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Some ideas to dissatisfy everyone, including me
I received a note in the mail recently that the City of Pacifica is looking
for ways to cut costs, so they're considering cutting out some city
commissions and committees. This would cut down on some staff time, of the
kind that costs the city money. Rather than eliminate the Animal Advisory
Commission, perhaps the alternative might be to eliminate half its
meetings. If the Open Space Committee met in odd-numbered months, say
January, March, May, etc. that might save some staff time while still
accomplishing most of the goals of the group.
The same could be done with the Planning Commission, P.B. and R, perhaps
even the City Council. At the least, it would be useful to examine the
reasons we schedule two Council meetings most months, or why the PC might
not be trimmed a bit.
In a city so poverty-stricken it is examining eliminating useful committees
of unpaid volunteers to save a few bucks, let me stick a toe in the water
and ask: Can the city afford to continue the luxury of owning a concert
hall and collection of art studios that have become controversial? The
former Sanchez School is a serious city problem. I will probably antagonize
all sides, including some good friends, but isn't it time to take a good
look at this fat hog and check out the price of ham?
How much is the old school worth? How many houses could be built if the
property was subdivided? It's a time to make hard choices, and perhaps the
hard choice must be made to sell off this civic asset.
I shudder to envision all the artistic folks, on all sides of the
unresolved artists controversy about who runs the concert hall, as they
unite to fight my proposal. I haven't checked out the details, but it's
also possible that the conditions of sale by Laguna Salada School District
to the city make my whole suggestion impractical. But there again, perhaps
if the city sold the property, or put it out to a 99 year lease, and shared
the profit, the school district might be willing to agree with the idea.
I like Sanchez Concert Hall. I've been to concerts there. I realize that
tearing down the old school would disrupt a Montessori School and the lives
of several artists. But perhaps it's time to take a good look at our
situation. Perhaps the old school is a luxury the city can no longer
afford.
As a person who has agreed for the last 40 years that a card club is a bad
idea for Pacifica, for all the good reasons you know well, perhaps, as
another example of the city's desperate situation, we ought to review a
gambling hall to bring in outsiders with cash. The logical place is the old
Ohlone village location, the quarry. Perhaps a group of Ohlone descendants
could get together and re-form their tribelet. With the help of Harrah's or
another Nevada powerhouse, they might buy part of the old tribal lands near
Vallemar and put a casino into place. Pacifica is a great place for a
tribal casino. If Cache Creek can do business miles from anywhere, perhaps
Calera Creek can do so as well so close to San Francisco.
It's really ridiculous that San Mateo County residents should drive 100
miles or more to a gambling casino, taking their money with them, when our
city is so desperate for cash it's thinking of eliminating vital services.
Hold your nose, if necessary, but check out the whole idea.
Paul Azevedo's e mail address is
Paul@thereactor.net.
Check The Reactor's website at www.thereactor.net.
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