"So John Keener changed his vote on the library to yes after seeing the outrage to his plan in letting Sharp Park West flood because "it’s not worth saving." Pacifica City Councilman Keener subscribes the fringe aspects of a theory called Managed Retreat which allows an area that was not previously exposed to flooding by the sea to become flooded by removing coastal protection or not maintaining or improving it.
| Repairing damage when possible is what an accountable City does. |
| Natural disasters happen |
Engineers have been keeping the ocean at bay (no pun) for 100's of years without modern technology. Keener should talk to the Dutch or Viennese.
The sinister thing here may be that John Keener did not reveal these radical beliefs to Sharp Park voters until after he was elected. Now he’s telling anyone who will listen that Sharp Park is not worth protecting. He's embarrassing Pacifica at public meetings all over the Bay Area without authorization to represent us with this moronic concept even telling it to Jackie Speier at a meeting of Vice Mayors he was not even supposed to be at because he isn’t a Vice Mayor (but he said he was).
Someone said "but John Keener is a scientist". Really? He did technical writing for a Pharmaceutical company for stuff like acne medication. Doesn’t really qualify him to repute actual scientists and dedicated professionals that have related degrees and expertise in ocean wave hydrology, structural engineering, physics, sediment patterns, Marine biology etc..
I think voters in Sharp Park (especially) have a right to question and know if Keener's buddy Deirdre Martin who is running for council also believes in letting the seawall and levee dissolve along with West Sharp Park. Is Deirdre Martin also against the Palmetto beautification and the Beach Blvd redevelopment because we aren't worth saving? Does she also want to close Sharp Park Golf Course and let the whole thing flood along with West SP again? Everyone should be asking her these things. Can a reporter at The Tribune please do a story about Keener's fringe views on this that and ask Deirdre Martin these important questions so we don't wake-up floating in Laguna Salada? Martin is backed and supported by the same organizers and inner sanctum of anti-development folks that gave us John Keener and 30 years of no growth city councils. They say they're in favor of smart progress and affordable housing but no plan is ever good enough. I hope Pacifica’s newer residents are paying attention."
Submitted by Robert Hutchinson
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Note ocean wave damage 2016 photographs. One break in the seawall: face page image to KTVU/Fox 2, 1/23/16, "Several cliffside homes in Pacifica threatened due to land erosion." Repairing damage from ABC News/KGO-TV/El Nino/Wayne Freedman, 1/18/16, "Pacifica pier remains closed due to massive sinkhole." Framing by the poster.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
21 comments:
In the same edition of the Tribune, our City Manager touched on the Council's goal setting session in regards to the future of Rockaway, West Sharp Park and Manor districts as it pertains to this topic.
The decision comes down to 2 options: Asset Protection or Managed Retreat.
I would expect every candidate for council to answer which side they stand on. Managed Retreat = the end of these neighborhoods and every resident should seriously consider the answer to which side of the equation they side with and vote accordingly.
* The online edition doesn't have the article at this time but it is on page A2 of the August 3rd paper.
Anyone who touts managed retreat should be relocated to west sharp park. The trailer park. Street closest to the ocean.
John Keener doesn't need to be a scientist with expertise on coastal erosion. He has the self proclaimed local expert, Bob Batallio, who provides Brent Plater with all the data he needs to pursue his agenda to shut down our beloved. West Sharp Park golf course.
Follow the money.. Can't blame a guy for trying to make some money. Right?
John Keener, knows all and sees all, from behind the curtain.
City is absolutely committed to saving Sharp Park.A $33,000,000 library needs to be protected from ocean with a new seawall.
That $33M library doesn't exist and never will.
As 1035 suggests, if voting for the library will help save our friends who live in West Sharp Park "old town" neighborhood, as well as protect the civic integrity of our City, let's do just that. AWESOME!
Vote to build that long awaited 21st Century library to benefit ALL our community-- (even for a few anonymouses who may only read funny papers).
1151, attitude: nothing to save and improve Pacifica, is that you?
Just sayin' ... library bond will not pass. 2/3 vote is very high bar and there's strong opposition.
The quoted 33 million dollar libaray bond doesn't account for the interest which could eventually make the libaray a 60 million dollar project if not more. Honestly, there isn'nt a single justified reason to blow that kind of municipal cash on a new library anywhere in town.
201, well. If the City had a robust economy (which it does not, thanks again NIMBIES), borrowing monies to build a modern library (similar to buying a house) wouldn't be needed-- right?
But I think your 60 million estimate is way off anyhow, because San Mateo County is allowing some funding, and a no or low interest loan for 15 years.
Since, this is your unaccountable comment, YOU look-up the details and get back to us. Thanks!
Kathy
Walnut Creek has a robust economy and a pretty awesome downtown "Main Street." They still couldn't fully staff and keep the library open full time.
The city's own poll reveals deep opposition to the closing of the Sanchez library. The people who forced this through to the ballot are blowing an additional $7k of taxpayer dollars on an election they won't win.
Maybe after it is soundly defeated, it can be scaled down to a more reasonable proposal - away from the rising ocean.
Building a new library in Pacifica is a lot like building a new golf course in Malawi
8/8, 227, Walnut Creek Library staffing hours: M-Th 10-8; F-S, 10-6; Sunday 1 day closed. Is that bad?
Yelp, 4 stars, with comments.
Walnut Creek also has a second library, see WC Library Foundation,: Ygnacio Valley Library, (The Foundation is raising money to renovate that library). Ygnacio Valley library staffing hours: M-Th 10-8; F, S 10-6, Sunday 1 day closed.
Walnut Creek population according to City-Data is 67,673, (roughly 2x the size of Pacifica).
Pacifica Sharp Park library staffing hours: T, W 12-8; Th, S 10-5; Monday, Friday, Sunday 3 days closed.
Sanchez library staffing hours: M 12-8; W 10-6; F, S 10-5; Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday 3 days closed.
Pacifica population according to City-Data is 39,088, (roughly half the size of Walnut Creek).
That's the comparison of Walnut Creek to Pacifica. The WC library staffing hours are much better than ours. Their main library facility is updated. DONE.
Other than the building and facility updates needed, our library system also needs better hours. Pacifica Library Foundation has further information.
Library services in this City is another unfinished, several decades issue. This time San Mateo County has offered some development monies, which will help this City.
Time to have enough confidence in the future of this City to get on with it, this time vote YES to build the new library.
Walnut Creek has an economy.
Pacifica has nothing.
No comparison.
320, your 8/8, 227 comment that Walnut Creek ".. still couldn't fully staff and keep the library open full time" was substantially lazy and FALSE.
Pacifica is in process to develop a much better West Sharp Park downtown, and fix the failing seawall infrastructure.
NIMBIES have limited the economic and land future of this City. Still some improvement can happen, and is happening because of a more progressive City Council majority which has evolved during the past 5 years, and has brought-in an accountable City management structure team through their appointed City Manager Lorie Tinfow, (10/2013).
Of some interest is a 2013 article about appointment of our City Manager. Pacifica Patch/Christa Bigue,Staff, 9/6/13, "City of Pacifica to appoint Lorie Tinfow as City Manager." "With much to do in Pacifica — from building a new library, passing the phone tax and balancing the budget and long-term revenue/expenditures, improving the San Pedro Bridge, and expanding the highway, Tinfow will have her work cut out for her."
Keep the faith, and vote only for those who will improve this City!
I THOUGHT THE PHONE TAX INITIATIVE WAS SHOT DOWN AT THE POLLING PLACES IN PACIFICA A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.PACIFICA HAS NO TRUE DOWNTOWN, THE AREA AT THE CITY HALL WAS THE CLOSEST THAT COULD BE DECLARED.ZZZZZZZZZ. ECONOMY, WELL WE HAVE KIMBY REALTY WEARING A KNIT CAP, LONE RANGER MASK OVER THE EYES CARRYING A CROW BAR AROUND TRYING TO SIFT LOCAL MERCHANTS FOR OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH RATES TO THE OCCUPANTS OF LINDA MAR & FAIRMONT CENTERS. NOW WE HAVE CHIPALLTE WITH PANDA EXPRESS MOVING INTO THE FORMER DENNY'S??? PLEASE GIVE THE RESIDENTS SOMETHING WORTHWHILE, A RED ROBIN OR IHOP WOULD BE FANTASTIC UNLIKE THE SUNRISE CAFE IN LINDA MAR THAT HAS ITS OWN HOURS OPENING UP BETWEEN 7:30-8:00.YAAAAAWN.....PLEASE.
Nothing will ever happen on palmetto.
Please delete comments written in ALL CAPS. It's very hard to read.
Craig 501, the Patch article about the appointment of new City Manager Lorie Tinfow effective 10/1/13 was written 9/6/13.
We need an All Star City Council.
Todd Bray
Kathy Meeh
Steve Sinai
Jim Wagner
Craig Roark
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