Morning News Round-Up -- 8.24.09: Pay Cut Gate Revisited...

BREAKING NEWS: The Chronicle reports that San Mateo’s Hillsdale High School is being evacuated this morning and the bomb squad has been called to the scene in response to a blast. That's no way to start the new school year...

Daly City sent a letter to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury saying the City refuses to restore the salary that City Clerk Annette Hipona got when she got elected last year. You remember the Pay Cut Gate story, right? In June, the Grand Jury concluded that the City was unjustified in slashing Hipona's pay from $101,374 to $52,988 a year and recommended that the decision be reversed.

State cut-backs are one thing, stupid accounting mistakes are quite another. Both are leading to cutbacks in the San Mateo County courthouse.

Scientists + Sharp Park Golf Course = Less and Less Golf...

What's better than Target? A bigger Target. That's what's coming to Colma, along with increased sales tax revenues to City cofers..

San Mateo and San Carlos are thinking about forcing its commercial businesses to recycle. Steve Sherman of Cascadia Consulting, which is working with the South Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA), noted that while recycling is popular, “Americans, in general, do not like to be told what to do.” Good point, especially by these guys...

Jury selection starts today for the trial of the East Palo Alto gang member accused of shooting and killing a police officer more than three years ago in front of a teenage police explorer doing a ridealong. It’s the first County death penalty case in six years.

More than 300 supporters and opponents of the proposed healthcare reform bill showed up to voice questions and opinions at a relatively peaceful Sunday Town Hall meeting in Montara hosted by Congresswoman Jackie Speier. She restated her support for healthcare reform to the 300 people who showed up. She also told them that in her district there are 46,000 uninsured folks who would be eligible for healthcare under the reform proposals. All this and she managed to make her point without relying on the phrases “single-payer” or “public option.”

In case you didn't get enough: Congresswoman Anna Eshoo is having her own telephone town hall meeting tonight so residents can vent about that public option plan.

Palo Alto is reeling after the suicide death of a 13 year old on Caltrain tracks where two other Gunn High School students died in the past several months. Former Palo Alto Mayor Victor Ojakian and Supervisor/former Palo Alo Mayor Liz Kniss are considering a committee to examine the issue.

Here are two stories about how things get done (or not) in Palo Alto:

Here's a shocker... The City of Palo Alto doesn't like the design of the new Lucile Packard Childrens' Hospital.

Bowlers are hoping to spare the popular Palo Alto Bowl from being demolished. The group plans to let the City Council know how they feel about the 53-year-old alley.

Residents living near the Caltrain tracks and their intersections with Encinal, Glenwood, Oak Grove and Ravenswood avenues should buy earplugs. The next four weeks Caltrain will be working on nearby railroad crossings.

And more good news from Caltrain… higher parking fees and fewer trains starting Aug. 31. Who doesn’t love paying more for less?

Screw Caltrain and ride your bike. About 500 cyclists from all over the Bay Area took part in the fifth annual Tour de Menlo Saturday. All riders stopped at the Picchetti Open Space Preserve and Winery in Cupertino for lunch, before heading back.

Morning News Round-Up -- 6.9.09: Colma - A great place to be alive (and gamble)

Lucky Chances is looking to add more tables so more folks can get their lucky chances... Colma: A great place to be alive (and gamble)...

"Watch Dog will see your Mervyn's and raise you one Kohl's..." in Redwood City.

Hotel tax + Millbrae = Probable

Drop in revenue + San Bruno = Cuts (Perhaps more table at Artichoke Joe's will help...)

Bruce at PP Examiner is going to be mad. The San Mateo County Times is getting in on his story about the Pacifica City Councilmembers who are up for the California Coastal Commission.

This must be reassuring to parents, two San Carlos schools, Central Middle and Arundel Elementary, need to be seismically retrofit. Enjoy the last few days of the school year. (And ignore this story.)

And this school story...again... The enrollment at San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District is swelling. (Today's story is in the Daily Journal, but the San Mateo County Times had the same story yesterday...)

The stabbing in San Mateo on May 31st has led to the arrest of Donald Peau Fukofuka, a former Aragon High School football player. The 18-year-old apparently targeted the victim in his home.

City Unions in Palo Alto are fighting back, and packing the City Council Chambers. Last night was public Round 1, Watch Dog expects this to be a long fight...

That fight in Palo Alto shouldn't be confused with this one. Two teenagers wielding pipes fought police. Police eventually won.

Wrapping things up on a political tip... David Lim's quest for the San Mateo City Council took an (ironic but positive) twist recently. Lim was endorsed by Unelected Supervisor Carole Groom... why ironic? Read this story...

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.18.09: Visually Aided Edition...

Our County is blessed with folks who care a great deal about our community. This is especially critical during tough times...which these are. Foundations and parent groups and other non-profits are going into high fundraising gear to make up the shortfall for key agencies...especially schools.

Speaking of raising money...

Chris Anthony of San Carlos will be attempting to beat the longest drum roll ever on Saturday to raise money for MS and a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records...

Look for the "As Fresh as it Gets" sticker on locally grown produce and seafood. This is a San Mateo County thing and Watch Dog is trying to get our "Fresh" sticker (a different fresh, though). Michael Pollan would be so proud of our County...

A fire in downtown Menlo Park torched Peet's and the Calla boutique on Santa Cruz and University.

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Daily Journal's Editor Jon Mays gets in on two big national stories (and one huge local story) in his piece today.

• National Story 1: He does his best Sarah Palin impression by saying "thanks, but no thanks" to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's newspaper-coddling proposal...
• National Story 2: He asks why anyone would be surprised by AIG, and
• Huge Local Story: He (joins Watch Dog) and asks Michelle Durand to stick around...

Congresswoman Jackie Speier has a different view on AIG than Jon Mays...

Dude. The pot ordinance in San Mateo is moving forward...Seriously dude...

Colma's Interim City Manager Laura Allen is no longer Interim. We hope the Colma City Council doesn't pull a Daly City and rip away half of her salary now that she has the job officially...

Speaking of the Daly City Clerk's salary cut. Thanks the Pacifica Riptide, we found the YouTube video of Annette Hipona speaking out to the City Council...she is forced to stop speaking by the Police Officer in the City Council Chambers...the tension is palpable and Watch Dog highly recommends watching the clip. The drama comes at the 5 minute 30 second mark when Hipona begins to speak...



And speaking of videos...A 35 year old was caught video-taping a high school kid urinating, was arrested, and may face a year in jail and mandatory registration as a sex offender. This is a horrible (and creepy) story. But within some horrible and creepy stories, there is a great piece of information. Check out this detail from the San Mateo County Times' story:

"The student, then 15 years old, was not initially aware of Hill's [the creepy guy's] presence [in the bathroom], according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. But when the teen noticed the man with his camera, he grabbed Hill, put him in a headlock and walked him out to a teacher, Wagstaffe said."

Many many times Watch Dog (and everyone else) has written about high-speed rail. It is sort of our latest County past-time to either complain about the train or embrace the train. Now, those that are on the complaining side are trying to get everyone signed on to a letter to send to the California High Speed Rail Authority. This is causing a rift, which is always fun to read about. My favorite part is that San Mateo and Redwood City, who are largely in favor of the train, have a "...fear of being linked with cities such as Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Atherton..." Ha!

You remember the string of gas station robberies, the last of which was a robbery and a sexual assault in San Bruno? The (alleged) perp pleaded not guilty yesterday...on 14 felony counts.

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.23.09: One Positive Economic Story (seriously)...

We'll start this damp day with a bright 'bucking the trend' story. A new Michael's is opening up in Colma's Serra Shopping Center. A new store opening up in this economy deserves everyone's praise. So, when they open on March 8th, please stop by and pick up your scrap-booking supplies and silk flowers...

If Michael's is the good economic news, here comes the bad...

"Mid-year budget adjustments" is government agency-speak for cutting some services and/or implementing some financial slight-of-hand. San Carlos will be considering these 'adjustments' tonight. They have a bit more wiggle room than other cities, apparently, thanks to a capital fund that is supposed to go to infrastructure. This year, it may go to operating expenses. Don't forget, San Carlos is also one of the cities with big sewer and garbage bills hanging over their heads...

and...

The Cabrillo Unified School District will hold a budget (cutting) session this week.

and...

Half Moon Bay's Ritz-Carlton makes it into the Chronicle's Matier & Ross column today -- and not in a good way. Folks have been canceling their trips to the HMB Ritz, which means the Ritz needs fewer employees and HMB is receiving less taxes. Farmer John even pulls a big-paper quote, referencing Willie Brown...

and...

San Mateo is looking at new revenue (taxes) and service cuts to close a budget gap.

Now, onto some things that aren't as depressing...

There are (hopefully) a few budget bright spots on the horizon, especially for local school districts and local roads...Ladys and Gentlemen, in introduce you to the Federal stimulus package...

If fees and taxes are going to be raised, one downtown Burlingame business owner would at least like to have the money spent on improving business by way of a Downtown Business Improvement District...

Cell phone towers and Belmont go to together like peanut butter and Salmonella...a recent decision by the Belmont City Council to site a cell tower in the Belmont hills has (surprise!) neighbors very concerned...

Peninsula folks who don't like the plans for high speed rail up and down the County (and Palo Alto) are getting together, hoping they can shout against the wind louder together than separately...

In a stunning show of newspaper journalism, the Almanac started a story about new folks joining the Peninsula Open Space Trust with this:

"Below is a Feb. 13 press release from the Peninsula Open Space Trust regarding Donna Dubinsky of Portola Valley and Mark Wan of Woodside."

Thank you Almanac reporters and editors for at least admitting it...

Finally, a (rare) must read for all (political) Watch Dogs...

You must read Sue Lempert's column in the Daily Journal today. She breaks down the upcoming political battles for County Supervisor when Mark Church and Rich Gordon head on to (potentially) greener pastures. Here is the short version:

• Mark Church's Seat -- The Contenders (so far): Millbrae's Marc Hershman, Millbrae's Gina Papan, San Mateo Union's Dave Pine, Burlingame's Terry Nagel.
• Rich Gordon's Seat - The Contenders (so far): former Sheriff Don Horsley, coastside activist/organizer April Vargas
  

What is interesting about Lempert's piece is that she talks about how deep the San Mateo County political bench is and how competitive these races may be...perhaps if she threw her weight behind a special election to replace Jerry Hill we would have had a competitive race for that seat too...