Morning News Round-Up -- 5.12.10: Move Your Horse!

The courting of San Carlos police services is in full effect. Redwood City and the Sheriff's Officepresented their credentials to the San Carlos City Council. "We have a really, really fast car..." Redwood City police didn't say... "Oh yeah, well our uniforms have more starch..." The Sheriff's Office didn't say...

Also doing their best to court a local community is the High-Speed Rail Authority... and it isn't going that well if you read this story about a High-Speed Rail presentation in Atherton... Why bother?

From the big trains to the little ones...

Caltrain is in a deep financial hole, and Michael Scanlon was talking about it yesterday to the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce...

If it is the second week in May in California it can only mean one thing... teacher pink slips... there will be a bunch locally. But not in Menlo Park City Schools...

Skyline Stables may be going away to make way for a water storage tank. Thank the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for this one and get your horse to Portola Valley quick...

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.11.10: Union Pacific and Menlo Park, a match made in heaven...

Everyone is trying to get in on the breakup of San Carlos and Belmont's fire department... folks are courting San Carlos to allow them to serve San Carlos... which begs the question: why would any other city think they'll get along with San Carlos when Belmont didn't?

Add a rail company to the list of folks opposing High-Speed Rail... Union Pacific. Union Pacific could set up their anti-High Speed Rail office right in downtown Menlo Park...

Remember the Menlo Park City Schools parcel tax that passed last week? Well, it isn't enough to fix their budget problem... more taxes?

No red-light cameras in San Bruno after all because they won't generate any/enough revenue...

Don't worry though, San Bruno will make up for the money that they won't get from red-light cameras by raising rates on trash...

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.10.10: The Election Starts Today...

Not too many, not too few, but just right... Restaurants in and around San Carlos... good thing someone did a study to tell us this. Of course, those restaurants may soon get their firefighting services from San Mateo after San Carlos breakup with Belmont...

Foster City is also in deep financial poop.

To fight their poopy budget, Menlo Park City Schools just passed a parcel tax last week... now they are putting together a plan to spend it.

Commonsense/peaceful coexistence at Sharp Park? Riptide has an update...

A Gran boulevard? Or just El Camino Real...

The June 8th election starts today, so...

The Daily Journal does a deep dive into the County Community College District's parcel tax on the June 8th ballot...

Sue Lempert does a dive into politics as well with her Daily Journal column: Prop 16, Prop 17, San Carlos financial woes and how Measure U could have helped, a ballot statement (gaffe?) from Richard Guibault, and the Republican fight for the Gubernatorial nomination...

There was another plane crash involving local residents... this time, a Belmont couple was heading for San Carlos. This, plus the East Palo Alto crash and the Sierra Foothills crash...

Watch Dog got a chuckle from this little bit on the Mercury News website on Sunday evening... check out the really, really important "California News"...

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.5.10: Margaritas all around...

DAs must disclose the criminal history of police officers who testify in court to defense attorneys. This has all come to light in San Francisco, which caused this story to be written in San Mateo County... in San Mateo County, the number of officers with "...histories of crime or professional misconduct..." numbers about a dozen...

Apparently Foster City is better off than many of her neighbors financially. While nearly all workers in every city are forgoing raises, many are also getting their beneifts cut... not in FC. Unionized workers will be getting their health benefits increased over the next three years. It is just a matter of time before FC regrets this decision...

The Menlo Park City Schools and Portola Valley School District got their wish with their all mail-in ballot election this week. Both parcel taxes passed... MPCSD with 76 percent of the vote and PVSD with 78 percent. Kudos all around... the lawn signs worked!

You will no longer have to hold it in (or pee outside) at Mirada Surf Trail. That's because the Board of Supervisors accepted a piece of land from the Peninsula Open Space Trust for bathrooms (and parking)...

This should be fun... the Pacifica School Board will discuss budget cuts tonight.

The Burlingame Voice continues their crusade against High-Speed Rail with part 14 of their series. Part 14?!

Morning News Round-Up -- 5.4.10: Buy your Corona today...

If you have been sitting on your duff waiting to return the ballot you have in your house for your School Districts' parcel tax, please return it... well, if you are going to vote yes, please return it... (Menlo Park City School District and Portola Valley School District folks, that means you...)

Here's some good news, even if it is years off. One more lane in each direction of 101 between Marsh Road and Embarcadero Road... they will be "exit only" lanes, but still, that might help a little.

Pink slips - check. Fewer school days - check (perhaps)... Redwood City School District is having a tough go of it.

Big sewer rate hikes coming to Half Moon Bay...

Governor Schwarzenegger had a plan to fund parks with revenues from off shore oil drilling... um, not such a hot idea now... Because Pacifica and Half Moon Bay look much better with no oil spills on their shore.

And some great news. The Coastside Farmers' Market in Pacifica opens tomorrow...

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.12.10: Et tu (candidate) Grocott?

San Carlos Councilmember Bob Grassilli joined Andy Klein, Omar Ahmad, and Randy Royce in turning down some or all of his health benefits and stipend... et tu (candidate) Matt Grocott?

While we are in San Carlos... we learn that the State may be providing fire service to San Carlos in part to save money and in part so that San Carlos and Belmont can stop bickering. Isn't it a long way to travel from Sacramento to San Carlos to put out a fire?

And as two cities look to break up from their public safety marraige, two others are looking to tie the knot: Millbrae and San Bruno may join forces... with their forces. Perhaps Millbrae and San Bruno should talk to San Carlos and Belmont before going all the way...

The Menlo Park City Schools may lay off 12 folks... so if you love Menlo Park City Schools, you should vote yes for their parcel tax on May 4th. If you don't love Menlo Park City Schools, you should probably stay home on May 4th...

From layoffs to library closures... Belmont-Redwood Shores School District is looking to close its libraries to save cash -- who needs books anyway?

Over the objections of NIMBY neighbors, the plans to expand Serra High are moving along nicely. Attention Neighbors: Serra's pool will not screw up your life... now, go back to the High-Speed Rail meetings...

Morning News Round-Up -- 3.1.10: http://mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county

To start March 2010, we have to comment on the change that happened over the weekend on the San Mateo County Times website. They actually have their own website, and now it is obvious that they are the same paper as the Mercury News. Also, instead of saying "Oakland Tribune" on the top of their homepage, it actually says San Mateo County Times. Kudos to all those busy web developers... and their bosses who got the go-ahead to change things up... Oh yeah, and they got their own URL, http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county

DMB's water rights that they intend to use if the Saltworks project ever goes through in Redwood City gets the microscope treatment today. The headline: "Redwood City Saltworks developer poised to become major Bay Area water baron" pretty much says it all. The story hints that Redwood City might be tempted to approve the DMB proposal in the salt flats because the City needs the water that could come with it...

Speaking of controversial... High-Speed Rail on the Peninsula. A big report is coming out in April and everyone is figuring out how to oppose it... like hiring lobbyists or having public meetings...

You don't think people are crazy about schools in Belmont? How about camping out for Kindergarten... we get camping out for Miley Syrus tickets, but Kindergarten?

In the land of constant elections, Burlingame voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to return their ballot on the parcel tax measure for the Burlingame School District.

The former Belmont Chamber of Commerce president's molestation trial has begun. For the Belmont Chamber, this trial flies in the face of the old adage that any coverage in the news is good news...

The San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer is now also the head the California Police Chiefs Association...

It is Sue Lempert Monday in the Daily Journal. She looks at the sale of the Crestmoor High School site calling it deja vu... she also talks about all the local races happening, like for Coroner...

And onto Recession news...

• New water rates are coming to Foster City. The new rates will save you money if you save water and cost you lots if use lots...
• SSF Unified is looking at raising taxes, cutting offerings and jobs, or all of that...
• Teachers may be laid off in the Menlo Park City School District. That ought to go over well with Menlo Parkians... and ought to push them to vote yes on the upcoming parcel tax.

Cool stuff about the tsunami that (thankfully) wasn't on Coastsider...

To end today's Round-Up, we go to Pacifica Riptide... Riptide does some reporting today (and perhaps provides some opposition research for the Josh Becker/ Yoriko Kishimoto camps)... it seems Supervisor Rich Gordon has missed half of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority meetings in the past year... oops.

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.25.10: Post-Debate Spin...

Politics leads the day: The 21st Assembly Democratic candidates faced off for the first time yesterday in Redwood City. Rich Gordon, Yoriko Kishimoto, and Josh Becker were there and answering questions. And their respective camps have clearly found and saved Watch Dog's email address... thanks for the updates/spin everyone. We can tell you this: one camp thought it was 'corny' that Josh Becker brought his kid's Thomas the Train to the debate. At least everyone is focusing on the big issues...

One issue that was discussed (a lot, apparently) was High-Speed Rail. And Quentin Kopp chimes in too in today's Daily Journal.

Local budgets (cities and school districts) got lots of time at yesterday's debate too...

• Budget cuts, serious ones, coming to Burlingame...
• Fewer cuts are going to come from San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District, because they won their parcel tax vote... officially. Congrats.
• And a preview of cuts in the Menlo Park City School District can be heard tonight -- including what will happen if the $178 per parcel tax doesn't pass in May...
• Not getting cuts is Belmont's money for "outreach" to residents on High-Speed Rail... which we thought was kind of the City Council's job.

The lawsuit filed against San Mateo County's elections office is moving forward. This is about electronic signatures captured via iPhone being used to sign State elections petitions and is being brought by Verafirma, a Silicon Valley start-up. San Mateo County Elections' chief Warren Slocum rejected the signatures because he couldn't figure out a way to verify the signatures under California law.

Amgen Tour of California will go Coastside... Rogue waves stay away...

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.11.10: The Assessor-Clerk-Recorder-Short Order Cook-Blogger will retire...

Everyone's favorite Jack-of-all-Trades Warren Slocum will not seek re-election this year. In a County where one person leaving office sets off an entire chain reaction of political positioning, this is no different. Because unlike Lee Buffington's job, people actually want to be assessor-clerk-recorder... I mean, what are the chances that an assessor-clerk-recorder will lose $150 million overnight? Anyway, the jockeying has begun to replace Slocum: Supervisor Mark Church wants in (which will set off another landslide of political manuevering for his seat) according to the news story, but other familiar names popping up -- like Papan, Keighran, Hershman, Holober, Nagel, and Mullin..

Budget Woes Daily...

• San Mateo Community College District will most likely seek a Countywide parcel tax because of their crappy financial picture...
• San Mateo City workers must not like this budget headline today: Workers must make new sacrifice...
• San Bruno's property taxes, sales taxes, and all other local taxes are taking a hit -- and now they will cut, cut, cut...
• $9 million in cuts to the San Mateo Union High School District are needed... if only there was a piece of land to sell to help balance the budget...
• A parcel tax measure is underway for Menlo Park City Schools...

Millbrae officially announced that it was no fun... they will not allow marijuana dispensaries...

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.4.10: SBMPD

The County Administation, led by County Executive David Boesch, and the Deputy Sheriffs' Association are in a bit of a battle, if you recall. Stemming from a not-so-nice letter Boesch sent the Deputies about how they must not really understand the economics of the County and that they are being stubborn about salary give-backs. The Deputies shot back this week saying that they actually agreed to some give-backs, but that the County Administration (Boesch) never brought their proposal to the Board of Supervisors... now the County Administration has gone quiet. Given the "hornet's nest" they stirred up, perhaps that's a good idea...

There is no news on the healthcare front in DC, but there is in SMC.. the Sequoia Healthcare District is granding $4.3 million (out of the nearly $17 million it will cost) to consolidate three of the County's clinics into one facility. The three clinics are: Fair Oaks Children's Clinic, Fair Oaks Adult Clinic, and Willow Clinic.

There has been a home-robbery crime spree in San Bruno apparently. It has prompted police to call a community meeting slated for February 17th... until then, lock those doors.

Speaking of police -- the departments in the aforementioned San Bruno and Millbrae will be combined starting at the end of the month. Perhaps their first big success together will be to get to the bottom of the home-robbery crime spree in San Bruno....

The Menlo Park City School District is heading to the ballot in May for a $178 per parcel tax. It needs 2/3 to pass and will go toward bridging the budget gap at the District.

Only 9 folks showed up for the really important meeting about whether or not to disband the Half Moon Bay Downtown Business Association. They didn't disband, but rather are thinking about making 'membership' mandatory through a Business Improvement District within the city.

Morning News Round-Up -- 2.1.10: Nothing to sneeze at...

Big waves were all over the coast this weekend. Unfortunately, one wave brought a Berkeley woman out to sea and she drown in Pacifica.

On a more pleasant Pacifica note, the contractor hired to save the Esplanade Ave apartments in Pacifica are making headway...

Assemblymember Jerry Hill no longer likes red-light cameras. He wants the State to look into it. Perhaps Hill could do it quickly? Like before my $271 infraction needs to be paid...

Speaking of Assemblymembers, or wannabes, a new organization has sprung up locally: the Redwood City Woodside Democratic Club. As their coming out party, they are hosting the (trimmed down) line-up of candidates for the 21st Assembly District on February 24th in Redwood City. Is it too early for the candidates to use all the opposition research they are conducting?

Watch Dog is sick of the San Carlos artificial turf issue. While the anti-turf people are bringing a lawsuit, the City of San Carlos is looking for folks to do the laying...

$2 million in grants is nothing to sneeze at during these tough times... the Peninsula Health Care District handed that much out this week. Presumably some of it will go to stopping sneezing, ironically.

(Political) Martydym hits in San Carlos... Councilmember Andy Klein is passing up his $300 per month stipend. Perhaps he wants to donate that to Watch Dog to keep this blog up and running...

Speaking of Andy Klein...

Sue Lempert's column in today's Daily Journal looks a youthful trend on the local political landscape...

COWs of Woodside has an announcement for everyone... there is a seat on the ASRB Commission... for those of you who don't know Woodside Town government well, that's the Architecture and Site Review Board.

The San Mateo Union High School District would really like to sell the "Crestmoor" site in San Bruno. The problem is that the community doesn't necessarily feel the same way and sort of feels shut out of the process. Well, tomorrow the District is going to hold another (rowdy? unpleasant? boring?) public meeting on the issue. If you miss it, however, you can watch it on San Bruno TV...

And if you are one of the 7 or 8 people who ride SamTrans (just kidding) you should bring some extra cash today, fares are going up.

If there is an election coming up (and there is, in June) then there are likely to be School Districts looking for extra cash through parcel taxes. Menlo Park City School District and the Portola Valley School District are both expected to go to the ballot.

For years the City of East Palo Alto and Page Mill Properties spent time in court fighting about the rent control ordinance in that city. Now, Page Mill Properities is in bankruptcy court seeking protection. Today was going to be the day when the 1,800 units in East Palo Alto that Page Mill Property owns was going to be on sale... but it is delayed.

Morning News Round-Up -- 4.29.09: Swine and Pot Edition...

Yesterday, Swine Flu was everywhere in the news, but not many places in real life. 24 hours later, more and more cases are showing up. Including some in the Bay Area.

In other "medical news" -- the County Board of Supervisors approved a medical marijuana ordinance yesterday. Perhaps pot can treat the new flu?...

Belmont (and a few other cities) have a big sewer bill to pay. So, to pay for it, Belmont is considering (and reconsidering) raising water/sewer rates. Last night, they spent two hours talking about what a bad idea it was to raise rates on residents and businesses during this economy, and then went ahead and increased rates. Councilman Bill Dickenson voted against the plan. Apparently he believes money to pay for the sewer is going to fall from the sky...

But that wasn't the only thing on the Belmont agenda yesterday...

The Belmont City Council wants to know the history of the garbage-overseeing agency the South Bayside Waste Management Authority before formally asking for elected officials to serve on its Board. Belmont City Councilmember Bill Dickenson is concerned that having a Board comprised of staff members from each member agency has lead to "back room" deals. Ironically, San Carlos City Councilmember Omar Ahmad is defending the status quo, saying that elected officials overseeing big contracts can lead to the same thing...Watch Dog guesses no one can be trusted.

San Bruno is looking at cutting costs and services and increasing fees/taxes. Get in line...

San Carlos said yes to annexing Devonshire Canyon... and to the 5 new homes that go along with it. All of this over NIMBY objections and apparently in spite of the dusky-footed woodrat. (Vice Mayor Randy Royce disagreed with his colleagues on this issue and voted no...)

Watch Dog finds inter-government squabbles fun. So we will watch closely as the City of Menlo Park and the Menlo Park City School District try to work out their differences on the District's plans for Hillview Middle School...

"Restore Sharp Park" gets some ink in Pacifica Riptide...pretty good writing on Ian Butler's behalf, even though he agrees with San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkirimi...

While we're on it, if you want your voice heard on the Sharp Park Golf Course issue, there will be a public hearing San Francisco tomorrow at 1 p.m. at San Francisco City Hall, Room 263. (Hat tip Bruce...)

(Snowy) Morning News Round-Up -- 3.2.09

The snow must have caused this Foster City car accident. Remember, be careful where you park your house in Foster City...

There is lots of Belmont stuff today:

You may recall that Belmont shut down a lane of traffic near Carlmont High School sending already hyper parents over the edge -- including one person who was compelled to send threatening letters to the City Council. Well, the issue is still causing a stir, but it doesn't look like Belmont is going to budge any time soon -- even though San Carlos would like it to.

And while parents (and San Carlos) are complaining about traffic around Carlmont High School, Belmont neighbors are complaining about Animal House-type parties sprouting up from rental homes in Belmont. Apparently there is a direct relationship between rental homes in Belmont and keg sales....

And if traffic and keg-parties weren't enough Belmont news for the day...how about some Belmont park news? The question is, how to keep parks thriving and green. Does it need to be from a tax?

From the Economy in the Tank File: The Atherton City (Town?) Council will meet today to discuss the City (Town's?) budget...and...Menlo Park City Schools are looking to cut $1.1 million from next year's budget...But on the good news front, the Federal Stimulus Package is coming to highways and roads near you...

Because people have been knocking down the doors to learn more about Portola Valley, a new ($70,000) website just launched to give residents and others insight into what happens in Portola Valley. I guess the old phrase "what happens in Portola Valley, stays in Portola Valley" is no longer true because of this website...

Thank goodness for Pacifica Riptide. If it wasn't for them, no one would have any idea what is happening in Pacifica. (No offense Tribune...)

Pacifica voters will vote on a 1 cent sales tax increase starting May 19th. The all-mail ballot will be due back on June 2nd...

Riptide also looks at Pacifica's retiree liabilities as reported in a 2008 Civil Grand Jury report. (Remember, Watch Dog looked a recent Civil Grand Jury report, but is awaiting the Garbage Grand Jury Report...)

More details of the State's bailout of Half Moon Bay...Watch Dog has confirmed that there is no truth to the rumor that Farmer/Mayor John sent flowers to Jerry Hill and Leland Yee.

Speaking of our bearded hero: In a move sure to piss-off businesses in San Bruno, Assemblymember Hill calls for a statewide ban on Styrofoam. John Garamendi will be pleased...

A march against the fast train will happen today in Palo Alto. Palo Alto City staff is recommending that the train be tunneled through Palo Alto of else run through someone elses' town...remember the thinking in Palo Alto: slow train = good, fast train = bad...

South City has some ideas to save money on energy, unfortunately, those ideas actually cost money in the short-term to save money in the long-term. Specifically, using green energy (wind/solar) to power the water treatment plan. It seems the new technology will come online when rates go up...

If it is Monday, it must be Sue Lempert's column day in the Daily Journal. She drops some Constitutional Convention knowledge as well as updating her column from last week when she talked about outsiders challenging entrenched politicians...

Finally, food luck Taylor Middle School cheerleaders!!!! O....M....G....!!! DISNEYLAND!!! (If you want a related story, find out how cheerleaders from Morgan Hill almost missed their Disneyland fun because of a slacker coach...)

Morning News Round-Up -- 12.22.08: "Have you ever noticed?" aka Andy Rooney Edition....

A process set for San Mateo City Council appointment for appointing someone for vacating the seat held currently by newly unelected Supervisor-elect Carol Groom. Democracy faces an uphill battle in the County...expect something as undemocratic as this...

If she was really a psychic, she would have had visions of the police arresting her for stealing old ladies' money...but she didn't. A San Mateo County woman faces charges of bilking an old lady for tens of thousands through her psychic/quack practice.

A man was arrested after hours (and with a gun) in Atherton's fancy Holbrook-Palmer Park last week. The story is good read if for no other reason as it provides a view inside an Atherton Police Officer's duty...even in fancy towns, Officers are brave...

To compost or not to compost...that is the question in Palo Alto...well, not exactly. The opposite of compost, in this case, is a park. The City Council is split -- which makes this an interesting thing to follow.

Considering the County Investment Pool lost a ton of dough with Lehman Brothers, it is a wonder that more school Districts aren't following Menlo Park City School District and (considering) pulling their funds from the Pool...

Details about the Pacifica woman's death from last week continue to surface. Watch Dog is no detective, but these stories refer to two former boyfriends and the mother of a former boyfriend with whom the victim lived. The story also talks about an angry phone call right before the victim stepped out of the house to walk it off. She wound up dead on a golf course. Now, in Law and Order, Watch Dog knows that detectives "dump" the phone lines and find out whom she was talking to...I assume they know who the fight was with -- but it isn't in these stories...more to come (hopefully)...You will be (un)surprised to learn that the Pacifica Tribune online still does not anything posted about this story...while Pacifica Riptide does.

also...

...thankfully for Pacifica, someone (Pacifica Riptide) covers local issues in real-time (just like Watch Dog) and is keeping tabs on the proposed biodiesel facility planned for Pacifica...including tracking down insurance certificates and making sure that Pacifica doesn't blow up if they site a biodeisel facility on the coast...thumbs up Riptide...

As their former City Manager makes her new home in Millbrae, Half Moon Bay is going to hire a new interim City Manager...

An inmate escaped from a minimum-security facility in Redwood City on Saturday night. I guess the 59-year-old had some Christmas shopping to do?...

Sue Lempert gets in the (non)Christmas spirit in the Daily Journal and complains about what it is like shopping for kids these days. She starts the piece with a warning that she is going to sound like 60 Minutes Andy Rooney...she's right. If you don't like Andy Rooney, skip this piece. Sorry Sue...