The Burlingame Voice

Gems of Burlingame

Today was the final farewell party for the Easton branch library with ballons, cake and a great guitar player/singer. Tbe Main Library is great but the Easton branch is intimate, cosy and I think one of the best kept secrets of Burlingame! We will miss it. But after a loving remodel it will be even better!

- Written by Fiona

Parking meters and car dealers

Did anyone notice that all the parking meters in front of the Putnam auto dealerships on California Drive have disappeared? I noticed in the Daily Journal article on campaign contributions that three of the biggest contributors to both Janney and Coffey are the Putnam dealerships!

The excuse for raising the meter fees in Burlingame is that we need more revenue. How come all these meters disappear when the rates go up elsewhere? The meters in front of Mike Harvey's dealerships are still there. I don't see any logical reason for those meters to disappear. If someone is shopping for a $60,000 Hummer, I don't think 50 cents in a parking meter is going to discourage them from stopping.

What's going on here??? Where's the press on this one?

- Written by grimis

Candidates Night Forum

October 1, 2003
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Moderated by the League of Women Voters

Come and hear all the candidates for Burlingame City Council express their thoughts about the election issues, and why they deserve your vote this November.

This public forum is co-sponsored by the Citizens for a Better Burlingame, the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce, the Burlingame Homeowners Association and the Independent newspaper

You will have the opportunity to ask questions of all the candidates, and hear their responses. This forum will be broadcast on local public access channel, (check your cable company for the broadcast schedule).

- Written by admin

Two Gems in One

We saw the Bayfront at its best this Saturday morning. At 9:00 am the planes were still asleep in their hangars, the water peaceful and beautiful, lots of happy contented birds and even the mud looked nice! A part of Burlingame which is a real gem!

Congratulations to all the young students (a lot from Burlingame High and Notre Dame High School) and citizens who gave up their Saturday morning to help clean up the Bayfront. You were all amazing.

- Written by Fiona

Are marriage licenses next?

Early in the current campaign each of the challenger candidates received an email from Joe Galligan who claimed a 'concerned resident' had asked him why the challengers didn't have city business licences.

Super sleuth Joe forgot to actually check the records, and was soon informed that Nagel and Andersen have had licenses for over 15 years each. Cohen has recently taken out a license, but felt that as he doesn't conduct his business in Burlingame, but works at client offices, he really didn't need one. However after consulting with Burlingame City Finance manager he felt this was open to interpretation and happily complied with the $100 request.

Now we find out from todays Fuch's article that the intrepid Joe's "concerned resident" is none other than Galligan himself! Is he checking the candidates' marriage licenses, parking violations, income tax papers, or whether they are paid up members of the God knows what party? Now remember this is the same Mr. Galligan who is trying to get out of paying $.5 Million in taxes in San Bruno and who has cost San Bruno over $300,000 in legal fees!

- Written by Fiona

The Disappearing Yard Signs

Yesterdays Burlingame Daily News reported that candidate Terry Nagel had awoken to find her own campaign sign had disappeared from her front lawn and had been replaced by a Mary Janney sign. Janney & Coffey's professional campaign manager & consultant Ed McGovern was quoted as saying that Nagel's team had made this all up. "I think they're dishonest about it," McGovern said.

I cannot think anyone would believe that Terry Nagel is so so so desperate that she would steal her own yard sign. Come on, political consultant, you ain't being paid enough if that's all you can come up with. Such desperation!

Rosalie has kicked the Janney/Coffey campaign in the proverbial shins but now the "duo" should act like grownups. If anyone believes the spin that Rosalie made her decision soley on the Bayfront issue, they should get more involved in watching the machinations of the City Council.

Ironically it is the two people who have integrity that are the ones being criticised. Very interesting. As I said before, someone must be desperate.

- Written by Fiona

Wired Elections

As the election season heats up more and more candidates are going on-line. Terry Nagel's informative website offers strong opinions on her position, and Russ Cohen's site lays it all out. Even our ever-so-busy local attorney, Mark Hudak has a web presence in his personal challenge for San Mateo / Foster City school board.

And the M&M's? Well Mayor Coffey is trying to get online as his campaign literature references MayorCoffey.com. However as of today that site has yet to get online. Oops! Interestingly the domain, MayorCoffey.com is registered all the way through September 2004 even though Mayor Coffey hands over the reins in November, whatever the election result! I guess that's just wishful thinking!

Still the good news is that maryjanney.com is not yet registered and neither of the other two candidates seem to have an Internet presence yet. There is still room in Cyberspace!

- Written by admin

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor

The September 12, 2003 article Bankruptcy for Skypark concerns me greatly. Skypark's Chairman, a certified public accountant Burlingame Councilman Joe Galligan? either elected to not act on his accounting knowledge/skills or did not possess the accounting knowledge/skills to develop a business strategy that would have prevented Skypark's financial tragedy. With Councilman Galligan's 1999 bankruptcy prediction, what changes were made within Skypark to prevent their financial prediction. If Councilman Joe Galligan had trouble guiding Skypark through troubled waters, what do the residents of Burlingame foresee for the City's financial future?

The residents of San Bruno stand to face even more financial hardships if Skypark does file bankruptcy. Councilman Galligan, would you be willing to make Skypark's books, 1999 to present, available for public review? With all of the talent within the area, I feel confident there is someone able to resolve Skypark's financial woes and not deprive San Bruno of their rightful income.

Rich Grogan
1450 Columbus Ave.
Burlingame, Ca.

- Written by rich grogan

Response editorial

Dear Editor

In response to Maureen Chenette's September 9, 2003 letter Elected by Whom? Good News, you did not miss an election. The Citizens for a Better Burlingame (CBB) group is comprised of a cross section of Burlingame residents, who share common points of view and concerns regarding the welfare of Burlingame. You can view their positions by going to their website and see what the CBB is all about or you write to them at PO Box 117791, Burlingame CA 94011.

When elected officials fail to listen to the individual voices of their constituents, the inevitable is the formation of grass roots groups to represent a cause and present a collective voice. As the result of the lack luster decision-making process displayed by Mayor Coffee, et al, the CBB is not the only grass roots organization that has sprung up in the recent past concerning the welfare of Burlingame. There is the BULB group who is concerned about the continued power outages within Burlingame. The 280ccc group is concerned about the High voltage lines running along Highway 280 through Burlingame. There is the Burlingame Voice, an interactive web newspaper that can be viewed by clicking on www.Burlingamevoice.com Please take a look and see what people within your community are saying. These groups were formed because Mayor Coffey, et al failed to listen and respond, in a timely manner, to the concerns expressed by the citizens of Burlingame.

Remember, Civic involvement has always been the corner stone to a healthy community and it, also, acts as a checks and balance for your elected officials.

- Written by rich grogan

A very serious allegation

It is a very serious allegation from Mr. Coffey in Fuchs Gossip column in today's Examiner. Is this sour grapes, nasty politics or dare I say ... desperation? Mrs. O'Mahony is a well respected Burlingame politician and this piece of nastiness is very hard to believe. If this is "political consultant advice" to win an election, perhaps he is not being paid enough!

- Written by Rosaline