The SONGS Remains the Same
Jun 13, 2013 by Peter Allen Business, Culture Comments (1)
The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) will finally close after a lengthy and expensive effort to keep the power plant operational.
Last Friday, Edison International—one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the country—announced that it would permanently retire the troubled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The decision ended 18 months of uncertainty for Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) customers, after a January 2012 leak caused the plant to be shut down. The shutdown and now retirement of the plant has made our state’s energy future uncertain.
County Makes Correct Call on Jail Letters
Jun 13, 2013 by Rich Robinson Politics, Culture Comments (10)
County jails are studying how to handle the mail of inmates to keep out contraband. (Photo courtesy of National Geographic)
Most people do not consider jail inmates to be an empathic interest group. But many in custody are innocent, as they have not yet been proven guilty, and as a matter of law and right they must be treated justly. That’s why the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections (DOC) was right in halting a new proposal to limit mail in county jails.
Shirakawa Shadow Still Looms over Campos
Jun 12, 2013 by The Fly Politics, The Fly Comments (4)
San Jose Councilman Xavier Campos is already under investigation by the Fair Political Practices Commission, and a new charge against his buddy, former county Supervisor George Shirakawa Jr., could make matters worse.
Will Xavier Campos ever break free of George Shirakawa Jr.’s shadow? Last week, District Attorney Jeff Rosen announced a new felony charge against Shirakawa after the former county supervisor’s DNA was found on a stamp affixed to a 2010 political hit piece against Magdalena Carrasco, Campos’ San Jose council opponent that year. Campos released a statement that failed to deny involvement. A look back at some of his 2010 campaign disclosure forms has now created some intriguing new questions.
Councilman Chu Takes on Late Night Big Rigs at Rules Committee
Jun 12, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics, Culture Comments (7)
Councilman Kansen Chu says big rig trucks are taking up too much space on residential streets at night in the Alviso neighborhood. (Photo by dave_7, via Flickr)
When the sun goes down, big-rig truck drivers parallel park on Baytech Drive in the Alviso neighborhood so they can rest for the night. It’s not illegal, but it is annoying, says City Councilman Kansen Chu. Other items going before the Rules and Open Government Committee on Wednesday include Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen fighting for the public’s right to take photos in public spaces and potential raises for City Manager Debra Figone and City Attorney Rich Doyle.
District Attorney Charges 48 Nuestra Familia Gang Members in Grand Jury Indictment
Jun 11, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Culture Comments (10)
The District Attorney’s office announced Tuesday that a grand jury has indicted 48 members of the Nuestra Family gang. The charges range from meth sales to murder.
Dozens of alleged Nuestra Familia gang members were indicted by a criminal grand jury on 77 charges, which range from meth sales to murder. It’s the largest gang case Santa Clara County has ever tackled: 48 people charged in a hefty 99-page indictment. “This is a sophisticated, complex criminal organization that required a sophisticated, multi-faceted law enforcement and prosecutorial response,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement released Tuesday morning.
Psycho Donuts Creates Foie Gras Controversy on ‘National Donut Day’
Jun 11, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Business, Culture Comments (53)
Psycho Donuts found itself under fire for creating a pastry with Foie gras filling, which it calls a “Foie bomb.”
Psycho Donuts scared off some of its vegan customers and incurred the wrath of animal rights groups Friday, National Donut Day, when it gave out free Foie gras donuts to the morning’s first batch of customers. Though California last year outlawed sale of force-fed-until-fat-engorged goose and duck livers, the state doesn’t ban giveaways. This did not sit well with the Internet.
San Jose City Council Expects to Finalize 2013-14 Budget
Jun 10, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics Comments (9)
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and the City Council are expected to finalize a budget at Tuesday’s council meeting. A final public hearing will then be held Monday, June 17.
For the second consecutive year in a decade, the city appears ready to adopt a budget without service reductions and layoffs and a greater focus on restoring public safety cuts. The City Council will finalize that budget Tuesday while also discussing increased a business tax amnesty, extending a library parcel tax and street maintenance.
Mayor, City Council Should Make Libraries a Budget Priority
Jun 10, 2013 by Omar Torres Politics, Culture Comments (20)
Joyce Ellington Library is one of many libraries in San Jose that serve a vital role to keeping the city’s youth engaged and out of trouble. (Photo by Janet O., via Yelp)
Every year around this time, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and the City Council hold a series of public meetings regarding our city’s budget, which the council must pass it before the summer “recess” in July. This year, the city should needs to make libraries one of its top priorities.
SAP Center at San Jose
Jun 10, 2013 by Pierluigi Oliverio Politics, Business, Culture Comments (7)
San Jose’s downtown arena will receive a new name, going from a sponsorship deal with HP to SAP.
The transfer of the naming rights from HP to SAP is a positive move. The naming rights deal has an annual value of $3.35 million. Even better, SAP is a software company known the world over.
Shirakawa Sentencing Hearing Continued Due to New Felony Charge
Jun 7, 2013 by Josh Koehn Politics Comments (4)
George Shirakawa Jr., right, and his attorney John Williams speak to Judge Philip Pennypacker at Friday’s sentencing hearing.
George Shirakawa Jr. remains free after his hearing Friday, at which he was scheduled to be sentenced for misusing campaign and county funds. Judge Philip Pennypacker chose to delay sentencing the former county supervisor until at least July 19 due to a new felony charge that the District Attorney’s office filed against Shirakawa on Wednesday.
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