Although the board voted to reopen a school, it has not specified how many students can enroll, what type of school it will be (e.g., a regular school, small school, specialized academy, etc.) or how it will pay for it.

Many in the Decoto neighborhood want a school again that’s closer to home, but some community members say it’s fiscally irresponsible to open a school in the midst of budget cuts. The district is projecting a minimum $3.2 million deficit next year, and the board will be looking at possibly laying off teachers, increasing class sizes and cutting the budgets for transportation, band, forensics and other co-curricular programs.

Trustees Gwen Estes, Jonas Dino and Michelle Matthews voted to reopen BWMS while Gertrude Gregorio and Kevin Harper cast the dissenting votes.

For the full story, click here.

For the second time in recent months, I’ve been tripped up by police scanner traffic that led me to believe there was an active SWAT incident going on in the Tri-City area.

In May I heard SWAT action on the Fremont police radio channels, and it turned out to be nothing more than a training exercise at a defunct car dealership. And today I heard similar static on the Union City radio channels. One big difference though: I didn’t race out there today with my notebook and press pass in hand. Instead I was able to confirm by telephone that stuff I was hearing was indeed a training exercise.

I suppose it’s a dead give away when you hear an officer calmly say “shots fired,” instead of screaming it as would be the case if the incident were real.

For you scanner junkies, be aware that this training will also be taking place tomorrow.

Story should be online momentarily, but a 25-year-old mom was shot and wounded this morning in a Union City apartment during an argument with her husband. Cops say two children were home at the time (and the mother of the suspect), but none of them were hurt. Woman is expected to live, although she is undergoing surgery as I write this.

Thjs is the first time in 20 years that the major thoroughfare (from Western Ave. to the I-880 onramp) will be paved with a fresh layer of asphalt. I’m sure motorists will appreciate the smoother driving experience once the project is complete, but until then, they’ve been warned to expect traffic delays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays because one lane in each direction will be shut down at a time.

The entire project, which includes repaving and restriping the lanes, is scheduled to last until mid-August. But Mintze Cheng, director of the public works department, clarified at this week’s City Council meeting that the majority of the lane closures will end by mid-June, not August. The last half of the project mainly will consist of putting new reflectors on the ground.

I’m still curious to know just how badly traffic has been affected by the lane closures. If you’ve been down Alvarado-Niles the last couple of days, feel free to leave a comment. Should drivers avoid the road? What alternate routes would you suggest?

image from TELPortfolio’s site on flickr.com

God Bless America, God Bless Union City

By Simon Wong
Photos By Mike Heightchew
Union City displayed all that is good about America on May 16. The City’s 50th Anniversary Parade, the Classic Car Show at Charles F. Kennedy Park and the 16th Annual Asian-American Heritage Festival, an affiliated event sponsored by the Asian American Federation of California, were celebrations of civic pride, diversity and unity.

UC50 Chair Helen Kennedy and her team of volunteers have donated countless hours to plan the year’s calendar of 50th Anniversary events, backed by sponsors and donors who pledged their support more two years ago and honored them despite the subsequent economic downturn. They brought the City’s community, neighbors and friends together.

The Parade, which seemed to be over so quickly, lasted for 90 minutes. The Island Thunder Motorcycle Club opened proceedings as they roared past the review stand occupied by City Manager Larry Cheeves and Deputy City Manager and Leisure Services Director Tony Acosta, the event’s announcers.

David Navarrette, of San Pedro, is suing the Union City plant for negligence and claims in the lawsuit that the company did not fulfill its “duty to take reasonable measures” to protect consumers. Specifically, the company failed to monitor adequately the safety and sanitary conditions of its premises and to follow federal guidelines, among other allegations cited in the suit.

The company has recalled many of its spices, sauces and oils. More info can be found on the state’s health department Web site.

To view the lawsuit, click here.

In addition to the “Lian How” brand, health officials are warning consumers not to eat spices packaged under the “Uncle Chen” label, which were sold to retail stores. Four supermarkets in the Tri-City area have been identified as receiving the spices. For the full list, click here.

For a list of restaurants that purchased spices from the Union City plant, click here. Twenty-seven Tri-City restaurants made the list.

For updates, visit the California Department of Public Health’s Web site.

White and black pepper products made by the company have been linked to Salmonella poisoning, affecting 42 people in four states, including 33 in California. Many who became ill had eaten at Asian resataurants that used the peppers, according to various media reports. No deaths have been reported.

For more details from the California Department of Public Health and a list of the voluntarily recalled products, click here.

I’m working on a follow-up article, hopefully for tomorrow’s paper.