Morning News Round-Up -- 1.23.09: Democracy Crumbles Further...

A giant Watch Dog apology for yesterday. I did the work, but forgot to hit "publish"...so yesterday's news is below...sorry.

On to today...

Something stinks in San Mateo. Seriously. The San Mateo City Council met last night to (undemocratically) appoint someone to the Council to replace unelected Supervisor Carole Groom who replaced Jerry Hill when he headed to Sacramento. One of the (many) qualified candidates in the running, Karen Herrel, vowed to not run for election in November. That's why Watch Dog thought that was a smart choice (so did Jon Mays at the Daily Journal). But the Council decided that Planning Commissioner Fred Hansson was the best choice to hand a seat to. He'll run as an incumbent in November. But here's what stinks the most: Hansson won the seat in the first round of voting -- meaning in one ballot, 3 Councilmembers voted for Hansson. Really? This is either a major violation of the Brown Act or the biggest coincidence in the history of politics. If I were one of the 13 folks who didn't get the nod, I'd be really pissed, and probably file something with the FPPC to see if they will investigate a Brown Act violation. This thing seems to have been over before it even began. A 3-1 vote for Hansson seems fixed. (For those of you who don't know what a Brown Act violation is -- it is when a City Council (like San Mateo's) actual decide amongst themselves how they are going to vote before the meeting...)

The fight between San Mateo Union High School District and everyone else continues to have repercussions. You'll remember that San Mateo Union decided to keep all its fields and facilities under its own control and start passing the true cost of operating the facilities on to the folks that use them -- like sports leagues, community groups, and non-profits. Everyone seems angry with the District, but not Watch Dog. Districts have to do what they have to do in these troubled times. Would you rather have more severe cutbacks in the classroom or a bump up in field usage fees?

Local schools stand to gain from the economic stimulus package expected to get through Congress and the President by mid-February. The biggest local beneficiary? South San Francisco Unified School District and San Mateo-Foster City School Districts -- who both stand to get $4 million each. Thank you Anna and Jackie...and the new guy in the White House.

While San Mateo Union is raising money through raising field-use fees and some districts may get some Federal cash for construction projects, the San Carlos Elementary School District may seek voter approval for a $78/year parcel tax to get some more money. This may go to an "all mail" ballot in May. Which is the same time Burlingame is likely to go to voters for lots or money for drainage systems...Watch Dog thinks schools will fair better than drains in an election...

And to help schools even further...

State Senator Joe Simitian thinks the State budget crisis might be close to an end...according to his interview with the Palo Alto Weekly...don't bet on it...have you ever known the folks in Sacramento to do something on a timeline that is predictable?

Sue Lempert gives us her Inaugural play-by-play in her column in the Daily Journal. Watch Dog hopes she is outraged about the process in San Mateo as we are and writes about it...

In December, the death of a woman on the West Sharp Park golf course looked a lot like a murder. But now the Coroner says Laura Jessica Valentine may have been trying to cool herself down from drugs by taking a dunk in chilly pond. She probably suffered from hypothermia and drown. The waiting in on for when the Pacifica Tribune will actually post a story about this tragic event begins now...but, as usual, Riptide has it covered...

Remember the spate of animal-related crimes last year? There was the cat stomping, the dog stealing, and the dog beating. The dog beating guy pleaded not guilty yesterday.

Nothing gets people more angry than forced changes to their routine. Changes to traffic patterns and kid drop-off routines at schools are especially sensitive. So when Belmont eliminated a lane of traffic around Carlmont High, Tierra Linda Middle School, and Immaculate Heart of Mary schools, people went ballistic. Belmont is standing firm that they did the right thing -- but this may cause a full-scale riot...

This headline isn't news to folks in Atherton and Menlo Park: High-Speed Rail Worries Peninsula Residents...there are some sessions where you can let the California High Speed Rail Authority know what you think. Either way -- this thing looks like it is happening if all the money comes through...sorry Atherton and Menlo Park NIMBYs...