Monday, July 7, 2014

Candidate for City Council, John Keener: NOT our guy, been there.


LIAR (2)
Been there 30+ years: our city needs change, not more of the same
"Keener's poll is a lie that we've seen before. John is saying he did a poll and then made the big announcement that the Pacificans he talked to were against highway widening 4 to 1. Does that sound familiar? Like when this same group of people said 60% of us were in favor of the phone tax last year. Does John still think Pacificans are that gullible?

The failed Measure V phone tax was supported by the leaders of the anti widening group who support John Keener now. Peter Loeb, Hal Bohner, Cynthia Kaufman and many others who were the big proponents of the measure V phone tax, they are the big supporters of John Keener now. Same people, same tactics.

We have seen how this group uses scare tactics trying to convince Pacificans the highway one modernization is bad. They say "it will ruin the coast" and "they will pave over Pacifica." But they fail to tell people the truth. Traffic is delaying emergency vehicles. They don't say that Firefighters support widening and that traffic delays are a matter of life or death. And they don't say that if the current Caltrans widening plan does not proceed none of their "alternatives" would even be considered for many years. In the mean time we would continue to have emergency vehicles delayed.

We need highway 1 modernization now,
not endless delay tactics
 We saw enough manipulative slanted polls and dishonesty during the Measure V campaign. The last thing we need now is to elect a councilperson that is already using dishonest tactics to convince people of his position. The last thing we need now is to elect another environmental radical to city council who will hold us back another 20 years.   

Pacificans are too smart to be fooled by these shady tactics.  I'm sure they won't be fooled again.  

Submitted by Bob Hutchinson 

Note:  the above text will be reprinted in the 7/9/14 edition of the Pacifica Tribune.
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Related  - City Council candidate John Keener website.  (Observation from viewing the John Keener website:  Mainly this candidate is against widening highway 1, but he also appears to be against Pedro Point development.  In a city with a constant need for revenue, Keener blames city council for attempting to pass a 1% utility phone tax. (The vote to send this proposition to ballot was 5-0, but Keener singles-out two city councilmembers as "culprits".)  Keener blames the $4 million city financial short-fall on the previous city manager, and a "pliant city council", whereas the empty city funds trail back to 2003. He has no economic development solutions to provide this city with a sustainable financial future, and he proposes more department outsourcing.

Note photographs:  The Todd and Erin, "5 signs that someone is lying to you".   Highway 1 traffic back-up by Bob Pilgrim from Pacifica Riptide.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

87 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow. Just kinda throw it all out there and see what sticks.

Anonymous said...

This guy has no message besides he is against the Highway 1 widening.

That makes him just like every nimby, noobeee and hippie over in Peter Loeb's group.

Just say no to this guy. Pacifica can not afford another gang of no person.

Anonymous said...

But he supports the libraries and he's a "green" candidate!

Just what we need.

Not much in the way of economic development.

Wrong candidate wrong time.

Anonymous said...

The city has 2 libraries? Why go 35 million in debt for a new state of the art library with the bozo's on city councils names on it.

Put some bucks into fixing up the 2 libraries we have and maybe consider opening another site in one of the empty retail spaces around town.

If Burlingame can do this, so can we.

We are not Walnut Creek.

Anonymous said...

We're not even Burlingame. Those two branches we have are just fine. The council brain trust just wants something, anything to put their name on. Pure ego. The new CM can probably come up with a sales pitch. Need the right people on council to move it along. Who's going to be the favored candidate? The Ervin of 2014? Ruchames was pro-V and supports a new library. Former cop, probably can take some heat on the highway vote without flinching. Hmmm, but does he possess that all-important puppet potential? That's the deal breaker.

Anonymous said...

119 I think I'd pay to see "Bozo" on the plaque at the entrance. Shit! If we get that far, I know I'm paying.

Chris Porter said...

I have asked on Riptide but got no response to what time of day did Mr. Keener do his survey and what day of the week? This could definitely sway the answers one way or another.

Anonymous said...

Chris, he rang my door bell on a Saturday or Sunday. Definitely on the weekend. Never said the word concrete. Very pleasant. Seemed very bright. Stressed there were other alternatives to the emergency vehicle problem. I couldn't linger and he didn't push to make a sale.

Anonymous said...

Any council person who voted for cell phone tax needs to be voted out.Hwy 1 provides a good election issue for candidates.

Anonymous said...

"Any council person who voted for cell phone tax needs to be voted out." That would be Len Stone, Mike O'Neill, and Sue Digre whose seats are up for election in November.

Kathy Meeh said...

957, clearly you don't want additional taxes, and your solution to that is "throw the bums out". Then what? Got to think a little faster than that.

At least this city council was trying to bring-in city revenue. And city revenue is just what this city needs. So, got "alternatives" other than bringing in a new NIMBY? Time for the last residual NIMBY on city council to go. NIMBIES caused this city financial imbalance; they can't count, proof in the 30 year look back.

Anonymous said...

We must have better people in Pacifica to run for council.I call it early term limits to give them exit.Revenue is problem and this councils repeated failures means relacement is necessary.Can they cut the mustard?No!

Kathy Meeh said...

20811106, these "city council failures' you mention could be worse. "Throwing the baby out with the bath water" doesn't, ur, "cut the mustard" either.

Besides if they all run for city council, the vote is diluted, the other guys (the ones you really don't want) win. That's been known to happened in this city. Better to support the "good guys" who do run for city council.

Anonymous said...

Some one should slip this note to city council.

To encourage the conversion of offices into housing, the Paris City Council approved Tuesday a tax on commercial wasteland. The City denies the creation of a new tax.
The Paris City Council approved Tuesday a tax on commercial wasteland, whose main objective is, according to the City, to encourage the conversion of offices into housing, not "create a new tax" as acknowledge UMP. The City plans to tax owners of vacant commercial premises at 20% of the rental value of the first year, 30% the second, 40% the third year, from 1 January 2015.

Anonymous said...

Some one should slip this note to city council.

To encourage the conversion of offices into housing, the Paris City Council approved Tuesday a tax on commercial wasteland. The City denies the creation of a new tax.
The Paris City Council approved Tuesday a tax on commercial wasteland, whose main objective is, according to the City, to encourage the conversion of offices into housing, not "create a new tax" as acknowledge UMP. The City plans to tax owners of vacant commercial premises at 20% of the rental value of the first year, 30% the second, 40% the third year, from 1 January 2015.

Anonymous said...

1016 They all voted to put the phone tax on the ballot so the voters could decide. Done. Your one issue approach makes no sense.

Sour Puss Sam said...

A vote for Keener is a vote for........Curtis, Hall, Loeb, Boehner, and the rest of the No Gang that have ruined this city. Come to think of it, a Vote for Digre is the same thing. Digre has been on council the last, what, 11 years. Anyone think she ever read a budget or asked a coherent question about the "missing" $4,000,000! Nice doesn't count when you're dealing with a $50,000,000 city budget. Time for her to go and not time to vote in a Digre clone like Keener.

Anonymous said...

Council had no real choice than to support the phone tax campaign. They were pushed into it by the economic finance committee and people like Bruce Banco. Council had to show a unified front.

But Keener is being less than honest by singling out just Mike O'Neill and Len Stone.

Anonymous said...

Not one of the fab five publicly mentioned the 4 million in vaporized public funds until it was time to put on the show. Do you really believe none of them knew? Right, and that red-legged frog poops diamonds. Keener singles out O'Neill and Stone because he'll run against them--he's clearly saying he supports Digre. The Financial Task Force was hand-selected by the council brain trust. Not the other way around. Council wanted options, they got 'em. It's all theater. Small town, small time theater put on by hacks for the yokels who eat it up. The real stuff happens behind the curtain.

Anonymous said...

This council only let people vote because of Prop 218 requirements.No popular vote on sewer or garbage rates allowed by council because Prop 218 does not require it.

Chris Porter said...

Thank you for the info 6:29 pm!

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

We had one green candidate last time. Look what happened to him. Pacificans have grown up. They have had enough of the gang of no.

Bring on that vote on a quarry development, it will easily pass this time.

Anonymous said...

This city council is no different than the last city council.

Btw why is nobody talking about the missing $4 million bucks?

Chris Porter said...

The reallocation of funds money between accounts seems to date back to City Mgr Joe Tanner's time frame. I think Sue was the only person on the Council back then.

Anonymous said...

848 Are you crazy? Criticize OUR council!? Not a chance. As has been said on here, and probably with absolute sincerity, this bunch is not perfect but they're a thousand times better than the nimbies.

It's something like battered wife syndrome, maybe Stockholm. For sure really low expectations and a strong stomach for the ugly stuff, even by Pacifica standards.

Anonymous said...

That's right, Porter. And after Tanner left, Digre made them all swear an annual oath of secrecy, shhh don't tell the public but we're missing 4 million bucks because we fucked up the interfund lending. Year after year, 6 times for Nihart and Stone. She's had them terrified for years.
Sounds like campaign 2014 has been launched. What's next? Digre can't balance her checkbook? Oh wait, wrong Sue.

Anonymous said...

750 If the nimbies rise, no one is safe.

Anonymous said...

Interfund lending (reallocation of funds) goes back to the dawn of Pacifica. That in itself is not the problem. In fact it's common practice at all levels of government. I'll bet they stopped keeping track of it--and that's the problem--right about when Maureen Lemon was forced out by Vreeland for being such a party pooper. That was the day Pacifica lost the ability to count the beans. Ritzma ascends from HR Director to Queen and darkness descends over the land. Around 2007? Who knew what after that point would depend entirely on who asked what. You'd need to know to ask the right questions and probe beyond staff assurances that interfund lending is an accepted accounting practice. I find it hard to believe that this council didn't know about this mess. I find it easier to believe that several of them didn't understand the implications. Hey, maybe council just didn't ask the right question, ie, how and when does the money get put back in the fund? Maybe it's really commonplace to have these deficits and that's what they were told? You think we got anyone on council smart enough to see a problem with this? Maybe the discovery really was like being hit by lightening or maybe it was more like a bad tooth that you know is trouble and you ignore til you can't ignore it any longer. The good news is that it isn't the mob or the IRS we owe 4 fucking million dollars. It's ourselves. That's good news, right? Situation normal for Pacifica.

Anonymous said...

@616 Dude, you need a Snickers.

Chris Porter said...

No one is blaming Sue for this but saying the fund shuffle dates back to before the majority of the Council was seated.

Anonymous said...

10:22

we would be better off with a zombie
apocalypse!

Anonymous said...

848 none is buying what you're selling

If anyone is to blame it its staff. They put together the numbers for council. Council just looks at what they are given. Not saying it was on purpose but staff would benefit from things looking rosier than they were. Pacifica wouldn't be the first city where this happened.

Time for a professional bookkeeper/accountant.

Anonymous said...

The Pacifica residents are to blame for this cluster f*ck. They didn't pay attention and kept putting the same bozo's on city council.

Anonymous said...

Chris, the "fund shuffle" or interfund lending has been continuous and the deficit since the days of Tanner has almost doubled. I'm not defending anyone because they're all guilty of failing to ask the right questions. Some knew and understood more than others. That's the luck of the draw with small town elected officials. There was just no sense of urgency in sharing it with the public. Go figure. Maybe they didn't think it was a big deal because staff provided assurances or they underestimated the problem or the new CM said this has to come out and now's the time. IDK. Bottom line, interfund lending was never the problem. But choosing to run a struggling city without a professional finance director was reckless, at best, and as time goes on, that decision was clearly a pivotal one. Letting that situation continue for so many years and through the Great Recession simply defies comprehension. They cannot hire an accounting staff fast enough. And there could be more bad news. Let's hope Tinfow takes full advantage of her honeymoon period and gets it all out. That will be up to council and, as always, their diligence, understanding and agenda.

Anonymous said...

1210 So you're peddling the idea that council are morons? You mean this council that's a thousand times better than the nimbies? I'm buying what you're selling oh yeahyeahyeah. No. Only brain dead rodents would have missed this problem for this long. These are not rodents. Who knows why it didn't come out sooner? Possibilities are endless. Probably a combo. But the one you mention is illegal. No evidence of that or official statements to that effect. Politicians always try to cover their ass with whoever is not in the room. They don't need you to do it for them.

Anonymous said...

@1149 Ritzma didn't get the CM job therefore no Zombie Apocalypse here.
Council isn't as stupid as they'd like us, sometime, to believe.

Anonymous said...

Bozo gets a bad rap on here.

Anonymous said...

This council sat in the mess, not on it. For years.

Anonymous said...

1:28

Comparing city council to morons is insulting.

To the Morons!

Anonymous said...

I am against a highway widening that the pro-growth crowd is. I want the highway fixed and a wide emergency lane. I am also against development in Pedro Point. So crowded now. But, I supported the phone utility tax. Many people are not owning homes and rent, but also make good money. Missed opportunity. Choose your battles carefully. We need to keep Pacifica that small home town feeling. I like the idea of a resort like town like it was way back. Save all your snide remarks. I really don't care what anyone thinks of my opinions but I see a group who wants stacked housing and I won't support it. I want big green luxury homes and small green homes. New Library, Town Hall, Chamber Offices, Restaurant and upscale apartments at the WWTP. Ice Skating Rink in Eureka Square. Talk to the owner. And that should be good for awhile. Also, we badly need a theater. Any candidates listening? I hope so. I love Pacifica. Pacifica is so beautiful with great family's and schools. I believe it is great because of our size, family's and coastal family's, and family business's.
We seem to prefer it that way.

Anonymous said...

Saving.

Hutch said...

Thanks for the comments 10:05. I appreciate your opinion but I disagree.

You said you want the highway fixed. Do you know that if the Caltrans plan for widening doesn't go forward nothing will be built?

That's what some people want. Nothing.

Some may "prefer it that way," but it hasn't been working for 20 years. More taxes and less development is why we're in the mess we're in.

You do know we've been almost bankrupt for years now because of an anti development council and a small group of people that oppose everything?

Yes a movie theatre and ice rink would be great.

Our movie theatre closed 10 years ago because we didn't have enough population to keep it going. We also used to have 2 car dealerships. At least 3 more gas stations, a couple of more banks, etc.. But our population hasn't grown in 30 years while the rest of the local cities have. We have lost all that sales and property tax.

We can still maintain a small town and add some commercial, retail and housing. Even Half Moon Bay has grown 25% in 30 years. They're still a small town.

Anonymous said...

Our problem is that our sales tax and property tax revenue don't go in the same pocket. Annexation by San Bruno or Daly City and lots of housing should solve that problem. The retail and commercial thing will never happen here to the degree it would take to support even this dump, but with annexation at least a lot of our sales tax would end up with our property tax in the same city treasury. Cost of services, pensions, etc. are only going to go up. Hmm, San Bruno or Daly City? San Bruno.

Anonymous said...

Our movie theatre closed 10 years ago because we didn't have enough population to keep it going. We also used to have 2 car dealerships. At least 3 more gas stations, a couple of more banks, etc.. But our population hasn't grown in 30 years while the rest of the local cities have. We have lost all that sales and property tax.

Seaview closed because they couldn't keep up to the movie theatres with modern sound and 12 or more choices of movies.

Does anyone remember when you would go to Seaview and come out covered with fleas.

Anonymous said...

Why don't some of you louded mouthed wind bag bench warmers run for city council. I only as of today see:

Keener
Spano
and x cop library guy.

Put up or shut up.

Expecially you people who like to try to whisper in city councils ears. Yes you who think they run the city.

Kathy Meeh said...

Rude 617, but did you bother to ask the incumbent city councilmembers if they are running again for city council?

Better to support three strong candidates. Don't dilute the vote. And and put your money where your "flap gums" mouth is. Its expensive and time consuming to run for city council.

615, you probably already had fleas. Having a grumpy morning?

Anonymous said...

I disagree Hutch. It has been working. In a sense Pacifica is surviving. Population has not changed in years. But has it gone down? No. Not really. People started leaving before the boom. The bust has forced people to stay. We can prepare now. Stabilization is occurring. Every fricken government is in debt. I used to be on that bandwagon until I realized it will not change unless we get rid of certain government regulations. Reducing the size of government. Getting government off the backs of the people. Give back our money that the state takes. Until then there will be no change. But my vision for Pacifica is different than yours. I don't want our Quarry developed. I want other areas of Pacifica utilized better. Has anyone ever engaged big property owners in Pacifica? Have a party and invite them and include council members, chamber members and certain citizens. Everyone needs to get to know one another. I think it is time, although I believe that has already started with this new chamber, but it has to be done more often. This mob attack on every citizen when they try something new has to stop. It really turns people off. Our Seavue theater could not survive under the circumstances it was put under by the council, back then. I believe it was already pegged for renovation with a Walgreens. A modern theater would survive and do very well. So would an Ice Rink. We are a coastal city that would greatly benefit from other Main Attractions for visitors and tourists , which Pacifica seems to finally start benefitting from. Our Hotels are packed. Pacifica has tourists and visitors from all parts of the World. Pacifica can offer a little more variety. Change tactics and search for Main Attractions, which would raise property values and could force development of new homes. Keep Pacifica Family Friendly, where as, in San Francisco, is not. Pacifica has always been different, in a good way. Pacifica is beautiful, clean, friendly and full of wonderful family's. We should try and keep them hear and not drive them out with building on our coast. Our kids grew up playing in the mountains and biking to the beach to cool off. What a life. Please protect that.

Anonymous said...

LMAO Kathy Meeh. Good one!

Anonymous said...

You can't run a city on nostalgia. And Pacifica cannot compete with the world-class shopping, entertainment and jobs offered just over the hill. Not even with a population of a 100,000 which was the planned projection way back in the 50s before 50% of the town went to GGNRA and a freeway connection to the rest of the world was rejected. Our destiny was determined by those two facts. What's left is a bedroom community. Build some bedrooms, build some hotels and when the inevitable short fall happens, be ready to pay your taxes. As natural turn-over occurs, bringing younger home-buyers into the pool will help. Life will go on.

Anonymous said...

The multi-plexes killed off small theaters all over the country.
Ditto for the mom and pop stores we all loved so much that we couldn't wait to get to Target. Gone.

Anonymous said...

Watch your wallets!

Recology is getting ready to pass on another rate increase.

Anonymous said...

Hey, at least they pick up the garbage and take it away. An actual service for my actual money. How often does that happen here?
This being Pacifica, my nightmare scenario...they bring it all back during the night and then claim they're short a few mil.

Anonymous said...

How about a miniature golf course (especially since the one in Redwood City closed) and a roller rink?

Anonymous said...

Why'd they close in RWC?

Anonymous said...

Keener has my vote!!! He is the only one who actually says what he is for or against-none of the political mumbo-jumbo. The hwy 1 widening IS all about THE MONEY. Life is not all about the money, and if yours is, that is sad. There were no complaints about traffic-except on hot days when everyone flocked to our beaches-over summer. School days are the main causes because most parents drive their children, do not carpool them, or have them take buses when they can, or heaven forbid, have them walk a few blocks to school. This includes high-schoolers. Oh yeah, libraries are important, and being a green candidate should be a great thing! Pedro point as a major development site-deserves a look at the environmental impact and who it will benefit most-hint: the rich who can afford it and forget the rest. When, if ever, has anyone died due to the traffic here? Perhaps those living in Park Pacifica area could try getting up ten minutes sooner so they don't have to drive 55 to65 down Fassler every morning. Timing the lights at Vallemar is the biggest issue and how come Pacifica doesn't have sensors there and the way of controlling the lights in emergencies that other places do? Gang of NO has the right ideas-keep Pacifica from having a super-sized hwy dividing it AND destroying it.

Common Sense said...

I met the lady in vallemar whose husband suffering a heart attack died because the ambulance was caught in the traffic you speak of, and could not get there in time. Moments count, and if this problem remains unresolved, I hope that you are not so unfortunate, or anyone you love as well.

Anonymous said...

Vote for greenie Keener it's a vote for bankruptcy!

Kathy Meeh said...

Keener is another loser for Pacifica. Haven't "you people" done enough damage already?

Highway 1 widening IS all about HIGHWAY UPDATING AND SAFETY-- ABOUT FIXING A 20 YEAR TRAFFIC BOTTLE NECK THROUGH THIS CITY. And its our turn, with funding available now (not later).

And good luck with that development is about "rich people" card. This is a 50% + open space city with only 4% commercial/retail, 1% industrial business income-- not a plan for city success.

But what alternative to traffic congestion and inadequate city revenue do you propose? Or better, what does your candidate John Keener propose as an "alternative". We already know the "alternative" to highway modernization is nothing, zip, zero.

Tom Clifford said...

As I remember the story about the man dieing of a heart attack the ambulance could not get pass construction equipment blocking Reina Del Mar. A tragedy yes, but one that had nothing to do with the Highway 1

Anonymous said...

Tom the construction equipment couldn't move because there was heavy traffic at the time. The guy died. How many others we'll never know because it's not tracked. How many are delayed and die at the hospital or suffer irreversible damage? How many fires are worse because of delays? It's 100% for sure that it's happening. I wish the anti widening people would be honest and admit it instead of spinning the story.

Anonymous said...

Details, details.

Anonymous said...

How about some facts? All due respect to heartbroken widows and Kathy's recall, but what are the facts? Police incident report? Chance to prove it.

Steve Sinai said...

"There were no complaints about traffic-except on hot days when everyone flocked to our beaches-over summer."

The hippies endlessly complained about traffic when the quarry measure was up for a vote.


"School days are the main causes because most parents drive their children, do not carpool them, or have them take buses when they can, or heaven forbid, have them walk a few blocks to school."

Weekday southbound traffic is always jammed up in the late afternoon/early evening, long after school has been let out.

Hutch said...

It's common sense to figure out that delays can mean life and death. But some are lacking in that attribute. No only that but we have several fire professionals saying that is the case. We have delays and we have emergencies. You do the math. And remember karma is a bitch.

Anonymous said...

"Weekday southbound traffic is always jammed up in the late afternoon/early evening, long after school has been let out." Yes, and if you notice, the backup is caused by the Vallemar light. Southbound AFTER the light, there is no congestion. Traffic moves smoothly through to the next light at Rockaway. Widening the highway between Vallemar and Rockaway will not make a bit of difference in reducing the jam. The one thing that would make a difference would be any solution that eliminates the Vallemar light. That would also eliminate the backup in the morning. One way to eliminate the Vallemar light is an overpass/underpass system, what Caltrans calls grade separation. That's a solution that would completely and permanently solve the problem in the mornings and the evenings.

Anonymous said...

Reminder that the YESSIES here are advocating widening the highway from the current 64 feet to 144 feet wide.

That's 12 feet WIDER than an 8-line interstate!

Anonymous said...

No one questioned the probability that traffic congestion delays emergency vehicles. The question was, what are the facts of the Vallemar incident since it was being specifically cited here as a reason to widen? I don't know, but since it was put in play, maybe someone actually does???

Anonymous said...

How long before the yessies want to widen The Trail?

Hutch said...

620 Traffic is also backed up in the morning south of Fassler too. That's where the ambulance accident happened.

I know you all including John Keener think you are traffic experts but you are not.

Anonymous said...

Isn't "yessies" a Todd term? He's the only one I see use it regularly. But of course he doesn't post anonymously. And he is a man to be believed.

Texas Tim said...

I'm from Texas. Everything is bigger and wider from where I come from. I don't understand Pacifica, 8 lanes isnt so big, lets talk 16, like we have out of Plano. David Lee Roth once told a joke about Texas, on Letterman, it was pretty funny, apparently, it would take a day to drive from one end of my fellow Texan's property to the other. I forgot the punch line. Or who the Texan was, but David Lee Roth is pretty big in music.

Anonymous said...

746 Yes, that's conclusive. What a mind! Let's put you to work on solving the mysteries of the universe.

Anonymous said...

8:44 said "Yes, and there will still be a backup there if the Caltrans widening happens."

Caltrans routinely widens highways with little or no backups. 92/1, 880, 580 Caldecott tunnels.

That's just more BS from the no side.

And don't try to compare it to the Linda Mar bridge replacement. That's not widening.

Hutch said...

844 sounds like Loeb, Kaufman or Bohner. What you don't have the guts to use your name?

How's that court case going, experts?

Anonymous said...

"Widening our 64-foot highway until it is 12 feet wider than Interstate 280 is a great plan," said the strange man whom the townsfolk pointed to and laughed at.

Hutch said...

844 but the "experts" do agree that widening and adding turn lanes and entrances IS the way to improve traffic here in this situation where traffic bottlenecks.

All your sides arguments are lame distortions and you have no expert opinion to back them up. Keener just says "I don't believe it will work."

The argument in favor of widening IS backed by experts in light timing, experts in school busing, experts in engineering and design. And experts in in highway safety like the fire persons who are behind it.

You can only flip flop so many times before people get wise. What happened to your overpass at Vallemar? Haha, funny.

Anonymous said...

An 8 lane interstate highway is 132 feet wide. The Caltrans plan is to expand Hwy 1 at the quarry until it is 144 feet wide.

Caltrans wants to bulldoze a roadway thru Vallemar that is wider than I-280.

Chris Fogel said...

Bob,

Perhaps you're thinking of another Caltrans project?

You make the claim that, "adding turn lanes and entrances IS the way to improve traffic here."

Okay, but the project doesn't do this.

I've got the project map right in front of me and I only see the addition of a right-turn lane from SB 1 into the waste-water treatment plant.

Are you claiming that the lack of a right-turn lane into the quarry is the reason for the congestion on Hwy 1?

Hutch said...

Chris look again. The turn lanes are extended in length, especially approaching Vallemar from the north. Also look at the separated entrace at Fassler going north.

I know you are smart Chris. Everybody makes mistakes. Again, none of you are highway engineers and neither am I. I'm just going by what the experts say.

I think you becoming John Keener's campaign manager was a big mistake Chris. I used to trust that you gave unbiased accurate opinions. But now not so much. You are twisting and turning the facts like a real pro.

Chris Fogel said...

Ah, I see the Fassler lane you're talking about now. I was thinking that was a turn-out into Harvey Way when I looked.

I like to think that I arrive at my positions and viewpoints based on my interpretation of the facts available, but of course personal bias tends to play a role in everyone's opinions to some degree or another--mine included.

I don't have a problem with your disagreements with my views or your coming to a completely different conclusion based on your view of things, but I do wish you'd tone down the personal attacks a bit.

Have a good one.

-Chris

Hutch said...

Chris since you are Keeners campaign manager can you tell us now if you supported measure V? You had some not too kind words for us after V lost.

Measure V was an Utter Failure said...

That Chris supports John Keener is really insignificant to me. He's a smart guy, and wanting to be helfpul. I noticed a Rich Campbell sign in his window during 2012. Perhaps Chris's true color is Green. More power to him! Let's not torment him about this. He volunteers an amazing and incredible service by his production of Pacifica Index, which by the way includes a great story on the defeat of Measure V, it's my favorite story. We will soon celebrate the one year anniversary of the defeat of Measure V. Let us gather chums and be festive, for this really truly is a Pacifica Holiday. If you still have a No on V sign in your garage, take it out to display on your lawn, ask your favorite Yes on V supporter if you can display in on theirs as well!

Measure V was passionately supported by many, who really believed in the cause: Kalimah Salahuddin, Matt Levie, Len Stone, Sue Vellone, and all members of Council...the list was long and distinguished. The brain trust of the Financing City Services Task Force, including some real heavy hitting business people, and others all birthed Yes on V. These were and are all good people, wanting to help the city. Some tears were really shed when it lost and I genuinely felt sorry them, and the union members who put big dollars into the Yes on V campaign, only to be seriously disappointed. I helped wipe some of those tears, I can guarantee you they were not crocodile tears.

Based on his writings, I believe Chris tacitly supported Measure V, but not overtly.

I see things as I think they are, or how they may be, or maybe I just smoked too much 420 when I was little. I see a dichotomy: You have "old Pacifica" which contains as its leaders and luminaries, the Measure V - School Board - pro-35 million dollar library "crew". But you also have a "New Pacifica" of recently arrived high techies, young families and others who either really don't care about local politics, or have quickly become skeptical of the local politics here. That old Pacifica is blowing away like a distant memory in the rear view mirror of Pacifca's mind. Moving out...and Dying out.

The miscalculation, I believe, of the consultants, the politicos, everyone who supported V, was that "New Pacifica" would tag along for the ride, sitting in the shotgun seat with the "Old Pacifica" and that anyone who voted would buy into Yes on V. However, that naive view was ...refuted, rejected, and repudiated by the landslide loss of Measure V, which was, as everyone knows, an Utter Failure.

Steve Sinai said...

What's with the obsession over Measure V?

Anonymous said...

Sinai

Everyone obsesses about something

That's why physiologist s are all rich

Anonymous said...

955 Never saw a sitting city council deliver more lackluster support of a measure they spawned. Kept it at a politically safe distance and kept their heads down. No way to win a battle. Real backbone on that council.

Chris Fogel said...

Bob,

I'm not sure what your interest in how I voted on Measure V is all about, but I was pretty vocal about my stance; I was against it. It's all in the public record.

When the city rolled the Measure out, I posted my thoughts about it here, on Riptide and on Patch. I also appeared before City Council on July 8, 2013, the evening they declared a fiscal emergency in order to qualify the measure for the ballot and spoke out against it.