Morning News Round-Up -- 2.8.10: When the Saints...

Garbage Saga Coastside... the Garbage Saga for much of the County is pretty much over, unless of course the construction off of 101 goes over budget. But in Pacifica, they have their own Garbage Saga. Pacifica was having major problems with its garbage company, Coastside Scavenger. And by major problems, we mean that Coastside Scavenger wasn't paying Pacifica what it was supposed to. So... Pacifica went looking for another company. Instead, what Pacifica seems to be getting, according to Pacifica Riptide, is a company that is taking over Coastside Scavenger (and the contract). Recology will get the sweet contract -- which is the same company that got the original Garbage Saga contract for most of the rest of the County. It is turning into a one-garbage company County.

We all know that the Coastside Family Medical Center is in bankruptcy... but the medical records are about to be released to the good folks at the Phoenix Project who will then begin to distribute those records to former patients. Here is some more info about the Phoenix Project and how to get your records...

While some School Districts do everything they can to stop Charter Schools (Sequoia Union High School District, we mean you), others are embracing them, sort of. The San Carlos Elementary School District has converted all but one of its schools to a District-run Charter School and they want to do the last one soon too...

While the turf (legal) war continues in San Carlos, the City got back bids for the soon-to-be-turfed park and it looks like it will cost a lot less than originally expected. Which is good news. Too bad the extra money can't go to legal fees...

San Bruno daytime, home burglaries are on the rise... sort of like in Atherton. A public meeting is slated for February 17th.

Just as Spring Training is about to start, a baseball story... sort of. Barry Bond's son will stand trial in June on misdemeanor charges of battery, false imprisonment, vandalism, threatening a police officers, and obstructing a police officer... all of this from a fight with his mother.

While Congresswoman Jackie Speier is going to stay Congresswoman Jackie Speier for a bit longer because she isn't going to run for Attorney General, it (apparently) doesn't mean she won't jump the Congressional ship in the future. According to Matier and Ross in the Chronicle, Speier's "confidants" are looking ahead to Feinstein's seat...

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.11.09: Really? Really?! Really?

The Belmont "Parks Forever Campaign" story has been moved to the next chapter. Earlier in the week, the Belmont City Council, through lack of folks voting (2 recused themselves and one refused to vote), failed to put a measure on the ballot in November. But that hasn't deterred Coralin Feierbach, who has vowed to get the Parks Forever on a ballot in the future in order to protect Belmont's parks through signatures (hell and high water...)

Speaking of elections... there is one going on right now in Millbrae to renew their fire assessment tax. Ballots are due back by July 14th. Good luck Millbrae leaders.

Bruce at PP Examiner continues to be on the Peninsula Health Care Board story, writing about the appointment of a new Board member. Another elected body in San Mateo County, another appointment...

In addition to the PP Examiner, Bruce chimes in on the State of the Media... and even mentions Watch Dog San Mateo in his "Bloggers are part of the fourth estate" piece... Thank you Bruce for the mention. Riptide picks up on Bruce's props too... (However, we still would like a little credit for the Pay-Cut Gate title...)

We knew the Redwood City Elementary School District had a big budget gap, who doesn't? But they are looking to have 51 fewer classrooms next year... yikes!

The latest animal cruelty in San Mateo County got resolved yesterday. The prosecution of the couple who neglected their German shephard because of "financial concerns" ended, the case against the husband got dismissed and the wife pleaded no no contest. Watch Dog hopes we won't see an animal cruelty case for a while -- it hurts our feelings.

Really? The San Mateo County Times is now on the story about Pacifica swapping out its garbage hauler. Really? You are now on this story? Really? In a twist, Riptide picked up the story from the San Mateo County Times, who picked up the story from Riptide initially (Watch Dog guesses)... Really?



A (relatively) big, new development project got approved yesterday in Palo Alto by the Planning Commissioners. Amazingly enough, folks who live in the area of Palo Alto Bowl also seem supportive of the 4 story hotel and housing development.

The County of San Mateo is going to stop buying bottled water... expect a lot of thirsty County employees...

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.8.09: Zero Press Club Awards for Watch Dog...

We love when a big story breaks in Atherton... the number of people saying "I told you so" swells tremendously... This time, a Public Works Supervisor inappropriately touched a female Police Officer. Inappropriately touching a woman with a gun sounds like a stupid thing to do... but that's just me. My email is open -- start dishing Atherton insiders...

This will make the Ayres Watch people happy... the rumors that there is a plea deal in the works for Dr. Ayres (on trial for child molestation) are (apparently) not true. For minute-by-minute updates, including the breakdown of witnesses, check out William Ayres Watch blog... and things should start heating up as jury selection starts today...

While we are in court discussing molestation... the Belmont Chamber Board President will face molestation charges for molesting his girlfriend's daughter. We've covered this before...

In non-crime related police news, San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer seems to be in the lead for the top post in San Francisco. Why someone would want to leave the City of San Mateo to take on a thankless job in San Francisco is beyond Watch Dog, but I guess there could be an opening at the top of the San Mateo force soon...

More police...

Palo Alto Police and San Mateo County Sheriffs are beefing up their patrols of Caltrain tracks, which have been the scene of two teen suicides and one attempted suicide in the past month alone.

We love the Daily Journal, we really do. We read it first in thing in the morning and it is often our first stop in our Round-Up... but we can't read more than two sentences of Keith Kreitman when he writes. It sounds like he doesn't really like writing his column either based on his pessimism... so between us not liking reading it and him not liking writing it...

But we love Sue: Sue Lempert makes her appearance in the Daily Journal today talking about the Translink card (which will be available on all Bay Area transit soon), El Camino Real traffic light synchronization (from Millbrae to Menlo Park by next year), Hillsborough's John Roos being named US Ambassador to Japan, a Constitutional Convention, and a new Planning Commissioner in San Mateo, Kelly Moran (who seems to be on the outs with developers...). Thanks for the check-in Sue.

Speaking of Watch Dog's love affair with local news outlets, our first love is Pacifica Riptide. Local coverage by local people covering local things that otherwise wouldn't be covered. Over the weekend, they went into incredible detail about the legal challenges for Coastside Scavenger, Pacifica's garbage company. It seems they have their own Garbage Saga over there, and it is hurting Pacifica's bottomline tremendously. Why? Because Coastside Scavenger isn't paying the City of Pacifica its franchise fee...

From garbage to wastewater... Millbrae just got a shit-load of stimulus money from the Feds... (get it?)

If you like jazz, there is one radio station that is a must-listen in the Bay Area, KCSM. But they are strapped for cash (like the City of San Carlos?) They are going to hold a benefit concert at Yoshi's in Oakland on June 30th to raise cash. If you are interested, here's where you can find more information.

Now that Civil Grand Jury has found that "Red Light Camera Increases Safety" in Menlo Park, Millbrae, Redwood City, and San Mateo, San Bruno wants in on the action. Could it have anything to do with the fact that it's also a pretty good fundraiser for cash-strapped cities?

Perhaps if San Carlos has red-light camera it wouldn't be in such a fiscal mess. Actually, it probably would be. San Carlos is now celebrating a decade of budget cuts...

Steve Jobs' desire to demolish the Jackling House in Woodside past the most recent hurdle with the Woodside City Council, but another preservationist lawsuit may hold things up a bit...

This isn't new... the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District wants to get land from the City of Foster City for their burgeoning student population, but Foster City leaders are being a bit stubborn saying, essentially, that the School District should get its own land...

Joe Carcione, the dude that sued Redwood City for their downtown plan, is due $260,000 in legal fees from the City of Redwood City. Seems like a good business model for Joe Carcione: sue a government agency and then get your legal fees (he's the lawyer) paid...

PP Examiner mixed it up in a (rare) Friday column discussing the vacancy being filled at the Peninsula Health Care District. Controversy brewing?

Finally, our local papers received awards of the weekend from the Peninsula Press Club. Palo Alto Weekly grabbed 7, the Daily Journal grabbed 14, so did the San Mateo County Times, and Watch Dog won nothing. Heck, we weren't even invited. Voice your concern here... Don't worry, they covered "new media" by awarding KCBS.com the first place award. Have any of you ever visited KCBS.com? Watch Dog's campaign for next year begins today...