Santa Clara Family Health Foundation Fights Public Records Request
May 15, 2013 by The Fly Politics, Business, The Fly Comments (5)
Santa Clara Family Health Foundation CEO Kathleen King, left, has an attorney challenging a pubic records request into her nonprofit’s internal communications.
The Santa Clara Family Health Foundation, a local nonprofit that helped bump up the county’s sales tax last fall, doesn’t want the public to know about its secret political activities. And now it’s lawyering up to quash Metro/San Jose Inside’s public records act requests.
Cindy Chavez Campaign Admits Coordination with SBLC, DCC
May 15, 2013 by Josh Koehn Politics Comments (11)
Cindy Chavez is using her connections at the South Bay Labor Council and Democratic Central Committee to sidestep traditional methods of campaigning.
Cindy Chavez’s campaign manager, Ed McGovern, acknowledged Tuesday evening that his client has a found a way to circumvent state laws that prevent independent committees from coordinating with candidate campaigns.
Rules Committee to Discuss Enterprise Zones, Willow Glen Trestle
May 14, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics, Business, Culture Comments (9)
The fate of the Willow Glen trestle has been a hot topic amongst neighborhood activists. (Photo courtesy of http://wgbackfence.net)
Since their advent in the mid-80s, enterprise zones have sparked economic development. But, in some cases, these geographic areas that provide companies a litany of tax breaks have also granted corporations a chance to game the system. Two competing bills in the state legislature could either eliminate these zones or modify their scope. On Wednesday, San Jose’s Rules and Open Government Committee will consider taking a stance on the bills, as well as discuss the future of the Willow Glen trestle.
Common Core of Standards Can Help Save California Schools
May 14, 2013 by Joseph DiSalvo Politics, Culture Comments (3)
California is one of 45 states that have adopted Common Core of Standards for its public schools. (Image by National Geographic School Publishing)
If NY Times columnist and author Thomas Friedman is correct, and I believe he is, the world beyond schools no longer wants to know how much you know, but how you can use what you know. Our concept of schooling in America today is quite archaic if Friedman’s assertion is right. However, there is a strong and hopeful effort, the Common Core of Standards, to steer the ship of public education to a better place.
Cindy Chavez Campaign Pieces Break FPPC Laws on Coordination?
May 13, 2013 by Josh Koehn Politics Comments (11)
Cindy Chavez’s campaign pieces for the District 2 supervisor race seem very similar to mailers going out from two independent committees, which might go against campaign laws.
What’s the difference between Cindy Chavez’s campaign and some of the independent expenditure committees that want to get her elected to a county supervisor seat? Little more than a few choice words, according to mailers that have been targeting voters in District 2. With absentee balloting already in full swing, the campaign of candidate Teresa Alvarado chose last week to file a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission.
City Council’s Campos, Kalra Say Fire Department Analysis Incomplete
May 13, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics, Culture Comments (9)
The San Jose Fire Department has lost more than 10 percent of its staff since 2007, and some councilmembers want to know if response times have suffered as a result. (Photo by Craig Allyn Rose)
An audit of the San Jose Fire Department didn’t include enough analysis of staffing, councilmembers Ash Kalra and Xavier Campos argue in a memo. They want to look into whether the shorter staffing levels are what led to longer response times and loss in overall service. Other items on the council agenda for Tuesday include a settlement with the family of a young child killed by a falling tree and a proposed ordinance to allow street vendors to sell fresh produce in low-income neighborhoods.
Former Police Chief Chris Moore Lands New Public Safety Gig
May 10, 2013 by Alicia Moore Politics, Business Comments (7)
Chris Moore left his post as police chief of the San Jose Police Department in January. On Friday, his new employer, Rivada Networks, announced that Moore has joined its board of directors.
Former San Jose Police Chief Chris Moore has a new job as senior vice president for Rivada Networks, a company that designs broadband public safety communications for state and local government agencies. Moore retired from SJPD in January after serving the city of San Jose for more than 27 years. It was assumed Moore wouldn’t stay unemployed for long, but his new digs have an interesting backstory.
Vietnamese Group Takes Issue with Mercury News Report, Madison Nguyen Quote
May 10, 2013 by Josh Koehn Politics, Culture, Media Comments (2)
San Jose Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen was surprised to learn a local Vietnamese group had a problem with a comment she made to the local daily newspaper.
An assortment of local politicians and community members gathered in the City Hall rotunda late last month to pay their respects at the 38th “Black April,” a ceremony to honor and remember the Vietnamese diaspora and fall of Saigon. By most respects, it was a solemn occasion that showed respect and solidarity. And then the Mercury News had to go and ruin everything.
Councilman Sam Liccardo Suggests Participatory Budgeting for Districts
May 9, 2013 by Jennifer Wadsworth Politics Comments (7)
Participatory budgeting is a process gaining traction internationally and here in the Bay Area, as supporters argue that it gives residents a greater feeling of control over their communities. (Photo by tony4carr, via Flickr)
A form of fiscal democracy called “participatory budgeting” that started in Brazil and is slowly gaining traction in the U.S. may soon take hold in San Jose. Councilman Sam Liccardo submitted a proposal to the city Wednesday that asks to set aside $1.05 million from the Essential Services Reserve to fund a pilot program, which would give each of the 10 council districts $100,000 for residents to decide how to spend.
Erratic Behavior by Local Elected Officials a Mental Health Issue?
May 9, 2013 by Rich Robinson Politics, Culture Comments (12)
George Shirakawa Jr. pleaded guilty to misusing public funds and campaign contributions after using the money to fuel a gambling addiction.
A number of local elected officials have recently shown signs of unstable and unacceptable behavior in public life. All of these extreme actions indicate people dealing with mental-health related issues. That does not mean they are all mentally ill. Then again, the absence of a diagnosis is not the same as being “not sick.”
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