I’m working on an entry that will list off my study/budget issue rankings (with reasons) and what the final outcome was. It’ll take a bit more time, maybe going up tonight. I’ve been beset by my real job and other deadlines, so I’m a bit frazzled. But I wanted to mention a couple of things.

First, there’s an interesting initiative called the 3/50 Project (not to be confused with the 350 climate change goal). Tammy Salans referenced it at Council the night of my swearing-in, but I was distracted by a bumblebee and didn’t follow up on it. The Project’s message is simple – spend $50 at three local independent businesses. It’s the best way to support those businesses and the best way to support our local economy. And if I might suggest – do it on Murphy Avenue. Those merchants are hurting. So go to dinner. Do a little shopping. Browse some books at Leigh’s.

Second, in case you missed it, there was a big article on Otto Lee’s return. Good piece, and it’s great to see him back. He’s still on active duty, despite being home, and he should return to Council by the end of the month, I think.

Welcome to my new blog! This is my inaugural post, both because it’s the first in the blog and because it’s being done in anticipation of my inauguration this Tuesday, January 5th. Thanks for checking this out.

I’m going to try to keep this blog going, to accomplish a couple of goals. First, I want Sunnyvale residents to know as much as possible about what is happening in their city, and what may happen.  Second, I want to encourage folks to get involved – to make you a part of the process, and contributing to solutions to the problems that we face.  We face some big ones.  Third, I’m a little dismayed by the state of the media in Sunnyvale.  The Merc pays us little attention, and the Sun isn’t timely enough to provide real news.  So until Radio Sunnyvale grows to the point of providing real-time Sunnyvale news, I’m happy to do my part.

Plus, I get to vent a little, from time to time…

A couple of comments about my limitations. Doing this job right means exercising restraint and being very careful in how I conduct myself, both personally and professionally, at all times. And that will extend to this blog as well. I’m specifically limited in two ways. First, my job is to act as a final arbiter of what policies are in the community’s best interest, and to that end, I need to respect and actively solicit public input and involvement, right up to the moment when public comments are closed. That doesn’t work if people believe I’ve already made up my mind on issues. Second, I’m governed by the Brown Act, which means that I cannot express a bias on a pending issue to three or more of my colleagues. And I’m not naive enough to believe that they’ll never hear what I write here, one way or the other. So I can’t telegraph any opinions I may have on pending issues.

To that end, I’m going to restrict this blog to the following items:

• factual, unbiased information about upcoming issues, to elicit input and participation
• discussion of votes I’ve already cast
• general community information not related to Council meetings