4th District Supervisor Warren Slocum, 25 years of public service

The Daily Journal (San Mateo), Michelle Durand, staff, 1/8/12.  "Slocum sworn in as supervisor."

"Warren Slocum is no stranger to being sworn into office — after more than two decades as the county’s chief elections officer and assessor-county clerk-recorder, he has raised his hands several times to accept another term.

.... District Four includes Redwood City, Menlo Park and East Palo Alto and the unincorporated areas of North Fair Oaks and Oak Knoll. ....  Slocum takes over from Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, who was termed out of office after serving since 1999 and will receive a formal sendoff from the board at Tuesday morning’s meeting. The board will also meet in Pacifica that night to reorganize and install Supervisor Don Horsley as president.

....  During his campaign, Slocum listed the county’s budget and ongoing deficit a top priority and backed Measure A, the county’s half-cent sales tax measure which passed on the same ballot.  Last night, Slocum reiterated his support for the tax, saying the electorate and government have entered into a bargain for which the county must act responsibly with the money.

Slocum, who promoted technology in his former elected office, said he also wants to use the same spirit of innovation as a county supervisor. As examples, Slocum suggested streamlining billing for health care reimbursement costs to create an estimated $10 million annually in revenue, publish the county’s checkbook online so the public can see where tax money is spent and create a variety of online dashboards to display economic indicators and performance measures. “People should know how their government is performing, if it’s achieving its goals and at what cost,” he said.

During the campaign, Slocum also said he would follow Horsley’s lead in not accepting a supervisor salary while simultaneously receiving his pension. Horsley recently announced he was again taking a paycheck after two years of waiving it; Slocum has not placed such a cap on his promise."   Read article.

Related - Belmont Patch, 1/8/12, Jennifer van der Kleut, "Patch clips: Warren Slocum sworn in to standing ovation."  Photograph above from this article, which includes a 1:16 minute video.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Motion to dismiss San Mateo Supervisor election lawsuit, 1/15/13

San Mateo County Supervisor are elected  by District as of  the November 2012 election.  The lawsuit against past "at large" County Supervisor elections has not been withdrawn.

"At large" elected Supervisors violated civil representation?

Palo Alto Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, staff, 1/8/12.  "San Mateo County wants 'moot' suit dropped since voters approved district elections."

"Now that San Mateo County residents have decided to switch the way they elect supervisors, the county next week will ask a judge to call off a trial on a lawsuit that alleges its old voting system discriminates against Asians and Latinos. But in court documents filed Friday, the plaintiffs argue the case must go on because of long-standing obstacles that prevented ethnic groups from electing representative leaders. They contend a court ruling is needed to establish that countywide elections dilute minority votes and to prevent county officials from later seeking a return to that system. The lawsuit, filed in April 2011 by a group of civil rights lawyers on behalf of six county voters, alleges the previous system violated the California Voting Rights Act. It notes that only one Latino, one African-American and no Asians have served on the Board of Supervisors in a county where 25 percent of the population is now Asian and 25 percent Latino.

....  James Wagstaffe, an attorney representing the county, said such a move would be tantamount to putting the "cart well before the horse" because there's no evidence that supports the current boundaries foster discrimination. "They've suddenly changed the focal point and are arguing the case should keep going for things they never asked for in the lawsuit they filed," Wagstaffe added. 

....  The hearing on San Mateo County's motion to dismiss the lawsuit for being moot is scheduled for Jan. 15. The trial is set to begin Feb. 19."   Read article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Huell Howser archives

Was anyone else addicted to "California's Gold"?

I'm surprised he didn't come to the visitor-serving, tourist oasis of Pacifica.

http://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/

Posted by Steve Sinai

California Parks $54 million hidden surplus scandal report released

The Report indicates 15 years of accounting errors in a complicated reporting system, under-reporting but not embezzlement.

Just kidding...

Los Angeles Times/PolitiCal, 1/4/13. "California parks officials deliberately hid money, report says."

California Parks

Fear of embarrassment and budget cuts led California parks officials to intentionally conceal millions of dollars in a department account, according to an investigation conducted by the state attorney general's office.   The report,  released Friday, is the most detailed official narrative yet regarding the root of the accounting scandal at the parks department.

The scandal broke last summer when it was revealed that the parks department had a hidden surplus of nearly $54 million even though it was threatening to close dozens of facilities. Richard Stapler, a spokesman for the California Natural Resources Agency, said officials are still determining whether the investigation will result in criminal charges.  John Laird, the resources secretary, said new policies and staff are in place to prevent similar problems in the future.

Closed due to hidden revenue

"It is now clear that this is a problem that could have been fixed by a simple correction years ago, instead of being unaddressed for so long that it turned into a significant blow to public trust in government," Laird, who oversees the parks department, said in a statement.  The rest of the $54 million was found in an account for off-road vehicle parks. 

Don't blame me, I'm National

Investigators said accounting discrepancies there appeared to be unintentional, and the result of various bookkeeping problems involving loans and tax changes.  For example, a 2010 modification to the gas tax mistakenly pumped millions of excess dollars into the off-road account, the report said. That problem has been fixed and the money has been reallocated, according to the Department of Finance. The investigation from the attorney general's office is the third review of the parks department in recent weeks. One more report, from the state auditor, is expected to be released. Read article.

Reference -  State of CA Final Report (pdf), 12/31/12, also embedded in the article Report link. 

Related -  Wikipedia, "List of California State Parks", includes park, county and remark information links.  National Parks Traveler, 7/25/10, Smokey the Bear is National (US Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters).   

Related articles - The Daily Journal (San Mateo), 1/5/13,  Silicon Valley Mercury News, 1/4/13.   Fix Pacifica articles - California parks scandal.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

We are not alone

Except in San Mateo County, sometimes it feels like Pacifica may be.

San Francisco Chronicle/Associated Press, Alicia Chang, Science writer, 1/7/13.  "Study:  Billions of Earth-size planets in Milky Way."

Only 17 billion Earth size planets in our own Milky Way galaxy

"Our Milky Way is home to at least 17 billion planets that are similar in size to Earth, a new estimate suggests.  ....  Just how many are located in the sweet spot where water could exist is "simply too early to call," said Francois Fressin of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who presented his work at an astronomy meeting Monday.

....  Despite the explosion of exoplanet discoveries in recent years, one find remains elusive: A planet that's not only the right size but also in the so-called Goldilocks zone where it's not too hot or too cold for water to be in liquid form on the surface.

....   Using a different method, a team from the University of California, Berkeley and University of Hawaii separately came up with a similar estimate. They calculated 17 percent of distant stars have planets that are the same size as Earth or slightly larger."   Read article.

Reference definition - Bright Hub - Science, Space, Astronomy.  "What are Exoplanets?"  "The exact definition of an exoplanet is just a planet, any planet, that is orbiting a star other than our own Sun, and is therefore not in our Solar System. That's it. Nothing fancy about it. “Exoplanet” is just sort of “extrasolar planet”, which would be self explanatory if astronomers hadn't saved some space by shortening the term by two syllables." 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Sure, move Pacifica's dog park where? How about to GGNRA open space

The Daily Journal (San Mateo), Brendan Bartholomew, correspondent, 1/7/12. "Dog park causing problems."

Who is making a lot of noise and kicking-up dust?

"Pacifica’s first dog park is making some of its neighbors miserable, and they want the city to move it. The Sanchez Dog Park, on city property between the Sanchez Art Center and homes on South Alicante Drive, has, according to some residents, been a source of noise and dust since its March 30 opening.

....  The opening of the dog park on Linda Mar Boulevard was the result of efforts by a group of residents calling themselves The Pacifica Organization of Canine Helpers, or POOCH, whose stated goal was to provide at least one fenced, off-leash dog park for the community. POOCH volunteers monitor and maintain the dog park, but a representative of the organization declined to comment on the controversy surrounding the park.

“POOCH is going to fight like heck to avoid having the park moved,” says Daniel Muller, a Walnut Creek attorney hired by the homeowners.  The smells, noise, and especially the dust from the park have been “a shockingly important nuisance,” Muller said."   Read article.  Photograph by Brendan Bartholomew from the article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Pacifica city calendar meetings this week, January 7 through 11, 2013

City meetings are public.  If interested you may wish to attend and observe as a member in the audience.   

From the  City of Pacifica Calendar.  

Monday,  January 7. Planning Commission meeting, cancelled

Economic Development meeting is held at Pacifica police station

Tuesday, January 8.  Economic Development Committee meeting, 6 PM to 8 PM.   

Location:  Pacifica Police Department, Emergency Operations Center room,  2075 Coast Highway.  "The regular meeting occurs on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6 PM."   Information, archived agendas, minutes.  No current agenda posted.

Thursday, January 10.  Green Building Task Force (BGTF) meeting. 7 PM to 9 PM. 

Location:  Parks, Beaches and Recreation conference Room, 1800 Francisco Boulevard.  "The Green Building Task Force was formed to provide a forum for development of "Green Building" regulations for the City of Pacifica.  Although regular meetings for this task force have resumed for now, please contact Christina Horrisberger at 650-738-7341 to verify a meeting prior to attending."    Information, archived agendas (no minutes).  No current agenda posted.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Mateo County Supervisor/City Council meetings this week

Full text from  Palo Alto News/Staff, 1/4/13. "On the Docket."  

San Mateo County - Board of Supervisors

Monday, 1/7/13, Redwood City.  Board of Supervisors, Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, 6 p.m.: At a special meeting, Warren Slocum is scheduled to be sworn into office as the county's new District 4 supervisor.

Outgoing 4th District Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson

Tuesday, 1/8/13, Redwood City.  Board of Supervisors, Board Chambers, Hall of Justice & Records, 400 County Center, Redwood City, 9 a.m.: The board is scheduled to honor outgoing District 4 Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson and consider setting a public hearing to possibly increase the garbage rates for the North Fair Oaks area.

Tuesday, 1/8/13, Pacifica.  Board of Supervisors, Terra Nova Theater, 1450 Terra Nova Blvd., Pacifica, 6 p.m.: At a special meeting, the board is scheduled to select a new president and vice president.

San Mateo County - City council meetings

Tuesday, 1/8/13, Woodside.  Town Council, Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, 6 p.m.: The council is scheduled to consider declaring a local emergency to qualify for federal and state funds to make repairs related to Dec. 23 flooding. 

Tuesday, 1/8/13, Menlo Park.  City Council, Council Chambers, City Hall, 701 Laurel St., 7 p.m.: The council is scheduled to consider approving a law that prohibits retailers in the city from distributing plastic bags."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Mixed environmental protection results

Drakes Bay Oyster Company in west Marin County does not survive.   Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica does survive.

Pacifica Tribune/John Blanchard, Columnist, 1/1/12. "A left coast view."

  Drakes Bay Oyster Company (DBOC) lease terminated  *

"For this view from the Left Coast we begin with a meander through the bucolic, pastoral green hills of West Marin out to Drakes Estero, a four-fingered inlet of Drakes Bay just north of San Francisco. Passing grazing livestock and waterfowl through the rolling farmland a left turn takes us on a bumpy, gravel road leading down to the tidal flats of Drakes Estero and the Drakes Bay Oyster Company. Oyster farming has existed in Drakes Estero for about a hundred years. The Johnson Oyster Company developed and utilized sustainable farming techniques to grow their oysters for 60 years. In 2004 the Lunny family, who had been farming in those hills for four generations and known for their certified organic, grass fed beef cattle, purchased the oyster company to continue the tradition.

In 1976 Congress established the Point Reyes National Seashore that encompasses this area. Several local farms were designated 'historic' and, along with the oyster operation, were allowed to stay. West Marin has been at the forefront of sustainable farming methods for decades and continues this nature friendly industry today. As stated, DBOC is also an adherent to environmentally sensitive farming methods. However, an overzealous group of environmentalists have used misleading and misrepresented scientific studies to convince the National Park Service to terminate DBOC's lease this past November. This is not only a shame, as a traditional family business with about 30 workers will be shut down, but an environmental faux pas as well. DBOC is the only California oyster farm and produces almost half of what the state consumes. The demand is not going to go away. The replacement proteins will now be shipped in from Asia or the east coast. What kinds of carbon footprint conditions were considered in this move?

Sharp Park Golf Course survives thanks to golfer/legal/city effort

The irony of this truly non-progressive mixed bag of environmental policies we have is in force just a short way down the road from here. As the migrating waterfowl that are attracted to the Estero fly just over the hill to Tomales Bay State Preserve a mile or two to the east they are picked off one by one by hunters hiding in the marsh as this parcel is managed by the California State Department of Fish and Game. This far thinking organization, which we pay for, preserves the natural world so that it may be hunted and fished for sport. Recall the (knuckle)-Head of this Department smiling broadly to the camera as he hoisted the carcass of a wild cougar that his dogs chased up a tree in Idaho and he shot in cold blood. In Idaho, by the way, because California, at least, bans killing mountain lions for sport. 

Many State and Federal agencies and nonprofit groups have been established with the well-intended aspiration of conserving and protecting our natural environment. Emotionally it feeds our soul. Intelligently we have amassed quite a bit of information that teaches us that our wellbeing and, in fact, our continued existence is dependent upon living with our environment rather than in spite of it. But individually, it seems, our views are all over the place as to why and how we do this. 

Bringing it back home, Pacifica has recently escaped the foolery of this jumbled understanding of environmentalism. The Endangered Species Act is an important legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1973. The ESA has its basis in Ecology which is the study of the relationships between living organisms and their natural environment. Our Biosphere is made up of numerous ecosystems that are all interrelated to each other. An effect on one organism can disrupt the entire ecosystem.

This is why six environmental groups sued to have the Sharp Park Golf Course shut down to preserve these listed species. But finally common sense won out. Last October a biological opinion by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife considered that the facility could be managed in such a way that would not further endanger the garter snake and the red legged frog and could continue its operation. The opinion also provided a list of terms and conditions that must be incorporated into the maintenance of the course. Why couldn't that farming family in West Marin be given a similar list of conditions? 

Sharp Park is a beautiful and historic course. It does not generate an enormous amount of traffic but it is used and, like DBOC, should be able to exist and be used naturally into perpetuity. Luckily for us it looks like, at least, SPGC will."

Related article -  San Francisco Chronicle/Peter Fimrite and Justin Berton, 11/29/12. "US evicting Point Reyes oyster farmer", article  includes 30 photographs. " U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told a popular oyster farm at Drakes Bay on Thursday to pack up and leave, effectively ending more than a century of shellfish harvesting on the picturesque inlet where Europeans first set foot in California. Salazar's decision ends a long-running dispute between the Drakes Bay Oyster Co. and the National Park Service over the estuary at Point Reyes National Seashore where Sir Francis Drake landed more than 400 years ago."  

*  Note: photograph by Chris Steward, #29 from the article.  Drakes Bay Oyster Company was formerly Johnson Oyster Company (2005).  Reference - Drakes Bay Oyster Company website.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Is the Battle of Sharp Park Finally Over?

By: Tony Dear

On December 6th, 2012, United States District Judge Susan Illston found moot claims brought by a group of environmental organizations, led by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and listed in a March 2011 lawsuit, that the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (RPD) was in violation of Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act. The environmentalists contended that, by pumping water off the fairways at Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica, Calif., during times of flooding, the RPD was exposing California red-legged frog egg masses to the air, causing fatal desiccation of the egg masses, and thereby reducing the frog population. They also claimed that other golf course operation activities - lawn mowing and golf cart usage - harmed the frog and the endangered San Francisco garter snake by running them over.

In short, the environmentalists were accusing San Francisco Rec & Parks and the golfers who played at Sharp Park - designed by the great Alister Mackenzie and opened in 1932 - of being responsible for the death of a rare species. They concluded that the course must close, and supported the notion that the space left behind should be managed not by the City of San Francisco but by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area - a part of the National Parks Service whose anti-golf perspective is well known.

The fight between the conservationists - a dedicated and persistent band marshaled by the CBD but also including the Wild Equity Institute, a San Francisco-based nonprofit founded in 2009 by former CBD employee Brent Plater and devoted to securing environmental justice, and the Sierra Club, whose focus - admittedly - leaned more towards preservation of the frog and snake rather than the removal of golf, and those wishing to retain the course, had raged for over four years. (Use of the word "raged" may seem a little excessive for a debate involving golf and frogs but, make no mistake, the two sides fought their respective corners with the intensity and zeal usually reserved for Presidential races.) 

Plater, vehemently golf-averse, at least where Sharp Park was concerned, based his arguments not only on the perceived damage being done to the endangered creatures. He was also adamant that Sharp Park Golf Course was a major financial drain on the city, and that it had lost so much of its character through the years it wasn't worthy of being maintained anyway.

"Nobody in San Francisco cares about Sharp Park," he told SFWeekly in June 2010. "If that golf course were to fall into the ocean tomorrow, nobody would blink an eye." Then, in a Wild Equity press release dated November 16th 2010, he added: "No community center or neighborhood park should have services reduced while the (Parks) Department is subsidizing suburban golf in San Mateo County. We deserve better. It's time to close Sharp Park Golf Course and bring the funds saved back to San Francisco's communities, where the money rightfully belongs.

Read more...

Posted by Steve Sinai

Don Horsley named Board of Supervisors President in Pacifica, 1/8/12

Half Moon Bay Review, 1/3/13,  "Horsley becomes president."

Supervisor Don Horsley sworn in 

 San Mateo County Board of Supervisors

"Don Horsley adds “president” to his resume next week when he is tapped to hold the gavel for the San Mateo County Supervisors. There isn’t much intrigue prior to the coronation; Horsley has been vice president of the board for the past year.

Horsley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2010 after a long career in law enforcement that included a stint as San Mateo County Sheriff. 

Horsley, who represents the Coastside as the board’s District 3 supervisor, will be named board president during ceremonies in Pacifica on Tuesday, Jan. 8. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Terra Nova High School Theater, 1450 Terra Nova Blvd. in Pacifica."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Stay safe, don't eat the wild mushrooms

Wild mushrooms include those in your back yard. 

Santa Cruz Sentinel/Jondi Gumz, 1/1/13. "Hospital treating Santa Cruz area woman who ate death cap mushrooms."

 

You would not eat this wild mushroom

Don't eat this wild mushroom either

"A woman who ate death cap mushrooms she picked near UC Santa Cruz is being treated at Dominican Hospital in the first U.S. clinical trial of European antidote Legalon SIL for deadly amatoxin poisoning. .... The woman ate about six mushrooms Friday night after broiling them with rice and garlic, Mitchell said. 

Dr. Alan Buchwald said, "100 percent of the patients that did not go into renal failure before starting treatment had full and complete recovery." Those who go into renal failure first "don't respond to the drug at all," he said. "The drug requires a functioning kidney to be effective."

One of the symptoms of mushroom poisoning is vomiting, and Mitchell said patients "need aggressive intravenous hydration. ....  Death cap mushrooms, known as amanita phalloides, are often mistaken for edible varieties.    Read article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee finds closure on missing funds

The Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee organization embezzlement was discovered after the Treasurer, Jack Olsen, died.  The remedy since is about half insurance reimbursement. two authorized officer signatures on the account, and better oversight.

Half Moon Bay Review/Mark Noack, 1/3/12. "Beautification Committee fails to follow financial safeguard."

Beautification supports Main Street improvements

"It’s been two years since the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee said its late treasurer, Jack Olsen, exploited his position of trust and used the nonprofit’s checkbook to steal at least $200,000 intended for Coastside charities.

....  In the two years before his death in 2010, Olsen was able to write $143,000 worth of checks made out in small increments to himself and other banks. The drafts were never noticed by his colleagues on the board. Following the discovery, board members promised they were working with the First National Bank in Half Moon Bay to make the two-signature policy an ironclad rule. 

Last week, Palmer said the nonprofit has since recouped $100,000 of the loss through an insurance policy claim.  ... “We feel now that this chapter is closed, and we’re moving forward.”   Read article.

Beautification hosts the HMB Arts & Punkin Festival

Related -Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee, "The Main Street Beautification Committee was formed in 1971. It was founded as (and still is) an all-volunteer group of civic-minded citizens from the Coastside who wanted to make a lasting contribution to the preservation and beautification of the town's historic Main Street. Directors have always served without compensation"

Half Moon Bay Review, 5/24/10, updated 1/20/11,"Services set for Farm Bureau head Jack Olsen" (5/24/10 and 5/25/10). "Services have been set for Monday and Tuesday to honor the life of Jack Olsen, who was executive administrator of the San Mateo County Farm Bureau. ... The Beautification Committee mourns this monumental loss, and our thoughts, prayers and love are with Jack's family," said committee chair Cameron Palmer in a prepared statement. "Our deepest sympathies go out to them."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Two fiscal cliffs slows economic recovery

No problem, only two cliffs

But whatever it is, is better than the alternative.    

The San Mateo Daily Journal/Associated Press/Judy Lin, 1/3/12. "Fiscal cliff deal to aid California."

"SACRAMENTO  — The deal in Washington to avoid the “fiscal cliff” will bring a reprieve to California’s slowly rebounding economy, but uncertainty remains in part because Congress delayed action on federal spending cuts. 

The agreement helps California avoid sliding back into recession, H.D. Palmer, finance spokesman for Gov. Jerry Brown, said Wednesday. But economic forecasters said the two-month delay on the sequestration cuts could lead businesses to delay hiring or investments.

“To the extent that this agreement averts a national recession — and the revenue loss associated with it — then we will have dodged a bullet,” Palmer said a day after Congress reached the deal."  Read article.

Related articles -  Reuters, Thomas Ferrano and John Whitesides, 1/3/13, "Bigger fights loom after 'fiscal cliff' deal." President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans face even bigger budget battles in the next two months after a hard-fought "fiscal cliff" deal narrowly averted devastating tax increases and spending cuts." 

The Economist, 1/5/12 print edition, "The fiscal cliff deal, American's European movement"  "FOR the past three years America’s leaders have looked on Europe’s management of the euro crisis with barely disguised contempt. ...  America’s economy may not be in as bad a state as Europe’s, but the failures of its politicians—epitomised by this week’s 11th-hour deal to avoid the calamity of the “fiscal cliff”—suggest that Washington’s pattern of dysfunction is disturbingly similar to the euro zone’s in three depressing ways. ..  1) .. an inability to get beyond patching up, 2) the outsize influence of narrow interest groups.. 3) ..politicians have failed to be honest with voters."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Planning Commission meeting cancelled, 1/7/13

Not true?  But this excuse sounds so reasonable

Planning commission notification, George White, Planning Director, 12/20/12.

"Notice is hereby given that the regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission of January 7, 2013 has been cancelled."  Again.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Redwood City population planning for the near future

"Welcome people, come live in our city, and spend money here."

Palo Alto Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, staff writer, 1/3/13.  "Redwood City encourages housing boom that neighboring cities fret over." 

Redwood City's planned train/retail "Depot Circle" transit hub

While other Peninsula cites are grumbling about state mandates designed to encourage local housing development, Redwood City is working to get more homes built within its boundaries. 

More than 1,700 residential units are either under construction or in the planning phase, half of them in the downtown area, according to city officials. And the vast majority are within multi-unit buildings, said Planning Manager Blake Lyon.

Much of the construction surge is a result of the city's Downtown Precise Plan, whose passage in early 2011 spawned zoning that allows for up to 2,500 new and high-density housing units in the downtown area, along with new office space, shops and other retail businesses. 

The building activity also complies with the city's Housing Element, a document the state requires all municipalities to produce every five to eight years with the aim of ensuring that the residential stock in California keeps pace with population growth and is priced for all income levels. Redwood City's 2009-2014 Housing Element sets a goal of 1,856 new residential units.  Although cities are not required to build the homes, they have to identify sites for housing and develop programs to encourage construction, according to the state law."   Read more. 

Reference -  Redwood City Downtown Precise Plan, and  Redwood City revitalization strategy, "The Redwood City Downtown Revitalization Strategy & Precise Plan is guiding growth and change in this rapidly growing 190-acre city center at the heart of Silicon Valley. New retail and entertainment destinations, art and cultural opportunities and new housing will combine with improved transit infrastructure, enhanced streets and public spaces to create an exciting centerpiece for the city and region."

Related articles - Marina 1 (Pete's Harbor) - Business Journal/Bay Area Structures/J.K. Dineen, Reporter, 9/20, 12. "A Pauls Corp. proposal to build condominiums on the site of a houseboat community in Redwood City came into focus Thursday as developer Paul Powers met with tenants of the marina to discuss the proposal.  The Colorado-based Pauls Corp. is proposing to build 411 housing units on a 13-acre waterfront property called Pete’s Harbor, a 211-slip marina with dry storage and recreational vehicle parking."  The mixed-use development project was approved by Redwood City Planning Commission, 10/31/12.  Fix Pacifica reprints - Redwood City housing development, and Pete's Harbor.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

California new laws, a partial list carried in the news

The Sacramento Bee/Jim Sanders, 6/2/13. "California 2013:  New laws take effect today."

"New California laws target issues ranging from picketing at funerals to restrictions on employers' right to examine the Facebook pages of their workers. Much of the legislation was pushed by Democrats, who dominate both houses of the Legislature. Gov. Jerry Brown signed 876 bills in the past legislative session, most of which take effect today, including this sampling. ....

4 days ago

4 days ago

Internet bullying
AB 1732 specifies that forms of illegal Internet bullying include false profiles, impersonations and "burn pages" created to house abusive posts. (Assemblywoman Nora Campos, D-San Jose)

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/01/5085605/new-california-laws.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

Plastic bag recycling
SB 1219 extends until January 2020 a program ensuring plastic bags are accepted for recycling at supermarkets and large stores that include a pharmacy. (Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis)

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/01/5085605/new-california-laws.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

Pension system changes
AB 340 alters California's massive public employees pension system by capping benefits, lowering benefit formulas for workers hired after Jan. 1, and by requiring current and future employees to begin paying half the cost of their pension within five years. (Former Assemblyman Warren Furutani, D-Los Angeles)

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/01/5085605/new-california-laws.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy

Same-day registration

AB 1436 allows qualified residents to register to vote up to and on Election Day, but would not take effect until 2014 at the earliest. (former Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles)."    Read article, includes other laws of interest.

Related article - Huffington Post/ Ventura County Star/Timm Herdt 12/31/12, includes embedded news video video, 2:17 minutes, and 16 slides.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City Manager Stephen Rhodes retires 7/31/12

Thank you for your service to our community, Steve!

Pacifica Tribune?Jane Northrop, staff writer, 12/25/12.  "City Manager Rhodes shares his take on Pacifica."

Steve Rhodes, Pacifica City Manager *

"When Stephen Rhodes first came to Pacifica to be the new city manager, he hoped to focus on economic development. "And that has happened. Things are moving along in that direction," he said. ... But during the six years Rhodes has been here, the economy took a nosedive. Pacifica has had few opportunities to build up the economy. Projects that had been approved sat idle because owners could not get loans. .... Nevertheless, every day he sought a balance between two overriding philosophies near and dear to Pacificans -- preserving the environment and encouraging development. Those values sometimes conflicted.

....  What advice would he offer his successor? Again, it would come down to balancing high environmental standards with adequate growth and development.

Despite the economy, Pacifica made progress on major projects under Rhodes' watch. The general plan is being reviewed and updated. Utilities along Palmetto Ave. are being undergrounded. The city has acquired some of the land for the headlands trail and established a shuttle -- Devil's Slide Ride -- from Pacifica to the new hiking and biking trails. Small beautification projects will add up to big results and make a difference about how people feel about their community.  Plans for tasteful development are in the works or under study.  "I think Pacifica needs to focus its effort on filling in Palmetto Avenue, doing something with the Beach Boulevard property and perhaps something at the quarry," he said.

The city took the lead on completing environmental studies for the city-owned property on Beach Boulevard and drafted specs for a developer. That plan proposes a hotel, restaurant, shops and a library/media center.

"I would advocate everyone get behind the library foundation's work. The community would do well with a new library," Rhodes said."   Read article.   *  Note:  The photograph of Steve Rhodes from Preserve Our Pier Supporters (POPS) organization. 

Related - Pacifica Tribune, 12/18/12, "City Manager announces June retirement."  "At the helm of the city for the last six years, City Manager Stephen Rhodes announced last week he will retire at the end of July. That date coincides with the end of his contract with the city. Rhodes provided six months notice so City Council will hopefully have time to recruit a new city manager before he leaves."  Read more.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Mortgage forgiveness tax debt relief continued until 1/2014

 

 

San Mateo County Association of Realtors (SAMCAR), 1/2/13. "Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Treatment Gets One More Year"

While there is still very little focus on the importance of this law, the fiscal cliff deal did extend its provisions for one more year. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act - which expired at the end of 2012 - is crucial to foreclosure mitigation efforts such as principal forgiveness and short sales. Normally, U.S. law decrees that when a lender forgives all or a portion of a borrower’s debt, the forgiven amount is considered taxable income for the borrower. This is known as Cancellation of Debt (COD) Income and must be included in a taxpayer’s gross income. This Act, however, created an exception to this rule under the U.S. Tax Code. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act allows homeowners who received principal reductions or other forms of debt forgiveness to not pay taxes on the amount forgiven. The amount extends up to $2 million of debt forgiven on the homeowner’s principal residence. For homeowner’s to qualify, their debt must have been used to “buy, build, or substantially improve” their principal residence and be secured by that residence. The law, which was passed in 2007 with a 5 year sunset provision, will now be in effect until January 1, 2014. 

Paul Stewart   

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR

Note:   The above memo is not yet posted on the SAMCAR website.

Submitted by Jim Wagner 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

2012 San Mateo tax payers improved K12 childhood education

San Mateo County Times/Margaret Lavin, 12/31/12.  "Margaret Lavin:  We can be proud of progress in 2012."

....  Let's lift a cup to celebrate a few of San Mateo County's educational acts of kindness. We have good reason to be proud of our progress in 2012.

An alternative:  cost savings school house

Taxpayers passed many measures throughout the county to improve schools and our community. Measure A increases the sales tax throughout the county by half a cent for the next 10 years to help fund child abuse protection programs, 911 dispatch, fire prevention and after-school library and homework programs, among other county services. Burlingame School District will have an additional $56 million to renovate classrooms because of the approval of its school bond measure. Jefferson Union High School District will have $41.9 million and Jefferson Elementary School will have $67.5 million to improve schools. San Carlos will receive $72 million in bond money. Measure W will generate about $1.7 million per year for Redwood City students for the next five years.

....  With the progress we have made to secure our children's future and thereby improve our own lives, we adhere to Benjamin Franklin's wise words, "Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man." (250+ years later we might say, "... let each year find you to be a better person.")  Read article. 

Related -  The Franklin Institute, Benjamin Franklin.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Bakersfield bankruptcy in stalemate

If you read this and reduce it to our situation, you'll notice that there are scary similarities. Maybe on a smaller scale.  (Jim Wagner)

Wall Street Journal/Review and Outlook/Top Stories in Opinion, 12/31/12.  "Stockton tries a Chrysler"

Bankruptcy:  creditors/bond holders vs. unions/pensions

The municipal bankruptcy unfolding in Stockton, California is giving investors a bad case of deja vu. Just as the Obama Administration bailed out the United Auto Workers in Chrysler's bankruptcy while hanging bondholders out to dry, the city of Stockton is subordinating its bond debt to worker pensions. But what's really scary is that the Stockton case could be replayed in dozens of California cities.

The San Joaquin Valley's second largest city filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy this summer after a three-month mediation with creditors and unions ended in stalemate. Bond insurers that guarantee about $200 million in debt wouldn't submit to a haircut unless the rich pensions that helped drive the city to bankruptcy were also clipped. Yet unions wouldn't countenance an even modest reduction to their pensions.

....  Ratings agencies downplay the "systemic risk" that the Stocktons of the United States pose to the $3.7 trillion municipal bond market. But then they also said mortgage-backed securities were Triple-A. While the market may not be in danger of blowing up soon, bondholders face a very real danger of being blown off to preserve worker pensions.  Blocked link to "buy a subscription".  To read the full article, try web search "Stockton Wall Street Journal article".

Related Fix Pacifica articles -  Stockton bankruptcy, and  Bankruptcy.

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Unfinished national business

Hello 2013...

United States debt clock *  

View if you're sitting down.  You may get dizzy.





  
Submitted by Jim Wagner * 
Posted by Kathy Meeh