A New Day for Burlingame

Opinion piece in the Daily Journal titled "A New Day for Burlingame":

At last count, Burlingame City Council candidate John Root trailed incumbent Cathy Baylock by 27 votes. The county elections office released its latest numbers at 4:30 p.m. just two-and-a-half hours before a council meeting was to be held for Baylock to be named mayor. In a classy move this weekend, Root conceded the race and allowed Baylock the opportunity to be sworn in as mayor without any cloud of doubt about the final tally. There will be no recount and the competitive race ended civilly.

That's a breath of fresh air. With Baylock becoming mayor and Ann Keighran and Russ Cohen set to join the council within weeks, there is a new opportunity for the city's leadership to rejuvenate itself. Growing council rancor may now have a chance to subside. Though some contend the forces behind the new elected body are partly to blame for the lack of civility in recent years, there is a clear opportunity for a new consensus to build on the city's future. This opportunity is not to be taken lightly.

The city has many issues ahead of it. There is discussion of remaking downtown and creating new housing in an already congested area. There is an aging grocery story on Howard Avenue whose ownership and workers are waiting patiently for some new direction. There is discussion of major changes to the Caltrain rail corridor that have the potential to forever change the character of the city's center. There is discussion of new mixed-use development at the northern end of the city near the BART station. There is rumbling about renovating or moving City Hall, moving Auto Row and renovating much of the city's water and sewer lines. There is an ongoing threat to the city's aging eucalyptus trees both along El Camino Real and the Caltrain line. There are concerns over floor area ratios for home renovations. There is the city's budget, which has yet to reach the healthy level it needs to be. There is a strained relationship between the city and its elementary school district. And there is Broadway, with concerns over its business health and its train station now closed on weekdays.

The future holds both the promise of prosperity but also more issues. There will be decisions that will forever change the city. Burlingame is poised for change. How that change is managed is now in the hands of a new and as yet untested council majority. The newcomers say they wanted change. They wanted to provide an open and welcoming form of government. They wanted a chance to lead the people of Burlingame. Now they have their chance. Let's hope they succeed.

Allelulia for a successful new day!

- Written by Fiona