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After a very successful and well-attended Hometown
Holidays event, the Downtown Business Group held
its annual holiday get-together at Mandaloun restaurant
on Broadway. The group presented checks of
$500 to the Woodside High School marching band
and to Bethlehem A.D. volunteers for their winning
participation in the parade.
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In attendance were business leaders Alpio Barbara,
Regina Van Brunt, Susan Moeller, Larry and
Loretta Knight, Bob Gelman, Mike and Lorianna
Kastrop, Cherlene Wright, Lourdes Carini, Keith
and Nina Kadera, Ron Lopez and Jay Albay, along
with former Mayor Judy Buchan and Miss
Redwood City Bridgette Chen.
As the event was wrapping up, Council Member
Diane Howard and her husband, Steven, arrived
with former Mayor Dani Gasparini and Alyn Beals
to share a holiday dinner together.
* * * *
The Port of Redwood City and its commissioners
held its annual holiday event and, as usual, it was
fantastic. Enjoying the sautéed shrimp, roast beef
and delicious spread provided by Encore
Performance Catering were Mayor Barbara Pierce;
former Mayor Georgi LaBerge; Council Members
Jeff Ira and Howard; Assembly Member Ira Ruskin;
port Executive Director Mike Giari; port
Commissioners Jack Castle, Dick Dodge, Larry
Aikins, Lewis Miller and Ralph Garcia; Planning
Commissioner Nancy Radcliffe; Civic Cultural
Commission Member Steve Cortez; former City
Attorney David Schricker; George Haga; Warren
Dale; Magda Gonzales; Corrine Centino;
Catherine Fraser; Clem Maloney; Keith Bautista;
John Bruno; Brian Palter; Harry Vaillette; Barry
Jolette and Duane Sandul.
* * * *
The Pacific Shores Center at the end of Seaport
Boulevard was recently sold to Starwood Capital,
which is headquartered in Greenwich, Conn., for a
reported $835 million. The office complex is currently
85 percent leased, with Protein Design Labs
(PDL) moving their headquarters here from Fremont
in 2007. The move will see 600 to 700 employees
also moving there.
Wow! Don’t get me wrong; I am excited about this
and the benefits this will have to our community.
But what I am wondering about is the Friends of
Redwood City group, who is already making the traffic
on Seaport and Woodside Road an issue when
handing out its literature all over town about the
proposed development on Seaport Boulevard —
which, by the way, there is none. Why did they not
get involved in this issue/transaction if traffic is such
a concern? There should be a minimum of 300 new
vehicles hitting our streets with PDL moving here.
And while we are on the subject, why hasn’t this
community group taken up the offer of developer
DMB Associates to sit down and discuss land usage
on the old Leslie Salt property?
I am beginning to wonder about the sincerity of this
group, wanting to avoid and not create controversy.
Whenever those who have or appear to have differences
of opinion do not try to at least discuss their
concerns, the process is skewed from the beginning.
We do not need another Measure “Q” to divide our
THE SPECTRUM
community. Let’s work together, friends, and not let
a great opportunity leave our community.
* * * *
A group that is working within the “process” consists
of the neighbors within the Costco block, who are
objecting to the retailer wanting to add a gas station
to their site on Middlefield Road. During recent
Planning Commission meetings their objections
have been loud and well-thought-out. I understand
that change is always hard but the changes to the
site, in my opinion, will only improve the services
there and not create the kind of problems — the traffic,
Hoover School being so close, the real estate
market, etc. — that they are claiming.
I live on Birch Street, and two blocks away on El
Camino is my neighborhood gas station. I could say
the same conditions apply to me but they do not. El
Camino is a lot busier than, let’s say, that stretch of
Middlefield by Costco, and homes are closer to our
station here than there. I don’t sympathize with
those neighbors — it is a problem that is affecting
most neighborhoods in our city. But I respect the fact
that they are using the process to voice their opinions
and do so while gaining as much information as
possible. Other groups should do the same. Get it
together, friends!
* * * *
Just in time for the New Year’s rush, San Mateo
County officials have announced that the new
Juvenile Hall in San Mateo, named Youth Services
Center, will be opening “in time for Christmas.” The
opening of the facility is three months behind schedule
and, because of furniture-ordering delays, failed
fire inspections and staff needing additional training,
it did not meet its new November deadline.
At $148 million, the project is also 18 percent over
budget and some say in jeopardy of losing a $21 million
federal grant that required the construction be
completed by the end of September. But those in the
know say it will not be affected.
The facility — which replaces the old, 55-year-old
juvenile hall — is a 276,000-square-foot complex,
with 10 buildings, probation offices, juvenile courts,
a girls’ ranch (a 30-bed minimum security girls’
camp, which is already operating), a group home, a
cafeteria and school classrooms.
No word on what types of food the cafeteria will provide.
But I can bet there will not be any caffeine
served.
* * * *
Out with the old and in with the new. As mentioned
above, there will be a new sheriff in town starting
this January, but I would like to take this opportunity
to thank two people who have improved our community
for the past several years. First, Chief
Bolanos. Although he is not going far, he will be a
world away in the politics of San Mateo County, as
opposed to the tranquil atmosphere here in
Redwood City — a little joke for you all. Bolanos has
really been a “communities chief” and has reached
out to us since he first began. He will be missed and
I wish him the best in his new position.
I also bid a fond farewell to one of my favorite politicians
of all time, Sheriff Don Horsley, as he exits
and enjoys life a little — well, except for that elected
position on
the Sequoia
Healthcare
District Board
— do they sit
the H’s together?
I first met
Don when he
was running
against Hank
Durner in
1993. During
a debate I
attended in
East Palo Alto,
I was immediately
drawn to
his honesty,
common sense
and, of course,
his charismatic personality,
and I guess
others were too, as he
was elected after a
fierce campaign. Since
then I have followed
his career and have
seen him rise to gain
the respect and admiration
of not only
those he serves but
also others outside of
our community.
Case in point: I was
visiting Aphrodite
Jones while she was
covering the Michael
Jackson case for Fox
News — we even got
the opportunity to
party a bit with the
prosecution team, but
that is another story
for another time —
and while there I met
media coordinator
Peter Shaplen, who
was hounded day and
night for press credentials
by correspondents
from everywhere
from Asia to
the North Pole. Once
I mentioned I was
from Redwood City and “actually knew” Horsley, my
chest was soon stuck with media passes that would
gain me access to anywhere he could authorize. His
admiration for Horsley and the sheriff’s office here
made me so proud to be a part of this community —
not to mention the reaction that I got from Jones
when I returned to the Fox tent. That was priceless.
Don will definitely be missed, but I have a feeling for
not that long, as he will undoubtedly run for county
supervisor one day. I only wish he would consider a
run for a higher office, as we need more elected officials
like him.
* * * *
Happy holidays to all and best wishes in the new
year!
As I was saying …
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