The Burlingame Voice

RIP Bearcat Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024)

Our neighbor to the south is three and a half times as populous as we are here in B'game.  That gives them a bit of a leg up in having famous former residents.  Springsteen's parents lived in SM and Merv Griffin went to SMHS.  I won't even get into the Serra grads who went big in pro sports.  There are many, even without the artificial help from BALCO of B'game.  Furthermore, I don't rate "Country" in my Top Ten musical genres, but Kris Kristofferson was one guy who could tug at my heartstrings.  He wrote "Me and Bobby McGee" which Janis Joplin recorded just a few days before she died.  His acting in A Star is Born surpasses that of his female lead.  So, here's to a guy who trod our streets as a kid:

Kristofferson was born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, to Mary Ann (née Ashbrook) and Lars Henry Kristofferson — a first-generation Swedish immigrant and U.S. Army Air Corps officer and Air Force general. His love for country music began at a young age, and, according to a 2013 interview with NPR, Kristofferson penned his first song, "I Hate Your Ugly Face," at only 11 years old. A military brat, he moved often throughout his childhood until his family landed in San Mateo, Calif., when he was a teenager.  He graduated from San Mateo High School in 1954.

Any '54 Bearcats out there who can tell us what Kris was like in high school?

"EV Phobia" - Battery anxiety

This story from the WSJ on Wednesday came to mind as I was sitting in front of shiny, new 220 Park building listening to the band at Burlingame on the Ave. this weekend.  Aside from realizing that the Carr McClellan building needs a paint job and something to cover the grimy HVAC system on the roof that we never saw before, I thought back to the big hole for the multi-level parking below 220.  

SEOUL—The uproar over a Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle that burst into flames in South Korea this month wasn’t only about fire safety. Outrage emerged over the lesser-known Chinese battery maker, Farasis Energy.  Now South Korea has a fresh proposal to ease public anxiety: advising carmakers to voluntarily divulge what brand of battery sits inside their EVs.

Such information isn’t generally public knowledge globally, despite the importance EV users place on battery life and driving range. At the same time, lithium-ion batteries—should they catch fire—burn at far higher temperatures than fires in conventional gas-powered cars and are uniquely challenging for firefighters to tackle.

The Aug. 1 blaze unfolded in an underground parking lot, which are common in the densely populated country. It incinerated around 40 nearby cars and scorched around 100 others. Some apartment complexes have considered barring EVs from underground lots. Local governments are exploring whether public charging stations shouldn’t charge EV batteries beyond 80% capacity, to reduce the risk of fires. Local media described the country as undergoing a sudden “EV-phobia.”

The stories about e-bikes bursting into flames are pretty common mostly due to using way off-brand batteries.  But when a $67K Mercedes lights up 140 nearby cars, that is a different problem.  I hope someone is looking at this--whether it's 80% charges or no charging or some other idea.  And one hopes Central County Fire is aware although from what I read there isn't much they can do at the scene besides let it burn out.

Sunday Sweets

I finally got a taste of Salt & Straw ice cream, but I didn't walk over to the Avenew to get it.  On flights to and from Boston on Alaska Air, it was the dessert in First Class.  Chocolate on the way out was...just chocolate.  Returning with the Meyer Lemon Custard with Blueberry Jam seemed more in line with their claim to artisan ice cream, but it was nothing special.  What say you Voice readers?  I hear the new ownership at Preston's is knocking it out of the park.

 

Legal in all 50 States: The Voice blog turns 21

As I said last year on our 20th anniversary, the cathartic exercise continues--for me and hopefully for most of you.  As we watch the slow decline of our local control and rights driven by Sacramento and Redwood City (i.e. the county supes, ref:  La Quinta Inn Millbrae fiasco), having a place to track issues and memorialize facts and positions is ever more important.  Never forget this quote.  “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905.

The Eagles had this to say about turning 21 

21 and strong as I can be
I know what freedom means to me
And I can't give the reason why
I should ever wanna die

 

You got no cause to be afraid
Or fear that life will ever fade
'Cause as I watch the rising sun
I know that we have just begun

 

Onward to another year hoping our B'game community and quality of life will not fade....too much.

Time to reign in E-bikes?

Here is notice of a city study session that is way, way overdue:

On Monday, July 1 at 6pm in Council Chambers, there will be a City Council Study Session regarding micromobility devices (e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar devices). The City Council will discuss applicable State laws and review applicable City ordinances. Please attend to learn more and help inform the City Council's discussion about potential future regulations.

There are kids all over town zipping along at motorcycle speeds with no driving experience or knowledge of traffic laws.  When one of them gets hit you know whose "fault" it will be.

I also wonder if the litter e-bike issue will be addressed.  They are laying around for days all over town, too.

Mom, where are we going?

This mother doe and her fawn were cruising down Costa Rica Ave. near the Barriolhet intersection this week.  I stopped for the photo and Mom stopped to watch me watch her and let the little one catch up.  I have seen bigger cats in the neighborhood than this fawn.  It must have been no more than 18 inches tall.  Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Fundraiser-in-chief buzzes B'game

The fundraiser-in-chief has been in town for a couple of days ringing the Silicon Valley cash register.  The caravan of one, two or five V-22 Ospreys makes quite a ruckus overhead since they fly quite low and the chop from the two rotors in the upright position is distinctive.

B'game Train Station ADU?

I guess deputy directors at Caltrain struggle to find affordable living quarters on the Peninsula even though the payroll at Caltrain is very bloated IMHO.  But who knew it would get this weird?  Former deputy director for operations Joe Navarro and a contractor friend named Seth Worden have been charged with skimming public funds to create living spaces in the B'game and Millbrae train stations!  In small increments, Navarro is alleged to have paid Worden $42,000 for the secret apartment in the B'game station and another $8K for the Millbrae hideaway.

As shown below, the B'game station has always had living space on the south side as that was the original station master's quarters (to the right of the arches).  Later on, it was the B'game Chamber of Commerce office and had a kitchenette and toilet already.  That was where an arsonist tried to burn the place down in 2016.  It must be tricked out pretty nicely for $42K.  According to the Merc

Worden was caught first, in 2020, after employees discovered the converted space, authorities said. But the transit agency was reportedly unaware of Navarro’s place in Burlingame until getting an anonymous tip in 2022.  Navarro was fired after being confronted with the tip, and reportedly admitted to “occasionally using the station as his residence,” prosecutors said, though they allege that he was using the small apartment as his primary residence.

I can't wait to find out why it took years to bring the felony embezzlement charges.

Postal Service upgrades to Dodge Rams

I'm going to miss the little putt-putt right-hand drive USPS vehicles that have been around forever.  You may have noticed the new Dodge Ram vans driving around town--so new that they don't have plates yet--or is the Postal Service immune from the DMV?  The Rams are not getting rave reviews from the carriers.  They are designed more for Amazon or UPS package delivery than regular mail and are harder to enter and exit.  I'm sure the tailpipe emissions are better, but I'll miss that little putt-putt noise that told me my mail has arrived.

Searching around for the background of the old trucks, I discovered the larger ones are known as Grumman LLVs.  LLV stands for long life vehicle.  They have a GM Iron Duke 4 cylinder.  They replaced some of the prior Jeep DJ's around 1987, but I have also seen some of the really old Jeeps around B'game recently.  If you want one the GSA auction site is here.

For nostalgic reasons five years from now, here is one of the "old" trucks spotted on ECR recently

Local Jazz: Swinging Songs of Disney

Wedged as we are between EssEff and Stanford/Palo Alto, we need to take advantage of any opportunities for local live music that pop up.  The Monday night jazz jam at Max's Opera House has been going strong as has the Wed-Sat schedule at Broadway Grill.  Both venues' live music adds to the ambience for a nice dinner out.

Local non-profit Jazz at the Ballroom is another option for pop-up jazz.  The organization has done events at the B'game library, at private homes and the Hillsborough Raquet Club which is a nice venue for medium sized affairs.  This Saturday, January 27th, Jazz at the Ballroom brings Professor Cunningham and his Old School band to the club for "Swinging Songs of Disney".  The band is billed as

This award-winning New York based band performs the most swinging and grooving repertoire deeply steeped in the New Orleans tradition; from early jazz to early R&B— the likes of Sidney Bechet, Fats Waller, even Fats Domino. It is one of the most sought-after Hot Jazz Bands on the international festival and Lindy Hop dance scene.  The group is fronted by in-demand vocalist/reedman Adrian Cunningham, an Australian native based in NYC, and one of his home country's finest jazz exports. The ensemble consists of some of the most energetic and accomplished musicians on the New York circuit and has been a regular hit in the NYC underground party and swing dance scene.

So, they are stretching out a bit into Disney songs like ""Everybody Wants To Be a Cat" to "I Wanna Be Like You" and "Under the Sea.".  Uncle Walt would be pleased.  You can see the details and reserve tickets here.  I saw the JATB last event at the Hillsborough Raquet Club--it was easy to get to and park, cash bar and up close and personal seating.