(Very Short) Morning News Round-Up -- 1.15.10

Good morning all you Watch Doggers... we don't have a ton of time today, so we'll keep this short.

Local bio-tech firm Gilead wants to improve its campus in Foster City. There will be a Tuesday night special meeting if you are interested in this or pissed about this or are just looking for a public meeting's microphone to use...

A federal judge kicked out a lawsuit brought by a San Mateo County Sheriff's Deputy who was claiming sexual harassment and assault. Atherton is wondering why they couldn't be so lucky...

Coastsider chimes in on the County's Charter Review Commission... like Sue Lempert and PP Examiner previously.

As the economy still stinks, BART is considering hiking fares...

Pacifica Riptide has wild photos from 330 Esplanade...

Morning News Round-Up -- 1.11.10: A Double-Double/Animal Style Monday...

Your (eventual) ability to order a double-double, animal style in San Carlos could mean a one-time boost to San Carlos' bottom line of $1.5 million. Like any good government agency worth its salt, the City Council is going to look at how to spend that money before they even have it... For those of you who don't know what a double-double, animal style is -- welcome to California.

Now we are talking drama: Belmont may oppose the Cargill development in Redwood City. If there is one thing Watch Dog loves it is inter-governmental agency fighting. Think Foster City versus the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District. This could put that fight to shame. More tax dollars to lawyers, that's what we say...

It is one thing to piss off Belmont if you are Redwood City -- but it is another thing to piss off online hotel booking websites if a huge chunk of your revenue comes from online hotel bookings... Such is the case with what South San Francisco did with their Measure O hotel tax increase which took effect January 1. It seems websites were pulling SSF hotels from their sites because of a mess up in SSF's ordinance -- which will be fixed so that SSF can get back online. Pretty big mess up on SSF's legal department, Watch Dog would guess...

Yesterday was a pants-free day on BART. If that doesn't seem to make any sense, then you are a fuddy-duddy... and you certainly weren't on BART yesterday.

Sue Lempert chimes in today in the Daily Journal where Bruce at PP Examiner did last week: the County Charter Review Committee. She writes her column today in a form of an open letter to the new Charter Review Committee members...

East Palo Alto has a new (familiar) Mayor in place this year: David Woods. His third go 'round at the center of the dais in eight years. This time, though, he wants to make meetings concise and have EPA stop waiving fees for events...

We like to point out examples of when the San Francisco Chronicle remembers that there is a County south of the City and County of San Francisco. So when food critical Michael Bauer visits a restaurant in Montara, we have to capture it on Watch Dog... he went to La Costanera three times and his review was in Sunday's paper. Welcome Mr. Bauer...

Morning News Round-up --11.20.09: donate to your local food bank

The 56-year-old South San Francisco man prosecutors say bit off his wife’s bottom lip
has been deemed competent to stand trial. Ummm...really?

One in six American adults is in need of food, the highest it’s been in 14 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Please help your local food bank this year.

People want to know why they are paying more for electricity this year. We’ll give them one guess and it’s not smart meters or is it?

The Coastside’s Big Wave project made some waves at a recent public hearing. Watch for the break.

San Bruno has a change of heart over South San Francisco’s plan for a huge shopping center next door. Of course, San Bruno was paid $300,000 in pedestrian improvements. Hmmm…

A sad day for Menlo Park….residents remember six-year-old Lisa Xavier who was recently killed in a hit and run car accident.

BART cuts up to 80 jobs without layoffs? SamTrans listen up.

Morning News Round-Up - 10.22.09: 420 daydream -- 8 ounces followed by a footlong...

Foster City Council candidate Herb Perez showed up to the candidate forum unannounced but only to scold a fellow candidate for launching a smear campaign against him. Drama!

Cats gone wild in San Bruno schools. Seriously. Feral cats in school...

The Millbrae BART/Caltrain Station closed after a “suspicious package” was found at the station. Officials determined the package was not a threat…

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed emergency legislation yesterday to restore $16.3 million for domestic violence shelters in the State including San Mateo County’s Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse. Finally! Maybe the State isn't as callous and messed up as we thought...

No, it is:

Another victims of State budget cuts: California State Parks is canceling the 137th anniversary celebration for Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park.

Burlingame is soldiering through this recession, despite a 15 percent drop in sales tax revenues. 15% drop in revenue, 10% unemployment, $5 footlong...

Did you know that you are permitted to carry 8 ounces of marijuana at SFO? Just make sure you have that card to back it up. And once you smoke that 8 ounces, you'll need that $5 footlong...

Speaking of weed... High surf advisory today… bad for swimmers, good for surfers. Remember, Mavericks opens November 1st -- so get your thick wetsuit ready...

Belmont residents can Tweet Police today to ask questions about crime trends in their neighborhoods. I would like to Tweet the Police about driving while Tweeting while driving... (Go ahead, read it back slowly, it makes sense...)

Morning News Round-Up -- 9.23.09: It takes a village...

BART and other Bay Area transit agencies are on guard after federal investigators probe an alleged terrorism plot to detonate bombs in the United States. Orange alert.

Adding 599 housing units near the San Mateo Hayward Park Caltrain station would be a plus for the economy and the environment... but a minus for the NIMBYs.

Just when you thought the economy was getting better… Redwood City’s historic Fox Theater is headed toward foreclosure. We will miss the old gal...

The three Redwood City men accused of stealing 50 pounds of marijuana from a drug dealer pleaded not guilty to several felony charges. The drug dealer (who turned them in?) also got busted for possession of marijuana. Dumb and dumber.

San Mateo County Supervisors are picking their battles, and butterflies ain’t one of them.

And another ubiquitous headline: “Public Pension costs on the rise.” This time, it is in Menlo Park.

You know it is election season when local candidates come up with a “variety of opinions” on how to deal with city issues… and then if elected never follow through with them.

Atherton is holding off another two months before it makes any final decision to raise fees, thanks to one vociferous resident. We guess it doesn't take a village... but perhaps just one village ______.

In case you were ever wondering what it feels like to get hit by Caltrain (other than with increased fares)… Nick Sayer lived to tell his story today in San Mateo. Maybe Caltrain does need louder horns.

A Burlingame man who beat his girlfriend's miniature pinscher to death was sentenced to (only?) six months in county jail Tuesday.

Morning News Round-Up -- 9.22.09: Spare the Air (again)

It was an emotional night for San Mateo City Hall, where council members honored the four police officers and four school staff members who thwarted the armed Alex Youshock from a massive school killing last month.

Redwood City Elementary School District candidates say money and accountability is their number one concern. As it should be. But if that is everyone's concern, who they heck should we vote for?

Be sure to yield to pedestrians today, especially if you are driving through Belmont. Those pedestrians might be police officers. Undercover pedestrians...

Another day of bad air in the Bay Area. Ride the train, or BART, or your bike... please. Because climate change is really happening, folks.

Bad air = hot weather. Expect another “excessive” heat wave next week.

Menlo Park is unveiling the curtain on public employees' (outrageously high?) salaries tonight. A show not to be missed.

API scores are in and once again, Las Lomitas Elementary School District is ranked No. 1 in the state. Good job.

San Mateo County (and the rest of the country) is preparing for the (swine) flu season. Stay tuned.

Urgent! Rescue mini-horses in Woodside. Please.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.18.09: Tesla/ OTB/ Bay Meadows Trifecta Edition

Not a ton of stories today, but several updates on stories you have heard before...

Much to the dismay of the City of San Jose (and probably San Carlos as well), Tesla is moving its powertrain production facilities to Palo Alto. For a recap of Tesla's on-again/off-again love affair with every City in the Bay Area, check out Watch Dog Silicon Valley's Tesla Chronicles.

The OTB Battle rages on... another chapter in San Mateo County's quest to keep OTB out of San Francisco happened yesterday when the San Francisco folks yanked their application that was being considered by the California Horse Racing Board. Why did the San Francisco folks pull their application at the 11th hour: "business reasons"... yeah right. Anyway, the OTB Battle rages on...

In other race track news... As if you couldn't tell from driving by the eye-sore, we get this headline from the County Times: One year after Bay Meadows' closure, redevelopment of racetrack has been halted by economy.

You may have heard that the State of California is in a bit of a financial bind... now, fees are going up at local State parks. HMB Review has the rundown...

The aftermath of the averted BART strike will carry on for several days and/or weeks... riders were angry and didn't support the strike, etc., etc., etc.

"We didn’t know they were closing the store until we read about it in the Daily Journal," those are the words of Maurissa Heffran who owns the property formerly occupied by Starbucks at the Gateway Crossing in San Mateo. Starbucks pulled out of their lease, which was to run until 2017. We guess landlord/tenant relationships aren't what they used to be. (We feel you Maurissa, we don't really know anything until we read it in the Daily Journal either...)

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.17.09: (Fugitive) Karma Edition...

Federal authorities officially named former SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory employee, Silvya Oommachen as a fugitive. She is accused of having destroyed $500,000 worth of research at the federal facility in Menlo Park to reverse "bad karma.” She disappeared after being released on July 28 on $50,000 unsecured bond. Watch Dog wonders if her good karma will help her on the run...

San Mateo is cracking down on dog owners who are allowing their canines to run free with out a leash. Both citizens and park rangers have been tattling on these dog owners, complaining about potential safety concerns, aka pit bulls without a leash. (No comment from Michael Vick...)

Davina Drabkin easily won the election to the Burlingame Elementary School District Board of Trustees. She had no challenger, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t up for the challenge to grapple with education spending woes.

No strike today. It seems that BART union workers and its management finally reached a “tentative” deal Sunday night. Or perhaps union officials read this...

Seventeen middle school and high school teachers from the Bay Area recently traveled to China for two weeks hoping to impart some wisdom on their students about Chinese culture and history. The trip was co-sponsored by the San Mateo County Office of Education.

It took 10 minutes for the Palo Alto council to gave the long-awaited Lytton Plaza in downtown the final approval. What's 10 minutes more on top of many, many years?

Hopefully, your car wasn’t parked in the Emerald Lake Hills area of San Mateo County Saturday. It seems that occupants in a truck were allegedly seen throwing rocks at the windows of parked cars, damaging 19 of them. Fun for the whole familiy...

Pacifica residents are being asked to write to their Senators advocating for new legislation on food safety. Pacifica folks have never met a cause they didn't love...

San Bruno celebrated the return of roughly 100 Marines from Echo Company Saturday. They are among the first group benefiting from President Obama's withdrawal of troops in Iraq.

Cars, bikes, and pedestrians are having a bit of trouble co-habitating in Woodside. The COWS have a run-down...

San Mateo resident Joseph Ortega is in critical but stable condition a police detective shot him Thursday in a drug raid.

San Mateo County is banking on the State to let more money flow into building a new prison facility locally. Money is one issue, but locating the facility is quite another... just ask the Sheriff.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.14.09: Our Gambling Parlor Gem...

The battle over two proposed Off-Track Betting facilities in San Francisco is causing tempers to flare... again. The California Horse Racing Board will make a decision later this morning about the word "radius" -- San Mateo County's claim is that the proposed SF locations breach the radius of San Mateo County's facility. The best part of this story is that Unelected Supervisor Carole Groom calls the OTB parlor in San Mateo "a gem"...

San Mateo County Supervisors had good intentions when they, last year, created a citizens review panel, a group that would investigate misconduct of an elected official. The Supervisors established this ethics group after a San Mateo County Sheriff who was caught two years ago in a Las Vegas brothel during a police raid. (Oops...) The Daily News reports that many of the people identified as potential panel members had no idea they were placed on a list until a reporter called them. That’s because the County has yet to use the panel to investigate any elected officials, including the County Sheriff.

A San Mateo detective shot a man during a drug raid yesterday. And another robbery in San Mateo. Police believe the same person is responsible for all six robberies that have occurred since Aug. 6.

A 27-year-old Redwood City man stabbed his younger brother four times because he was using the computer without permission. He’s been charged with attempted first-degree murder. Motive = Guitar Hero...

Expect the roads to be packed with an extra 340,000 commuters starting Monday. That’s the number of people who are getting screwed by BART starting Monday morning when BART workers plan to start striking. The union announced this Thursday after the BART Board voted to shove a contract down the union’s throat.

But SamTrans will come to the rescue.

SamTrans will route its buses out of BART stations and run a commute-hour shuttle to a temporary transit center where passengers can connect with SF's Muni.

Even with more entertainment and a fireworks show, the 75th annual San Mateo County Fair is expected to be a bit quieter this year. We guess the "stay-cation" craze is dying down...

Fourteen people declared the their candidacy for Palo Alto City Council, where there are five open seats for the November race. Watch Dog can't wait!

Richard Merk, who will conclude his 13th year on the Portola Valley Town Council in December, calls it quits. Known for his politically incorrect questions and attention to detail, Merk says he has no plans to run for re-election because he’s “tired.” (No doubt some folks in Portola Valley feel the same way about Merk... tired.)

Would-be Half Moon Bay City Council candidate Kerri Lake was two sandwiches short of the picnic. The San Mateo County Elections Office disqualified her from the election because her petition has 18 verified signatures of Half Moon Bay residents. She needs 20 to qualify. In an related note, Coastside schools could use more math teachers...

If Congresswoman Jackie Speier learned anything from her Town Hall event Tuesday it’s that she needs a bigger venue. That’s why she is moving her August 23 Coastside event to a larger venue: Farallone View Elementary School in Montara. The time remains the same: Sunday, August 23 at 11:00 a.m.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.13.09: Awesome Budgetary News Day...

And the verdict is… SamTrans is officially discontinuing several bus routes to help deal with a $28 million deficit. The Board hasn’t yet decided which routes are to go, but those who live in San Bruno, East Palo Alto, and anywhere on the Coast are the likely targets. Oh, and they may also hike fares by 25 cents for adults and increase fares for those who use Redi-Wheels from $3 a trip to $4.50 a trip.

In other awesome budgetary news...

Property taxes are declining therefore schools are running out of cash. Not a new predicament for California schools. But San Mateo Union High School District thinks it can solve its cash problem by asking voters to pass a parcel tax. Board Vice President Linda Lees Dwyer admits that the tax is “bad timing” (was she talking about her election or the economy?) yet she goes on to say “I don’t think we have any other option.”

San Bruno City offices will be closed Friday as part of a plan to close a $2.5 million budget gap, the first of six planned furlough days between now and June.

The BART Board is meeting today in an emergency session to consider imposing contract terms unilaterally on the union. It’s their way of saying let’s agree to disagree.

In news having nothing to do with budgets... The well-known and popular Monsignor Bruce Dreier at Saint Robert’s Catholic Church died after an eight-month battle with liver cancer Monday.

Thomas Harold Randall, 51, had a blood alcohol content of .27 during the weekend crash where he killed a 32-year-old woman on vacation from Italy and injured her American hosts. He’s been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated while driving on Devil's Slide.

San Bruno Councilman Jim Ruane is up against Miguel Araujo to be that City’s next mayor.

Another mountain lion was spotted last night in Woodside, according to the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services... the COWs must be scared...

Paloaltoonline.com reports that the Eden Housing development in downtown Palo Alto was once envisioned as a win-win-win situation for seniors, businesses, and low income families. Now it’s just a win. Developers drastically scaled-down the plan to 50 units for affordable families and not much else.

Police warn San Mateo bikers and residents to be careful following a string of strong-arm robberies the last week. We assume they don't mean these type of bikers... these type of bikers don't really need to worry about strong arm robbers...

On a related (?) note... A woman discovered her stolen bike listed for sale on the online site Craigslist, and contacted Menlo Park Police. In a sting, Police arrested James Barry Durr in connection with two thefts.

Expect a lively race for Half Moon Bay City Council, where residents have been inundating City Hall to declare their candidacy. As of yesterday, there were nine candidates running for three open seats.

State regulators have further restricted fishing and boating in local waters, which is sure to affect the industries. California Department of Fish and Game Commissioners voted to establish 22 Marine Protected Areas that limit or prohibit fishing within three miles of the North Central Coast and around the Farallon Islands. Effective 2010, the new protections will expand from roughly 4 percent to cover about 20 percent of the area from Half Moon Bay to Mendocino.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.11.09: The economy is bad... seriously

When people can’t find jobs, they usually go back to school. If that’s what you are planning, then you can get in line. Colleges across the state are having a hard time keeping pace with the increasing demand for more schooling. San Mateo County Community College District’s enrollment increased 14 percent this summer with fall enrollment on track to grow 20 percent. More than 12,000 people are on the wait list at this time.

Another telling sign that the economy is still bad (in case you hadn’t noticed). San Mateo day labors are lingering on the streets, because well, they can’t get work. And once again, it’s pissing off the neighbors, many of whom don’t like the fact that their tax dollars are going toward a Day Labor Resource Center, a drop in center where day labors can try to find work. Councilman John Lee assured residents there was nothing more that the City can do about lingering day labors: “We can’t run them out. If anyone has better ideas bring them forward...” he said. Watch Dog's guess is that his offer to bring ideas forward will encourage many to do just that... get ready Councilmember Lee.

BART union members nixed a contract settlement Monday night. BART Managers and Board members are graciously threatening to shove a contract down the throats of any union that didn’t accept the deal. Surely, that won’t lead to a strike?

Apparently, Foster City has the best roads in San Mateo County, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Crews have started renovating the 124-year-old Emmett House in Belmont into two low-income housing units.

Another clear sign the economy is bad: The CHP writes more tickets. Tomorrow, the CHP will be cracking down on anyone gabbing on the phone while driving without a hands-free device. Thank you for the hands-free heads-up...

Portola Valley’s Town Council was hoping residents would read between the lines when it recently sent out postcard to residents, reminding them of the Town’s serious budget woes. The postcard went out three months before voters are set to decide on renewing the Town’s utility tax, which bring in 10 percent of Portola Valley’s revenue.

The long-awaited Palo Alto groundbreaking of the renovated Lytton Plaza was scheduled for Monday but then canceled, thanks to a local resident who pointed out that it would have violated City Charter. City leaders are scrambling to schedule a special meeting while downtown merchants are lamenting the setback. Only in Palo Alto...

Coastsiders say Route 17 isn’t just a scenic route that’s “nice to have.” Residents who packed the community hearing last week pointed out that Route 17 is a necessity: it is the only line serving both the Moonridge low-income community, and stops in the upper section of Montara.

Morning News Round-Up -- 8.4.09: "The best Legislature money can buy..." --Comicus

Tonight is National Night Out... so get your flashlights ready. (And no, it is not a pub crawl.)

When the economy tanks...

Fewer folks need to take BART these days. Heck, with 10 percent of folks out of work, it stands to reason ghat ridership is down 9 percent for the past twelve months.

East Palo Alto, meet your San Mateo County Coastside friends. Coastsiders, meet East Palo Alto. Why the intro? You are getting SamTrans bus services cut. Sorry, the economy and all...

Here is a headline everyone can get 'excited' about, courtesy of the San Mateo County Times: Millbrae prepares for big increase in water rates. My guess is that the preparation is really needed by the folks who are going to pay the 'big increase' not the actual City. By the way, 35 percent over the next five years is a huge increase, not a big increase...

Speaking of huge, that's the word the Palo Alto Weekly is using to describe the cost of Palo Alto public employees' health benefits. Perhaps it is a good time for some on the Palo Alto City Council to step aside and let new folks deal with the problem they helped create...

We guess the burgeoning health care costs aren't hurting the City of Palo Alto that bad. They are spending $70K because they don't trust the California High Speed Rail Authority. Really.

"Politics, politics, politics... the best Legislature money can buy..." That's what's up in the Assembly District soon-to-be-formerly-held by Ira Ruskin. Here is where we stand:

• Supervisor Rich Gordon = $109,433,
• Yoriko Kishimoto = $92,770 (including a $25,000 self-loan)
• Kai Stinchombe = $74,838
• Marc Berman = $73,869.

Good luck everyone.

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.31.09: "I had pony"... in Menlo Park

Belmont City Manager Jack Crist is encouraging the City Council to hop the lawsuit bandwagon against the State led by the California Redevelopment Association. Belmont laments that the State is raiding its Redevelopment Agency, resulting in a $2.8 million loss. He told the Daily Journal that there is strong evidence that the “heist” is illegal. Regardless, it’s crippling Belmont’s rockin' downtown.

The Daily Journal reports that a four-alarm fire that consumed South San Francisco salami plant last week left 34 of the factory’s 95 employees unemployed. More importantly, the blaze destroyed 200,000 pounds of deli meats. It’s not likely a disgruntled employee or a vegetarian started the fire. Fire Marshal Luis Da Silva says arson has been ruled out.

The Exotic Erotic Ball that skipped town last year is returning to the Cow Palace in October with its costumes, exotic dancers, and adult movie stars. The Ball's organizers (no pun intended) are expecting a healthy turnout of more than 30,000 people over the two days.

San Carlos resident Vivian Heinzel gets to choose between a $2.4 million house near San Francisco's Golden Gate Park or take a cool $1.8 million in cash as her grand prize in the "San Francisco Dream House Raffle," a four-month fundraising event sponsored by the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Watchdog thinks she should take the cash and replace the burned salami in SSF -- or perhaps buy us all tickets to the Exotic Erotic Ball.

Three baggage handlers at San Francisco International Airport were convicted of stealing from luggage, the Chronicle reports. The baggage handlers were busted during an undercover sting that was launched in the wake of the theft of a retired police sergeant's gun.

East Palo Alto officials and residents were caught off guard when SamTrans officials announced Wednesday night that four out of six bus lines that link East Palo Alto and Palo Alto may be eliminated or cut back. Resident Sara Hassani, who has been following transit issues in South County, made astute observation: "There would be no way for people in East Palo Alto to get to the Palo Alto Caltrain. There are also no grocery stores in East Palo Alto.”

Palo Alto husband and wife have been charged in federal court in San Jose with ripping off a computer networking company when they submitted more than $80,000 worth of false claims for rebates, the paloaltoline reported.

This is for the horse lovers out there: More than 500 equestrians, including 2008 Olympic gold medalist Will Simpson, plan to compete in the 39th Menlo Charity Horse Show, set for Aug. 4 through 9 at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton, according to the Almanac.



In case you couldn’t get enough… BART and its labor unions are dragging out their transit drama. The two entities bargained through the wee hours of the morning today in hopes of reaching agreements that would save the transit agency millions and dodge a commute-crippling strike, the Chronicle says.

Cities everywhere are screwed when it comes paying their part of retirement benefits... Now its Palo Alto’s turn. According to the Mercury News, the projected cost of medical benefits for retired Palo Alto City employees has increased 28 percent in two years. Meanwhile, the City’s trust fund for paying those benefits has lost millions. The reason? It’s not just rising cost. More people are retiring from the City than expected.

Morning News Round-Up -- 7.30.09: Public Transit (News) Day

It is public transit news day around the County...

It’s taken four months and four State mediators to oversee negotiations between BART and its union. Carlos Rivera, the spokesman for the transit agency’s largest union, remained uncommitted when discussing the likelihood of a deal this week. He told the Daily Journal that the union is seeing the endgame. He then backpedaled a bit, saying “We’ve been here before..." and "...it’s hard to predict what will happen.”

Chalk this up to "unintended consequences"... People are happy about the twitter.com/ Caltrain feed launched in May 2008. The County Times reports that more than 2,000 Caltrain followers are now tweeting about delayed trains, slow service, etc., etc., etc.

Looks like you will need to buy a car if you live on the coast. Coastsider Barry Parr reports that SamTrans is proposing to cut the only coastside bus route. There will be a public meeting on August 6th for all you folks would like to have their voices heard...

Speaking of unresolved labor disputes, bad budget times, and difficult local government decisions... firefighters with the Menlo Park Fire Protection District are getting burned on the salary front.

Meanwhile, in SSF (where there is better bus service and a BART stop) Police have put the smack down on drunk drivers, arresting 15 drivers under the influence in the last year through a year-long grant from the State.

(Remember this?) Unemployment has certainly taken its toll. Authorities say it’s part of what drove Rosendo Cazares Abarca, the former President of the Fair Oaks Elementary School Parents Association, to pilfer money from school fundraisers, including a picture day with Santa Claus.

The Almanac reports that Menlo Park Councilman Andy Cohen was the lone and stoic dissenter on a vote to approve a new gym in Menlo Park’s Civic Center.

According to the County Times, Foster City Mayor John Kiramis persuaded Herb Perez, the owner of Gold Medal Martial Arts in Foster City, to run for City Council. Pretty good chance Herb Perez could kick anyone elses' ass who is running... as for his political skill, we'll all have to wait for November to see.

Wider streets in Palo Alto… always a battle worth fighting, especially if it means there will be room to park two cars instead of the one. Like anything in Palo Alto, neighbors fall on all sides of this issue.

Morning News Round-Up – 7.1.09: Chubby factor, uncensored...

Things are heating up in Half Moon Bay with Sequoia Healthcare District board member Don Horsley outlining his annexation plans. Roughly 4,000 Coastside patients are without doctors – all are without medical records. Horsley’s plan for a clinic doesn’t seem to include record distribution…

Everyone is belt tightening these days, in spite of that voters in San Mateo and Foster City overwhelmingly approved a levee assessment district. Chalk one up for sensible voters.

San Mateo's Grand Jury ended its year with one last slap at (un)electing County Supervisors and went a step furthur calling for district elections in a letter released yesterday.

The union-management battle is spilling over into BART trains. Meanwhile, the State has sent mediators and a letter from legislators asking for “good-faith” negotiations.

San Carlos residents are asked to weigh in on land use outlined in the weighty general plan. More power to you, over here it’s called a doorstop.

Members of Palo Alto’s city council backed away from a “prevailing wage” requirement for city projects, again. Staff estimates an increase in project costs though public works assistant director Mike Sartor agreed studies didn’t support that belief.

“Residents only” could be the message Palo Alto’s Parks and Recreation Commission sends tonight. The flip side of the message is use for teams that don’t cut players…

A big Watch Dog “Woof” to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the County for $1 million in grants to “safety net” groups around the county.

Steve Jobs home, or pieces of it, may have a savior. Gordon Smythe has stepped up to save “historically significant elements” such as roof tiles, an organ, mailbox, flagpole and tiles.

State Senator Leland Yee lost a biggie when his bill, Fair Sentencing for Youth Act, was shot down. Yee has a week to convince the Assembly’s Public Safety committee that locking up and throwing away the key on kids wasn’t the voters shining moment.

HopeLab is one of President Obama’s fav non-profits as an example of “social innovation” with their kid friendly (exercise laden) video games…

When you head into your favorite fast food joint for lunch (and breakfast and dinner) today don’t be surprised to see the depressing news on the chubby factor.

The little city that could… Atherton lands, again, and again, in the news…

• Censorship. The accusation comes from Councilmember Elizabeth Lewis as colleagues lay on rules on making it more difficult get stuff on the agenda. Fretting items on the council’s agenda could be “very dangerous,” Councilmember Jim Dobbie supported the new rules. Right, because spirited public discourse is scary.
• Spanked for overcharging residents for business license taxes, Atherton heads into the red to payback the overcharged. Email from residents reminds Watch Dog that the budget hit should have landed earlier but a councilmember managed to delay the red ink while bolstering their campaign rhetoric…
• Today should mark the end of the ongoing assault/battery drama for Atherton’s public works supervisor Troy Henderson. On the stand Henderson says it was all a set-up...

Morning News Round-Up – 6.30.09: Starting the fireworks early...

The grand jury reports keep on coming. The latest is a call to the Sequoia Healthcare District to give taxpayers a break and reject general tax money. The grand jury also suggested the District overcome “minimal communication” with annual snail mail.

Week 5 of Dr. Ayres’ trial continues with more victims taking the stand. Daily Journal and William Ayres’ Watch cover the details for anyone not in the courtroom.

The Belmont Sports Complex faces tough times if they want to use Redevelopment Agency money for a facelift. A pissed off Mayor Christine Wozniak blasted the Sports Advisory Committee for “bullying” their way into council policy and a lack of transparency.

“(We) got plenty of creative ideas…” from comments during a High-speed Rail outreach according to regional manager Dominic Spaething. No doubt including a tunnel starting at the Redwood City/Atherton border and ending just South of Palo Alto...

A BART strike could be in your future. Higher fares start tomorrow. Getting to SFO will run you $4… Still cheaper than parking, if you have a car...

San Mateo-Foster City Schools are thinking Boothbay Park makes the most sense for a new school. Look for a loud response from the city.

Redwood City charter school Everest Public High School opens in 2 months but still doesn’t know their address… Sequoia Union High School District is hoping Everest will take a site in East Palo Alto offered up to replace a PCB infested site in Redwood City.

Foothill-DeAnza Community College District Board Vice President Hal Plotkin will join Chancellor Martha Kanter in D.C.. No doubt he’ll be pulling out of the race to replace termed out Assemblymember Ira Ruskin leaving room for Yoriko Kishimoto, Rich Gordon, and Rose Jacobs Gibson to battle it out.

Pissed off Palo Alto employees marched on City Hall the day before their contract expires. Union leader Mike Keate wants negotiations to be productive and City Manager James Keene wants them to be public, promising entertaining days ahead.

Peninsula cities are falling just short of (actually) thumbing their collective noses at State efforts to get cities to accept their “fair share” of housing. Menlo Park housing manager, Douglas Frederick said the State didn’t put “a lot of teeth” into their efforts.

For a quiet little town Atherton manages to land headlines an awful lot. Public works supervisor Troy Henderson’s attorney said the police officer is all “about money.” Deputy District Attorney Sharron Lee disagrees saying “no means no.”

Forget Michael Jackson, Daily Journal’s Michelle Durand is mourning the loss of TV pitchman Billy Mays and wondering, in these days of pitchman arrests, blandness and internet shopping, who will fill his shoes.

A strong riptide pulled a Mother and daughter to their deaths at Montara Beach.

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.10.09: La Honda Escapee Edition (again...)

An Editorial in today's Daily Journal gives props to the Congresswoman Speier for her openness with her Federal earmark requests. Luckily for the Daily Journal (and Jon Mays) Watch Dog brought up the "Bridge to Nowhere" Wednesday for their reference...

The Palo Alto Medical Foundation's plan for a hospital in San Carlos is officially on hold. The $300 million hospital, which would be an affiliate of Sutter Health, no longer has a definitive timeline.

In other healthcare-related news, Half Moon Bay's shuttered Coastside Family Medical Clinic is holding off on filing for bankruptcy...for now.

While Half Moon Bay doesn't currently have a health clinic, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants Half Moon Bay to revamp its Emergency Operations Center -- and is dedicating $750,000 to the effort. Send your thank you notes to Congresswoman Eshoo...

If you work in Santa Clara County (or read Watch Dog Silicon Valley) you may have realized the phone craziness yesterday. Tens of thousands of folks had their phone lines screwed up all day. AT&T blamed the problem on vandals who cut fiber optic lines. The episode caused emergency response and public safety officials to declare a state of emergency because 911 lines were messed up.

What is clearly becoming a trend, a 16 year old that was in the County's juvenile detention facility in La Honda escaped, but was captured shortly after. By Watch Dog's count, this is the third such escape (and capture) since we began publishing...

If you take BART, start cobbling together 10% more change for your fares...

We thought this week's only car-related news was the Putnam Subaru versus Carlsen Subaru battle. But a Daly City body shop, PAR Auto Body Shop, has cracked this week's (local, auto) news cycle with a story about their environmental efforts...

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.20.09: a.k.a. A Glorified Trash Can...

The biggest news today is clearly that Counties across California getting ready to deal with the budget package the Legislature figured out yesterday. From our own Assemblymember Jerry Hill: "There's something for everybody to hate in this budget..." Inspiring...The Daily Journal Editorial crew chimes in the budget too reminding folks about the "mother of all ballot measures" to deal with the budget in May (which will include Watch Dog's favorite, open primaries)...The budget talk is all ok with Palo Alto Superintendent Kevin Skelly because the deal (and education cuts) finally gave him something else to talk about besides his bone-headed remarks...)

And speaking of the budget a.k.a. garbage...

Burlingame became the first city in the County to oppose part of the new garbage package. If you don't remember (how could you forget?) the previous stories on this issue, here is a brief background...Burlingame is saying no to the $65 million recycling center on Shoreway Blvd. just off 101 in San Carlos. Burlingame Councilmember Jerry Deal called the facility a "glorified trash can" and a "Cadillac trash can." Deal makes a run at City Finance Director Jesus Nava for most colorful language when talking about trash -- remember this? Burlingame's decision could have far-reaching impacts. Stay tuned...

You might remember this story about two high school students luring a Petaluma teacher to San Mateo To Catch A Predator-style. The teacher will stand trial for a bunch of pretty serious felonies...

San Mateo-Foster City School District have a plan to deal with an ever-increasing student population: new school, satellite campus, new classrooms, etc. Previous coverage here.

There was a triple shooting with one fatality outside the Daly City BART Station last night at about 7 p.m. (No wise guy, it was not a BART Police Officer that actually did the shooting...)

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.19.09: Wasteful-Spending Angry Man Edition...

Recession Repercussion 1,001: Schools face cuts because they had money invested with some (safe?) failed banks and the State is in a state. San Mateo Union High School District is today's -cost-cutting-public-agency.

But don't worry, the State Legislature approved a budget plan...such an efficient bunch in Sacramento...

Speaking of Sacramento...

"Senator Joe Simitian: Your cell phone law sucks." That's not Watch Dog saying that, that is a billboard on 101 in East Palo Alto, thanks a wasteful-spending angry man named Grant Paulson...

As if someone predicted it...oh wait, someone did predict it. The weather, and a mechanical glitch, almost caused a catastrophe for the South Bayside System Authority's waste water treatment facility. Good thing taxes are going up to pay for improvements...

Partly because of the Great Recession, and partly because of an $18 million lawsuit payout -- the woes continue for Half Moon Bay...now the San Mateo County Times is even on the story...

It was here yesterday though, thanks to the fearless reporters at the HMB Review...if only spending huge sums of money on Sacramento lobbyists could get you out of a financial crunch...

What do a clown suit, federal officers, a small bicycle, and Redwood City have in common? You have to read this story to find out. It almost sounds like an Onion story...

Two agencies asking for money must be better than one. Right? That's what the game-plan is for CalTrain and the California High-Speed Rail Authority as they petition for federal stimulus money for Peninsula tracks...

Speaking of High-Speed Rail, if you still haven't gotten everything off your chest about how angry you are with the fact that it is going to be running through your back yard, the California High-Speed Rail Authority has extended its deadline for your comments...

Michelle Durand does her best Debbie Downer impression in today's Daily Journal "Off the Beat" piece...



The new plans for the Burlingame Safeway which were disclosed earlier this week and are now (seemingly) on a fast-track have a whole group of folks a little pissed. I guess that makes sense since the group's title is the Safeway Working Group...

State Senator Leland Yee (and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano) have put forward a bill to mandate police oversight at BART...perhaps that would have been a more helpful bill last session?

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.2.09: Groundhog Day Edition...

Downtown San Mateo hopes to buck the economic trend (somewhat) by marketing itself to the world. Not to sound overly pessimistic, but good luck Downtown San Mateo Association...

Everyone's favorite electric car company, Tesla, is (apparently) not-ready to leave San Carlos -- which is a good thing, because they are not ready to move to San Jose either...For a full Tesla update, check with Watch Dog Silicon Valley who first broke the story that Tesla abandoned their San Jose plans...

The battle of government agencies continues in San Mateo between the City and the San Mateo Union High School District about the cost of using each others' fields. San Mateo Union jacked up their fees first, the City followed suit. Now, no one is happy, which is too bad for them -- but it is good reading for all of us...

If you park at the BART stations in Millbrae, San Bruno, or South San Francisco, expect to start paying for those hard-to-get spots...and if you take SamTrans to avoid having to get one of those hard-to-get BART parking spots, your fares are going up too...

Everest Charter School (finally) gets a thumbs up (recommendation) from the State. This means they will (almost certainly) receive a thumbs up for next school year. Watch Dog says "finally" because the school has been rejected locally twice: once by Sequioa Union High School District and once by the County Board of Education. The writing was apparently on the wall that Everest was going to succeed in getting State approval because the District set aside some temporary buildings in East Palo Alto last week...So much for local control of schools..

It turns out Watch Dog was right (again)...on January 23rd, we wrote this about the much-discussed lane closure near Carlmont High:

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...

Well, the rioters went to the Belmont City Council, where they were met with an unsympathetic City Manager who said, "...It’s a school zone — for those who think they have a right to get to work faster during that time, they don’t..." Well, one person went (a lot) too far in expressing his or her concern over the lane closer by sending threatening letters to the Belmont City Council and City Manager. Police are now involved...

San Bruno's ban on Styrofoam still has restaurant-owners upset...

The County has to repay $1.5 million to the Federal government because a consultant told them they were due the money from the Feds. That consultant screwed up -- now the County has to pay. Perhaps the ultra-litigious County can go after the consultant? Just an idea...

$2.8 million grants were given out last week by the Peninsula Health Care District. At least one local agency is doing ok financially therefore spreading those ok finances around.

You may remember this story: a jail cashier responsible for collecting and storing folks stuff while they were locked up was stealing...well, the cashier is getting 60 days in jail. I wonder how she'll be treated while serving her time...

Supervisor Gordon is exploring a run for Ira Ruskin's seat...that shouldn't be news to anyone who reads the PP Examiner who wrote about this story at beginning of January...Watch Dog followed up on PP Examiner's posting with some analysis as well in a post titled: A Friendly Blog Disagreement...The County Times finally catches up...Try reading some insightful, interesting blogs around the County and you might learn something...

Speaking of the PP Examiner, they wrote a piece called: The Failed Leadership in the County and provide some historical perspective to where County government went wrong. PP Examiner also gets on Watch Dog's bandwagon complaining about the number of appointments versus elections happening in the County these days...

Garbage rates going up in Menlo Park...Watch Dog hasn't talked about garbage for a while, but with 24% rate increases on the horizon, we guess folks will be talking about it more and more...perhaps 24% more...