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As I Was Saying… Publisher | Steve Penna Now that I got all that off my chest… Let’s start this month with the resignation of Redwood City Police Chief Louis Cobarruviaz (there is a related story in this month’s Spectrum). It was not much of a surprise to many when the chief submitted his resignation after an extended New Year’s vacation. One would assume that he had one hell of a time away since he submitted his resignation the day he got back. But I don’t think that was the case. Almost instantly after the chief’s announcement, the rumor mill began: He was forced out by the City Council, he went out on disability, he got another job somewhere, etc. We can all guess, but we will not know for sure what actually happened until his separation agreement with the city is finalized by the City Council later this month. I for one cannot wait to see it. What is for sure is that he will not be going into the office and working as usual up until his official Feb. 16 departure. So here is what I can figure out. It seems that although Cobarruviaz did what he said he wanted to do when hired — reduce crime — he was never quite the right fit for our community. He was a big city/country–type leader who was used to dealing with his duties in a completely different manner than his predecessor, Carlos Bolanos, who was very community-oriented. Different styles, but to his credit Cobarruviaz did what he said he would and our community is better because of his leadership. Under his leadership, the department has reduced crime across the board, and a recent city-funded neighborhood survey showed three-quarters of residents feel the Police Department does an “excellent” job, with four out of five residents feeling “very safe” walking in their neighborhood after dark. Really impressive, considering. Mayor Jeff Ira had made no bones publicly that he was unhappy with Cobarruviaz’s leadership; just why is unknown. But he is entitled to his opinion and, given his position, he is responsible for enabling the chief to protect our community, and part of that is working with the city manager to find the right leadership. If you do not believe in that leadership, it is hard to govern. Wouldn’t you think? Reading between the lines and trying to gain a little insight into the resignation announcement, I focused on a line in the city’s press release that stated, “He [Cobarruviaz] emphasized that his decision was at least partially based on his belief that the City Council and their new City Manager should have the opportunity to make necessary staff reductions and select their own team of department managers for the long term.” What interests me about that statement is that there is no reference to the City Council. If he were to make that statement in the release, why not include a reference to the mayor or council www.SpectrumMagazine.net members? Interesting, to say the least. Another rumor going around town is that given the departure of the chief, the council would now want to begin a community discussion on consolidation of the department with the county Sheriff’s Office. Wrong! Remember, it is an election year and those incumbents running in November would have to be complete idiots to try and pull that off. I don’t believe that our community is receptive to the consolidation of law enforcement at this point (if ever) and certainly not when crime is down and approval for the department from the community is at an all-time high. Let’s see how the city works with reducing benefits such as lifetime health insurance and those types of perks before we try to eliminate rank-and-file officers, which would happen under a consolidation. Also, the department is viewed as being very administratively heavy with sergeants. So changes will be made there once a new leader is in place. In the meantime, Capt. Ed Hernandez and Capt. Chris Cesena will rotate as the acting chief. Both are rumored to be interested in the position, but I would assume that any serious candidate will come from outside the department once a nationwide search begins. “One of my main responsibilities right now is to get our organization ready for the new city manager to step in and get right to work,” interim City Manager Bob Bell told me. So we can all assume that a new chief will be chosen before the new city manager. So I could assume wrong on both. “It’s been a great experience for me, working in beautiful Redwood City, but I think it’s time for me to step aside and let the new city manager direct his or her own team,” said Cobarruviaz. What a class act! .… Now on to this November’s City Council election. Yes, we have to start talking about that now. There will be four incumbents up for re-election: Alicia Aguirre (she wants to be mayor, so she will be running), Ian Bain (he is not saying he is running, but he will), Rosanne Foust (she is running) and Barbara Pierce (she is running). Rumored to be running: former Mayor Diane Howard. She was actually being urged to run for the county supervisor seat that will be vacated by Rose Jacobs Gibson in 2012, but she decided against that because she is starting a new career path with Sequoia Hospital and a run for council will not happen unless an incumbent decides not to run. So she will not be running. Other community members are rumored to be running: Planning Commissioners Kevin Bondonno, Janet Borgens (she ran last year) and Nancy Radcliffe, as well as Housing and Human Concerns Committee Vice Chairman Cherlene Wright (she ran last year). I will explore those in the months to come. If there are to be legitimate candidates who step forward and challenge, they will have to raise funds based upon last year’s council race, in the ballpark of $40,000. That is unless there is an anti-incumbent mood among voters, as happened nationwide this past November. This election is important for our community, with major issues such as the proposed Cargill property development, budget and staff issues, high-speed rail and the potential of an undesirable station in the downtown area, the downtown development and so on. To discuss those issues, candidates must come forward. If not, why even go through the election process? .… Also this November, the city will be putting two issues on the ballot to increase general fund revenues: A business tax and a transient occupancy tax (a hotel or motel tax). These types of taxes go directly into the city’s general funds and are mixed up with the sales taxes, etc. that are used for police, fire and general-funds expenditures. The business license tax (which would affect the almost 3,400 Redwood City businesses) generates $1.4 million a year for the city’s general fund. There hasn’t been a business license tax increase since 1995. The transient occupancy tax (which generates $2.7 million annually for the general fund) would increase from 10 percent to 12 percent. As you may remember, they tried to pass a business license tax in November 2009, and our community rejected it 45.8 percent to 54.2 percent, or 3,415 to 4,049 votes. According to Mayor Ira, the City Council would merge the two tax campaigns into one. That might be the kiss of death for both because although our community is likely to be receptive to the transient occupancy tax, we are apprehensive about having any business tax passed on to us. Trying to put both together would make us just vote No instead of being able to evaluate each tax separately. The city will have to decide if losing both is worth the gamble. Regardless, this is going to be a tough sell to voters. Remember, our garbage rates just increased 29.8 percent and the county will most likely be putting a tax on the ballot, as will the state of California. What will come into play is the information that gets out to voters as to what the city has done (continues on page 28)
Cultural Events The Main Gallery 1018 Main St., Redwood City 650-701-1018 www.themaingallery.org The Main Gallery, an artists’ cooperative with 23 members, showcases the work of some of the best local talent in the Bay Area. The gallery is located in the historic yellow Victorian cottage at the corner of Main and Middlefield. The gallery is open Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mainly Clay The Main Gallery is excited to announce their annual Mainly Clay show, which opens Feb. 16 and runs through March 20. This year the gallery’s ceramic artists have come together to bring you an exciting new body of work. The gallery will host a reception with the artists on Saturday, Feb. 19, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Susan Yamaguchi’s work is all wheel-thrown ceramics fired in either a raku kiln or a pit fire. Most of her pots are not glazed, only colored by the firing process. She exclaims, “I am inspired by the unexpected, spontaneous effects of the fire on the pots. Susan Wolf is continuing with the bird imagery that she began to use last fall in the Birdsong show. She has a few small, single birds, but by and large these pieces are mostly flocks. They are tightly packed and yet in flight. Wolf says, “This implies a high degree of coordination and cooperation.” Nina Koepcke’s new work for Mainly Clay is based on two themes: extinct and threatened species from the animal world and visual puns on the tea aesthetic in pottery. The extinct species include the dodo bird, the great auk, the passenger pigeon and the desert tortoise. The teapot series includes a teapot totem and teapot sculptures with turtles and birds. Koepcke tells us, “It will be interesting to coordinate the work of wildly different artists.” Pixie Couch has created wall “paintings” in clay. “Creating clay canvases, each one has a different picture using clay — as if someone may be gazing out from a sea of seashells,” she says. Nina Koepcke, “Teapot Totem,” ceramic, 2011 Fox Theatre and Club Fox 2209 Broadway, downtown Redwood City Tickets available at 650-369-7770 or www.clubfoxrwc.com Catherine Merrill, “Broken,” right panel in triptych, 21” x 15 x 3”, paper clay, multicolored terra sigilatta glazes, gold and copper lusters, 2010 Doris Fischer-Colbrie, “Serial Bowls,” a set of four bowls with a lid that stacks and nests, 9” high when assembled Susan Wolf, “Blue Flock,” stoneware, rice paper and wood, 17” long Catherine Merrill’s work explores the human figure and has been shown in over 150 national and international exhibitions. She has received numerous grants, awards and medals for her artwork and her contribution to international cultural exchange. She will be exhibiting a series of figurative wall triptychs: “Broken,” “Gaia” and “After Winter … Spring.” Merrill says, “In all my work my first inspiration is working with a live model, my muse. The prominence of the human figure in my work results from the many years I was a dancer both in New York City and Northern California. In dance the body is the artistic instrument to express emotion and ideas. I am also inspired by themes of duality and polarity.” Merrill’s work explores the many ways we heal and find hope in a sometimes hostile world. Doris Fischer-Colbrie’s work explores forms and surface treatments of clay. She says, “Particularly interesting developments are some of my ‘basket vases’ that have grown larger and rounder. Some of my stacking and nesting ‘serial bowls’ now have a triangular form.” Fox Theatre The Jay at Maverick’s Big Wave Invitational. Any day from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28. Live feed. Foreverland: An Electrifying 14-Piece Tribute to Michael Jackson. 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18. Gallagher. 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. $18–$35. Tainted Love. 9 p.m. Friday, March 11. $20. Club Fox Rock Skool with special guests The Cover Grrlz. 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11. A Romantic Valentine with Nancy Gilliland. 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14. Pierre Bensusan. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15. Celtic Winter Show featuring Tempest and Molly’s Revenge. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18. Love Fool: The Quintessential 90s Band. 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19. Aja Vu Steely Dan Show (Nancy Wenstrom and Blues Kitchen open). 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. The Spectrum 7
Page 1 and 2: DYLAN KAPPELER The Thrill, The Rush
Page 3 and 4: The Spectrum.FEB.2011 Steve Penna O
Page 5: RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood
Page 9 and 10: 587 Canyon Road Redwood City (650)
Page 11 and 12: WOODSIDE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC BOOST
Page 13 and 14: Redwood City Police Chief Resigns B
Page 15 and 16: Events Around Town Official Grand O
Page 17 and 18: fact, pro rider Josh Hansen, who wo
Page 19 and 20: In the New Year! - Shop Redwood Cit
Page 21 and 22: Community Interest Kick-Off for Red
Page 23 and 24: Every Woman’s Place for Fitness
Page 25 and 26: The Spectrum 25
Page 27 and 28: News Briefs (Continued from p20) Co
Page 29 and 30: Insurance Tips: Cheap Car Insurance
Page 31: The Spectrum 31

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