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# Making Your Mark

working together to make San Carlos better

## Sitemaps

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## Posts

- [Flirting with The Beast](https://council.olbert.com/2023/06/flirting-with-the-beast/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. It's been lightly edited to add some additional links. Years ago, while serving on the San Carlos City Council, we experienced a home burglary surge. Sadly, those happen from time to time. There's an
- [Biotech Interest in Canepa](https://council.olbert.com/2026/05/biotech-interest-in-canepa/) - This is a letter to the editor I wrote which was published today in the San Mateo Daily Journal. I'm using the version I submitted, as the Journal munged up the original's formatting, probably to save space. In the interest of transparency, I got to know David Canepa when I was on the San Carlos
- [Gee, and It's So Easy to Get Your Facts Straight!](https://council.olbert.com/2022/10/gee-and-its-so-easy-to-get-your-facts-straight/) - I've recently been challenging Alexander Kent on his housing stance. He's a candidate for the San Carlos City Council, on which I used to serve. He apparently doesn't deal well with criticism :). That's okay, although, if he does get elected, I hope he finds a way to do so. Because being an elected official
- [Alexander Kent: Deleted](https://council.olbert.com/2022/10/alexander-kent-ignorance-in-action/) - Mr. Kent asked me to delete this post -- which only concerned his run for the San Carlos, California, City Council in 2020 -- for personal reasons. Given that my opinion about his candidacy for local office is now irrelevant, I've decided to accommodate his request.
- [Making Driving Interesting in San Carlos](https://council.olbert.com/2024/06/making-driving-interesting-in-san-carlos/) - This is a public comment I made at the June 24, 2024 City Council meeting, lightly edited for clarity. Good evening Mayor Dugan, Vice Mayor McDowell and the rest of the Council. I appreciate you giving me the time to address you tonight. I want to thank the city for keeping our community at the
- [What's Up with the Georgia 14th?](https://council.olbert.com/2024/06/whats-up-with-the-georgia-14th/) - Congressional district, that is. It's the place which keeps sending Marjorie Taylor Greene to represent them in the House of Representatives. This is a question that hit me the other day after reading about MTG's latest idiotic diatribes (this time involving Dr. Fauci). In the interest of full disclosure, my initial question was "what kind
- [Putting All Students First](https://council.olbert.com/2023/10/putting-all-students-first/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on Wednesday, October 10, 2023. Why have a public education system? Many see it as a way of ensuring their kids have the best life possible, and a better one than they themselves did. But the truth is it
- [The Value of Hanging On](https://council.olbert.com/2023/09/the-value-of-hanging-on/) - I’ve heard a number of people, including staunch Democrats, questioning why Senator Feinstein stayed in office rather than retire. Some assumed she or her staff were simply desperate to hold on to power. I didn’t know the Senator so I can’t answer the question. But I believe she was actually doing us — the non-crazy
- [Those Pesky Externalities](https://council.olbert.com/2023/09/those-pesky-externalities/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on September 11, 2023. Free marketeers have complained about excessive government regulation since time immemorial. You’d think, in a representative democracy, by now we would’ve figured out how to address their concerns. Of course, some will ascribe the ongoing
- [Our Friends in Ohio Weigh In!](https://council.olbert.com/2017/12/our-friends-in-ohio-weigh-in/) - I received a charming letter from Bruce Varon, of Maineville, Ohio, who's apparently been closely following our recent City Council discussions about firearm store regulation. You can read his entire letter online, but here's the most important part, I think: Obviously a man who believes in speaking clearly and directly, if not cogently. I guess
- [Gun Culture and Communities](https://council.olbert.com/2023/05/gun-culture-and-communities/) - This post was sparked by a Washington Post opinion piece which is, sadly, probably paywalled but worth reading if you can get ahold of it. It was authored by Christine Emba and published on Monday, May 15, 2023. The article is interesting not only for what it explains about the motivations of many of those
- [We Need Housing Leadership](https://council.olbert.com/2023/05/we-need-housing-leadership/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. We face a housing crisis. Those occur when supply doesn’t map particularly well to the demand for housing at various income levels. Fairness argues those who work in a community ought to have a
- [A Misunderstood System](https://council.olbert.com/2023/03/a-misunderstood-system/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Most of us have no idea how our vaunted economic system works. Granted, not understanding the how doesn’t stop you from benefitting from something. You don’t have to know how your cell phone works
- [Clueless in Palo Alto](https://council.olbert.com/2022/12/clueless-in-palo-alto/) - This is a letter I wrote to the Daily Post after reading an article describing how the Palo Alto City Council was outraged at having to comply with recent changes in California housing law. So the Palo Alto City Council is moaning about how unfair the State is to insist they encourage more housing? And
- [Slow-Walking Housing Policy](https://council.olbert.com/2022/12/slow-walking-housing-policy/) - This is a letter to the San Mateo Daily Journal I wrote which was published on December 5, 2022. I see the San Carlos City Council extended an emergency ordinance to come up with policies implementing SB9, a state law mandating some modest changes to address the housing crisis. This strikes me as classic foot-dragging.
- [Nice People Don't Have to Finish Last](https://council.olbert.com/2022/11/nice-people-dont-have-to-finish-last/) - ...because it's up to us, the voters, who gets to wield public power on our behalf. This is a letter to the editor I submitted today to the Daily Post, the Daily Journal and the Pacifica Tribune. Haven't heard back yet as to whether or not it will be published, so I thought I'd post
- [Lennie Roberts on Ray Mueller](https://council.olbert.com/2022/11/lennie-roberts-on-ray-mueller/) - This is an email Lennie Roberts, a staunch and long-time environmental activist, recently circulated re-affirming her endorsement and support of Ray Mueller. I've removed a few extraneous spaces for clarity. Lennie Roberts and the Mueller Family Hi friends, I don’t usually send out recommendations for political office, but because the District 3 County Board
- ["Originalism" and Voting Rights](https://council.olbert.com/2022/10/originalism-and-voting-rights/) - Over at The Boiling Frog, Seth and I recently published our 19th podcast, on voting rights. As we do with all our podcasts, we ended that one by offering suggestions about what we all could do to protect what has got to be one of the most important rights in any constitutional democracy, the right
- [November, 2022 Elections: Endorsements](https://council.olbert.com/2022/10/november-2022-elections-endorsements/) - Here are the candidates I'm endorsing in the upcoming election, in no particular order Ray Mueller District 3 County Board of Supervisors I've known Ray for years, as he's a long-term member of the Menlo Park City Council. He's a staunch environmental advocate, a champion of women's rights -- not just in the reproductive arena,
- [Ray Mueller for District 3 Board of Supervisors](https://council.olbert.com/2022/10/ray-mueller-for-district-3-board-of-supervisors/) - This is a letter to the editor I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on 10/12/2022. Editor: I was an elected official in San Carlos for almost 20 years, first on the school board and then the city council. On the council I was able to see both candidates for the
- [Acting Against Domestic Violence](https://council.olbert.com/2022/09/acting-against-domestic-violence/) - This is a public comment I made to the San Carlos City Council at their 9/12/2022 meeting. Thank you Mayor McDowell and the rest of the Council for giving me this time to address you. Last week San Carlos saw, in the most horrific fashion possible, just how poorly we deal with domestic violence. This
- [Audits Are a Good Idea!](https://council.olbert.com/2022/08/audits-are-a-good-idea/) - This is a letter to the editor I wrote to the Palo Alto Daily Post which was published August 1, 2022. It was sparked by the second part of Dave Price's July 27, 2022 editorial. Editor: I like the idea of county governments being audited about how they responded to COVID-19. Any process can be
- [Keeping the American Experiment Alive](https://council.olbert.com/2022/07/keeping-the-american-experiment-alive/) - This is an op ed I wrote that was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on July 1, 2022. This Independence Day comes at a disturbing time, with rights being trampled so that personal privileges can be maintained. Underpay people, denying them a decent life while enriching yourself. Require everyone to risk slaughter by
- [Sending Anger, Lots of It](https://council.olbert.com/2022/05/sending-anger-lots-of-it/) - The families suffering from a perfectly avoidable horror in Texas have my sympathy. But I'm not sending thoughts and prayers. Because those are useless, and generally just serve to make the people sending them feel they've done something. No, I'm sending something else: anger. Anger at the idiocy of an advanced nation, dedicated on paper
- [Plans Are Nothing, Planning Is Everything](https://council.olbert.com/2022/05/plans-are-nothing-planning-is-everything/) - This is a letter to the editor I wrote which was published on May 17, 2022 in the San Mateo Daily Journal under the title "San Carlos Development Could Have Been Better Managed." But a better title highlights how planning is a process and, as a process, should be re-done even when major planned-for changes
- [Mueller for Supervisor](https://council.olbert.com/2022/05/mueller-for-supervisor/) - This is my letter to the San Mateo Daily Journal supporting Ray Mueller's bid to represent District 3 on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Editor: I know, and have worked with, almost all the candidates vying for the District 3 seat on the County Board of Supervisors. I strongly support Ray Mueller. He
- [Endorsements: June, 2022 Election](https://council.olbert.com/2022/05/endorsements-june-2022-election/) - District 3 Board of Supervisors Ray Mueller has the experience, intelligence and above all empathy to represent all of us, not just those who are well-off or well-connected. Because he always does his homework, I am confident any decision he makes will be thoughtful and in the community’s interest, not a ploy to win over
- [That's What They're For](https://council.olbert.com/2022/04/thats-what-theyre-for/) - This is op ed was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on Monday, April 11, 2022. What you see here is slightly different from the print version because the Journal objected to me identifying the Council member who made the quote I cited((and also because the printed version contains an edit proposed by the
- [Playing Hide the Football](https://council.olbert.com/2022/03/hide-the-football-isnt-a-good-idea-with-public-money/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the Palo Alto Daily News on March 3, 2022. It relates to the departure, three years ago, of Silicon Valley Clean Water's executive director as a result of sexual harassment allegations brought against him by a former employee (SVCW is our local public agency
- [Basic Economic Realities](https://council.olbert.com/2022/03/basic-economic-reality/) - This is a letter to the editor I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on March 3, 2022. Editor: Basic economic reality is not always the forte of those who write op eds. When John Horgan argued requiring more affordable housing harms those who don’t quality for it – by raising
- [Treating People Like Mushrooms](https://council.olbert.com/2022/02/silicon-valley-clean-water-hid-two-million-dollars-of-spending/) - This is a public comment I made at the February 28, 2022 City Council meeting. It relates to nearly $2,000,000 of expenditures by Silicon Valley Clean Water, our local sewage treatment agency, which was hidden from public view until uncovered by the Palo Alto Daily Post. You can read their coverage here, here, and here.
- [The City of Good Living for the Well Off](https://council.olbert.com/2022/02/city-of-good-living-for-the-well-off/) - This is a letter to the editor I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on 2/23/2022. Editor: When I was on the San Carlos City Council and proposed we discuss pausing commercial development on the east side – 2 million square feet and counting! -- so we could study the dramatic
- [Hard Truths](https://council.olbert.com/2022/01/hard-truths/) - This was published as an op ed in the January 24, 2022. edition of the San Mateo Daily Journal. It’s surprising people are congratulating the San Carlos City Council, on which I used to serve, for standing up to Sacramento “usurping” local control over housing policy. They’re ignoring where that authority comes from: the people
- [The Trillion Dollar Club](https://council.olbert.com/2021/12/the-bay-area-joins-maybe-defines-the-trillion-dollar-club/) - Long-time readers of this blog will recall my last State of the City address focused on just how gigantic the Bay Area economic powerhouse is. I knew it was big...but had no idea just how big it was, despite having lived here for many years. Today the Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis released the 2020
- [Let's Not Forget Commuting's Carbon Footprint](https://council.olbert.com/2021/12/lets-not-forget-commutings-carbon-footprint/) - This op ed ran in the Palo Alto Daily Post on December 8, 2021 (I'll add a link to the paper's version if and when the publisher posts a link to it). It was prompted by comments made by Gina Papan, who serves on the Millbrae City Council, about how "sustainability" argues against increasing residential
- [Droughts and First Come, First Served](https://council.olbert.com/2021/12/droughts-and-first-come-first-served/) - Recently a question was raised on NextDoor about why new homes continue to be constructed when we’re in the middle of a multi-year drought. It’s a great question and sparked a lot of discussion. These are some thoughts on the topic and how it relates to the principles we’ve embodied in our government based on
- [Commuting, Carbon Footprints and Data Mining](https://council.olbert.com/2021/12/commuting-carbon-footprints-and-data-mining/) - I was recently motivated to write an op ed about how the carbon footprint of commuting generally gets overlooked in discussions about addressing climate change. I'll publish the piece online after the print edition comes out, but here I wanted to talk about how you can access all sorts of interesting data online. The need
- [Comments on Redrawing County Districts](https://council.olbert.com/2021/11/comments-on-redistricting/) - I made a brief version of these comments at today's County Board of Supervisors meeting (there were so many commenters the Board chose to limit public comments to one minute rather than the normal two...which is perfectly understandable but was unanticipated by me :)). Good morning, and thanks for giving me time to address you.
- [Room to Represent Us](https://council.olbert.com/2021/11/give-the-board-of-supervisors-room-to-represent-us/) - This op ed was published November 9, 2021 in the San Mateo Daily Journal. This version may be slightly different due to editing by the Journal. “Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.” With apologies for the
- [Trust the Public with Hard Truths](https://council.olbert.com/2021/10/trust-the-public-with-hard-truths/) - 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
- [What Defines a Good Community Benefit?](https://council.olbert.com/2021/10/what-defines-a-good-community-benefit/) - 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
- [Drawing the Lines](https://council.olbert.com/2021/10/drawing-the-lines/) - 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
- [It's District Boundary Review Time!!!](https://council.olbert.com/2021/09/its-district-boundary-review-time/) - Once every ten years, after the Federal census is completed, elected bodies that are based on districts((As opposed to "at large", where all electeds are voted on by everyone in the jurisdiction. The San Carlos School Board and the San Carlos City Council are examples of "at large" entities, so census changes don't affect either.))
- [Requiring IDs to Vote](https://council.olbert.com/2021/09/requiring-ids-to-vote/) - 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
- [Who Built All These Hills?!?](https://council.olbert.com/2021/09/vote-no-on-the-recall-and-who-built-all-these-hills/) - 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 Carlos((when it's not too hot, which it usually isn't)), getting some fresh air and exercise. Only...where did all these hills, steep driveways and
- [Find the Milk!](https://council.olbert.com/2021/08/find-the-harvey-milk-terminal-at-sfo/) - This is a letter to the editor I wrote which was published in the Palo Alto Daily Post on 8/16/2021. Let the games begin! Today I invented a new game. It’s called “find the Harvey Milk Terminal” at SFO. Anyone can play! Park on level 2 of the garage. Walk over to the terminal via
- [The Value of Diversity](https://council.olbert.com/2021/06/the-value-of-diversity/) - 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
- [Juneteenth Holiday is Long Overdue](https://council.olbert.com/2021/06/juneteenth-holiday-is-long-overdue/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the Palo Alto Daily Journal on Saturday, June 19, 2021. Note that the published version may differ slightly from what's here due to editing by the newspaper. In a rare act of near unanimity Congress voted to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday and
- [Facts, Hypotheses and Theories](https://council.olbert.com/2021/06/facts-hypotheses-and-theories/) - 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
- [A New Addiction](https://council.olbert.com/2021/05/a-new-addiction/) - This post was inspired by an editorial in the San Mateo Daily Journal, which focused on "social media addiction" enabled by the technology which wired the world. I encourage you to read it. Every technology has its pluses and minuses. For the "good" ones the pluses outweigh the minuses. I think it'd be hard to
- [How About a Downtown Pedestrian Plaza?](https://council.olbert.com/2021/04/how-about-a-downtown-pedestrian-plaza/) - This is a comment I posted on Chuck Gillooley's White Oaks blog. I thought it deserved a broader audience. It was in response to his article about the Council's recent discussion of the temporary Laurel Street closure, and a poll he published asking if people would like to see it made "permanent". Just about every
- [A Conservative Budget in a Crisis Is Not a Good Thing](https://council.olbert.com/2021/04/a-conservative-budget-in-a-crisis-is-not-a-good-thing/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the Daily Post on April 26, 2021 under the title "Wrong kind of budget in an emergency". Both titles are catchy, IMHO, so go with the one you prefer :). I'll post a link to the Post's website once they publish the piece online.
- [Appoint or Hold an Election](https://council.olbert.com/2021/04/appoint-or-hold-an-election/) - 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
- [Take Back the Brand!](https://council.olbert.com/2021/04/take-back-the-brand/) - 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! -
- [Ray Mueller for County Board of Supervisors](https://council.olbert.com/2021/02/ray-mueller-for-san-mateo-county-board-of-supervisors/) - It gives me great pleasure to explain why I've endorsed Menlo Park Council Member Ray Mueller in his race to join the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. You can read all about it on the endorsement page. I hope you'll take the time to learn more about him!
- [Some Thoughts on Governing](https://council.olbert.com/2020/12/some-thoughts-on-governing/) - These are my farewell remarks, which I gave to the new Council on December 14, 2020. The video is about 7.5 minutes long.
- [So Long, and Thanx for a Great Ride!](https://council.olbert.com/2020/12/so-long-and-thanx-for-a-great-ride/) - It's been a wonderful experience working on behalf of the San Carlos community, first on the School Board and since 2011 on the City Council. I will always treasure that nearly 20 year "second act". I'll be posting a small number of articles about my departure from the Council, mostly reflections on my time spent
- [Downtown Laurel Street Program Extended](https://council.olbert.com/2020/11/downtown-laurel-street-program-extended/) - Last night the Council had a lengthy discussion focused on what the "end date" should be for our temporary downtown Laurel Street configuration. I say "end date" in quotes because the Council can extend or adjust the date at any time...at least to some extent. Public Decisions Cannot Be Arbitrary or Capricious But why not
- [Promoting Diversity in Local Government](https://council.olbert.com/2020/11/promoting-diversity-in-local-government/) - These are remarks I made during the November 11, 2020 Council meeting. I've lightly edited them for clarity. Recently the Council was faced with making a choice on who to appoint to various commission slots and the backup lists for those slots. In at least one instance the argument was made to pick one candidate
- [Helping All Downtown Merchants](https://council.olbert.com/2020/11/helping-all-downtown-merchants/) - Sorry about the late notice about this -- it's been a busy week! -- but tonight the Council will be discussing whether or not to set an end date for the current use of public parking spaces by downtown merchants. Presumably discussion of the program more broadly will take place, too. This is particularly germane
- [A Word from Law Enforcement](https://council.olbert.com/2020/10/a-word-from-law-enforcement/) - Several people have contacted me, or written on social media, how they are concerned about the prospect of people interfering with others' right to vote. I don't think that's going to be an issue in San Carlos, and I suspect the Sheriff's Office, from whom we get our law enforcement, doesn't either. But one of
- [Big Challenges Generally Require Big Responses](https://council.olbert.com/2020/10/big-challenges-generally-require-big-responses/) - ...and in the case of childcare capacity as it's been mauled by Covid-19 it definitely does. Many, if not almost all, childcare facilities are teetering on the edge because they have had to reduce the number of children they can support to maintain appropriate social distancing. So their revenues are down but costs, except perhaps
- [Laurel Street Closure Poll](https://council.olbert.com/2020/10/laurel-street-closure-poll/) - Late last week I released a poll -- an unscientific, not statistically-valid poll -- seeking feedback on how San Carlans and visitors use of downtown Laurel Street had changed as a result of the pandemic. Here are the results (this is Powerpoint slideshow I'll be sharing with my colleagues and the public tonight under Council
- [Reflections: Paranoia, Tribalism and Politics](https://council.olbert.com/2020/10/reflections-paranoia-tribalism-and-politics/) - This is one of a series of reflections I plan to write as I wind up my almost twenty year stint as a local elected official. The goal is simple: share things I’ve learned, or think I’ve learned, which I didn’t know before I began that journey. Which will, hopefully, make the interactions of my
- [Downtown Laurel Street](https://council.olbert.com/2020/10/downtown-laurel-street/) - I'm trying to gather information on how the use of our downtown has changed since the pandemic started. If you'd like to help please fill out the survey at https://s.surveyplanet.com/EE4LaX53V. You can provide an email if you want to but it's not required. This is an anonymous survey.
- [Reflections: Who's Running This Place, Anyway?](https://council.olbert.com/2020/10/reflections-whos-running-this-place-anyway/) - This is one of a series of reflections I plan to write as I wind up my almost twenty year stint as a local elected official. The goal is simple: share things I’ve learned, or think I’ve learned, which I didn’t know before I began that journey. Which will, hopefully, make the interactions of my
- [That's Not a Typographic Error!](https://council.olbert.com/2020/10/thats-not-a-typographic-error/) - This is one in a series of catch-up articles, related to Council discussions and actions which took place a few weeks ago. Life got in the way so it's taken me until now to write about them. But I think they touch on important topics so I figure they're worth publishing even if they're a
- [So What's Wrong with the Budget, Anyway?](https://council.olbert.com/2020/10/so-whats-wrong-with-the-budget-anyway/) - This is one in a series of catch-up articles, related to Council discussions and actions which took place a few weeks ago. Life got in the way so it's taken me until now to write about them. But I think they touch on important topics so I figure they're worth publishing even if they're a
- [Reminder: Community Conversation on Managing thru the Pandemic](https://council.olbert.com/2020/09/reminder-community-conversation-on-managing-thru-the-pandemic/) - Please tune in this coming Wednesday, September 9th, at 6:30 PM for a panel discussion of local elected leaders on managing public affairs during the pandemic. The panel will be hosted by Menlo Park Council member Ray Mueller and will feature Mayor Ron Collins from San Carlos, State Senate candidate Josh Becker, County Superintendent of
- [I Support Ron Collins](https://council.olbert.com/2020/09/i-support-ron-collins/) - We all know how important this November's election is at the national level. But there are also two seats on our City Council on the ballot. Ron Collins, our current Mayor and my colleague for the last nine years, is running for re-election. I sometimes refer to Ron as "Mr. San Carlos"...because, for me, he
- [Where's the Beef?](https://council.olbert.com/2020/08/wheres-the-beef/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the Palo Alto Daily Post on Saturday, August 29, 2020 under the title There’s No Substitute for Elections. You can find the article on line here. I was saddened, and disappointed, to hear the San Carlos School District will be filling a vacancy on
- [Meet John Dugan!](https://council.olbert.com/2020/08/meet-john-dugan/) - On Wednesday, September 2nd, I’ll be hosting a meet-and-greet for John Dugan, who is running for a seat on the San Carlos City Council. It will start at 7 PM. John has lived in San Carlos for a number of years and currently serves on our Planning Commission. He immediately impressed me in that role
- [Budgeting During a Pandemic: Feedback Needed](https://council.olbert.com/2020/08/budgeting-during-a-pandemic-feedback-urgently-needed/) - Monday night the Council reviewed the proposed budget for 2020/2021((The city fiscal year starts on July 1st and ends the next June 30th.)). "The budget" is actually several budgets -- one for general operating expenses, one for capital projects, one for sewer system operations, etc. -- which get reviewed and enacted together. You can find
- [Community Conversation: Managing During the Pandemic](https://council.olbert.com/2020/08/community-conversation-managing-during-the-pandemic/) - Ray Mueller -- a long-serving member of the Menlo Park City Council whom I've gotten to know over my years on the San Carlos City Council and whom I greatly admire -- is moderating a Zoom panel discussion on Wednesday, September 9th, starting at 6:30 PM. The topic is "A Community Conversation on Small Business,
- [A Seat at the Table](https://council.olbert.com/2020/08/a-seat-at-the-table/) - This is a letter to the San Mateo Daily Journal I wrote in response to a recent article by Matt Grocott, a former member of the San Carlos City Council. I read Matt Grocott’s August 11th column with interest. Matt & I were locally elected in the same year, 2001. He joined San Carlos’ City
- [Reflections: What's Wrong with First Come, First Served?](https://council.olbert.com/2020/08/reflections-whats-wrong-with-first-come-first-served/) - This is one of a series of reflections I plan to write as I wind up my almost twenty year stint as a local elected official. The goal is simple: share things I’ve learned, or think I’ve learned, which I didn’t know before I began that journey. Which will, hopefully, make the interactions of my
- [Mask Requirements, Administrative Violations, Criminal Violations and Enforcement](https://council.olbert.com/2020/08/mask-requirements-administrative-violations-criminal-violations-and-enforcement/) - This article is prompted by recent discussions on NextDoor about the County Board of Supervisors decriminalizing failure to wear masks when required and authorizing fines for violations. Much of the discussion involved how the enforcement process would work, who would be enforcing it, etc. Standard disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. But I’ve become fairly
- [Covid-19: County Authorizes Fines for Not Wearing Masks](https://council.olbert.com/2020/08/covid-19-county-authorizes-fines-for-not-wearing-masks/) - The County Board of Supervisors today (8/4/2020) authorized enforcement officers, throughout the County, to fine individuals and organizations not adhering to the State's mask requirements. Individuals can be fined $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second and $500 for each additional violation within the same year. Individual violations must be observed by an
- [Even in The City of Good Living...](https://council.olbert.com/2020/07/even-in-the-city-of-good-living/) - As I was walking north on Laurel today, passing the post office, an older((white)) woman walking south -- nicely dressed, nothing odd about her -- passed an Hispanic/Asian((I think the dad was Hispanic. Masks make it difficult to tell sometimes.)) family, including a young teen boy, also going north. And proceeded to lambast them about
- [Anybody Seen Tony & Doug Around Here?](https://council.olbert.com/2020/07/anybody-seen-tony-doug-around-here/) - Part of the nearly $1 billion upgrade to the Silicon Valley Clean Water system -- the joint powers authority that accepts, treats and cleans all the sewage from Belmont down to the northern parts of Menlo Park -- involves upgrading the main pipelines that feed into the facility at the eastern edge of Redwood Shores.
- [Thanx for Your Support!](https://council.olbert.com/2020/07/thanx-for-your-support/) - At the end of tonight's Council meeting I announced I won't be seeking a third term on the Council this November. The filing period for candidates opened today, so if you're interested in running get in touch with Crystal Mui, our city clerk. I'll have more to say when I actually retire from the Council
- [The Wearing of Masks and Decision-making](https://council.olbert.com/2020/07/the-wearing-of-masks-and-decision-making/) - This article was sparked by a flurry of emails I got recently asking me, as a Council member, to be sure mask-wearing wasn't made mandatory. Please note this article was re-written in part after a reader pointed out I was wrong to say mask wearing wasn't currently required. It is. My apologies for the mistake!
- [In Need of a Mid Course Correction](https://council.olbert.com/2020/06/in-need-of-a-mid-course-correction/) - This article is prompted by a comment made about our outdoor dining experiment. Here's the key part of what someone wrote online: Please you speak up so often on issues where you feel in the right but here you are silent. What is your plan for the businesses that have been impacted by this hasty
- [Hang On to Your Seats!](https://council.olbert.com/2020/06/hang-on-to-your-seats/) - . ...and I sure hope you're ready for the ride. I'm not sure I am. Last night the Council authorized an environmental impact report "...for the Alexandria Life Sciences & Technology Project at 987 Commercial Street..." For those not recognizing the address this will be a giant commercial development spanning most of the land between
- [Surely They Deserved a Refund](https://council.olbert.com/2020/06/surely-they-deserved-a-refund/) - Last night during agenda setting -- when the Council discusses what items it's willing to put on a future agenda for discussion and action -- I asked my colleagues to do something simple and non-controversial. At least I thought it was simple and non-controversial. Discuss refunding the $2,000 appeal fee paid by some residents of
- [Outdoor Dining Comes to Laurel Street](https://council.olbert.com/2020/06/outdoor-dining-comes-to-laurel-street/) - Last night the Council unanimously approved re-configuring parts of Laurel Street into a pedestrian mall. Restauranteurs and shop owners will be allowed to use parts of the public right of way in front of their businesses. The details vary depending upon which section of Laurel Street you're talking about. Some will just involve blocking off
- [Why Doesn't the Council Listen to Us?](https://council.olbert.com/2020/06/why-doesnt-the-council-listen-to-us/) - At this week's Council meeting we heard an appeal from residents of the Pacific Hacienda complex who objected to the Planning Commission's approval of a multi-family project to be built right next door to where they live. And to be clear, in this case "right next door" means "right next door" -- some aspects of
- [Dreaming Bigger Would've Been Much Better](https://council.olbert.com/2020/06/dreaming-bigger-wouldve-been-much-better/) - The Council last night approved on a 4-1 vote (I opposed) establishing a temporary/experimental bike loop near the downtown core. I'm not opposed to giving people a chance to ride their bikes. In fact, I had just voted to approve the Pedestrian/Bicycle Master Plan (with the caveat it be quickly augmented to cover more of
- [$14,000,000 to Protect Pensions](https://council.olbert.com/2020/06/14000000-to-protect-pensions/) - The City Council tonight approved -- by a 4 to 1 vote (I opposed) -- pre-paying an additional $7,000,000 towards the city's pension obligations. A pre-payment means investing money in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CALPERS) above and beyond what the city is required to contribute. This latest prepayment was on top of a
- [Hurray for Pride Month!](https://council.olbert.com/2020/06/hurray-for-pride-month/) - Last year the city established a new tradition: officially celebrating June as Pride Month. Pride Month means different things to different people, ranging from a statement of "we support each other in our lifestyle choices and want everyone treated respectfully, and equally before the law" to darker opinions. Me, I'm in the former camp. How
- [Covid-19: Latest County Regulations](https://council.olbert.com/2020/05/covid-19-latest-county-regulations/) - I sat in on the 5/29/2020 conference video call hosted by the County on Covid-19. A bit over 30 minutes of the hour-long session was a report by Dr. Scott Morrow, the County's health officer who has been taking the lead on formulating the County's emergency health regulations. Regulations Relaxed to State Level... Dr. Morrow
- [Taking Counsel from Your Fears](https://council.olbert.com/2020/05/taking-counsel-from-your-fears/) - As I've written about before the San Carlos School District is in dire straits due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of a joint discussion between members of the City Council and the School Board the District asked the City to consider a grant of $1.5 million. Personally I'm not sure if a grant or
- [Local Businesses: San Mateo County GOP Petition](https://council.olbert.com/2020/05/local-businesses-san-mateo-county-gop-petition/) - The San Mateo County GOP gathered signatures in San Carlos for a petition they submitted to the Board of Supervisors. Here's the petition: RESOLUTION DEMANDING SAN MATEO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS LIFT COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS FOR ALL BUSINESSES THAT CAN FOLLOW GUIDELINES Whereas the Health Officer of San Mateo County has issued a new Shelter-In-Place Order
- [Lending a Hand in a Time of Need](https://council.olbert.com/2020/05/lending-a-hand-in-a-time-of-need/) - This week I successfully lobbied my colleagues to direct our representatives on the "2+2" -- the joint subcommittee of the Council and the School Board -- to discuss ways of providing some financial support to the San Carlos School District. What form that will take, how much it will be, and whether we ultimately provide
- [Why Aren't There More Stop Signs?](https://council.olbert.com/2020/05/why-arent-there-more-stop-signs/) - It's not uncommon for Council members to be asked to install a stop sign at some intersection that a resident believes needs one. That can be due to poor driver behavior, speeding or something else. People are always surprised when they find out installing a stop sign isn't a simple matter. How expensive can a
- [Slow Streets Are Safer Streets](https://council.olbert.com/2020/05/slow-streets-are-safer-streets/) - Last night the Council appointed a subcommittee (Ron & Adam) to develop ideas in three areas; - Creating a temporary pedestrian mall on the northern few blocks of Laurel Street, the core downtown area; - Make recommendations on if and how to implement a “slow streets” program; - Make recommendations on streets that might be
- [Covid-19: Apples and Oranges](https://council.olbert.com/2020/05/covid-19-apples-and-oranges/) - We've all heard the numbers reported about Covid-19 deaths in the US. We're also familiar with the annual mortality statistics for the flu. Indeed, it's common to hear the two sets of numbers compared to each other in order to put the Covid-19 pandemic in perspective. Only...it appears we've been comparing apples and oranges. The
- [Bike/Play Neighborhoods and a Temporary Pedestrian Mall](https://council.olbert.com/2020/04/bike-play-neighborhoods-and-a-temporary-pedestrian-mall/) - Last night the Council asked staff to look into a couple of ideas I'd gotten from residents and business owners((Thanx, Sonia, Greg and others!)): Allow neighborhoods to close off their block at certain times to create impromptu biking and play areas((My neighbors south of me on Chestnut had an impromptu one the other night and
- [Hands and Knees](https://council.olbert.com/2020/04/hands-and-knees/) - Tonight the Council approved a six month delay in its previously-approved minimum wage increase that was to have taken effect on July 1, 2020. The reason? Because local businesses are under enormous financial strain as a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic. That's certainly true. But there are a number of other approaches the Council
- [Covid-19: County Update Call 4/17/2020](https://council.olbert.com/2020/04/covid-19-county-update-call-4-17-2020/) - Highlights The supply of available hospital beds and ventilators appears to be in decent shape.The rate of infection (in terms of positive tests) appears highest in the 30 to 50 year old age group. Fatalities are concentrated in the over 80 age group.Face coverings while in public will become mandatory tonight (4/17/2020) at 11:59 PM.
- [Working thru a Crisis: 4/13/2020 Council Meeting](https://council.olbert.com/2020/04/working-thru-a-crisis-4-13-2020-council-meeting/) - Our agenda this week had several items on it related to the Covid-19 crisis((There were also a few consent calendar items, most of which were administrative items related to normal city operations.)): Receive an Update on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)Discuss and Direct Staff Concerning a Moratorium on Commercial EvictionsConsideration of Adopting a Resolution Establishing a Tenant
- [Covid-19: Assemblies on Private Property](https://council.olbert.com/2020/04/covid-19-assemblies-on-private-property/) - This article was sparked by an issue someone reported on NextDoor. Here's the gist: Last night, lots of people heard a very loud, large, social backyard birthday party that went for around 6 hours. I'm sure we all want to be partying during this time but it made people around the neighborhood feel disrespected and
- [Covid-19 and Real Estate](https://council.olbert.com/2020/04/covid-19-and-real-estate/) - I've gotten a number of questions related to what the County emergency regulations focused on real estate transactions mean in practice. It’s very important that residents and businesses adhere to the shelter-in-place, safe distancing and essential business regulations issued by the County. Since we have no vaccine for Covid-19 the only way we can break
- [Addendum to On Tennis Courts, Beaches and Pandemics](https://council.olbert.com/2020/04/addendum-to-on-tennis-courts-beaches-and-pandemics/) - My earlier post generated an interesting question on NextDoor. I thought it and my reply were worth preserving and disseminating. Here's the question: Shouldn't government (at least in America) be as "minimal" as possible to get the job done? I usually appreciate your comments but what you write here sounds extremely scary, that is directly
- [On Tennis Courts, Beaches and Pandemics](https://council.olbert.com/2020/04/on-tennis-courts-beaches-and-pandemics/) - This post was sparked by an email I recently received, which said in part: I am reaching out to see if it would be possible to re-open the tennis courts located near the park. My daughter and I were able to use the courts several times recently – which provided a much-needed break from the
- [Covid-19: Interacting with Law Enforcement](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-interacting-with-law-enforcement/) - As I write this there's a big discussion on NextDoor about an interaction someone had with a Sheriff's deputy while walking their dog in San Carlos. According to the individuals involved the deputy said "...they are stopping people and asking where they live because we are supposed to just stay in our own neighborhoods when
- [Covid-19: County Manager's 3/27/2020 Conference Call](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-county-managers-3-27-2020-conference-call/) - I was able to sit in on Mike Callagy's conference call for local elected officials today. The County, along with all the cities in San Mateo County, are working hard gearing up to address the many consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. The entirety of my notes appear below but I wanted to highlight a few
- [Covid-19: A Call for Local Ideas](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-a-call-for-local-ideas/) - At last Monday's Council meeting I made a brief presentation to my colleagues about wanting to ensure we continued to fulfill our policy- and law- making duties during this emergency (you can find the PowerPoint at the end of this article). "Let’s not interfere with staff’s job...but let’s do ours". There was reasonably broad support
- [Covid-19: 3/20/2020 Notes](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-3-20-2020-notes/) - I don't have notes from today's County conference call to share. But here are a few pieces of information (new to me, at least) that may be of use to others. Call 211 for Information and to Report Covid-19 Related Issues The County is asking people not to tie up the 911 emergency dispatch lines
- [Covid-19: Notes from 3/19/2020 County Briefing](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-notes-from-3-19-2020-county-briefing/) - Here are the notes from today's conference call. Please note that I wasn't on the call. We're rotating participation among Council members out of Brown Act concerns and will be shifting to a straightforward subcommittee after next Monday's Council meeting for the same reason. Report from John Beiers, County Counsel: Board of Supervisors recommendation next
- [Covid-19: Gardeners](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-gardeners/) - Yesterday I posted some notes from the daily County conference call which mentioned that questions involving gardeners were a hot topic on the County help line. But it wasn't clear from the discussion how the latest shelter-in-place regulation applied to gardeners. Today I learned the answer from city staff (the question was a popular one
- [Covid-19: Notes from 3/18/2020 County Briefing](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-notes-from-3-18-2020-county-briefing/) - The County Manager's office is holding conference calls with representatives of all the San Mateo County city councils every weekday. It's does a great job of keeping local elected officials in the loop on what the County -- who has the primary role in responding to local public health crises -- is doing. Today I
- [Covid-19: Reaching Out to Neighbors](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-reaching-out-to-neighbors/) - Not that people need a guide on how to write a letter, but here's what Barbara & I distributed to our block earlier today: [pdf-embedder url="http://104.168.220.233/council/public_html/wp-content/uploads/covid19/Covid-19-Neighborhood-Letter.pdf"]
- [Covid-19: San Mateo County Tightens Assembly Rules](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-san-mateo-county-tightens-assembly-rules/) - The following just came across the San Mateo County Alert System (SMC Alert; you can join it online). Emphasis added and a minor formatting error in the Spanish language version corrected. On order of the health officer, gatherings of more than 50 individuals are prohibited in San Mateo County effective 12:01 a.m. Sunday, March 15, 2020.
- [Covid-19: Lending a Hand](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-lending-a-hand/) - I've been extremely impressed by the outpouring of support by San Carlans for the folks who are being quarantined at the Fairfield Inn as a result of having tested positive for Covid-19. We often talk about San Carlos being a welcoming city, but actions speak louder than words, and the actions here are a heart-warming
- [Why Viral Diseases Can Require Quarantines](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/why-viral-diseases-can-require-quarantines/) - I've written an article on why quarantines can be critical in combating novel viral infections. You can find it here.
- [Covid-19 Quarantine Facility: Questions and Answers](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-quarantine-facility-questions-and-answers/) - This article concerns the State & Federal effort to quarantine individuals testing positive for Covid-19 in a San Carlos hotel. It's likely to be an evolving situation so I expect to be updating this article more often than I usually do. New questions or questions with significant updates are marked with an asterisk. On March
- [Covid-19: Reflections from Special Council Meeting and Advice](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/covid-19-reflections-from-special-council-meeting-and-advice/) - Last night (3/12/2020) the Council held a special meeting to consider affirming the declaration of emergency the city manager had issued a day ago and to discuss whether or not to take additional steps to protect public health in San Carlos. The meeting began with presentations by state and federal emergency management personnel on the
- [A Letter on Housing and Governance](https://council.olbert.com/2020/03/a-letter-on-housing-and-governance/) - I recently got a letter from a resident who attended the last housing community meeting. It touched on a number of topics in a few words so I thought I'd use it to frame some things. I'll present it in pieces so as to keep my commentary focused. I recently attended the San Carlos community
- [That I-280/Crestview Topic](https://council.olbert.com/2020/02/that-i-280-crestview-topic/) - A number of residents got concerned about the Transportation and Circulation Commission having an item on their "possible topics for future meetings" item which was entitled "Feasibility of Additional Onramp to Interstate 280". I thought it would be helpful to write about what's going on with this. But first, the short version: my understanding is
- [Why Bother to Meet?](https://council.olbert.com/2020/02/why-bother-to-meet/) - The Council recently had an unusual experience: its first February meeting was canceled. While we typically do that in the summer (to avoid wrestling with vacation schedules) and late December (because city hall closes to minimize operating costs) it’s rare to cancel any other meeting. The decision to cancel was made, consistent with our policies,
- [Mike Brownrigg for State Senate](https://council.olbert.com/2020/02/mike-brownrigg-for-state-senate/) - When I think about who I want representing me in government I look at more than just how closely a candidate’s views mirror my own. Granted, that’s an important factor. But there’s something even more important. I want a candidate who will probe the issues, push on the accepted wisdom, and listen to all voters
- [Freedom and the Law](https://council.olbert.com/2020/02/freedom-and-the-law/) - A recent NextDoor comment asserted the Council broke the law regarding how our train depot was treated in the Transit Village/Trestle Apartment project. Because the depot is on the National Register of Historic Places development around it must, by law, protect its historic status. While people are entitled to hold whatever opinion they wish, and
- [The High Cost of Free Parking](https://council.olbert.com/2020/02/the-high-cost-of-free-parking/) - After writing this I was asked how much money is in the Parking In-Lieu fund. The answer is $172,713 as of 6/30/2019 (I doubt it's changed much since then). That represents only about 17 parking spaces at the current fee rate. The San Mateo Daily Journal ran an article today (2/1/2020) about a proposed increase
- [I'm Having an Effect!](https://council.olbert.com/2019/01/im-having-an-effect/) - As close followers of the City Council know, I've asked that staff and my colleagues refer to me as "the chair of the Council", or "the chair", rather than "the mayor". That's because the overwhelming majority of my responsibility is to coordinate and run the meetings -- chair them -- and not to exercise any
- [State Density Bonuses](https://council.olbert.com/2020/01/state-density-bonuses/) - I'm writing this post based on community discussion occurring around the 626 Walnut Street condominium project. As far as I can recall this is the first project claiming to be entitled to density bonuses to come forward in San Carlos since I joined the Council. Consequently I'm still learning about California's density bonus law. Please
- [Mayors and General Law Cities](https://council.olbert.com/2019/12/mayors-and-general-law-cities/) - Recently there was a VOCA poll that asked people from San Carlos how the mayor should be chosen. Three options were offered: Rotated among council membersAppointed by majority vote of City CouncilDirectly elected by voters I think it's great that VOCA is trying to use web technologies to increase citizen engagement with local government. But
- [Allocating Property Taxes](https://council.olbert.com/2019/12/allocating-property-taxes/) - Ever since I became an elected official I've been asked why we can't reallocate our property taxes among the various public agencies they fund to reflect the community's current priorities. This came up recently because the City of San Carlos is running significant surpluses while the San Carlos Elementary School District is having difficulty making
- [Closing Remarks as Chair of the Council](https://council.olbert.com/2019/12/closing-remarks-as-chair-of-the-council/) - These are the remarks I delivered on December 9, 2019 as I was wrapping up my year as chair of the Council (aka mayor). This year’s been a great reboot for the Council! I also hope you all had some fun along the way. No job is so serious that you can’t enjoy doing it
- [Don't Second Guess Voters](https://council.olbert.com/2015/01/dont-second-guess-voters/) - 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
- [Parking Signs and Law Enforcement](https://council.olbert.com/2018/02/parking-signs-and-law-enforcement/) - This was sparked by an odd, to me, discussion the Council had last night. In all fairness, while I think the direction the Council appears to be going on this particular issue is wrong, it's not that big a deal. But it does serve to highlight an issue that's rarely discussed when residents talk about
- [Where Are All Those Cars Coming From?](https://council.olbert.com/2018/02/where-are-all-those-cars-coming-from/) - Traffic is a topic that's sparked quite a bit of debate in San Carlos over the last few years. Ask almost anyone who lives here about it, and you'll get an earful. Usually involving too many new homes, apartments or condos, and too many new people coming to live here. But I don't think that's
- [The $38,000,000 Question](https://council.olbert.com/2018/02/the-38000000-question/) - What would you do with $38,000,000? It’s a question we’d probably all like to face. Now, I can’t offer that princely sum to you as an individual…but it’s a very relevant question for every resident of the City of San Carlos. Because, you see, that’s roughly how much the City has in financial reserves. And
- [Time for a Different Approach](https://council.olbert.com/2015/05/time-for-a-different-approach/) - Last week PG&E discovered a couple of anomalous bulges in Line 147. They were uncovered in the course of preparing to remove a bend in the pipeline which would prevent a telemetry robot – a “pig” – from traversing it and studying the line from the inside. As of today, PG&E doesn't know what caused
- [On the Importance of Public Comment](https://council.olbert.com/2012/05/on_public_comment/) - I have a short — some might say too short — bucket list. One of the few items on it is “experience a total solar eclipse”. I’ve been through a fair number of partial ones, but the difference between “almost hidden” and “completely hidden” is tremendous when you’re dealing with something as bright as the
- [Turner Outdoorsman: Pre Litigation Notice](https://council.olbert.com/2018/02/turner-outdoorsman-pre-litigation-notice/) - 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
- [Time to Plan for the Future](https://council.olbert.com/2018/04/time-to-plan-for-the-future/) - 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
- [Bakeries and the Human Condition](https://council.olbert.com/2018/05/bakeries-and-the-human-condition/) - 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
- [Deciding on Behalf of the Community](https://council.olbert.com/2018/06/deciding-on-behalf-of-the-community/) - 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
- [Should the Council Get Up to a 145% Raise?](https://council.olbert.com/2018/09/should-the-council-get-up-to-a-145-raise/) - At last Monday’s Council meeting, a discussion requested by Matt Grocott, to consider changing how much council members are paid, took place. Although no specific dollar changes were proposed, all four of us (Bob Grassilli was out of town) agreed to bring such an item forward for action at a future meeting, although for different
- [Halloween and Honeybees](https://council.olbert.com/2018/11/halloween-and-honeybees/) - I received a well-written email from a Central middle school 6th grader on a topic which I would never, in a million years, have expected to receive. I thought you might be interested in both the issue and my reply. Because it was a great opportunity to talk about being the change... Here's the email
- [Giving Back to the Community](https://council.olbert.com/2018/11/giving-back-to-the-community/) - At our November 13th meeting, staff presented the audited financial results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. The Council ultimately ended up accepting staff's recommendations as to how to allocate the surplus to various reserves. But the more interesting part of the story was in the size of the surplus: nearly $7,000,000, the
- [San Carlos Rewarding Monumentally Bad Behavior](https://council.olbert.com/2019/05/san-carlos-rewarding-monumentally-bad-behavior/) - Some time ago my colleagues agreed to a suggestion I made about having staff put our banking services contract out for bid. While the then-current provider, Wells Fargo, had been providing services for enough years that it was good practice to re-bid the service, there was a more important reason to do so. At least
- [Not an Opinion I Agree With, At All](https://council.olbert.com/2019/06/not-an-opinion-i-agree-with-at-all/) - Well, it finally arrived this afternoon: an email disagreeing with the City celebrating Pride month: As a homeowner in San Carlos for over 40 years my father X and myself Y as his POA [power of attorney, I think] would like to make a complaint. We both disagree strongly with the Pride banner over Laurel
- [Tunnel Boring Machine](https://council.olbert.com/2019/07/tunnel-boring-machine/) - Silicon Valley Clean Water, the joint powers authority which operates the treatment facility out in Redwood Shores which handles wastewater from Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Atherton and Menlo Park, is in the midst of a multi-year, multi-hundred-million-dollar maintenance/enhancement project. As part of that project they are building a new line which will pump wastewater
- [Protecting the Public's Right to Know](https://council.olbert.com/2019/08/protecting-the-publics-right-to-know/) - This is an op ed I wrote which was published in the Palo Alto Daily Post. Early this year I became San Carlos’ representative on the Silicon Valley Clean Water commission. SVCW operates the sanitary waste treatment system serving Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and areas of East Palo Alto,
- [A Huge Transparency Hole?](https://council.olbert.com/2019/08/a-huge-transparency-hole/) - Imagine a public agency being threatened with a lawsuit for something it's done, or hasn't done. Seeking to avoid going to court it enters settlement discussions with the potential litigant. The strategy it decides to follow is set in closed session discussions. That's allowed because it protects the public interest by not letting the other
- [Time to Speak Up About Commercial Development](https://council.olbert.com/2019/09/time-to-speak-up-about-commercial-development/) - This is op ed was published in the Daily Post on Thursday, September 26, 2019. I'll post a link to the online article on the Post's website as soon as it's available. About ten years ago San Carlos updated its General Plan, the master document defining how the community wants to see itself evolve. That
- [State of the City Redux](https://council.olbert.com/2019/10/state-of-the-city-redux/) - Just a refresher post pointing at the State of the City address I gave back in March that addresses, in more detail, the background behind San Carlos' current development outlook, and the choices we can make as a community about it.
- [Special Neighborhood Events](https://council.olbert.com/2019/10/special-neighborhood-events/) - There’s been a discussion on NextDoor recently regarding rule changes the city made affecting “street celebrations” in San Carlos. The thread centered on the Eucalyptus Halloween event but by extension also included the Christmas/Holiday Light event also held on Eucalyptus. The city has not changed the rules governing these kinds of events. Instead, the city
- [State of the City 2019: Economic Powerhouse](https://council.olbert.com/2019/10/state-of-the-city-2019-economic-powerhouse/) - This is the first of several extracts from the State of the City address I gave last March which I'll be posting. This one focuses on just how significant the Bay Area economy is as a result of how interconnected the region is with the rest of the world economically. The energy -- personal, commercial,
- [Holiday Celebrations](https://council.olbert.com/2019/10/holiday-celebrations/) - I've seen quite a bit of discussion online about the city's stance regarding holiday celebrations, specifically the Eucalyptus Avenue ones that traditionally occur on Halloween and for Christmas. I thought it would be helpful to share what I know about what the city has done recently. Let's start with the basics. There aren't any rules
- [State of the City 2019: Development Decisions](https://council.olbert.com/2019/11/state-of-the-city-2019-development-decisions/) - This is the second of several extracts from the State of the City address I gave last March which I'll be posting. This one focuses on how development decisions are made, how development policies are set, and advice on when community members can have the most impact on future developments in the city. link to
- [Another Banner Year](https://council.olbert.com/2019/11/another-banner-year/) - The city typically has two big financial events annually. The first, and the one that gets the most attention, is in the Spring when the budget is discussed and adopted. That's where the Council decides, in some detail, how it intends to provide for public health and safety and maintain or improve the quality of
- [Beyond Local Issues](https://council.olbert.com/2018/01/beyond-local-issues/) - This op ed was published today in the San Mateo Daily Journal. At its last meeting the San Carlos City Council adopted a resolution supporting the Citizens Climate Lobby, a group promoting a bipartisan effort to combat climate change. If you'd like to learn more about them, check out https://citizensclimatelobby.org. It’s an interesting proposal. The
- [The Depot Cafe](https://council.olbert.com/2018/02/the-depot-cafe/) - Recently, the owner of the Depot Café restaurant, which operates out of the old train station building at the San Carlos CalTrain stop, announced she was closing. Given that the Café has been there for decades, this naturally upset some residents, some of whom have, in turn, asked the City to do something to save
- [Investing Millions in a Project No One Requested](https://council.olbert.com/2018/02/investing-millions-in-a-project-no-one-requested/) - This Monday, February 26th, the Council will be voting on whether or not to move forward with rebuilding the Holly/101 interchange. That sounds like a reasonable thing to do. Besides improving traffic flow and safety, it will also buy us a new pedestrian/bicycle crossing over the 101. In fact, when this project first started wending
- [SHAC: An Interim Perspective](https://council.olbert.com/2018/05/shac-an-interim-perspective/) - Last year, based on community input, the Council established a Single-family Housing Advisory Commission. The commission's charter was to review our current zoning rules governing single family homes, and see what, if anything, ought to be revised, in light of the increasingly-significant level of home remodeling and reconstruction in San Carlos. The Commission recently released
- [Calling All Community Volunteers!](https://council.olbert.com/2018/07/calling-all-community-volunteers/) - Ever thought that San Carlos would benefit from a non-profit organization dedicated to improving our quality of life? Like the San Carlos Education Foundation, but focused on civic, rather than educational, opportunities? Have you been looking for a way to work with others wanting to do the same thing? Well, now's your chance. Last night
- [Chair's Remarks on the Year Ahead](https://council.olbert.com/2019/01/chairs-remarks-on-the-year-ahead/) - The Council chair (aka mayor) traditionally offers thoughts on the year ahead when he or she is appointed. I chose not to do that last December because three Council members were stepping down, and three new Council members were being sworn in, and I didn't want to shift the focus off that unprecedented change. Instead,
- [Development by Right, EIRs and Liberty](https://council.olbert.com/2019/04/development-by-right-eirs-and-liberty/) - This is a lightly-edited version of an op ed I wrote which was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on Friday, April 12, 2019. You can find the Daily Journal item here. I recently attended the San Carlos Planning Commission meeting where the Environmental Impact Report process for a 68 townhouse development on the
- [Community Foundation Update](https://council.olbert.com/2019/05/community-foundation-update/) - For the last six months resident volunteers have been working hard to set up a new community foundation aimed at improving the quality of life in San Carlos. At last night's Council meeting they presented an update on where they are in the process and where they plan to go. This effort was initiated when
- [The Carlos Club](https://council.olbert.com/2012/04/the-carlos-club/) - Monday night the Council voted 3 to 2 to deny the conditional use permit requested by the Carlos Club. I voted for denial. I thought you might be interested as to the major reasons I chose to vote the way I did. City staff came out strongly, and clearly, against granting the permit because of
- [Shooting the Moon](https://council.olbert.com/2012/05/shooting_the_moon/) - The Council met last Friday to discuss when to schedule the election to fill Andy Klein's seat, and the process we'll use to make an interim appointment. Despite two compromise proposals put forward by Matt & I we are still deadlocked. The idea I presented would call an election for November, 2012, but focus the
- [The Art of Compromise](https://council.olbert.com/2012/05/the-art-of-compromise/) - Politics is known as the art of compromise. Tonight the City Council, divided over when and how to hold an election to fill the vacancy created by Andy Klein's departure, came together on a compromise approach originally proposed by Matt Grocott. Under the proposal, there will be no special election in November, 2012. Instead, the
- [Sewer Surprise](https://council.olbert.com/2012/11/sewer-surprise/) - People who work in organizations know the "no surprises" rule is key to running an effective operation. Surprises cause disruption and confusion, which is rarely a good thing. In the interest of avoiding surprise, I want to begin educating San Carlos about a big-ticket issue we need to address. You know all those articles you've
- [Taking the Field](https://council.olbert.com/2014/03/taking-the-field/) - Last week the San Carlos School District sent a letter to Jeff Maltbie, our City Manager, and me asking that the Council consider entering into a land swap with the District. I am strongly in favor of the Council pursuing this opportunity. If you'd like to learn why, read on. We are blessed with a
- [Taking the Field - Update](https://council.olbert.com/2014/03/taking-the-field-update/) - Jeff Maltbie, our City Manager, informed me today that the District's proposed land swap (which I discussed at length here) will not be on the agenda for the March 24, 2014 Council meeting. At the start of the meeting I will make a request to put the item on the agenda for the April 14th
- [Details Matter](https://council.olbert.com/2014/04/details-matter/) - 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
- [More License Plate Readers on Tap](https://council.olbert.com/2018/03/more-license-plate-readers-on-tap/) - At our next meeting, the Council will take up a request by the Sheriff's Department -- which provides law enforcement in San Carlos -- to purchase an additional license plate reader, and expand how long captured license plate data is retained. Our existing license plate readers have played a useful role in a number of
- [High Speed Rail](https://council.olbert.com/2012/02/high-speed-rail/) - At last night's City Council meeting we gave new guidance to staff as to how the Council views high speed rail as it relates to San Carlos. The short version of where we ended up is simple: the Council doesn't support putting more tracks through San Carlos. This is a pretty significant change from where
- [SpeedView Launch](https://council.olbert.com/2016/06/speedview-launch/) - Traffic in San Carlos, and particularly the way people drive, is a frequent subject of emails I get from constituents. Many contact me, or city staff, because they are concerned about traffic speeds in their neighborhood. This often results in the police department deploying our stealth radar tracking system to monitor traffic in an area
- [Cell Tower Lawsuit](https://council.olbert.com/2012/01/cell-tower-lawsuit/) - This coming Monday the Council will consider a proposed settlement of a lawsuit brought by AT&T against the City as a result of the company's cell tower proposal being rejected. I wrote a letter to the editor to the San Mateo Daily Journal on the proposal as a follow-on to an article they published today.
- [Towering Incompetence](https://council.olbert.com/2012/02/towering-incompetence/) - At last night's City Council meeting we unanimously, but quite reluctantly, approved a revised cellphone tower proposal from AT&T as part of settling a lawsuit they had brought against the City. Much of the meeting was spent discussing the proposed settlement, and taking AT&T to task for continuing to underperform in the design and community
- [Why I Am Opposing Increasing the Hotel Occupancy Tax and Instituting a Cannabis Business Tax](https://council.olbert.com/2018/04/why-i-am-opposing-increasing-the-hotel-occupancy-tax-and-instituting-a-cannabis-business-tax/) - At tonight's Council meeting, staff was given direction to begin the process of putting two tax measures on this November's ballot. The first measure would increase San Carlos' Transient Occupancy Tax -- the tax everyone pays when they stay in a hotel -- from 10% to 14%, probably over a period of a few years.
- [Andy Klein Resigns](https://council.olbert.com/2012/04/andy-klein-resigns/) - This afternoon Andy Klein, citing personal issues, resigned from the San Carlos City Council. A copy of his letter of resignation can be downloaded from the City's website. What does this mean, for the Council and the City? What my colleagues and I need to focus on now is how we address this situation and
- [Keeping Faith](https://council.olbert.com/2013/06/keeping-faith/) - At its June 10, 2013 meeting the Council will take up a proposed 13% salary increase for our city manager, Jeff Maltbie. This stems from his recently-completed performance review, which involved an in-depth discussion between him and the Council (it took place in closed session because it's a personnel matter). While the proposed increase is
- [Overtime and Hiring/Retention](https://council.olbert.com/2012/04/overtime-and-hiringretention/) - The Carlos Club hearing at last night's Council meeting overshadowed another topic which may be of greater long-term significance to more of San Carlos. That was the Council's authorization to add three firefighters to the San Carlos Fire Department. Staff expects this expansion to have no significant long-term financial impact. Why? Because more firefighters will
- [A Not So Clean Sweep](https://council.olbert.com/2012/06/a-not-so-clean-sweep/) - When people ask me how I like being on the Council, I tell them it's great, in large part because there's so much to learn. Having to grapple with issues that are new to me is fun because it's challenging. Hardly a meeting goes by that I don't come across an interesting issue, often hidden
- [Plans, Consultants and Permit Reviews](https://council.olbert.com/2014/08/plans-consultants-and-permit-reviews/) - Recently a resident expressed concern about having to pay for an expert to review plans for a change they wanted to make to their home. This was after they hired a different expert, at the City's suggestion, to prepare the plans they submitted for the permit application. That struck them as odd. Why have two
- [Trash Fee Risks](https://council.olbert.com/2016/01/trash-fee-risks/) - Here is the text of my comments from the January 11, 2016 Council meeting on why I chose to vote against holding trash fees unchanged for 2016. I am troubled that the Council is considering taking no action on a number of potential problem areas embedded in our trash rates. We have some classes of
- [There Will Be Better Days Ahead](https://council.olbert.com/2014/07/there-will-be-better-days-ahead/) - Last night’s vote to kill the swap – and set up our community to deal with worse traffic, overcrowded school sites and less athletic field space – marks a sad, unfortunate and unnecessary chapter in San Carlos history. The risks and challenges inherent in any significant decision were used as arguments to keep residents from
- [Walking Away](https://council.olbert.com/2014/07/walking-away/) - This post was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal on July 7, 2014 as an op ed piece. Last week the San Carlos City Council, on which I serve, opted not to move forward a proposal to swap properties with the San Carlos School District. The deal, part of which required voter approval, would
- [Eastside Questions on NextDoor](https://council.olbert.com/2015/01/eastside-questions-on-nextdoor/) - Patty Marsters posted a lengthy response to something I wrote on NextDoor recently. Because I think her questions may be of interest to a broader audience, and because NextDoor offers limited formatting capabilities, I'm excerpting and replying to them here. Depending upon what "NextDoor neighborhood" you belong to you may or may not be able
- [A Matter of Public Health](https://council.olbert.com/2015/01/a-matter-of-public-health/) - I shared this information, in abbreviated form, at last night's Council meeting. While it doesn't directly involve City business, it does involve the public health of San Carlos. The recent measles outbreak in Disneyland vividly demonstrates what can happen when we collectively fail to take advantage of vaccination technology. Getting the measles is at the
- [The First Step](https://council.olbert.com/2011/12/the-first-step/) - A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Lao Tzu This past Monday evening I officially joined the San Carlos City Council, capping an intense, but exhilarating campaign season. Now the real work begins! I'm excited about getting started, and looking forward to working with my neighbors and my new colleagues
- [Shoe Leather](https://council.olbert.com/2011/12/shoe-leather/) - [singlepic id=1 w=400] One of the, if not unique, certainly unusual aspects of my City Council campaign was the degree to which my team and I pounded the pavement reaching out to voters. All told, we knocked on 5,538 doors, covering about 86% of our wonderful small town. Not everyone was home when we came
- [Bar Food and Free Parking](https://council.olbert.com/2012/04/bar-food-and-free-parking/) - The parking study proposal for San Carlos caused a number of people to comment about parking meters. Specifically, about how undesirable or stupid it would be to replace the current free parking with pay parking. That may or may not be correct (and it isn't clear to me we even have a parking problem). But
- [Budget-o-Rama](https://council.olbert.com/2012/04/budget-o-rama/) - Last night we had our second budget discussion, part of the process which will ultimately lead to an adopted budget for the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 fiscal years (the City's fiscal year runs from July 1st to June 30th). If you're ever interested in getting a quick overview of what every part of the City staff
- [Opting for Silence](https://council.olbert.com/2013/03/opting-for-silence/) - At our February 25th meeting one council member engaged in a very lengthy Q&A session with staff about a proposed ordinance banning the use by most merchants of single use plastic bags. This was followed by a somewhat less lengthy speech by the same council member re-iterating the positions made clear during the Q&A. Throughout
- [Conspiracy Thinking](https://council.olbert.com/2013/10/conspiracy-thinking/) - An odd but all too common email that we received as a result of our gas pipeline experience prompted me to write about conspiracy thinking. You can find the page here. I hope you'll take the time to read it.
- [Transit Village Reflections](https://council.olbert.com/2013/11/transit-village-reflections/) - Last night the Council approved a reduced scale Transit Village on a 4 to 1 vote. I was the dissenter, primarily because I believe the Council should have honored the recent election and made its decision after Cameron Johnson is seated in December. The Transit Village and its associated impacts, after all, was a huge
- [Honoring Those Who Stood Up](https://council.olbert.com/2014/11/honoring-those-who-stood-up/) - I opened last night's Council meeting with this. We’re going to do something a little different tonight. We'll be having the Boy Scouts of Troop 321 lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. But first I want to share something else. Philosophers and historians describe peace as an ideal whose existence we deduce from the
- [Getting It In Writing](https://council.olbert.com/2014/12/getting-it-in-writing/) - This op ed ran, in substantially similar form, in the Daily Post on Wednesday, December 10, 2014. When the Constitution was being drafted there was a debate about enshrining various rights in the document itself. Some felt it unnecessary because they were such a fundamental part of American culture. It’s one of the reasons the
- [Choosing What Kind of Community to Be](https://council.olbert.com/2017/01/choosing-what-kind-of-community-to-be/) - Last night we agreed to roll back the changes made in 2011 to the rules governing residential lot splits in San Carlos. I made the following comments out of concern for something I didn't hear during the community dialog, and from my colleagues: that San Carlos is the people who come together to form our
- [The Fundamentalist Constitutional Perspective](https://council.olbert.com/2017/11/the-fundamentalist-constitutional-perspective/) - This essay was sparked by a comment I got on my post, The 2nd Amendment Does Not Prevent Firearm Regulation. Here’s the comment: It is nice you cite a kinds of court cases, however I’d like to know where in the Constitution you think it allows government to regulate arms. “A well regulated militia, being
- [Arts and Culture Achievement Award Nominations](https://council.olbert.com/2013/01/arts-and-culture-achievement-award-nominations/) - Know someone who's made a positive contribution on San Carlos' art & culture? Please consider nominating them for the 2013 Arts & Culture Achievement Award. Nominations are due by Friday, February 22nd. You can find more information here, and you can download a PDF submission form from here.
- [Cameron Johnson for San Carlos City Council](https://council.olbert.com/2013/08/cameron-johnson-for-san-carlos-city-council/) - 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
- [Georgia Jack for Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees](https://council.olbert.com/2013/08/georgia-jack-for-sequoia-union-high-school-district-board-of-trustees/) - 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
- [Redevelopment Redux](https://council.olbert.com/2012/01/redevelopment-redux/) - At our January 9, 2012 meeting one of the topics we'll be covering is the next steps, if any, involving the San Carlos Redevelopment Agency in light of two important recent events. Last December, the judge presiding over a lawsuit brought by the San Carlos Elementary School District, the Sequoia Union High School District and
- [Eschewing Abstentions](https://council.olbert.com/2012/01/eschewing-abstentions/) - I rarely abstain from votes because I consider it part of my duty as a public official to make up my mind on issues brought before us for action. Last night was a personal record for abstentions, though, as I opted out of four items. In three of those cases the reason was simple: I
- [Transit Village Referendum](https://council.olbert.com/2013/11/qa-transit-village-referendum/) - Questions I emailed to Greg Rubens, our City Attorney, regarding a potential referendum to overturn a Council decision about the Transit Village. Greg, Given interest in certain parts of the community in a referendum to overturn a Council decision on the Transit Village, I want to ensure everyone understands what's involved with that, the scope
- [January 13, 2014 Questions](https://council.olbert.com/2014/01/january-13-2014-questions/) - You can find the agenda these questions and suggestions refer to at http://www.epackets.net/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1864&doctype=AGENDA. I've noted the agenda item number in parentheses. (8f, 10d) Since we're being asked to approve several (modest) increases to the budget it'd be appropriate for staff to comment, in general, on where we stand vis a vis the overall budget. Are
- [Why I Oppose Pre-Funding Pensions](https://council.olbert.com/2018/04/why-i-oppose-pre-funding-pensions/) - At tonight's meeting, the Council voted to pre-fund future pension costs, to the tune of $7.5 million. Doing this might, if things work out as expected, reduce San Carlos' future annual pension costs by about $500,000. Those costs are currently around $4.5 million per year, having risen from about $2.5 million annually a few years
- [Happy Holidays 2018!](https://council.olbert.com/2018/12/happy-holidays-2018/) - All the best as we close out 2018, and wishing you an even better 2019!
- [Gun Store Regulation](https://council.olbert.com/2019/04/gun-store-regulation/) - This is a letter I recently mailed to Governor Newsom, Senator Jerry Hill and Assemblymember Kevin Mullin. Dear Governor Newsom, Senator Hill and Assemblymember Mullin: I currently serve as the mayor of the San Carlos City Council. However, I am writing you today as an individual Council member, not on behalf of the Council. The
- [Trees and Community Relations](https://council.olbert.com/2012/01/trees-and-community-relations/) - There's an item coming back to the Council on Monday which touches on my strong desire to see the City improve its relationship with the community it serves. Even though you probably wouldn't think so based simply on the item's title. That's because it "only" involves replacing trees in Burton Park. Let me explain what
- [Agenda Setting](https://council.olbert.com/2012/02/agenda-setting/) - My colleague Matt Grocott raised an interesting issue the other day when he released a letter to the Palo Alto Daily Post urging the Council to hold a meeting to examine, and take a position on, global warming (the Post normally waits awhile before making its material available online, but they were kind enough to
- [A Planning We Will Go](https://council.olbert.com/2012/02/a-planning-we-will-go/) - Today was the joint City Council/City staff semiannual planning retreat. It defines both longer-term goals and the specific objectives that staff will pursue over the next six months. I thought it was a generally useful exercise, but there's room for improvement. I also have a better idea now of why the efforts pursued by the
- [Welcome Aboard, Karen!](https://council.olbert.com/2012/06/welcome-aboard-karen/) - Tonight the Council interviewed six people who had applied for the interim seat created by Andy Klein's resignation. After interviewing all the candidates the Council unanimously voted to appoint Karen Clapper. I was impressed with how articulate Karen was in presenting her candidacy, and with the thoroughness with which she had considered both the appointment
- [Behind the Scenes](https://council.olbert.com/2013/04/behind-the-scenes/) - At the last Council meeting I cited well-validated rumors Legacy Partners was vetting a new and different plan for the San Carlos Transit Village with some City Council and Planning Commission members. I brought this up out of concern that if the project was ultimately approved it could appear the outcome was preordained. To be
- [New Feature: Q&A Discussions](https://council.olbert.com/2013/11/new-feature-qa-discussions/) - I typically spend several hours prepping with staff for each of our Council meetings. That way I don't have to get all of my questions answered during the meeting itself. You can imagine how long those would be if I didn't! Not to mention how much longer they'd be if every Council member started asking
- [Holly Corridor Traffic Congestion](https://council.olbert.com/2014/07/holly-corridor-traffic-congestion/) - On Monday, July 14, 2014, the Council approved further restrictions on parking along the Holly Street corridor between Old County Road and Industrial Road. Previously, parking was not allowed from 7 to 9 AM and 3 to 6 PM on the eastbound side and from 4 to 6 PM on the westbound side. Under the
- [Holly Street Redux](https://council.olbert.com/2014/08/holly-street-redux/) - Ben Fuller, President of the Greater East San Carlos Neighborhood Association (GESC), recently published a post on NextDoor about the changes the Council made to no parking hours along Holly Street between Old County and the 101. Because NextDoor, by design, isn't broadly accessible, and the issue may be of interest to most of San
- [So You Want to Be a Council Person?](https://council.olbert.com/2015/03/so-you-want-to-be-a-council-person/) - This being an odd-numbered year, there are seats coming up for re-election on the San Carlos City Council (and on the San Carlos School Board and Sequoia Union High School Board, too). If you've ever thought about serving the community on the Council I would be happy to meet with you and answer your questions,
- [Time to Talk](https://council.olbert.com/2015/03/time-to-talk/) - As of late Friday afternoon, the lawsuit brought by two residents of Holly Street against the City alleging improprieties in how the Council changed the parking regulations in the Holly Street corridor was dismissed. In lay terms, the court found no basis to proceed with holding a trial. Even if the facts were as alleged
- [You Can't Lead From Behind](https://council.olbert.com/2016/09/you-cant-lead-from-behind/) - This op ed was published on September 19, 2016 in the San Mateo Daily Journal. If, like me, you think the Council should endorse Prop 63 on behalf of San Carlos, please email or write the Council and let us know. You can find all our email addresses at http://cityofsancarlos.org/depts/mayor_council/default.asp. There’s an old joke that
- [Diminishing Our Community](https://council.olbert.com/2017/11/diminishing-our-community/) - There’s an intense political discussion taking place in San Carlos today. It involves one of my City Council colleagues, Matt Grocott, and was sparked by the tone and content of comments he made when the Council was considering a moratorium on new firearm stores at its November 13th meeting. I, too, was taken aback by
- [Honoring Reverend Gates](https://council.olbert.com/2018/01/honoring-reverend-gates/) - This morning, at a potluck brunch after the 10 AM service at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, I presented Reverend Alan Gates with a City of San Carlos coin, in recognition of him having alerted the community about the imminent opening of the Turner firearm store last Fall. This is a copy of the
- [Grassroots Done Right](https://council.olbert.com/2013/07/grassroots-done-right/) - Monday night's Council agenda includes deciding what to do about re-building Crestview Park. That's an interesting topic in and of itself*. But it won't be the most interesting part of the Council's discussion, at least for me. No, that'll be something which will be brought into the chamber by a group of San Carlos residents.
- [Agendas, Appeals and Rights](https://council.olbert.com/2014/02/agendas-appeals-and-rights/) - At our January 27, 2014 meeting a resident asserted his rights were violated because I refused to agendize something. The item in question purported to be an appeal of a Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission decision. I say “purported” because what we have here is a misunderstanding of the right of appeal. Since others might
- [The Game](https://council.olbert.com/2012/01/the-game/) - On Friday, January 27th, I and the four other newly-elected council members from around San Mateo County were interviewed by Mark Simon and Kevin Mullin on The Game, a local TV show. Questions included why did you run, what's different about being elected, and the like. San Carlos was well represented with both Ron Collins
- [Land Use and Business Expansion](https://council.olbert.com/2012/04/land-use-and-business-expansion/) - You may have wondered why I haven't written about the Council's upcoming review of the Carlos Club expansion application. There's a simple reason: I haven't made up my mind. And it's important that I not make up my mind before the public hearing, because the Council acts in a quasi-judicial role on these kinds of
- [Hold the Makeup!](https://council.olbert.com/2013/06/hold-the-makeup/) - I was offered the opportunity recently to be interviewed on 1 on 1, a Peninsula TV show airing on cable channel 27. The host, Dani Gasparini, and I had a good time talking about some significant San Carlos issues. And I didn't have to end up dealing with makeup :). The easiest way to see
- [Such a Deal!](https://council.olbert.com/2015/09/such-a-deal/) - 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
- [Who's Doing Oversight Is Less Important Than How Oversight Is Done](https://council.olbert.com/2013/06/whos-doing-oversight-is-less-important-than-how-oversight-is-done/) - At the June 10, 2013 Council meeting we'll be discussing a proposal from a group of sister cities about revamping the board which oversees the South Bay Waste Management Authority (SBWMA). The Authority is a joint powers authority (JPA) which operates the Transfer Station located just north of San Carlos Airport and which oversees the
- [Line 147 Update](https://council.olbert.com/2013/11/line-147-update/) - This op ed piece I wrote was published last Friday in the Palo Alto Daily Post. As we move into our second month since major safety concerns with PG&E’s Line 147 were disclosed, it’s important to take stock about what has happened, and what has not. The good news for San Carlans is that this
- [Building the Future](https://council.olbert.com/2016/04/building-the-future/) - This was published today in the San Mateo Daily Journal. Recently, there’s been a growing anti-development sentiment in many Peninsula communities, including San Carlos. That’s to be expected. When times are hard, like during the Great Recession, development is seen as a good thing, a sign that maybe the economy is picking up. When things
- [It's Amazing How Many People Think Threats Are a Useful Political Tool](https://council.olbert.com/2018/02/its-amazing-how-many-people-think-threats-are-a-useful-political-tool/) - I got this email the other day from someone who shares my last name (not a relative, so far as I know): From: JBO Von Olbert Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 10:33 PM To: molbert@cityofsancarlos.org Subject: Thankful ! It was with much distress I heard of your childish "Hell Yes" and High Fiving your fellow
- [Turner Letter Claiming Damages](https://council.olbert.com/2018/04/turner-letter-claiming-damages/) - Turner's, through their attorneys, are claiming San Carlos owes them money. Turner Letter Claiming Damages (redacted) You may have lots of questions about this. However, since we've already been threatened with lawsuits involving this matter, please understand that I will not be able to respond. Please also note that I have redacted the attachments to
- [Green Evolution](https://council.olbert.com/2013/12/green-evolution/) - Some recent decisions by the Council raised questions about how green the City will continue to be. While I can't speak for the Council, I don't believe there's been any shift in goals. Rather, what's happening is practices that used to be exceptional are becoming mainstream, and we're adapting to an evolving legal environment. Here's
- [Saving Water and Energy for Fun & Profit](https://council.olbert.com/2014/04/saving-water-and-energy-for-fun-profit/) - We all know that California is facing a major drought situation1. Energy prices have been increasing for a long time, and are expected to continue to do so. None of that is news. But there's a way you can save money, save resources and demonstrate your commitment to more sustainable living. While earning kudos for
- [5G Wireless Deployments](https://council.olbert.com/2019/09/5g-wireless-deployments/) - I've recently begun receiving form emails from residents demanding that the Council take steps to protect San Carlos from the alleged harmful effects of 5G cell phone transmitters. I thought it would be helpful to post a publicly-available response to those emails so that everyone would get the same information from me, and so that
- [Money Is More Important Than Protecting Lives?](https://council.olbert.com/2016/09/money-is-more-important-than-protecting-lives/) - 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
- [Trash Talk](https://council.olbert.com/2012/12/trash-talk/) - December brings shopping madness, holiday cheer, snow (at least where I grew up in New York), and, in San Carlos, new trash rates. I suppose that's a little karmic, since the holiday season generates a lot of trash and recycling, at least in our home. This year the Council is looking at increasing rates by
- [Good News on the Financial Front](https://council.olbert.com/2015/05/good-news-on-the-financial-front/) - The Council will shortly take up its annual review of the budget. The City uses a two year budget process, and this is an off-year, so the focus is on adjustments to last year's decisions rather than wholesale changes. The City is in better financial shape than it has been for a number of years
- [Tripping Over Sidewalk Maintenance](https://council.olbert.com/2016/06/tripping-over-sidewalk-maintenance/) - This post was published in the San Mateo Daily Journal today, June 10, 2016. Simple things sometimes turn out to be complicated when you dig into them. Take the question of who pays for sidewalk repairs. They’re a public asset, paid for by the city, right? So the city pays. Wrong. They’re generally on public
- [Change Sidewalk Repair Policy Petition](https://council.olbert.com/2016/09/change-sidewalk-repair-policy-petition/) - Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/san-carlos-city-council-stand-up-against-unfair-sidewalk-repair-costs?recruiter=176010379 Cities used to repair sidewalks out of their own budget. But years ago the California Legislature gave cities the option of assigning that obligation to the adjacent property owners. San Carlos, like many cities, made that choice. I was okay with that for several years as a Council member, because the
- [Transit Village Referendum](https://council.olbert.com/2013/11/transit-village-referendum/) - Greg Rubens, the City's general counsel, sent me the following email in reply to my questions about referendums. Mark. Thank you for posing these questions in advance of the meeting. I'm taking today off sort of, to help my inlaws. A couple of basic points that would answer some if your questions. A referendum must
- [1/13/2014 Answers to Pre Meeting Questions](https://council.olbert.com/2014/01/1132014-answers-to-pre-meeting-questions/) - Here are responses I received from staff regarding the questions I raised prior to the meeting. The corresponding questions are shown in italics. Since we're being asked to approve several (modest) increases to the budget it'd be appropriate for staff to comment, in general, on where we stand vis a vis the overall budget. Are
- [Dealing with Power Shutoffs](https://council.olbert.com/2019/10/dealing-with-power-shutoffs/) - At its October 28th meeting the Council directed staff to schedule, expeditiously, a discussion of steps our community should consider to deal with the "new normal" of power shutoffs. San Carlos, like almost all cities, has emergency/disaster plans. Unfortunately, the widespread adoption of mobile telecommunications technologies, despite their tremendous day-to-day benefits, has created a new
- [Fitting Into a Neighborhood](https://council.olbert.com/2018/08/fitting-into-a-neighborhood/) - I occasionally get asked about whether or not the City has rules requiring that new homes, or significant remodels, have to fit into a neighborhood. The short answer is yes...but they probably don't cover what many people mean when they talk about a home fitting in to a neighborhood. There are reasons for that, which
- [Hillside Overlay Districts](https://council.olbert.com/2018/08/hillside-overlay-districts/) - Recently, over on a NextDoor thread discussing the expected development of what is commonly called the Black Mountain properties, someone cited a four story home on Crestview Drive as an example of how the Council ignores its own building codes. I was curious about the house in question (268 Crestview Drive), which, while in this
- [Too Bad, That's a Neat Looking Knife](https://council.olbert.com/2018/03/too-bad-thats-a-neat-looking-knife/) - I got a letter from the National Rifle Association today. Figuring it might be something directed at me as a Council member, you can imagine my disappointment when it turned out to be just a push poll. But what a push poll! Some examples of the questions: Do you support laws that protect your fundamental
- [When the People Speak, the Council Listens](https://council.olbert.com/2017/11/when-the-people-speak-the-council-listens/) - Last night, the Council voted 4 to 1 to extend the moratorium on new gun stores in San Carlos by ten months and 15 days, bringing it to a total length of a year from when it was first enacted, on November 13th. Matt Grocott was again on the short end of the vote. The
- [The 2nd Amendment Does Not Prevent Firearm Regulation](https://council.olbert.com/2017/11/the-2nd-amendment-does-not-prevent-firearm-regulation/) - I've been getting a number of emails from people, as a result of the Council adopting a moratorium on new firearm stores in San Carlos, that assert, as a simple fact, that the 2nd Amendment forbids the regulation of firearms. Here's an example of one of the more creative and humorous ones: 2A means Govt
- [Gun Store Moratorium: Speaker Stats](https://council.olbert.com/2017/11/gun-store-moratorium-speaker-stats/) - I thought there might be some interest in the statistics of the people who addressed the Council during public comment on the gun store moratorium. Here's the information in chart form. First up, residency status and how that was related to whether or not the moratorium was supported or opposed (supporting the moratorium meant "I
- [Gun Store Moratorium Comments](https://council.olbert.com/2017/11/gun-store-moratorium-comments/) - Here is the text of what I said last night before casting my vote to impose a moratorium on the opening of any new store in San Carlos selling firearms or ammunition. FWIW, I did a bit of ad-libbing at certain points, because I don't care to just read speeches. Thank you, Mayor Grassilli. And
- [Gun Store Moratorium Adopted](https://council.olbert.com/2017/11/gun-store-moratorium-adopted/) - Last night the San Carlos City Council adopted, on a 4 to 1 vote, a moratorium on the opening of any new store selling firearms or ammunition within city limits. While the initial moratorium, by California law, lasts only 45 days, the Council has the authority to extend it, for up to two years, in
- [Proposed New Gun Store: FAQ](https://council.olbert.com/2017/11/proposed-new-gun-store-faq/) - Because I've been getting a lot of questions about what the City can or cannot do regarding the proposed new gun store, I thought it would be helpful to put together a page on it. You can find it here.
- [Labels Matter](https://council.olbert.com/2017/03/labels-matter/) - This is an op ed I wrote for the San Mateo Daily Journal. It was published on March 24, 2017. Is it a crime to be an undocumented immigrant in the United States? You might be surprised to learn the answer. I know I was. I’m using the word “undocumented” rather than “illegal” deliberately. Doing
- [San Carlos 2017: Community Meeting](https://council.olbert.com/2017/03/san-carlos-2017-community-meeting/) - I've put together a brief presentation entitled San Carlos 2017: Where We've Come From, Where We Are and Where We Can Go. I'll be launching it at an open-to-the-public meeting next Wednesday evening, March 29th. There will be a general Q&A session afterwards (the presentation itself is only about 15 minutes long). If you're interested
- [Action Alert: Council Abandons Sidewalk Repair Cost Sharing Discussion](https://council.olbert.com/2017/02/action-alert-council-abandons-sidewalk-repair-cost-sharing-discussion/) - I've written a number of posts and articles in the last year or so about the City's policy requiring property owners to pay 100% of repair costs for sidewalks fronting their property (you can read the earlier pieces here and here). In a nutshell, it's unfair and inconsistent with the law. The City has plenty of
- [If We Really Want to Protect our Downtown...](https://council.olbert.com/2017/01/if-we-really-want-to-protect-our-downtown/) - Last night we discussed whether or not to extend or let expire our anti-chain store ordinance. These are the comments I made during the discussion. Needless to say, there are much, much, much better ways of protecting the downtown than this hollow ordinance. This text is slightly edited from the original. The anti-chain store ordinance
- [Preserving Our Downtown](https://council.olbert.com/2016/02/preserving-our-downtown/) - Last December, the Council enacted an "urgency" ordinance restricting chain stores in the downtown core. Any retail business with 10 or more outlets in the United States must now get special permission from the City before it opens in our downtown core, even if it complies with all other legal requirements. Had this been in
- [Improving Public Safety](https://council.olbert.com/2016/01/improving-public-safety/) - I've asked that the Council discuss ways of improving public safety with our police chief, Greg Rothaus, in light of the recent uptick in home and car burglaries. It's been scheduled for the February 8, 2016 Council meeting. At that meeting I plan on introducing a number of ideas. Because you can never have enough
- [Making San Carlos Safer](https://council.olbert.com/2016/01/making-san-carlos-safer/) - This is the text of the remarks I made during Council member comments at the January 11, 2016 public meeting. Last Wednesday evening Chief Rothaus and his staff did an excellent presentation on residential burglaries in San Carlos. I’d guess a couple of hundred residents attended. I urge everyone who couldn’t make it to watch
- [The Big Lights of a Small City](https://council.olbert.com/2014/11/the-big-lights-of-a-small-city/) - Recently, the Carlos Club changed hands. The new owner wants to make the site into something more like a sports bar, or perhaps a restaurant with a bar. As part of that shift he's also changed the name of the business, from The Carlos Club to The Rail Club. This has engendered a strong reaction
- [Senator Jerry Hill: Upcoming Interactive Town Hall](https://council.olbert.com/2014/02/senator-jerry-hill-upcoming-interactive-town-hall/) - Senator Hill is a great supporter of San Carlos, whether it's getting permission from Sacramento for the Chickens Ball to use some state-operated buildings as a staging and work area, or getting PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission to operate their gas transmission pipelines safely. He's holding an interactive online town hall on Wednesday,
- [How Big Is Big Enough?](https://council.olbert.com/2013/11/how-big-is-big-enough/) - The ultimate size of projects like the Transit Village always end up reflecting a balance between economic pressures striving to make them bigger and community pressures trying to keep a lid on them. Given that, it's important to understand a project's economics. Unfortunately, that's not as simple as one might like. Of necessity you end
- [Transparency: Good for Governments, Great for Gas Companies](https://council.olbert.com/2013/10/transparency-good-for-governments-great-for-gas-companies/) - Next Monday Senator Jerry Hill will hold a public hearing in the San Carlos City Council Chambers on gas pipeline safety. If you are able to attend, I urge you to do so. It's important that our community continues to demand accountability from PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission.
- [It's Not Settled](https://council.olbert.com/2013/10/its-not-settled/) - This was published as an op ed in the San Mateo Daily Journal on October 17, 2013. You can find it on their site here. San Carlos residents could be forgiven for thinking all the issues surrounding the proposed Transit Village are resolved or being successfully managed based on the staff-produced newsletter they just received.
- [State of Emergency](https://council.olbert.com/2013/10/state-of-emergency/) - Tonight the Council declared a state of emergency in San Carlos as it relates to a high pressure Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) gas pipeline. What does this mean, and why was the action taken? In reading this material, please understand that I am not a pipeline expert, so it's possible I may have misunderstood
- [That Vision Thing](https://council.olbert.com/2013/01/that-vision-thing/) - An important part of a city council's responsibility is identifying, evaluating and pursuing (when appropriate) strategic goals for its community. In the past in San Carlos these have included things like revitalizing Laurel Street and building the library. These kinds of projects are big enough that they often get completed beyond the term of the
- [More Dialog, Less Tension](https://council.olbert.com/2012/08/more-dialog-less-tension/) - This posting originally appeared as an op-ed piece in the San Mateo Daily Journal on August 11, 2012. You can see the published version here. The “final” environmental impact report for the proposed Transit Village in San Carlos is under review by the Planning Commission. It’s a step along the way to whatever the ultimate
- [A Rock and a Hard Place](https://council.olbert.com/2012/05/a-rock-and-a-hard-place/) - Last night the Council deadlocked over whether to call a special election to fill the seat left by Andy Klein's resignation. The discussion will resume Friday afternoon at 1 PM, by which time City Counsel will have done more research on the applicable law. There's a hard stop Friday because the law requires a decision
- [The ICLEI Saga](https://council.olbert.com/2012/01/iclei_saga/) - At last Monday’s Council meeting (1/23/2012) there was an intense discussion about San Carlos’ $600 a year membership in an organization called ICLEI. Why was this such a heated topic? Few people in San Carlos are even aware of what ICLEI is, let alone why membership in it should be controversial. I'm writing this post

## Pages

- [Home Page](https://council.olbert.com/) - Welcome! My name is Mark Olbert, and I'm a former member of the San Carlos, California City Council. This was my site for staying in touch with my constituents. My last day on the Council was December 14, 2020. It's now a platform I use to address local and regional issues that my neighbors may
- [Newsletter](https://council.olbert.com/newsletter/)
- [Hurray for Ray!](https://council.olbert.com/ray-mueller-for-county-board-of-supervisors/) - Mueller, that is. Currently serving on the Menlo Park City Council. Who will make an excellent member of the County Board of Supervisors after the election cycle in 2022. Yes, that's more than a year away. But San Mateo County is a big place, with a lot of people in it, and committed public servants
- [Privacy Policy](https://council.olbert.com/privacy-policy/) - I do not share information provided to me on this site with others without the permission of the person whose information I'd be sharing. With one big caveat required by California law. In reading what comes next please remember I am not an attorney, so if you have specific questions about this you may wish
- [Why Viral Diseases Can Require Quarantines](https://council.olbert.com/why-combating-viral-diseases-is-hard/) - Big caveat: I'm neither a doctor nor a virologist, although I've had the privilege of studying under and/or working with both and I did study molecular biology back in the Dark Ages (aka the 1970s). I'm writing this simply because I've realized there may be a pretty big gap in the average person's understanding of
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- [Posts by Category](https://council.olbert.com/posts-by-category/) - Posts by Category Like all cities in California, San Carlos operates within the legal and constitutional frameworks set by the state and federal governments. We are not sovereign, however much we may want to control or regulate what goes on within our borders.Most of the Council’s time is spent on the topics described below. The
- [Signed Up](https://council.olbert.com/signed-up/) - Welcome! You’ll be notified of new content on the site as soon as it’s published.I (very) occasionally also send emails out to subscribers, usually if I’ve had to modify the site in some way.– Mark CategoriesCategories Select Category Community (139) Development (61) Draft (1) Financial (35) Health & Safety (87) Other (26) Politics (77) District Lines (4) Endorsements (11) Archives Archives Select Month May
- [Unsubscribed](https://council.olbert.com/unsubscribed/) - Sorry to See You Go... You’ve been unsubscribed from the mailing list.I hope you enjoyed reading material on this site while you were subscribed.Take care!– Mark CategoriesCategories Select Category Community (139) Development (61) Draft (1) Financial (35) Health & Safety (87) Other (26) Politics (77) District Lines (4) Endorsements (11) Archives Archives Select Month May 2026 (1) June 2024 (2) October 2023 (1) September
- [Other Articles](https://council.olbert.com/important-stuff/) - Other Articles Single Family House Sizes: reflections on the process we went through to make changes in 2018 Conspiracy Thinking: challenges to good governance caused by our innate ability to fall into conspiracy thinking Why Political Engagement Is Necessary: why getting — and staying — engaged on the local level isn’t just for those pushing
- [House Sizes](https://council.olbert.com/house-sizes/) - This write-up is intended to record my recollections about how the recent initiative to reduce house sizes in San Carlos transpired. It may change over time if my memory gets refreshed or corrected. Outcome as of September 2019 Our current housing rules are more restrictive than they used to be. But not as restrictive as
- [Blog](https://council.olbert.com/blog/) - Biotech Interest in Canepa 05/29/2026 No Comments This is a letter to the editor I wrote which was published today in the San Mateo Daily Journal. I’m using the version I submitted, as the Journal munged up the original’s formatting, probably to save space. In the interest of transparency, I got to know David Canepa
- [Etiquette](https://council.olbert.com/etiquette/) - Etiquette “Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.” – Jefferson This is a moderated site, although I prefer to use a light hand. Despite being run by an elected official, this is a private site, not a public forum. I reserve the right to edit all comments, and to moderate all comment
- [Why Political Engagement Is Necessary](https://council.olbert.com/why-political-engagement-is-necessary/) - Why Political Engagement Is Necessary A key, and critical, part of our system of government is that we are each entitled to our opinions on matters of public interest, and entitled to express them. I am a staunch defender of the 1st Amendment because it is fundamental. I recently got a screed from a local
- [Talking with Electeds](https://council.olbert.com/talking-with-electeds/) - Talking with Electeds Over the years I’ve noticed that there are a number of strategies that work better for communicating issues and concerns to elected officials (I use them when I talk to people “up the chain”, like our local Assembly member or Senator). Here they are: Phone calls work better than emails, which work
- [Moratoriums, Gun Stores and Local Rules & Regulations](https://council.olbert.com/moratoriums-gun-stores-and-local-rules-regulations/) - Moratoriums, Gun Stores and Local Rules & Regulations This article pulls together points I’ve made in response to the flood of emails sparked by the new gun store Turner Outdoorsman wants to open in San Carlos. I hope you’ll find it useful. Please keep two things in mind. First, I am not a lawyer, so
- [How to Email Me](https://council.olbert.com/how-to-email-me/) - How to Email Me You can write to me at molbert@cityofsancarlos.org, or mark@arcabama.com. Both addresses go to the same place, and I check them frequently. However, there are a few aspects of communicating with any elected official in California via email of which you should be aware. First and foremost, just about every email conversation is public
- [Conspiracy Thinking](https://council.olbert.com/conspiracy-thinking/) - Conspiracy Thinking One of the great parts of living in the 21st Century — one which none of the pundits when I was growing up in the 60s anticipated — is how ubiquitous data communication, “the internet”, has made it possible to connect everyone to everything, and unleash what I expect will be looked back
- [A Pivotal Moment](https://council.olbert.com/a-pivotal-moment/) - A Pivotal Moment In March 2019 I delivered a “state of the city” address as chair of the Council. This event, sponsored by the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce, is a tradition established by Omar Ahmad some years ago when he was mayor/chair. These presentations typically focus on significant current and near-term development projects. My
- [Redevelopment Agency Finance 101](https://council.olbert.com/redevelopment-agency-finance-101/) - While the recent California Supreme Court ruling terminated redevelopment agencies effective February 1, 2012, the ramifications of that change will continue to affect us for some time into the future. As a result, understanding how redevelopment agencies (RDAs) worked still has value. Here's a brief overview of why they were authorized and how they worked,

## MaxGalleria Pro

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