Archive for October, 2009

Morning News Round-Up — 10.30.09: Respecting Girls Edition…

Friday, October 30th, 2009

According to (former) prosecutor/ ABC 7 legal analyst Dean Johnson, the Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr crossed an ethical line by (seemingly) cutting a plea deal for a campaign contributor’s client. Deputy District Attorney/ DA wannabe Jeff Rosen offered his opinion the DA cast doubt the equity of treatment from the Carr. Rosen is no doubt delighted his boss is tripping over her own pointy-toed shoes.

The Merc’s Patty Fisher takes on the tragic gang rape in Richmond, attempting to use it as a teaching moment. Fisher points back to the DeAnza gang rape and asks why, in both cases, it was young women who bravely stepped forward to stop their male friends from torturing young women and call the cops. Fisher suggests a societal problem – we do not respect girls. (Note to Dolores Carr, please read Patty Fisher today…)

Speaking of respecting girls… (or perhaps ‘respecting’ them a little too much for a school employee)…

Wilcox High students pissed over the turmoil janitor Joe Miller finds himself in launched the Silicon Valley solution – a Facebook page filled with comments from adoring fans. Following a five month investigation into Miller’s use of students for his modeling agency and complaints about “provocative” photos, it seems the School Board is ready to unload the questionable broom-closet modeling agency. (To all of you who are about comment on this blog about this case — bring it on. Just because someone is a great guy and is “Mr. Wilcox” does not make what he did right. Stick to your guns School Board.)

The Mountain View Los Altos High School District is hoping to go green – and have the voters say yes. If your phone rings it could be the pollsters deciding whether to move forward with greening the classes.

A Cupertino family is struggling with the loss of their 5 year old son after one of his teachers from the Elite Chinese School accidentally drove over him.

San Jose’s Pamela Root and 2 year old Adam were surprised to find the fun loving skies of Southwest Airlines wouldn’t include them. Seems Adam was doing his terrible 2’s best when flight attendants decided they’d had enough – the plane returned to the gate in Texas and left the Root’s stranded on the tarmac. The flight attendant told Root “we just can’t tolerate that for 2 hours.” Ironic, since that’s what most folks say about flying Southwest, “we just can’t tolerate that for 2 hours…”

Posted in cupertino, de anza, DOLORES CARR, mt. view-los altos, southwest airlines, wilcox high | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 10.29.09: Need a space of my own (san jose downtown)

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr is finding herself in hot water (again). This time, DA Carr persuaded one of her staff to reduce the charges for one of her big donor’s clients. District Attorneys across California are publicly disagreeing with DA Carr’s suggestion that she was doing “what public servants do.” DA wannabe/ Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosen suggested “there can’t be two systems of justice… Ms. Carr’s integrity and ethics … have harmed the reputation of the District Attorney’s office.” District Attorney Carr, here is a number Watch Dog wants you to keep on speed-dial: 1-800-238-4427.

Here is another story of ethics in government, sort of. The Merc’s Editorial Board calls for the (temporary for now) ouster of Wilcox High Principal Tab Taber following the recent spate of bad news: a teacher (allegedly) having sex with a student/students and a janitor running a teen modeling agency out of the school’s broom closet. In the Merc’s view, “it’s time to rebuild the culture at Wilcox High.” It sounds like they might be on to something…

And ethical issues are front-and-center in another school district this week: East Side Union High School District Trustees meet this week to decide the fate of Superintendent Bob Nunez, currently on paid leave while Trustees investigate (alleged) conflict of interest and (questionable) credit card use.

Oops, that pesky little problem holding up the Environmental Impact Report for San Jose’s plans for a Major League Baseball stadium turns out to be Hexagon Transportation Consultants’ mistake. Seems fewer baseball fans translated into more traffic for Hexagon. Acting Transportation Director Hans Larsen is busily doing the apology dance after blaming VTA for the screw-up.

“Rules are made for people who don’t have common sense,” according to San Jose resident/City Council Chief of Staff Edesa Bitbadal arguing in favor of stronger leash laws. City Councilmember Nancy Pyle said her office has been inundated with email and phone calls following the death of Beverly Head and “we are not in the business of coming up with a million rules.”

The ongoing saga of Summerhill Apartments code violations and blue-tarped roof continues in Mountain View as the City Council said no to owner Sal Teresi’s re-roofing request. City Attorney Michael Martello pointed to workers camping in the parking lot and (apparent) attempts to set up residency in an “uninhabitable building.”

That isn’t funny business in Mountain View, but this is… really funny business… the Superintendent from the Mountain View-Whisman School District has a “romantic relationship” with a Principal — which is a no-no.

Gang violence struck (again) in Gilroy. A 17 year old (alleged) Sureño was shot by (alleged) Norteño’s in his car with other (alleged) gang members. Police said (however) there’s no evidence this is retaliation for a gang murder earlier this month in Morgan Hill.

Morgan Hill’s Christian bookstore owner/perv Richard Dresser pleaded guilty to sexual battery and lewd conduct and will be registering as a sex offender following his 6 months in jail.

Meanwhile, Palo Alto High School students engaging in the annual “Egg War” used frozen eggs instead of the traditional raw to pelt each other. Students were stopped from using their normal field of battle after the Police beat them to their Stanford stomping grounds. (Please don’t read into that sentence too much. The Palo Alto Police didn’t actually beat them — we mean that the Police got to Stanford first. It is Palo Alto, not San Jose…) Assistant Principal Todd Feinberg is hoping students rat each other out in exchange for a shorter suspension.

Googlers hosted U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu when he announced big federal dollars for green in Silicon Valley.

Mountain View neighbor Los Altos is worried plans to remodel the San Antonio Center might take shopping dollars out of Los Altos while adding children to the Los Altos School District. City officials will meet over a negotiation table to talk turkey. Los Altos Councilmember/(former) Mountain View Vice Mayor Ron Packard offered “it’s a wonderful development for Mountain View, I wish it were happening in Los Altos.” Please use this time to shed a tear for Los Altos…

If you’re hoping for your anti-swineish shot, get in line. Santa Clara County got short changed in the dosage department and is (im)patiently waiting. The Merc notes all the other (much smaller) counties in the Bay Area received (a lot) more shots to hand out. State Health Department spokesperson Mike Sicilia blamed the computers… good excuse.

We end today on a political note about 2010. There is a new face downtown San Jose political circuit… that is, of course, if you consider Morgan Hill part of downtown San Jose. Let us explain…

Anxious to get an office job after 4 years of medical retirement, Morgan Hill resident/ (former) security guard/ bartender/ bouncer Tim Hennessey has his heart set on San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo’s seat. Hennessey complains he doesn’t want to wait until he’s 50 or 60 to run, he wants to “act now.” Hennessey’s biggest supporter, night club owner Ray Shafazand, is eager to engage in a “dirty…big war” to oust Liccardo for his night club-backed candidate, according to San Jose Insider Jessica Fromm. Oh, Hennessey is also a Republican. We found this listing on Craigslist… Could it be Hennessey is close to landing his new downtown apartment?:
————

$700 Need a space of my own (san jose downtown)

Date: 2009-10-28, 1:00PM PDT
Reply to: hous-rdn3y-1441756047@craigslist.org
Hi, I need a place of my own. I don’t want a room in someone’s house . I like to have guests and not feel that I’m invading someone else’s home. I like to come and go as I please without worrying about waking my roomates if it’s late when I get back. I’m looking for anything from a studio to a one bedroom, but am having a hard time finding one in my price range. $700 is is over a third of my monthly income so it’s the most I can afford. Please let me know if you can help me. Thanks

Posted in city of palo alto, DOLORES CARR, esuhsd, gilroy, hennessey, jeff rosen, liccardo, MLB, Morgan Hill, mt view whisman, mt. view, santa clara unified | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 10.29.09: No Bay Bridge… still

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Expect a barage of fluffy PR from the California High-Speed Rail Authority locally soon. They just issued a $9 million PR contract to a big-time PR firm based in Sacramento. Ogilvy Public Relations will soon be calling on Peninsula NIMBYs to explain the benefits of High-Speed Rail. Let me provide some free advice to Ogilvy — don’t spend too much time in Menlo Park or Atherton — there is no changing these NIMBYs’ minds…

Perhaps the good folks that run the Bay Bridge should invest in some PR help. That big bridge that connects everything to everything in Northern California is still not open… in case you haven’t heard.

While you are waiting for the Bay Bridge to reopen — why don’t you head over to the new Trader Joe’s in San Mateo… actually, don’t go today, but head there tomorrow when they open.

While Pacifica gets green kudos this week for banning Styrofoam, they are getting slapped for dumping sewage into the Pacific in January 2008. A $2.3 million fine will be levied by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board — the government agency with the longest name imaginable…

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo will be hosting a telephone town hall tonight for Coastside residents only to talk about healthcare. Watch Dog wishes we could be on that call and report back to all of you. If you are on the call, take good notes and shoot them our way…

Posted in Bay Bridge, city of san mateo, eshoo, hsr, pacifica, styrofoam, trader joe's | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 10..28.09: Homeroom Modeling Agency…

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

San Jose’s City Hall was the scene of another protest by Vietnamese-Americans, civil liberties, and civil rights groups calling for an open grand jury and release of 911 tapes following the beating and arrest of SJSU math student Phuong Ho. Joining the growing chorus was City Councilmember Sam Liccardo and Vietnamese-American elected officials from across the state. The Merc’s Editorial Board says Police Chief Rob Davis is wrong if he thinks people in minority communities would report problems with the Police and that the incident with Phuong Ho highlights the need for Sunshine. Obviously, the Editorial Board doesn’t realize that Chief Davis is never wrong… well, maybe not never. Remember when he got the drunk arrest statistics wrong?

Ooops, someone at the City of San Jose’s Planning Department is blushing after a screw-up was found in the Environmental Impact Report regarding traffic related to the proposed new MLB stadium in San Jose. It turns out traffic won’t be as bad as predicted… or maybe it will be worse?

And we move to Santa Clara for two other big stories of the day…

Santa Clara’s City Council said of course the 49ers could pick their builder without using a competitive bid process. Councilmember Kevin Moore said it’s about “doing something for Santa Clara.” A relieved 49ers spokesperson Lisa Lang called the vote a “significant step” in moving the coin toss to Santa Clara.

Wilcox High is back in the news… In August, we learned that a teacher was arrested for (allegedly) sleeping with female students. Last week, we learned that the same teacher may have been sending creepy emails to female students for years with the (alleged) knowledge of the school’s Principal. Today we learn that a janitor in the same school, Joe Miller, is being bounced for taking “sexually suggestive photos” of students for his modeling agency — Rockabilly Models. Maybe a better name would have been “Homeroom Modeling”… If you are interested in seeing the fine, artistic, and creepy work of Mr. Miller, check out this video… then ask yourself, should a guy working in a school be hiring teenage models?:


(Related Note: If you are a Santa Clara Councilmember and you are a “friend” of Rockabilly Models on Facebook, perhaps you should log-in this morning and remove yourself…)

Continuing to scrounge for pennies lost in the sofa cushions, San Jose is going after pet owners who didn’t license Fluffy or Spot. The Merc notes that San Jose Councilmember Pete Constant missed the critter talk, along with City Manager Debra Figone’s grim proposal to cut employee costs and spending $2 million to purchase a (soon to be former) drug rehabilitation center.

Los Altos Hills’ Jim and Becky Morgan have set their sites on saving 100,000 acres near Lake Tahoe. Former County Supervisor/ State Senator Becky Morgan says the goal is to “get ahead of the building wave.”

New poppa Sal Pizarro uses his Merc space to share the words of wisdom given to him from Silicon Valley Dads. Pizarro and wife Amy are taking a few weeks off to get to know Mia Elizabeth Pizarro… Congratulations, Sal and Amy! We guess Silicon Valley will shut down during Sal’s leave…

Posted in 49ers, becky morgan, constant, rob davis, Sal Pizarro, wilcox high | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 10.28.09: The Bay Bridge is closed (seriously)…

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Remember that Bay Bridge repair on Labor Day weekend. Y’know, that really important piece that they hadn’t planned on fixing but saw a crack in when the Bay Bridge was closed and they fixed it. Well, it kind of broke last night. Don’t worry though, Watch Dog can’t see how having the Bay Bridge closed indefinitely could possibly screw things up throughout the Bay Area… (For all you very literal people out there, we are kidding. The Bay Area will be a traffic disaster for a while… stay in your pajamas, stay home, and log-in to work…)

In what has become one of the most written-about elections next week, Dave Boyce at the Almanac goes into even more detail about the Sequoia Union High School District Board race for two open seats. The Almanac Editorial pages support Chris Thomsen and Bob Ferrando… we’ll see what happens Tuesday.

San Carlos’s billboard/First Amendment issue took another turn yesterday. The guy who wants to promote Sarah Palin for President in 2012 (really?) will have to wait for at least 45 days while San Carlos’s emergency moratorium on new billboards take effect.

Some SSF neighbors of a proposed pot club are none-too-pleased with the plan for a club down the street. Watch Dog just likes the fact that Heather Murtagh of the Daily Journal used the word “sparked” in the second sentence of her story today about a pot club…

The ever-efficient, always-helpful folks in Sacramento will be looking at the implications legalized marijuana would have on communities. Don’t worry everyone, Assemblymember Tom Ammiano is leading the hearings…

A 13 year old boy brought a BB gun to school yesterday at Burlingame Intermediate. He must not have gotten the message that guns only belong at Skyline College…

The Daily Journal comes out in favor of Measure L in San Mateo. BUT, it isn’t the strongest endorsement you’ll ever read and it comes less than a week before election day, which means that a huge chunk of people have already voted. The Daily Journal also provides a run-down of all their campaign thoughts, at least in terms of local measures: F/Yes, H/Yes, I/Yes, J/Yes, K/Yes, L/Yes, M/Yes, (noticing a pattern?), O/Yes, U/Yes, V/Yes, W/Yes, X/Yes, Y/Yes… tough crowd at the Editorial Board at the Daily Journal…

Surprise, surprise. The Menlo Park City Council approval of a massive development, coupled with the stipulation that the development be “carbon neutral” wasn’t as clear as it could have been.

Speaking of carbon neutral… Pacifica is banning Styrofoam. The earth thanks you Pacifica. And we thank Riptide for bringing us the news…

The COWs of Woodside are celebrating their 4th anniversary… by continuing their crusade… or is it a COWsade?

And finally:

Here’s a good headline from the County Times: San Mateo County dentists trying to keep kids from Halloween candy. They only thing more laughable would be a headline that read: San Mateo County patients trying to keep dentists away from golf courses.

Posted in 420, almanac, Bay Bridge, burlingame, city of san carlos, COW, daily journal, ferrando, halloween, mp, riptide, sequoia union, skyline college, ssf, styrofoam, thomsen | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up – 10.27.09: It’s bad news Tuesday….

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

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…

Posted in 49ers, Ash Kalra, carr, chief davis, disalvo, herhold, Madison Nguyen, mountain view, Oliverio, Phoung Ho, protectsanjose, Redevelopment, sam liccardo, sjpd, sjsu, Spitalieri, sunnyvale, swine flu | No Comments »

Morning News Round-up –10.27.09: Blowin’ in the wind

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

So… Burlingame has some extra donor money and the city is panning to use that money to try and change the city clerk position from elected to appointed? Donors are concerned, as they should be.

Or is it just a scandal?

South San Francisco isn’t going to let you roll another joint. For now.

Hold onto your hats… again. Until Wednesday.

San Carlos would rather nobody put signs up than have a “Palin for president in 2012” sign on their turf. Point taken.

If money were any indication…Burlingame Mayor Ann Keighran would win the council race.

A man was shot (but not hurt) in Daly City after a robber’s gun misfired. Robbery gone wrong.

Menlo Park City Council needs a mediator and a political therapist.

Services have been set for William Dickens, a 17-year-old Gunn High School junior who died Oct. 19 at the Caltrain crossing at West Meadow Drive.

And KQED discusses teen deaths today.

Posted in Burlingame Mayor Ann Keighran, city of san carlos, KQED, Palin for president in 2012, William Dickens | No Comments »

Morning News Round-up –10.26.09: Ready, set, swine flu

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Sarah Palin for president? She won’t get San Carlos’s vote.

No more flu shots at San Mateo County temporary clinics! Get your swine flu on.

Man shoots frenemy in San Carlos.

South San Francisco is looking for an Asian woman in her 30s who was caught on a videotape setting a fire at a car wash. It’s just one of many arson fires in the city as of late.

The Coastside College of San Mateo has reached the pinnacle of budget woes….the district is considering closing the school entirely. Students should know in just time for the winter semester.

Sofia Freer and Deborah Ruddock are leading the donor race among candidates for the Half Moon Bay City Council…..and they are political allies, a.k.a Voting bloc.

Pacifica considers trashing Coastside Scavenger. Rightfully so?

Coastside blogger Barry Parr thinks Half Moon Bay needs a change of government…so he suggests voting for Deborah Ruddock, Dan Handler, and Sofia Freer.

Posted in and Sofia Freer, Coastside College of San Mateo, Dan Handler, Deborah Ruddock, Sarah Palin, South San Francisco, swine flu | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up – 10.26.09: No singing in San Jose…

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Across California, San Jose has landed in the news…

  • San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis put 4 officers on leave after a videotape wound up in the hands of Attorney Duyen Hoang Nguyen.
  • (apparently) Showing a brutal beating of San Jose State University math student Phuong Ho, the video is disturbing.
  • Former San Francisco Police Chief/Mayor Frank Jordan joined others in asking if the beating was necessary.
  • Following a yearlong series of questions about San Jose police (possibly) profiling or behaving badly, this has to sting.
  • The Merc’s Editorial Board reminds San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed of his previous statements that it’s not enough to avoid breaking the law, it’s doing the right thing that counts.
  • The Merc calls on District Attorney Dolores Carr to open the (inevitable) grand jury hearings on this case.
  • San Jose Inside shares Mayor Reed’s comment that he is “troubled” by the contents of the video and notes Chief Rob Davis launched an Internal Affairs investigation after learning from the Merc about the video.

Following two deaths from illegal road races in San Jose, the Merc’s Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards did a little digging. Thousands of racers are ticketed in the Bay Area. It’s tough tracking down races. And…. California Highway Patrol Sgt. William Bradshaw says the solution is to give kids their own race track, Sonoma’s Infineon is too far and, well, kids will be kids…

Former Vice Mayor/Labor leader Cindy Chavez says calls by San Jose City Manager Debra Figone for drastic cuts will damage the city and isn’t very creative. Figone, facing a $90 million budget gap is calling for reductions in pay and benefits including elimination of “redundant compensation” to police and firefighters.

Sunnyvale dentist John Licking bucked the sagging home value trend after the city of San Jose offered to settle a lawsuit and buy up property near a planned BART station for a cool $2 million. San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo said, in “technical legal terms” the deal was “twofer” noting the end of the lawsuit and purchase of needed land.

The Merc’s Internal Affairs uncovered a little gloating in District Attorney Dolores Carr’s office. Carr let loose a “final salvo” at (former) Deputy DA/Councilmember Sam Liccardo and (former) defense attorney/Councilmember Ash Kalra for supporting the dangerous promotion of Sunshine. After a Pacific Research Institute report that said Los Altos elementary school, Santa Rita, suspended 81% of their little tykes for “obscene, disruptive, hostile or intimidating behavior” IA went to the source only to find Los Altos is not a hotbed of violent crime.

Thanks to a Watch Dog tipster this blurb from last week. Porn king/Values Advocacy Council president Larry Pegram has officially tossed his hat in the ring to unseat Congressional representative Jerry McNerney. Pegram plans to ditch San Jose for Plesanton. Oddly, the Pegram press release made no mention of Pegrams penchant for censorship.

The Merc’s Patty Fisher was reminded of the importance of friends during the memorial service for former Mountain View Mayor Rosemary Stasek. Email was Stasek’s favored communications tool as she maintained lives, and friendships around the world. Still mourning Stasek, husband Morne du Preez said his wife love parties but always liked leaving while “she was still having fun.”

For your government Watch Dog pleasure…

  • San Jose’s City Council talks further cutbacks and critter care.
  • The Los Altos School District (not a hotbed of kiddie violence) considers renewal of a parcel tax.
  • School closure is on the minds of Trustees for the Alum Rock Union School District with 5 schools facing darkness.
  • The Cupertino Union School District considers technology and special education.
  • In Palo Alto the Unified School District noodles over plans for student achievement and Gunn and Palo Alto High buildings. The board also considers a pre-kindergarten plan.
  • San Jose’s Franklin-McKinley School District hears Rocketship Education’s plans to open charter schools.

Following a weekend of bad news for local deputy dawgs, Protect San Jose leads with an invite to the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers dinner.

Posted in chief davis, Chuck Reed, cindy chavez, deb figone, DOLORES CARR, IA, Jerry McNerney, larry pegram, MR. ROADSHOW, Phoung Ho, sam liccardo, stasek | No Comments »

Morning News Round-Up — 10.23.09: The slow death of plastic bags in Milpitas…

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

When the City of San Jose implemented its plastic bag ban, they said they wanted to be regional leaders. If San Jose’s ban passed, the thinking was that other cities in Silicon Valley would follow. Well, other cities in Silicon Valley are following… Milpitas just voted to move forward with a study on banning plastic bags. Lucky for Watch Dog, the same (tired) arguments are being made by the pro-plastic, anti-environment lobby. The always eloquent former City Councilmember/ former Assemblymember/ unsuccessful State Senate/City Council candidate Manny Diaz said, “Sometimes when you try to do something good, you can have negative results.” Right. Sort of like your campaigns Mr. Diaz. Another interesting tid-bit in this story: “Councilmember Armando Gomez was absent.” We guess Mayor Reed’s leadership on this issue isn’t contagious in that office…

Employee unrest is set for Tuesday in Palo Alto. Earlier in the week both the City of Palo Alto and their largest workers’ union hit an impasse. Just the kind of confusion Palo Alto needs as it asks voters to approve a new business license tax one week from Tuesday…

Speaking of elections in Palo Alto. There is a crowded City Council race up there… Greg Scharff out-fundraised his 13 (13?!) opponents. With issues like the previous story, are these folks sure they want to get on the Council?

Here is some good Palo Alto (ok, Stanford) related news. The Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is receiving a $100 million gift from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. With that kind of gift, they should think about naming the hospital after them…

These are horrible stories:

A Santa Clara kid who was at Sacramento State was beaten to death in his dorm room. The assailant was one of the kid’s roommates who himself was shot to death when police arrived…

A “badly decomposed” body was found next to 101 in San Martin.

More sad news… Saratoga City Councilmember Susie Nagpal has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She has a pretty awesome attitude, which matters, “It’ll be fine. I think a lot of this is just about attitude.” Livestrong Susie…

Finally, there is a memorial scheduled for noon today for former Mt. View City Councilmember Rosemary Stasek. “The Kite Runner” author Khaled Hosseini will be on hand to remember a true hero.

Posted in armando, Chuck Reed, city of palo alto, manny diaz, milpitas, san martin, saratoga, stasek | No Comments »

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