Power of the Peebles: 70% Solution for D.C.

R Donahue Peebles - shamelessly run out of Pacifica by folk screecher Nancy Hall, double cheeseburger consumption specialist John Curtis, and sewer spill containment expert Councilman James Vreeland - announced his bid for mayor of Washington D.C. a "70 percent likelihood"

Ken Restivo and Dinah Verby, masterminds of the Pacifica Yesterday and NO Tomorrow campaign, could not be reached for comment.  Thankfully.

Fix Pacifica "Jumps The Shark"!

In exciting blogger news, Fix Pacifica takes a mere 2 months to accomplish what one of the most popular TV series took 5 seasons to do . . . we "jump the shark"!  Thank you to our loyal readers, and its all downhill from here . . .

Millwood Ranch

Millwood Ranch's website

The Dulcet Tones of the Curios (now available at Amazon.com)

There's really NO reason for this post....

I just wanted to make John Curtis salivate.

Millwood Ranch: More to the Story

Here's why you need to read Fix Pacifica before you go to sleep at night:  we report the things the Tribune, the SMCDT, and even our friends at Riptide won't report.

Take Millwood Ranch, for example.  Pretty significant story, one we've been following for a while because of our good friend in Park Pacifica who has been raising a stink about the "dirty" dealings for a while.

But did you know that Millard Tong is the defendant in not one but TWO Civil Actions?

Case CIV483079: LELAINIA SCAMMON VS. MILLARD TONG
Case CIV483350: JOEL S LEVINE VS MILLARD W TONG

Joel Levine's case is a simple Guarantor of a trust not fulfilling his financial obligations to the tune of $75,000

Click Here to Download Levine's Complaint

Lelainia Scammon's complaint is a little more salacious, with accusations specific to her employment at Millwood Ranch including sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, gender-based violence, wrongful termination, etc . . .

Click Here to Download Scammon's Complaint

We wonder if Mister Tong will plead ignorance of the law for these incidents as well??

FINAL: Seaside upends Terra Nova for CCS football championship

The Monterey County Herald

Updated: 12/05/2009 07:39:09 PM PST

The Seaside High Spartans won its first Central Coast Section championship title since 2006 with a 29-18 victory over Terra Nova of Pacifica today at San Jose City College.

After a flurry of scoring in the second and third quarters, the game turned into a defensive struggle and the Spartans hung on to win its second CCS championship.

Read more...

Pacifica rancher in trouble for filling creek with construction debris

By Julia Scott
San Mateo County Times

Posted: 12/04/2009 09:51:25 PM PST

Updated: 12/04/2009 09:51:25 PM PST

PACIFICA — A ranch owner has run afoul of city, state and federal laws by building several horse structures without a permit and endangering local wildlife habitat by illegally filling a creek with construction debris, according to officials. 

Millard Tong founded Millwood Ranch four years ago, a 166-acre horse boarding and riding facility tucked into the hills behind Pacifica's Linda Mar neighborhood. In the past year and a half, he has received five stop-work orders from Pacifica building officials for illegal construction work, ranging from July 2008 to November 2009. Tong finally halted his construction work on Nov. 4 after city officials arrived with police officers, according to city officials.

The most serious violation at Millwood Ranch involved the illegal dumping of soil in an 85-foot stretch of sensitive creek bed in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. This prompted a cease-and-desist order from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late October and could make Tong liable for serious fines and cleanup requirements.

Other work on the ranch involved grading a hillside, constructing roads, and moving vast amounts of earth without a permit, according to local and state officials. These and other problems have resulted in a flurry of site visits and enforcement letters from the California Department of Fish and Game and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Read more...

Who's the Imposter?

posted by: r. roads

Terra Nova football team plays for championship

Terra Nova HS plays for Central Coast Section Division III championship Saturday, 3 PM, at San Jose City College.

KPIX report on Terra Nova football

 San Mateo County Times story

Coastside to Recology

i've know chris a long time and bashing her is unwarranted. coastside has been here a lot longer than most of us and has contributed generously to many of our local charities and offered free services to many of their fund raising events. look at the attached staff report to council. page 2, #2 is interesting for what it says. it's pretty clear to me that the city has an opportunity to transition to a new company relatively painlessly. with all our bitching about studies, consultants, and attorney costs, you think there would be a few kudos for not spending over 100k on a report that will put you right where you are today, at no cost. negotiations will still go on. demands for added service are still on the table. put your gripes on paper and ship them to the city manager. i'm sure there are old battles still being fought with coastside. i would suggest putting those aside and focusing on making sure your concerns are addressed during these negotiations.

jim wagner

Coastside sale to Recology Staff Report

Economic Plan for this City, NOT - Only Taxes and More Work for You

Contrary to what you may have heard (the promises) from 7 year "friendly and nice" city council members, a real economic plan for this city never happened, and apparently was not part of the back-of-the-house consideration from this city council. You thought you elected city council members to protect your interests, other than simply giving away or selling the land, you were wrong. Don't make that mistake again, unless you actually think a failed city is a nice place to live.

The recent blog article post "Why Paul Jones Opposed to Term Limits? A Lesson in Cronyism" included the Pedro Point Headlands Hike (part 1 of 3) video, probably the best of the three. Nevertheless, I'm listing all three which describe an important "vision" for this city, not fully disclosed or understood by the general public. Did our citizens intend to give away so much productive land, was there any vote to go that direction, or were larger land owners "encouraged" (as in "hammered", blocked, driven to sell) to gift their land to "unproductive open space" and take the tax break?

Part 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvXUPlJufOk&feature=related
Part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2kRqrWGYtA&feature=related
Part 3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9pRMAfUH0g&feature=related

As the result of "trails and the skate park... business is thriving", the GGNRA is also responsible for the "issue of dogs..." (interpreted as no dogs); the GGNRA will also be able talk about "the rail road and agriculture" (both past history)--way to go Mr. "nothing economic for Pacifica" Councilmember Vreeland!

Posted by Kathy Meeh

The Carpetbagger

Well, there's that damn carpetbagger, Peebles, again! When is he going to learn that us Pacifican's can't be fooled by his charade as a mover and shaker in the Obama Whitehouse?
Thank goodness we sent the charlatan packing!
Lance

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/background-forum-jobs-and-economic-growth





 seems like some joker plastered my professional photo all over the NO on L website, so I thought I would post my far less witty alter ego instead - Jeff

Christmas Party

 Company Memo
FROM:    Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director 
TO:         All Employees 
DATE:    October 1, 2008 
RE:       Gala Christmas Party 

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23^rd, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. 

There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks!  We'll have a small band playing traditional carols... feel free to sing along..  And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! 

A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 PM.  Exchanges of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets.  

This gathering is only for employees! 

Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time! 

Merry Christmas to you and your family, 
Patty 

---

Company Memo
FROM:    Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director 
TO:         All Employees 
DATE:    October 2, 2008 
RE:       Gala Holiday Party 

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees.  We recognize that  Hanukkah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year.  

However, from now on,  we're calling it our "Holiday Party."  The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians and to those still celebrating Reconciliation Day.  

There will be no Christmas tree and no Christmas carols will be sung. 

We will have other types of music for your enjoyment. And yes,kosher foods will be provided and separated from the other trays.

Happy now? 

Happy Holidays to you and your family, 
Patty 

---

 Company Memo
FROM:   Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director 
TO:        All Employees 
DATE:   October 3, 2008 
RE:         Holiday Party 

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table, you didn't sign your name..  

I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that  reads, "AA Only", you wouldn't be anonymous anymore.  How am I supposed to handle this? 

Somebody?

And sorry, but forget about the gift exchange, no gifts are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and the executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy. 

REMEMBER: NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED.

Patty  

---

 Company Memo
FROM:  Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director 
To:        All Employees 
DATE:   October 4, 2008 
RE:        Generic Holiday Party 

What a diverse group we are!  I had no idea that December 20^thbegins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours.  

There goes the party!  Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs.  Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy.  Will that work? Will that make you happy? 

Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet, and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms.

Gays are allowed to sit with each other.  Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each group will have their own table. 

Yes, there will be flower arrangement for the Gay men's table. 


To the person asking permission to cross dress, the Grill House asks that no cross-dressing be allowed, apparently they've had past problems of confusion and shock in the restrooms.  Sorry. 

We will have booster seats for short people. 


Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet. 

I am sorry to report that we cannot control the amount of salt used in the food .  The Grill House suggests that people with high blood pressure taste a bite first. 

There will be fresh "low sugar" fruits as dessert for diabetics, but the restaurant cannot supply "no sugar" desserts. Sorry! 

Did I miss anything?!?!? 
Patty 

---

Company Memo
FROM:   Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director 
TO:         All ******* Employees 
DATE:    October  5, 2008 
RE:         The ******* Holiday Party 

I've had it with you vegetarian pricks!!!  We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your **%^ing salad bar, including organic tomatoes.  

But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too.  They scream when you slice them.  I've heard them scream.  I'm hearing them scream right NOW! 

The rest of you **%^ing wierdos can kiss my *ss.  I hope you all have a rotten holiday! 

Drive drunk and die, 

The B***h from H*ll!!! 

---

 Company Memo
FROM:  Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director 
DATE:   October  6, 2008 
RE:       Patty Lewis and Holiday Party 

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery from her recent nervous breakdown and I'll continue to forward your cards and letters to her at the asylum. 

In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23^rd off with full pay. 

Happy Whatever! 
Joan

Submitted by: Jim Wagner

Why is Paul Jones Opposed to Term Limits? A Lesson in Cronyism

Paul Jones, notorious DOG HATER and a member of the Pacifica GGNRA Liaison Committee (the same GGNRA we have reported was deliberately excluded from PROSAC's recommendation for a partnership to keep and maintain the 18 hole golf course at Sharp Park), submitted a letter to the editor to the Pacifica Tribune opposing the movement to establish term limits for Pacifica City Council, calling the movement "unnecessary and misguided."  (Though Jones may need to review his history a little, since Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe adhered to the 2-term limit more on convention, and even Washington noted in his Farewell Address that he was retiring due to one inalienable principle:  his age).


Jones continues his argument against term limits by stating:  "Limiting a term can, in turn, limit the pool of qualified candidates, force officials out just when they are gaining valuable experience, and have the effect of disenfranchising voters who want those people to continue to represent them."

Is Jones being ideological, or perhaps literal?  Is there a specific candidate he DOESN'T want to see termed out?


Hmmm, seems like Jones has been a well-rewarded crony of Councilman Jim Vreeland, with massive land giveaways to the GGNRA, and a focus on trails instead of a vibrant economy.  (Jones is a signatory to arguments against Measure E and Measure L, Quarry development proposals).


Here's Jones standing by his buddy Vreeland for a Pacifica Currents episode on the Pedro Point Headland Trail (you know, the one where the Vreeland and the City Council blew through a $200,000 Coastal Conservancy grant by illegally plowing over private property and county lands, and then authorized another $100,000 of city money to continue):




at the 3:15 mark, Jones says that many of us probably don't know the GGNRA is the largest landholder in the City of Pacifica.  Hmmmmmm, no wonder Jones is such a staunch opponent to term limits . . .a crony always knows who butters his bread, or rather who drops the crumbs along his nature trail.

First person report from SF PROSAC meeting 12/1/09

I attended the San Francisco Park Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee (PROSAC) meeting at city hall last night. Tetra-Tech and Swaim Biological presented the various plan options (18 holes, 9 holes, no golf) for Sharp Park much as they did in the meeting to the Rec & Park Commission on Nov 19. Public participation was smaller, and there were actually more committee members than public attendees. I was again impressed with the efforts of Karen Swaim and David Monroe from the consulting firms hired to analyze the options for The City. They competently and dispassionately knocked down the half-truths and outright fabrications that has been thrown around in the media and blogs by the "Destroy Sharp Park Golf" crowd since the Rec & Park Commission meeting. During Public comment, there were about a dozen supporters from both San Francisco and Pacifica who spoke up, but no one in opposition to the course. I guess they don't come out at night.


One vocal district representative said he would vote against recommending the report (missed his name - Jason?) , because he felt that they did not have enough information on what the capital costs would be to keep the course open and whether GGNRA or San Mateo Country would be interested in taking it off The City's hands. It sounded to me like he was repeating recent Mirkarimi talking points.

Jason was promptly schooled by Nancy Wuerfel, who was ready with an analysis indisputably showing the course to be an operational money maker, explaining the difference between capital and operational expenses for the accounting illiterate (like Jason), and making the point that federal grants to secure the resources to improve and manage the habitat would not be available if the course was given away.

She concluded by saying that if anyone was seriously advocating that The City should give away 400 acres of prime ocean-front park land, she would fight them tooth and nail. It was all I could do to keep from standing up and cheering. I think Team Mirkarimi is running out of ammo and is now shooting blanks in these meetings.

Here is the important bit: The committee voted to recommend that The City proceed with the 18 hole option.

I think this is what real journalists call a buried lead.

All in all, a good night for the good guys.

Press release from the SF Public Golf Alliance:

San Francisco Park, Rec, and Open Space Advisory Committee Votes to Support 18-Hole Golf Course at Sharp Park

San Francisco, CA. The San Francisco Park, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Committee (“PROSAC”) at the conclusion of a December 1 public hearing at City Hall, overwhelmingly endorsed retaining the 18-hole Alister MacKenzie-designed Sharp Park Golf Course.

By a 14-1 vote, PROSAC endorsed preservation of the golf course, in conjunction with a Rec & Park Department plan to rehabilitate habitat at the western end of the property for two threatened species, the San Francisco Garter Snake and the California Red-legged Frog. By a separate 13-2 vote, PROSAC approved a resolution encouraging the Rec & Park Department to continue efforts to cooperate at Sharp Park with the city of Pacifica and County of San Mateo. On a preliminary procedural vote, PROSAC members specifically declined to include the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (“GGNRA”) in the “cooperation” resolution. All of PROSAC’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Recreation and Park Commission, which on December 17 will conduct a continued public hearing on the Sharp Park matter...

Full press release here and here.

cross-posted from my blog.

SF Public Golf Alliance: PROSAC Endorses 18-hole Sharp Park

Dear members of the Alliance,

The San Francisco Park, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Committee (PROSAC) overwhelmingly endorsed retaining the 18-hole Sharp Park Golf Course at the conclusion of its meeting yesterday.  This vote is good news for all of us who want to preserve affordable, eco-friendly golf, starting with Alister MacKenzie's Pacifica gem.

Please read the full press release for more details. 

Thank you very much for your continued support.

Jeff Phillips
San Francisco Public Golf Alliance, an All-Volunteer Coalition of Golf Supporters
Support the Alliance with a PayPal Donation Today
Become a Fan of the SF Public Golf Alliance on Facebook 

San Bruno Mayor Larry Franzella Steps Down

Fix Pacifica salutes a true leader of his community, San Bruno Mayor Larry Franzella, for his accomplishments in tending to the economic welfare of the community for 2 decades:

San Mateo Daily Journal Article

We're especially impressed with his list of accomplishments:  "the renovation of the Shops at Tanforan, traffic and median improvements along El Camino Real, affordable housing options, breaking ground on a restaurant with banquet facilities and having a grade separation project starting."

Any chance we could convince the Realtor community to bring him over the hill to Pacifica???

Rosa Parks Day

In the News - December 1, 1955, "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement"
Rosa Parks (2/4/13 - 10/24/05)

Article from http://teacher.scholastic.com/rosa/sittingdown.htm
Picture from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/aframer/parks/

Continuing our devoted work against bigotry and unjustified municipal management replaced by citizen self-esteem, courage and civic justice-- today 54 years ago Rosa Parks had "enough" of being a second-class citizen and did something about it. She refused to give up her seat on a public bus, consequences of which ultimately lead to breaking segregation laws of Alabama, then United States. Her act of segregation defiance and courage became a "tipping point" which brought about the modern day civil rights movement.


On Thursday evening December 1, 1955, after a long day of work as a seamstress for a Montgomery, Alabama, department store, Rosa Parks boards a city bus to go home. Tired as she is, Mrs. Parks walks past the first few — mostly empty — rows of seats marked "Whites Only." It's against the law for an African American like her to sit in these seats. She finally settles for a spot in the middle of the bus. Black people are allowed to sit in this section as long as no white person is standing. Though Rosa Parks hates the segregation laws, and has been fighting for civil rights at the NAACP for more than 10 years, until today she has never been one to break rules. The bus continues along its route. After several more stops the bus is full. The driver notices that all the seats in the "Whites Only" section are now taken, and that more white people have just climbed aboard. He orders the people in Mrs. Parks's row to move to the back of the bus, where there are no open seats. No one budges at first. But when the driver barks at the black passengers a second time, they all get up. . . except for Rosa Parks.


Additional references

Overview http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks
The Time Magazine 100 http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/parks01.html
The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development http://www.rosaparks.org/

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Tiger comes out of hiding

"When Life Throws You Lemons...Make Cranberry Juice" book signing

Shari is a walking testament to courage. She is a wonderful and vibrant teacher at Skyline, and a good friend. - Jim Wagner

I am holding a book signing for my book, "When Life Throws You Lemons...Make Cranberry Juice!" on Saturday, December 12 at 1:30 PM at Family Martial Arts Center of Pacifica, located at 1037 Terra Nova Blvd.

Please post the attached flyer.

Thanks,

Shari

Lord knows we wouldn't want this vagabond lurking about our community!

Subject: R. Donahue Peebles Honored by Amsterdam News in NYC
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 11:56:56 -0500
From: kpryles@peeblescorp.com
To: donpeebles@peeblescorp.com

Last night, Mr. R. Donahue Peebles was honored at the Amsterdam News’ 100^th Anniversary Gala at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. Mr. Peebles was recognized with honorees Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Congressman Charles Rangel and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Distinguished guests included former President Bill Clinton, Rev. Al Sharpton, designer Kenneth Cole, Comptroller Bill Thompson and Governor David Paterson.

The festive event was both a celebration of New York City’s best community-focused newspaper and a fundraiser to facilitate the modernization of the newspaper’s historic chronicles.

ABOUT THE AMSTERDAM NEWS GALA

The Amsterdam News was founded in 1909 to provide an editorial voice which would reinforce to Black New Yorkers that their lives were important. The Educational Fund’s goal of the 100^th Anniversary is to raise funds to transfer the newspaper’s extraordinary archives to a digital format with the hope of expanding access to critical chapters of African-American history. Amsterdam’s archives include articles by prominent African-Americans such as W. E. B. Du Bois, Roy Wilkins, Adam Clayton Powell, Herb Boyd, Kevin Powell and Malcolm X as well as more than half a million photographs depicting news and life in Harlem, Black America and various Black cultures throughout the world. 

Kendall Pryles

Communications Director

The Peebles Corporation

550 Biltmore Way, Suite 970

Coral Gables, FL 33134

P: 305.442.4342

F: 305.442.4345

kpryles@peeblescorp.com

Lance Fernork Posts - Vree Speaks

Vreeman is my hero! He's such a fiscal conservative, until it comes to spending a quarter of a million dollars on a taj mahal at the OWWTP when EVERYONE said it was a mistake. Or, how about the diesel refinery that has cost the city $135,000+ for an illegal hole in the ground. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Oh yea! Putting a second AND third bond on the poop factory. Why? To debt service the first, then debt service the first and second, then, oops, no more leverage available, time to raise sewer fees.
And the Frontierland Park fund. Where's that money gone.
And, wasn't it Nihart that pushed for rolling back the automatic payraises council voted for themselves, back to the 2006 level? Lance thinks so.
What a showboat! Shilling for votes me thinks.

Submitted by: Lance Fernork


Some elected officials in San Mateo County take pay cuts, others getting raises

By Mike Rosenberg
San Mateo County Times

Posted: 11/24/2009 06:03:16 PM PST

Updated: 11/24/2009 08:24:16 PM PST

Elected officials in San Mateo County have responded to their respective budget crises by cutting employee wages or laying them off. But full-time politicians and part-time council members have a clear difference of opinion, however, when it comes to altering their own paychecks.

Some state legislators and City Council members have volunteered to reduce their own salaries, saying they want to share the pain of the budget cuts they are inflicting on employees and residents. Others, meanwhile, are set to increase their own pay or keep their salaries flat.

A politician's salary typically makes up far less than 1 percent of their government's overall spending. But with many leaders cutting employees' pay, laying off staff members, raising fees and cutting services, some taxpayers have called for leaders to give up parts of their income as a matter of principle.

"It is a reality that's certainly not lost on me," said Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo. He announced Monday he would lower his wages by another 10 percent. He has now slashed his $116,208 salary by 20 percent to $92,966 since the year began.
Fellow Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City, quietly reduced his own $116,208 salary by 10 percent in February.
"He just thought it was the right thing to do and it was an issue he really believed in," said Karen Zamel, Ruskin's communications director.

State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Mateo, meanwhile, has not voluntarily cut
his own pay but historically has declined any per diems while the Legislature works without passing a budget, said his spokesman, Adam Keigwin.

Pacifica Councilman Jim Vreeland said this week he would like council members to voluntarily reduce their salaries by 10 percent. The council is expected to discuss his proposal at a future meeting.

But not all local leaders have been in such giving moods this year.

San Mateo County supervisors are scheduled to get a 5 percent raise on Jan. 1, bumping their annual salaries to about $116,000. This year, they are making $110,448 in salary, said Deputy County Counsel Paul Okada. They also have free medical, dental and vision coverage and a $13,338 annual automobile mileage allowance.

The increase comes as part of a 2005 Board of Supervisors vote to hike their pay by 27 percent over a period of five years to bring their salaries in line with other Bay Area county supervisors. In 2005, supervisors made $81,515.
Besides the county supervisors, the only other county employees scheduled to get raises next year are sheriff's deputies and sergeants, said Human Resources Director Donna Vaillancourt.

In Foster City, meanwhile, council members voted earlier this year to hike their annual stipends by 5 percent, from $5,664 to $5,952, starting Dec. 7, when officials swear in their new leaders. It is their first increase since 1997, said City Clerk Doris Palmer.
Plenty of other leaders have opted to keep their salaries flat.

In Washington, U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, has not volunteered to reduce her $174,000 pay, said spokesman Mike Larsen.
"You know it would just be political grandstanding," Larsen said of such a move. "It wouldn't really amount to anything substantial."
U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, said she voted to forego cost of living adjustments for all members of Congress for the next year, which she said was equivalent to a reduction in salary.
"That's a cut," she said.

Local City Council members have, for the most part, kept discussions on their salaries out of the limelight. Officials in Belmont, Burlingame, San Carlos, San Bruno, San Mateo and South San Francisco all said they have not changed their council's pay in several years.

"I used to joke when I was on the City Council that in those busy weeks that you're spending a lot of time on city stuff that it came out to about 50 cents an hour," said Belmont City Clerk Terri Cook. "It isn't about the money."

Staff writers Shaun Bishop and Aaron Kinney contributed to this report. Mike Rosenberg covers San Mateo, Burlingame, Belmont and transportation. Reach him at 650-348-4324.

COUNCIL SALARY CHANGES

City Current salary Old salary Salary changed
Belmont $4,680 N/A None in memory
Burlingame $7,080 $4,812 1999
Foster City $5,952 $5,664 Starts Dec. 7
Hillsborough No pay
Pacifica $8,400 $4,800 2001
San Carlos $3,600 N/A None in 22 years
San Bruno $5,832 $4,800 2001
San Mateo $7,200 $3,600 2002
South SF $6,000 $3,600 1997
Note: Some council members also receive bonuses for other duties, such as Redevelopment Agency service, and some receive access to other benefits such as medical.

Golf courses make people crazy

Tiger Woods has been a bad boy. He has been cheating on his wife with a floozy. Everyone knows it. It is on Wikipedia.

Look at this picture of Tiger going crazy. He is a very angry and unhappy rich, old, white man. He sees a cute frog and is going to try to kill it with his hat. STOP IT TIGER!! He is also angry because he doesn't believe Sharp Park is historical and is unhappy that some people don't want to turn it into a National Park. He is going crazy because he is exposed to golf course herbicides and pesticides have affected his brain and made him insane. All golfers are scary and insane. It is scary. Tiger is hot under the collar because of global warming. If there was no global warming, Tiger would be chilling.

This is why we need to turn Sharp Park Golf Course into a National Park. I have decided we will call it Brent Plater National Park. I like that name. It makes me happy.

Don't let scary and rich, old white guys like Tiger spend time on golf courses anymore. It makes them crazy. If you golf, it will make you crazy, too.

Submitted by: Winter Roads

<< That's me!! See why Brent Plater has the hots for me!! Brent and I make each other happy. I hope Mrs. Brent doesn't have any golf clubs to smash the back window of his Prius when she finds out about me and Brenty-poo.

John Curtis wants me, but he can't have me. He only takes me to McDonalds on dates. He makes me pay, and then he steals all my cheeseburgers. Ick.

Frontierland Remediation Fund - Misappropriate of Public Funds

I have in my possesion a report submitted to the Grand Jury about a year ago for their review. For whatever reason, and it could be anything, they chose not to issue a report or notify the authors to their reasoning. That is as it is. This report concerns the Frontierland Remediation Fund. A one paragraph description describes exactly what this fund is to be used for. To date, a visit to the park will find it somewhat "un-remediated". The info is here and I believe that there is more out there.

I would encourage anyone interested in what the city does with this fund to check for yourself. This is not a tax, it's a fee. It must be used for one purpose and one purpose only. Lot of money floating around somewhere>

Jim Wagner


November 22, 2008
Virginia Kiraly
Grand Jury Foreperson
c/o Court Executive Officer
400 County Center
Redwood City, CA. 94063

Re: Misappropriation of Public Funds

Dear Ms. Kiraly,

I have followed Pacifica City Council for many years. I find their total disregard for the public trust imparted upon them reprehensible. The budgetary process in Pacifica is particularly non-transparent.

I am enclosing just one of many set-aside accounts for specific projects. The Frontier land Remediation Fund is exactly what it implies. First imposed in 1997, this fee, funded through rate payer fees, is designated to the enhancement of a local park that was at one time a waste disposal site. (see attachment 1, article 8.4 of the current franchise agreement) $75,000 per year has gone to this fund since 1997. Where has that money gone? Attachment 2 (memo 07/10/2008 Ritzma) from our finance director, Ann Ritzma, makes reference to certain funds and a phantom “project” not yet picked to be funded. Her numbers cannot be cross referenced with any of the numbers that I have been supplied by her office (attachment 3 and 4). As you can see, her memo came out of left field and seems to be a cover story triggered by, and subsequent to, my requests for a history of that fund.

I was able to procure a detailed revenue/expense report for the fiscal years 02/03 to present (attachment 4). The account zeros out and there is no carry over. Why? I then requested ledgers from the inception of this account to fiscal year 01/02 to complete my analysis. I received a 6 line list of numbers (attachment 3). No breakdown of what was spent was supplied and no details that the money received was spent according to the fund stipulations. I was told that the detailed breakdowns of that fund were destroyed. Why? Regardless, this simple numerical disclosure, incomplete but telling, shows a $247,788 surplus at the end of fiscal 01/02. Where did it go?  It wasn’t carried over to 02/03.

All in all, over $800,000 has been collected and designated to this fund. These are not tax dollars. These are fees charged by Coastside Scavengers and collected as part of our garbage fees. I have enclosed recent pictures of this park. This area is located in the Park Pacifica neighborhood on Yosemite Ave. a mostly upscale neighborhood. The area represented by these pictures  is the lower portion of the park. This area used to be a tot lot used by many young children for many years. If an area needed to be “remediated” this would be the area. The upper portion of this park was rebuilt with all volunteer labor and donations with very little participation by the city.

I would request that the Grand Jury look carefully at this fund and the history of the use of these funds. It is apparent that the funds have been misappropriated and placed in other areas of the general fund for other purposes. A direct violation of the agreement. The finance directors blatant attempt to brush this off is a further example of  the “secrecy mentality” pervasive in our city hall. We have no where else to turn to but The Grand Jury. The citizens of Pacifica need a fair and transparently run government.

Thank you.