CORRECTION/UPDATE Morning News Round-Up -- 7.13.09: Off-Day for Lance/ On-Day for Sonia

We haven't talked about High Speed Rail in a while, especially as it relates to San Mateo County's chief NIMBYs (Atherton and Menlo Park). This weekend we learned that the High Speed Rail Authority (obviously) rejected a settlement offer from Menlo Park and Atherton regarding their lawsuit.

Here is a lawsuit we have heard a lot about, the trial of William Ayres. The County Times breaks down a very busy, and possibly pivotal, week last week in the trial. Remember, Dr. Ayres himself took the stand himself in his own defense.

San Mateo City employees have agreed to feel part of the economic pinch by forgoing pay raises and taking some furloughs. (Furlough is the new vacation...) No so for the County's in-home health care workers, who are going to keep their wages and their jobs if the Supervisors pass a proposal tomorrow night. (Which they will pass this.)

To fill their budget gap, San Carlos has been polling residents/ voters about paying higher local taxes. San Carlos leaders seem pleased with the 62 percent of the folks that say they'll vote yes -- unfortunately for San Carlos, you need 2/3 support for a new tax. We'll see how this goes.

CORRECTION/UPDATE: SAN CARLOS ACTUALLY NEEDS 50% + 1 VOTE, NOT 2/3.

Unsurprisingly, public libraries up and down the County are facing tough economic times too. As an added kick in the pants, visitors to libraries are up in most places, at least from Watch Dog's experience.

A unique consequence of the auto industry's downfall is that big blocks of land that were being preserved for possible auto dealerships, like the old Century 12 land in Redwood City on the east side of 101, are now back in play for a variety of land uses. One developer, SyWest Development, wants to build 500 housing units and some commercial space on the once future home of an auto dealer. Imagine the great views of 101 those 500 housing units would have!

Sue Lempert has a few (ok, a lot) of ideas about what the next Governor should be like/should do. In her Daily Journal column, she runs through each of the contenders (and non-contenders too)...