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As I Was Saying… Publisher | Steve Penna The Monday night after the Councilwoman Rosanne Foust/FPPC conflict of interest story had hit the news, the City Council nestled in for their regular meeting. One of the agenda items was the swearing in of our new port commissioners. One that attracted my attention was the appointment of Tom Cronin. Cronin has served on the Planning Commission and participated in several other community activities that make him qualified for the position and, given his support on the council, a likely choice. However, he was recently named the new executive director of the Police Activities League (PAL). The city has committed $80,000 this year to sponsor the position, saving taxpayers the cost of the full-time police officer position that had run the program in the past. Funding for the position is guaranteed for one year only and will be reviewed each year by the City Council to determine whether they will continue the sponsorship or whether PAL can become self-sufficient with private donations as desired. Through his contract with PAL, Cronin will be paid roughly $60,000 per year and will also get health and other benefits but will not be a city employee. Here’s my question. If it was determined that Foust could not vote on anything related to the Saltworks project because of her position at SAMCEDA (she is a paid employee but does not sit on their board of directors, just like Cronin and PAL), should the fact that Cronin’s salary is indirectly paid for by the City of Redwood City, which owns the port, be a concern and a potential conflict of interest? He will be voting and making decisions as a commissioner that could indirectly affect his position and salary, just as the FPPC determined about Foust. As you may remember, Foust asked for rulings on her potential conflict on two separate occasions before taking her position at SAMCEDA, and two city attorneys ruled there was none. I am sure that after what happened to Foust, and because of the sensitivity of the issue, our city manager, new city attorney and council members must have thought about this and determined that there was no conflict, since Cronin was appointed to the commission. So, no conflict? I have a feeling the FPPC will be ruling on this in the future, if the city does not, because the Port Commission is responsible for bringing much needed revenues to the city. The Port Commission is considered the second most powerful commission behind Planning because it is also seen as a stepping stone for a council seat. Thus they are governed the same way council members are. The city is supposed to protect residents serving our community from these types of judgments and conflicts. Even if it is to advise them to not www.SpectrumMagazine.net seek an appointment or job. Foust found out the hard way that this does not always happen. Let’s hope Cronin doesn’t have to. .… While I am on the subject of politics and city staff, let me bring forth a few issues I have. I am one to always question the process; that is my job. I always ask the question “why?” even when I think I know the answer, because does one ever really know? Many find this an annoyance. That happens when you are not following the flock, doesn’t it? In politics, following is what usually happens, and those involved end up patting each other on the back while the rest of us are left out and feel our voice is not heard because our questions go unanswered. Therefore some subjects of concern are never brought up to our council members. For instance — This year the Peninsula Celebration Association (PCA) canceled the annual Fourth of July fireworks display due to lack of funding. There was no effort by the group to do community outreach to save the event, so our community was disappointed. Recently, a group of community-minded people approached the PCA and asked to help them raise funds to put on the show next year. That effort will start soon. The City Council is not responsible for the fireworks and really should stay out of funding for them because if they did, they would have to fund every nonprofit event in the city for groups that are in financial straits — and that is many. BUT — Many in our community feel that the PCA should move the annual parade and festival back downtown where it was always held. During the construction of the cinema project several years ago, the events were temporarily moved and never moved back. Thus the businesses that usually benefit from the thousands of visitors downtown have not, and many have suffered or gone out of business. Why doesn’t the City Council require the PCA to move the event back downtown to create sales tax revenues and continue the tradition? All they would have to do is set that requirement during the permit process and if the PCA did not agree, then maybe the overtime police services and other city services that are needed for the events would not be available to the PCA and they would have to foot the bills themselves instead of us taxpayers. For instance — The El Camino Real gateway project has been and will continue to be a complete disaster for our community. Not only did it create insurmountable traffic problems and delays, lost revenue for businesses in that area and lost sales tax dollars for the city when they are needed most, but it appears that once the rainy season comes, it will create flooding in that stretch of El Camino due to the road repair not being properly completed. Why hasn’t anyone stepped up and warned other communities that are now or will soon be going through the same process about the problems our community experienced? Are we watching to see how, if the flooding does occur, the federal government will compensate our community if our taxpayer dollars are spent to correct the problems they created? For instance — I have been following three unsolved murders in our community, and I am sure there are more. 1) 47-year-old Alycia Williams was stabbed to death on Leahy Street. 2) Thomas Bacon was shot to death while sitting in his car in a restaurant parking lot at the entrance to our downtown area. 3) 34-year-old Tim Singer was beaten to death on the Caltrain tracks near the Franklin Street apartments. Police are still working on these cases, and family and friends of the victims are doing what they can to keep their names out there through fliers and the Internet, but more community involvement needs to happen to find their killers. I have never heard one City Council member speak openly to the community about any of these murders or offer any type of reward to solve these heinous and violent crimes. There should be a “this will not happen in our community” type of response and a large focus on solving them. The fact that there are people who have committed murders walking around our community is something that should outrage us and be addressed at any cost before another innocent neighbor is victimized. For instance — Now that it is acceptable and even “trendy” to criticize public employees’ salaries and benefits, some City Council members have openly done the same. What I don’t get is why they did not speak up before now, when they were voting “yes” year after year after year for salary and staff increases, benefit funding and pension plan increases and contributions of taxpayer monies? Where was the proactive leadership when we needed it — before we got into these financial budget problems? For instance — “Take home” vehicles have become an issue in several communities throughout California. But not here. Why? If our City Council is now looking at employees’ salaries, etc., why are they not being proactive and putting an end to the unacceptable practice of providing vehicles on taxpayer dollars? (continued on page 30)
Cañada Opens New Housing for Employees Fifty-four staff members from the three San Mateo County community colleges were able to move into some of the 60 new apartments built on the Cañada College campus in Redwood City, part of a plan to offer affordable housing to those working for the district. It’s been four years since about 40 apartments at the College of San Mateo were opened for faculty at below-market value and the district debuted 60 more units only hours before the new residents were allowed to move in. Cañada Vista is the district’s second attempt to offer affordable housing to its employees after demand far outweighed the first offerings of homes. District officials hope to retain faculty by offering housing, possibly poising the individuals to buy in the area down the road. “This provides the opportunity for staff to have affordable housing near their work,” said Ron Galatolo, chancellor for the San Mateo County Community College District. “There are 60 more one-, two- and three-bedroom units at an affordable price so people can save to buy their own house. It’s extremely expensive to live here.” The units range in size from 800 square feet to 1,300 square feet, with costs ranging from $950 per month to $1,300 for the largest threebedroom unit, said district spokeswoman Barbara Christensen. The $12 million project was funded using special financing, similar to a mortgage, which will be repaid by the rent generated. The same funding mechanism was used to build the College Vista site in San Mateo with plans to pay over 30 years. Christensen added that the project is not expected to be paid off much sooner. Overlooking the Bay Area, the development offers units with balconies, some with garages and nearly all with a lovely view. The club house was decorated by an on-campus interior design class. Karen Schwarz, district trustee and president of the San Mateo County Colleges Educational Housing Corporation Board, explained the need for housing became part of the conversation years ago when high cost of living began preventing the district from hiring and retaining employees. After the San Mateo housing development was opened, the district quickly filled the spots and realized a waiting list of more than 100 people meant the need was not being met, leading to the second development. Residents of the San Mateo location have welcomed eight babies in four years. More importantly, 12 people were able to buy homes locally from the money saved, said Schwarz. The original development meant 59 percent of people were able to walk to work, saving 153,000 commute miles annually, she said. Residents for the new housing were chosen off the waiting list that had been previously created. There was a formula for choosing individuals that included having a makeup of faculty and staff equal to that of the district, explained Christensen. Six units have not yet been filled, leaving possible openings for new staff. Editor’s note: This article appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper. People tour a unit at the Cañada Vista housing development on the Cañada College campus in Redwood City. The Spectrum 7
Page 1 and 2: WE TURN 6Cañada Housing, Boxing Dr
Page 3 and 4: The Spectrum.SEP.2010 Steve Penna O
Page 5: RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood
Page 9 and 10: Every Woman’s Place for Fitness
Page 11 and 12: in their personal life; they come f
Page 13 and 14: Nonprofits in Action (Continued fro
Page 15 and 16: P.S. The People Speak: Letters to t
Page 17 and 18: Parties Around Town New Kapadokia A
Page 19 and 20: “When You Have a Good Life, You H
Page 21 and 22: Shop Local This Summer! - Shop Redw
Page 23 and 24: Community Interest 9/11 Memorial St
Page 25 and 26: 587 Canyon Road Redwood City (650)
Page 27 and 28: The Spectrum 27
Page 29 and 30: If you live, work, or play in Redwo
Page 31 and 32: Insurance Tips: Questions and Answe
Page 33 and 34: Senior Activities The Veterans Memo
Page 35: Re Redwood City NEW CHURCH Creating

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