Recently the Council changed the way the Residential Design Review Committee is structured (this is the commission which reviews and approves home remodeling and construction projects). The change involves hiring individuals with design expertise (e.g., architects) to sit on the RDRC. One of the arguments staff gave for the change was that it would help […]
Deciding on Behalf of the Community Read More »
Occasionally, I get really interesting emails from people about what appear to be simple topics but are actually related to much broader issues of governance. That was the case with one I got from 4th grader Lucia of Arroyo Upper Elementary. Her email — which was very comprehensive, and well thought out — started with
Bakeries and the Human Condition Read More »
This ran in the San Mateo Daily Journal on Monday, April 2, 2018. What would you do with $38,000,000? It’s a question we’d probably all like to face. I can’t offer that princely sum to you as an individual…but it’s a very relevant question for every resident of San Carlos. Because that’s roughly how much
Time to Plan for the Future Read More »
Many people have asked me, since the Council adopted the firearm store moratorium last Fall, what’s been going on vis a vis Turner Outdoorsman. I’ve always answered “nothing that I know of”. That changed yesterday, when I received the following letter. You may have lots of questions about this. However, since it is likely the
Turner Outdoorsman: Pre Litigation Notice Read More »
At tonight’s City Council meeting I asked my colleagues to consider endorsing Proposition 63, Safety for All, a statewide ballot initiative that aims to put a few, simple additional protections into California’s gun regulations, aimed at reducing the potential for mass shootings. Sadly, only Ron Collins supported the idea. Matt Grocott, Bob Grassilli and Mayor
Money Is More Important Than Protecting Lives? Read More »
I submitted the following letter to the editor to both the San Mateo Daily Journal and the Palo Alto Daily Post. But in case they decide not to print it, here it is… I chuckle when newspapers describe public bonds by totaling the payments made over their term. No doubt reporters think bigger numbers catch
This ran in The Daily Post as an op ed piece on January 14, 2015. It was written by Tom Quiggle, Seth Rosenblatt and me. I am including it in my blog because it makes a number of points about governance, and relationships between elected officials, that are important. What you are reading here was scanned-and-OCRd
Don’t Second Guess Voters Read More »
I was recently asked about my endorsement of Measure AA, the Mid Peninsula Regional Open Space District’s June, 2014 ballot initiative. The measure, if approved, would raise about $300 million to fund high-priority projects, supplement current revenue to expand public access and create, improve and maintain preserves, trails and natural areas. It would also provide
The Sequoia Union High School District does a decent job. But it could do much better, for more of our young people. It needs to focus on improving student outcomes, not just test scores, by harnessing a resource that today gets short shrift: classroom teachers. As every high tech and biotech executive in the Bay
Georgia Jack for Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees Read More »
Everyone has their own way of deciding which candidates to support. I just ask myself a simple question: is this person someone who can help build us the future we want? Because while it’s coming at us whether we like it or not, we still control how the future unfolds, based on the people we
Cameron Johnson for San Carlos City Council Read More »