April 14, 2009
Morning News Round-Up — 4.14.09: Blogs (and porn) First Edition…
Blog-related stuff first today:
- San Jose Revealed lets loose with poetic allegory while blogging about San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant’s “porn filter fetish.” Revealed confesses to possible naiveté in thinking the fear over reason crusaders had been spanked soundly last year. While questioning Mayor Reed’s political savvy on the matter, Revealed rolls out the cynical theory that Reed is simply looking for a re-election sound bite. And in case you missed it, we tracked down Councilmember Constant and his BFF Larry Pegram’s whereabouts…
- San Jose Insider/Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio engages in a little political-blogger-suck-up and writes about his Breakfast with the Chamber. Unfortunately, we also learn a little about PO’s sleeping habits…
- After only 6 years in office, Gilroy’s anti-blog Mayor Al Pinheiro is hosting his first “Coffee with the Mayor.” Pissed off residents blogging on the Gilroy Dispatch got the Mayor’s attention. “I will never answer on those blogs or get in there and get started in some pissing contest… Anyone who wants answers can come get a hold of me,” said the Mayor. Pinheiro is relying on charm to sooth the angry blogger.
And now the desperate economic news:
- Palo Alto leaders see their fair city as the center of the Valley’s ultra-high-speed fiber internet mecca and is seeking federal stimulus bucks to make it happen – never mind those funds are targeted for the technologically impoverished. Councilmember Larry Klein said “it’s a 21st century technology. There are other places in the world that are doing this, and some of them do compete with us.” Oh yeah, and in February the Palo Alto City Council basically threw in the towel on this plan…
- Once fueled by double macchiato bolstered techies, Silicon Valley is hit hard by the economy. According to a Merc. analysis of new data from those folks at the Employment Development Office, tech accounted for 21% of lost jobs for the first part of the year. Why do you think we blog?…
- Furlough and layoff are the new buzzwords in Silicon Valley and it’s creating huge demand for services at local non-profits. Nancy Tivol, with Sunnyvale Community Services, gets the same questions from reports all the time, “Are you seeing the middle-class line up for bags of food?”
- Speaking of furloughs…San Jose’s annual downtown Fourth of July fireworks has been furloughed – to use the current vernacular. Fireworks organizer Fil Maresca said it was a business decision, costs for City services had increased ten-fold over the decade of operations, driving Maresca to douse the fire.
- The Merc’s Editorial Board uses a word Watch Dog has waited a lifetime to see grace the editorial pages “duh.” The big duh in this case is sick leave as retirement benefits in San Jose.
- Mountain View homes maintained a median price of just over $1 million but, according to the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, no one is buying.
I guess with the previous stories, this is no big surprise: Silicon Valley’s CEOs also see a grim outlook moving forward. When asked by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group what could be done, only 20% would support corporate taxes. They were more generous for cuts – over 90% thought there were too many State government employees, prisons could be cut as well as welfare and human services. The Merc’s Editorial Board chimes in on the survey as well. Carl can work it…
And the rest of the news:
Supervisor Don Gage hopes regionalizing County fire services will improve services in South County and save money. With three different agencies serving South County today he’s hopeful others will share his vision.
The Valley Transit Authority is moving ahead with plans to let the few of you who still have disposable dollars ride solo in the HOV lanes. Adjusting fees according to drivers tolerance for pain, the VTA hopes to keep traffic moving.
San Jose’s Oak Grove School District promoted Assistant Superintendent Tony Garcia to replace outgoing Manny Barbara. It is unclear if Manny Barbara will go back to his former job as an animator…(I know the spelling is off…work with me people!)
Faber’s Cyclery is the subject of the Merc’s Joe Rodriguez passion this week. A San Jose cyclery since 1921, owner Alex LaRievere dreams of turning it into the cycle museum San Jose has been waiting for, one with beer. Adding to the allure, before it was a cyclery haven it was a blacksmith, stage coach stop, and saloon (complete with brothel). If you have the deep pockets, LaRievere is looking for give him a call (408) 294-1314. Perhaps if he brought back the brothel, folks would give money…