This opinion piece, recently published in Nature, makes a point I think all elected leaders should keep in mind. Yes, a small percentage of the population will panic. But they will be greatly outnumbered by those who heed the call to adapt to a changed world. Moreover, not telling the truth undermines the credibility, and […]
Trust the Public with Hard Truths Read More »
A comment on my recent op ed regarding how to increase diversity of our elected bodies made the following point: When you write “public financial assistance for campaigns” that really means more money coming out of taxpayers’ pockets… and perhaps you are OK with that idea. However, if you live in a district located in
What Defines a Good Community Benefit? Read More »
This piece was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on Monday, October 11, 2021 under the title “Increasing diversity is more than lines on a map“. I appreciated Rudy Espinoza Murray’s recent guest perspective on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors redistricting process. Both Rudy and I serve on the Citizens Advisory Commission
Once every ten years, after the Federal census is completed, elected bodies that are based on districts1 have to review their boundaries and make adjustments. The County Board of Supervisors are elected on a district basis, so the Board of Supervisors must review and, as needed, modify their district maps. To do that they’ve set
It’s District Boundary Review Time!!! Read More »
This post was prompted by a Trump-supporting friend of mine who circulated one of those repost-if-you-agree posts on Facebook, this one targeted at requiring presentation of some form of ID to vote. There’s an aspect to the debate over whether or not IDs should be required to vote which I haven’t seen touched on in
Requiring IDs to Vote Read More »
Elsewhere I’ve noted the fun I’ve been having dropping off door-hangers urging people to vote no on the gubernatorial recall. It’s a great time of year to be out walking in San Carlos1, getting some fresh air and exercise. Only…where did all these hills, steep driveways and multi-story walkways come from? It seems like someone
Who Built All These Hills?!? Read More »
A recent article in Nature reported on how our ancestors apparently were cooking and eating grains long before they realized they could be grown and invented agriculture. While that’s interesting in and of itself the really interesting thing is the way in which the discovery was made. Discarded animal bones from eating meat are common
The Value of Diversity Read More »
This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on June 2, 2021. A recent Daily Journal op ed repeated common misunderstandings about what constitutes a theory and created a false dichotomy involving evolution and the “theory” of intelligent design. That kind of fundamentalist – as in, don’t
Facts, Hypotheses and Theories Read More »
The San Carlos School District is faced with a choice on how to fill the seat soon to be vacated as a result of Carol Elliot’s retirement. This is a topic I have quite a bit of experience with. I’ve been through two different appoint or elect decisions, one when I was on the School
Appoint or Hold an Election Read More »
While this isn’t specifically focused on San Carlos it does reflect an important issue that involves many San Carlans. It also encapsulates some deeply held personal views on politics, governance and patriotism. Whether you agree with it or not I hope you enjoy it (it’s from another website I run). Take Back the Brand! –
Take Back the Brand! Read More »