Susan Pfeifer Discusses Organizing For America (OFA) And President Obama's 2012 Re-Election Campaign at upcoming Pacifica Democrats Breakfast Meeting- June 18t

On Saturday morning, June 18th, Susan Pfeifer, from Organizing for America (OFA) will be the guest speaker at the Pacifica Democrats monthly breakfast meeting, which will be held in the banquet room of the Sharp Park Golf Course Restaurant, located at Hwy 1 and Sharp Park Blvds, in Pacifica.

Pfeifer's talk will cover both the history and past successes of Organizing for America, the historic role that California played in the election of Barack Obama in 2008, the reasons for the success of the 2010 mid-term election, in which California was the only state in the country to NOT lose a single Democratic Congressional race in November, 2010, and the plans for the recruitment of volunteers from Pacifica for the upcoming 2012 Barack Obama Re-Election campaign.

As a volunteer for Organizing for America, since 2007, Pfeifer worked diligently to get President Obama elected in 2008. Since that election she has continued to be a part of President Obama's volunteer "Field Team", concentrating on the recruitment and training of volunteers, voter registration and tabling, with the ultimate goal of getting President Obama re-elected in 2012.

Pfeifer's career has included several years work as a media buyer at a number of San Francisco advertising agencies, in addition to 10 years work as a Promotions Director for many San Francisco radio stations. For the past 12 years, Pfeifer has been the Advertising and Promotions Manager for Cal Performances, a major performing arts center located on the UC Berkeley Campus where she still works.

All Pacifica Democrats meetings are open to the public. One does not need to be a member or a Democrat to attend. A full breakfast is available for $12; continental for $6; coffee for $3. Doors open at 9 A.M. Seating is between 9:00 A.M. and 9:30 A.M. The meeting runs from 9:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.. For further information or to RSVP, please call Barbara Arietta, president, at 415-246-0775 or email barietta@hotmail.com.

Submitted by Barbara Arietta

Catching positive or negative verbal drift....

From Silicon Valley Mercury News 6/5/11.  "Next time you feel like broadcasting some gloomy tale of woe on Facebook, you might want to think twice. Your friends could catch your feelings.Psychologists have long known that emotions, just like germs, are contagious. People exposed to a person experiencing strong emotions may experience similar feelings, catching them through facial expressions, tones of voice or some other means. But now there is a new means of transmission -- social media.

Facebook data scientist Adam D.I. Kramer analyzed postings by about 1 million English speakers and their roughly 150 million friends in multiple countries on the social network to show that the words people use in their status updates drive the emotions of their online friends, even days later. Kramer found people who used emotionally loaded words like "happy," "hug," "sick," and "vile" in their status updates sparked similar emotions in later Facebook postings by their friends. "Up to three days later, for people who use more negative words, their friends will also use more negative words," Kramer said. "If people are using more positive words, not only are their friends using more positive words, their friends also will use fewer negative words." ....

Psychologists have long tried to pinpoint exactly how emotions are "contagious," passing from people to their co-workers, friends, relatives and significant others. Voice tones, choice of words and body posture are all means to transmit emotions. Scholars assume facial expressions are the most important, said Elaine Hatfield, a psychology professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who studies how emotions are transmitted from one person to another, "but we don't really know."

Kramer's study on emotional "contagion," which he presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, is an example of how people's online social interactions are increasingly important sources and tools for social research."  full article...

Posted by Kathy Meeh

SUPERVISOR MARK STONE ELECTED VICE CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION

At the June 15, 2011, meeting of the California Coastal Commission, held in Marina del Rey, California, Mark Stone, Fifth District Supervisor of Santa Cruz County, was elected Vice Chair of the California Coastal Commission, on which he serves and represents the Central Coast.

Mr. Stone was appointed to the California Coastal Commission on August 21, 2009, by Assembly Speaker Karen Bass to represent Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Mateo Counties.

The California Coastal Commission was established by voter initiative in 1972, and later made permanent by the California Coastal Act of 1976.  The Commission’s mission is to protect, restore, and enhance environmental and human-based resources of the California coast and ocean for environmentally-sustainable and prudent use by current and future generations.

The California Coastal Commission, in partnership with coastal cities and counties, plans and regulates the use of land and water in the Coastal Zone.  The Coastal Zone, which was mapped by the State Legislature, covers an area larger than the State of Rhode Island.

Supervisor Stone said, “I am honored to be chosen by my colleagues to be a part of the leadership of the California Coastal Commission.  It is an important time for the Commission and I appreciate the confidence that the Commissioners have in me.”

Coastal Commission Executive Director Peter Douglas commented, “Supervisor Stone has impressed everyone with his calm, clear, incisive, and substantive approach and grasp of issues.  He is an excellent choice.”

Assemblymember Bill Monning said, “I am confident that Mark Stone will be a strong leader on the Commission and will continue to work to implement the Coastal Act in a manner that is fair, reasoned, and mindful of how preservation of our precious coastal resources advances our region’s tourism and coastal access for all.”

John Laird, Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, remarked, “Mark consistently demonstrates a deep understanding and intelligent approach to solving issues before the Coastal Commission.  His commitment to our coast and ocean is what is needed on the Commission right now.  I am very pleased with their choice of Mark Stone for Vice Chair.”

Submitted by Susan St. John Gliner

Pacifica cuts jobs to balance budget but still funds resource center

By Julia Scott
julia.scott@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 06/14/2011 10:23:11 PM PDT
Updated: 06/14/2011 11:15:56 PM PDT

The Pacifica City Council adopted a budget Monday that cut $1.5 million and 19.7 staff jobs, including that of the city attorney. But it won't be nearly enough.

"We're still deficit spending," said Mayor Mary Ann Nihart, before voting for the budget. "We're but a decent lawsuit away from a bankruptcy this year."

Officials used the city's reserves to cover the deficit, a long-running habit in Pacifica. But the reserve is now running so low -- projected to bottom out at $976,000 by the end of the fiscal year, barring an unexpected boost in property taxes -- that if an earthquake or a tsunami hit, the city would not be able to pay for a response.

The city was counting on voters' willingness to renew a fire suppression property tax assessment that, along with further cuts, would have buoyed the city through a $14 million shortfall between now and 2014-15. But voters rejected the assessment this year, and officials have projected the need to cut $2 million more in the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

Unfortunately, council members disagree on where to cut. Councilman Peter DeJarnatt voted against adopting the $26 million budget as written on Monday. He said he objected to cutting City Attorney Cecilia Quick and replacing her with a contracted attorney.

Pacifica spent $388,179 on Quick's salary and benefits last year, plus another $283,358 on outside attorney expenses, for a total of $691,720. This year, the city is projected to save $112,000 on attorney services -- a savings of 16 percent.

Read more...

Submitted by Jim Alex

Save the Date

...for the Chamber of Commerce sponsored FANDANGO, Friday night, September 23rd from 6pm to 10 pm at the Sanchez Adobe.

Submitted by Chris Porter

It’s time for Pacifica to get serious about Medical Cannabis

By Ian Butler

In 1996, 56% of California voters approved Proposition 215, the “Compassionate Use Act”, which legalized medical Cannabis throughout the state.

15 years later, medical Cannabis is an established part of California life. Dispensaries across the state are safely providing Cannabis to patients, getting it off the streets and bringing in millions of dollars in tax revenue.

Yet there are no dispensaries in San Mateo County.

This severely limits access to patients with a legitimate medical need, while robbing our communities of precious revenues in a time of draconian budget cuts.

In 2009 San Mateo County passed regulations that discouraged medical Cannabis in non-incorporated areas, but those regulations don’t apply to the cities, which under Prop. 215 are able to craft their own policies.

Currently Colma, Half Moon Bay, South San Francisco, Millbrae, Brisbane, Daly City and San Bruno have outright bans in place, and the other cities either have no official policy or restrictive regulations, which add up to a complete lack of access throughout the county.

Meanwhile, in San Jose, 78% of the voters approved Measure U last November, taxing medical Cannabis and generating $290,000 for the city in the first month, and an estimated $3.5 million in the first year.

Obviously there is a tremendous demand in the region for medical Cannabis, and the city that can meet that demand will reap a tremendous windfall.

I believe Pacifica should be that city.

Last November Californians weighed in on Prop. 19 which would have legalized marijuana for adult use.

The measure failed, with 46.2% voting yes, but here in Pacifica, a whopping 59.13% of us voted in favor of legalizing marijuana for all adults.

The number of us who support medical Cannabis is far higher. Recently the Pacifica Tribune had an online poll asking readers their views on the subject, and only 17% were against both medical Cannabis and outright legalization, making it one of the most universally popular issues in the city.

But you’d never know it.

Unfortunately, after 60 years of Reefer Madness type hysteria, most marijuana users are still in the closet, afraid of losing their jobs or being branded as drug addicts. Even the protein smoothie I have every morning is made from hemp seeds that have to be imported from Canada, a telling remnant of our insane drug policy.

Yes there are serious problems associated with marijuana; it can influence the mental development of minors and affect long-term memory, among other things. But our laws against marijuana have been far more damaging than the drug itself, and most of us figured that out long ago.

We now know that Cannabis is a valuable treatment for many debilitating conditions, such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, ALS, MS, depression and arthritis. Often, due to limited mobility and other problems, it is the patients who need it most that have the most difficulty obtaining Cannabis.

The most common argument against medical Cannabis is that some people use it who don’t really need to, and that is no doubt true. But, with nearly 60% of us in favor of outright legalization, that argument is irrelevant here.

The pertinent question is whether it is better for Pacificans to get their legal medical Cannabis from San Francisco or for that money to stay here in town. To anyone who has been paying attention to our city’s financial woes the answer is obvious: we absolutely need that money, which could easily add up to millions of dollars.

Up until now it made sense for smaller cities to wait before jumping on the Cannabis bandwagon. The courts had to sort out the conflicts between Federal and State law, and only larger cities had the resources to do so. Also, Prop. 19 loomed on the horizon, threatening to throw a monkey wrench into whatever local regulations were enacted.

But now, with Prop 19 in the rear view mirror, drastic cuts being made in important city services and even more severe cuts on the way, the time to act is upon us.

It’s time for Pacifica to craft a reasonable policy that would allow and attract a well-run, compassionate dispensary, while safeguarding our community with reasonable limits, such as regulating proximity to schools. (Eureka Square might be a good location, next to the yoga studio, gun store and hydroponics shop.)

Eventually a ballot measure like San Jose’s could be considered, which collect an extra 5% to 10% tax for the city’s general fund. Such measures are extremely popular, and usually exceed the 2/3 majority vote needed to pass a tax increase.

Yes it’s controversial. A vocal minority will speak out against it. Even medical Cannabis supporters may not want a dispensary in their own neighborhood, but a strong majority of Pacificans are in favor of medical Cannabis. It could quickly bring significant revenue into our city, while providing safe access for those who need it most. It’s the practical thing to do, and it’s the right thing to do.

Submitted by Ian Butler

"For Profit" clothing donation bins in Pacifica?

"For-profit" clothing/textile donation bins are popping-up all over the Bay Area, and throughout the United States. These "for-profit" bins add in part to zero waste, but compete with (and take away from) local charities and their local/regional clothing recycling efforts. Recently there are at least 10 "for profit" U'SAgain collection bins in Pacifica. Note:  the U'SAgain website includes "drop off" collection sites, but there are no local or regional re-use or second hand stores listed, none.

How were these clothing/textile "donation bins" presented to business owners in Pacifica?  Isn't is the case that clothing/textiles collected by U'SAgain are shipped out-of-country, and sold by the pound "for profit"?  Is that how you understood the "sales pitch" business owner?  Or was it "zero land fill waste" and a portion goes to charity, win, win?  Meantime, our local and regional "non-profit" charities who serve local people are being sacrificed and decimated. One more thing, is it the case that U'SAgain and similar related businesses are financially headquartered off-shore and pay no taxes? 
 
KIROTV Seattle investigative news article, 11/25/09 -  "A KIRO Team 7 Investigation into a mysterious used clothing company catches the attention of the Attorney General -- while a local mayor takes action.Last week, our cameras first exposed how U'SAgain tells some businesses its red bins are "for charity" when, in reality, millions of dollars worth of donated clothes are sold for profit.Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne's hunt for the truth about U'SAgain exposes an international company in some trouble right here in Washington.Senior Counsel for the Attorney General's office, Shannon E. Smith, says U’SAgain is not properly licensed to collect donated clothes. She also says if U'SAgain is misrepresenting that they're a charity, they are also likely violating Washington's Consumer Protection Act.U'SAgain employees recently approached the City of Sedro Woolley with a great sales pitch: place their red clothing-donation bin on government property and help a charity.  When Mayor Mike Anderson saw a KIRO Team 7 Investigation that showed U'SAgain was a for profit company, selling and shipping clothes to other countries, he ordered the U'SAgain bin removed. Anderson told us, simply, 'Yeah. I think it's misleading!'"  Full article.

1/29/11, KIROTV Seattle investigative news update - "Truth behind donation bins", video, 5:48 minutes.

06/08/11, San Francisco Weekly "California Campus" separate name but related 4 page article "Donated clothes may fund international fugitive".

Additional references: 
Tvind organization websites.  When will government investigate?  Tvind Alert, and Rick A. Ross Institute (cult consultant) Clothing cult.

Article submitted by Jim Wagner

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Vreeland sighting - MIA city council meeting again, 6/13/11

Anything important on that 257 page Agenda tonight?


 


Anyone miss him?  Why pay him?  Why not save the city council budget 20% and remove him?  











Posted by Kathy Meeh

French Kill Hamsters!

bastards

we must aid our little specie friends and immediately send as many of our indigenous specie protectors from pacifica has we can rustle up, I mean round up, this weekend.

The Great Hamster thanks you in advance

June 9, 2011

Ruling Favors a 10-Inch Citizen of France

by STEVEN ERLANGER NY Times
PARIS — France was punished on Thursday for not taking proper care of its hamsters.

The Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the European Union’s highest court, ruled Thursday that France had failed to protect the Great Hamster of Alsace, sometimes known as the European hamster, the last wild hamster species in Western Europe. If France does not adjust its agricultural and urbanization policies sufficiently to protect it, the court said, the government will be subject to fines of as much as $24.6 million.
The Great Hamster, which can grow up to 10 inches long, has a brown-and-white face, white paws and a black belly. There are thought to be about 800 left in France, with burrows in Alsace along the Rhine. That is an improvement: the number had dropped to fewer than 200 four years ago, according to figures from the European Commission, which brought the lawsuit in 2009.
The Great Hamster likes grass and crops like alfalfa, but these have largely been replaced by corn, which is not ripe in the spring when the hamster awakens from six months of hibernation, eager to eat and mate. It must make longer and more hazardous journeys as its grazing area shrinks because of new highways and housing developments.
“Protection measures for the Great Hamster put in place by France were insufficient” in 2008 “to ensure the strict protection of the species” in accordance with European law, the court ruled. The hamster has been protected legally since 1993, and while it is prevalent in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, it is thought to exist in Western Europe only in Alsace.
Farmers have generally considered the hamster to be a farmyard pest, and before it was protected they flooded its burrows and used poison and traps to kill it.
Jean-Paul Burget, president of Sauvegarde Faune Sauvage, or Safeguard Wildlife, in Wittenheim, in Alsace, said in a telephone interview that “we are very happy,” and that “European rules must be followed.” France “now must work to raise the population of hamsters up to 1,500,” which would be enough to preserve the species, he said, and the prefecture of Alsace “must stop some urbanization projects and restore” older agreements to grow certain cereals that hamsters eat.
Mr. Burget’s association filed an initial complaint to the European Commission on behalf of the Great Hamster in 2006.
The court did, however, reject the commission’s complaint about the use of nitrates, on the grounds that the plaintiff had failed to demonstrate “to the requisite legal standard” a link between the use of nitrates in agriculture and the “deterioration or destruction of the breeding sites or resting places of the European hamster.”
The chief of staff for Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, France’s minister of ecology, sustainable development, transport and housing, said Thursday evening that Ms. Kosciusko-Morizet would make no comment on the ruling.
 
mark stechbart

New Proposed Legislative Districts

http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/maps-first-drafts.html

Submitted by Jim Wagner

City Council Meeting 06/13/11 agenda packet

June 13 Council meeting agenda

257 pages of riveting reading
enjoy

 Submittted by Jim Wagner

Recology Spring Cleaning Special Through the End of June

Submitted by Chris Porter

Jerry Hill Fundraiser, Sunday, June 12

Submitted by Shari Rubin 

RSVP: 415-413-0240x102 

Shari@integratedfundraising.com 

Hercules voters recall council members

By Tom Lochner
Contra Costa Times

Posted: 06/07/2011 10:12:59 PM PDT

Updated: 06/08/2011 10:50:45 AM PDT

HERCULES -- Joanne Ward and Donald Kuehne, the only two remaining members of the 2010 Hercules City Council, were recalled by a lopsided margin Tuesday by voters unhappy over the deterioration of the city's finances and six-figure contracts between the city and a firm owned by the former city manager's daughters.

The vote ran 87 percent in favor of recalling Ward and 80 percent in favor of recalling Kuehne.

"The citizens have spoken," Anton Jungherr, a member of the leadership team of recall sponsor Hercules Recall, said in a brief statement late Tuesday night.

Dan Romero won a third council race, for the open seat vacated by Ed Balico, the former mayor. With all nine precincts as well as most absentee ballots counted, Romero had 46 percent of the vote, followed by Sherry McCoy with 27 percent and Mark Anthony Jones with 26 percent.

In the race to replace Ward, the current mayor, William Wilkins collected 52 percent of the vote against 46 percent for Virgil de la Vega.

The only candidate to replace Kuehne was Gérard Boulanger, who admitted just days ago that he padded his résumé with nonexistent university degrees and membership on a city council in his native France, after a Kuehne campaign mailer and website accused Boulanger of hiding details of his background. Boulanger said he would wait for the results of the election before deciding on his future.

Read more...

Submitted by Jim Alex

Ex-S.F. prep (and Pacifica Islander) football star dies after shooting

Justin Berton,Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writers

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

A former San Francisco prep football star who held numerous public-school rushing records in the city has died after being shot in the Bayview District, authorities said Tuesday.

David Henderson, 21, was removed from life support Monday night at San Francisco General Hospital, where he had been treated since being paralyzed from the neck down in the May 26 shooting on the 1400 block of Kirkwood Avenue, friends said.

No arrests have been made, and police said they do not have a description of the killer.

Henderson was a standout football player at Lincoln High School, where he graduated in 2008. He holds San Francisco public school records for career and single-season yards, yards rushing in a single game, career touchdowns and single-season touchdowns, and was The Chronicle's Metro Player of the Year in 2007.

Henderson struggled academically, however, and had difficulty escaping the environment in which he grew up, said friends and former coaches. Recently he had been playing for a semi-pro team in Pacifica."People on the streets were always trying to pull and tug at him, and it was always a struggle as to which side was going to win out," said George Rush, who coached Henderson for two seasons at City College of San Francisco. "David had burdens to carry. He was not a perfect person, nor are any of us. But he was a perfect athlete."

Henderson grew up near Candlestick Park and showed a passion for sports early on. In addition to football, he starred in the 100-meter dash in track at Lincoln and made the California state finals his senior year.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/07/BARB1JQOK1.DTL#ixzz1OepMKVJ2

Posted by Steve Sinai

Planning Commission tonight, 6/6/11

The Planning Commission will consider a request to approve a Master Sign Program for business storefronts at Pedro Point Shopping Center, (5400-5500 Coast Highway).  The requested wall signage exceeds the maximum CEQA signage allowed, but is consistent with the City's adopted design guidelines. This request is a continuation from the May 2, 2011 Planning Commission meeting, and a project reduction in the original signage size ratio. The planning Department recommendation is to approve. For details, view the full Planning Commission Agenda, pages 1-5.  

With no other public hearings on the Agenda, this should be a short meeting.  
 
Posted by Kathy Meeh

Temperature rising - "A Warming Planet Struggles to feed itself"

A 5 page view of climate change, its affect on food production, current science solutions, the price, and a future projection.

From the New York Times, 6/4/11."The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimated the number of hungry people at 925 million last year, and the number is expected to be higher when a fresh estimate is completed this year. The World Bank says the figure could be as high as 940 million.  ......

Dr. Borlaug’s latest successor at the corn and wheat institute, Hans-Joachim Braun, recently outlined the challenges facing the world’s farmers. On top of the weather disasters, he said, booming cities are chewing up agricultural land and competing with farmers for water. In some of the world’s breadbaskets, farmers have achieved high output only by pumping groundwater much faster than nature can replenish it.  'This is in no way sustainable,' Dr. Braun said."

You guessed-it, the above picture is California from a separate article, Really Natural, 2/10/09.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Closing of 70 California parks twist

16 "cannot do", leaves 54 parks to close. 
 
From Silicone Valley Mercury News, 5/28/11.  "In the latest setback to Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to close one-quarter of California's state park system to save money, 16 of the parks he is proposing to shutter cannot legally be closed, federal officials said Friday, because they have received federal money that requires parks to remain open.  "This funding is a grant to the state, like a contract," said Jon Jarvis, director of the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. "It is linked directly to the deed of these lands. It says the state makes a commitment to provide these places for public use in perpetuity. To not do that is essentially a breach of that contract." The affected parks include Castle Rock State Park in Santa Clara County, Twin Lakes State Beach in Santa Cruz, Portola Redwoods in San Mateo County, Candlestick Point near San Francisco, Limekiln in Big Sur and Salton Sea State Recreation Area in Southern California.

"It's a challenge. It's a legitimate issue we have to work through," California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman said Friday. Problems with the state's plan surfaced last week, when the head of the California Coastal Commission said that even though 11 state beaches are on the closure list, state park rangers cannot legally block anyone from the shoreline. The latest stumbling block centers around a federal program known as the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, the fund collects royalties from offshore oil drilling and uses the money to buy land for national parks, forests and wildlife refuges. The leading source of parks funding in the United States, the fund also issues grants to state and local parks to pay for everything from land acquisition to building new trails, visitor centers and restrooms."....  Read More. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Mateo County still feeling pinch from Lehman Brothers collapse

By: Katie Worth 06/04/11 8:00 AM
Examiner Staff Writer

In retrospect, losing $155 million of public funds in a single day was like a bad hit to the immune system. Alone, it wasn’t enough to kill the patient, but it sure didn’t help when the patient caught a bad flu right afterward.

Nearly three years after San Mateo County took the biggest hit from the collapse of Lehman Brothers of any municipality in the nation, financial leaders on the Peninsula say the loss is still being felt, especially in the county’s school districts.

Such is the legacy of the San Mateo County Investment Pool’s massive loss in the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy. The failure of the massive financial services firm in September 2008 wiped away 7 percent of the pool’s fund overnight — money that school districts, public transit agencies and county departments had placed in the care of the county treasurer.

Some of the lost money had been targeted toward specific programs or building projects, but much of it was simply reserve money set aside for a rainy day — which unfortunately went missing just at the start of a long, long downpour.

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/peninsula/2011/06/san-mateo-county-still-feeling-pinch-lehman-brothers-bankruptcy#ixzz1OOGImeLc

Posted by Steve Sinai

Petty crime in Pacifica may not all be our "homies"

In 2009, 1500 inmates were released in CA. May, 2010 more inmates were released.  I'm just saying.....  

Sacramento Bee, 5/25/11.  State corrections officials incorrectly allowed 1,500 inmates to be placed on unsupervised parole last year, including 450 who should have been classified as having a "high risk for violence," a new audit of the state's parole programs has found. A repo

rt released this morning by the state inspector general's office found that prison officials trying to implement a 2009 program to place inmates on non-revocable parole incorrectly classified many of them initially, allowing hundreds to be returned to their communities with no supervision at all. Corrections officials disputed the findings of the 34-page report, which does not indicate whether any of the parolees who were improperly classified went on to commit new crimes.The report concedes that errors in classifying parolees have since been corrected. It also notes that the non-revocable parole program will be phased out as a result of Gov. Jerry Brown's plans to turn over supervision of tens of thousands of non-violent, non-serious inmates to counties if the funding is approved. But it raises questions about how the parole program initially was handled by corrections officials.

The non-revocable parole program was hatched with the passage of legislation in 2009 designed to take low-level offenders out of the prison system. Thousands of these offenders go in and out of prison on a regular basis for minor parole violations, causing overcrowded conditions and placing a strain on the prison system.  The logic was that offenders whose record shows they pose little threat to society could be kept out of prison by placing them on non-revocable parole upon release. That meant they were returned to their communities with no parole supervision, no requirements to report to parole agents and no oversight at all. To be returned to prison, they would have to commit a new felony.  By last December, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation had 14,859 offenders on non-revocable parole, the report found.

But there were mistakes in the early stages of the program.  Corrections officials installed a computer program to assess an inmate's likelihood of reoffending and in March 2010 reported that refinements to its computer program had determined more than 600 inmates had been placed on non-revocable parole who should not have been.  Eventually, about 400 of those were reclassified and required to be on supervised parole, meaning they had to report into parole agents regularly and could not violate conditions of their release without the threat of being returned to prison.  In May 2010, the department found it had placed 77 more offenders on unsupervised release incorrectly.

The corrections department estimates that nearly half of parolees who are supervised end up being returned to prison for various violations.  "It is therefore probable that some of the discharged parolees inappropriately placed on non-revocable parole would have violated their parole conditions and returned to prison, had they been on supervised parole," the report concludes.  Lee Seale, deputy chief of staff to corrections Secretary Matthew Cate, responded to the report with a three-page letter refuting many of the inspector general's findings and noting that it is "unfortunate" the report focused on a program "that it notes is slated to disappear" and on "alleged 'errors'" that have since been corrected.

"As such, these 'flaws' no longer exist today but unfortunately remain the object of the report's focus," Seale wrote.  The report comes on the heels of Monday's opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that found California's prison system to be dangerously overcrowded and requires its prison population of more than 143,000 to be reduced by 33,000 inmates in the next two years. The official capacity of the state's 33 adult prisons is 80,000 inmates. 

Corrections officials say most of the reductions required by the court can be handled through the realignment plan of shifting low-level offenders into county jails.  But that plan cannot take effect until the governor's budget proposal is approved.  The report is available here: http://bit.ly/mfZWhz

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Big Wave Development

Environmental NIMBY trouble in Montara on a county approved project, Scott Holmes project manager.

 "....The Big Wave project would be built on two parcels near the Pillar Ridge mobile home park, just south of Moss Beach and north of Princeton by the Sea, a struggling industrial area of marine oriented businesses along the waterfront and harbor. The land, within the Denniston Creek drainage area, was once wetlands, but it has been used for farming for decades. The plan is to build a 57-unit 'wellness center' for disabled adults on the southernmost 5 acres. Scott Holmes, the project engineer, said the center, which would include a common dining area, recreational facilities, swimming pool and basketball courts, would be solar powered and cooled using geothermal techniques. He said recycled water would be used to flush toilets, irrigate wetlands and water the 1-acre residential garden, which could eventually be expanded to 10 acres, allowing residents to sell produce at farmers' markets.

The northern 15-acre parcel would be broken into eight lots that would be sold for high-end retail and office space. Each building could be up to 26,000 square feet. The average Safeway is about 20,000 square feet.

The commercial buildings would at least be partially powered with solar, Holmes said. In all, 44 percent of the property would be used for wetlands restoration. 'It's probably the greenest project ever proposed in California,' Holmes said. 'Very few projects get to restore an actual wetlands habitat. We get to do that. Very few projects have a totally sustainable water system. We will have that. Very few projects heat and power the buildings with solar and geothermal cooling. We will do that.' ...."   Full article San Francisco Chronicle, 6/1/11.

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Where's Cecilia?

I sent Cecilia an email today and got this reply, "This email address is no longer in service. Michelle Kenyon is the interim City Attorney. You can reach her at mkenyon@bwslaw.com"

Any further news about this?

Todd Bray

Therese Dyer on San Mateo County Grand Jury

Hello everyone,

I've just come away from giving my welcoming speech to the new 2011-2012 San Mateo County Grand Jury at Government Center in Redwood City  and I am pleased to announce that one of the finalist names drawn this afternoon was that of Pacifican Ms. Therese Dyer. So at this point Therese is probably just ariving back in town and ready to celebrate.

If you see her, congratulate her. She is about to enter a most rewarding and intriguing year in her life. But knowing Therese as we do, I'm sure that all of you are aware that Ms. Dyer is certainly up to the challenge of looking into things to see if there's any wrongdoing that needs to be brought to light and corrected.

Once again, congratulations to Therese!

We also have another Pacifican, Mr. Camillus Chan who, although not selected today as a Grand Juror in the first group, will be a Grand Juror "in waiting", as an alternate. And knowing how the Grand Jury has a tendency to promote their alternates to Grand Juror status rather quickly, when folks find out just how demanding this job really can be, it will probably be very shortly when Camillus Chan will also be a full fledged Grand Juror, as Therese is now.

So out of the 20 cities in San Mateo County, Pacifica has 1 GJ and 1 alternate on the 2011-2012 Grand Jury.

BARBARA ARIETTA

President - San Mateo County Grand Juror's Association

Member  - California Grand Juror's Association

Former San Mateo County Civil Grand Juror (2008-2009)

Taste of Pacifica - Saturday, June 4th, Noon to 3pm

1x event, your invitation to be there

"The Pacifica Chamber of Commerce hosts its Annual Taste of Pacifica Event on Saturday, June 4. Open to the public, the event highlights the best of Pacifica’s culinary scene. More than 14 local restaurants will be showcased, each providing a sampling of their culinary cuisine.  Guests will receive a souvenir wine glass to enjoy wine samplings while mingling with friends, family and fellow Chamber members."  San Francisco Chronicle  read more
    
This event is expected to sell-out.  Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door.
Location:  Nick's seashore restaurant, 100 Rockaway beach Boulevard, Pacifica, CA

Advance tickets may be purchased at the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce office, hours 9am to 5 pm through Friday, 225 Rockaway Beach Avenue, #1, phone:  650-355-4122.

Or, contact a friendly Chamber of Commerce Board Member, here's one:  Jim Wagner, phone (650) 738-4900.
 
Information submitted by Jim Wagner

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Sanchez Art Center Sub-lease

 
Every city should have arts and cultural programs, the arts add an additional view and reference, and may bridge our effort to become more civilized.  But, will an art center making much of a profit?  Maybe in some larger cities, not expected in Pacifica.

The Art Guild of Pacifica lease extension with the City of Pacifica, 10 years (1/1/11 through 12/31/20).
1.  Lease terms:  City Council meeting 3/9/09, Art Guild LEASE, Item 4, print pages 11-18.  Approval:  City Council meeting 12/14/09, Art Guild, Item 12, (print pages 37-38). 
2.  Apparently no significant changes in the lease occurred from 3/9/09 until 12/14/09 because no revision was presented to the public.
3.  The sub-lease applies to management of Sanchez Art Center (artist studios) only, and not to Pacifica Performances" (The Mildred Owen Concert Hall), which is a separate sub-lease.

Questions about the Art Guild of Pacifica lease transaction.
1.  The city has a policy of sub-leasing to non-profit organizations, whereas the Art Guild of Pacifica is an association, a Club, is this an exception, if so why?
2.  Note:  Both Sanchez Art Center (artist studios) and Pacifica Performances (The Mildred Owen Concert Hall) are non-profit 501(c)3 corporations.
3.  Note:  If the Art Guild of Pacifica is merely a pass-through organization, no third party beneficiaries or brokers are named, (lease. section 8).
4.  Is the Art Guild significantly capitalized, and how does it provide business and liability transactions? 
5.  Is the real leasing organization Sanchez Art Center (artist studios), and if so why was the lease extended without clear disclosure?

The confusion at Sanchez Art Center never goes away. 
1. The Sanchez Art Center includes both performing and fine arts and is located at 1220 Linda Mar Boulevard, unless the site has been renamed-- has it?
2. "Sanchez Art Center" (the tenant studio non-profit organization) is NOT the same as Sanchez Art Center, and is separate from the Art Guild of Pacifica, the accountable sub-leasee.
3  Note: CA non-profit organizations disclosure  indicates "Sanchez Art Center" (tenant studio organization)  income and revenue is $153,834 (fiscal tax year 2008/09), asset amount $31,787; foundation code: "1/3 support from investment and unrelated business income, and 1/3 from fees."
4.  Note: According to their "Dirty Palette" news letter, edition March, 2011,  the Art Guild of Pacifica (unincorporated organization) is currently applying for non-profit 501(c)3 status, and their mission does not specify artist studio management.  Do they even collect studio tenant fees, cover site expenses, and pay the monthly bill to the City? As a sub-leasee they are accountable to do that.

The City glossed-over report and approval, City Council meeting 12/14/09 , item 12 (link above).
1,  Art Guild of Pacifica reasons to renew its 10 year lease 1 year or more in advance: "Schedule exhibits, obtain future grants, plan long range improvements" (letter 3/08) . Some of these issues (grants in particular) seem less likely for an unincorporated organization (Club).  
2.  Renovation information (1997-2001).   Clarification:  much of the Sanchez Art Center renovation funding was from grants, citizen donations and citizen labor.
3. City tax and revenue gain or loss is not significant.  Tax gain (DeJarnatt 1% calculation), less than $100 annually. Financial benefit to city vendors, less than $10,000.
4. Expense impact to the City, + or - is not significant.  Example, annual rent collection $17,880 (2009) vs. "site utilities" $16,696, variation $1,184 (2008/09). Utilities provided (gas, electric, water, sewer) are not defined specific to the studio site, nor is there a 10 year expense projection, or other ground/parking lot maintenance or other considerations noted. 

Studio tenant rent assumption
1.The  Art Guild of Pacifica (sub-leasee) tax return information is not available, but "Sanchez Art Center" (SAC) studio tenants is. SAC non-profit information indicates 1/3 of their income is from fees, part of what is claimed as $153,834 (2008/09) income is likely their own studio fees.   
2. New studio rental fees are disclosed at  Sanchez Art Studio Information, the range is approximately  $480 for a small shared studio, to an estimated $675 for a large studio with a sink (4 tenants). Older contracts would be lower cost. 
3. Note:  The Art Guild of Pacifica (sub-lease) stipulates an annual flat fee will be paid to the city on a monthly basis. The "base rent" from 2011 is $1,568 (item 3.1). Each year from January 1st, the rent shall be adjusted upward 2.5% (Item 3.2). :
4.  There should be about 20 studios.  Average occupancy, whether all studios are filled or functional, average tenant rent cost are all unknown assumptions. The "base rent" for 2011 in the amount of $1,568 is known. Although not defined in the lease, the type of lease (modified net), management provided by the artist center, the arrangement with the City is to some extent known.  Among other revenue producers, the art center may gain a higher percentage of revenue by filling studio vacancies, and raising prices as needed.

High gross rent assumption (an approximate guess) based revenue paid to the city, trial 1
Studios:  20 studios x 2 average shared occupants  = 40 tenant units.
Tenant rental fees: $200 average tenant cost, x 40 tenants = $8,000 art center monthly income.
Rent fees paid to the City: $1,568 monthly (19.60%)
Retained by the artist center to provide management and maintenance:  $6,432 (80.40%)

Low gross rent assumption (an approximate guess) based revenue paid to the city, trial 2
Studios: 19 studios x 1.75 average share occupants = 33.25 tenant units.
Tenant rental fees: $180 average tenant cost x 33.25 tenants = $5,985 art center monthly income.
Rent fees paid to the City:  $1,568 monthly (26.20%)
Retained by the artist center to provide management and maintenance:  $4,417 (73.80%)

Disclaimer.  Social issues and fair process within the artist center have not been considered. Posted information is based upon documents viewed, presented, and reasonable assumption from these.

Posted by Kathy Meeh