The Burlingame Voice

Thinking of Dan

When I think of the people in B'game who created the highly-engaged community we have here, Dan Anderson certainly comes to mind.  This piece in the Friday Daily Journal paints part of the picture about Dan by noting his time in B'game and his Lions work

Erik Winkler, Burlingame Lions Club president, was nominated for the challenge of dumping a bucket of ice water on his head by member Marie Woods. He decided to dedicate his challenge to former president Dan Andersen, who is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis himself.

“I’m doing this for my dear friend Dan who is suffering from this awful affliction,” he said before the challenge Thursday.

Kudos to Angela Swartz of the DJ for highlighting this.  Allow me to add some of the historical context.  Back in the day the Rec Center was as much of an issue as it is now.  Plans were floated to demolish the Lion's Club hall and the tennis courts in Washington Park for a new 40,000 square foot structure.  Dan Anderson was the prime mover in forming the Washington Park Society to oppose that plan.  Those of us who call ourselves preservationists took heart from that move.  Dan also was very active in the hospital redevelopment project.  You could even say that Dan's willingness to speak out against City Hall gave impetus to the formation of the original print version of the Burlingame Voice.  Here's to ya, Dan.  You have my best wishes and gratitude!

FWB: $12,000+ per citizen

It's hard to believe I haven't posted in our Friends with Benefits category for nine months.  I just came across this fresh new estimate with the various estimated rates of return on the portfolio:

The total state and local government pensions in the United States at the end of 2013 had an estimated $3.6 trillion in assets. They were 74% funded, with liabilities totaling an estimated $4.86 trillion, and an unfunded liability of $1.26 trillion. These funds, in aggregate, project annual returns of 7.75%. If you apply a 6.2% average annual return to recalculate the liability, using formulas provided by Moody’s Investor Services, the liability increases to $5.87 trillion and the unfunded liability increases to $2.27 trillion.

Using the 4.33% discount rate recommended by Moody’s for valuing pension liabilities, the Citibank Pension Liability Index for July 2014, increases the estimated liability to $7.39 trillion and the unfunded liability to $3.79 trillion. That is, if America’s state and local pension funds were to no longer make aggressive market investments but were to return to relatively risk free investments, the payment required just to return these funds to solvency would be more than $12,000 per American.

 

Apparently, Jerry Brown is trying to do something about accrued sick time.  We'll see if it sticks.

College Bond Measure H

As we move towards the next election day on Nov. 4, fiscal measures will start to come to the fore.  This time around the San Mateo Community College District is looking for less than the last time.  The Daily Journal has come out in favor here.  They believe

Though $388 million is no small sum, it shows the district’s willingness to scale back plans and complete just essential projects. With this bond, Cañada College will get a new science building and Skyline College will get a multi-disciplinary building. Labs and classrooms will be modernized or constructed to poise the district and its students for the future. Basic infrastructure will be addressed and technology will be updated for modern teaching.

It should be interesting to see how people are feeling about bond measures in general.  A key element will be how many are on the ballot and which ones appear first to avoid bond fatigue in the booth. 

Broadway, blogs and brainstorming

At the September 2 city council meeting, one agenda item was an event called "the Broadway Summit." The idea is to bring the community together to discuss the vision of the street. Lots of detail about the summit was discussed. From when the meeting would be held to its format to whether there should be an online survey, etc. I believe the date of this event, now called the Broadway Open House, will take place at First Presbyterian Church on October 18 from 9am-noon. (Please check the city website as this is subject to change.)

One merchant says Broadway needs help. There is no doubt that there are vacancies currently, but any downtown has its share of market forces pushing some out and attracting others.

One council member suggested an online forum or blog to get the community's opinion about what to do with Broadway.

Well, folks here's just that community online forum. OK let's brainstorm right here. Go ahead, give an opinion, ask a question, post suggestions. The sky's the limit.

Whoops.

Spotted in our fair city in front of the Burlingame Train Station today. Someone needs to go back to skoool. :-)

High Cost Rail - Part 105 Thought$ on TGV

Another in my continuing series of Thoughts From Afar comes this report on the highly-touted TGV high-speed rail line in France.  I had the very best of intentions to give it a try this week.  I wanted to get the experience of a "successful" high-speed ride that would be more current than my early '80s trip on the Japanese Shinkansen. I got on the website, located the outbound and return trains I wanted and then came some sticker shock.  An hour trip (at somewhere around 200 mph peak speed) was going to cost 232 euro for two travelers.  That's $150 per person.  Not to mention the hassle of it all--getting the reservation, paying with their special approach, baggage check, security screening, etc.  It is all just like an airline flight with all the time that involves.

The bottom line:  a rental car that carries everyone and everything can be picked up much closer, dropped off right at the airport (unlike the TGV that would have a solid hour or more bus connection), driven locally at the destination which was a requirement anyway and costs less than half to rent.  Add gas and any tolls, but adding the local use of a car and it's still half and way less time.  Even in France, I ain't buying it.