Morning News Round-Up -- 3.6.09: Saltworks development stories...again...

Having won the (nasty) ballot battle last year regarding their proposed development in Redwood City, DMB Associates is bringing their development plans for the former Cargill Saltworks site to the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. DMB needs the Commissions approval for development. The development review process in front of the Commission will also allow Save the Bay several more whacks at the project...

More teacher pink slips will be handed out to teachers next week...today's story is about the 20 pink slips to be handed out in the San Carlos Elementary School District...And good timing on the news story about pink slips, San Carlos Elementary School District. You have a ballot measure coming up for a parcel tax...the Daily Journal wants everyone to vote yes on this measure...

If it seems you know more and more people who have been laid off...you probably do. The County's unemployment rate jumped to 7.2 percent last month. This is still less than most/all of the rest of the State...but somehow that doesn't seem as comforting as it once did...

If you yell loud enough, you can get what you want. That is the lesson we are all about to learn in Belmont. I'm positive you remember the story: Belmont closed a traffic lane near Carlmont High School and parents freaked out in front of the City Council and in letters and in phone calls. (Including one person who went a little too far and is being investigated by the police.) Well, hysterically screaming has apparently paid off as Belmont officials prepare to undo what they did. Watch Dog remembers fondly the Profile in Courage quote by the Belmont City Manager about this issue: "...It’s a school zone — for those who think they have a right to get to work faster during that time, they don’t..."

The Palo Alto power outage was not caused by Federal agents raiding the Utility Department headquarters...it was caused by a duck...Speaking of the embattled Utility Department: the plan to raise electric/gas rates and transfer extra money into Palo Alto's general fund has hit a major road-block...namely, commonsense and public outcry...

Menlo Park's Mayor Heyward Robinson will deliver his much anticipated State of the City speech on Tuesday night. No word yet if the speech will be nationally televised...

An ironically timed press release from Assemblymember Hill's 'there out to be a law' contest just came out...the stuff that constituents came up with wasn't so bad, it is just that Jon Mays at the Daily Journal just got through writing his piece blasting Sacramento Legislators for introducing bills and not focusing on problems...like the State Budget...

Speaking of the Daily Journal...what Michelle Durand started this week, the Mercury News Editorial Board picked up. Today, the Merc. editors wrote about Ammiano's Yes We Can(nabis) campaign...

Morning News Round-Up -- 1.26.09: Recession Repercussions...

A lot of economy-related news today. If you hadn't noticed, the unemployment rate is up everywhere. California's unemployment rate is at 9.3%. Lucky for us, San Mateo isn't really feeling that pinch. Our unemployment rate is the second lowest in the State at 5.9%. But don't get cocky...the plummeting economy is taking its toll on local businesses and government agencies -- today's Round-Up is full of Recession Repercussion stories...

Recession Repercussion 1: Stanford is suspending $1.3 billion in construction projects because of major hits to their endowment.

Recession Repercussion 2: The field use saga continues in San Mateo Union High School District. The District wants to hike its fees to recover more of the direct costs of keeping the fields (and other facilities) up and running in these difficult economic times. But it turns out the District sometimes uses City facilities...and the City wants to jack up those rates on the District too. (Retaliation?) So now everyone is upset. Can Jerry Hill save the day?

Recession Repercussion 3: Would you pay to drive in carpool lane if you were driving alone? That's a proposal currently being considered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Watch Dog assumes this is a money-raising technique, and therefore a Recession Repercussion...

Recession Repercussion 4: The third eyesore/skyscraper on San Bruno Mountain is being halted because of the economy...the North Tower is about to be completed, but the South Tower is on hold.

Recession Repercussion 5: Every city needs money...but Palo Alto may do something about their need. They are looking to businesses to cover the City's budget shortfalls. Specifically, they want to impose a tax businesses via a Business License Tax (BLT). While most cities have a BLT (on rye?) PA doesn't. The difference is that Palo Alto is thinking about a gross-receipts tax opposed to a simple, annual fee that many/most cities have. Why a gross-receipts tax? More money for Palo Alto, of course.

While many/most are worrying about the economy, Watch Dog is worried about local democracy...

Michelle Durand at the Daily Journal has a profile/interview with unelected Supervisor Carole Groom in today's edition. Later today, we'll post the most telling parts of this story and provide some analysis...

Democracy was already set to take yet another hit in San Mateo County today as a seat on the Millbrae Elementary School District Board was to be appointed to fill out the term of John Lynch, who passed away. But then another Board Member, Bob Miller, abruptly resigned last week effective immediately -- opening up another spot. Will two folks be appointed tonight? It would be too bad, because only 5 people are in the running for one, or perhaps two, appointments. Perhaps they could use the list of folks who wanted to be on the San Mateo City Council...

And some other stuff...

A school opening delayed in Redwood City because the State can't get its act together to give approvals in time...

The Almanac finally reads a press release from January 8th about the Civil Grand Jury report on the Los Trancas County Water District and writes are story about it...

Belmont Councilwoman Coralin Feierbach wants to permanently protect open space and parks in Belmont with a ballot measure. Why? For the answer, we bring you the Quote of the Day:

“Some [City] council in the future is going to look at the [property] and say ‘yummy’ and build in it..."

Brisbane officials are putting a slow down on a land-use project because they say it doesn't fully explore using alternative energy...could this be a trend in the making? Officials demanding on-site renewables? They project is slated to be LEED Certified, however...

While the online Pacifica Tribune updates rarely, Pacifica Riptide bring us helpful news...like their investigation into the word-of-mouth menu at In-and-Out...