The Burlingame Voice

Detroit to Burlingame

The third quarter of 2008 was the last "healthy" quarter before the recession kicked in across the country.  In the third quarter as in most quarters, the "New Motor Vehicle Dealers" business group was the highest sales tax generator in Burlingame.  For Q3 of 2008 it generated about $555,000 of sales tax which was down 25.2% from Q3 of 2007.

Today's Wall Street Journal reports:

"After years of market-share declines, Chrysler, GM and Ford Motor Co. have been left with many more dealers than than they need.

Now the recession and tight credit markets are pushing many dealers over the edge.  Hundreds have gone out of business over the last 15 months, including about 400 Chrysler stores since January 2008.

GM is making plans to drop 2,600 of its more than 6,000 dealers and said Monday it plans to inform affected locations on Thursday.  Chrysler has told the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan it is likely to cut more than 800 dealers and could begin notifying those that will be dropped later this week, people familar with the matter said."

Burlingame is lucky to have a set of established and diversified dealers in the city.  Let's hope they can weather this storm.

Mother's Day on the Bay

It can be risky trying something new on Mother's Day.  Take the pink baseball bats and wristbands that Major League Baseball players used today as an example.  I hope Moms liked them, but I was less than enthusiastic about seeing the Red Sox' Big Papi with a pink bat in his hands.

A less risky choice was going out to the Burlingame bayfront for Mother's Day dinner.  The Sherman restaurant is the latest incarnation of the establishment that has been the Showboat and Lucky Lady just a bit south of Kincaid's at 410 Airport Blvd.  On a day with good weather, like today, the sunset and the views of the city and aircraft landing at SFO can distract one from even the best of dinner companions.

With the Drive-in theatre gone for about nine years now and the nearby parking lots being empty, Airport Blvd can seem as remote as Pescadero some days.  I hear Millenium Partners is making progress on their project for 301 Airport Blvd and the Peninsula Ave. ramps are slowly coming along, so perhaps the Sherman will have busier days ahead.

Smokey the Bear says....

The map of the Santa Barbara fire in today’s San Mateo County Times really struck me because some old Burlingame friends are now living down there.  Locals will remember John and Ellen Hunter as a seriously funny and involved couple who well understood the values of Burlingame.  The Hunters took a 2 year expedition to New Zealand and moved back to Santa Barbara just a few months ago.

I have heard through friends that their house is OK, but that the fire got very close.  Way too close for comfort.  That got me thinking about California fires.  I’m guessing the Hunters were not thinking about fire dangers when they chose their house.  I know I didn’t give it even the slightest thought when I chose my house in Burlingame.  The Oakland fires happened after I moved in and I’ve chosen not to think about it since.  Bur this is the second serious fire in Santa Barbara in five months.  Earthquakes, I think about…fire, not recently.

But the same informative friend who updated me on the Hunters’ safety also noted how there are several similar fire avenues in the Burlingame hills.  Do you feel safe from fire where you are?

Here's something Burlingame should try

Why not try this experiment? It's called "PARKing Day." I think it was tried in San Francisco last year, but it has been going on in cities all over the country for a few years to call attention to the fact that our asphalt surfaces could be put to better use. This year, PARKing Day is Friday, September 18. Here is a link with more information. www.parkingday.org Here is a blurb form the site with a brief explanation of the concept: 

PARK(ing) Day is an annual, one-day, global event where artists, activists, and citizens collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spots into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public parks.

 Anyone can participate in PARK(ing) Day, though it is strictly a non-commercial project, intended to promote creativity, civic engagement, critical thinking, unscripted social interactions, generosity and play.

 

Maybe it's something that a group like Citizens for a Better Burlingame can try?

Storm Drain measure passes

The voting period for the Burlingame storm drain measure closed yesterday and it appears the measure has passed by a substantial margin.  If you live in the Hills, you are hoping they start repairing the pipes that are collapsing and taking out pavement.  If you live in the Flats, you are hoping they start with the connectors to the bay.

Next up:  the trees on Burlingame Ave near Washington Park.

A House and a Home

Over the weekend I had an opportunity to view a lovely old home for sale that was being held open for the first time in 57 years.  The home is almost 100 years old and has been owned by only four families in its near-century life.  First-time Open Houses are often busy especially in Burlingame where neighbors come together to get a sense of the house’s condition and prospects.  Sometimes local realtors even hold first openings on Saturdays to give the neighbors their chance before the serioius buyers appear.

This house generated real excitement because it is special with a corner turret articulated with curved glass windows, front and back staircases, mature redwoods….you get the picture.  Once I tell you it is on a 16,000 square foot lot, you can almost sense the Olde Burlingame feeling that I felt.

The housing market is struggling in many zip codes, but this house will be a great barometer of how 94010 is doing.

For those who can not picture what High Speed Rail might look like

OK, it's a little rough, but this might give you an idea of what an elevated track would look like if it were to go through Burlingame. It ain't pretty. Now is the time to speak up and send a clear message to The California High Speed Rail Authority that this isn't a good idea.

High Speed Rail in Burlingame?

      There is a meeting scheduled tomorrow night,(Monday) at Burlingame City Hall at 7pm. The subject will be high speed rail. Let me cut to the chase. I don't think it's a good idea. Frankly, I think it's a technology based on an antiquated philosophy regarding the way Californians live and work. Thirty or forty years ago, folks moved from urban setting to suburban settings. Now the movement is back to urban settings because it's simply healthier for the environment when you can live near where you work, shop and stroll without driving and so on. In fact, many local leaders along the Peninsula have worked hard to adopt policies that encourage higher density living close to transit. It seems the idea of high speed rail is predicated on the urban sprawl model of the 1950's. In other words, live in Fresno or Los Angeles and commute to work or vice versa. That might have made sense a few decades ago but it no longer does. 

      There is a host of other more practical issues that I hope will be brought to light at tomorrow's meeting like years of noisy, costly, ugly construction, elevated berms and wide tracks that will divide every town along the Peninsula,and more.  I hope some of our local leaders have the chutzpa to tell the High Speed Rail Authority, "Thanks but, no thanks."  Oh, and let's not oversimplify this by saying its a case of the NIMBY's.

SMCHA - A Night at the Museum

Many of our Burlingame residents are part of an event coming up at the San Mateo County Historical Association's "A Night at the Museum". These residents are bringing history to life - Gaspar de Portol , Father Crespi, Adeline Mills Easton, Harriet Pullman Carolan, Ethel Crocker, Francisco Sanchez prize fighter Chris Lilly, oyster pirate Jack London, and Shingle King' Purdy Pharis, just to name a few. Saturday, May 9, 2009 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Location: History Museum, Redwood City $125 per person, Online Ticket Purchase: Click here for online ticket purchase. Schedule The evening will include a rousing reception, open bar, catered buffet, live entertainment with 35 character actors and a Rotunda Remix Dance Party. Dress Dress at A Night at the Museum is black tie or period costume optional. Some costume shops are offering museum members discounts on rentals and sales of costumes. Proceeds All proceeds benefit the educational programs at the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City, Sanchez Adobe in Pacifica and the Woodside Store in Woodside.

- Written by Fiona

HSR - Next Steps and Public Input - Presentation on Monday, May 4

High Speed Rail Presentation to City Council - May 4th Event Will Highlight Next Steps? and Inform Residents about the Public Input Process What: High Speed Rail Authority will provide an update to the community on the project with a focus on public input opportunities and the decision making process for High Speed Rail (HSR) along the Peninsula. How the process will be implemented and how members of the public can submit recommentadions will be discussed. There will be a question and answer opportunity. When: 7:00pm Monday, May 4, 2009 - City Council meeting Where: Burlingame City Council Chambers, 501 Primrose Road, Burlingame, CA 94010 Information: For more information regarding the High Speed Rail project visit the Authority's website at http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/ or call (916) 324-1541.

- Written by Fiona