Free Republic

SAN JOSE -- A San Jose city committee Wednesday poured cold water on a proposal to eliminate soda pop, whole milk and other sugary or fattening beverages at city libraries, community centers and other public facilities. Councilman Ash Kalra's proposal hit a brick wall at the agenda-setting Rules and Open Government committee. Mayor Chuck Reed, who leads the committee, said "this definitely will not make my top 10 list" of potential ordinances to consider. Though he was willing at least to have the council as a whole decide whether to pursue it, none of the other committee members moved to...

SAN JOSE -- Want a Coke at the San Jose Library? A root beer for the kids at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo? Maybe some whole milk for the little one? Forget it! That stuff makes you fat. A San Jose councilman wants the city to stop providing sugary drinks and whole milk at city properties and events to promote healthier diets. "We cannot stop the obesity epidemic," City Councilman Ash Kalra said in his proposal. "But as the city of San Jose, we can do our part by being socially responsible and accountable for the products we make available...

San Jose council votes down porn filters at public library computers A year and a half of debate over filtering pornography out of San Jose public library computers came to a head late Tuesday when the City Council rejected spending money on the technology. After a lively debate that lasted hours, the council voted 7-3 to approve a proposal by the vice mayor and two councilmen that would remind computer users of existing policies to be courteous to others. Mayor Chuck Reed and council members Pete Constant, who led the push for the filters, and Pierluigi Oliverio were opposed, favoring...