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Copyright 2008 Terry Nagel - All Rights Reserved
October 27, 2008
A week from tomorrow, we’ll know who our new president is. No matter which candidate prevails, there will undoubtedly be changes come January. We’ll also know the outcome of the state propositions, some of which have profound implications. In response to requests, I’m sharing my “election picks” in this newsletter – all except the presidential race, which I’m sure you’ve already decided for yourself.
First, however, I want to urge you to learn about some other changes in store: the kind that are coming because of changing demographics, climate patterns, traffic congestion and housing needs. Until recently, Don Weden was Santa Clara County’s senior planner in charge of future planning. Now he volunteers his time helping communities envision how future trends will impact them.
Don challenges people to think not only of our present needs but to prepare our cities for the major changes and challenges rapidly coming our way that will affect all of over lives, as well as those of our children and grandchildren. He will give his presentation, “Winds of Change,” on Wednesday, October 29, at 7 p.m. in the Lane Room at the Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. It’s entertaining, enlightening and thought provoking. It couldn’t come at a better time, since we are in the midst of revising our Housing Element and shaping our new Downtown Specific Plan.
If you only go to one community forum this year, this is the one you should attend. It will change the way you think about the future of our city.
Here’s how I’m voting in the November 4 election: If you have any questions about where to turn in an absentee ballot, how to vote if you’re suddenly called out of town, etc., please see the “Voter Q&A” document that the San Mateo County Elections Office has just undated. It’s on my Web site at: http://www.terrynagel.com/Voter_Q_&_Apage574.htm
1A – High Speed Rail – Yes. This is a tough one; I can see both sides. Taxpayers would pay plenty for the pleasure of speeding between San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2-1/2 hours. This $9.95 billion bond would be just the beginning. Although supporters say the first part of the system would pay for the rest, I have nightmares about a “Big Dig” scenario. It would surely have a profound impact on the Peninsula, creating a giant wall unless we can find ways to trench or underground the system. When I’ve asked questions about how it will impact our city, I’ve been told, “We don’t know yet.” On the other hand, our state would benefit greatly from faster transit, fiscal safeguards were recently toughened by the state Legislature, and this project would bring improvements to the Caltrain line that we have no prospect of funding in any other way. It also would create lots of jobs – a WPA for California, if you will, at a time when our economy needs a shot in the arm. If this measure fails, you can forget about high speed rail for many years to come.
2 – Farm Animal Confinement – Yes. The egg producers are squawking that they’ll go out of business, but Alice Waters, Michael Pollan and the Humane Society of the U.S. support it. What’s not to like?
3 – Funding for Children’s Hospitals – No. It sounded like a good idea until I learned that nearly $350 million of the bonds authorized in 2004 with Propositions 61 still haven’t been spent.
4 – Notification to Parents About Abortions – No. I’m sure you have strong feelings about this one. My take: Let’s not give teens a reason to seek illegal, unsafe abortions.
5 – Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act – Yes. I just heard the retiring county manager, John Maltbie, say that one of our biggest problems is we keep building jails instead of rehabilitating offenders. This measure might help.
6 – Tougher Penalties on Gang Members, Juveniles, Drug Abusers and Undocumented Immigrants – No. . This is a “tough on crime” measure that would commit $965 million of the state’s budget each year to herding more people into overcrowded jails, without providing any tools to solve community problems.
7 – Solar and Clean Energy Act – No. Environmentalists have blown the whistle on this measure, which would require utilities to get half their power from renewable sources by 2025. Sounds good, but it would lock small energy companies out of the market because power plants smaller than 30 watts wouldn’t count toward the goal.
8 – Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry – No. Proposition 8 would deny basic rights to gay and lesbian couples. Our laws should treat everyone equally.
9 – Expanded Rights for Victims of Crime – No. This measure could cost hundreds of millions of dollars in increases in state prison and county jail operating costs. Many of the provisions are already law. This initiative was sponsored to the tune of $4.8 million by Henry Nicholas, the billionaire founder of Broadcom who is facing a series of federal indictments.
10 – Alternative Fuels Initiative – No. Sounds appealing at first glance, but opponents say it’s T. Boone Pickens’ attempt to get the public to finance his energy scheme. It would cost nearly $10 billion and would primarily subsidize trucks and large vehicles using natural gas. Hybrids wouldn’t be eligible.
11 – Redraw State Legislative and Board of Equalization Districts – Yes. One of the reasons the state legislators can’t agree on budgets and other matters is that legislative districts have been drawn to strongly favor one party or another, thus providing job security. This measure would authorize a 14-member independent commission to determine the boundaries.
12 – Veterans Home and Farm Loans – Yes. This longstanding program has very little opposition because it has been working so well for so long. All costs are paid by veterans holding the loans. This measure was placed on the ballot by a vote of 75-0 in the Assembly and 39-0 in the Senate.
Jackie Speier is a shoo-in. She deserves your support.
Jerry Hill is the hands-down favorite. He has worked hard and will do a good job in Sacramento.
Area 4 – Rod Hsiao. He’s the only one of any of the Board of Ed candidates who showed up at a recent debate. He’s the incumbent and he’s doing a great job.
Area 7 – Memo Morantes. He’s also the incumbent and friends in school circles say he deserves to be re-elected.
Measure Q – Yes. . Would charge a tax of 8 percent of gross receipts on commercial parking facilities and would generate about $4 million a year for the county.
Measure R– Yes. . Would charge a tax of 2.5 percent of gross receipts received from vehicle rental businesses and would generate about $15 million a year for the county.
Like local cities, the county is trying to generate more revenue to make up for shortfalls. These are relatively innocuous ways to raise funds.
October 29 – 7 p.m. Lane Room, Burlingame Public Library. “Winds of Change” presentation by Don Weden on planning our community to meet our future needs. Free. (See above)October 31 – Halloween
- From noon to 5 p.m. Broadway merchants will be handing out free treats to children in costumes.
- From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Burlingame Rotary Club will present Halloween Safe Streets on Primrose Road between Burlingame Avenue and Chapin Avenue. The road will be closed to traffic. The event features trick or treating, storytelling, face painting and a costume contest.
- You can recycle pumpkins this year in your plant materials cart along with leaves and grass clippings. Be sure to remove candles and decorations.
November 10 – Deadline for applications for two public-member seats on the San Mateo County Transit District Board of Directors that will become vacant December 31. For information and links to application documents, see http://www.samtrans.org/news_2008_transit_board_seeks_members_10-13.html.
November 14 – Deadline for nominations for San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame and Young Women of Excellence Awards. For details, see http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/hr/csw or contact Honora Miller at (650) 363-4463, hmiller@co.sanmateo.ca.us.
Have a question? Need help? You can reach me at tnagel@burlingame.org or (650) 347-3576.
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See you around town!