The March6, 2005 San Jose Mercury makes clear that neither Mickie Winkler, development manager David Johnson, or any other official knew of Stanford's plans for an I-280 hotel until after it was unannounced. Now, in her ballot statement and on her website, Mickie Winkler is saying she (and Johnson) "attracted" the project.

San Jose Mercury News (CA)

March 6, 2005

HOTEL PLAN HIDDEN IN PLAIN SITE?

You'd think Menlo Park officials would be in the loop about a deal Stanford is cooking up to build a posh hotel on university property off Sand Hill Road at Interstate 280 in, well, Menlo Park.

But the news last week from Bill Phillips, Stanford's managing director of real estate, caught just about everyone in the city off guard. Except, apparently, Pat White, a Santa Cruz Avenue resident and frequent city hall agitator.

''I was surprised,'' Mayor Mickie Winkler said.

''I don't know anything,'' Councilman Andy Cohen, just elected in November, acknowledged.

Even the city's business development director, Dave Johnson, told Cohen he was surprised by the news when the two bumped into each other at the library, Cohen said.

Yet, in an e-mail to Cohen posted on the city's Web site, White suggested Stanford's plans were no secret.

''Mr. Cohen, get a life,'' White wrote. ''I have known about the 'Hotel' for at least three months, and not from Ms. Winker (sic) or any other Council Member. Are you so 'fogged' that you didn't know?''

The plot thickens.

Memo:

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

POLITICS IN THE BAY AREA

Internal Affairs is compiled by the Mercury News staff. Staff Writers Rodney Foo, Janice Rombeck, Mike Zapler and Julie Patel contributed items this week.

Copyright (c) 2005 San Jose Mercury News

Record Number: 0503080123