The WOW factor of 365 votes

The local election was a big surprise. Not that I have a crystal
ball, but walking the neighborhoods with my kids for both Barbara and
Michael Kane I was impressed with how many people knew about the
Friends of the Hillsides, and the issues surrounding development in
the hillside area surrounding the town of Los Gatos. If Michael Kane
was the poster child for Hillside preservation in this race, then
Peggy Dallas was the friend to big developers. To say that she was
trolling for business might be over stating the obvious.

It was the sheer negative of the Dallas camp that shone through.
The quip about her expertise as an architect positioned as some sort of gift to the council implying other council members can't read plans or understand development . An insult on multiple layers to the community and to the council persons and planning commissioners who are accomplished and bring a breadth of knowledge to the dais.

Three hundred and sixty five votes separated the most different of candidates.
The protect and preserve candidate and the pander to developer candidate.
That is indeed the big wow factor.

Of the 21,000 registered voters on the rolls in Los Gatos per the last election, 97% voted.. Comparatively speaking with all the issues, initiatives, and a historic presidential vote to boot I expected a larger turn out on a local level.

The feeling in the pit of my stomach?? People who care about development now have a majority on council. Stewardship will receive lip service so expect the look, feel and demographic make up continuing to trend white, wealthy and willful.

The "we get what we want era" has evolved . Now we have the third voice on council to cement these decisions. Let's hope our new council person elect can improve upon his attendance record and show up prepped and prepared for those Monday evenings.

Toast to Community

My neighbors hosted a small gathering to watch the returns roll in last night. Most of the street showed up, kids in tow and a dish to pass. I dug deep into my wine stash and found two stellar syrah's

in hopes of toasting victory. 

The feeling of community that I experienced last night was akin to

being at a family gathering. You could cut the emotion with a knife.

The two right wingers in the gathering could have been the nutty aunt who sports jewelry fashioned from dried pasta, and the neo-con uncle who is just a little too paranoid. Teasing them was too much fun, but after the 130 electoral vote mark it just felt like bad sportsmanship to poke fun. A historic moment enjoyed with friends and family made for the ending of a long long day. Community made last night special, and the road ahead a little more fun.. The syrah was a huge hit.. and the occasion could not have been more special. Thank you Broadway neighbors- you rock my world in such a profound way.

Vote Today

It felt really great to drop that completed ballot into the box first thing this morning.  My local polling place was busy at 7:45, but no que had formed.... I think my kids were disappointed getting to school early for once. 

The funny thing about my neighborhood polling place, poll workers cars all rock star parked

in front of the doorway sporting any number of political bumper stickers. I too am a fan of the bumper sticker, or as I like to think of them: the visual equivalent to everyone has the right to hear/see/comment on my opinions. Snob that I am of the  bumper sticker genre, I like to think my mini cooper bumper speaks cheeky vs. staid. I suppose seeing right to life, Palin for VP and NRA stickers in my line of direct sight was too much of a political lap dance without my morning coffee. There is a state law that calls for no political messages within 500 ft of a polling place, but in my new found "pick my battle" vs "Equal opportunity to pick all battles no matter how small/lg" mental space I choose not to say anything to my non-neighbor poll workers. I thanked them and went on my way.  One down side, if there is one of a non republican in office is my bumper stickers will all be passe' and need to come off.

My mini cooper has not had a naked bumper in eight years. My hope is that this down side is  the very first thing I tackle with a scrapper and windex tomorrow morning. 

T-Minus

Only one day and counting. Sweating this election as much as four years ago when I hoped into a rental RV with another film maker mom with minions in tow, legos and a whole lotta film gear for a road trip thru the swing states to register women voters.  It all comes back in technicolor clarity as we await Tuesday.

The podcast of this week's "This American Life," spotlights the passionate positions people take during an election year and how it effects every aspect of life. Misery loves company so I suppose it was with a certain sentiment that I listened to Ira Glass Interview the people on the firing line of registering voters and campaigning for a candidate. 

The turnout for Tuesday is the stuff legends are made of. 

General plan update goes local

The twenty-five interested community members that showed up yesterday a.m. to discuss the current General Plan update brought enthusiasm and list making ability to the round of breakout

groups.  The town staff out numbered and micro-managed, but the catered spread was a nice surprise so I guess it evens out the "trying" too hard vision of what was the scope of an ambitious morning agenda.

The sentiment of community involvement was not lost on me...misplaced perhaps. Anytime community members can come together to discuss how to make our town better is nothing short of inspiring. 

What is puzzling is the residential guidelines that make up the filet mignon cut of the General Plan were condensed, homogenized and passed onto a council agenda only to be approved a few short weeks ago. Under the radar of any update committee or anyone else for that matter. If real input was what really mattered, wouldn't shouldn't we have been able to have had a chance to chime in as well? 

My favorite quote from the morning presentation was from a young woman, perhaps on the youth commission who wanted to see a place for teenagers to shop. Boutiques selling $500.00 jeans are not an option for those spending babysitting money. 

Every dog has it's day care

As the financial world falls in around us all.. it's interesting to bring new perspective to the recession proof industries in and around silicon valley. Pet waste removal. Doggie day care,

doggie play-care (which I understand costs a bit more because the ratio of dogs to toys and dogs to care takers.)

The U.S. pet care services trade is currently a 40 B dollar industry.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA)

Three-quarters of dog owners consider their pet like a child or family member. The most widely expanding segment of the pet product market: dental products. Whitening strips, mouth wash and orthodontic products.

Take comfort in knowing that someone is actually adding these products to a weekly shopping list. Making mental note to self, that fluffy's bad breath needs to be micro managed.

Yesterday while awaiting a green light I sat behind two separate trucks advertising the following services : poop be gone, and  smilin dogs pick-up and drop off service. You might ask drop and pick-up?? Perhaps doggies these days have "play" dates or shopping excursions..or dentist appointments. Feel secure knowing that fido is ridin' around town in some nice looking wheels while sniffing out a new friends bum.

So when people say things like "going to the dogs" it may help to remember the research from our furry friends political action committee which conjures up a whole other vision of fleas but I will bite my tongue for now.