Self-aggrandizing Housing Advocates

I have to hand it to Cynthia Cornell.  I've been following Burlingame politics for 25+ years and I have seen very few people climb up on such a high horse as Ms. Cornell.  And that is saying something.  Rather than just opine about her, let's use her own words from a letter to the Daily Journal yesterday as evidence.  She is writing about a Peninsula Health Care District board meeting where she expects the board to just give away a huge chunk of B'game real estate to whoever can make "comprehensive 100% affordable senior and workforce housing" pencil out.  Any educated person knows that cannot be done without more taxpayer money being shoveled in at some point.  She then writes

There is no possible excuse to build any market-rate housing on public land during this housing crisis.

Really?  I'll bet I could walk into Lunardi's, Behan's, or Alana's and find dozens of people who might think "Gee, if it's public land perhaps the general public should get at least some of the benefit from its development instead of it all going to 'affordable' whatever".  They might think "mission creep" at our Health Care district is a bad thing.  Perhaps the community might think the sweetheart project on Lots F & N right downtown is enough of a public donation to her crusade.  She complains about board members Dennis Zell and Helen Galligan and puts words in their mouths that are quote-free and rely her impression of what was said, and then states

We (that would be the Royal "we") are shocked by the behavior  of these elected officials.  Were it not for the great leadership of Congresswoman Jackie Speier and support from state Sen. Hill and Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D- South San Francisco, the board would continue to ignore the community voice.

What blather.  Her Highness Cornell doesn't speak for the community.  She doesn't even speak for a third of the community from where I sit.  The woman has never run for anything; never mind actually win an election.  Zell and Galligan are both well-known in the community for years and have won elections.  This stream of nonsense will continue as it has for some time as noted here.

But if either Zell and Galligan did tell Speier's staffer to "stay in her lane" as Cornell asserts in her letter, I say "Good on ya."  Maybe they should stay in their lane, let the local electeds do their job - which in my mind means keeping our Health Care district out of the housing business -- an take the consequences at the next election.

Comments

[You suck]

oh please. You resist every change unless it’s immediately evident how it will benefit you. Buzz off, Scrooge.

[Bruce Dickinson]

Well, Joe, look at the bright side: At least someone telling you that "you suck" is better than "you're dumb".

In that vein let me oblige by responding to the comment above:

Hey You Suck, guess what? You're dumb!

[Just Visiting]

It wasn't Speier or Cornell who inserted the Health Care District into the housing business--it was the Health Care District, when it decided to use public land to, wait for it...build housing.

Once the Health Care District made that decision, it was sure to attract the attention of housing advocates, and elected officials who are looking for ways to address the housing shortage.

Cornell is a one-trick pony and agitator--though give her credit for how hard she works at it, even if you don't agree with her.

And, if PHCD is going to use public land to build housing, it's hardly revolutionary to expect a benefit to members of the public not served by market-rate housing (who, presumably, don't need any public help--that's why it's "market rate"). Stated another way, the "market" doesn't need PHCD to supplement housing stock, but if housing is an appropriate use of PHCD's land--and PHCD seems to think it is--then it's reasonable to expect public benefit in the form of below-market housing.

[Paloma Ave]

It appears that Cornell wants something that others will subsidize. I for one am not in favor of subsidizing her or anyone else.

If you cannot afford to live in Burlingame then go elsewhere.

Burlingame has never been affordable and will never be affordable.

Can't she get that through her thick skull?

[Barking Dog]

Nail on head Paloma Ave

In my retirement years, and being able to maintain my minimalist lifestyle, I can't afford to live here anymore starting in 2021, so I am moving.

Last thing I would ever vote for is to subsidize housing for tech employees who make over 100k a year.

[Paloma Ave]

Barking Dog - Why would you want to subsidize housing for anyone?

[Barking Dog]

The only people/persons I would CONSIDER SOME form of subsidize housing for is Police/Fire personal and elementary public school teachers(not SMUHSD) and ONLY in the city that they are employed in. And only for the duration of their employment for these agencies. Once retirement or pursue new career, they would lose that right. I feel they would have a better pulse on the neighborhoods/residents if they were fully vested in the community. Most aren't now. Back in the day in Burlingame, many of the police/fire/teachers lived and had children in Burlingame. They felt the pulse of the community and their needs/concerns.

Techies, Seniors, other administration workers for the city, etc, NEVER would I consider voting to subsidize. Just my opinion. Sorry Cornell if this makes me 'selfish'

[It don't come easy]

less housing, more parks.

[[email protected]]

Thank you for posting "your feelings."
I believe you are an incredible Mean Human being.
Though you have unlimited sources of income, no matter what you try to "Fix Yourself" nothing ever works, and it is ALWAYS someone else's Fault.
All your pseudo friends/co workers dislike you.
Anyway, just an observation.
Goodnight.
PS less housing, more parks.

[[email protected]]

What is Wrong With People?

[professor awesome]

Self-aggrandizing??? That doesn't even make sense. Do you really think Ms. Cornell receives any material benefit from her tireless advocacy? If you're going to launch ridiculous ad hominems, at least try to come up with something halfway plausible.

And I question your grip on reality when you state that the "general public" would benefit from market-rate housing but not affordable housing. I know plenty of teachers, seniors, and low-income families in Burlingame that would qualify for affordable housing. Are those people NOT members of the general public in your view?

I agree that the PHCD should not be in the housing business. So does Ms. Cornell, from what I can tell. It sounds like you actually agree with "Her Highness" on that point. Except she is actually doing something about it.

I certainly think someone's up on a high horse, but it ain't Ms. Cornell.

[[email protected]]

First Responders:
Police, Fire, EMTs all have GREAT Benefits, plus make @ $200,000.00 a year.
If anyone out there lives next to a "First Responder" in the entire San Francisco Bay Area- New Cars,Boats Private Schools, Nice House.. this myth of the Poor First Responders living Pay Check to Pay Check is ridiculous.
Walk into any Fire House in Burlingame, and you will see incredible appliances, $2-3 Thousand Dollar Personal Chairs, "Architectural Digest" fixtures and more.
Educators, on the other hand could use some help.
Please set up a Tour of any COB Firehouse. See for yourself.

[Fugit All]

Less housing, more parks!

The parks will make great campsites for those people who can't find affordable housing here.

Just wait until the Facebook campus opens. You folks will really bust a nut when young techies looking to stash their cash or who just don't want to pay Burlingame rents start parking their RVs all over town.

[[email protected]]

More Parks.
Less Housing.
Military Style Barracks for all at Facebook.
Start your voting now!

[resident]

It's probably a good time to start a towing company! Call it "Burlingame Streets For All".

Joe, you can put this page in the "Truth Hurts" file. Thanks for standing up for reality and real principles. Professor Awful confuses tireless advocacy with the idea that the bit that starts with There is no possible excuse ... reflects more than a tiny minority's twisted reality.

[Cali]

Well said Joe

[Portia]

Who precisely is responsible for the Burlingame destruction in just the last 4-6 years? The intimate little town offers noise, crime, average schools, massive government spending, traffic/parking issues,some of the countries highest taxes all while they turned the town into a renters town with people screaming for free handouts. My sweet Jesus. The little town who once was is gone for good.

[Sign me up]

I hear Her Royal Highness Queen Cindy had less people at her rent control meeting than a fraternity can fit into a phone booth.

[RON JEREMY]

I think they should set up affordable housing in Hillsborough too. I mean who doesn't want to live in a nice area on "someone" else's dime? That make makes complete sense to me.

[Paloma Ave]

Ron "The Human Hedgehog" Jeremy?

[Barking Dog]

YouTube Norm Macdonald telling a story about The Hedgehog and Rodney Dangerfield on Howard Stern

[Sign me up]

Little Miss Priss Cornell has her panties in a twist over on the Nosey Neighbor website because this site is calling her on her stuff. What a loser.

[Joe]

A letter to the Daily Journal says it better than I ever could:

I am responding to the letter, “An ugly public meeting that you will never see” by Cindy Cornell in the Oct. 2 issue of the San Mateo Daily Journal.

I see that Cornell is still trying to get someone/anyone to subsidize her housing here in Burlingame. As a local taxpayer, I do not want to subsidize anyone’s housing.

So called “affordable” housing equals subsidized housing. If you cannot afford to live here, then move to where you can afford to live. Does Cornell have skin in the game? I doubt it.

When I bought in 1989, the earthquake hit days later. If either my wife or I had lost a job, we would have had to sell at a loss for the next six to seven years. We had skin in the game. I am tired of hearing Cornell thinking she is somehow entitled to a subsidy.

Go and live where you can afford to live.

Ron Field
Burlingame

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/affordable-housing-is-subsidized-housing/article_6f726f50-fb77-11e9-adb0-9be4f6ef8a2d.html

Well put, sir.

[Joe]

Our very own local Socialist is at it again with another letter to the DJ. Here it is with my COMMENTARY embedded along the way:

After pleas from seniors (NOT MANY SENIORS APPARENTLY AND FEWER THAN ARE WORRIED ABOUT RENT CONTROL DIMINISHING THEIR LOCAL RENTAL INCOME) to enact an emergency moratorium barring their last-minute no-fault evictions, the Burlingame City Council set a “study session” for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, instead of setting an emergency session when a vote could be taken. (OH MY, WE'RE GOING TO STUDY IT INSTEAD OF RAMMING IT THROUGH IN A SECRET SESSION??)

Redwood City, San Mateo, Daly City and other California cities easily passed these emergency moratoriums without “study sessions.” They saved their constituents from evictions and homelessness during the holidays before a new law barring no-fault evictions takes effect Jan. 1.

Why then is Burlingame delaying a vote, forcing seniors and families to scramble to find housing in less than two months? (WHO ARE THESE SCRAMBLERS AND WHY AREN'T THEY WRITING LETTERS? OR ARE YOU JUST BUILDING YOUR OWN NAME RECOGNITION?) Because Burlingame has the most reactionary and regressive council on the Peninsula when it comes to protecting renters. (YOU HAVE TO LOVE WHEN PROGRESSIVE HACKS CALL NORMAL PEOPLE REACTIONARIES)

Councilwoman Ann Keighran, celebrated by the San Mateo County Association of Realtors, and whose parents own apartments in Burlingame, asked the clerk to include the text of Measure R, a 2016 rent stabilization initiative, in study materials. (WOW! WHY CONFUSE THE ISSUE WITH ACTUAL FACTS AND PRECDENT? HOW ABOUT INCLUDING THE VOTE TOTALS FROM THE LAST RENT CONTROL VOTE IN BURLINGAME? NOW THAT WOULD BE REACTIONARY) The reason for this may be that she wants to show that voters earlier rejected eviction protections; however, the only relevant language is in AB 1482 which takes effect Jan. 1. (PLEASE LOOK UP RELEVANT IN THE DICTIONARY--YOU NEED A REFRESHER) She wishes to deny even this crumb to renters.

The Burlingame City Council never fails to disappoint renters and defers, delays and denies on issues not favored by the real estate lobby. How refreshing it would be to see them join neighboring cities and pass a moratorium before people are forced to move or become homeless. (HOW REFRESHING IT WOULD BE TO SEE YOU GO AWAY)

Cynthia Cornell

Burlingame

The letter writer is the founder of Housing for All Burlingame.

[Concerned]

Measure R was soundly beaten.
Mike Dunham was soundly beaten.
Burlingame has more renters than homeowners.
Why does Cynthia hate Democracy?