Community theater is back! - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

As I Was Saying…(Continued from p6) One thing I noticed during the budget hearing and decisions is how administrative positions and salaries were barely touched. It is obvious to anyone who follows city government that Redwood City is very administratively heavy, and even those on the council can name positions that should be eliminated. But why they are not is anyone’s guess. If across-the-board budget cuts, which logistically do not work, is what the council feels is a solution to the budgetary worries, then why isn’t everyone sacrificing and taking cuts? Maybe across-the-board cuts for administrators’ salaries are needed at this time? City council members? Just asking. .… The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted not to place a sales tax measure on this November’s ballot. The proposed quarter-cent increase would have generated $30 million annually for the county. The county is looking at a budget deficit of more than $100 million for the next fiscal year. Supervisors Mark Church, Carole Groom and Adrienne Tissier voted against the plan, stating the county could make additional cuts before asking for help from voters. Good for them! Looks like it’s time for County Manager David S. Boesch Jr. to get to work and come up with some real cuts to balance his budget. The two supervisors who voted for the plan to increase our taxes, Board President Richard Gordon and Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson, argued that this is “precisely the time” to ask for a tax increase because those in need come to the county for help, and the county needs to be able to provide that assistance. So there are seniors who have to decide between buying medications or food and they should be taxed more for needing it? Need I say more? BAD idea. VERY bad! .… As I have written before, the “Battle for the Bay” and the proposed development of the Cargill property is going to get more intense as the months go by. The latest is the decision by California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) that councilwoman Rosanne Foust will no longer be able to vote on any issue in regard to the development. Among other things, the FPPC regulates campaign financing and spending and financial conflicts of interest. The commission also investigates alleged violations of the Political Reform Act, imposes penalties when appropriate and assists state and local agencies in the development and enforcement of conflict-of-interest codes. Menlo Park councilman Andy Cohen asked the FPPC to investigate Foust’s dual roles as chair of the San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA) and as a sitting councilwoman and found that she violated the Political Reform Act by voting on the proposed development. The FPPC held that Foust’s vote as a public official could affect her private employer, SAMCEDA, noted she acted on the counsel of interim City Attorney Roy Abrams and issued her a written warning that future violations would carry up to $5,000 in fines. As you will surmise by Foust’s response (in the letters section of this month’s Spectrum), she has taken the high road by stating, “As an elected official, I have sworn myself to uphold the law, so I will accept the commission’s ruling. However, the FPPC’s letter contains factual errors and the ruling itself contradicts well-documented opinions previously issued by the FPPC in rulings similar to mine.” She is not fueling the fire and will do what most should but don’t do: respect the process. The FPPC held that Foust’s vote as a public official could affect her private employer, SAMCEDA. In what factual way is not clearly explained. They did, however, speculate that a business might join SAMCEDA in the hopes of gaining favoritism with Foust. According to Abrams, the FPPC “is inconsistent in its previous rulings and way too speculative in thinking that other developers, buoyed by SAMCEDA’s favor of the Saltworks site, will join the group as dues-paying members.” The bottom line here is that Foust did nothing wrong. First, when she was considering the job at SAMCEDA, she asked then City Attorney Stan Yamamoto if she were to be offered the position, whether there would be any conflict of interest. He ruled none. She again asked him right before accepting the position and got the same response. Then she asked Abrams and he also stated there was no conflict at all. It must be noted that Foust is a paid employee of SAMCEDA and not on the board of directors that decides its policies. She took the advice of former and interim city attorneys and abided by what they said. Had they advised her to not vote, I am sure she would have accepted their decision and abstained from any voting. In reality, they did not do their jobs correctly. This begs the question, who is hiring these administrators? If they are not doing their jobs correctly, why are they still around, costing taxpayers more money? All this comes down to the future of the former Cargill site, a 1,436-acre parcel that developer DMB wants to convert into open space, retail and up to 12,000 homes. Although far from approved, the plan has incurred the ire of environmental groups like Save The Bay and neighboring jurisdictions, such as the Menlo Park City Council and Cohen. He is clearly opposed to the project and has strong ties to the Save The Bay organization and its executive director, David Lewis. Just two days after the ruling against Foust was announced, several members of our community received letters of solicitation for membership in Save The Bay for a discounted price of “$15 or only $1.25 a month.” The slick mailer signed by Lewis touted the “15 things Cargill doesn’t want you to know about their plan” and gave the opportunity to send in petitions to the City Council and Cargill. Which begs the question, did Save The Bay know the decision was coming from the FPPC before everyone else did? Did they know it was going to be against Foust? If so, how? The timing of it is just too coincidental. This type of political behavior and action gives politicians and the political process a bad name. The win-at-all-cost mentality is so destructive. Why can’t everyone just let the process take its course and then decide if the proposal is something that will be feasible and desired in our community? .… Oh, and the suggestion that Redwood City voters should be asked whether there should be an increase in business taxes or the formation of a business improvement district? VERY bad idea. VERY bad! As I was saying… Let Me Make a Point/Let Me Counter That (Continued from previous page) Shouldn’t responsible agencies such as the fire department who consolidated early and made tough cuts long ago be supported instead of cut? Both the Redwood City fire and police departments have the lowest ratios of firefighters/police officers to citizens in all San Mateo County. Where do we draw the line? Hartnett quotes Fire Chief Jim Skinner’s statement that “there is a Redwood City fire station and a Woodside Fire Protection District station one mile apart from each other, which together average about two calls a day.” This statement does not take into account that the area in question is full of hilly, windy roads and narrow streets, making travel slow at best. Our city fathers and fire chiefs took this into account when placing fire stations. The information reported does not reflect calls these engine companies respond to outside their respective districts because of the dynamic automatic-aid and move-up agreements. Implementing Hartnett’s idea into the current response plan means more than 1,000 times a year there would be no paramedic or fire protection in all of Emerald Lakes. This would significantly increase the time it takes for emergency crews from outside the area to reach an emergency in Emerald Lakes. In addition, the Emerald Lakes area holds the highest-rated urban wild-land fire danger in Redwood City. This fire danger, coupled with narrow roads, should give pause to the idea of leaving Emerald Lakes unprotected. While Hartnett suggests consolidating and closing fire stations, may we suggest something else? Just like our response to teachers being laid off while administrative staff goes untouched, let’s leave teachers in the classroom, police and firefighters on the streets, and cut bloated administrative bureaucracy. Redwood City Fire Capt. Wade Green is the vice president of the Redwood City Firefighters Association. www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Insurance Tips: Homeowners Insurance and Keeping Track of Your Goods By Russ Castle, Special to The Spectrum Homeowners insurance is an invaluable investment for every homeowner. If your house went up in flames and you lost everything, would you be able to recall everything you owned, including the items’ values? If you came home from work to find someone had burglarized your home, would you be able to account for everything that had been taken or destroyed? While some items are priceless or have sentimental value, memories unfortunately are not sufficient for filing a homeowners insurance claim in the wake of a disaster. In times of distress, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether your possessions are covered or not. If you purchase homeowners insurance, it is important to know what your policy covers. Not sure what’s in your homeowners policy? That topic will be covered in a future article. Your homeowners insurance, ideally, will replace the cost of what you lose in a disaster. More important, however, is the fact that you will be compensated only for what you can account for. In other words, fond memories are heartwarming, but they will not reimburse your losses in a catastrophe. “But how will I account for everything I lose in such an event?” Well, the most accurate way to keep track of your items would be to take an inventory of everything you own. While this is a process that could take months to complete, it is your most worthwhile strategy should you experience misfortune. “What do I need to include in this inventory?” Put simply: everything. The more you can account for in your homeowners insurance claim, the more likely you will be reimbursed. The list should be as detailed as possible and should include appliances, carpets, jewelry, furniture, linens, antiques, furniture and the list goes on. To get your money’s worth, go from room to room and be sure you are as descriptive and detailed as possible. Include: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A description of the item (including the quantity) The manufacturer or brand Any model or serial numbers A description of where or how the item was attained The date of purchase or age of the item Receipt or other proof of purchase that shows the cost The current value The replacement cost Photocopies of appraisals “I’ll never complete this process!” Keep in mind that while this documentation process may be time-consuming, it is certainly easier than remembering everything you own. Don’t let this task discourage you. Take photos. Even better, make a night out of it. Grab your video camera and go from room to room to create a visual and verbal description of your items, listing everything in the room (e.g., 42-inch Sony flat-screen TV, model number 7893743798, serial number yuy47878; 15 dress shirts; 9 polo shirts, etc.). It might take you an hour to document your entire house. Regardless of how you complete your inventory, remember that your compensation rests on the quality of your documentation. “I’ve made the inventory; now what?” It is likely you invested a good amount of time to document your items. Whatever you do, keep that homeowners insurance inventory safe! If an unfortunate event comes your way, you certainly do not want your hard work to go to waste. Store it in a relative’s home, a lockbox, a safety deposit box or keep it tucked away in your office desk. While memories and keepsakes can rarely be replaced, it’s comforting to know your homeowners insurance will keep you financially secure should you have properly documented your items. Editor’s note: This article was written by Russ Castle of Castle Insurance Agency, a licensed and experienced insurance resource center fully prepared to help you navigate the process of changing or gaining a policy. If you need insurance help, call him at 650-364-3664. Advertise with The Spectrum Call Us Today 650.368.2434 Senior Activities The Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave., Redwood City, is providing the following activities that are open to the public during the month of August. Friday Movies for Everyone Every Friday, 1:15 p.m. (unless otherwise announced) Come to the Veterans Memorial Senior Center for a free feature movie in our state-of-the-art movie theater! Aug. 6: “Extraordinary Measures” Aug. 13: “The Bounty Hunter” Aug. 20: “Green Zone” Aug. 27: “Brooklyn’s Finest” Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Free Lecture Wednesday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is a nationwide network of experienced adults who contribute their time and talent to important programs that strengthen their communities. Come hear Deborah Owdem, program director for RSVP of San Mateo & Northern Santa Clara Counties, speak about current opportunities, how they match volunteers with organizations and the benefits awarded to RSVP volunteers. New and Improved Lunch Program Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 12 p.m. Starting in July, Carroll’s Meats of Brisbane will be providing lunches Tuesdays through Thursdays at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center. The Carroll family came to San Francisco in the early 1900s and helped found “Butcher Town.” The Carroll family brings this history to your table. Carroll’s products are created using special marinades. From house-roasted main courses to gourmet deli meats and side dishes, Carroll’s has everything you could want or need. The lunch price will remain the same at $5, but the food will be cooked on-site. Our current cook, Ruby, will still be making her famous soups and desserts. Lunch at the VMSC includes housemade soup, cooked-on-site hot entree and yummy dessert, along with milk or coffee, all for just $5. It’s the best deal in town! To learn more about the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, call 650-780-7270. Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department provides recreational facilities and activities for all ages and interests, and supplies building and custodial services for city buildings. Redwood City Parks also operates the Veterans Memorial Senior Center and the Fair Oaks Community Center, providing social, educational and cultural activities, as well as information, referral and counseling services to persons living in Redwood City and neighboring communities. Redwood City Parks is more than you think! Its website is www.redwoodcity.org/parks. The Spectrum 29
Page 1 and 2: COMMUNITY THEATER IS BACK! more IN
Page 3 and 4: The Spectrum.AUG.2010 Steve Penna O
Page 5 and 6: RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood
Page 7 and 8: Redwood City’s Hernandez to Fulfi
Page 9 and 10: A Hidden Treasure Off, But Still On
Page 11 and 12: “I am really proud to be in Redwo
Page 13 and 14: P.S. The People Speak: Letters to t
Page 15 and 16: Parties Around Town “An Evening O
Page 17 and 18: As chief financial officer for Tran
Page 19 and 20: Shop Local This Summer! - Shop Redw
Page 21 and 22: Community Interest Sequoia High Sch
Page 23 and 24: 587 Canyon Road Redwood City (650)
Page 25 and 26: Wow! They Really Did This: Communit
Page 27: Let Me Make a Point/Let Me Counter
Page 31: Redwood City Community Theatre PRES

Community theater is back! - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?