San Jose Official Backs Plan For New $82M Google Airport

Read about the offer by a major airport operator to build an $82 million private airport for executives of Google Inc. at Mineta San Jose International Airport.

Another warning from a neighbor...

This is being posted from the WGNA list with permission.

I got a phone call from "Microsoft" about a month ago telling me that my computer was sending them messages that I had a virus. He said that he could fix it right now. So after a few minutes of him controlling my computer, he said "your system is fixed, you owe me $200.00". I said "What? You never said I had to pay for a Microsoft tech" ... he said "I've destroyed your entire system, if you want your things back, you have to pay me $200.00". I said "no way" and then, to my shock, on my screen appeared an 'adult image not even appropriate for me to see' and when I tried to move my mouse to X it out, he said "see, I have control of everything, you going to pay now?" I said no and he hung up. When I clicked on my Outlook Inbox, it was gone....all my photographs were gone (some that are un-replaceable of family member who have passed), my Real Player was empty of songs & videos, I was writing a childs book - a manuscript for owning a dog, that was gone-about 3 years in the works...my yahoo was gone....most apps were gone! I took my system to Fry's and he said, there is a way to retrieve some of your things but it would cost more than a new system!

I called Microsoft and they said they Never call a computer user for anything. They said they've been having allot of people falling for this scam. So now the work really began....had to cancel all my credit cards, banking on-line had to be froze - and the scary thing, he knows where I live, my social security number, my driver's license, my medical info and on and on!
Please let your son read this and have him tell his friends as well. The man spoke with a foreign accent and spoke very fast.

I reported it to the SJ Police Department Fraud Division, my banks etc...there is nothing that anyone could do.

What an awful and violated feeling still stays with me. Never Ever let anyone 'remote access' your system. I didn't even know what that meant....what an expensive lessen.

Slow down, please

This was posted today on the WGNA email list and we are sharing it with permission:

"When I was 3, my little friend, who was 4, darted out in front of a car and was killed. I didn't see it, fortunately. At that age, I didn't understand why I couldn't play with her any more – I didn't know that "death" meant she was never coming back.

A few years later, my family moved about 1/2 mile away. Our new house was next door to the (innocent) woman who had killed my little friend. She was innocent – it was not her fault. The kids in my new neighborhood always made fun of how slowly this woman drove, and it was really slow. I'm pretty sure she didn't drive like that before she killed my little friend. I mean, for other drivers, I'm sure it was like annoyingly slow. But as an adult, now knowing what I know, I can understand.

My little friend's sister, who was born after she was killed, is a radio announcer on [local radio station] who I hear almost daily. I think about my little friend frequently – I don't know why. But when I drive by parks or schools where there are a lot of cars parked on the street, I know that there might be kids between those cars who could dart out into the street, so I just drive really slowly and look carefully. I am so afraid of hitting anyone.

This is why I drive slowly near schools and parks."

Friends & Neighbors Meeting, January 22nd

Brrr it's cold outside, the fruit trees are bare, and our next Friends & Neighbors Meeting is upon us. Now is the right time and weather to get your garden and trees in shape!
Come hear from our friend and neighbor Nancy Garrison, a Master Gardener, about general winter garden care and fruit tree pruning.
Join your neighbors to learn about gardening and information of interest about our neighborhood.
As if that isn't enough, there will be free lemons for those that attend!

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
6:30-8:00pm
WORD OF FAITH CHURCH
873 DELMAS AVENUE

Para traducción al español (408) 667-0355

Thanks to our prize donors!

Prizes have been awarded for the NWGNA Holiday Decorating Contest. Many, many thanks to our local donors -- stop by and say "Thanks for supporting the neighborhood!" These local restaurants have been generous supporters of the contest, so we want to show them our support.

Taqueria Tlaquepaque, 721 Willow (Phone: 408-287-9777 )
Crepevine, 1100 Lincoln Avenue (Phone: 408-297-1100)
Aqui Cal-Mex, 1145 Lincoln Avenue (Phone: 408-995-0381)
Bibo's NY Pizza, 1431 Bird (Phone: 408-217-9084)

Nextdoor.com donated the Starbucks gift certificates.

NWGNA Holiday Decoration Contest Winners

Congratulations to the Holiday Contest winners!

6th place: 755 Bird won a $25 Bibo's gift certificate
5th place: 391 Hull won a $25 Starbucks gift certificate
4th place: 538 Fisk won a $25 Starbucks gift certificate
3rd place: 546 Atlanta won a $40 Aqui Cal-Mex gift certificate
2nd place: 1015 Willis won a $50 Crepevine gift certificate
1st place: 552 Coe won a $50 gift certificate to Taqueria Tlaquepaque

Thanks go out to all who gave their homes a little extra this holiday season and to all our generous sponsors for providing the prizes.

For more photos of the winning houses, see our Facebook album.

Have you seen Leo the Greyhound?

Leo the greyhound has gone missing in North Willow Glen. He is wearing a gray "thunder shirt" sweater. Call Chris at 510-593-6078 if you see him. It's cold out and he will be tougher to spot in the dark, so please watch for him.

Last day for holiday lights voting!

Tomorrow is the last day for voting in the holiday lighting contest. You can drop your ballots at 562 Fisk by 8:00 p.m.

Neighborhood holiday party on Sunday

Join us Sunday night starting at 5:30 pm for our annual holiday gathering. It's the start of voting for the holiday lighting contest, too. Come by and share time with neighbors before heading out to check out the lights.

Holiday Party
Lila Kakuk's house
562 Fisk Ave.
Sunday, December 9
5:30-8:00 p.m.

Supervisor Ken Yeager's Dec. 6 newsletter

Topics for this newsletter include:

• Mercury News endorses Yeager proposal for transparency
• Yeager nominated as 2012 board president
• County recognizes CalWorks outstanding clients and partners
• VTA seeks input on possible light rail extension
• Volunteer to serve on a county commission
• Calendar of Events

If you would like to receive this newsletter by email, write to jim.weston@bos.sccgov.org with the subject line "add me to your list."

Street sweeping Friday morning

Our neighborhood's street sweeping day is this Friday. Reminders from the City of San Jose:

• Move vehicles off the street on your sweep day. One parked car equals nearly three car lengths of space that can't be swept because the street sweeper must leave room to avoid it. Visit Vehicle Abatement to report vehicles abandoned for more than 72 hours.
• Fallen leaves collected by the street sweeper end up in the landfill. Consider using them to make compost or as mulch under trees and bushes. Or collect and save them until your next collection day to be turned into compost for City parks.
• Sweep up yard trimmings that remain behind after collection; don't re-pile them. Instead, save them for next week's collection. Street sweepers drive around piles to avoid rocks or other unseen items that can damage their equipment.
• Street sweepers steer clear of low-hanging tree branches to avoid breaking them. Prune tree branches to at least 13 feet above the curb. Call the Street Tree Section at (408) 794-1901 for a free pruning permit for trees growing between the sidewalk and street.

7-Eleven Community Meeting Recap

Thank you to all who attended to community meeting last night. We had a significant turnout - I would estimate 60 people - last night and it was a lively though respectful dialogue between all parties in attendance including the two from Planning for the City of San Jose, two representatives of 7-Eleven, and our District 6 City Councilmember. Neither the store owners themselves (7-Eleven franchisees) nor SJPD were present. A 7-Eleven representative said she did not think to invite the owners. Lack of advance notice was noted by SJPD.

As Councilmember Oliverio noted at the beginning of the meeting, the main issue before Planning is whether or not this business can be open between the hours of midnight and 6am. By right, the owners may keep their business open from 6am to midnight. Among those in attendance from the community, there was solid opposition to the request for hours of operation. Beyond the yes or no vote on the hours, it should be noted that Planning can make other stipulations on their approval for such concerns as security (a big topic last night) and litter abatement. These are the windows of opportunity we have for legally ensuring that the 7-Eleven will be as good a neighbor as possible.

The store does retain the state "Title 21" liquor license previously held by Fairmart. This allows them to sell beer, wine, and liquor whereas "Title 20" restricts to beer and wine. By state law it is not legal to sell alcohol of any type from 2am to 6am. The 7-Eleven representative made it clear that this store intends to sell liquor during store hours to the extent legally allowed. The city does not have the authority to regulate alcohol sales beyond state regulations. However there is some influence SJPD has in the matter.

As a matter of process, this was the only community meeting. Planning will continue to collect input before the matter is brought up to the Planning Commission. The Conditional Use Permit is expected to be brought before the Planning Commission in late January or early February. At that point there will be the opportunity for further input as to whether or not the hours should be allowed and if so, under what conditions.

Contact information for officials seeking feedback is as follows:

Aparna Ankola
Planning, Building, & Code Enforcement
Planner II
aparna.ankola@sanjoseca.gov

Sgt. Todd Trayer #3301
San Jose Police Department
Office of the Chief
Special Investigations Unit- Vice
408-277-4322
todd.trayer@sanjoseca.gov

Provide SJPD with Input on 7-11 Hours

If you have sent your concerns over the hours of 7-11 at Bird and Virginia to Planning or your City Councilman, please forward those to SJPD Sgt. Todd Trayer. He has a lot of experience in our neighborhood and he is also concerned about the hours at this location.

An NWGNA representative has spoken with him this morning and he hasn't received any other input on the subject so it is important that we provide our points of view. The three concerns discussed with him were potential increases in litter, graffiti, and drinking in Fuller Park.

SJPD does not make the final decision but they will be advising Planning on what allowances or restrictions may be placed on 7-11. Sgt. Trayer had some good ideas about what to recommend, but would like to hear from others as well.

Tonight's public meeting is at the Gardner Community Center at 6:30pm. We hope to see you there.

Holiday decorating postponed

The rain is coming down steadily right now, so we will reschedule the neighborhood decorating for a later date. Stay dry!

Three important reminders!

Neighborhood decorating is Sunday morning, 9 am (more information)

Holiday trees and wreaths will be ready for pick up this Sunday between 9 am and 4 pm at 1023 Bird Avenue.

Community meeting about potentially increasing hours of alcohol sale at new 7-11
more information