Who Reads Yesterdays Papers?

-The Mayor of San Jose, Ron Gonzales, was censured last week by the San Jose City Council for sheninigans involving a contract he negotiated with Norcal Waste Systems. The censure was the first in the city's 155 year history. Breaking with political tradition and going against every rule in the political book, Gonzales accepted responsibility for the censure and said that he "wholeheartedly'' accepted it, adding "it is my obligation to earn back that trust" that he lost over his actions. In calling for censure, however, the City Council also voted to end the independent investigation into the contract because they don't want to "wallow in our shortcomings.'' They also voted to take away some of the Mayor's powers and to consider booting him off several committees.

-It's Baaaackkk. Yep, the debate over the U.S.S. Iowa is back as Rep. Dick Pombo and Sen. Diane Feinstein, the most unlikely duo maybe since Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger (seriously, did that really happen? Can you imagine the conversation between those two?), agreed on legislation that says that the Iowa will no matter what be berthed in California and that any city in the state can bid on it. Dick and Di had issued dueling proposals before, but came together to have it included in a defense authorization conference report. So far only two cities have fought over the boat, San Fran and Stockton, which coincidentally, is the home of DiFi and of Pombo.

The Iowa was supposed to have been kept here in the city, but was fought by opponents for a variety of reasons-- the military's anti-gay stance, the war, the city's rep as the center of the peace movement-- and voted down by the Board of Supes. Supporters of the Iowa have continued to fight on and want to propose a new resolution for the Board in January, one with a plan of holding a yearly "peace conference" on board. Think of it as political catnip to anti-military types.

Image of Ron Gonzales hearing the City Council's call for Censure by the A.P.