Related Articles: News, All

Top Stories: Aug. 17, 2010

Back to School; El Palo Alto Redwood Tagged; Vandalism in District 7 Race; Muslim Community Rallies for Pakistan

by Danny Wool on Aug 17, 2010
 Email  Print Share

Election Today Could Seal Fate of Budget
Voters will be going to the polls today in parts of Santa Clara County to decide who will replace Abel Maldonado, who recently became Lieutenant Governor.

The seat is being contested by Democrat John Laird (D-Aptos) and Republican Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo). A victory by Laird would bring the Democrats just one seat short of the two-thirds super majority they need to pass a state budget. Worried by this prospect, Republicans have been out in force on behalf of Blakeslee, who is said to have a slight lead.
Read More at San Jose Inside.
Read More at KLIV.


It’s Back to School for San Jose Kids
There’s no more sleeping all morning and no more loading around all afternoon. Kids in San Jose’s largest school districts heads back to class on Monday, after the long summer break.

The start of the school year went on without a hitch, despite some potential problems. Classes may have felt a bit more crowded because of the recent budget cuts, which led to teacher layoffs across the state. Even now, the state is still hammering out the details of its budget, and it remains to be seen whether some of the teachers will be asked to return, particularly now that the state will be receiving $1.2 in federal funding for education.

The biggest challenge, however, was the race against the clock at Trace Elementary School, which was gutted in a fire earlier this summer. By the time the school day started Monday morning, there were twenty portable classrooms in place. There may have been some confusion as students tried to figure out exactly where to go, but with the help of staff and the school’s mascot, Trace the Tiger, students were directed to their new classrooms, some across the schoolyard and some across the street.

As they looked out the window, the students could see their new school being built, thanks to the support of the local community, Intel, and Wells Fargo. That may be the greatest lesson of all for day one of the new school year: When the community gets together, they can overcome every problem and really make things happen.
Read More at NBC Bay Area.


Graffiti Taggers Strike at the Heart of Palo Alto
Most of the time, graffiti is just a nuisance. Sometimes it really strikes at the heart of a community. That’s what happened on Monday, when authorities found graffiti on El Palo Alto, a one thousand-year-old coast redwood on the banks of San Francisquito Creek in Palo Alto.

The ancient tree, which towers to a height of 110 feet, is more than just a local landmark, though it is certainly that as well. In fact, it is California Historical Landmark #2, preceded only by the Monterey Custom House. It is also the symbol of Stanford University, and the source of the name Palo Alto (Tall Stick) for the surrounding city.

Unfortunately, El Palo Alto has become of a popular spot for transients to camp out and for underage kids to experiment with alcohol. Some of those kids may have gotten out of hand, because the tree’s trunk was spray-painted white and green. The graffiti itself is not likely to harm the tree, and for the most part it is difficult to make out what it says, but regardless, it is an eyesore for anyone who can respect a bit of nature that was old when the Portola Expedition first mapped it in 1769.

For now, arborist Dave Dockter recommends against peeling away the damaged bark, saying that this could cause even more damage. Instead, he recommends painting the trunk brown to obscure the markings. Meanwhile, the police will be on the lookout for the people who decided to damage a major California landmark.
Read More at NBC Bay Area.


District 7 Race Heats Up
At least eight signs supporting City Council candidate Madison Nguyen were vandalized overnight, and Nguyen is blaming her opponent Minh Duong. According to Nguyen, she received a text message from Minh’s campaign manager, saying, “Your volunteers or you have placed signs on my Latino supporters supporting Minh. These signs will be removed tonight.”

Minh admits that his campaign manager sent the message in the heat of the moment but denies that his campaign is responsible for tearing down the signs. He has instructed his supporters to remain within the law, he says, and opposes vandalism from either side. Read More at CBS 5.


Muslim Community Rallies to Help Pakistan
Some 20 million people have lost their homes in Pakistan because of the devastating flooding there, and little is being done to help them. That’s the message of the Islamic Relief Society and the Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara, which is hoping to raise money to help the victims. Groups that have already agreed to help include the Mormon Church, which is preparing to send ten 40-foot containers with about $3 million worth of supplies. All told, United Nations sources in Pakistan estimate that the country needs at least $1 billion in relief funds, but that is slow in coming. So far they have raised only 20 percent of that.

There are many problems causing the delay, including ineffective government in Pakistan, the ongoing AfPak War, the global recession, and the fact that it is now Ramadan, and devout Muslims spend the day fasting. Affan Sheikh, a Pakistani American living in Cupertino, points out that if the U.S. and the rest of the world fails to assist the dispossessed million, they will end up turning to “someone else. Who’s going to fill that vacuum?” he asks.
To assist the aid effort, contact the Muslim Community Association or give directly to Save the Children.



by Danny Wool on Aug 17, 2010
 Email  Print Share