Morning News Round-Up -- 5.11.09: The Wacky World of San Francisco Politics (with a San Mateo County/Pacifica twist...)

Sharp Park Update: Pacifica and the County of San Mateo are now (hopefully) in the mix as the City/County of San Francisco look at the Sharp Park issue. Imperial Supervisor Ross Mirkirimi wants to hand the land over to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, but San Mateo County/Pacifica want to be in the mix too. The folks pushing the San Mateo/Pacifica plan include Assemblymember Jerry Hill, Pacifica Mayor Julie Lancelle, and SF Supervisor Sean Elsbernd. This makes it official -- the Sharp Park issue is now part of the wacky world of San Francisco politics. If two Supervisors have opposing ideas, expect the unexpected...

Palo Alto's Jack Morton may have stirred up High-Speed Rail's Rod Diridon... Diridon fired back to the Peninsula and urged everyone here to be patient, nothing has been decided about elevated tracks or tunneling or anything else. Diridon did not say, "Chill everyone..." But he probably should have...

Here are today's "governments-in-financial-crises" stories:

The San Mateo Libraries are cutting (way) back to save money. If you love libraries, you better head to a public meeting and have your voice heard... the next one is tonight at 7 p.m.

Speaking of San Mateo, some unions are weighing the options of pay-cuts or layoffs... San Mateo is also considering two tax hikes (sales and hotel) on the November 2009 ballot.

In Palo Alto, the Firefighters' union is giving up scheduled pay-raises... Vice Mayor Jack Morton thanked them for "...stepping up to the plate..."

The La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District made its cuts official: 3 elementary teachers will be let go and a high school Spanish teacher will go to 2/3 time. On the administrative side, a secretarial position was cut and an after-school program director will go to 3/4 time. Don't forget, this is a District facing the loss of its Superintendent and a pending legal battle about misspending bond money.

The State's horrible finances are crushing cities and other local agencies. Palo Alto may lose (another) $2.43 million to the State if the Governor's newest plan is enacted.

A bad accident in Half Moon Bay on Highway 1 killed a 16 year-old on Saturday morning...

Sue Lempert's Monday update in the Daily Journal covers a lot of ground. She talks flood protection taxes, Facebook, and (unelected) Supervisor Groom's new gig. Then she gets to the good stuff, Garbage and San Mateo Politics. On the Garbage front, she discusses the push to put elected officials on the garbage oversight agency, the South Bayside Waste Management Authority. In San Mateo Politics, she beats Watch Dog to the punch on the Assemblymember Jerry Hill endorsement of David Lim for San Mateo City Council...

A former County mental health clinic worker is suing the County for employment discrimination. The woman filing suit against the County was fired for (allegedly) running a real estate firm from her County post...

The COWs of Woodside are promoting the Spring "Event at Woodside"... May 22-24. BYOS (Bring Your Own Saddle...)