San Mateo Fair June 9 through June 17

Pacifica has a writing arts presence at the Fair (see Related below).

"This year's theme is "Where Tradition Meets Innovation," which organizers explain on the website as this: "The San Mateo County Fair is excited to use what was great in the past to bring out the best for the future. By keeping the foundation of what the Fair's values were built on, we continually change and grow to make it even better than before, especially with unique, modern ideas to add to the plate."  Burlingame Patch/Jennifer van der Kleut, 6/7/12, San Mateo County Fair kicks off this weekend."   Read Article.

San Mateo County Fair, photo by Miriam Finder

"Thousands of people came out under sunny blue skies for opening day of the San Mateo County Fair. The 78th annual San Mateo County Fair will offer a little bit of everything, from traditional features like livestock judging and carnival rides to newer attractions, including technology exhibits and Make It In America, a showcase of companies that make their products in the United States. The fair runs through Sunday, June 17. "  San Mateo County Times, 6/9/12."Slideshow:  78th annual San Mateo County Fair kicks off."  View photo slideshow.

"Carnival games, rides, entertainment, food, exhibits and more crowd the fairgrounds at 1346 Saratoga Drive in San Mateo."Photos: San Mateo County Fair"  Palo Alto Patch/Miriam Finder, 6/10/12. View photos by Miriam Finder.  

San Mateo County Fair videos:  Behind the Scenes Final Transition, 2:35 minutes, and  the farm animal section  prior Fair (6/15/10) 2:44 minutes. WARNING, these videos include a background of really loud music, so plan to reduce volume

Related -  Pacifica Tribune/Jean Bartlett, 5/29/12.  "Pacifica writers featured at San Mateo County Fair."  "Author, poet, playwright and Pacifican David Hirzel is the Chair of this year's CWC stage. .... Hirzel said giving writers nine days to present their art is exciting. "The Galleria stage is in its own little world in the fine arts department of the fair," Hirzel said. "And all kinds of people pass through. It is our job to hook them and bring them in. And hey, it's a stage!" 

General Sam Mateo Fair information,  (also from the Pacifica Tribune/Jean Bartlett above).  San Mateo County Fair, June 9-17, at the San Mateo County Event Center, 2495 S. Delaware St., San Mateo. Hours: Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesday, June 12, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. All other days are noon to 10 p.m. General fair information at https://sanmateocountyfair.com/. California Writers Club Literary Stage events at https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/contests/departments/literary-arts/175.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Francisco - landfill includes old tombstones

Once you're gone (dead) maybe your family (or you) won't be visiting your own gravesite after all. 

"Tombstones that were used years ago to shore up the seawall at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach are once again visible.  .... The Tombstones and thousands like it were used throughout the city for various purposes, including landfill.

Tombstone headed for landfill next century

The National Park Service, which manages Ocean Beach, says it does not plan to remove the gravestones."  San Mateo Daily Journal/Associated Press, 6/9/12.  "Tombstones uncovered at S.F. beach." Read more.   (same small Associated Press article in San Francisco Chronicle, 6/8/12)

"One nearly intact marble headstone uncovered this week belonged to Delia Presby Oliver, a member of a prominent family who died April 9, 1890, at age 26.
Headstones also emerged from the shifting sands in 1977, startling beachcombers."  USA News Today/Michael Winter, 6/8/12. "Winds unbury old gravestones shoring up SF beach seawall."   Read Article.

KTVU, channel 2, video, 3:49 minutes  "Tombstones on Ocean Beach: A rare find along San Francisco's western edge."  "The past few weeks of May and June, beachcombers have been finding tombstones from the 1800's that were put on the beach to protect against erosion in the 1940's."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Learn from the affects of our city political history

"Our environment is our economy", yes but that's a city council promoted 10 year mistake.

Celebrating 10 years of anti-growth in Pacifica

Understanding our own city political history is important.  Dismissing the crippling affect of anti-growth  policies supplemented by extreme citizen volunteerism is proven economic folly for this city.  Want something better?  Fall 2012 vote only for pro-growth city council candidates, and support those who would bring-in an improved city economy. 

Quotes to think about in advance of the Fall city council election from Eduflack, Improving Education through effective communications.  Eduflack is written by Patrick Riccards, one of the nation's leading education communications strategists.

 "We've all heard George Santayana's famous quote (often attributed to others), that "those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it."  It is a poignant statement on the importance of understanding what has happened in the past, so we can learn and grow from it.

Personally, Eduflack prefers the words of baseball philosopher king Yogi Berra, who eloquently said that if we don't know where we are going, we will never know if we get there."  

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Japanese debris may be coming to a west coast city near you

Japanese dock in Agate Beach Oregon*

A nearly-70ft dock torn from a fishing port in northern Japan during the tsunami drifted thousands of miles across the Pacific Ocean and floated ashore on an Oregon beach. A commemorative plaque on the dock showed it was one of four owned by Aomori Prefecture (state) that broke loose from the port of Misawa on the northern tip of the main island, Deputy Consul Hirofumi Murabayashi said from Portland.

"We were able to confirm from Aomori Prefecture that they don't wish to have it returned," he said. "About the other three, of course, we have no idea where they are floating, or if they are sunk somewhere." The dock was first spotted floating offshore on Monday and mistaken by several people for a barge, said Chris Havel of the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation. It washed ashore early on Tuesday on Agate Beach, a mile north of Newport on the central Oregon Coast. Belfast Telegraph, 6/7/12.  "Tsunami debris dock on US beach."   Read Article.

Montague Island near Seward, Alaska^

 "More than a year after a tsunami devastated Japan, killing thousands of people and washing millions of tons of debris into the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. government and West Coast states don't have a cohesive plan for cleaning up the rubble that floats to American shores.  ....  The Japanese government estimates that 1.5 million tons of debris is floating in the ocean from the catastrophe. Some experts in the United States think the bulk of that trash will never reach shore, while others fear a massive, slowly-unfolding environmental disaster.

....  NOAA projects the debris having spread over an area roughly three times the size of the contiguous United States, but can't pinpoint when or how much might eventually reach the coasts of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii."   News observer.com/Juneau, Alaska/Becky Bohrer  and Audrey McAvoy, Associated Press, 6/8/12.  "US braces for tsunami debris, but impact unclear."   Read Article.


Note:  Associated Press photographs: * The Oregonian by Thomas Boyd;  ^ News Observer by Chris Pallister.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Half Moon Bay - discovery, city subsidizing parcel owner sewer fees

In Pacifica just the opposite was true until the "Bighorn decision" (July 24, 2006).  Rather than the city subsidizing the waste water treatment plant (sewage system), the city compromised the waste water treatment plant infrastructure by subsidizing the city General Fund from these parcel owner monies.  Legal under a rented land clause?  Yes it was until 7/24/06.  Ethical?  In my opinion, no.  

Good sewer fees until 2009

Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Noack, 6/8/12.  "Utility hikes coming to HMB households."

Water board members are scheduled, Tuesday, to approve a 12 percent rate increase for the district's 6,400 customers. That hike follows a 9 percent increase in sewer fees signed off by the Half Moon Bay City Council earlier this week.

CCWD managers say the recent round of rate hikes comes as the result of district capital projects, particularly a $7 million upgrade at the Denniston Treatment Plant. The proposed increase would raise about $750,000. The water district has steadily increased rates for each of the last 10 years.

Offering a different explanation, city officials say sewer rates must go up because they have stayed artificially low for years. Up until 2009, the city was reportedly subsidizing the cost of running its sewer system by withdrawing about $1.9 million from its reserve fund.  Read Article.

Pacifica related - Public Law News, BLAWG, 7/24/06. "California Supreme Court issues long-awaited Bighorn Decision."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Marketing our passing through environment

Pacifica Tribune, Letters-to-the-Editor, 6/6/12.  "Marketing Pacifica" by Bill Moore

RV Resort 15 minutes from civilization

Fish and feed the feral cats

If you have lived in Pacifica for any length of time, it becomes impossible not to be an environmentalist. I have lived here for over 38 years and am still in awe of the view coming down the Highway 1 hill from San Francisco; I have to be careful when I turn onto my court least I hit one of the deer parading down the street and as I sit on my deck overlooking Linda Mar Valley I move once in a while so the Turkey Vultures circling overhead don't think I am easy prey.

With that said, Elaine Larsen's editorial in Wednesday's May 23 Tribune was astute, well written and absolutely correct. I love this city and its environment but not once did I think like Councilwoman Sue Digre, "Our environment is our economy." This City has been an environmental oasis for longer than I have been here and how has that done for us financially so far? We are going broke and there is no foreseeable relief.

Great tourist stop, find by map

If the recession we are going through didn't teach us that there are no absolutes, nothing will. Ms. Digre wants to lay blame on the premise that we have not marketed ourselves properly. Having been in charge of sales and marketing for three corporations and having a much bigger budget than Pacifica I am curious on how she wants to market Pacifica.

She would first have to know what we should market. Is it our beaches? They are good for surfing not for swimming and dangerous for children. Is it our hiking trails? Good for hikers but not everybody hikes and children get bored. In my opinion we are not a destination city. We are a sleeping community and a pass-through city. People pass through going somewhere else. That makes it extremely difficult to market, so we have to have council people that can live and govern within those parameters. That in my opinion has not and is not happening.   

#1 Taco Bell location

In running businesses I have learned you have to know what your costs are going to be, have enough revenues to cover the costs and additional revenue to make a profit. To do that you have to pay salaries and negotiate contracts on what you can afford, and we have not done that. Instead we show comparisons to what other cities pay. In the Feb. 8 Pacifica Tribune, Ms. Ritzma, our financial director, supplied comparable salaries from other cities for each administrative position in Pacifica. That's like asking if the Captain of the Titanic was making as much as the other ship captains.

Paragliding from Mussel Rock

Comparisons do not matter. In any business you pay what you can afford based on the amount of money being brought into the business. In this city, comparisons are used to justify the pay and benefit increases the administrators have awarded themselves. This was done with decreases in revenue. Since we cannot afford it, and revenue is down, management salaries and benefits have to be cut and contracts renegotiated.

Santa Cruz next

Here we are looking at the 2013 budget and still have to do the same things; cut people and programs and raise fees and taxes. We have already given away our Fire Dept. and now we are doing research for a ridiculous idea on how to outsource our Police Dept., and bring in the San Mateo Sheriff Dept., to patrol our city. Our Pacifica Police Department is doing an excellent job and is responsible to us in Pacifica. The Sheriff is responsible to San Mateo County.

We should be researching the possibility of outsourcing administration. We outsourced our attorney and we have been told we are saving money. Finding a company with financial experience and lawyers to negotiate contracts shouldn't be difficult to do. At a minimum that would eliminate the City's very high health and pension contributions to the administrators whose job was outsourced.

This council has to start making themselves accountable and do the job they were elected to do. If they cannot do that job, or fail at that job, they should quit or, as is happening now, face recall.

Reference posted on Fix Pacifica - Elaine Larsen, Editorial, 5/23/12.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Half Moon Bay - Budget balanced through deferred maintenance

Taking a page from the book of "What would Pacifica do".

Looks fine to me!

Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Noack, 6/7/12.  "HMB bottoms out, looks to grow with new budget."

"A sign the local economy could be swinging back, Half Moon Bay leaders on Tuesday approved the first budget in years requiring no cuts and that would instead add new employees to the city’s ranks.

The good news did contain a few caveats. The city is lacking money to pay for future projects like street repairs and sewer maintenance that are part of its five-year capital improvement plan. The city would need to find about $1 million in additional funds just to meet its infrastructure goals for next year.

City officials plan to draft a half-cent sales tax measure later this year to try and increase revenues."  Read Article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Pension reform one city at a time - San Jose and San Diego

Pension proposition reform results of the June 5, 2012 election.  Lawsuits will follow.

City, County, State 30 year problem, fix it!

Enjoying our older age

Los Angeles Times/Catherine Saillant and Tony Perry 6/7/12."Pension reform advocates emboldened by wins in San Jose, San Diego."

"Landslide victories on ballot measures to cut pension costs in two major California cities emboldened reform advocates, who said they expect a flurry of copycat initiatives and increased support for Gov. Jerry Brown's long-stalled push to curb the state's obligations to its employees.

England, so?

In San Jose, nearly 70% of voters Tuesday approved a plan that gives workers the choice between increasing their pension contribution to 13% of their pay, currently 5% to 11%, or switching to a lower-cost plan with reduced benefits. It also steeply cuts benefits for new hires and tightens rules for disability retirements.

In San Diego, where pension cuts already have been implemented, voters opted to eliminate pensions for new workers. By a 66% to 34% margin, voters Tuesday endorsed Proposition B, which provides newly hired city employees with a 401(k) program, but preserves traditional pensions for new police officers. Read Article.

Related  -  Orange County Register, OC Watchdog, 6/4/12, "Pension reform:  Dead until 3014 if Legislature doesn't act now?"  Graphic source information from State Controller John Chiang.

Submitted by Robert "Bob" Hutchinson

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Mateo County - promised aftermath of not passing Measures U and X

No TEA as in Party intended.

Remember unincorporated San Mateo county June 5, 2012 ballot Measures U and X?   These ballot measures failed.  Measure U would have increased the hotel tax from 10% to 12%. Measure X would have added a new 8% parking facility tax?  Did the 12% hotel tax increase from 10% improve revenue in Pacifica? 

KQED News/Caitlin Esch, 6/6/12.  "San Mateo officials say budget cuts likely after voters rejected tax measures."

"San Mateo County officials say they’re facing a new round of budget cuts after the apparent failure of several tax measures. KQED’s Caitlin Esch says the cuts will likely hit the county's employees and its poor population the hardest.

Tax the rich, that works for me!

CAITLIN ESCH: Three measures would have generated about $13 million dollars by taxing hotels, rental cars and parking lots in unincorporated areas, including San Francisco International Airport.
The hotel occupancy tax, Measure T,  is still too close to call. (As of June 7 at 7 AM, it was passing with a 62-vote margin.) Dave Pine, a member of the county board of Supervisors, is holding out hope it will pass.

DAVE PINE: T is the most important of the three measures; it would generate about $7.5 million a year. So the cuts would be much more modest if we can eke out a win on T.

ESCH: The county is already laying off about 230 employees. Pine says additional cuts will chip away at the social safety net for the county’s most vulnerable residents." 

Submitted by Robert "Bob" Hutchinson

Posted by Kathy Meeh  - Some of you have been commenting about how you'd like to get rid of the Ron Paul poster signs, so you know, I couldn't resist. 

Fullerton - citizens recall three (3) city council members

  
Fullerton city council members recalled:  Bankhead, McKinley, and Jones, MD.  Final reason for recall:  the handling of a fatal police beating of a mentally ill (schizophrenic), homeless man. 

Richard Jones, MD - recalled

Don Bankhead - recalled

Pat McKinley - recalled

KTLA Los Angeles, 6/6/12. "Voters recall 3 Fullerton city council members." "-- Three Fullerton City Council members saw their political careers end Tuesday night when voters recalled them in the wake of the police beating death last year of homeless man Kelly Thomas. ....  "They failed to lead, they didn't investigate (Kelly's death), they didn't care. They truly didn't care," said Ron Thomas, Kelly's father. "That's why they're gone tonight." Read article, embedded video, 4 minutes.

Orange County Register, 5/22/12, "We voted you in and we're kicking you out" City Council meeting video, 2:18 minutes. 

Related -  KPCC Southern CA Public Radio, 6/6/12. "Recall candidates were annoyed over a city water tax and pensions for municipal employees. But it was the death of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas that spurred the recall movement forward. ...  In the days immediately after Thomas' death, Bankhead, Jones and McKinley (city council members) held back criticism of the Fullerton police and the department's chief, saying they didn't want to compromise the investigation into the incident. Soon after, the recall began.  ...Officer Manuel Ramos is on trial for second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Corporal Jay Ciccinelli is charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force." The videos suggest that the citizen protest prompted further investigation, and that citizens knew that "something terribly wrong happened in Fullerton."    

Related - LA Times, 6/7/12. "Successful Fullerton city council recall paves way for change." "Each was voted out by an almost identical majority of nearly 66%.."

City Reference -  City of Fullerton.

Submitted by Jim Alex 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City council meeting, Monday June 11, 2012

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local channel 26, also live internet feed, pct26.com.  The meeting begins at 7pm, or shortly there following.  City Council updates on City website.

City Council Agenda, 6/11/12, 130 pages,  and  Special Presentation amended only, 6/7/12.

Item 10, Planning Commission Memorandum., 344 pages.

San Pedro Creek, from Wikipedia

A.  Closed session - None.

B.  Open session (7:00 pm)

Consent Calendar (pass through)
1.    Approval of cash disbursements.

2.    Approval of Minutes (meeting of 5/29/12).

3.    Continuation of  Local Emergency.
4.    Pacifica Fishing Pier Improvements consultant services agreement approval, $34,000 General Capital Improvement Fund 22, reimbursed by the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB).
5.    Purchase a new electrical motor  pump for Sharp Park Wastewater Pump Station,  not to exceed $37,867.
6.   Authorize a purchase order for the new electrical motor pump station not to exceed $32,464.
7.   San Pedro Creek Bridge Replacement Project, approve contract amendment #8, under the bridge widening, Wilsey Ham consultant services. $399,968 from Highway 1, Fund 12 (to be reimbursed from San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA).
8.    Fiscal year 2012-13 resolution to 1) approve San Mateo County per capita personal income growth appropriation limits to 3.77%, County of San Mateo population growth .98%, and 2) to adopt the appropriations use change limits. 

Special Presentation
1)    Preservation month
2)    Proclamation - In recognition of James M. Vreeland  Amateur Radio Week Proclamation (Amended Agenda 6/7/12.) 
Public Hearing
9.    Adopt Fiscal Year 2012-13 General Fund Operating and Capital Projects and Enterprise Funds Budgets, total amount of $51,532,990.

10.  Two appeals on behalf of the San Pedro Creek Watershed Coalition, and Neighbors Concerned challenging CEQA findings for the proposed Assisted Living Center. Appeal 1) Final EIR, 2) use and sign permit 3) General Plan (same as Planning Commission Memorandum above). 
Consideration - None

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Mateo Election results, June 5, 2012

Presidential Primary Election results, June 5, 2012 from Shape the Future Race Tracker.

Note:  The following are San Mateo County results only, 6/5/12.  Race Tracker update 6/11/12, results are semi-official.

US  President of the United States (DEM).  Barack Obama 100%

US  President of the United States (REP).  Mitt Romney 77.87%, Ron Paul 12.60%.

US  Senator.  Dianne Feinstein 71.55%; Elizabeth Emken 6.57%

US  14th Congressional District. Jackie Speier 74.03%; Deborah (Debbie) Baciglupi 22.10%

CA  13th State Senate District.  Jerry Hill 58.22%; Sally J. Lieber 18.02%.

CA  22nd Assembly District.  Kevin Mullin  68.21%;  Mark Gilham 31.79%.

SM  Board of Supervisors, 1st District.  David Pine 100%.

SM  Board of Supervisors, 4th District. Warren Slocum 39.4%; Shelly Masure 21.14%.

SM  Board of Supervisors, 5th District.   Adrienne J. Tissier 100%.

CA  Proposition 28, legislative term limits from 14 years to 12 years but in one house. Yes 67.71%, passed.

CA  Proposition 29, cigarettes tax for cancer research.  Yes 63.80%, passed.*
*Note:  FAILED IN THE  STATE.

Local  Measure Y,  Jefferson Union High School District.  Yes 67.22%, passed.

SM  Measure T, unincorporated San Mateo County, 2.5% rental car tax.  Yes 50.04%, passed.   

SM  Measure U, unincorporated San Mateo County,  increased hotel tax from 10% to 12%.  No 53.53%, failed.

SM  Measure X, unincorporated San Mateo County, 8% parking facility tax.  No 53.13% failed

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Transit of Venus across the sun if you missed it prior

Venus solar transit across the sun

So what if its election day, and Venus crossing the sun has little to do with Pacifica, other than without Venus and the Sun there would be no Pacifica.  

"Venus makes its final trek across the face of the sun for the last time until year 2117."  

The CNN webcast is past, but in conjunction with NASA, CNN  posted a video:  NASA 6/6/12, 1.21 minutes. 

Related - Daily Mail Online/Science and Tech/Glenys Roberts, UK, 6/4/12. "Tracking the path:  The transits take place in pairs, with an eight year gap, followed by a wait of 105 years." That's 2117. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Father and son look/act alike photo contest ends June 15, 2012

View some father/son look/act alike photos.  Or if your son or dad looks/acts like you, you may want to enter the photo contest. This is for the fun of the contest leading up to Father's Day, Sunday June 17, 2012.  If you don't win, don't worry, its not like Pacifica will lose one year of free tourist publicity and $100,000.

Older, we look more alike

We always pose like this

San Francisco Chronicle blog from "The Mommie Files", Inspiration: The Daddy Book by Todd Parr .  "Photo contest:  Like father, like son."

"The older a man gets the more he looks like his father, right? We’re inviting you to submit photos that capture likenesses between fathers and sons.

Not this time, humans only

Please get creative with this. You’re welcome to submit photos showing how you look exactly like your dad or your son, but we’re also looking for images that depict likenesses beyond appearance.

Maybe you and your father are great at barbecuing and so a photo of the two of you at the Weber might be appropriate. Or maybe you’re both surfers and so you might enter a photo of the two of you wearing wetsuits and holding your boards. Think about what quality, talent, or hobby you both share and then find or take a photo to bring that alive.

Please upload photos here by June 15. The winner will be announced on SFGate over Father’s Day weekend. Looking for ideas? Check out the images from the 2010 contest in the slide show above."  View submitted photos. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Bay Area Sports Journalism awards - Horace wins two

Horace Hinshaw, Pacifica Tribune Sports Editor wins two (2) distinguished Bay Area Sports Journalism awards.

All under control

Pacifica Tribune, 5/29/12.  "Tribune sports editor honored."  "Pacifica Tribune sports editor Horace Hinshaw won two awards in the 35th annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards presented recently by the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club.  Hinshaw won first place in the sports game story, for "Giants mascot puts 'seal' on Mavericks" and a third place in the sports story category, for "50 years of Tiger football."  Read Article.

Perfect

 Spectrum Magazine, 5/19/12 (monthly), Redwood City.  ".... The winners were selected from 440 entries from media professionals in the 11 Greater Bay Area counties. Awards honored work done in 2011. Entries were judged by the Press Clubs of Bakersfield, Cleveland, Florida, Milwaukee, New Orleans and San Diego. The Print Photography division was judged by press photographers of the Appeal-Democrat in Marysville, and was coordinated by Paul Sakuma of the Associated Press.

I can catch

....  Sports Game Story - FIRST PLACE, Pacifica Tribune, “Giants mascot puts ‘seal’ on Mavericks,” Horace Hinshaw.  Sports Story - THIRD PLACE, Pacifica Tribune, “50 Years of Tiger Football,” Horace Hinshaw."  Read Article.

Spectrum Magazine Blog.  "Spectrum Magazine wins impressive four Press Awards". "Bay Area print and online journalists, photographers, radio and television personnel and public relations professionals were presented with over 160 awards of excellence in nine divisions and 36 categories at the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club's 35th annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards dinner."  Read more.

 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Oakland - Pension bond funding

The ongoing saga of reforming benefits. retirement and pension formulas one government municipality at a time. 

30+ years of generous pensions

Oakland Tribune/Matthew Artz, 6/4/12.  "Oakland wrestling with broke pension system."

 "The last time Oakland issued bonds to prop up a woefully underfunded pension system for retired police and firefighters, it lost a quarter-billion dollars, according to the city auditor.

On Tuesday, city council members are all but certain to hold their noses and approve issuing up to $250 million in additional bonds to stabilize the pension fund because rejecting it would ravage the city's finances.

Been there...

The only council member publicly opposed to the bond plan is Ignacio De La Fuente, who's frustrated by the city's lack of control over the independently-managed retirement system. The city recently won a tentative ruling against the system, which Johnson said will save it about $3 million a year by forcing the system to lower benefits for retired police officers to mirror concessions agreed to by active police. "I like to learn from my screw-ups," De La Fuente said during a recent city meeting. "There's got to be some recognition that we cannot keep paying (this) at the expense of other services and other employees of the city."   Read Article. 

Related -  Budget.  City of Oakland proposed 2012-13 mid-cycle budget included, 5 pages. "No layoffs, for the first time in more than 4 years...."    City of Oakland  $441 million 2011-13 budget facts, 6 pages.  

Related - City Council.  Oakland is a charter city,  with eight (8) city councilmembers, plus a "strong mayor" (Jean Quan). Charter city of Oakland:  "Section 200. Composition of the Council.  The Council shall consist of eight Councilmembers, nominated and elected as hereinafter provided. The Mayor shall not be a member of the Council, but he shall have a vote on the Council if the councilmembers are evenly divided."  

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Stockton - bank takes back city hall and 3 city parking garages

Stockton, CA will consider filing Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection after June 30th. Two (2) year city owned city hall offices had not been occupied. Three (3) city owned parking garages were repossessed in April.

New city hall was the old Washington Mutual building

"The Stockton City Council announced Wednesday that they will look at bankruptcy contingency plans after Wells Fargo seized the new city hall building. The city paid $35 million to buy the 8-story building, but was not able to move in because of its money problems, and recently stopped making debt payments all together. This is the fourth building that was repossessed by Wells Fargo; the bank seized three city parking garages for the same reason."  ABC News, channel 10/Maneeza Lqbal, 5/31/12.  "New Stockton City Hall building seized by Wells Fargo; city preps bankruptcy contingency plan."  Read Article, includes embedded video, 43 seconds. Note the links on the article are all ads.

"The City of Stockton's decision to default on the bond that led to their new City Hall building to be repossessed is actually part of the city's plan to regain their financial footing.  City spokesperson Connie Cochran says the city defaulted in order to still have money for public safety.  "Unfortunately, this (City Hall) is just one of the underperforming assets the city has and we had to take this step to maintain basic public safety services in our community," said Cochran.Three Stockton parking garages were also repossessed in April."  Fox News 40, Ian McDonald and Sonseeahay Tonsall, 5/30/12. "Bank repossesses Stockton's new city hall.  Read Article, linked to two related articles.
  
Reference -  City of Stockton. . Area Vibes statistics (2009, population 287,578.. . City Data (2010 data). .  Movoto detailed demographics, also view as a graph.

Related - "Investopedia explains Chapter 9". "The purpose Chapter 9 is to negotiate a repayment plan between the municipality and creditors, which can include reducing the outstanding debt or interest rate, extending the term of the loan and refinancing debts."

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh

New Oyster Point Marina ferry terminal, service begins Monday, 6/4/12

What does the following transportation improvement have to do with Pacifica?  Nothing as usual.

One-way fare: adults under age 65, $7: age 5-12, 65+ $3.50. Free parking, bicycles welcome

San Mateo County Times/Joshua Melvin, 6/2/12.  "First new Bay ferry in decades to open Monday."

When the new ferry service between Oakland, Alameda and South San Francisco picks up its first official passengers Monday, it'll be fair to say it's been a long time coming.

...The Monday-to-Friday service will connect workers who live in the East Bay with their jobs at the group of such biotechnology companies in the area as Genentech, and others, like UPS, that have hubs on the Peninsula. Genentech said it's "pleased" the line is coming, giving another means for its people to get to work."  Read article.

More information about ferry services -  Water Transit Organization.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Brentwood has updated their downtown during the past few years

"Other cities can, why can't Pacifica???????" (Jim Alex) 

San Francisco Business Times/Blanca Torres, 5/31/12.  "Brentwood completes $60 million downtown revamp."  

Civic center park structure

"Brentwood has completed a $60.8 million investment in its downtown core." Project improvements include:  $28.2 million city hall, $9.3 million parking garage, $15 million community center, $8.3 million street and landscape, updated 2.7 acre park.  Project is seeking LEED gold certification.

"Much of the city’s intensive growth happened outside its historic center, but the city officials want to bring the focus back to downtown, said Alex Greenwood, head of economic development."   Read Article. 

Related - Brentwood Development.  First  phase 2008 shopping, entertainment area; then from 2009 downtown civic center now completed, click "Brentwood" for more detail.   Development design by  LPA, Inc., named "California's Design Firm of the Year 2012", by Engineering News-Record. Local article  Press Net/Rick Lemyre, 11/16/11,  "C'mon down!"

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Coexistence with coyotes in Golden Gate Park and elsewhere

San Francisco Chronicle/Peter Fimrite, 6/2/12.  "Coyote-human coexistence urged as animals migrate."

Not hungry this time, my territory  

"The revelation, along with photographic proof, that at least three coyote puppies were recently born in Golden Gate Park raises some interesting questions about the future of the park - namely, how much time before roving packs of yipping wild predators drive humans and their decidedly un-wily pets out?  That, at least, is what the alarmists are asking, and the answer, according to the experts, is "never." The presence of coyotes in the city is good for the ecosystem, city officials and wildlife experts said, even if a few feral cats go missing."   Read Article.

Reference - best to learn about Coyote behavior.  National Geographic, "Coyote (Canis latrans).  ... "These adaptable animals will eat almost anything. They hunt rabbits, rodents, fish, frogs, and even deer. They also happily dine on insects, snakes, fruit, grass, and carrion. Because they sometimes kill lambs, calves, or other livestock, as well as pets, many ranchers and farmers regard them as destructive pests. Coyotes are formidable in the field where they enjoy keen vision and a strong sense of smell. They can run up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) an hour. In the fall and winter, they form packs for more effective hunting. Coyotes form strong family groups. In spring, females den and give birth to litters of three to twelve pups. Both parents feed and protect their young and their territory. The pups are able to hunt on their own by the following fall"...

Reference - what to do if I encounter a coyote.  Overland Park, KS.  "City dwellers are not exempt from coyotes, they can be anywhere.  If you do see one, you want to harass or scare the coyote so it fears you and leaves.  You can do this by shouting or yelling at the coyote.  Wave your arms and throw rocks if necessary.  You can make loud noises by clapping your hands, blowing a whistle, knocking two boards together or by using a car horn, air horn or other noise making device."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

California - some cost relief for college students, maybe

Reduced college cost is suppose to happen for the Fall, 2012 college term. Then again, funding from the same California Legislature is a separate issue.  

3 units or pork chops?

San Francisco Chronicle/Wyatt Buchanan, 5/31/12.  "Bills in Legislature may bring tuition relief". 

Lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate approved separate measures that would provide a generous tuition break for middle-class students at the University of California and California State University, and create an online library to reduce the costs of college textbooks.

.... The Assembly passed the bill 55-17, with four Republicans in favor. The bill sets up the technical structure of administering the grants, which would provide significant aid to students whose families make less than $150,000 but too much to qualify for a Cal Grant.

... It would amount to a $4,000 annual savings for California State University students and just over $8,100 for students attending the University of California, and would take effect as soon as this fall. Both new students and current students would be eligible if they do not already qualify for financial aid."  Read article, including those "opposed to funding" section.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Mateo County election 6/5/12 - Supervisor candidate fudged his impressive higher education background

Technically did County Supervisor candidate Carlos Romero say he completed degrees?   He implied he did. Wonder what Romero stated on his resume to the EPA when he was hired there? 

Nice smile!

Palo Alto Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, 6/1/12. "San Mateo County supervisor candidate Romero says he didn't intend to mislead anyone by falsely claiming degrees from Stanford, Harvard."

"San Mateo County supervisor candidate Carlos Romero said Thursday he had "no intent to mislead" anyone in 2008 when he claimed to hold degrees from Stanford and Harvard universities during a candidate forum in the East Palo Alto City Council race. Romero, who won a seat on the council in that race, attended both universities but did not receive degrees from either.

.... And in biographical information submitted to the online site SmartVoter.org, Romero says he "finished" his undergraduate studies at Stanford in 1982.

.... "My undergraduate experience studying development economics, finance, and international politics gave significance to my work in EPA," Romero wrote. "By the time I finished Stanford in 1982, it was apparent that EPA would become home, having moved there my final year at Stanford."  Read Article.  

Reference - Smart Voter.org,  Supervisor Carlos Romero.

Loeb Fellow, Harvard Graduate School of Design

Fannie Mae Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Stanford University, Undergraduate studies in Economics and Int'l Relations

Another look at all Supervisor candidates.

Related  Article -Redwood City Patch, "County office candidate admits he has no degree." 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Mateo County late 18th century

Best not to return to "the good 'ol days". 

Spanish colonization (1769-1810)*

San Mateo Daily Journal/Darold Fredricks, 5/28/12, "Peninsula Ranchos".

"When the Spanish began colonizing the San Francisco Peninsula in the 1770s, the Franciscan fathers were in control of the operation. Their goal was to Christianize the natives and prepare them for living a “civilized” life. Within 10 years, the natives were to be given land on which they could live a Christian life and self-sustain themselves with the skills that the padres taught them.

.... In the 1770s, the policy of the church (through the Spanish government) was to keep the land in the hands of the church as the natives were not yet trained to handle the responsibility of sustaining themselves (although they had been doing this for thousands of years). Virtually no land grants were doled out to Indians or Spanish citizens. The rapid change of leadership in the early 1820s changed when Mexico began administrating the Spanish Empire on the North American continent. The Mexican government began rewarding those who had served in the military with land grants and it became easier for any reputable Mexican to acquire land if he had an espediente and diseno (petition and crude map) and $12 to complete the transaction. Almost anyone could become a landholder and a don." 

....  Rancho San Pedro of  Pacifica was granted to Jose Antonio Sanchez’s son, Francisco Sanchez, in 1839. Francisco became the richest man in San Mateo County in the 1850s."   Read article.

Note: The above painting is from the Pacifica Historical Society, click on the caption for more information. 

Related - Pacifica Historical Society/Shirley Reusch Drye,  "Impact of Spanish arrivals on Native Californians."  "For the Ohlone (Costanoan) peoples, the result of introduced diseases, a declining birth rate, mistreatment, and cultural disorientation, their population fell from 10,000 or more in 1770 to less than 2,000 in 1832. Their numbers diminished further under even more destructive American rule."  Read more.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Planning Commission meeting of Monday, June 4, 2012 cancelled

 

"Notice is hereby given that the regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission of June 4, 2012 has been CANCELLED."  City of Pacifica Notice

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Francisco - polluting our beaches, blame humans not dogs

Trash aftermath of a big celebration in San Francisco, not to mention how displacing that party was to wildlife. 

Golden Gate Bridge open to traffic 5/27/1937

San Francisco Examiner/Don Schreiber, 5/30/12. "Dog walkers livid over fireworks debris on beaches." 

"The spectacular fireworks display for the 75th birthday of the Golden Gate Bridge delighted tens of thousands of onlookers — but the aftermath of the pyrotechnic feat is receiving far less fanfare.

“Hundreds” of plastic caps and a sizable amount of cardboard have reportedly been washing up on local shorelines, including Crissy Field, Baker Beach and Ocean Beach. The detritus was noticed by dog walkers, who have been locked in long-standing disagreements over leash laws with the same federal officials in charge of managing Crissy Field — home to fragile wildlife populations such as the western snowy plover.

“We’ve been under such fire, but it’s such a double standard,” Martha Walters, head of the Crissy Field Dog Group, said after finding the washed-up trash. “They say the dogs are ruining the environment, but then they do this.”  Read more.

Posed by Kathy Meeh