School Board Scam

Aug 24, 2010, by Joseph DiSalvo Politics Comments (14)

“Egregious” and “contemptible” are two words that describe my reaction to the California School Boards’ recent announcement that their executive director, Scott Plotkin, was paid nearly $1 million dollars in compensation and bonuses the last two years. However, it does not end there.

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Slowing Speeders and Implementing AB 321

Aug 23, 2010, by Pierluigi Oliverio Politics Comments (41)

Put aside the State’s raid of city funds for a moment and instead, lets be thankful for one of the best gifts cities have received from the state legislature…Assembly Bill 321 (AB321).

AB 321 allows cities the flexibility and discretion to lower speed limits on two-lane streets adjacent to public and private schools, which are currently posted at 25 miles per hour.  For example,  San Jose has many schools that are located in residential neighborhoods that have two lane roads with a 25mph speed.  These streets may have the speeds lowered to 20mph or 15mph by implementing AB321.  However,a school that is located on a four lane road would not be eligible, nor a school alongside a road that has a higher speed limit then 25 mph

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Team San Jose Cut Off

Aug 20, 2010, by Jessica Fromm Comments (29)

Team San Jose, the quasi-public, hotel tax-funded labor-business coalition that that runs city-owned entertainment facilities, has lost its access to public money after overrunning its budget by more than $750,000.

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Vigil For Victims of Violent Crime

Aug 20, 2010, by The Editor Comments (2)

This event is being held in loving memory of Vahid Hosseini and Officer Jeffrey Fontana. The purpose of this event is to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives due to a violent crime, fallen Police Officers, and Fire Fighters, and to support their loved ones.

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The Business Candidate?

Aug 19, 2010, by Jessica Fromm Politics Comments (6)

Furniture store owner Minh Duong says he was unaware that he has failed to pay taxes on his home and business and is still in arrears with the County.

Minh Duong, the pro-business, Chamber of Commerce–endorsed City Council candidate, has made his business experience the central theme of his campaign to oust District 7 Councilmember Madison Nguyen. He believes his knowledge of budgets and finance can help the economically-strapped city better manage its money.

Duong’s own business acumen, however, may not rise to the level his talking points suggest. The 31-year-old furniture store owner has defaulted on his home mortgage, incurred multiple property tax delinquencies, neglected to pay his garbage bills and been threatened with eviction on his business and foreclosure on his house. Last month, he was kicked off the San José Small Business Development Commission.

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Curse of Reed

Aug 18, 2010, by The Fly Politics Comments (13)

The city’s fearless and occasionally politically tone-deaf leader, Chuck Reed, was riding high after successfully placing pension reform and binding arbitration on the ballot with a carefully stitched-together coalition that seemed to spell the end of organized labor’s control of the San Jose City Council.

The afterglow was short-lived, however. Reed threw the new majority into chaos with his divisive endorsement of gay marriage opponent Larry Pegram for a council seat, just a day before a California court overturned Prop 8.

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