For more information please contact
Terry at
info@terrynagel.com
Copyright 2007 Terry Nagel - All Rights Reserved
May 9, 2008
Dear Friend,
If it seems like we just had an election, you’re right! But the June 3 Primary is just around the corner.
For background on candidates, visit San Mateo County’s official election site, www.SmartVoter.org. To get answers to common voting questions, see “Voter Q&A,” which I have just updated with the county Elections Office and have posted on my site at www.terrynagel.com.
In response to your requests, here’s how I’m voting on the issues and candidates:
U.S. Representative – Jackie Speier was elected in a Special Election in April to fill the remainder of Congressman Tom Lantos’ term. In order to serve the next regular two-year term in Congress, she must win in the June Primary and again in the November General Election. She deserves your vote.
State Assembly – I’m supporting Jerry Hill. All three candidates are good people, but Jerry has extensive experience as a San Mateo County supervisor and San Mateo City Council member. He has won endorsements from nearly every council member in the district, as well as Assemblyman Gene Mullin and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. He is a strong proponent of clean water, clean air and sustainable practices.
Superior Court Judge – I have endorsed Jerry Nastari. He has the most experience and has won major endorsements.
County Board of Supervisors – Incumbents Adrienne Tissier, Mark Church and Rose Jacobs Gibson deserve your support.
Proposition 98 – No. This measure purports to limit takeovers by eminent domain, but contains hidden provisions that would wipe out regulations intended to protect the environment and neighborhood regulations that help sustain property value.
Proposition 99 – Yes. This measure prohibits government from using eminent domain to take homes for transfer to private developers. Unlike Prop 98, it has no hidden agendas.
Measure O – Yes. This proposal would levy a 1/8-cent sales tax to raise money for parks throughout San Mateo County. It would bring about $300,000 per year to Burlingame and would cost the average resident less than $2 per month.
It’s a busy time of year, but you won’t want to miss these two events:
Green Fair – Burlingame’s first annual Green Fair will be held May 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. next door to the Sunday Fresh Market on Park Avenue at Burlingame Avenue. Come and see green products and demonstrations, pick up a free Burlingame bike map and check out green and sustainable building and lifestyle ideas. There will be a climbing wall and activity centers for kids. The first 300 attendees will receive a reusable green shopping bag and compact fluorescent light bulb. Admission is free. For information, contact Denyse Jones at (415) 244-9427 or e-mail: drjdesign@gmail.com or Jennifer Varma at (650) 340-9133 or e-mail: jvarma@intralineinc.com.
Centennial Gala – Celebrate Burlingame’s first century on the city’s actual 100th birthday, June 6, at the Hyatt Regency. This once-in-a-lifetime event includes hors d’oeuvres and gourmet dinner with wine, music, entertainment by comedian Danny Marona (with Burlingame High graduate Diane Dwyer of NBC11 serving as emcee), music, dancing, champagne toast (and souvenir flute) and the city’s biggest-ever fireworks show! The $125 ticket price includes everything. (No raffles or auctions!) Register on the city’s site at www.burlingame.org (click on “Centennial” in the lower right-hand corner) or at the Recreation Center, 850 Burlingame Ave.
To learn about some of Burlingame’s most famous residents, see the “Extraordinary Burlingamers” section of the city’s site at http://www.burlingame.org/Index.aspx?page=950. Paul Constantino has captured some unique “Burlingameisms” at http://www.burlingame.org/Index.aspx?page=979.
If you go to any library or city hall in the county with a question about social services, chances are an employee will access the Community Information Program (CIP) database. This excellent resource, which is little known to the public, is maintained by a dedicated staff from the Peninsula Library Service. It contains information on health and human service agencies serving San Mateo County residents and will link you to help for aging parents, drug and alcohol rehab programs, financial problems and much, much more. Go to http://cip.plsinfo.org/whats_in_database.htm to get started.
Looking for a way to give back? I am looking for someone to help with a community service project that assists local nonprofits. It will take about 10 hours per week and pays a small stipend. Please contact me if you are interested at terry@terrynagel.com … The Council Chambers at City Hall are now equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system, so you can listen to council meetings on the first and third Monday nights (Channel 27) and hear every word … The Burlingame Chamber of Commerce has started offering a second Fresh Market on Wednesday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Burlingame Plaza Shopping Center. The original Fresh Market takes place every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Park Avenue near Burlingame Avenue …
Want to know what it was like to be a rescuer in the 1989 earthquake? Check out the article that Stewart Brand (of Whole Earth Catalog fame) wrote at http://www.terrynagel.com/userfiles/file/Stewart%20Brand%20article.doc. It includes the lessons he learned … The latest issue of “Governing” magazine describes new models of collaborative government, including the Transit Camp “mashup” that recently took place in Palo Alto. See http://www.governing.com/articles/0805wiki.htm ... At the April 26 Burlingame Lagoon Cleanup, more than 75 volunteers collected 1.5 tons of trash from the Anza Lagoon area. Good work, folks! …
A beautiful mural of our city painted by a former Burlingame mayor, Lester Morgan, has been installed in the main Reading Room at the Burlingame Main Library. This is the mural portrayed on the cover of the new book, “Burlingame Centennial, 1908-2008,” published by the Burlingame Historical Society. Copies are available from the author, Joanne Garrison, at msjgarrison@aol.com … You can submit a question or complaint (or a compliment!) to city staff online by clicking on “Citizen Connect” on the lower right-hand corner of the city’s site at www.burlingame.org. You will get a prompt response …
Congratulations to the staff of Burlingame High School’s student newspaper, The Burlingame B, which won a “General Excellence” award in the Peninsula Press Club’s High School Journalism Awards contest. The paper also scored awards for layout and design, news story and columns … Burlingame’s city site now has an extensive Emergency Section at http://www.burlingame.org/Index.aspx?page=897 that includes a list of Emergency Contacts and Other Helpful Information that you can download and keep handy by your phone …You can now recycle cell phones and batteries at the curb on your regular recycling day. Just place them in a clear plastic bag on top of your mixed paper.
Saturday, May 10 – 10 a.m. Meet at Adeline entrance to Mills Canyon for a wildflower hike of the canyon with Ken Himes. Free.
Tuesday, May 13 – 6 to 8 p.m. San Mateo County Transportation 2035 Workshop, County Government Center, 400 County Center, Redwood City. Come and share your thoughts on the future of transportation.
Saturday, May 17 – 9 a.m. to noon, location to be announced. Annual joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission to discuss priorities and work program, including proposed green initiatives, for the coming year.
Sunday, May 18 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Burlingame’s first annual Green Fair on Park Avenue at Burlingame Avenue. (See above.)
Sunday, May 18 – All day. First annual Day on the Green Music Festival at Burlingame High School for high school students. For information, email teens@burlingame.org or dayonthegreen@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 28 – 6 p.m., Lane Room at main Burlingame Library. City Council budget session to discuss funding priorities for the 2008-09 fiscal year.
Friday, May 30 – 5 p.m. Deadline for applications for Burlingame’s Library Board. Go to http://www.burlingame.org/?page=8&recordid=1033&returnURL=%2findex.aspx for details.
Thursday, June 12 – 7 p.m. Recreation Center. City Council and Planning Commission to provide feedback on preliminary suggestions for new Safeway.
Friday, June 20 – 7 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall. Community actors will present a play, “Under the Influence.” Not suitable for children. Admission is free.
Saturday, June 21 – 7 p.m., Il Piccolo Cafe, Broadway. The Il Piccolo Players will present two old time radio dramas 'The Whistler' and 'Fibber McGee & Molly'. Suitable for all ages the radio shows are free.
If you miss “I Dream of Jeannie,” “Dragnet” and other moldy oldies, visit Hulu.com. This new, ad-supported Web site allows you to stream vintage TV shows, full-length movies and sports highlights.
Want to keep an eye on construction of the new Peninsula Hospital? Check out the 24-hour Webcam at http://oxblue.com/client/millspeninsula/cam1/
In honor of the Green Fair, check out Walk Score at www.walkscore.com, which calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc., and giving you a score on a scale of 1 to 100.
If you like this free e-newsletter, please invite a friend to sign up at http://www.terrynagel.com/Tell_A_Friendpage448.htm
As always, share your ideas, questions and concerns with me at terry@terrynagel.com.