March 10, 1999

A few hushed words from the Reactor

Sorry if you find it a little difficult to hear this, but I have to whisper. Bruce Hotchkiss doesnÍt want me to rant. (dictionary definition: loud, wild, extravagant. Declaim violently. Rave).

Bruce is an expert on cars, which is something I will never be. You will never read a column of mine on carburetion or even acceleration. I try to deal only with things I know something about.

Though Bruce was on the Open Space Committee, and is now a Planning Commissioner, I doubt it would have occurred to him to add up just how much open space there is in Pacifica, publicly and privately owned. It occurred to me, so I did it. I was shocked. As best I can figure, it comes to more than 70 percent of our city. Contrary to Bruce, that much open space can hurt us, and hurt us badly. In fact itÍs been hurting us for years. Daly City has more than 100,000 people in a space about 62 percent the size of Pacifica. Millbrae, San Bruno, and South San Francisco are all substantially smaller in area than Pacifica, and all have far less open space, yet thereÍs no sign their citizens suffer any problems as a result of the viewshed shortage. I have never heard of any citizens of other nearby cities who have set up an organized demand for more open space. They donÍt even have the fine, sandy beaches we have. Most of them donÍt have a fine, public golf course. We do. It belongs to San Francisco, but itÍs here. They donÍt have parklands within their borders owned by all levels of government; district, city, county, state and federal. Pacifica does.

South City, which appears to fit quite comfortably in its alloted space of less than 10 square miles, houses almost twice as many people per square inch as does Pacifica. SSF has also managed to squeeze in room for a wealth-producing industrial area with space for Genentech, Costco, auto dealers and some very revenue-rich hotels and restaurants. ItÍs about time we took a very close look at the insatiable demand for open space by a few Pacificans, especially since weÍre making poor use at of the huge amount of space weÍve already set aside. Dogs in mangers have nothing on some open space lovers. (Excuse me, Bruce. Forgive me. IÍll stop raving).

ItÍs almost impossible for either Pacificans or visitors to get to the top of Sweeney Ridge, where one out of every eight acres of our city is set aside, not taxed, and intended to provide enjoyment to citizens. Actually, it gives few citizens any pleasure whatsoever. No one with either time restrictions or physical limitations is able to enjoy this beautiful territory where San Francisco Bay was discovered by Europeans. ItÍs especially difficult most days to approach Sweeney Ridge following the path of Portola.

ItÍs time we put all our lands, especially those with easy highway access, to the highest and best use. That, in a few exceptional cases, may be open space.

Paul Azevedo has withdrawal symptoms when he doesnÍt get his daily doses of beaches, ocean and hills. He believes in open space, but he also believes in a viable city, where residents, businesses and light industry all contribute to a balanced economy.