March 24, 2009
With the stock market fluctuating wildly and people losing jobs every day, it’s hard to focus on the future. Here are a couple of things you can do to keep Burlingame moving forward.
Think green.
This Saturday, March 28, you’re invited to help draft the city's plan for reducing gas emissions and promoting sustainability at a Town Hall Meeting from 10 a.m. to noon at the Burlingame Recreation Center, 850 Burlingame Ave. Coffee and muffins will be served.
Members of the city’s Green Ribbon Task Force will introduce ideas they are developing for the city's Climate Action Plan, which aims to reduce emissions by at least 15 percent by 2020, as required by California law. They will solicit ideas on green building, increasing energy efficiency, solar programs, water conservation, and increasing opportunities for bicycling, walking and transit. The City Council is scheduled to consider adopting the plan in June. For more information, visit www.burlingame.org/sustainable.
The Task Force is also inviting the public to the second annual Burlingame Green Street Fair on Sunday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Park Road near Burlingame Avenue, adjacent to the Fresh Market. It will feature a variety of green vendors, demonstrations and fun activities for kids. Admission is free. For information about reserving a booth, contact Denyse Jones at DJRDesign@gmail.com or (415) 244-9427.
Go blue.
You may have noticed a big blue raindrop on signs around town that say “Yes Storm Drain Measure.” That’s the symbol of the flooding problem we’re trying to fix with a ballot measure that will be mailed to property owners in April. It asks whether you will support funding a complete overhaul of our storm drain system at an average annual cost of $150 per home.
Our storm drain system is more than 80 years old and wasn’t designed to last this long. Every time it rains, water threatens to overwhelm our culverts and catch basins. While city workers work heroically to dam the flow with sandbags, we worry about property damage and polluting the bay – which can cost our city $10,000 a day in fines.
This problem isn’t going to go away, folks. Every year that we put off fixing the storm drains, it just gets more expensive. If we fix it now, the system will be safe for at least another 50 years.
This fee would sunset after 30 years. There is a senior deferral that allows people 62 and older with an income of $35,500 or less per year to delay payment until their property is sold. People can appeal the city’s calculation of the permeable surface on which their fee is based.
And there’s another very important reason we need to support the storm drain measure: Without it, we’re going to have to make still more cuts in the budget in order to begin funding the necessary work. We’ve already had to cut $3 million from the budget, including some police officers, library hours and fire truck staffing. We really don’t want to have to cut another $2 million.
Won’t you join me in supporting this measure? If you have questions, feel free to contact me. If you’d like to place a sign in your yard, send some postcards, help make a few phone calls or leaflet some houses, just let me know. The big kick-off meeting for precinct walking will take place Saturday, April 4, at 9 a.m. Refreshments will be served.
Tax Saving Opportunities
Don’t fall for scams. If you’re wondering whether you are eligible for a property tax savings because your home has decreased in value, the county will review your property’s value for free. Check this San Mateo County site: http://www.smcare.org/homeowner/property_info_systems.asp. Even if you don’t earn enough to pay income taxes, you could be eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit of more than $4,000. Go to this site to learn whether you should contact the IRS: http://www.weconnect.net/eitc.html.
Free Electronic Recycling During March
As part of its grand opening celebration, GreenCitizen's Burlingame Center at 801 Mahler Road, Suite 1, is accepting computers, keyboards, LCDs, printers, TVs, monitors, stereo equipment, toaster, microwaves, cell phones and other electronics at no charge during March.
GreenCitizen is a socially responsible business that was started by Burlingame resident James Kao in 2005. It labels each recycled item with a unique ID and serial number and operates a detailed tracking system that provides complete accountability for, and assurance of, the safe disposal of all toxins.
All TVs, monitors, LCDs and laptops dropped off must be California sourced; otherwise, there is a small fee. Batteries, UPS devices and, CFLs and other light bulbs will be accepted at 50 cents per pound, while fluorescent lights will be accepted at 25 cents per foot of $2 per pound. No washers, driers, refrigerators or air conditioners will be accepted. Usual fees range from 50 cents per pound to $10 for a desktop computer. Hard disk destruction costs $30, while cell phone erasure is $5.
GreenCitizen recently opened its headquarters in Burlingame, where it accepts recycling from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The telephone is (650) 493-8700, ext. 103. For more information, visit www.greencitizen.com.
Short Takes
Looking for a government job in California? Visit http://www.calopps.org … To track the federal stimulus money coming into our state and where jobs are likely to be created, see this article I wrote for Encore.org: http://www.encore.org/news/encore-campaign/follow-money-encore-care ... The Burlingame Police Department has started a red light photo enforcement program at the intersection of Broadway and El Camino Real … The Central County Fire Department will offer free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training on Monday and Wednesday mornings beginning May 11. To register, call (650) 558-7600 … If you are interested in serving on the San Mateo County Grand Jury, let me know. The deadline is March 27 … A eucalyptus tree at 1600 Easton drive will be removed due to decay and replaced with another … Adopt a box of food for a needy family at Easter. Contact the CALL Primrose Center at (650) 342-2255 and ask for Mary … Burlingame High students are trying to collect a dollar for every person who lives in Burlingame to build a high school in Malawi with One Dollar for Life (www.odfl.org). To help, contact Steve Mills at smills@smuhsd.org.
Just for Fun
Foodie alert! Tastespotting at www.tastespotting.com gather the Web’s best recipes, ingredients and food stories and presents them on attractive “recipe cards.” Candy ravioli, eggless quiche, snickerdoodles in bar form, and much more.
Calendar
Thursday, March 26 – 7-9 p.m. Auditions begin for “Burlingame Idols” of all ages to perform with community theater group through Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department. $35 entry fee. Call (650) 697-6936.
Friday, March 27 – Deadline for nominations to the San Mateo County Grand Jury. Contact me.
Saturday, March 28 – 10 a.m. to noon. Town Hall Meeting to give public input on Burlingame’s Climate Action Plan, Burlingame Recreation Center, 850 Burlingame Ave. Refreshments.
Monday, March 30 – 4 p.m. Children from local elementary schools will present the children’s book “Get Well, Good Knight” in the Lane Room at the Burlingame Public Library, 480 Primrose Road. Free.
Wednesday, April 1 – Deadline for online entries for The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s “Designing for Better Health” competition, which awards winners $5,000 for “nudges” that convince others to make better choices about health. For details, visit http://www.rwjf.org/pioneer/product.jsp?id=37528.
Saturday, April 4 – 9 a.m. Kick-off for Storm Drain Measure campaign and precinct walking. Contact Terry for details.
Monday, April 6 – Deadline for public comments on High Speed Rail. Write to Mr. Dan Leavitt, San Francisco to San Jose HST, California High Speed Authority, 925 L St., Suite 1425, Sacramento, CA 95814 or email comments@hsr.ca.gov with “San Francisco to San Jose” in the subject line.
Sunday, April 19 – 6 p.m. Pre-concert talk, 7 p.m. Music at Kohl Mansion concert, featuring the Rossetti Piano Quartet playing Mozart, Dvorak and Faure. For tickets, call (650) 762-1130 or visit www.musicatkohl.org.
Monday, May 11 – 8:30 a.m. Community Emergency Response Team training begins. Call (650) 558-7600 to register.
Sunday, May 17 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Second annual Burlingame Green Street Fair on Park Road near Burlingame Avenue, adjacent to the Fresh Market. Free.
See you around town!
