Every so often, circumstances present to government the potential
for a win-win, an opportunity to create something that benefits people
today as well as generations to come.
That might be a cliché, but models
do exist of successes and of squandered opportunities.
Building a world-class ballpark at China Basin — despite opposition
from one-third of March 1996 voters — launched the creation of a vibrant
neighborhood in San Francisco. That was a win.
In 1961, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors withdrew from the
then-proposed Bay Area-wide, electrified commuter rail system. That lack
of vision was a fail.
Right now, San Francisco, San Mateo County and Pacifica stand before a
collective choice to win or fail regarding Sharp Park Golf Course.
Opened in 1931, the 18-hole, par-72 public course was designed by Dr.
Alister MacKenzie, who created some of the most famous golf courses in
the world, including Cypress Point in Monterey and Green Hills in
Millbrae. The former surgeon also co-designed Augusta National Golf Club
in Augusta, Ga., home of the annual Masters tournament.
Sharp Park’s coastal location also is home to the San Francisco
garter snake and the California red-legged frog, both federally
protected species. Forces natural and man-made are threatening habitat
and breeding areas. By all appearances, Sharp Park is the latest
Flanders field between the stereotypes of rich, white, middle-aged
golfers and the ponytailed, sandals-and-socks set.
However, Sharp Park does not have to become the philosophical
moonscape of trench warfare, where slogans and sound bites obfuscate
reasoning. Sharp Park can be a place where golfers from all
socioeconomic strata successfully co-exist with sensitive coastal
species.
Actually, San Mateo County and Pacifica already have the framework of
a plan to do exactly that. The golf course can be reconfigured to
support the endangered snakes and threatened frogs, while recapturing
some of MacKenzie’s original layouts. Additionally, San Mateo County has
already identified private sources willing to underwrite most — if not
all — of this proposed peaceful co-existence.
The final act remains with San Francisco, which owns Sharp Park Golf
Course. There are those in San Francisco City Hall who would rather
eliminate the golf course and “give” Sharp Park in its entirety to the
National Park Service to oversee as part of the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area. However, the park service has stated that it will
accept the property only under very specific conditions — expensive
conditions; expenses that any budget-conscious local government should
carefully consider.
Meanwhile, San Mateo County is prepared to accept Sharp Park as it
exists today. The county will work with Pacifica and all appropriate
experts and stakeholders to ensure that Sharp Park is a sustainable
natural habitat and a San Mateo County-managed, affordable public golf
course.
There is no reason for Sharp Park’s future to include winners and
losers. Sharp Park is a rare opportunity for San Francisco, San Mateo
County and Pacifica to work together to create a win-win benefiting
people today and for generations to come.
Carole Groom is president and Adrienne J. Tissier is vice president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Comments issues with Internet Explorer
We seem to be having problems with comments being submitted through Internet Explorer. (Again.)
Hopefully blogger will work this out in a few days. In the meantime, you can try another browser, or send your comments to ssinai@yahoo.com or fixpacifica@gmail.com, and I'll post them for you.
Posted by Steve Sinai
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Calif. pot dispensaries told by feds to shut down
U.S. prosecutors send letters even though state law allows
SAN FRANCISCO — Federal
prosecutors have launched a crackdown on pot dispensaries in
California, warning the stores that they must shut down in 45 days or
face criminal charges and confiscation of their property even if they
are operating legally under the state's 15-year-old medical marijuana
law.
In an escalation of the ongoing conflict between the U.S. government
and the nation's burgeoning medical marijuana industry, California's s
four U.S. attorneys sent letters Wednesday and Thursday notifying at
least 16 pot shops or their landlords that they are violating federal
drug laws, even though medical marijuana is legal in California. The
attorneys are scheduled to announce their coordinated crackdown at a
Friday news conference.
Their offices refused to confirm the closure orders. The Associated
Press obtained copies of the letters that a prosecutor sent to 12 San
Diego dispensaries. They state that federal law "takes precedence over
state law and applies regardless of the particular uses for which a
dispensary is selling and distributing marijuana."
Posted by Steve Sinai
Sharp Park: The best solution to do nothing
Thursday, October 6, 2011
San Francisco -- Figuring out the right thing to do
with Sharp Park Golf Course is harder than making a 12-foot putt.
Downhill. With a 4-foot break.
Opinions are no problem. Everyone has one. There are people who
fervently believe the golf course should immediately be turned into a
wildlife refuge for the endangered California red-legged frog and San
Francisco garter snake. And there are those who believe, just as
passionately, that the snakes and frogs have been fine up until now, so
let us play golf.
There is another way.
Do nothing.
Don't spend $12 million or more to reinforce the seawall along the
ocean. In fact - and this is a bit of a shocker - let the seawall go. In
40 or 50 years, the relentless ocean will take down the wall, a beach
will reappear, and the lagoons in the course will rise and form a
freshwater barrier. Snakes and frogs will live in those lagoons, as they
have for eons.
In the meantime - play golf.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Story on Planning Commission Brown Act violations over on Patch
Just finished a three-part series on alleged Brown Act violations by the Planning Commission. Poll to come. If anyone wants to submit an opinion piece, please do.
1) http://pacifica.patch.com/articles/planning-commissioners-accused-of-breaking-public-meetings-law
Camden Swita
Editor, Pacifica Patchpacifica.patch.com
Twitter.com/PacificaPatchcamden@patch.com
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Highway 1 comments extended to October 22
Both Mark Stechbart and Barbara Arietta have sent notification that the Highway 1 commenting period will be extended to October 22.
Joe Hurley of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority says that only 70 comments have been received to date, and that most of them are useless, in that they are nothing more than "I like it" or "I don't like it." They are looking for specific comments about what you want, and why.
Additional observations from Marky-Mark:
formal notice maybe tomorrow.
A mixed message as only pacifica can create.
Standard 45 days expanded to 60 but council wants more time while shutting down a planning commission gone rogue. Most folks lobbying for more time have already commented either in writing or at a forum.
But this gives the chamber more time to assemble additional biz comments into the record.
go figure....
Posted by Steve Sinai
Fix the highway bottleneck - please submit your comments now
There has been an extension of the public comment process, 15 days to October 22, 2011. All comments are welcome by Caltrans, including being specific, and also indicating anything you think may not have been addressed in the in the DEIR/EA..
Unless there is a time extension, now is the last chance to send your support letter comments to Caltrans for the 1.3 mile Calera Creek bottleneck highway 1 widening. The additional two lanes will ease the feeder street traffic back-up at Fassler, Rockaway and Reina del Mar.
To: Yolanda Rivas, Branch Chief, Division of Environmental Planning & Engineering,
California Department of Transportation, District 4, Attn: Thomas Rosevear
111 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94623
Its easy: 1) copy the above address and past to your email, 2) add your contact information (name, address, phone and fax number), 3) add your message and email to: thomas_rosevear@dot.ca.gov." or fax 510-286-5600.
These comments must be received by 5pm,
Posted by Kathy Meeh
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Foster City takes second look at housing options
October 01, 2011, 04:13 AM Daily Journal staff report
If all goes according to plan, Foster City will have a developer picked by the middle of October to construct senior housing on the 15 acres of prime land the city owns adjacent to the Peninsula Jewish Community Center.
The council and public will hear for the second time this Monday the development proposals for the property from both Sares-Regis and a group called Foster City Community Partners, a consortium of several builders, including the nonprofit Mid-Peninsula Housing Corporation.
The council is expected to pick one of the two groups to develop the site at its Oct. 17 meeting and enter into a 60-day exclusive negotiating period thereafter.
A mixed-use senior housing complex called Mirabella was slated to be built on the land previously, but financing for the project fell apart last year and the city was forced to seek more proposals for the site once set aside for a high school.
Both development proposals were first presented to the City Council Sept. 6 before a packed council chambers.
“Village Square” is the vision of Sares-Regis in conjunction with Northern California Presbyterian Homes and Services, Mercy Housing and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.
Sares-Regis wants to acquire the land outright rather than craft a lease agreement.
The Community Partners plan, which includes a retail town square, seeks to leverage existing assets like Leo J. Ryan Park and look at five projects that are complementary rather than one big development that might be more difficult to finance.
Read more...
Submitted by Jim Alex
If all goes according to plan, Foster City will have a developer picked by the middle of October to construct senior housing on the 15 acres of prime land the city owns adjacent to the Peninsula Jewish Community Center.
The council and public will hear for the second time this Monday the development proposals for the property from both Sares-Regis and a group called Foster City Community Partners, a consortium of several builders, including the nonprofit Mid-Peninsula Housing Corporation.
The council is expected to pick one of the two groups to develop the site at its Oct. 17 meeting and enter into a 60-day exclusive negotiating period thereafter.
A mixed-use senior housing complex called Mirabella was slated to be built on the land previously, but financing for the project fell apart last year and the city was forced to seek more proposals for the site once set aside for a high school.
Both development proposals were first presented to the City Council Sept. 6 before a packed council chambers.
“Village Square” is the vision of Sares-Regis in conjunction with Northern California Presbyterian Homes and Services, Mercy Housing and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.
Sares-Regis wants to acquire the land outright rather than craft a lease agreement.
The Community Partners plan, which includes a retail town square, seeks to leverage existing assets like Leo J. Ryan Park and look at five projects that are complementary rather than one big development that might be more difficult to finance.
Read more...
Submitted by Jim Alex
Friday, September 30, 2011
Oct. 3 Planning Commission Rage Against Caltrans Cancelled
From what I've been hearing, the main agenda item was for the NIMBY-packed Planning Commission to criticize the Calera Creek Parkway project.
Behind-the-scenes speculation is that higher-ups in the city told the Planning Commission to cancel the meeting.
Posted by Steve Sinai
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Small business owners look out for this new scam
About 2 hours ago I received an internet yellow page listing call just verifying business information, a "free" listing. "Free" because "not contracted" until the 4th recorded confirmation question. The rep said on the 5th question just say "not contracted". I said no to the 4th question which accepted that as the only answer: "yes". The recording thanked me, and advised $49 monthly would be deducted from my telephone bill." Along the way and even after the "thanks, we're taking $49 off your phone bill monthly", the rep continued to assure the listing was "free", right.
A cancellation phone number was advised in the recording. The phone number turned-out to be Direct TV, with an extension that referred to another Direct TV cancellation number. There the rep said "not us". I then called AT&T and they will block additional charges, but that will take 30 days; meantime, a note has been placed in their system.
Hopefully you and others will avoid this scam. Over a few years I've managed to dodge the more legitimate versions of these internet listings calls. No information was requested other than what is easily available through the internet currently. Follow-up has now taken up more than 2 hours of time, and I expect to dealing with the $49 bogus billing next month prior to AT&T blockage of ALL outside vendor billings. Do your business friends a favor and get the word out there about this new "free" internet listing scam.
Kathy Meeh
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Patch poll about Sharp Park
Hey,
Thanks,
Camden Swita
Editor, Pacifica Patch
pacifica.patch.com
Twitter.com/PacificaPatchcamden@patch.com |
pacifica.patch.com
Monday, September 26, 2011
Highway 1 Report 1999
A little history on the Highway 1 widening project -
http://www.fixpacifica.com/docs/hwy1holmes.pdf
Submitted by Jim Wagner
Court Motion Filed to Restrict Illegal Sharp Park Golf Course Activities, Protect Endangered Species
SAN FRANCISCO— Six San Francisco conservation groups are
seeking a preliminary injunction in federal court against the San
Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to stop illegal pumping of
water from wetlands and prohibit harmful mowing and motorized golf-cart
use on nine golf course holes near wetlands at the Sharp Park golf
course in Pacifica. The injunction will help protect endangered San
Francisco garter snakes and California red-legged frogs from these
harmful activities.
“No
more business as usual at Sharp Park — illegal pumping and mowing of
wetlands stops now,” said Jeff Miller with the Center for Biological
Diversity. “The best scientific experts on endangered species are
calling for a moratorium on harmful golf course activities in and near
wetlands habitat, and we hope the court agrees.”
The Wild Equity Institute, Center for Biological Diversity, National Parks Conservation Association, Surfrider Foundation, Sequoia Audubon and Sierra Club filed a motion for a temporary injunction on Friday on golf-course activities that are hurting endangered species. The injunction would last until a pending lawsuit is heard or the Recreation and Parks Department adopts an approved “habitat conservation plan” and obtains legal permits under the Endangered Species Act. The plaintiffs are represented by the environmental law firm Meyer, Glitzenstein & Crystal.
The Wild Equity Institute, Center for Biological Diversity, National Parks Conservation Association, Surfrider Foundation, Sequoia Audubon and Sierra Club filed a motion for a temporary injunction on Friday on golf-course activities that are hurting endangered species. The injunction would last until a pending lawsuit is heard or the Recreation and Parks Department adopts an approved “habitat conservation plan” and obtains legal permits under the Endangered Species Act. The plaintiffs are represented by the environmental law firm Meyer, Glitzenstein & Crystal.
“These science-based restrictions will
protect our most imperiled wildlife from harm while allowing golf on
many of the course areas,” said Brent Plater, executive director
of the Wild Equity Institute. “Their duration will provide us all an
opportunity to evaluate proper permitting options and restoration
activities at Sharp Park.”
Leading scientific experts
on the red-legged frog and garter snake, with collective experience of
more than seven decades of research and study of California amphibians
and reptiles, submitted declarations
in support of the requested injunction. These experts contend that golf
course activities impair the long-term survival and recovery of the
species and that the Parks Department’s alleged compliance plan is not
being followed and is unworkable.
See quotes below from these experts explaining why the injunction is justified.
Crumbling infrastructure,
annual flooding problems, declining conditions and ongoing Endangered
Species Act violations at the golf course require changing how Sharp
Park is managed, but such changes are not financially feasible for San
Francisco’s strained budget. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will
vote next month on legislation introduced by Supervisor John Avalos to
repurpose the golf course and transition management of Sharp Park to the
National Park Service’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area to improve
recreation and public access, protect endangered wildlife and save San
Francisco taxpayers money. The proposed partnership will end the city’s
legal and financial liabilities and put the National Park Service in
charge of protecting endangered species and providing public recreation,
allowing San Francisco to reinvest its scarce resources back into
city-based parks, recreation centers and golf
courses.
Quotes From Scientific Experts
Dr. Vance Vredenburg is
an assistant professor in biology at San Francisco State University,
research associate at the California Academy of Sciences and U.C. Museum
of Vertebrate Zoology, and an expert on California amphibians and the
red-legged frog.
“Sharp Park must have
successful recovery actions implemented, or it will one day lose its
red-legged frog population, and potentially jeopardize populations at
nearby properties as well.”
“The city is not, and
cannot, actually implement the Compliance Plan…making it virtually
certain that California red-legged frogs will be taken unless the relief
requested by the plaintiffs here is granted...San Francisco must be
ordered to cease all pumping at Sharp Park.”
Dr. Marc Hayes is a biologist
with four decades of experience studying reptiles and amphibians in
California. He wrote the Department of Fish and Game’s “Amphibians and Reptiles of Special Concern in California” and submitted the petition that led to listing the red-legged frog as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
“Unless
golf-course operations that cause ongoing take of these species are
halted, both populations at Sharp Park may be lost, and the San
Francisco garter snake’s entire species will be in jeopardy.”
“The Recreation and Parks Department
should be prohibited from operating the pumps at Sharp Park until a
decision is rendered in this matter…the court should grant plaintiffs’
request to prohibit all mowing and golf-cart use within roughly 200
meters of the delineated wetland.”
Wendy Dexter is
the principal biologist at Condor Country Consulting, with 20 years of
experience in herpetology, particularly regarding the San Francisco garter snake and red-legged frog, and specializes in endangered species compliance and permits.
“The San Francisco garter snake’s
habitat at Sharp Park has not been secured, and the subspecies has been
taken, and will continue to be taken in the foreseeable future, by the
continued operations and management of Sharp Park Golf Course…I am
certain that undocumented deaths of snakes occur annually if not more
frequently.”
“Unless the golf-course operations that
cause take of the San Francisco garter snake are halted in areas where
the snake is likely to be found, the Sharp Park/Mori Point population
will continue to decline, increasing the potential for the population to
become extirpated.”
********************************************
Jeff Miller
Conservation Advocate
Center for Biological Diversity
351 California Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94104
Submitted by Lionel Emde
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Moving forward even on the farm: robotics
Time and progress waits for no hippie.
From POPSCI, 9/20/11. "Flemish engineers have announced a new self-driving
tractor whose precision rivals that of a human driver. This
could mean drastically lower operating costs for farmers, and
a step towards automated agriculture. The tractor...can automatically adjust
its speed and turning radius during its pre-programmed route
over a field. Previous driving systems required manual calibration for hard and soft terrain settings. The new tractor anticipates wheel slippage based on the observed terrain and adjusts its speed and turning rate to compensate. An automated system that could complete this task would fulfill the need for a highly trained operator, without the continuous high cost. FMTC and MeBioS will unveil their robot tractor on September 24 and 25 at the Annual International Agriculture and Horticulture Days of Mechanisation, in Oudennarde, Belgium.
Meanwhile, today's Wall Street Journal covers an American partnership between Kinze Manufacturing and Jaybridge Robotics that has also produced a self-driving tractor. The Kinze Autonomous Grain Cart system is designed to work in tandem with a human-operated harvester combine, driving alongside the combine and collecting harvested grain, with a surprisingly sprightly, even playful, gait. When the grain cart is full, the autonomous tractor hauls the crop to storage, and then returns to find the combine. Kinze and Jaybridge have also developed an autonomous planting system." Full article.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
Governor Jerry Brown signs internet tax compromise
From San Mateo Daily Journal/Associated Press, 9/24/11. "Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Friday that
postpones new sales taxes rules that would have affected online
purchases in California, granting more time for traditional and online
retailers to lobby Congress for a national standard on the high-stakes
issue. The bill, crafted as a compromise among Amazon.com, traditional
retailers and California lawmakers searching for ways to raise revenue,
delays until at least September 2012 online tax rules that were
implemented as part of this year’s state budget package." Full article.Posted by Kathy Meeh
Reminder about posting guidelines
About 20% of all comments in the last few days haven't been posted because they contain direct, personal attacks.
If you want to attack hippies as a group, call people in favor of highway widening "fat-asses," or bitch about big companies, that's one thing.
But don't be calling people out individually and attacking them. Those comments won't be posted.
Thank you.
Posted by Your Beloved Blogmaster, Steve Sinai
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Highway widening will make our commute easier
 |
| Stuck in traffic and distracted |
From the Pacifica Tribune letters-to-the-editor, 9/21/11. "I am constantly amazed by the letters and Blogs from the people against the widening of Highway 1. A very vocal minority of people always say no. The gang of no makes a lot of noise.
The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce supports this Highway 1 widening. Let's for once be ahead of the traffic problem that the tunnel will exacerbate during commute time. About half of all Pacifica commuters are stuck in this traffic jam every day. Add to this bottleneck all the commuters from Moss Beach down to Half Moon Bay.
This Route 1 traffic solution is merely designed to expand turning so the north-south commute works better. This solution also features de-acceleration lanes and acceleration lanes so those making turns get out of the main traffic stream.
Every other town in this state works to make it's resident's commute easier. Do readers of this letter prefer to sit in traffic, waste gas, hurt air quality, miss appointments, get your children to school late or have Pacifica proactively solve a problem that has been building over the past 20 years."
Chris Porter, President, Pacifica Chamber of Commerce
Posted by Kathy Meeh
Highway widening through Pacifica is a safety issue
From Pacifica Tribune, letters-to-the-editor, 9/21/11. "We are retired professional firefighters who have served in
Pacifica collectively for over 100 years. We support the
Highway 1 traffic bottleneck solution being considered.It is imperative that Rt. 1 be widened with improved east-west turning lanes for very sound reasons. Safety, in our opinion, is the No. 1 reason this improvement needs to be facilitated as soon as possible. Our firefighters are dedicated, hard working professionals. We understand the consequences that delays in help can cause. The condition on Rt. 1 at this choke point is intolerable.
Everyone has seen the commute traffic congestion. Couple this traffic density with poor road shoulders and you have a problem with emergency vehicles getting through. A break down, accident or flat tire only makes matters worse. We have heard the arguments that "it's only a 15 minute delay".....15 MINUTES! -- that can be the difference between life and death for someone suffering from an accident or heart attack.
For most of the coast, the nearest hospital is north of Pacifica which requires ambulance runs north on Rt. 1. If a fire emergency breaks out during commute times, fire engines are en-route as well. If a large fire is in the north end of Pacifica, equipment has to be sent north to assist or repositioned to the south to provide standby coverage. Firefighters and EMT personnel absolutely cannot afford to be delayed during emergency service calls.
In any event, we believe it irresponsible to wait any longer to implement a Rt. 1 widening to solve traffic congestion we have seen increase for over 20 years. Rt. 1 is a regional highway and thousands of Pacificans use it as their only way out of town. For emergency personnel, Rt. 1 is our lifeline to protect Pacifica. We do not want to tell any Pacifica resident we were late to a fire or medical emergency because we were stuck in traffic."
Jim Bonner, Battalion Chief, Pacifica Fire Dept, retired. 38 years of service
Bob Trapp, Battalion Chief, Pacifica Fire Dept, retired. 33 years of service
Steve Engler, Battalion Chief, Pacifica Fire Dept, retired. 30 years of service
Posted by Kathy Meeh
Friday, September 23, 2011
Highway improvement from the activist fringe
If you missed the Highway 1 widening DEIR meeting last night, the following are a few unhinged citizen highlights and comment trends read into the Caltrans record. Activist do attend most of these key meetings while you and I may not. For them, human safety or time efficiency was not an issue.
 |
| Really its a red-legged frog! |
The NIMBY party of no, aka Pacifica environmentalists in conjunction with their coastal friends, claimed that 1) fixing the 1.3 mile Calera Creek highway bottleneck would create a "freeway". Others claimed that 2) adding 2 lanes through the highway bottle neck would not solve the congestion, (DEIR/EA researched studies indicate time savings during peak hours would be about 8:20 minutes round-trip now, over 20 years about 28:00 minutes. A few acknowledged 4) highway 1 has a congestion problem, yet these are the same people that blocked the 88 acre quarry social, civic and economic development because of 5) traffic congestion on highway 1 during what would be the build process. Reality: 6) most of these same people want "nothing", no improvement, while most expressed wishful, not practical "what if" thinking-- the same kind of thinking identified more than 23 years ago with near zero action since.
The party of no, aka Pacifica environmentalists in conjunction with their coastal friends, claim their amateur ideas are better than the highway professionals. They claim special knowledge of our community, (that lopsided adverse City impact conspiracy I do believe). They complained about not being consulted, their entitled ideas were not considered, their "due process" was vacated. They contended that Caltrans' plan to update and improve the 45 year old existing highway 1 is calloused and intended to wreck havoc on the entire community. A few demanded a detailed accounting of each discarded idea. Whereas, the final simplified 1.3 mile highway 1 design would fit easily into the coastal space available, extend the existing highway, intrude by right-of-way on a minimum number of existing properties, and fulfill California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) guidelines.
Finally, most NIMBY Pacifica the party of no, aka Pacifica environmentalists in conjunction with their coastal friends, objected to the cost of improving highway 1, although taxes, including county Measure A, would pay most of the related capital improvement cost. Personally, I think most of these NIMBYS might prefer a beach party, in exchange for the proposed city and regional highway updating. The future? Without better visionary city council majority leadership put into practice, unfortunately most of these same people will continue to work against progress and influence the destiny of this city. Good luck to us all.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
Fog Fest - this weekend, September 24th and 25th
Pacifica Tribune 9/16/11. "Fog Fest -- Pacifica's own community celebration -- coming this weekend to Palmetto Avenue. Pacifica
celebrates Fog Fest this weekend with special activities designed to
entertain the whole family. This year's theme is "Pacifica Celebrates
Music."
The big community parade opens Fog Fest on Saturday at 10
a.m. with dazzling floats, marching bands and local organizations
marching to give people an idea who they are. There's still time to join
this year's parade to play music of any kind -- form any kind of band
you like. Sing Karaoke with friends. The folks in the crowd, who often
recognize so many people in the parade, cheer loudly and show their
support. It's a moment many in the community treasure as it shows how
connected everyone is.... The grand marshal of the parade will be Benjamin Wade, best known as Coach Wade on the television show, "Survivor." The annual arts and crafts festival takes over Palmetto Avenue Sept. 24-25 as artisans fill the street with booths containing one-of-a-kind clothing, handcrafted jewelry and artistic household items for sale. Community organizations and businesses set up booths to give people a chance to learn more about them, as well. Local non-profit organizations man the food booths, providing hearty festival food that's fun to eat and delicious while strolling down the street or sitting at a stage area. Musicians will perform throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday on three stages.....
Additional reference: Pacifica Fog Fest & Parade.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Highway 1 widening poll
Over on Patch, Camden has a very unscientific poll running about Caltrans's plan to widen Highway 1. At the time this is being posted, it's 75% in favor, 22% against, 2% undecided.
http://pacifica.patch.com/articles/poll-should-caltrans-widen-highway-1
Posted by Steve Sinai
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Reminder: SMCTA Pacifica Highway 1 widening meeting, Thursday, September 22, 2011
 |
| Fix highway 1 traffic congestion! |
Where: Pacifica Community Center, 540 Crespi Drive, Pacifica, CA, (Crespi at Highway 1, there is a parking lot).
Time: 6:30pm, Open House, 7:00pm - 9:00 pm Meeting.
Why? Tired of being stuck in traffic, and never a fix on highway 1 through Pacifica? Its to your advantage to attend this meeting.
Completed DEIR/EA: 1.3 mile widening from 4 lanes to 6 lanes to reduce traffic congestion at Calera Creek Parkway, extending from Fassler Avenue/Rockaway Beach Avenue through Reina Del Mar Avenue. "The project includes improvements to the two intersections within the proposed project limits.... The purpose of this project is to improve traffic operations by decreasing traffic congestion and improving peak-period travel times along a congested segment of SR 1 within the City of Pacifica... the project will conform with the State Implementation Plan, including localized impact analysis...."
Support letters and comments must be received by 5:00pm on October 7, 2011, and may be submitted by e-mail, fax, or US mail to: Yolanda Rivas, Branch Chief, Division of Environmental Planning & Engineering, California Department of Transportation, District 4, Attn: Thomas Rosevear, 111 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94623, fax 510-286-5600, email thomas_rosevear@dot.ca.gov." These comments must be received by 5pm, October 7, 2011.
References:
EIR/EA and Public Notice, and Full DEIR/EA (287 pages).
Previous Fix Pacifica articles from Pacifica Tribune: What you need to know, and Chamber endorses. And from Barbara Arietta, Chair SMCTA/CAC Public Comment period opens.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
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