Archive for June, 2009

Morning News Round-Up – 6.30.09: A little independence is a good thing, right?

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Mountain View’s city council is looking to strengthen its milquetoast pleas for NASA Ames Hangar One. No doubt a strong retort from Mountain View will (not) sway the Navy who previously ignored congressional requests…

Linking Bay cities isn’t only a BART dream, from our Sister blog Watch Dog San Mateo…

  • Peninsula cities are falling just short of (actually) thumbing their collective noses at State efforts to get cities to accept their “fair share” of housing. Commissioner Lee Lippert said the “vibrant” retail on El Camino was taking a beating as housing moved in. Vibrant, really?
  • Pissed off Palo Alto employees marched on City Hall the day before their contract expires. Union leader Mike Keate wants negotiations to be productive and City Manager James Keene wants them to be public, promising entertaining days ahead.
  • “(We) got plenty of creative ideas…” from comments during a High-speed Rail outreach according to regional manager Dominic Spaething. A tunnel high on the list for Palo Alto, Atherton and Menlo Park…
  • Foothill-DeAnza Community College District Board Vice President Hal Plotkin will join Chancellor Martha Kanter in D.C.. No doubt he’ll be pulling out of the race to replace termed out Assemblymember Ira Ruskin leaving room for Palo Alto’s Yoriko Kishimoto to do battle with San Mateo Supervisor Rich Gordon.

Embezzlement troubles were set aside for MACSA’s annual 100 Most Influential Latinos in Silicon Valley according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. No shows included outbound executive director Olivia Soza-Mendiola and “many members of the group’s leadership.” Pizarro also shares the success of Michele Gray’s Walk through the Vineyards and opening applications for the Chamber’s Leadership program.

Celebrating American Independence will mean something different for the (really pissed) residents of Mountain View’s Americana apartments. These (un)lucky souls get to spend the long weekend moving out so the expected asbestos shake down doesn’t affect them. Irony much?

More tools in the toolbox, that’s what veteran cop Pat Dwyer hopes will help officers to back away from shooting the mentally ill. The Merc’s Scott Herhold shares Dwyer’s thoughts in his role as County mental health’s police liaison trying to prevent another Daniel Pham situation.

The Civil Grand Jury spanked school districts including Gilroy and Gavilan for not preventing $288,000 in losses with better controls. The Grand Jury wants district Trustees to reconcile inventory. Gilroy Superintendent Deborah Flores said she’s happy to involve Trustees but wonders about asking that level of micro-management…

Morgan Hill’s city council is scrambling to buy up foreclosed homes at the same time the Planning Commission recommends relieving developers of responsibility for building affordable homes.

Savvy Cellar Wines fills the gap left when Christine Tran’s deal with Mountain View to fill the Train Depot self destructed. Desperately in need of a wine bar, Mountain View residents could be heard celebrating all the way to Hangar One.

“Folks say that if you listen real close…” begins the winning entry for San Jose State University’s annual Bulwer-Lytton worldwide literary parody contest.

San Jose Councilmember/San Jose Insider Pierluigi Oliverio lets loose on non-controversial consent calendar items (the issues city staff figures are non-controversial) and invites all to Monday Night Live. More entertaining than consent… Watch Dog tipsters share the news that Olvierio refused to play along with the (semi) satirical bashing – the punishment for doing so was a special public spanking.

Mission City Lantern wants to know what’s up with San Jose Revealed.

Posted in bart, chamber of commerce, city of palo alto, Hal Plotkin, Hangar One, high speed rail, Ira Ruskin, Lantern, macsa, mountain view, Oliverio, pizzaro, Revealed, sjsu | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up – 6.30.09: Starting the fireworks early…

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

The grand jury reports keep on coming. The latest is a call to the Sequoia Healthcare District to give taxpayers a break and reject general tax money. The grand jury also suggested the District overcome “minimal communication” with annual snail mail.

Week 5 of Dr. Ayres’ trial continues with more victims taking the stand. Daily Journal and William Ayres’ Watch cover the details for anyone not in the courtroom.

The Belmont Sports Complex faces tough times if they want to use Redevelopment Agency money for a facelift. A pissed off Mayor Christine Wozniak blasted the Sports Advisory Committee for “bullying” their way into council policy and a lack of transparency.

“(We) got plenty of creative ideas…” from comments during a High-speed Rail outreach according to regional manager Dominic Spaething. No doubt including a tunnel starting at the Redwood City/Atherton border and ending just South of Palo Alto…

A BART strike could be in your future. Higher fares start tomorrow. Getting to SFO will run you $4… Still cheaper than parking, if you have a car…

San Mateo-Foster City Schools are thinking Boothbay Park makes the most sense for a new school. Look for a loud response from the city.

Redwood City charter school Everest Public High School opens in 2 months but still doesn’t know their address… Sequoia Union High School District is hoping Everest will take a site in East Palo Alto offered up to replace a PCB infested site in Redwood City.

Foothill-DeAnza Community College District Board Vice President Hal Plotkin will join Chancellor Martha Kanter in D.C.. No doubt he’ll be pulling out of the race to replace termed out Assemblymember Ira Ruskin leaving room for Yoriko Kishimoto, Rich Gordon, and Rose Jacobs Gibson to battle it out.

Pissed off Palo Alto employees marched on City Hall the day before their contract expires. Union leader Mike Keate wants negotiations to be productive and City Manager James Keene wants them to be public, promising entertaining days ahead.

Peninsula cities are falling just short of (actually) thumbing their collective noses at State efforts to get cities to accept their “fair share” of housing. Menlo Park housing manager, Douglas Frederick said the State didn’t put “a lot of teeth” into their efforts.

For a quiet little town Atherton manages to land headlines an awful lot. Public works supervisor Troy Henderson’s attorney said the police officer is all “about money.” Deputy District Attorney Sharron Lee disagrees saying “no means no.”

Forget Michael Jackson, Daily Journal’s Michelle Durand is mourning the loss of TV pitchman Billy Mays and wondering, in these days of pitchman arrests, blandness and internet shopping, who will fill his shoes.

A strong riptide pulled a Mother and daughter to their deaths at Montara Beach.

Posted in atherton, bart, city of palo alto, East Palo Alto, foster city, Hal Plotkin, high speed rail, Ira Ruskin, jacobs gibson, menlo park, rich gordon, sequoia union, Yoriko Kishimoto | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up – 6.29.09: Council raises meet economic reality…

Monday, June 29th, 2009

San Jose’s “huge sucking sound” comes from resident dollars landing outside San Jose according to Councilmember Sam Liccardo. To fix it San Jose had a dream of North San Jose becoming a second downtown – those dreams are now turning into visions of a McCarthy Ranch redux.

Gilroy Councilmember Craig Gartman has asked colleagues to ditch their $64,000 medical benefits in exchange for a council/mayoral raise. The part-time Councilmembers will consider their 106% raise while they ask police and fire unions to take a 15% paycut. Colleague Dion Bracco doubts the lost medical benefits will be gone for more than a year calling the move whimsical, self-serving tricky politics.

Also on the frontlines of salary wars…

San Jose Downtown Association President Scott Knies and Councilmember Nora Campos engaged in a salary throwdown. Campos wants to know if Knies really really got a 19% city pay raise. Knies salary is listed on city payrolls at $134,399 and in a report from the non-profit at $68,916. $134k + $69k = $203,000, could it be…

Our Sister Blog, Watch Dog San Mateo shares this cross over story… East Palo Alto’s Housing Director Wilbert Lee called the ongoing vandalism at the Courtyard at Bay Road unforeseen. Wheelchair bound Arnold Hart complains he can’t get in, carpets used as toilets and a crowbar modified elevator are a few of the problems giving San Jose’s Community Housing a headache.

Interim Santa Clara County Executive Gary Graves is sucking it up. although disappointed by the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Smith. Graves says “sitting in the executive chair is a whole different ballgame.” Smith said negotiations on take home pay are in the works, the last exec took home $292,000.

Gilroy’s tale of fence wars made the big time… Mercury News curmudgeon Scott Herhold heard from home invasion survivor when Chris Cote launched email to Herhold with his side of fence wars. Like Herhold, Watch Dog is sympathetic with Cote but thinks there has to be a better way than razor wire.

(Former) County Counsel/US Deputy Assistant District Attorney General Ann Ravel attended her own “wake” according to the Merc’s Sal Pizarro. Pizarro had a busy week including Falcons, interesting hands, and Teddy Bear Clinics. Los Lupenos is looking for alumni, email Barbara Perez Diaz lupenos40th@ix.netcom.com.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs entertains with various mini-soaps…

  • Where was “No-Show Ngyuen” during San Jose City Council budget discussions? IA thinks the absences were a sign of avoiding contentious labor votes. IA sends props to council colleague Judy Chirco for donning a hat and joining discussions in spite of chemotherapy. San Jose Insider’s joined in via Rants and Raves…
  • Supervisorial candidate Teresa Alvarado shot a “snarky” email to IA with a huffy retort to the implication that she and opponent Rosemary Kamei the same constituency.
  • The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office anxiously awaits a report from (retired) Superior Court Judge/(former) Prosecutor William F. Martin about a “trove of some 3,300 tapes” of sexual assault medical exams. The DA’s hope they got their stories straight for the judge…

Los Gatos Planning Commissioners delayed a decision on creekside storage asking Extra Space to come back in August with a bigger parking lot and a shorter building. Extra Space’s Scott Wyckoff offered there would be “no significant” environmental impact and the 3 story storage facility would be “gorgeous.” No doubt a big parking lot will help with the aesthetics.

The Merc’s Mr. Roadshow (aka, Gary Richards) got the dish from the California Highway Patrol that 200,000 hands free scofflaws have been busted.

Sad news from Santa Teresa County Park, a woman was found dead on the trail by another hiker. No word if County budget woes (and a lack of park oversight) had anything to do with her death.

Today marks 2 weeks since San Jose Revealed ditched blogging for pneumonia. Could it be Revealed has ditched blogging or just ditched the moniker? Give up on all that good will, nah… Mission City Lantern suggests Revealed has headed for fashion world or maybe a Sanford like liaison.

Posted in DOLORES CARR, dr. smith, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, knies, Lantern, los gatos, Madison Nguyen, MR. ROADSHOW, Nora Campos, pizzaro, Revealed, Rosemary Kamei, SCOTT HERHOLD, Teresa Alvarado, watch dog san mateo | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up – 6.29.09: Trouble in wave-land…

Monday, June 29th, 2009

Coastside Family Medical Center Trustee, E. Lynn Schoenmann, wants to dismiss the bankruptcy protection and put record handling back on the defunct non-profit’s former leaders. Schoenmann says the non-profit “squandered resources” creating a “medical [records] disaster.” Good luck getting your own records back, for the moment they live in San Jose.

That thud you heard was the other shoe dropping as County Tax Assessor Warren Slocum told the Board of Supervisors more than half the houses reassessed were worth less. The Daily Journal’s Michelle Durand chatted with a few of the players while Pacifica Riptide rips a Realtor’s ad claiming housing inventory is low…

Ayers Watch is keeping up with weekend reports on the progress, or lack of, as well as main-stream media coverage of Watch’s own blog. Joining Ayers Watch in the courtroom is a blogger from Sprocket & Company, True Crime Reporting – as lurid as it sounds, Caligirl9 avoids the gruesome details.

Sue Lempert is back in the Daily Journal asking parents how sensible is building a new school when you can’t afford the ones you have and agrees with the Economist that Summer vacation is a “mental eraser.” Watch Dog can hear the kids screaming at the thought of year round school, while parents cheer…

East Palo Alto’s Housing Director Wilbert Lee called the ongoing vandalism at the Courtyard at Bay Road unforeseen. Wheelchair bound Arnold Hart complaints he can’t get in, carpets used as toilets and a crowbar modified elevator are a few of the problems giving San Jose’s Community Housing a headache.

Look for sparks as the Central County Fire Department pushes for independence from Burlingame and Hillsborough – and more communities move for firefighter mergers.

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory scientists had a chance at one of their own as US Energy Secretary Steven Chu dropped by to talk global warming.

Palo Alto’s “Open City Hall” may be open for business but no one seems to know…

Consternation abounds. Menlo Park’s Planning Commission has a challenge ahead, will a proposed City Hall gum up parking?

Seems big wave pioneer, Jeff Clark, didn’t gracefully dismount that Mavericks stick. According to Clark there was rough surf at Mavericks Surf Ventures and he got worked after an orchestrated wipe out. Surf Ventures’ Keir Beadling called it the end of “tyranny.”

San Carlos’ Kevin Scott is schlepping through Yosemite hoping enough people care about education to put up a penny a mile to watch him do it. Big Brother, and the rest of the world, will follow Scott courtesy of SPOT.

Posted in ayres watch, city of palo alto, coastside family, durand, East Palo Alto, lempert, mavericks, SLAC, Warren Slocum | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 6.26.09: Ich bin ein Berliner Day…

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Seriously, it is Ich bin ein Berliner Day…

The estranged wife of San Jose pension fund Trustee Patrick Skillsky has come to his defense calling him a wonderful man. The Mrs. blames booze and stress for her husband trying to kill her and beating the tar out of San Mateo Police Officers. Stress and booze leading to domestic violence, sounds like just the type of guy you want overseeing billions of public employee pensions…

Aspiring politicos love to be on the San Jose Planning Commission. Unless, of course, you are involved in a controversy just as you prepare to run for City Council. That’s what’s happening right now on the Planning Commissioners. At the center of the controversy seems to be Xavier Campos, who denies that he violated the Brown Act open government rules.

East Side Union High School District Trustees saved sports! The formal (one time) money shuffle is complete. The future of East Side Union sports is up to athletes and donors to find another $1 million. Now, onto the academics…

The dip in White Road was not your imagination, there’s a busted water pipe leaking thousands of gallons of water a day. Santa Clara Water District spokesperson Susan Siravo is hoping the pipe and road will be up and running in a week. Your shocks and struts may not be so lucky…

The Merc’s Editorial Board cheers the County’s decision to bring Lawyer/Former Supervisor/Dr. Jeffrey Smith on board as the new County Executive. The Editorial closes with a nudge for the Supervisors “…find the political will to back him up…”

After “VIGOROUSLY” objecting to Morgan Hill’s “low-ball” offer for their downtown home, Dwight and Linda Jungkeit asked the City Council to delay the decision on eminent domain. Next time the attorney is expected to be in the room for what promises to be a fun discussion.

The party is over (for now) in Gilroy. Officials from the Department of Justice along with Morgan Hill and Gilroy Police swept up a “bevy” of coke, shrooms, pot, and the “Love Drug” along with guns not meant for a deer hunt.

A little over a decade ago, Morgan Hill Unified School District was ordered to stop harassment of gay students and pay over $1 million in damages to six gay students. The settlement period is finished. Status reports to the ACLU will stop, as will training. Oh, by the way, complaints of discrimination are up, according to Board President Don Moody.

Gilroy Unified School District needs a new Superintendent and is giving themselves 16 weeks to find the new Super. Watch Dog San Mateo has an idea…

Checking in on the local blogosphere:

San Jose Revealed seems to be sticking to the “pneumonia” excuse for a long, long time. Not to sound unsympathetic, but Watch Dog is skeptical… they haven’t posted since June 14th. According to WebMd:

For most people, pneumonia can be treated at home. It often clears up in 2 to 3 weeks.

San Jose Inside gets in on Mayor Reed’s trip up to the Most Dysfunctional Place on Earth (a.k.a. Sacramento) to tell the Governor to keep his hands off local funds. Sounds like an awesome meeting. (Mission City Lantern likes this story too…)

Protect San Jose has some reader-generated ideas about how to solve the City’s budget mess. Most interesting to Watch Dog is that Councilmember Pete Constant takes aim at the Mariachi Festival. He and Bobby Lopez must share talking points…

Posted in bobby lopez, Chuck Reed, constant, dr. smith, East Side Union, gilory, gilory unified, inside, morgan hill unified, PENSION, Revealed, water district, xavier campos | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 6.26.09: A King of Pop-Free Round-Up…

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Dr. Ayres’ trial is picking up steam. Coverage from the Daily Journal and other main stream media… but William Ayres’ Watch is much more in depth…

In an (un)related case, a San Mateo County man was sentenced to 24 years in prison for molesting his granddaughters… Perhaps he and Dr. Ayres will meet someday?

Budget problems:

It wasn’t just Unelected Supervisor Carol Groome who got Civil Grand Jury attention this week. Pay Cut Gate got some love as well. Not surprisingly, the Civil Grand Jury found that the Daly City City Council wasn’t justified in cutting the City Clerk’s pay. PP Examiner chimes is as well…

Watch Dog spies tell us that the Civil Grand Jury report that we’ve all been waiting for is coming… it can’t come soon enough. That said, we hope that the Civil Grand Jury doesn’t cave to PR pressure and release it in the dead news cycles of the July 4th long weekend…

Atherton. How we love thee. The trial of a Public Works Supervisor who is facing misdemeanor assault and battery charges against a female Atherton Police Officer started yesterday.

The Coastside Family Medical Center’s bankruptcy could be dismissed. Watch Dog is no lawyer (obviously) and the details seem sketchy in this story from the HMB Review. Hopefully more will come out…

Posted in atherton, ayres watch, civil grand jury, coastside family, hmb, pay-cut gate, san mateo union, supervisors | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up – 6.25.09: Nothing but words, baby…

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

First, the Environmental Protection Agency wants to know if toxic chromium from Cupertino’s Lehigh Cement plant made its way to an elementary school. Now, proposed new rules from those pesky regulators are causing neighbors to jump for joy while Lehigh’s Tim “We’re safe” Matz is worried.

As if public employee pension funds (especially in the City of San Jose) don’t have enough problems, a Pension Trustee from San Jose was arrested in San Mateo following a domestic violence call… Patrick G. Skillsky then attacked police called to the scene Perhaps he was just really, really upset about all the market losses he didn’t see coming… Ironically, the City of San Jose is considering having professionals oversee the Pension Funds rather than appointed, untrained folks. It seems like there is no time like the present…

Santa Clara County Supervisors found a replacement for outgoing executive Pete Kutras. Dr. Jeffery Smith, executive director of the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center steps in during the worst economic disaster since the depression. President Liz Kniss said the supervisors were impressed by Smith’s range of experience in “medical, legal and public policy.” Smith will need his multiple degrees, and a healthy sense of humor…

East Side Union High School athletes will breath a sigh of relief, the board of trustees are expected to approve a budget that moves money from an insurance settlement to partially fund sports. The remaining $1 million is expected to come from athletes and donors who have so far stepped up with $150,000. Fundraiser/Trustee Eddie Garcia expressed rousing optimism saying “I think we’re going to get there.”

Gilroy’s divided police union approved a contract saving the city $1.1 million by just 5 votes. Police Officer Association President Mitch Madruga blamed city council saying there had been a “total lack of leadership” calling the 3 months of negotiations “ridiculous.”

Mountain View’s city council unanimously rejected a proposal to rehab a “blighted” building for reuse as affordable housing. Councilmember Ronit Bryant said the developer had provided “nothing but words.” City planning staff said it was tough to see how an existing “slum” could be rehabilitated sufficiently to remain habitable for another 55 years. Councilmembers also agreed to purchase the United Pentecostal church for $3.5 million, Councilmember Jac Siegel called it a “strategic location.”

Cupertino city councilmembers have an “economic uncertainty fund” to hold them over when the Governator comes calling with his hand out. Councilmember Dolly Sandoval reminds us the state’s budget crisis is “not going to be solved in one fiscal budget year.” No doubt Sandoval is (not) looking forward to hearing from the Guv again next year…

Updated 2010 campaigning news… A Watch Dog tipster pointed out an oversight, the Merc’s Sal Pizarro mentioned yesterday a potential candidate for San Jose’s downtown area. Nightclub owner Mauricio Mejia is contemplating a run against incumbent Sam Liccardo. Thanks, tipster.

Busted. Peter Be of Beohana Solar fleeced Silicon Valley residents of hundreds of thousands of dollars, promising a free solar system. Santa Clara County deputy district attorney Ken Rosenblatt said green minded residents got the bad news that nothing in life is free after writing big checks. Those with information on Beohana Solar may contact the District Attorney’s Office at 408-792-2572

Attempted cop killer Pete Valdez III has been declared mentally unfit, for a second time. County deputy district attorney Dana Overstreet will figure out whether to go to trial, ask for a 3rd doctor or send Valdez to the rubber room; she’ll get back to us on July 8.

Caption-free artwork at the Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC for frequent flyers) is driving the Merc’s Scott Herhold to distraction. Perhaps one of the 54 Silicon Valley hand models in Christian Moeller’s “Hands” will help Herhold find the pithy comment he seeks as he opens a Valley wide competition.

Finally, one Watch Dog tipster kept their television tuned in to San Jose’s Planning Commission soap opera. Big surprise, the center chair is filled by co-conspirator Thang Do, again.

Posted in cupertino, East Side Union, eddie garcia, EPA, gilroy, Jeffery Smith, Liz Kniss, mountain view, PENSION, sam liccardo, san jose, SCOTT HERHOLD | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 6.25.09: The Civil Grand Jury Strikes Again…

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

NOTE: Yesterday’s Round-Up got caught in the outbox… check it out for yesterday’s Round-Up. Apologies…
———–
The San Mateo Civil Grand Jury gets off another shot at a local agency. This time, their object of affection was one that Watch Dog covered long ago… with the same contempt. The appointment of Unelected Supervisor Carole Groom. The report goes into extensive detail and comes out with the same point of view that Watch Dog had way back when in December. Could it be that Watch Dog is influencing the Civil Grand Jury?

(One question remains… where is the Garbage Saga Civil Grand Jury Report?)

The Civil Grand Jury Report notwithstanding, the Supervisors approved their (two-year) $1.76 billion budget yesterday. Watch Dog spies tell us that the Civil Grand Jury Anti-Appointment Report gossip was swirling in the room…

The County’s budget is certainly taking big hits, so is Belmont’s. That’s why they are seriously considering taxing hotel visitors to Belmont more. When all else fails, tax those that don’t vote for you…

As if public employee pension funds (especially in the City of San Jose) don’t have enough problems, a Pension Trustee in San Jose was arrested in San Mateo following a domestic violence call… Patrick G. Skillsky then proceeded to attack the police that were called to the scene. Perhaps he was just really, really upset about all the market losses he didn’t see coming… Ironically, the City of San Jose is considering having professionals oversee the Pension Funds rather than appointed, untrained folks. No time like the present…

In other local crime news…

Dr. Ayres’ molestation trial continues… William Ayres Watch has the play-by-play… and laments the lack of coverage the trial is receiving. (Not from us…)

The fancy shmancy Olympic (golf) Club in Daly City was found liable for ($10 million) flood damage to the surrounding neighborhood. The Club Chief Groundskeeper did not say, “Heck, we thought the 18 holes were enough drainage to take care of all the rain…”

Menlo Park spends more time studying problems with consultants than fixing problems with solutions… or at least that’s how some vocal folks feel…

Even political discontent can’t stop Atherton from dipping into reserves to fix their budget gap… Watch Dog is a bit surprised the budget discussion was even put on the agenda, given the recent disagreements in Atherton…

Michelle Durand’s Off the Beat in today’s Daily Journal goes into the “Way Back Machine” to the beginning of the Burlingame Safeway discussion… May 1, 2003.

Posted in atherton, ayres watch, civil grand jury, daly city, garbage, groom, mp, safeway, san jose | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 6.24.09: San Jose’s lost lover is back…

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Tesla Chronicles Continue… Tesla nailed a loan from the Feds to the tune of $465 million and has plans to announce where in the Bay Area a battery production plant will land. San Jose’s Nanci Klein is thrilled and confident San Jose will land the electric fish gushing “Tesla’s success is our success.” Really? Even though they left San Jose at the alter previously? Let’s hope that the on-again/off-again San Jose/Tesla romance continues for a while. Or at least until they burn through taxpayers’ $465 mill…

San Jose’s City Council moves closer to reforms for the beleaguered Employee Pension Funds. Consultant Cortex Applied Research said the existing Boards lack expertise and have little incentive to save taxpayer money. Perhaps that, coupled with the economic melt-down, explains the billion (plus) dollar losses…

San Jose’s Planning Commission landed in hot water last month with accusations of a Brown Act open government violation. City Attorney Rick Doyle lowered the temperature and is requiring a re-vote in the election of a new Commission Chair. Watch Dog prediction: one of the four alleged co-conspirators Xavier Campos, Chris Platten, Hope Cahan, or Thang Do lands in the center chair.

Santa Clara County Open Space Authority mails notices to hundreds of thousands of property owners fessing up to an illegal tax and offering a refund. Sierra Club’s Melissa Hippard suggests refusing, others suggest taking the $130 and donating it back (read tax deduction). The Open Space Authority loses $51 million for their screw-up. The winner is Tony Tanke, a Davis attorney, who walks away with $7.4 million in legal fees.

Former Los Altos Police Chief Bob Lacey may be “crude” and “inappropriate” but the Judge says porn on a flash drive, fat jokes for a pregnant lady, discussions of testicles, and photos of a naked transgender person did not make for a hostile workplace.

The Merc’s Scott Herhold likens the ongoing squabble between NASA and the Navy over who is responsible for Moffett’s Hangar One to an officious clerk making your life miserable. Herhold says it’s time to cut through the nonsense and call in White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Congressmember Anna Eshoo agreed it was “absolutely absurd” for the Navy to move forward without an end game but wasn’t so sure about calling Emanuel. (Watch Dog doesn’t blame Eshoo… here’s why.)

While the rest of the Valley is grilling and hanging out for the fireworks, three Monte Sereno Councilmembers have local fireworks to deal with. The recall effort over the (very badly timed) Council salary decision heads into high gear on the 4th of July. Recall proponent Fred Hawkes doesn’t want his Councilmembers wasting their time or money on Countywide groups like the Association of Bay Area Governments or the Santa Clara Cities Association.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is all over the news. He’ll get his dream mansion, Woodside keeps parts of an historic home, and Jobs ill health was confirmed when a Tennessee hospital confirmed Jobs’ liver transplant. We guess is that he’d rather be in the news discussing the latest and greatest iPod…

Saratoga Planning Commissioners approved plans to relocate a San Jose business (Demetri’s the Hair People) onto Saratoga’s main drag. Commissioner David Reis was impressed with plans to update the exterior. Also approved, enlarging outdoor seating for Cinnabar Winery. Expensive hair cuts and expensive wine… perfect for Saratoga.

Sunnyvale’s newest City Manager, Gary Luebbers, says patience is his biggest challenge. Mayor Anthony Spitaleri likes that Luebbers isn’t “analyzing to death” and is hopeful this bodes well for Sunnyvale’s (Albatross) Town Center project.

What do Halle Berry, Paris, New York, Monte Carlo, and Palo Alto have in common? Doris Payne and It Takes a Thief, of course.

Busy times in South County: Gilroy had more gang problems, an “elaborate” car theft, and big robbery last week. Trustees for Gilroy Unified hired a new principal for Gilroy High and three new administrators to see them through tough times ahead.

Upscale Los Gatos hopes you’ll join them for Jazz on the Plazz but doesn’t want your crummy turf damaging blanket and has a slew of rules for those lawn chairs. Welcome to Los Gatos, don’t leave a mark…

San Jose Insider/Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Joseph DiSalvo weighs in on class size reduction standing firmly on the fence. DiSalvo also continues his push for increased teacher salaries. Thank you (?) Joe.

Bucking the trend towards cheap, Cisco Systems handed out $1.26 million in grants including to 53 local non-profits.

Posted in cisco, city of palo alto, eshoo, gilroy, herhold, inside, monte sereno, nasa, open space, PENSION, rick doyle, saratoga, steve jobs, tesla, the town | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 6.24.09: Atherton Politics…there is no substitute

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

The trial of accused molester Dr. William Ayres officially started. William Ayres Watch has this intro to the coverage that they will be providing on the trial:

“…If you are looking for strictly mainstream coverage of the Dr. Ayres trial, please go to the SF Chronicle or the San Mateo County Times. But if you are looking for a more complex and richer back story to the case, you will find it here…”

The Ayres’ trial moves forward without one accuser testifying, however…

(While this trial could be viewed by some as a circus waiting to happen, there is a real circus (Circus Vargas) happening in San Mateo County…)

In a less high profile molestation case where a tae kwon do instructor molested a 13 year-old student in San Carlos. The case has been settled. The instructor pleaded no contest and will serve no more than a year in jail. Dr. Ayres may not be so lucky…

The Jackling House in Woodside will be demolished, thanks to a 5-2 vote of the Woodside City Council. One condition, though: the house will be deconstructed first by a preservationist whose goal will be do reconstruct the house somewhere, sometime… This is good news for Steve Jobs, but somehow we think he has more important things going on in his life, like recovering from a liver transplant…

Here are today’s obligatory local government budget cutting/fee raising stories

Watch Dog has expressed our love for Atherton politics before… very cut-throat, very small-town, very good for Watch Dog to cover. There is a now a fight brewing about how to get items get on the City Council’s agenda. Three Councilmembers (seemingly) want to make it more difficult, two want to make it easier. Unfortunately, it will take three votes to make it easier, so we expect the agendas in Atherton to be as sparse as they ever were…

San Mateo Union High School District, also feeling a budget pinch, is not deterred from its plans to put solar on its schools…

San Carlos Elementary will get a new (interim) Superintendent today. Craig Baker, the head of the Gardner Center for Youth in Their Communities at Stanford will be named at tonight’s meeting.

The 6 year-old girl pulled from the water off the coast of Half Moon Bay over the weekend after her boat capsized is being released from the hospital. That’s good news.

Speaking of HMB… PP Examiner gets in on the action describing the demise of Assemblymember Hill’s Half Moon Bay Bail Out Bill. (As an aside, Watch Dog was the first to coin that phrase, we believe.)

And more HMB news.

Mavericks Surf Contest will have a longer window this coming season, and the decision to go or not to go won’t be made by Jeff Clark, who invented the contest. Clark will stay on the Board, but the decision about who will make The Decision hasn’t been decided.

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