Hinton offers thanks

Editor:

I am glad to be home, unfortunately due to the nature of my injury, I will be immobile for a while longer.

I don't have the words to express how much the great number of people who offered their concerns and well wishes for a speedy recovery meant to me.

I wish I could thank each one personally, but I would like to offer special thanks to Pacifica City Manager Steve Rhodes who took the time to answer my questions about the city council agenda and other city matters while I was in the rehabilitation center and now that I am home.

I am anxiously looking forward to returning to full participation on the Pacifica City Council. Watching the council meeting on Channel 26 television and not having the ability to speak on the agenda is frustrating for me.

Thanks again, everyone.

Cal Hinton

Pacifica City Council

Global warming?

Editor:

Does anybody, beside me, ever wonder why it's always the Left that pushes and perpetuates the global warming myth? I can't help but try to figure things like this out. Like, why do they constantly ignore real facts and pay such great attention to bogus theories, fabrications and outright lies? Well, I think I got a BINGO! here. It is also the Left that makes it their duty, their hobby, their vocation, their purpose in life, to create as many "victims" as they can.

Regardless of the irresponsibility of what they are doing today with regard to (insert drum-roll) "global warming," it is somewhat comical that they have, in their own minds, created perhaps the largest, most populated group of victims ever assembled. That would be virtually every living thing on earth, be it bug, plant, snake, lizard, fungus, amoeba, pollywog, you and me — each of us, a victim of "global warming." This has to be the greatest, most successful propaganda campaign in history. What a coup! Congratulations.

As a side note, four major agencies including NASA's Goddard Institute report that the earth's temperature dropped .07C in 2007 due to a lack of sunspot activity. It has not yet been determined exactly how mankind is responsible for this lack of sunspot activity but an explanation and righteous placing of blame will be forthcoming.

Douglas Roberts

Pacifica

Equal pay

Editor:

Tuesday April 22 was once again "Equal Pay Day," the symbolic day on which women's average wages catch up to men's of the previous year.

Her male counterpart must work five days a week for 12 months, whereas she will work seven days a week for 16 months to earn the equivalent wages. This, more than 40 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act.

This year there is added attention to the Fair Pay Restoration Act (S1843) which addresses the decision of the Supreme Court in Ledbetter v. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. The Senate vote failed to move this forward — lacking the 60 votes to to bring it out of committee. Senator McCain declined to return to Washington for the vote. He was quoted as saying "the pay gap isn't due to discrimination. Women just need education and training."

One feels like asking — what century are you living in?

Janice Dutton

Vallemar

One school district

Editor:

We are a retired couple and our children went through the Pacifica schools. They are now adults with fine educations. We are now being asked to pony up more taxes for our schools. Will we vote in favor? You bet. But why should we or anyone have to vote for this increase?

There are 1,034 school districts in this state. How many bureaucrats and employees work in these offices? Why can't we have just ONE State School District? This way every child would receive the same dollar amount for his or her education.

Just think, new books and all the supplies they need without the teachers having to buy them out of their pocket. We could finally pay the teachers what they deserve. We could put back music, art and physical education. What about a school nurse?

I'm sure that if one state office were to be created, it too would be overrun with overstaffing. But even if they had 1,000 people running the department that would be 34 people less than we have districts in this State.

Gary and Carole Korp

Linda Mar

Minor miracles

Dear Editor:

I am writing to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Pacifica volunteers who turned out in the hundreds to assist Rebuilding Together Peninsula on Saturday, April 26, 2008. Rebuilding Together, (formally called Christmas In April) is a local non-profit that does maintenance and rehabilitation work on the homes of the elderly, disabled, and low-income families to keep them warm, safe and independent.

This weekend well over one hundred volunteers worked on four sites in Pacifica and one in El Granada. Pacifica Firefighters, along with students from the College of San Mateo Fire Science program, worked on a home in Rockaway Beach while volunteers from six local churches: St. Peter, Good Shepherd, St. Andrew, St. Edmund's, Holy Cross Lutheran, and New Life Christian Fellowship worked at two sites in Pacific Manor, one site in Vallemar and one site in El Granada. Collectively, they painted interiors and exteriors, build stairways, build decks, did heavy landscaping and yard cleanup, provided handicap access, installed new heaters, cleared household debris, repaired roofs and remodeled bathrooms.

I visited all five sites as a board member of Rebuilding Together and was inspired to see the transformation not only in the homes but in the eyes of the recipients. They were uniformly amazed and grateful and had a renewed hope due to the outpouring of generosity from the community. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Rebuilding Together, I offer my sincere thanks and congratulations to all of the volunteers and especially to the following: Construction Captains Andy Sloane, Rick Lee, Austin Harkins, and Dave Premenko and to Volunteer Coordinators Ryan Fredrick, Scott Hoag, Sue Bernardi, and Bill Provence. A special thanks too to Kate Chinca who coordinated the spreadsheets and information for the volunteer sites. Job Well Done! You make me proud to be a Pacifican.

Bob O'Donnell

Park Pacifica

Member, Board of Directors,

Rebuilding Together Peninsula

Armchair Engineers

Editor:

Why do you publish letters full of technical jargon about the proposed biofuel plant written by anyone who wants to imagine himself an engineer ("No to Biodiesel," April 23?) If the public wants real data, the city or the biofuel company will give it to them.

Jude Pittman

Sharp Park

No to moth spraying

Editor:

We would like to thank Mayor Vreeland and the City Council for adopting a resolution stating their opposition to the proposed aerial spraying for the light brown apple moth unless the California Department of Farms and Agriculture does more to prove that the spray is safe for people, pets, and the environment. We would also like to thank everyone who spoke or wrote on behalf of the resolution at the council meeting.

Many people seem to be under the impression that the aerial spraying has been cancelled. This is not the case. Although a judge in Santa Cruz called a halt to the spraying until the CDFA completes an environmental impact report, that ruling only applies to Santa Cruz County. Meanwhile, the governor has postponed the spraying until a series of acute toxicity tests are completed in August. The CDFA now estimates that aerial spraying in the northern end of Pacifica will begin in October. After that the spraying will be conducted approximately once a month for nine months out of each year.

There are still many reasons to be concerned. No matter what the new tests reveal about the effects of the pesticide, they are only tests of 30-minute exposure. Since these chemicals will be released into the air slowly as the microcapsules degrade, we will be facing much longer, almost constant, exposure. There have still been no long-term tests on the pesticide, and it is impossible to know how it will affect children, senior adults, or people with chronic health problems such as asthma.

While the CDFA repeatedly cites the safety of the active ingredient (the pheromone), they rarely mention the other nine ingredients contained in the spray. These include chemicals that are known to cause skin, eye and lung irritation, cell mutation and organ damage. The material safety data sheets of two of these ingredients state that they are "very toxic to aquatic organisms." In addition, some of the plastic microcapsules the spray is contained in are 10 microns in size, small enough to lodge deep within the lungs where they cannot be expelled.

We applaud the council for their decision, and we hope that anyone else who has questions or concerns about the spray will contact the CDFA and our representatives.

Ashley Larsen and Sharon Luehs

Linda Mar

Support LBC project

Editor:

Hey, loyal readers. Have you decided how you will spend the check you are about to receive from our generous government?

Here is a suggestion — Endorse the check upon receipt and mail it to the Pacifica Historical Society toward the restoration of the Little Brown Church building. This historic edifice is in need of more help and funding is necessary to continue the preservation effort. More than $100,000 has been spent to date, but the cost of new siding and foundation work is facing the restoration committee. estimated to be in excess of $50,000.

Your contribution will be used locally to improve the economics as suggested. If even just 10 readers contributed their $300 check to the cause that would be $3,000 in the LBC coffers. But if 100 citizens accepted the challenge, the LBC committee would gain a whopping $30,000. Wow!

Mail that check ASAR (as soon as received) to the Pacifica Historical Society, P.O. Box 752, Pacifica, Calif. 94044.

Marvin Morganti

LBC Restoration Committee Member

Living by the petard

Editor:

I confess I will shed no tears over the shutdown of Frank's Saloon. But I do hope Frank continues to write about food and restaurants for the Tribune. I've always enjoyed those articles, and he hasn't needed to use the image of a gun to make his points.

One point I must make, however: In his farewell column, Frank implies (in the large, bold-type quote under his photo) that his saloon shuttering is the result of "retribution" for "aggravating the liberals." This is nonsense. Frank made a major error, then, rather than consider the possibility that he was wrong, created the device for his own demise.

So no retribution by The Demon Liberals was needed to silence the bellicose saloon keeper. Frank was hoist with his own petard.

Renee Batti

Edgemar

Erudite Carol

Editor:

With the departure of Frank Cimo as columnist, political balance has suffered a loss. As replacement, therefore, I recommend another voice who has, through her many letters to the editor, consistently and eloquently expressed conservative views: the most erudite Carol Negro.

Bruce Feldman

Pacifica

Yes to biodiesel

Editor:

I have been following the biodiesel plant debate with some interest. I appreciate the Tribune's coverage that has over several years reported on this project's progress.

I wondered how Pacificans would respond to such a forward-thinking plan, whether it would be embraced or shredded as many proposals are, some deservedly so.

Ms. Hall's most recent attempt at setting the informational record straight made two points: that there was much misinformation being bandied about and that the small but noisy opposition had taken an inappropriately personal and political tone.

The letters and article that responded to her column did accomplish something: they proved her absolutely correct on both counts.

The process has been public enough for me to become informed and make up my own mind, and I think the biodiesel project is brilliant. The more we take local responsibility for even partially providing for our energy, food and fuel the less vulnerable we are to global crises and market instability. Our city's solar panel installation, the farmers market (both successful, both opposed vehemently!), the up-coming community garden and now, hopefully, a biodiesel plant that recycles cooking oil tucked in the parking lot of the waste water plant are all good examples. I whole heartedly support movement in this direction. We need more of this, not less.

I would like to add kudos to the City Council for weathering the sadly predictable yet largely uninformed hysteria. Hang in there, you are doing the right things. Think globally-act locally. Support alternative, renewable energy in Pacifica!

Jim Kerwin

Vallemar

Progressive AAUW

Editor:

How about some positive news for a change? Last month I attended the American Association of University Women (AAUW) state convention and was amazed and proud to discover the reach our Pacifica Branch has in helping to support the AAUW mission of "advancing equity for women and girls though advocacy, education and research."

When I first joined AAUW last year (the 50th Anniversary of AAUW in Pacifica), I learned that in addition to sponsoring public forums on topical issues, the Branch also raises money for scholarships at our high schools and to send two middle school girls to Tech Trek — a weeklong summer camp of math and science at Stanford. Our current efforts continue a long history of civic involvement and support for education.

The conference provided me with an understanding of the larger organization. Attendees came from all over the state and represented a variety of ethnic and geographic cultures. We heard informative speakers, participated in training workshops and learned how to better serve our communities.

It was particularly inspiring to hear how our membership dues and other Branch support are used. AAUW California raises over a half-million dollars annually to provide fellowships, community action grants and a Legal Advocacy Fund to support the fight against discrimination at colleges and universities. The area I knew the least about was AAUW's ground-breaking research, starting with the first report in 1885 that "debunked the popular theory that higher education was bad for women's health." More recently, the 2007 "Behind the Pay Gap" report continues to get national coverage, and new work "Gaps in Learnings, Gaps in Earnings" comes out this year. (See www.aauw.org for details)

The Pacifica Branch of AAUW is truly part of a positive force for the future.

Ainsley Nies

Vallemar

Swim Team thanks

Editor:

On April 12, the Terra Nova Swim Team held their annual Swim-a-thon fundraiser. Each swimmer swam 200 laps or 5,000 yards.

These young athletes, along with their coaches worked to raise over $2,000 dollars to help the swim team purchase fins, and other training devices.

The swimmers would like to personally thank Pam Franklin-Pence for all her hard work raising funds and arranging for training fins to be purchased.

The Swim Team would also like to thank all the donors who made this event a success and for supporting these young athletes.

Thank you Maureen Maino, the Yonenaka family, Diane Kotta, Jane Hurlburt, Liza Mizono, Kelly Smith, Stephanie Lee, Brad Pence, Pam Franklin-Pence, Elogeann Grossman, Irene Spang, Joan Sacchetti, Heather Cooper, Colleen Morello, Kitty Franklin, Penny Pence, Phyllis Ritchie, William Jacob, Kevin Healy, Stan Taufer, Ernie Brockmeyer, Dr. Kenneth Thomas, Mary Steinkamp, Joe Ryan, Lou Masini, Chris Smith, Lorraine Duran, Angie Vultaggio, Rita Tubar, Hope Espinosa, Ana Miguel, Joe Adams, Regina Kwong, Jodi Wicks, Russell Smith, Sean Smith, Coastside Tile, Reed family, Lee family, Misthos family, Belway family, Krohn family, Wall family, Ford family, Phun family, and the Minnichhofer family.

If you would like to donate to the Terra Nova Swim Team, please send your donations to Terra Nova High Schoo Attention: Swim Team, 1450 Terra Nova Blvd., Pacifica, Calif. 94044. All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you,

The Terra Nova Swim Team

Thank you, Clark

Editor:

Thank you for the extensive article about the honoring of Clark Natwick with the Open Space Preservation Award for his service to the environment. He is an inspiration to us all.

What the article didn't mention, is that Clark has also long served the community by supporting the library through his participation in the Friends of the Library.

His steady presence, especially at times of fund raisers, has been invaluable. He also has been a long running board member, serving as newsletter editor. He also teaches a Breath Experience class at the Community Center. So, here's to Clark, a true treasure in our community.

Thanks, Clark, for all you do.

Caroline Barba

President,

Pacifica Friends of the Library

Traffic tie-ups

Editor:

I see that the McDonalds on Palmetto is being rapidly recreated on its familiar site. I see that everything looks ready for the foundation to be laid for the new Walgreen's at the corner of Manor/Palmetto (you remember it well...the famous intersection where, at different times during the day there can be as many as 15 cars approaching from North, South, East and West.

Just wait until Walgreen's opens. I see the new signs on Oceana Boulevard indicating that traffic on this major thoroughfare will be "subject to delay" and there could be road closures for the next week or so due to yet more work on the Connemarra Project. I would like to be cautiously optimistic and think of these developments as growing pains for our city.

However, given the large potholes that are awaiting wary drivers (those who are not engaging in "life-or-death conversations" on their cell phones) on a number of our city streets, and given the fact that evidently the city does not have enough funding or staff to take care of existing troublespots, I am not sure if the things I mentioned are truly growing pains. Maybe they are saying in their own way, "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here."

Rev. Piers Lahey

Sharp Park

Fight higher taxes

Editor:

As responsible Pacifica property owners we must fight back against the proposed sewer service charges. Please write to the council members at 170 Santa Maria Ave. and voice your protest against yet another hike in the sewer service charge. If written protests against the proposed charges are presented by 51 percent of owners of parcels subject to the charges, then the city will not impose the proposed charges. Let's send at least 61 percent — spread the word.

Because the sewer charge was the highest amount on the parcel tax this year, we did as many others did in order to reduce the dollar amount for next year. We conserved water and for all our efforts we are being penalized. With less units of water use in the formula used by the city to calculate the sewer service revenue, the sewer rate increases.

I understood that the costs for construction and maintenance of our new sewer plant had already been factored in our local/city taxes over the past several years. Why then is the city asking for an additional 18 percent per year. That's a very generous amount considering how many home owners reside in Pacifica.

In light of the rising cost of food, housing, gasoline, clothing, medical care, prescription costs, and now a hike in the garbage charges, not to dismiss the fire assessment, Proposition N and Measure O, It is ludicrous to even consider a proposal that will put another financial burden on the home owners of Pacifica.

Pacificans, we must write to reject these proposed increases.

Theresa A. Rajewski

Pacific Manor

Sewer tax

increase

Editor:

This is the last opportunity for homeowners and business to protest the sewer parcel tax increase by sending-in written advisement to City Hall. The protest must be received by May 12. Just sent in a single sheet of paper stating "I am protesting the increased sewer tax rate," add your name, address, date and sign. A 41-cent stamped envelope will usually hold five sheets. City Hall Finance Department is located at 170 Santa Maria Avenue.

Why protest this tax? There probably won't be enough signatures to overturn the tax, but the protest is designed to get the attention of this City Council (in office 8-12 years), who have not provided citizens of this community with a proper economic structure when opportunities have been available.

Last year the sewer tax increase was 9 percent, with an additional 9 percent increase this year, total 18 percent. What happened? We have been handed a 19 percent increase this year, total 28 percent.

How will this new tax rate affect you and your family? If you are a family of four your sewer tax bill this year will likely be in a range of $950 to $1,250 depending upon your water usage. The generic "green sheet" we received from the city states the minimum, so if you took a trip out-of-town during December and January that may be you.

Why do we have these recent high rate increases? It has to do with the method of financing since the wastewater treatment plant went on-line in year 2000. Monies needed to provide extra parts, maintenance, reserves and pay-down debt were transferred into the city General Fund to pay ordinary city bills. This was a legal "loop hole" caused by an "en lieu of land rental fee" clause in the Enterprise Zone language, which was stopped in this city and others by the State of California through the Big Horn decision (7/24/06).

An additional complication is that the Wastewater treatment plant was financed with a loan that carried a big balloon payment, which became due last year. Such "creative financing" has taken its toll by draining out millions of dollars from the integrity of the wastewater treatment plant. Going forward (2008-09) debt service has jumped from $916,228 to $2,932,707 (City Budget 4/29/08). This $2 million dollar annual debt payment increase will be paid directly by homeowners and businesses, and paid indirectly in the form of pass-through cost to renters.

City Council knew about this financial "time bomb," as well as needed development, redevelopment and other functional city infrastructure improvements. The people of Pacifica have been told repeatedly that "everything is okay," yet we are stuck with a failing budget and a huge ongoing tax burden with more to come. What are they going to do about it?

Kathy Meeh

Sun Valley

Orwellian slant

Editor:

After reading the long dissertation by our local biodiesel refinery aficionado I was amazed by the Orwellian slant to facts and the convoluting of the truth. I appreciate the plethora of material she has supplied us, however, I will only focus on one aspect of the diatribe.

Economically speaking, the lease is a travesty. First of all let me point out that the "109 page EIR" so lovingly touted by the advocates for this project is in reality just 37 pages long. The rest is devoted to a few pictures and this lease. When I asked our city manager "who negotiated this lease" he stated an outside attorney. Go figure. Someone who does not have a vested interest in this city is busy negotiating our interests. Priceless. The statement in the column that our city attorney took care of that is another stretch.

The point made that the bio plant is only taking up a 40x100 existing concrete pad is not quite right. Unless the materials, chemical, and people are airlifted to the site and dropped in, they will have to use a large area to park, unload trucks, place the diesel generator, etc.

Speaking of diesel generator. Let's see, the city has already allocated $135,000 (much of which has been spent) to this project. We will also be supplying a huge diesel generator to generate the electricity that we are being paid with. We will convert this generator to 100 percent bio fuel for them and after 30 days, to make sure it works, we will transfer title to Whole Energy. Oh, yes, we will also warrant the generator. Sweet deal.

The best part. They will pay us in either electric energy (supplied by the generator we paid for), bio diesel, or cash. $5000 in equivalent energy, the value of which decrease due to inflation over time. The plant is expected to general 3 million gallons of finished product a year. At $5 retail, that's worth $15,000,000 gross a year. Let's say the wholesale price is $8,000. In exchange for the site, environmental liability, and safety concerns the city will make $60,000 a year, the value of which will degrade over the years due to inflation. Just count the zeros to see if it makes sense.

It's easy to twist numbers when no one is watching. We're watching.

Just remember what George said. "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

Jim Wagner

Chair, Pacifica Business for Responsible Government

Greener' rate increases please

Editor:

I'm a little disappointed in my fellow property owners for the lack of responses to the recent proposed increases in our taxes and other service rates. While it's reasonable to expect fees and taxes to rise in proportion to the cost-of-living increases, when the rates used to calculate those increases are raised "across the board," I don't feel that method is in the best interest of our community.

Citizens are increasingly asked to live "greener" by using less natural resources and reusing/recycling what we do use. (I recall such an appeal in a front page article of the Tribune awhile ago.)

During a past drought period, when we were asked to reduce our water usage, some of us (who already conserved and then conserved even more), were penalized when we couldn't reduce our usage by the mandated 25 percent the following year. We have been filling our 20 gallon trash can only about 3/4 full, on average, for the last 10 years or so. Thinking that encouraging less garbage trucked to landfills is more important than the "economies of scale" desired by the for-profit garbage company, I have requested our City Council not allow rates on 20 gallon cans to be raised by the same percentage rate as the 30 gallon cans rate, with no success. (I'm sorry I missed out on the opportunity to oppose the latest across-the-board increase.) These are two examples of officials not putting their decisions where their pro-green mouths are. Even if it's not as economical in the short term for the service providers, the environmental benefits of conservation in the long run should be recognized and those of us putting the extra effort in for the good of our community should be rewarded, not clumped together with those who don't put in the extra effort, when rate increases are proposed.

So our latest example of this backwards practice is the proposed increase of our sewer service charges. Without going into the arguments for and against the need for such increases (16 percent across the board?), I want to at least get the rate increase for the minimum annual rate (for those who use less water and create less sewage for treating), to be less than the percentage increase in the rate of other sewer users. I hope enough residential property owners here will agree with me and put their protests in writing to the City Council before they decide on this issue on 12 May. If a majority of us owners protest this increase, the notice sent to us says that the City Council will not impose the proposed charges. If it's easier for you to protest via email, you can email to the Council c/o: o'connellk@ci.pacifica.ca.us.

Peggy Lucy Meadows

Linda Mar

Cruel Tax

Editor:

To invite more forced taxation, whether for Prop N, Fire Abatement, or anything else is cruel and irresponsible. Those who feel compelled to give more of their income to such causes ought to really do that — GIVE more money — not force others to "give" via more unaffordable taxation.

There are families drowning in debt and tittering on bankruptcy, who have already cut back on all their expenses — driving less, heating less, buying fewer and cheaper groceries, and risking their welfare without medical and other forms of insurance. Would you have them eat cat food or loose their homes so you can "feel good" about the causes you want to throw money at? Maybe you don't believe that one more straw could break a camel's back — one more tax could sink a family into economic ruin. I do.

If you truly feel strongly about your causes and can afford to give more, why don't you send your check to the school district or fire department of your choice. If you are unwilling to part with your money unless you can force others to do the same, maybe you should look inward and ask yourself why. What is it about you and your devotion that compels you not to "give" unless you can force others to do the same? Have you ever considered that such a stance is a form of cruelty?

James Torlakson

Rockaway Beach

Thank you,

Tribune

Editor:

Thank you for your exctellent coverage of Earth Day, complete with great pictures of the volunteers who braved the wind and cold to beautify Pacifica. Yes, the parks and beaches do look much better this week. Also the wonderful picures of volunteers at the Pacifica School Volunteers' Read Aloud Day, something I enjoy doing every year. These positive stories give balance to the rest of the news which at times is not so pleasant.

But even the "hard news" on redevelopment, the water treatment plant and higher garbage collection fees comes to us only in The Tribune and no matter which side of the issues we are on, we thank you, the messager, for bringing the facts to us. Your coverage of these difficult issues has been in-depth, fair and accurate and we appreciate your vigilance in keeping up with these important matters for us. Without The Tribune we would know "almost nothing" about what happens in Pacifica.

So I urge your readers to join me in subscribing to our hometown paper (especially now that you are offering gift subscriptions are only $15 a year), advertise when possible and have a good word for the messenger.

Anna Boothe

Park Pacifica

We'll miss you Frank

Editor:

We are so sad to see Frank's Saloon discontinue. It was refreshing to see an article on Republicans in a dominated Democratic town. I praise the Tribune for allowing the other party to voice an opinion. Frank is a passionate man that bet the farm and his first born on info he thought he could trust. It happened to be he couldn't. In actuality it was his column he bet.

Gali Schaham Gordon pointed it out and the man that he is made him accept total responsibility. I, for one will sorely miss his voice. Frank is a man of his word. I admire the Trib for allowing the other side to express themselves. Keep up the good work.

Nunzio and Joyce Sorce

Vallemar