11 responses to “Are marriage licenses next?”

1. Wen

   September 20, 2003

   That is interesting. I work for large international corporation and often work from home. Do I need city business license? I will call Inspector Joe!

2. grimis

   September 20, 2003

   I’m sure Mr. Galligan will hurry to reimburse the City of San Bruno the $360,000 he cost them. After all if he feels that the cost of doing business in Burlingame is $100 a year and it puts a hardship on the city to lose that money, he should be beating a path up to San Bruno to settle up and make things better there.

   I haven’t seen an item in Mr. Fuch’s column about that. But hypocrisy evidently is not in either of their vocabularies.

   If Joe is going to play these behind the scenes games, he should at least have the decency to play by the same rules. But alas, that’s a little much to ask from the man who thinks he’s king Burlingame.

   –

3. Fiona

   September 20, 2003

   Interesting you should wonder why Fuchs hasn’t included something in his gossip column about Galligan trying to wiggle out of paying taxes and San Bruno spending $360,000 in legal fees. I had asked Fuchs that question myself. As of today, we have not had a squeek in his column about this. Since they are all so codependent on each other, we probably should not be holding our breath for Fuchs’ spin on this local issue! Perhaps he is double checking the facts (ooops sorry the Fuchsssss!)

4. Gerald

   September 20, 2003

   The City of San Mateo, so strapped for cash, hired a company to go after “independent contractors” to get them to pay fees for business licenses. My sister used to work for a court reporting agency whose office is in San Mateo. She and others working for this firm, were sent form letters informing them they needed to have their own business licenses, despite the fact that they do business under the auspices of a licensed firm in that city! She was periodically called “as needed” for depositions, only being paid for her work if and when the agency was paid.

   Using this model, then, cities might go after those working in real estate offices, hair salons, travel agencies, etc.

   Some years ago, BID (the Broadway Business Improvement District) was going to hire a firm from San Mateo or elsewhere to steam clean the sidewalks (since the City was unwilling to do so at that time). Seeing this notation in the “minutes” of a BID meeting, someone from City Hall called to say “That’s great, but have the company come down here and buy a business license to operate in Burlingame.” This, of course, increased OUR cost to clean the City’s sidewalks.

   If we’re going to do this, how about setting up a Burlingame Customs’ Station at the city’s borders and ask any commercial vehicle making deliveries in town to pay a toll to “do business” here?

   What about taxing the various lawn-cutting and gardening firms who come from other towns to mow the front yards of Burlingame residences?

   I wonder if the kids selling girl scout cookies in front of the grocery store have a business license?

   Just wondering…

5. Bruce

   September 21, 2003

   I’m new to Burlingame, just wondering…why majority of people here in Daily Voice dislike the current council members (Galligan, Coffey, and Janney)? City of Burlingame was named “Top Ten Most Progressive Suburb in Nation” Don’t they deserved some credit? Look at the real estate prices in your neighborhood, how come people don’t complaint when they put their home for sale?? Just wondering

6. Jennifer

   September 21, 2003

   Dear Bruce,

   If you indeed are new in town or rather, putting in a good word for the incumbants, feel free to go to our archives. You will get an idea why so many people object to the way the city is currently being run.

   Like many towns, Burlingame had been on auto.jpglot until about 4 years ago, when a few progressive-thinkers galvanized residents out of complacency. New spec homes that were being built looked like tract houses found all over the state in new developments, not older established cities, like ours. Other large, poorly planned projects did not seem to be properly scrutinized. Though our Planning Commission is excellent, decisions they made about important developments have been ignored. These are our best and brightest.

   From the outside, things may appear to be running splendidly, but as soon as one digs deeper, quite the opposite is true.

   Both here and in other towns, officials struggle to balance growth with quality of life. These issues must be dealt with responsibly and actively, not reactively as is currently the case.

   This is not a time to rest on our laurels.

   Jennifer

7. Rosaline

   September 21, 2003

   You are right, Jennifer, we do have to be diligent. What buildings are pulled down and what ones are thrown up in the name of progress is very important. A new monster Safeway and a new Apple building which would look more at home in a strip mall, shows us that we need to keep our eyes open wide about what is happening in our neighborhoods. Bruce, please enlighten us on giving credit where credit is due and tell us why three members of the Council should get credit for Burlingame’s charm. This seems majorly hyperbolic to me!

8. Bruce

   September 22, 2003

   Wednesday, October 1st, 2003
   City Council Candidates’ Debates to be held at City Hall, 501 Primrose Rd. 7-9 p.m. Let’s hear from these Candidates!

9. Rosaline

   September 23, 2003

   I agree, Bruce, let’s hear from the candidates themselves without spin doctors and the media. Let’s hope they are succinct and honest. Wouldn’t it be nice if they would answer questions starting with “Yes, I think this …” or “No, I don’t agree because …” instead of evasive stuff like “I haven’t seen the official plan so I have no opinion on Safeway or Bayfront housing”. Burlingame residents are smarter than that!

10. Terry

    September 25, 2003

    I am looking forward to the the upcoming debates! I want to share my vision for Burlingame with residents. Instead of letting outside developers dictate the way our city is built, we can encourage growth that enhances our charming shopping areas and neighborhoods.

11. Bruce

    September 25, 2003

    Hi Terry,

    Just wondering your position on the current “residential” regulations, and your future point of view. Thanks