for overstaying her visa. Senator Feinstein stepped in and is now playing the hero role. (We have to wonder how this worked its way through D.C. When the story was written about originally, Congresswoman Jackie Speier got a three-week stay for the deportation, now Feinstein is in the lead role…I guess the spotlight is only so big, especially when you (Senator Feinstain) are trying to divert attention from a growing controversy…very gracious Congresswoman Speier.)

Watch Dog admits when we are wrong — and our implication about what went on between Congresswoman Speier and Senator Feinstein was wrong. So, here is an email note from Mike Larsen of Congresswoman Speier’s office to clarify:
—
Dear Watchdog:

While your description of political intrigue at work behind the scenes in the effort to save Shirley Tan from being deported made for excellent reading, the way it really happened is actually quite dull.

Ms Tan and her partner contacted our office and Congresswoman Speier was briefed on her situation. (In a committed relationship for 23 years, with twin 12 year-old boys, she’s about to be deported to the Phillipines because of an outstanding order that her previous lawyer neglected to tell her about.) We examined the facts and looked into what could be done. Because the House and Senate have different rules for immigration bills – In the Senate, a stay of deportation is issued the moment the bill is introduced, while in the House, the bill must go through the regular committee process (which can take months) before a stay is issued – it was determined that contacting one of California’s Senators would be her best chance of a favorable outcome.

Ms. Tan had already contacted Senator Feinstein’s office, so the Congresswoman spoke to the Senator and was told that Senator Feinstein’s staff was examining the case but that the file was thin and they needed more documentation. Since the deportation date was just 48 hours away, Congresswoman Speier contacted an immigration official in San Francisco and arranged to delay the date long enough for the family to get its papers in order and Senator Feinstein’s staff to examine them.

Upon review of all the materials, the Senator decided that Ms. Tan’s case was worthy of private legislation and she introduced the bill.

Senator Feinstein did a very good and courageous thing, in my opinion. Even in California, taking a principled stand on issues like marriage equality and immigration is not without its risks.
—
Record corrected. Thank you Mr. Larsen.

Posted in correction, feinstein, pacifica, speier | No Comments »

former San Jose Chamber Chair in your mailbox…

Monday, April 27th, 2009

“As a small business owner and a parent of a public school student…” former San Jose Chamber of Commerce Chair Nanci Williams got some political ink this week. (No, not this kind of ink San Jose Revealed…)

Williams was featured on a Bay Area political mailer supporting Propositions 1A and 1B.

(Thank you observant reader of both this blog and of political mailers…)

In case you are wondering, the mailer was put out by the California Teachers Association.

Posted in chamber of commerce, cta | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 4.27.09

Monday, April 27th, 2009

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.”

Posted in esuhsd, IA, knies, maldonado, mcenery, reed, swine flu, the town | No Comments »

Morning News Roun-Up — 4.27.09: Atherton’s BFF Edition…

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Just when you thought all the controversy in Atherton was dying down…it roars again. Watch Dog (and the Civil Grand Jury) wrote about the Menlo-Atherton High School facilities’ report that the Civil Grand Jury recently came out with. Well, it seems Atherton Councilmember Kathy McKeithen (and her BFF on the Atherton Council Jim Dobbie) are “disgusted” with the report. However, McKeithen didn’t say, “These damn kids make so much noise…don’t they know this is Atherton?!” (Ms. McKeithen and Mr. Dobbie, here is what BFF means…)

Congresswoman Speier is busy…really, that’s what this story is about. Well, it talks about her first year in office. If you read Watch Dog at all, you know that we know Speier is busy, and effective.

More plans for the (much anticipated/much delayed/much written-about) Burlingame Safeway have been released. Take a peak, pictures and all…

The San Bruno Mountain Watch Conservancy is born. They are trying to raise enough money to buy private property and maintain some sense of nature on the mountain…

Lots of school news to Round-Up today…

A Half Moon Bay group of folks concerned with the sudden closure of the Coastside Family Medical Center have launched the “Phoenix Project” to see about re-launching a medical facility on the Coast. Perhaps its time for another Coastside Town Hall Supervisor Gordon?

Riptide delves into some truth: Pacifica is in fiscal trouble if Measure D (the sales tax hike) doesn’t pass…but they are in trouble if Measure D does pass too. Sort of like California with Measures A-F…

And it isn’t just finances that are on folks’ minds in Pacifica, so is the General Plan update.

Redwood City is taking advantage of a down real estate market (while at the same time drawing down some capital funds from a variety of sources). They will purchase a 9.5 acre site for $4.45 million for a water tank (?), a park, a place to park its trucks, public access to the Bay, and a commercial use.

The dusky-footed woodrat will take center stage tonight at the San Carlos City Council…along with NIMBYs and a developer…about the Devonshire Canyon (5-home) development being considered.

Sue Lempert’s Daily Journal column today reminds us that there was once a crappy President who wanted to let us put our Social Security money in the stock market…seriously.

San Mateo City Council candidate David Lim checks in through his campaign blog about overcrowding in some San Mateo apartment complexes. It isn’t that we are only following David, it is just that other folks don’t seem to be that “with it” with their web presence. Supervisor Rich Gordon, who is running for a much higher office than San Mateo City Council, hasn’t really updated his site since he announced he was running…

Posted in atherton, david lim, dobbie, eshoo. speier, hmb, lahonda-pescadero, lempert, mckeithen, pausd, redwood city, riptide, safeway, san mateo, sequoia union, supervisor rich | No Comments »

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