Comments for HALFWAY TO CONCORD

Comment on Dome demolition raises questions for future landmarks by Giorgio Sassine

Giorgio Sassine — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:37:48 +0000

Patently unfair to whom? With all due respect, I think you, Flaherty, and Durant were all patently unfair to who you represent -- you represent the residents of Pleasant Hill, not SyWest; you represent the residents of Pleasant Hill, the ones who stood patiently outside City Hall until way past midnight to voice their displeasure with tearing down the Dome and replacing it with a Dick’s Sporting Goods.

There was value to be gained, both economically and spiritually. I would be shocked if property values increase at all after this project is complete. I would also be shocked if Bay Area residents flock in droves to Dick’s Sporting Goods to check out the latest fishing gear, guns, or soccer shoes.

There were two roads to take: one to Concord and Martinez and the other to Walnut Creek and Lafayette. You, Flaherty, and Durant chose the road more traveled. The one that was easier for you, but more difficult for us.

With a golden opportunity right at your fingertips to make a real change to bring people from all around to wine, dine, and catch a flick on a Friday or Saturday night, you chose the road more traveled -- the one that was “patently unfair” to SyWest, but that was even more patently unfair to your constituents.

I have read your monologue on the City’s website. It makes little sense why you would not see how patently unfair your deciding vote was to the residents and the city that you seem so passionately to care and love. Let’s face it: you tore down a cultural and historical icon for a Dick’s Sporting Goods. Don’t mind the 3rd party reports either that it couldn’t have been given historical status. I personally spoke with California’s Office of Historical Preservation in Sacramento. They said the Dome would easily qualify for historical status!

In short, You, Flaherty, and Durant shunned this City past, present, and future when you decided to crush its residents’ dreams of a better City -- one with a redeveloped Dome, cafes, wine bars, little restaurants, and the like. A City where couples, families, and friends could come to wine and dine and catch one of their greatest flicks under the green-tinted architectural wonder of a forgotten past.

The design plan established in the early 2000′s was outdated -- ideologies change. People don’t want cookie cutter fluff anymore. With websites like Amazon, Ebay, and the like, there is less demand for Dick’s Sporting Goods and more demand for experiences that can’t be bought and sold on the Internet. Dick’s will come and go, but the experience of sitting in a movie theater, lounging at a cafe, or dining out with friends and family will never waver. I just can’t believe that 3 out of 5 on City Council could not see what the vast majority saw -- that SyWest’s project IS BAD FOR OUR CITY.

I understand your side in that there was “little” that could have been done to stop a private owner from doing what it wants to do. HOWEVER, the fault comes from ALLOWING such little wiggle room -- allowing your hands to be tied.

Poor planning leads to poor execution. You, Flaherty, and Durant tied your hands to poor planning and poor execution. SHAME ON YOU ALL!

Comment on In Memoriam: Bill Pollacek by Wendy Lack

Wendy Lack — Sun, 19 May 2013 05:59:23 +0000

Bill’s passing is a loss to county taxpayers and friends alike. Even in retirement he continued working, as a volunteer, providing oversight of government — including the county retirement system — in order to save taxpayers from unnecessary expense.

Bill was a true gentleman, a brilliant mind, a dedicated public servant and as honest as the day is long. In sum, Bill was a one-of-a-kind class act. He will be missed. RIP

Comment on Contra Costa’s Call Center circus is upside down by Robert

Robert — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:23:42 +0000

I love the idea from what I have read. Would not mind volunteering my time there for 100 percent dental care to be done the right way. Thank you to everyone who made this job possible, and opening up new doors for a better future.

Comment on Residents protest Plan Bay Area at Orinda Council Meeting by Edi Birsan

Edi Birsan — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:08:29 +0000

Did any of the 40 speakers define what they call a stack and pack housing:
is it a three story build, four, five, maybe 2 story building with 3 families in it… what is the actual size of the buildings that they are protesting?

Are they really objecting to the building or the occupants being low or very low income? Would they object to say moving low income people into single family homes like Habitat for Humanity?

What about Luxury Condo’s at Transportation side with a ramp directly to the Bart Station. Is that objectionable?

Comment on Jim Brulte takes reins of California GOP and its fight for relevancy by Tom Hilton

Tom Hilton — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:03:54 +0000

The path that was outlined above is very bogus. It is raise more money, get better candidates, and talk to Blacks, Latinos and Asians.
The real problem is none of those, the problem is the words that come out when they talk and the positions they take.
They have to stop catering to the financial elite, the social elite, the political elite and get positions that matter to the people that have the votes.
Until they change their positions on social, economic and political issues the only thing protecting them IS the Endangered Species Act.

Comment on Jim Brulte takes reins of California GOP and its fight for relevancy by Bruce R. Peterson, Lafayette

Bruce R. Peterson, Lafayette — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:17:06 +0000

Republicans seem to be the party of anti abortion/anti choice. The only sad subject, worse than gun control. There are many more people opposed to forced child bearing, than there are opposed to forced gun registration.
Both monied political parties are pro tax. It’s just the Republicans are perceived to want to tax the rich less & the poor more. Unfortunately, there are more poor people than rich people.
Then there is the LGBT marriage issue. No Republican knows how to say ” irrelevant”.
It seems like the Republicans are only for white haired Presbyterians.

Comment on Use tax shelters to build low-income housing, instead of government subsidies by George46ET

George46ET — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:17:19 +0000

People can’t take it anymore, economic problems are overwhelming, jobs are hard to come by, and public debt is getting worse. It’s about time that politicians wake up and realize that they need help from the specialists in the economic crisis like the Orlando Bisegna Index from New York who have made miracles over small areas of territory by solving big problems.

Comment on The bill for California’s pension scandal has come due by peter

peter — Mon, 13 May 2013 21:34:23 +0000

And of course since Sacramento is bought and paid for by the public sector unions in this state, you can expect their paid shills ( Brown, Steinberg, etc) to fall back on ‘we are powerless to stop this.’ Or, ‘there is nothing I can do since the law requires this.’ These are the same people who have no problem running right over any laws they don’t like. But won’t do it in this case if it negatively impacts their paymasters.

Comment on Legislature grants California Obamacare Exchange Secrecy on Spending by BGR

BGR — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:47:24 +0000

It is borderine Orwellian that state government can flaunt the basics of public scrutiny and transparency. This is essentially a blank check no doubt driven by fears concerning the vast complexity of implementing Obamacare and the ability of the regime to actually launch exchanges nationwide by January 2014. So this could be the full court press to make it happen that will need the cover of darkness to hide the desparation spending. Additionally, I don’t believe Democrats and Governor Brown want anyone to know how California will be using Obamacare dollars to backfill it’s own budget shortfalls.

Comment on Legislature grants California Obamacare Exchange Secrecy on Spending by Richard Colman

Richard Colman — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:26:34 +0000

This is a great article. It is reminiscent of Richard Nixon and Watergate all over again. The article also reminds one of the Nixon Administration’s attempt, in 1971, to suppress publication of the Pentagon Papers, the secret history of the Vietnam war.

Richard Colman
Orinda, CA