Rules to Discuss Legislation Targeting Chronic Homeless
May 7, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics, Culture Comments (12)
Homeless residents in San Jose sit in their tent, which was set up last summer along Guadalupe creek in downtown San Jose.
Of San Jose’s 5,000 or so homeless residents, nearly 30 percent are chronically on the streets, according to city housing officials. Most of the chronically homeless suffer from mental illness, physical disability, addiction or some combination of the three. On Wednesday, the San Jose’s Rules and Open Government Committee will discuss legislation that could address such problems.
Resolution on Citizens United Case Goes to San Jose City Council
May 6, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics, Business, Culture Comments (15)
Lawmakers across the country are signing resolutions in opposition to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case. (Photo by ithnmsrtkn, via Flickr)
As lawmakers around the county urge Congress to create a constitutional amendment to overturn the controversial Citizens United decision, the City Council on Tuesday may vote in favor of supporting a resolution to overturn the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case. Other items on Tuesday’s agenda include lawsuit settlements, a new contract for Microsoft software and state taxes.
Investor Owned Utilities Bad for Your Health
May 6, 2013 by Peter Allen Politics, Business, Culture Comments (3)
Investor owned utilities often receive criticism for putting profits above public safety and sustainability.
In my last column I noted that prominent Southern California physicians and solar energy companies have teamed up to fight Assemblyman Steve Bradford and powerful utility interests seeking to kill net metering—and cripple the solar market. This is a major step for the renewable energy movement, as an upstart industry challenges entrenched interests by saying what many have been afraid to say in the past: Investor owned utilities are bad for your health.
Cindy’s Hendler: South Bay Labor Council PR Flack Flips Out
May 4, 2013 by The Fly Politics, The Fly Comments (8)
Stacey Hendler Ross attempted to have a local radio station kill an unflattering story about her former boss, Cindy Chavez.
Stacey Hendler Ross used to be KNTV’s late night anchor, and later worked as a globetrotting KGO journalist, covering everything from the Columbine massacre to Princess Diana’s funeral. But now her life is less exciting and she’s on the other side of the First Amendment, plying her trade as the spin manager for the South Bay Labor Council. Apparently since she no longer has a captive TV audience—her March 2012 Democratic TV video got a whopping 131 views on YouTube in the past 13 months—she doesn’t think others should be able to inform the public either. At least if it involves sullying the pristine reputation of former SBLC head Cindy Chavez, who’s running for her good buddy George Shirakawa Jr.’s supervisor seat.
County to Focus on Unfunded Liability in Budget Workshop
May 3, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics Comments (1)
Unfunded retiree healthcare benefits threaten to take a $1.7 billion bite out of the Santa Clara County budget, a drastic uptick from the $425 million liability seen a decade ago. This and other matters will be on the Board of Supervisors agenda for a three-day budget workshop starting Tuesday next week.
City Manager’s Budget for 2013-14 Hedges on Pension Reform Lawsuits
May 3, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics Comments (10)
The city is expected to adopt a balanced budget plan, using recommendations from the mayor and city manager, on June 18.
City Manager Debra Figone released her 2013-14 budget proposal, which was balanced, she says, through fiscal reforms, layoffs and switching to cheaper retiree healthcare. Still, the city remains in “a fragile situation,” partly because of litigation it faces over Measure B pension reforms.
Rural Metro Could Lose County Ambulance Contract; Sunnyvale Responses Lag Most
May 2, 2013 by Stephen Layton Comments (3)
Rural Metro could lose its ambulance contract with Santa Clara County if it doesn’t meet its required response times.
County ambulance provider Rural Metro missed its monthly response times for emergencies in Sunnyvale all but once during a 17-month period ending Novemebr 2012, according to internal documents. This and other system failures have placed the company’s contract in jeopardy.
The Negative Consequences of Push Polls
May 2, 2013 by Rich Robinson Politics Comments (15)
Push polls can be an effective tool in measuring the emotional response of voters to negative information.
Recently, a poll funded by county supervisor candidate Teresa Alvarado ran a series of questions testing the “negatives” of Cindy Chavez. This is typical of pollsters in all races, but the push poll often telegraphs the messaging a candidate intends to use.
Volunteers Play Key Role in Our Parks and Trails’ Future
May 1, 2013 by James P. Reber Politics, Culture Comments (3)
As budget cuts continue to affect the upkeep local parks, volunteers can go a long way in making up the difference. (Photo courtesy of PRNS)
I have previously written about the various groups in the community that must play key roles in preserving, protecting and enhancing our parks and trails. These parties include neighborhood associations, service clubs, youth groups, church groups, schools, businesses, corporations and others. Another key component is that of citizen volunteers.
Rules to Discuss Tax Threshold Change
May 1, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics, Culture Comments (4)
State Assemblywoman Nora Campos (D-San Jose) has crafted one of many bills in the California legislature that would allow allocate money from tax measures approved with a lower majority.
Should it be easier to impose new taxes? Or is it a recipe to tax fatigue, given the voting public’s recent support for a water district parcel tax, county sales tax and Prop. 30 for school funding? This and other matters go before the Rules and Open Government Committee on Wednesday.
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