Pacifica Tribune/Letters to the Editor, 7/1/14. "Sell city-owned properties to erase deficit." by Victor Spano
| Let's clean-up the city budget too |
Long ago, I was a licensed commercial real estate appraiser down in the South Bay. I believe Beach Boulevard and the old wastewater treatment plant is worth $3 to $3.5 million "as is." The corporation yard could sell for about $1-1.5 million. The seldom used Francisco Boulevard parking plot could sell for $500,000 to $1 million.
All together the three properties could realize $4.5 -$6 million. That is enough to pay off the debts, and fund community services, such as the Beach Coalition, Resource Center and the Chamber.
Simply putting these three properties into private hands at these prices would generate a five figure annual property tax stream for Pacifica. If the new owner(s) were to develop them, even more property taxes could be brought in. Now as city properties, they are generating nothing. There are better places for the corporation yard in town.
All three of the properties happen to be ideal hotel or retail sites, so sales and transient occupancy taxes are possible. It's high time for the city to get out of the property management and real estate development business. Now is the best time to sell, the real estate market is at all time highs and there is a lot of interest out there for great development sites such as these."
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Note: Victor Spano's Pacifica Tribune Letter was printed as one paragraph. The text is reprinted above with some bold type and several paragraphs for easier reading. The photograph is from a Pacifica Patch article, 5/30/14, "Earth Day of action..."
Posted by Kathy Meeh
36 comments:
The world according to our Forrest Gump like city council.
Revenue producing projects=bad
make money selling properties=bad
anyone with any outside ideas=bad
outside Pacifice developers=bad
anyone who questions city council=bad
anyone who questions Loeb and his high genius=bad
Good points Victor. I agree, we should look at selling at least a couple of these properties and let them start generating some money for us.
Selling assets is a time-honored path out of debt. It does require sellers have the discipline and sense of responsibility to apply the sale proceeds to the debt and not squander them. What are the odds here? Nonetheless, that money pit on Beach Blvd needs to go 'as is' before a couple bad winters make it more beach than boulevard.
A 26 million dollar city budget and they and they're chosen professional staff fail to notice they're 'missing' 4 million for years and years while they spend money they don't have on shit we don't need? That's the story? I think the best we can say about this lot is that they're like Forrest Gump. That's the best we can say. With apologies to Forrest. Anyhow, didn't he end up making a fortune for himself as well as Bubba's family from his shrimpin' business? Sure did.
8:12
But Forrest Gump Pacifica gets the box of melted chocolates.
Selling these properties will give the brain trust down at city hall a quick fix of money so they can blow it on pet projects and consultant reports that no one ever reads.
So you suggest waiting for a "new and improved" council? One that will be more responsible and disciplined with public funds and public trust. More forthcoming with the truth. Here's what we do. Pull 5 people at random out of the next traffic jam in Pacifica.
I agree with Victor Spano;sell the real estate and get revenue soon.Economic activity in Pacifica starts at these sights;let's get going!
350 Yeah, sounds good, but all roads in Pacifica lead to flat-ass broke. Highly probable scenario: Property sold, money blown by some council, some other council can't find where the money went, CCC denies every project/s or makes them so unprofitable that they are abandoned. Do you recognize your surroundings?
The city needs $240,000 to establish economic director ;money could come from property sales.
If they wanted one, they'd have hired one and no budget would stop them. Look what current and former councils have done with 4 million in money they didn't have. They don't really want an economic development director because that would mean they're serious about economic development. Imagine the uproar! They're not serious.
1:57
Look at who endorsed Mary Ann & Karen Ervin. The gang of NO!
623 You keep saying that. I don't believe you. Got any proof? Put up or stfu.
Is our current council perfect? No. Are they a million times better than the Vreeland, Dejarnett, Digre Nimby lovers club? Hells yes.
From Ervin's campaign statement to the Tribune before election:
If elected, she would set a number of priorities.
The first one would be to address the city's economic issues -- to build reserves, spend wisely and to eliminate the structural deficit.
The second priority would be to develop economic sustainability. One was to assist would be to streamline the permitting for businesses.
Third, she would work with commercial landlords to fill vacancies.
Next, she would continue to support the plans to redevelop Palmetto Avenue and Beach Blvd.
And, lastly, she would build transparency and be engaged in the community.
>
I don't see anything about building more trails or that the gang of no cares about.
With all due respect to Hutch and anon 6:23....Here is a list of Mary Ann's endorsers from her 2012 website:
http://www.maryannforpacifica.org/MA_Endorsements.htm
I cannot find Karen Ervin's site, maybe taken down by now, but I have a card somewhere.
Ok I give it to you that Peter Loeb, Cindy Abbott and some anti widening folks endorsed Mary Ann. Many of them she has known politically for years. Do you think they approve of her actions on hwy 1 or would endorse her now? I see a healthy mixture of business people, moderates and enviros.
What I don't see under Mary Ann's supporters are most of the radical leaders of the gang of no NIMBY's. No Ian Butler, John Maybury, Todd Bray, Dan Underhill, Cynthia Kaufman, Hal Bohner, John Keener.
Don't you think if Mary Ann were one of them they would be supporting her?
From Nihart's endorsers for 2012
Loeb Lancelle Casillas Verby Vasey
and lesser luminaries
Readers, doncha know the modern candidate for political office must have support from all segments of the community, particularly the more prominent so that the less prominent of like or
undecided mind will follow along? Somewhere on that list must be a couple CoC, realtors, etc. The other names and a slew of supporters from Measure V were more visible. And little Davey Canepa.
So now you know-no. The question will morph into STFU and aren't they better than you know who? Time will tell. Maybe they're holding back for a big dramatic finish? The niners in the quarry or Ellison buys Pacifica.
Lets see Hutch, I see:
Greg Cochran
Jennifer Ball
Mike Varney
Tom Edminster
Ginny Jaquith
Mike Vasey
Dinah Verby
Pete Shoemaker
Robine Runneals
Peter Loeb
BJ Nathanson
Shirley Drye
Sam Casillas
Penny Keating
Whew, what a relief! Loeb is not the anti-Christ. I admit I liked his band. Be sure to keep us posted Hutch. Anyone else crossing back over? Lancelle--by by Mori's Point, Verby--the real legal brain. The enviro/hippie DNA runs deep in this town. This council is loaded with it. Some declared like Digre, some very strategically down-played. That's politics. It really does take a village to get elected. And then you owe everyone who helped you. No sudden moves or sharp turns because it'll get nasty and you might need some/all of these folks, again. That's also politics.
From Mary Ann's website:
With your support, Mary Ann will work to:
· Achieve financial sustainability
· Maintain and enhance city services
· Revitalize aging business districts
· Promote economic development
· Seek out and encourage new businesses
· Protect our hills, open space, and environment
· Build a new library/life long learning center
· Support our schools and children, and
· Preserve our quality of life.
Hutch, when you were a kid I bet you refused to eat your broccoli at dinner and sat all night at the table til Mom or Dad gave up and sent you to school. Woohoo! Saved by the bell! BTW Kaufman is on the list and the color of that list is predominantly green.
Pee, Nihart's list is Ervin's list.
It's a small town of mostly indifferent people. The serious candidates share.
Remember Sue Digre whining about Mary Ann and Len's letter on keeping secrets about outsourcing? Pee Wee you really think they have the same agenda?
Sue's open letter: 9/10/12
Two Pacifica City Council members wrote a letter addressed to the three other council members: Digre, DeJarnatt, and Jaquith. The letter was delivered via an email from the city manager. The city manager stated that it was already a public document and that the city attorney would send us a response to their request.
The act of choosing to create and send this letter in this manner in itself insinuates that each council member being addressed was intended to marginalize the public, was intended to avoid the public, and was intended to avoid transparency.
THIS IS INSULTING to Digre, DeJarnatt, and Jaquith, AND TO THE PUBLIC THAT ELECTED US TO SERVE.
Furthermore this manner of "working with" fellow elected City Council members insinuating an intent of deception is disingenuous and manipulating.
It is with deep regret that this choice of behavior on the part of council members Nihart and Stone necessitates a somber response to clarify integrity.
- Sue Digre
That list is a fail except for #6 and #7. The hills,etc are safe and full speed ahead with that stupid library uh lifelong learning center.
Nihart-era is a huge improvement for Pacifica. Huge.
233 That's a fairly unintelligible post but who among us can forget the cover-up to cover-up what covered-up something or other once covered by someone who uncovered a cover-up of something someone covered-up.....while screaming I'm transparent dammit, you can see right through me.
I use the Bray scale of moronic association when finding the truth to many questions. Does Todd Bray dislike Mary Ann? Yes.
BAAAHMP! Then she is a good candidate.
Back on the scale porky! Bray has previously posted here and elsewhere how he used to support Nihart but became disenchanted because ahem Nihart is all about Nihart. So he said. I don't judge. Lay off the carbs.
S'cuse me moronic association, but Mary Ann's not a candidate. She's the mayor. I know, she always seems like she's running for office. All that tippey-toe stuff.
Thx for the list 223. I'd forgotten what Nihart has been trying to do for 6 years.
The biggest enviro coup in this town was putting the WWTP in the quarry. Even Scott Holmes said don't do it. Cunning use of regulatory agencies and existing laws to protect developable land is a hallmark of smart enviros. WSP activists, including our mayor, got it done. Same people we now call nimbies. Same people. A case of unintended consequences? Oh sure, if they were brain dead. The point is, politicians are chameleons. Blending in as needed with whomever they need at the time.
The mayor is an easy target and much of the criticism is deserved. But, politics aside, or maybe for once it'll be politics used well, if she succeeds at improving the mental health resources for Pacificans in crisis, including better resources and procedures for the police, then she may save lives. Screw the rest of the perpetual bullshit from city hall, that would be an honorable legacy.
Bottom line Bray hates her.
She refused to give Loeb the win on his appeal.
She has refused to vote with Digre on most things like choosing the landscape median option or holding hearings on hwy 1 until lawsuit is settled.
Case closed.
@420 Yup, the case closed about the same time your mind closed. Always a few of those anywhere we go.
420 And they say romance is dead. Have you told her how you feel? Nothing ventured, nothing gained?
Fingers-crossed, your friend,
Cupid.
It seems that Peter Loeb who said he supported Mary Ann's in back in 2012 didn't reap any benefit. Mary Ann has been generally in favor the highway widening moving forward. The City & Caltrans defeated Loeb's 1st misconceived lawsuit. And she voted against her buddy Peter Loeb's appeal to the planning commission. Yeah they sound real tight.
Go eat some humble pie 229
5:35
Why give the embezzeler and known con artist any play?
Can you explain who and what you're talking about 918?
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