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| The momentum to fix this city has begun, keep it going...... |
"Editor: Pacifica is going to move forward based on who is elected to represent and serve our community on city council, school board and water district. How do you decide on who will step up to this giant task?
Many years ago, I looked at candidates' positions on particular issues. Having served for 12 years on the Pacifica School District board, I now look at candidates in a different light.
These are the questions that I ask: Does the candidate have some experience working within public institutions (public committees, commissions, and/or elected service)? If they have not been involved in public service, have they taken a leadership position in a nonprofit organization that supports the Pacifica community? Can the candidate work collaboratively with others? The last question is the most important.
All of Pacifica's elected positions are boards of five people. Having a variety of perspectives (alternate views) is important. In other words, not all elected officials should agree. What is more important is that they respectfully express their views and perspectives, back it up with facts, and are willing to listen. I truly believe that when elected officials listen to each other and look to reach compromise, the community benefits. I will cast my vote based on this criteria. This means that I may not agree with a candidate on a specific position. I am voting for candidates who base their decisions on facts, and their ability to work with fellow board/council members and other agencies to make decisions that benefit the Pacifica community.
Cast your vote for candidates that will move Pacifica forward on Election Day, Nov. 4."
Note graphic from Chicago Now blog.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
93 comments:
Well written and also the perspective that I am following to cast my votes. Issues are important, but if we remain so polarized and are not willing to work together, listening to all points of views, we will get nowhere. If there is no knowledge of what has taken place before, how things operate, the learning curve will be too long. These seats are very important and if no interest has been shown to be engaged in the past, how do we know the leadership capacity of individuals? If individuals have been involved, what characteristics have they exhibited? Based on this information I am voting for Digre, O'Neill and Ruchames. Balance and collaboration to bring people together in the best interest of Pacifica.
Ditto 1113 ditto.
1113, 1206, sixteen (16) years of Sue Digre working against city progress? We should to continue to vote for her against the best interest of our city? She campaigned actively against quarry economic development; and now she campaigns against the 1.3 mile highway widening (Rockaway and Vallemar intersections) which will improve traffic flow, and provide a safer road.
Three (3) votes are needed to actively move city legislation forward. Over 30 years, don't you think the NIMBIES (including Sue Digre) have had enough city council control and influence on this now 50-60% permanent open/empty space (4-5% only retail/commercial) city? Now is exactly the time for clarity and change, and that means "polarization" (which you are soo trying to avoid).
In the past, we've listened to "all points of view", we've been reasonable. In doing so, the city continues to lose infrastructure integrity-- to what avail? Lack of city economic balance and infrastructure neglect is proof our "reasonable point of view" has been corrupted by those who have plotted 30 years to cripple any reasonable city economy.
Their vision? Many of these NIMBIES don't care if this city even remains a city. They have been talking city disincorporation for more than one year. Well, that's their "point of view": dump the city. They say "we can live in our neighborhoods": managed by the county, no city accountability, no city shared services, no city council; city future determined by the county. (And with considered eventuality, they can bring-in their regional eco-organizations to express and reinforce their "point of view" at those meetings, win, win).
How "reasonable" can we be? If you want opposition candidates continuing to determine city direction and city legislation, vote for Sue Digre (and some of her friends). Some of us think 12 years of city council management authority by Sue Digre is enough. But if you want city improvement, vote for: Victor Spano, Mike O'Neill, Therese Dyer, Eric Rushames (library). Of these, my three (3) votes went to Victor Spano, Mike O'Neill and Therese Dyer. This city needs economic development, and the funded highway widening-- that IS a reasonable view. "Can't we all get along" through this process is secondary, and the proven last consideration.
Ms. Meeh,
Yes, the reasons you've noted to vote for Ms. Digre, who actively campaigned against paving the quarry and highway widening are exactly why she is needed to continue on the City Council.
Advocating for "polarization", no. Respecting the positions of all Pacificans, that need to come together by actually discussing issues, not one-sided generalities.
Sue has advocated for public input for years. Ruchames has expressed his interest in having actual dialogue on what is actually trying to be solved with "highway widening" (if you are the chamber or indiscriminate grow supports, it's really about developing the quarry isn't it -- not really congestion or traffic safety as the project as currently written does not resolve either). O'Neill has done a good job taking discussions to community organizations "on the road".
This city needs thoughtful people who are willing to take on tough issues. People that include environmentalists and even realtors. People that will listen to me AND you and work together to find an approach that FITS Pacifica.
While I respect your right to think that "fixing Pacifica" by paving it and developing outlet malls, I don't agree with it. My view of city improvement provides for a mix of transportation options that will resolve traffic issues that occur at very limited times of day, approaches that encourage development of visitor serving businesses that are unique and take advantage of what is distinct about Pacifica, and maintain the quality of life that people move to Pacifica for -- a community of engaged people with respect for the unique location that we are privileged to live in.
333, that's your view. I've expressed my view. And I already voted.
Yup, Sue and a whole mess of Pacificans voted against Measure E and Measure L. Too much housing. Went to a vote and it failed. Twice. It's that damned unreasonable democracy thing. You think all those people have moved away or had a change of heart? Haven't had our vote yet on the highway but I believe it's coming.
I also believe most voters are pretty moderate when they look at an issue. The pendulum might swing a little now and then, but it returns pretty quickly to maintain a balance that reflects the values and concerns of the community rather than just it's noisiest, unhappiest, most motivated members.
431 Measure L barely failed by only around 3%, not some overwhelming landslide. The same vote now under the condition we're in, a realization that NIMBY's are bad and lie, and that Pacifica desperately needs economic development, would be a very different outcome. After you see the results next week maybe you'll believe me.
Not likely, Hutch.
Hutch, highway and the quarry? Kill 2 birds with one stone.
Hutch 1023, NIMBIES are "bad and lie", and brought in their regional pals to convenience our public that whatever their worse fear was would relate to quarry development, 2002 and 2006. Here's the No on L 2006 campaign again. Support organizations on the right (includes then Pacifica Mayor Sue Digre), and on the left: top issues. The #1 top issue was "the traffic", we can fix that with highway widening.
Measure L 11/2006
No 7689
Yes 7189
Measure L lost by 509 votes. The difference is 7%.
Measure E 11/2002 was the landslide.
IN OTHER UNREPORTED PACIFICA NEWS:
This fool was behind the houses between the senior apartments and Park Pacifica yesterday. 2 cops and a fire truck the guy tried to get into back yards and climbed a pine tree 50 feet high and wouldn't come down for over 2 hours. Police arrested him.
I bet he posted on the local blogs.
Hutch, Kathy, you wided eyed dreamers. Losing by one vote is still losing. When coupled with the $3 million your knight in shining armor spent on Measure L it makes the loss all the more sour as you've been repeating for 8 years now. Whatever your thoughts or beliefs about Measure L it was only a vote to comply with the zoning of the property and not a vote to approve or indorse some fantasy you carry a torch for. But like all hopeless romantics fact and truth will never find a way into your opinions about the long forgotten vote, but your delusions of others speaking the truth being liars is sad. But thankfully you two will never change and that is utterly on you two.
From all I see, Hutch et al are in for a very rude awakening come November 5.
The question is, will they take the results to heart or continue to argue against reality?
Yeah from what I see too.
11/2/14
John Keener Facebook = 58 Likes
Victor Spano Facebook = 304 likes
Sue Digre Facebook = 108 likes
Pacificans for Highway 1 Alternatives = 157 likes
Pacificans For Highway One Widening 257 members
Todd
Your buddies over on Riptide the "gang of no" members are crying over Harmony @ 1 saying they never knew anything about how much dirt would be moved and how massive the earthmoving is.
We have too much traffic during Peebles attempt to build something revenue producing in the quarry, to now, we don't have enough traffic to fix Highway 1.
801 Oh, that crusade will lurch onward.
Spin the election results, identify new martyrs and villains and away they go!
Awesome! Facebook. Why didn't we think of that before? Call the county. Cancel the election. We've got the Facebook numbers. Do we really have to use those little prom king and queen crowns? The sashes, too? Hutch? Hutch?
Digre, O'Neill, Keener or Ruchames.
Hutch... It's not about Facebook likes. It's about actual votes.
Harmony@1. I can see the work from my house. Neighborhood is united in how much they dislike it. It could very well be a rallying point for Pacificans
to oppose all kinds of development and change. Motivate people to run for office. Oppose widening the highway. Developing Gypsy Hill, Fassler, Calson property. Perfect timing. Build that sucker!
12:10
And the filing of Bankruptcy by the city.
O'Neill, Ruchames, Spano
Toddler- Just curious: Where would you and your gang of developer haters be living right now if you were running the show way back when your homes were being built here in Pacifica? Certainly you are not claiming that they conform to the ridiculous list of prerequisites you and your gang of enviro-thugs placed upon Harmony 1, are you? Just imagine everyone, if you will, the chances that Highway 1 would have even been allowed to run through Pacifica in the first place - forget the widening - with Hot Toddy and gang in charge. I'm gonna say it: H Y P O C R I T E S !
anon 12:10
I predict the neighbors will unite to celebrate their double digit appraisal gains AFTER Harmony comes on line.
It's time for Pacifica to free itself from the shackles of the poverty loving "I got mine's".
1:52 AM, Hutch 11/1, 10:23 PM is correct. 3.36% is the difference in the quarry mixed-use 2006 (including 355 housing) vote not passing. Based upon your numbers: No 7689 (51.68%), plus Yes 7189 (48.32%) = Total votes 14,878 (100%). Difference 500 (3.36%).
For about 25 years, the quarry had been a redevelopment zone, and most of the tax revenue generated from that significant project would have stayed in the city. Meantime, the city has been short of revenue for about the same amount of time: running a huge debt as well as deficit, and practicing "rob Peter to pay Paul" budget accounting, (smoothed over with "our environment is our economy" politics).
1210, how much longer will you NIMBIES keep the anti-development, anti-highway improvement, anti-progress charade going before everyone is affected by city collapse? The main problem with Harmony@1 is that a better project would have included greater density, and possibly some other consideration besides housing.
Its time for the city to act on behalf of all the people of this city. To save this city, they must act. And when the city does act, you too will be better off living in a city that has adequate revenue, with improved and maintained infrastructure, and better function. Give up your "nothing for Pacifica" insistence, support smart and needed development, (secondary reason, so that we may stop this civic infighting). Again, the city is/will be 50-60% PERMANENT open/empty space, 4% retail, 1% industrial. Really think that's a balanced city economy, and that economic development ratio works? Think again.
1223 Housing isn't the way out for Pacifica and people know it. They can follow the money. Harmony when completed will bring in a measly $75K/yearly for a 55 million dollar project. We need visitor-serving commercial development to build an economy and prevent insolvency. Smart land use is more important than ever.
1243 Facebook says Spano, Ruchames and Digre. Quick, YOU can control the election.
Hutch, are you seriously equating Facebooks "likes" to actual, legitimate votes?
Aha! I've finally figured it out -- you're Spano's campaign manager, aren't you. It all makes sense now.
Kathy and Hutch,
The people rejected Measure L and the development project in the quarry was voted down. Not by some conspiratorial group of boogeymen, but by all residents of Pacifica. Deal with it. Seriously. Close only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades.
Most of this town is awful sick of the pissers and moaners who can only relive the past over and over again. Coulda-woulda-shoulda ain't gonna get you anywhere, but I suspect you two will never learn this lesson.
Yeah 148, imagine how much home values will increase in surrounding neighborhoods after Harmony comes online?
Myopic people like 204 (follow the money) can only see property tax as a benefit when there is much more. Fees, fines, other taxes, jobs. Much more than that which can't even be measured.
Kathy, sure. It looks a lot closer that way comparing the difference to the total votes cast. Both methods clearly provide a useful statistic.
2:04
You're talking to members of a blog who thought it was a super-swell idea to purchase private property so that the city could spend another $5 million to build a trail for the county.
It's obvious that they're not really thinking very clearly about land use issues and your point about zoning and the revenue derived from it is WAY over their heads.
148 Those shackles, along with a lot of other nonsense, are all in your mind. Free yourself, grasshopper.
139 Hypocrisy or evolution? We are much more aware today of our surroundings than in the past. I think most Pacificans appreciate that we aren't more densely developed. Maybe that is selfish on their part, but it also benefits future generations, so really how selfish is it? Fast cash in someone's pocket or something irreplaceable to pass on? Ideological differences.
148 LMAO. You have no clue how these longtime residents feel about their neighborhoods and homes. Most could have moved up and out decades ago, but here they stay. They're hardly the "I got mine, screw you" type you refer to. Do you own a home?
744 The PPD report says the incident was on Yellowstone Way and the tree was 100 feet tall. Guy was on something, climbed the tree and bounced on the branches. Pacifica guy. Cops took 2 hours to talk him down. Nice job PPD.
Actually the condos on Roberts Road are most effected. These people said nothing. Nancy Hall, was involved in the planning. What In the hell does Nancy, know about real estate development. She lives in a chicken coop.
2:54: We need to trim some trees around town. What if these trees fall on houses or people?
Hutch, excuse me but you personify myopia. I think we can measure the benefits of housing, even those you claim ethereal, and it comes up short. Everytime. This town has steadily added housing since incorporation. Big builds 50s, 60s, 70s, condo projects in the 80s and 90s, that development of houses on Fassler in the early 90s, plenty of in-fill since then-other than during the recession of course. Hasn't been the gold mine you describe because here we are with staggering debt, growing operating costs and a council grasping at straws. What went wrong?
Shopping and work patterns changed here just as they did in bedroom communities everywhere. We need to rebuild our commercial tax sector with visitor-serving businesses. They offer the biggest bang for the buck. Keep housing on the back burner til we're sound.
Your solution to Pacifica's fiscal woes is as outdated as Caltrans solution on Highway One. Go figure.
221, some lessons should be learned, and never be repeated, including the current campaign against highway 1 widening, and the 2002 and 2006 campaigns against quarry development. Stinky propaganda, the assistance of outside organizations, and a city council working against the best interests of their city residents should all be called out for what they are, and were.
2006, Mayor Sue Digre clearly rejected quarry development; and Councilmembers Jim Vreeland, Julie Lancelle and Pete DeJarnatt were silent or worked against the proposed project concept (their names were on No on L posters). Only Cal Hinton supported this need high city revenue quarry project. Sue Digre rejects highway widening, and she rejected this city economic development. Careful who you vote for. That "boogeyman" may also be working against the best economic interest of this city.
Its Halloween weekend, so I'm dragging out the scary No on L, 2006 campaign website one more time. Top issue: TRAFFIC. Outsider regional and local organizations canvassed our streets, poisoning our neighbors against quarry development with any scare that would cause a citizen to vote NO. Regional organizations: the Sierra Club, Committee for Green foothills, Greenbelt Alliance, League for Coastside Protection (LCP), Green Party, Surfrider Foundation. Local organizations: Pacificans for Sustainable Development, Committee to Save the Fish and Bowl (against development there), concerned Manor residents (more NIMBIES). Also named on the "No on L" 2006 campaign against quarry development website: then Mayor Sue Digre, and Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Leland Yee (remember him, he's their guy).
226 You're probably right. But I must say reading the stirring, apparently heartfelt, support for that trail on this blog was a surreal experience.The valiant defense of that council decision by veteran Fixies, wow, inspiring. I wouldn't have believed it possible, nor would I have missed it. I felt closer to them, you know? Just for a second. One second. At the most. Ehhh, probably just the shock of it.
Well alrightey, then, I guess it's not Digre for Meeh? More like let's make a deal with O'Neill or tell us another planno, Spano. Dyer, no, she's older than my mother.
Kathy, borrow from Facebook. Embed those posts you're most proud of instead of letting it just sit there hoping to be noticed. Come up with some icons. You know, a ratings system, stars or whatever. Say, how about tiny bulldozers, little cement trucks, hardhats are always good. Lightening bolt? Dollar signs? A red herring? Use the technology, Meeh. Oh, yeah, maybe not.
Paychecks, not revenues are at the core of our financial issues. Pacifica generates plenty of revenue today. We are just very lucky to have survived the Rhodes/Ritzma/White trifecta. Now it's time to rebuild by voting Digre-Keener-Doughty. Vote for the reconstruction ticket: Digre/Keener/Doughty
Three-peat! No E, No L and No Highway.
3:49
You can't trim or cut the trees. They feel pain, too. Ask the tree lady.
Todd
Rebuild what? Sue has been on council long enough. What does she do. Talk about sea level rise flooding highway one. Sue' s base has turned on her.
What you see is what you get. The only beach town that doesn't take advantage of being a beach town.
Hey btw why did you turn on Tait?
If Dougherty wins will Lennie give him his skateboard?
636 what about toenails? Can we trim toenails?
640 Nah, he's riding it out of town.
History San Jose gets 36.5 of their refunding from the city of San Jose.
http://historysanjose.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FY13-Audit.pdf
339 Apparently a neighbor went right over this council's heads with their concern. A council that dodges issues becomes irrelevant. Not sure what the concern was or the outcome, but there will be more.
732 No one cares. Pathetic.
451, Dyer has age, and along with that comes experience and wisdom. About her IQ in comparison with you, it might be higher.
524, about your obsession with Facebook and icons, such a pity, the rest of us are talking about the election and the city.
I always think of judges as wise, careful and dignified. Therese Dyer sure doesn't come across as one of The Supremes or even Judge Judy so guess that must be another kind of wisdom Ms. Dyer displays at council meetings. I don't judge.
Gee, I liked Hutch's use of Facebook to predict the election results. No fair!
Do you like me? (circle one) Y/N
Hey, Super Genius,
Facebook "Likes" don't mean you literally, y'know, like a page -- it's Facebook's term for "add this page to your newsfeed."
I can't believe I have to explain this to a grown adult.
11/2, 9:18 PM, Therese Dyer is clear, upfront and correct about important core issues which affect and confront this city, namely favoring economic development and highway widening. That is more than you can say about some other candidates running for city council. Therese was appointed to San Mateo civil grand jury, so you're on the right track naming the "Supremes or even Judge Judy".
Therese's responses to forum organization questions were well reasoned, and aptly stated. She gave good and fair responses, (available on PCTV26 you tube).
That's what I care about, a city council that is unified in moving this city forward-- rather than trying to appease NIMBIES with wobbling non-decision, or worse working against the best interest of this city. Yes, for those reasons I voted for Therese Dyer.
427, You say we had "Big builds 50s, 60s, 70s" and it has made things worse. Really? Because we stopped growing and adding any significant housing since around 1980 so you just proved my point. One reason Pacifica is doing so bad is that we haven't added population for 30 years. All the while every other local city has added 10-30%.
We can not tell developers they must build commercial if the property is zoned residential. That's their call. Gypsy Hill, The Rock and Harmony need to happen. The the Quarry after the highway is widened.
The benefits of bringing 10 wealthy families and their friends and business partners to Pacifica will be great. And it will be much more that the $75K in taxes Pacifica will get. Try to open your eyes.
Actually, angry, huffing and puffing 843, your explanation is oddly uncalled for. People found your use of Facebook to predict election results either astounding or hilarious. I like hilarious. Stomp, stomp, stomp.
Tomorrow we'll have an empirical test of whether Facebook likes predict election results. I think the null hypothesis will not be disproved.
Hutch, you don't paraphrase well. Most of the housing stock for Pacifica's residents was built 1950s-1990s. What "made things worse" (your words) was the loss of what had been a fairly robust retail/commercial tax base. It went over the hill and it's not ever coming back. We didn't replace it. We became a bedroom community with nothing to offer except housing. Fiscal disaster guaranteed, but delayed through sleight of hand, inter-fund lending, bonds, etc.
843 the people in the pro widening group are MEMBERS. Not "likes" Get it straight brainiac.
Run! Save yourselves! 1203 is going to blow.
Yeah, 843, you dope. The Wideners are members. Secret handshake, clubhouse, hoodies, bar stool at Nicks...it's a lifestyle!
12:03,
And as Hutch points out (^ up the page a ways ^) , the members of candidates' pages are "Likes," so right back atcha, Einstein.
Reminder: you think Facebook "Likes" relate to real, actual votes.
Wan't the "Wideners" the sequel to "Less than Zero" by Brent Easton Ellis? If not, it could be.
1141 Most of the housing stock in Pacifica was built in the late 50's, 60's & early 70's. Not the 80's or 90's.
So our stagnation correlates perfectly with when population growth stopped increasing.
I just heard on NPR that the entire state of Kentucky hasn't gained any population in the past 30 years either. Can you see a connection? Naw probably not.
Ummmm... The Smartest Hawaiian Shirt Wearing Guy In The Room might want to check his facts -- the candidates' pages have "Likes," not "Followers" or "Members."
Cineaste, right this minute Bret and his old GF Donna Tartt are working on a sequel to The Wideners. Working title
is Wide-beamed. They're enjoying the very best of Pacifica's visitor-serving amenities, holed up in the apt above Nick's writing and eating crab sammies.
We're going be soooo famous.
820 Better he should check his shirt.
Friends don't let friends do Facebook.
820, the Facebook group Pacificans For Highway One Modernization has over 250 members.
Pacificans For Highway One Modernization
But maybe you're blocked :)
Overheard this morning at my polling place. The leaders were instructing the newer poll workers to be on the look out for double voters: voters who were sent absentee ballots coming in to try to vote twice. I'm sure Kathy et al are very used to this double dealing.
Todd, are you one of those people freaked out about voter fraud?
Todd, I thought you were Canadian and didn't vote here. So many suprises!
Good grief! What if Kathy is a poll worker?
Todd 902, yeah I already voted at 200 precincts, and under all those names of dead bodies (rest in peace).
"Double-dealing", Todd? You need a new dictionary. You keep tossing out these off-the-wall, libelous words that may describe you, not me.
That's what Todd will blame it on when the highway obstructionists are defeated.
Contemplating the loss of Digre and Keener in a few hours. There will be CHAOS! The end of the enviro-era!
2:27,
I hate to break it to you but... uh... you might want to sit down for this...
What is the best site to monitor election results here?
4:12, try this:
https://www.shapethefuture.org/elections/results/2014/nov/results.asp#c-552
www.shapethefuture.org
It's the S.M. County elections website, updated every 30 minutes after the polls close.
https://www.shapethefuture.org/elections/results/2014/nov/
San Mateo County Election Results.
shapethefuture.org
You see what Maybury said about Victor? They must know Keener is going to lose and are trying to hedge their bets. This is a good sign.
"Victor Spano focuses on traffic issues in northern Pacifica (Skyline and Fairmont), where most of his constituency lives, but he has indicated openness to public hearings or forums on highway widening. He also accepted our suggestion to do a public-service trashbucket challenge with the Pacifica Beach Coalition."
I've heard that even some nimby's are fed up with Sue Digre.
http://racetracker.shapethefuture.org/election_results.aspx?cID=160
As long as Keener and Ruchames lose I am happy
As long as Spano and Dyer lose I'm happy.
516 Is that what John meant? Really? I took it as a sly, sarcastic comment on a candidate who has tried desperately to be all things to all people.
518 Greed is ugly. Be happy with one. I'm going to be ecstatic when Spano loses. See?
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