INFORMATION WANTED - Robberies

Multiple robberies hit Burlingame, Millbrae (by Dana Yates, Daily Journal) Armed robberies in Burlingame and Millbrae yesterday are being linked to two men who eluded police in a purple van. A black or Tongan man used a possible .38 caliber gun to rob Burlingame Oak Grove Market, at the corner of Oak Grove and Linden Avenue, at 2:40 p.m. yesterday. He escaped with an unknown amount of cash and was seen leaving the area in a purple van. The same van was spotted during the armed robbery of a Millbrae liquor store hours earlier, according to police reports.The Oak Grove robbery left two clerks startled but no one was injured, said Burlingame police Cmdr. Mike Matteucci. A countywide alert was issued for the purple van, reportedly driven by a thin white man. The van was never located, Matteucci said. Earlier Wednesday, an attempted armed robbery was reported at Liquor land, at 1599 El Camino Real in Millbrae. A Tongan male with an afro, red baseball cap and a white shirt with 101' printed on it used a small revolver to hold up the store, but was scared off before taking the money, according to police reports. The two related robberies came the same day as an unrelated attempted carjacking in Burlingame. At 11:50 a.m., police said a light-skinned black or Hispanic man with dreadlocks or afro pointed a gun at woman feeding a meter in a parking lot on Primrose Road. He demanded the woman get in the car and drive him. She offered her car keys to him instead, but he insisted the woman drive. Something scared him away before he could force the woman in the car, Matteucci said. The attempted car jacking and kidnapping is a weird? and unusual situation for Burlingame, Matteucci said. The man was last seen near Howard Avenue, Matteucci said. Anyone with information about the Burlingame robbery or attempted car jacking should call the Burlingame Police Department at 777-4100 and anyone with information about the Millbrae attempted robbery should call the Millbrae Police Department at 259-2300.

- Written by Fiona

Comments

[Mike]

Hey Fiona, can you see these types of things happening more often in Burlingame if those downtown development ideas you like so much were to actually become a reality?

[Jeriann]

Are you a lunatic? What in the world has one thing got to do with another? Have you seen the plans? There are no plans for attempted robbery and kidnapping in the downtown development plan. Honestly where do you get these ideas?

I will ditto Jeriann's question though my words would probably not be so polite.

It is absolutely ludicrous to connect the two but the fearmongering continues.

Rational arguments about good, sensible, smart, necessary, environmentally-smart, forward thinking city planning goes out the window with those who have their "arrsst in the parrsst"*, are terrorised by change and moving forward (not backwards) and want to pull up the drawbridge.

Its great that most of us can take the emotion out of any necessary changes, can welcome others enjoying our town in the future and unselfishly look beyond our own days on this green and pleasant Burlingame earth!

*amended to pacify those with *star* sensibilities

[jean]

Mike may be trying to say that higher density = more crime...

There is a more positive and optimistic and christian way to look at life:

Perhaps all those new residents that are going to be cattle-herded into high-rised Burlingame are the future volunteers, world and local leaders, givers (not takers), BCE/PTA organizers, hard working politicians, school presidents, smart Einsteins, talented artists and authors, student leaders, thespian Oliviers, respected commissioners, activists, successful fundraisers, community movers and shakers and up-standing forward-thinking residents that any town would value.

[jean]

Well, that is a much more positive and optimistic response to Mike than the first ones!

Name calling and words that need **'s don't grab me as positive or christian.

Sure hope they come up with some suspects.

[Jeriann]

Mike, I am sorry for implying that you may or may not be a lunatic. But it angers me that there is such opposition to giving people who are anything other than the "upper crust" a slice of our amazing town. How dare we think that we have a monopoly on Burlingame? How dare we think that because someone has more money they have more value? How dare we think that we have to do all we can to brick up our town so no flavor can enter. I have a good feeling that the person who pulled this crime did not live among us.
I was laughing when Fiona was offered money for her house if she moved away. You can't afford to pay what Fiona and her husband Stephen have given to this town. No one can. They are priceless. They have given this town THEMSELVES. See that is what you can't give with a check from behind a desk or from behind a computer. Joanne gives it, and Bobby gives it and Jeane gives it and many others give it. Keep your damn check. Our town doesn't need it. It needs YOU. Get off your butt and give of yourself. Pick up trash, plant a tree, sing a song, join a club, greet a neighbor, adopt a school, BE NICE. BURLINGAME IS ...
ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE
LIVING TOGETHER !!!!

[Mike]

Jeriann,

I've lived here for nearly 40 years, I HAVE given quite a bit to this town...as have my parents who also lived here for almost 40 years...as has my daughter who was born here and lived here until she went off to college 2 years ago. Please don't try to tell me about giving to this town...we have peen a big part of it for quite some time. My family has been friends with previous mayors, police chiefs and so many, many business owners and residents. What the hell do you know about me or my "giving" to this town. The greatest thing I will ever give to this town is my every effort to preserve it and save it from those who don't seem to be happy with it and want to turn it into something else. You and Fiona seem to have no clue what Burlingame is and has been. Try talking to the many long time business owners forced out of Burlingame by the ever increasing rents, easily paid by the corporations popping open another one of their chain stores. How many more of the same do we have to see come into town only fold up and leave after a few years. Just count the for lease signs downtown, or count how many stores have opened and than closed in the past 10 years. You people want to turn this town into a strip mall. I have quite a bit vested into Burlingame and I don't plan on losing it, so you can count on my "giving" the fight of my life against people like you and your efforts to change my home...yes, my home. I love this town with more passion then you could ever know or feel. I am happy in Burlingame and I plan on staying that way and will not let you take that away from me. I am sorry you live here since you don't seem to appreciate this town for what it is (and what it is, is what is always has been), so since you are so unhappy with the way things are here, please, please, please, just move elsewhere and stop trying to change my hometown...Ok. Just go somewhere you can be happy without trying to make others unhappy. What is it you just don't get?

Yes Jean, my point not lost on you...more people=more problems (including crime).

Fiona, I never said new residents would commit crime, but they will increase the volume of potential victims of crimes committed by those who will come here unnoticed in the shadows of the 75 foot tall building and smog filled air from all the additional traffic. Wow, hop off the fantasy bus and take a little stroll down reality lane, it might do you some good.

[jean]

"those who have their asses in the past, and are terrorised by change"

wow.

maybe that could be a campaign slogan.

[jean]

the "amended" post I refer to warrants not an amendment, but a deletion by the editors.

Fiona, you are so much better than that!

[Russ Cohen]

Alright folks, I don't often add my thoughts to this site because I will be immediately attacked by those who do not agree with my point of view.

In this case I can not hold my tongue any longer. As a councilmemeber I worked on the subcommittee that provided the groundwork for the plan. The intent was not to add densitiy, the intent was to encourage the recognition of what was succesful in our downtown and capitalize on it so that the downtown area would remain successful for generations to come. The one theme that was recognized by all the subcommittee members was that all future design should echo the historic nature of the area.

That said, higher denistiy was not to be avoided, it should be discussed and explored. But I believed then and believe now that density can be added by simply adaptively reusing what is already there. Adding buildings at 75 feet is simply ridiculous--no matter how good the architectural design.

Some councilmembers have suggested incentives for developers. In my opinion, if incentives should exist, it should be an incentive to explore turning the upper floors of existing buildings downtown into living units--some already exist.

As a councilmember I sat on several regional bodies. A
common theme has been Transit Oriented Housing and Mixed Use Development. It's the "cool-aide" that everyone seems to be drinking these days. No one seems to be questioning authority on this issue. I want to see our current council ask questions like, "Does higher density equal a lesser reliability on automobiles?" Let us see the study resuts that prove it, not just anecdotal evidence like --"Look at Manhattan, it works there."

Well, I am beginning to ramble here...so bottom line is, I for one want my council reps and the CAC to be asking many more questions about density before any plan is voted upon. Burlingame deserves the best and to get the best it takes more effort and more time. There is no deadline on good planning.

Russ, you are no longer a councilmember and if you were I would hope you would be more forward thinking and informed.

Mike, dear, many of us have lived here a long time too (27 years in my case) and we have seen many changes which are beyond our control. Unless we own property in downtown, we have no say on what businesses are booted out and which ones come in - that is up to the landlord and the city. Empty store fronts, etc. are not up to us - that is up to the economy and up to the landlords. Perhaps you could buy a downtown property and ask a reasonable rent (for a starter there is a "cottage" on Howard ).

Of course being a councilmember gives you a large voice in what is happening in this town and that is why they are elected and/or re-elected - or not.

Mike, dear, some of us do have a clear view of what Burlingame was and is about and - importantly - could be about in the future. We don't live in the past like many of these people do, we appreciate the present and we look forward to the future for ourselves and others who want to live here. We have invested not only our hard earned non-divorce settlement and non-inheritance money in our homes but we have invested our time and energy.

We continue to believe that speaking up and working hard for this community is better than childishly telling those who don't agree with us to move out of town.

Picking up our marbles and leaving the playground called Burlingame is not an option for many of us who will continue to work harder and harder for this community - a town which is worth every moment of our time, our voice, our money, our energy and our commitment.

[Jeriann]

First of all Mike - if you read what I wrote I was not saying that YOU have not given to this town - I was saying that Fiona and her husband Stephen HAVE given to this town and that a check to pay them to move would be ridiculous. I am suspecting that you are 40 years old. That is a perfect age in this town. You have been here long enough to have seen many of the old stores that we have enjoyed and yet also been here long enough to see some of the great new changes that are taking place. I have been here for 25 years. We have a business here and I have raised four children here. They have all gone through school here. I moved here from New York City. I know what a big city is all about. That is not what I want for Burlingame. I have fought long and hard to keep this a small town. I have chaired many fundraisers, I directed plays, I chaired Dinner Dances, Flea Markets, I produced a Fashion Show years ago called Burlingame - A Small Town Christmas?. I advocate for more parades down Burlingame Avenue. I write letters for small community theatre. I write letters for a town center. I have been on many, many community group committees. I have worked at all of the local schools. I know most of the children in this town. I was on the Burlingame Centennial Committee and was Chair of the Centennial Variety Show and wrote the play Burlingame - the Musical . I absolutely love Burlingame. I too know the Police Chief, most of the police officers and all of the City Council Members. I love the small town feel and I don't want that to change. That being said there is still a way to keep that feel and add some residential buildings. I would love to find a way for the teachers and police officers in our town to actually live in our town. I would like to get more people in their 30's to move in and begin new families. This demographic are big spenders. They love to go out to dinners. Shop for clothes. They are a big kick in the pants for a community. But they cannot afford a 1.2 million dollar house right out of the starting gate. I am not for the 75 foot buildings on Burlingame Avenue. I think Burlingame Avenue should remain as it is. I think we should keep it as all two story. But we could build up on Chapin and Howard Avenue. These could feed Burlingame Avenue and also build up those two streets. Business on the street level and residents on the upper floors. Another building like the Pacific Bell building across from it on Burlingame Ave and El Camino would be ok because it would balance the Avenue. I am ok for some tall buildings on Chapin because of its width it can handle it. I would like to see storefronts and the residents on top. I love the idea of closing Burlingame Ave to traffic. I was put off by the comment of agree or move . I was also turned off by those people? type comments. There are no those people? WE ARE those people. We are all THOSE PEOPLE.
Now as far as the small business owners who have been forced out of Burlingame. What do you expect the property owners to do? Would you expect them to charge less rent for their property than they can get? Would you expect the residential landlords to do the same? Would you expect the homeowners to charge less for the sale of their houses when they sell them? Shall we all be good Samaritans and allow all moms and pops to stay? That would be a wonderful world but this is America where the dollar rules. That is why mom and pop had to go. The same reason Burlingame houses are ridiculously overpriced is the reason why mom and pop stores are replaced by corporate stores. Now that the economy is in question people are not spending - stores are not making the money they were - they are leaving - landlords are in trouble - maybe the rents will come down. Just like the house prices. But is was never a conspiracy to get rid of mom and pop. Just a simple way for people - regular people - to make money.
And I don't want to turn anything into a strip mall. I hate strip malls. I love our town. But I don't subscribe to the theory of This is mine - you can't have it?. That sandbox theory is selfish. We can find a way to share what we have. We have something that is so amazing and so rare, but we can stretch it a little and modify it a little to let some other people in. We can do that - we must do that - because there are people out there that can help us and give to us things that we need. San Mateo fought the movie theatre tooth and nail. They wrote petitions and went to court and in the end it saved their lives. Don't close your minds to change so fast. Let it sit in your mind a little and see what happens. Let both sides seep a little. Sometimes people get so afraid of change that they close their eyes and don't see that it may not be so bad. Maybe some small changes. Big huge buildings are scary. But some of the smaller changes are nice. Let's talk about those in a nice happy way and be kinder to each other. None of us are leaving. None of us are unhappy with this town. We are all on the same page in that we LOVE BURLINGAME and we want the best for it. There are so few towns like this left. And we are fortunate that we have this one!
These are my feelings. They are not given in a malicious or rude way. I hope they are perceived as such. I truly feel there is a solution to the planning dilemma. Our town is funny that there is always so much passion. That is really a good thing. Apathy is a bad thing. This will work itself out. Mike I do that we want the same thing - the best for our town - and I do apologize for my rude comment.

[Russ Cohen]

Fiona, 75 foot tall buildings in downtown is not forward thinking. Quite the opposite in fact.

[Mike]

Why are some people sow low on the logic scale? Why do I keep reading about being in the past? I don't know about some of you, but I live in the present and you can't get there without going through the past.

Jeriann, you talk about your participation in the Burlingame Centennial...which celebrated the PAST. Burlingame is all about the past and how well it connects to the present. You said you came here from New York...that's a long way from Burlingame, yet you still seem connected to the big city life with your parades, plays, and such. You want your cake and you want to eat it too. Burlingame is and always has been a "bedroom community", which would indicate it is a place you go to sleep, something that goes not go well with parades.

Why are you some of you so obsessed with having residential development downtown? That is big city thinking. I have trouble finding a single city on the peninsula that has what you all are wishing for. You also claim that the tall buildings would be on Chapin or Howard, as if that is ok. It's not ok, my parents live on Bayswater and I live a few blocks north of Chapin, so that is a concern for us. What kind of hell would we live through in the years of construction? You also seem to be under the misguided idea that downtown housing would be affordable...where the hell did you get that idea? That housing would be way out of reach for most people. Look at the condos across from City Hall, those are close to downtown and sold for about $2 million each, do you really think the new development would be any less?

As for landlords charging downtown rents at market, keep in mind the market is driven by demand and when you build up downtown you will increase demand by the corporate chain stores you get enough of these stores and Burlingame will lose what makes it special. People don't come to Burlingame to shop at the Gap or Sharper Image, they come for the small and unique stores. The small size of our downtown is what makes it great, because you can do so much in only a few blocks there is a reason why businesses on Howard and Chapin don't do as well as those on Burlingame Avenue.

Why do you think so many towns that have tried to emulate Burlingame's downtown have failed? Downtown San Mateo being the best example, for all their efforts it will never be like Burlingame it's too big. This lame plan for our downtown will turn it into one like San Mateo's. There is nothing charming or unique or even interesting about downtown San Mateo. But even the SM government didn't try to build new high rises or residential properties around 3rd and 4th, so maybe they are a bit smarter than the Burlingame council or just don't have the personal financial motives.

[Mike]

Actually, I am letting my emotions get the best of me, I know this idiotic plan will never be a reality. The fact is that most residents are not even aware of this and as soon as they are, they will put a stop to it.

Maybe I just don't like the idea of City Hall wasting money on studying this in the first place. I think Joanne was right about some people in City Hall getting something out of it for them selves.

To some degree, Russ has a valid point in that the betterment of Burlingame will come for focusing on what has worked in the PAST and making the present a little better (growth should be slow and very well planned).

It's clear to anyone who looks at the Fox Mall and Crosby Commons, that those kinds of development ideas do NOT work in Burlingame too bad that had to come at the expense of the Fox Theatre and Levi Bros.

Or how about fixing the sewage system throughout Burlingame.
Maybe trimming those trees along El Camino before the winter storms come and topple one on someone's home.
How about fixing the sidewalks that are a serious danger to the elderly.
How about making more of our downtown accessible to the handicapped.

[jean]

Mike you got your emotions in check! I agree with you...why are we spending money on this stuff when sewers and sidewalks and plain ol' filth can not be managed. Volunteers working overtime contributing to proposals that get dismissed. Awful looking entrances "welcome to Burlingame" at the north and south end. Horrible medians, not to mention tree care.

Let's first take care and maintain what we have. Then dream of 35-75' buildings.

Our council members (ya, i know, elected) seem to be concerned more about their named contribution and resume, than maintainance of our basic city needs, at least in this case.

In my home, we go for the "install-french-drains-to-avoid-flooding-prior-to-adding-the-second-story-master-bedroom/bath" chain of thought.

[Jeriann]

What the heck, I'll take a stab at this again. The Centennial Celebration was about the past and how it relates to the present. You obviously did not attend our musical! Do you truly consider plays and parades to be big city items? I don't at all. I don't think there is anything more small town than a parade down main street. And I don't think there is anything more small town than community theatre. Go to see the Il Piccolo Players. They are delightful. Check out Shakespeare In The Park at Washington Park in two weeks to see what I mean. Or the Sunday Concert Series. I don't think the merchants of Burlingame want the residents to go to sleep?. I think they want them to shop and eat.
I don't think you are reading ALL that words Mike. You really must. I said I DO NOT want tall buildings, certainly not high rises?. Small two stories or three stories on Burlingame Avenue such as are there now. Taller buildings on Chapin and Howard to accommodate housing. Not luxury condos like those near the library but more modest housing. It doesn't have to be all or nothing at all. There are compromises to be made. And just because I was not born here does not mean that I did not pay my dues and earned my right to be here. I don't see anything wrong with having affordable apartments within walking distance to downtown. The train is close too. This would be the perfect place. There is a tall building behind the Bank of America building on Bellevue. It has affordable housing right now. Certainly not 2 million dollars. That is what I am talking about. But a building of that size would be too tall closer to the Avenue. But when you close your mind to EVEYTHING and say no to EVERYTHING because its not convenient to YOU then you are just selfish. Other people deserve to benefit. The merchants will benefit by more people living within walking distance too. If these people were here earlier maybe mom and pop would have been making more money and could have stayed! I am not so sure that everything worked in the past. I mean obviously mom and pop were driven out of their stores. Was there enough business to sustain them? Their overhead had to be lower than the big corporate stores and yet they left and the big stores moved in. Look at the space on the corner of California and Burlingame Ave. The old Cheese Please space. What is the story there? A bundle of money poured into a prime piece of property. Beautiful renovation. Closed down. That was a mom and pop. Actually I am finished with this thread. Everyone will have an opinion on this. You are one person as am I. Again I am dismayed that there has been no response to the asbestos cleanup thread at the high school. It sickens me that it is still not complete. It has been years and the lack of concern this town gives to it is very interesting. Talk to me about that dilemma Mike. First of all explain to me why it is taking so long to finish. Then the biggest mystery of all. How is the area in front of the school so contaminated that it took years and millions of dollars to destroy and just less than 6 feet away the land remains pristine and untouched? It seems to be a miracle. And yet I seem to be the only person asking this question. High rise buildings a threat? Million Dollar mystery lawns are a threat! And you are absolutely right. Those other things do need fixing, but that does not change the fact the our down can move forward as well. Change does not need to be a bad thing Mike. I am sure that when you and your wife got married you were happy. But that did not mean that you should not have children. Your children changed your life and were work and meant that you had to rearrange things. They took up space that otherwise could have been used for your stereo or your golf clubs. They made noise and mess and sometimes even got you angry. They cost you money and sometimes they were trouble. I know I have raised my share. BUT look what they GAVE you. They are amazing. Suppose you had decided not to go through the trouble of having them. Supposed you had decided that you did not want to take the chance. You were happy just the way things were. You did not need tall kids. You and your wife had enough height in your house. You did not need another opinion in your house. Yours was all that counted. Sometimes change is good. Look, Mike I really do wish you the best. I have no idea who you are but I still wish you the best. Please take this for what it is worth. I really do love this town. I have made mistakes in this blog and then changed my mind. Maybe I will this time too. But for now I will leave with this. I wish for the middle class people, especially the 30's and young 40's to be able to live in this town and be able to start their families. Especially the teachers and cops and firemen. I don't want them to have to travel for 40 minutes to come to teach our kids and service our city. I want to be able to get the best for our kids and our town. And we can't expect them to come here when they have to travel so far.
Have a wonderful day. And let's please fight to fix that darn lawn.

[jean]

Jerianne, I was at the high school today, and it looks like they're preparing for sod. It appears as though they took the time to lay gopher proofing nets as well. One guy said the goal is to finish prior to the beginning of school.

I agree, I have always wondered why the land six feet away was not contaminated.....oh well.

It might just be and that would be the real tragedy because it would be very expensive for our city to fix. So perhaps we shouldn't wonder aloud!!

Love your comment, Jeriann, about the analogy of children. Thanks.