Police accused of excessive force during Mardi Gras

From the Spartan Daily
Online exclusive
By Laura Rheinheimer
Date: 3/3/06 Section: News

Three San Jose State University students say police used excessive force during the Mardi Gras celebration earlier this week.

SJSU student Tasha Burton, who was arrested on charges of resisting arrest early Wednesday morning, has filed a complaint against a San Jose Police Department officer, alleging that he used excessive force when he restrained her near City Hall as she was leaving the celebration at around 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

Two other SJSU students, Sheretta Henderson and Andreana Bates, have already spoken with SJPD's Internal Affairs about the alleged police brutality, Bates said.

Officer Enrique Garcia, a spokesman for SJPD, said he "can't offer any comment on it" because there is an internal investigation on the allegations.

"We're really not in a position to judge anything," Garcia said.

The alleged incident occurred when violence erupted in downtown San Jose late Tuesday evening and into early Wednesday morning, which led to four stabbings, 25 arrests and 238 citations issued by the police.

Bates said that she plans on filing a formal complaint against the SJPD and thinks Henderson will do the same.

A tape recorded by CBS Channel 5 shows a group of female SJSU students in an altercation with police near San Jose City Hall and shows one of the women being visibly struck by an officer with a baton. The woman, later identified as Henderson, can also be seen arguing with officers before she was hit with the baton.

Bates said in a phone interview that she was struck by an unidentified female officer after being told by police to go home.

"It didn't hurt, but the fact still remains that she hit me," Bates said.

Burton said she was with the group and alleged that an SJPD officer swore at her, pushed her with a baton and beat her.

"He smashed my face into the concrete like I was a piece of trash," Burton said.

Burton said she was on Fourth Street headed toward City Hall to retrieve her friend, Kimberly Larry, when an officer stopped her. Burton said the officer told her that City Hall was "off limits" and swore at her.

"He was so angry at me right off," Burton said.

Larry said while one officer confronted Burton, another two "snatched me up by the hood and (punched) my back."

Burton said the officer started cursing at her.

"I'm a woman and I know my rights," Burton said she responded to the officer.

Burton said the officer became violent after she asked for his badge number and he pushed her down.

"It's really offensive as a woman who respects the law," said Burton, a junior majoring in sociology with a minor in criminal justice, who wants to be a parole officer.

She said her mother is a police officer in Southern California.

Burton said she was considering trying to work for the SJPD. After the incident, she said she is rethinking her career.

The group of eight women were walking on Fourth Street slightly after midnight when they clashed with police, said some of the women involved.

"It was so surreal, like something out of a movie," said Barbara Powell, a junior majoring in marketing, who claims she was pepper-sprayed by police but will not file a complaint.

Detective Sgt. Edward Schroder will head the Internal Affairs investigation.

Officer Erin Fong of Internal Affairs said the investigation will go through a process of steps, including scrutiny by the Independent Police Auditor office.

Discipline could be ordered if the case is proven true, said Fong. According to an Internal Affairs document, allegations can be proven if it is "more likely than not that the misconduct occurred."

San Jose nightlife begins and ends on First Street

From the Spartan Daily
Online exclusive
By Laura Rheinheimer
Date: 3/3/06 Section: Entertainment

The bars and clubs on South First Street run the gamut for party-goers. In the past year, many of them have switched ownership and atmosphere. This semester's smorgasbord of venues offers new themes and some bars and clubs offer something for all types of celebrators.

Whether looking for a rowdy sports bar, high-energy dance club, cool night of billiards or urban experience, the South First Street establishments should meet the needs of the San Jose bar and club scene.


Scores Bar and Grill, 417 S. First St.

Scores Bar and Grill, formerly known as Zoe's, has an atmosphere that implies more than keeping sports tallies. The bar managers, two San Jose State University alumni, draw from their experience at other bars, engaging bar-goers in group shots and shouting.

On "Sunday Funday," David Brenner, a former SJSU Pike, got on a microphone and called for everyone to drink together.

"The bar is open now, but the real fun will begin when the mechanical bull arrives on March 14 for the grand opening," said Regina Evans, general manager of Scores. "For now, there's a boxing ring onstage, air hockey and dancing poles on the bar."

The management hopes to establish this newly opened bar as a hotspot for SJSU students.

"This is the only sports bar downtown for SJSU," said bar manager Johnny Escobar.

He says that students will always get a discount if they show their school IDs.

Scores is the "Coyote Ugly of San Jose," said Evans.


Sofa Lounge, 372 S. First St.

Up a narrow stairway, Sofa Lounge has the feeling of an old jazz club from prohibition times. The décor is part vintage, part modern, and the dimly-lit rooms lend to the urban feel.

The velvet couches and bed in the back room allow for people to lounge and escape the thumping decibels. The stage and bar in the front room make some nights feel like a crowded, trendy club.

Co-owner Tim Middlefield said he and partner Michael Borkenhagen opened the lounge a year ago for "people looking for a San Francisco vibe."

Sofa has varying genres of music on different nights of the week, including an '80s-themed Wednesday night and a jazz workshop on Sundays.

On Thursdays, the usually open area is split into two separate spaces for "Velvet Shop," when the front room tends to fill up and feel like a trendy, crowded bar, and the back room allows some breathing room.

Sofa, with a view overlooking the street, brick walls, modular furniture and modern wall art, captures the feeling of a bar on San Francisco's Fillmore Street.


Angels, 400 S. First St.

This high-energy dance club caters to professional partiers. The style and atmosphere of Angels feels like a dance club in Ibiza. From the glittering sign outside to the white leather seating inside, Angels presents a place for a hard-core club experience.

Angels Lounge is not for the weak-hearted. The techno and dance music thumps at high volumes and is very dance-oriented.

The club also offers many VIP spaces and holds private parties and cocktail parties for special occasions.

Clubbers be warned: Go to Angels for the experience, not for an inexpensive place to get a drink.


South First Billiards, 420 S. First St.

South First Billiards is a large, clean space with 29 pool tables and plenty of space left for seating. The tables are spread out, allowing ample room for the professional pool player and the amateur. There are also separate spaces for a more private setting. The billiards offer $10 flat rate pool to students on Wednesday evenings.

The front of the 14,000-foot space serves as a lounge and offers a full menu, 12 beers on tap, a full bar and disc jockeys and live music on the weekends. There is also an 18-foot TV screen.

South First Billiards, which has been around for 12 years, is an ideal setting for friends looking for a clean, classy place to play pool and enjoy a beer.

Police clean up Mardi Gras

Four people were stabbed and several cars vandalized in Tuesday’s Mardi Gras celebration, said Enrique Garcia, press information officer for the San Jose Police Department. Police made 25 arrests and issued 238 citations, Garcia said.

All of San Jose police special forces and swing shift monitored the area as well as undercover officers in the crowds, totaling over 200 officers.

Officers wore shielded helmets and formed a line with nightsticks in hand and pushed the impeding crowd away from Santa Clara and Second Streets, which has been a problem area in past Mardi Gras celebrations.

“Toon’s is usually good for a stabbing,” said Officer Ed Conover about the nightclub on 52 E. Santa Clara St.

Lt. James Werkema said the police try to keep the crowds moving. Trouble “just moves with the crowds,” Werkema said.

Miranda Radland of San Jose said the police wouldn’t allow her access to her car.
“Every time we turn a corner, they tell us to walk another two blocks,” said Radland. “I’ve walked 20 blocks.”

Some party-goers said the police presence was overdone.

“They’re overdoing it,” said Rick Martin, a San Jose resident. “I think they’re causing more problems than anything.”

Officer Brian Daley said the police response was “measured.”
“That means just the right amount,” Daley said.

Several cars were vandalized on Fourth Street and St. James Street.

The windows of a BMW M3 were shattered and the roof, hood and trunk dented, leaving a skeleton of what was a once-shiny sports car.

“What happened was a whole bunch of people came through here and your car got stomped,” said the officer responding to the vandalism.

All they can do if file a report the following day, said the officer.

“The cops told us to clean up our mess—that’s really low,” said Ryan, a friend of the car’s owner.

Both police and bar patrons said youngsters who cannot drink are problematic because they crowd the streets, vandalize and cause fights.

“There’s supposed to be a big old party—but I guess not,” said Jamie Pelkey, who drove with friends from Oakland to have fun, but said he was not old enough to go into bars.

The San Jose police said they had warned people not to come to the area unless they had a place to go, Daley said.

Marvin Dulay, a SJSU alumnus, said three years ago people were having a good time.

“Now there’s just police,” Dulay said.

“It’s this whole new world order,” said Fernando Julian Perez, a SJSU junior majoring in radio, television and film. It’s excessive force, said Julian Perez.

Last year, there were 45 arrests and 170 citations. “We still have a problem, but it’s getting better,” said Daley.

Houssein Khani, a San Jose State University sophomore majoring in biology, said he planned to stay out of trouble.

“I wore my running shoes,” Khani said.

Panelists explore Israeli high-tech innovations

By Laura Rheinheimer
Posted: 2/27/06

Israel leads the world in high-tech innovation according to panelists from high-tech companies who discussed ties between Israel and the Silicon Valley Thursday.

Three panelists with top positions in high-tech and venture capitalist firms answered questions from an audience of approximately 300 students, faculty and community members about the successes of global Israeli-American companies and the importance of bridging the two regions.

The event was organized by the Entrepreneurial Society, San Jose State University's Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurship, the General Consulate of Israel in San Francisco and Hillel of Silicon Valley.

A short movie shown during the event stated that Israel leads the world in research and development investment.

"That's the foundation of a business," said Chris Surdi, former president of the Entrepreneurial Society. "If they're No. 1 in R&D, they're institutionalized in the global market."

Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest David Akov said the reason Israel leads in research and development might be that the country has no oil. "It makes you work, think and create innovation," Akov said.

Panelist Dave Welsh, a partner in Partech International, a venture-capitalist firm, offered an investor's view of the Israel-Silicon Valley alliance.

"We saw a lot of technological innovations starting to evolve in Israel over the past 10 to 15 years," Welsh said. "Israel has been the best per-company place to make returns. In the end, ... we make money there."

Silicon Valley companies play a role by helping Israeli companies to "focus products to the right market," said panelist Ram Ofir, vice president and general manager of Zoran's digital television division.

Zoran has its business management in Sunnyvale and its entrepreneurship and innovation in Israel.

Some professors sent their classes to the discussion, hoping students could learn more about global business models.

Professor Anu Basu, director of SJSU's Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurship, said students who will enter in the upcoming business plan competition could use the panelists' suggestions.

"It showed the importance of going to the potential customer," Basu said. "Run the idea by people first."

Surdi said he hopes to launch a business and enter it into the competition.

"Getting knowledge about Israel and the research facilities there is an integral part of our business plan," Surdi said.

Dean of the College of Business Bruce Magid said he hoped the event would "whet (the students') appetite" for an overseas experience. He said the recent $10 million donation to the College of Business from Donald and Sally Lucas could go to scholarships for study-abroad programs.

"I'm hoping this program will lead to a business exchange program," said David Ben-Israel, a sophomore majoring in business. "I think students in both areas have a lot to learn from each other."

Jennifer Boldrini, a junior majoring in business management, said she learned more about resources in other countries.

"In the U.S., the focus is on the U.S. and nowhere else," Boldrini said.

Panelist Dan Harkabi, who pioneered flash memory technology, sold his company to SanDisk, where he is currently the vice president of secure contents solutions. He said he understood the need to join a major partner.

"A healthy approach: you cannot win it just by yourself," Harkabi said. Although the technology came from Israel, Harkabi said, the consumer was not there.

President of the Turkish-American Business Connections Association Efe Orhun said he attended the event to get ideas to improve technological trade relations.

Surmi Chatterjee, a graduate student in computer engineering said she was interested in what panelists said on starting a business in the computer industry.

Some audience members asked to know the secret to the panelists' success. Harkabi said anticipating trends and future technology is key.

"When it's 'hot' it's too late," Harkabi said.

All three panelists agreed that Israel keeps ahead of competition in places like India because of the loyalty of employees. Ofir, who has worked for Zoran since 1991, said retaining personnel is "one of Israel's skills." The turnover rate for engineers is too high in India, Welsh said. "Consistency almost overrides raw talent."

Professor Burton Dean, the moderator of the panel, said Americans tend to see their career in many jobs.

"In Israel, they're loyal. ... They work hard," Dean said.

There have been similar events at Stanford University and University of California Berkeley in order to show Israel "beyond the conflict," Tzach Segal, director of business development at the consulate, said.