The Burlingame Voice

July 4, 1776 -- In Congress Assembled

My favorite passages of the Declaration of Independence are:

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

And

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

And the ever popular

For imposing taxes on us without our consent.

"He" was, of course, the King of Great Britain, but it does make one think.  Happy Fourth of July, Burlingame.

Where to Start?

From the San Mateo Daily Journal Police Report:

Theft. A seven-foot replica of King Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus was taken from the corner of Howard Avenue and Victoria Road before 7:40 p.m. Tuesday, June 30.

Was the de Young Museum just too far to drive?

Another opinion regarding High Speed Rail with pictures

Say what you will about The Daily Post. In this case their editorial regarding high speed rail is salient. Below is the editorial. 

You can also link to a pdf of the HSR scoping report. This 84-page report includes public comments.

Download 20090626113405_DraftSFtoSJScopingReport

Also included here are some renditions of what high speed rail might look like right here in Burlingame. Important to note is that these images were developed using figures provided by the High Speed Rail Authority. 

First some pictures for Burlingamer's to think about.

Below: What we enjoy today.

And what the same area may look like with a four track system. The wall is 70-90ft. wide, to accommodate raised 4-track system, and increases to at least 120ft. in the station area, to accommodate pedestrian platforms.

And now the Daily Post's editorial about High Speed Rail:

Stop the train, now!

The California Senate has what may be its last chance to stop the high-speed

rail system in its tracks. By killing Assembly Bill 153, the Senate can protect hundreds of 

homes in the train's path and it can avoid a massive, multi-billion-dollar boondoggle.

AB153 will greatly expand the authority of the unelected board that oversees the

High Speed Rail Authority. The bill will give this board power to control the

design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of this system.

From what we've seen so far, this board isn't up to the task of building a

high-speed, modern railroad.

 

Lousy business plan

As the Legislative Analyst noted, the authority's business plan was full of

holes and lacked crucial details.

Not only was the plan submitted two months late, but the analyst said the

authority was vague about how ridership estimates were projected or how or how

the authority would obtain the billion needed to build the 125 mph train that

would go from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

By approving AB153, the Senate is saying that this shoddy plan is good enough,

and the rail authority is ready to move on to the next step.

Save our homes

What's worse is that AB153 will give the rail authority the right of eminent

domain, which will allow it to take hundreds of homes in the train's path along

the Peninsula.

The authority's pitchmen have behaved in an arrogant manner, insisting that the

train's route is decided regardless of public opinion. Given this behavior, we

have no confidence that this board will be fair to people when it takes their

houses.

By rejecting AB153, the Senate will put the high-speed rail project on hold,

which isn't a bad thing. The cost of the project is far from clear, but it could

range from $45 billion to $100 billion. How will it raise that kind of money

when the state will be paying its bills with IOUs?

Stop the train now. Bring it back in a few years with a new rail authority

board, a better business plan and a way to build it without taking hundreds of

homes on the Peninsula.

What a Pretty Station

The B'game train station may be threatened by High-Speed Rail, but at least it won't be threatened by peeling paint and leaking windows anymore.  In a San Mateo Daily Journal article that quotes our very own Historical Society prez, the paper reports

These current renovations, totaling $127,000, include painting the building and replacing seven windows, said Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn.

The train station and its surroundings have undergone quite a few changes in recent years, with the $20.5 million one-year revamp of its platforms and crossings finished last summer and the transformation from vacant station to history museum. The station is quite easily the most recognizable building in the city and is considered to be a quick-to-find landmark for those heading downtown.

As the home to the still-new Historical museum, more than 1,000 people have visited the station in the last few months.  I liked what the Amtrak conductor had to say as well

Bruce Shelton, an Amtrak conductor assigned to Caltrain passes through the city anywhere from two to four times a day. For him, the station is not just a city landmark but a state one too.

“Just like the Golden Gate Bridge represents San Francisco, Burlingame station represents Burlingame,” said Shelton. “The station looks great, I am sure the work is needed and am delighted that the interior will continue to be used as a museum.”

Here's a view before the latest coat of paint was completed

Indepezible

How unfortunate is it that the Pez candy company has no sense of humor?  The San Mateo Daily Journal is reporting that

Connecticut-based Pez candy isn’t so sweet on the Burlingame shop boasting about housing “the world’s largest dispenser of Pez” and selling T-shirts emblazoned with “Got Pez?” The company sued owners Gary and Nancy Doss in federal court, claiming they misled people into erroneously thinking the museum and its wares are formally connected with the candy company.

The intellectual property suit was filed June 22 in the California Northern District Court and seeks unspecified damages of trademark infringement and destruction of the fraudulent Pez. In addition to the Dosses, the suit by Pez Candy, Inc. and Patrafico AG names Computer Spectrum of Burlingame.

That is a great picture of local man-about-town Gary Doss and the giant non-Pez-brand candy dispenser.  You would think Pez would appreciate the labor of love museum.

Whistlestopping

I found this vintage Burlingame item on eBay:

ANDERSON FOR PRESIDENT pamphlet
SIGNED IN PERSON
JOHN B ANDERSON
1980 Presidential Election
Up for auction is a campaign pamphlet SIGNED IN PERSON by JOHN B ANDERSON during his 1980 presidential bid.
Anderson, running as a Republican for President, made whistle stop speeches in California to campaign.  He gave a speech from a train stopped in Burlingame, CA then later signed items for folks.  This is how I got his signature on this political literature.  He signed cover in black ink.  Inside, someone put x's through the name of some of the opposing candidates' information (not me, I was a kid at the time!).

 

Does anyone remember this whistlestop?

The latest on Safeway

At last night's planning commission meeting a Safeway proposal was brought forward. Both commissioners as well as citizens in general agreed that the proposal was far better than the one rejected by both the commission and council  three years ago. However, there were some shared concerns including:

• Truck flow directly through the parking lot
• Location of loading dock
• Absence of landscaping on the rooftop parking lot
• Better defined pedestrian walking paths
• Design of the structure on the corner of Howard and Primrose
• Width of Fox Plaza Lane
• Lighting on rooftop parking structure that could disrupt surrounding areas

Safeway reps said that they will address many of these issues in the next round of review.

High Speed Rail - 5 Peninsula Cities Coalesce

Last month the Burlingame City Council voted 4-1 to join the Peninsula Cities Coalition High Speed Rail Consortium with Belmont, Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Atherton.  All five cities were represented at this morning's meeting in Palo Alto by (l-r) Christine Wozniak, Vice Mayor of Belmont, Vice Chair Richard Cline, Vice Mayor of Belmont, Chairwoman Yoriko Kishimoto, councilmember Palo Alto, Jerry Carlson, Mayor of Atherton and our own Jerry Deal, councilmember Burlingame.

 

 

 

 

Hot topics at this morning's meeting included the difficulty getting any design specifics from the High Speed Rail Authority, eminent domain takings of property along the Caltrain right of way, and what to do if the State Legislature suspends the environmental quality rules (i.e. CEQA) for this project.

Dan McNamara from the California Rail Foundation offered to update the Coalition on its lawsuit and emphasized that the Altamont Pass option is still alive and would have much less impact on the Peninsula than the Pacheco Pass option.  He is also willing to come to Burlingame to give his presentation.

There will be a "Teach In" on July 25th and a two day workshop in October to help the public understand the magnitude of this project.

Apple iPhone still has it!

Here's the line at 7am this morning in front of the Apple store as the iPhone 3GS went on sale.  Even though Apple was taking advance orders on-line some people just like the retail buzz.

Local Boy Comes Home

When the Texas Rangers face-off in interleague play tonight against the Giants, local TV sets will be tuned in to see Scott Feldman on the mound for the Rangers.  Feldman, who grew up in Ray Park and attended Burlingame schools, is 5-1 this year and pitching well.  He's up against 300-game winner Randy Johnson tonight.  There will be a few locals who were teammates at BHS at tailgate parties in the city.  That's why they call it "The Big Show".

Sportswriter Emanuel Lee of the SM Daily Journal caught up with Scott's college coach:

"Here's a kid who grew up in Burlingame, now playing in the majors and facing one of the game's all-time greats, it doesn't get much better than that," said CSM manager Doug Williams, who coached Feldman for two crucial years at CSM, a time in which Feldman transformed himself into a pro prosect.

Fun stuff.  There were about nine ex-Panthers playing for CSM this year and one more is headed there to play ball next year.