Morning News Round-Up -- 5.6.09: Supervisor Gordon goes to Washington...

County leaders took their "we got royally screwed by Lehman Brothers" message to Capitol Hill yesterday. Supervisor Rich Gordon testified in front of the House Financial Services Committee, so did the Chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District (and other County reps from California and elsewhere). Their message: we got screwed by Lehman worse than almost anyone else, and deserve some bailout/TARP money. The Dynamic Duo (Congresswomen Speier and Eshoo) -- will continue to push the case with their House colleagues...

In other bailout news...

This story was in the Half Moon Bay Review last week (and subsequently on Watch Dog), but it is now (finally) making it to the San Mateo County Times... Half Moon Bay's own bailout from the State shifted a bit last week...

While County folks were in DC, checks from the Federal government are headed to local school districts. In San Mateo, that means $1.6 million to help educate low-income students and $9 million for Special Education. Good news, we are sure, for schools.

Other (mostly) good school news yesterday...

3 school districts in the County had parcel tax elections yesterday. Each needed a 2/3 vote -- the only one to fail was Jefferson Elementary in Daly City. Woodside and San Carlos passed. 2 out of 3 ain't bad, unless you are Jefferson.

Woodside Elementary School District
Yes - 74.76%
No - 25.24%

San Carlos School District
Yes - 71.2%
No - 28.8%

Jefferson Elementary School District (Daly City)
Yes - 57.89%
No - 42.11%

Dude Alert... The County passed new medical pot regulations, just as Governor Schwarzenegger tokes up his own plans for legalization...

Riptide had a piece earlier in the week about the Coastside Farmers' Market opening today... but other Farmers' Markets are opening this week as well. Kaiser - SSF, 25th Avenue - San Mateo, Kaiser - Redwood City, College of San Mateo, Hot Harvest Nights - San Carlos, SSF BART, Belmont Train Station.

Jon Mays is on his game today in the Daily Journal. His Editorial gives a good overview of the dire financial situation local government agencies are facing -- and he also gives the political background.

San Mateo City Council candidate David Lim pulled in a big endorsement yesterday. San Mateo City Councilmember John Lee is getting behind Lim's bid for Council in November. Watch Dog knows this because David Lim has a website where he posts this "web log" thingy... perhaps other candidates for office want to get into the game as opposed to keeping their websites stagnant for months?

Finally, in really big news... The Almanac's phone numbers are changing, so if you frequently call the Almanac to harass Andrea Gemmet (you know who you are), you'll have to use a new number...