11 responses to “Fundraise a Museum”

1. Dewey Cheatham

   January 7, 2005

   Big thanks to Russ Cohen, President of the Burligame Historical Society who spent a lot of time negotiating the train station lease and meeting with various officials the past year. Russ told everyone years ago that it was his goal to one day secure the train station for the Burlingame Historical society and it really happened because of all his hard work and due diligence. Thanks Russ!

2. Seamus

   January 8, 2005

   Thanks Russ for all your hard work.It’s too bad our Burlingame City Council didn’t thank you-not even one said thanks.

3. al

   January 8, 2005

   The rules say the Council cannot react to anything said during the public comment period. You can be sure that there are at least two Councilmembers who would have said “thanks” if they could.

4. Rosaline

   January 8, 2005

   Sorry but that does not wash with me. I have sat in council meetings and after the speaker has had his three minutes there is some nice or nasty comment from the podium. Remember when the speaker was asked if they were a member of a certain group – and no it wasn’t the communist party.

5. Seamus

   January 9, 2005

   I have seen meetings where a thank you was said and sometimes alot more.

6. Constance

   January 10, 2005

   Al, to be honest. The silence was deafening the other night. Historically, most of the current city council members are not interested in promoting the BHS. Last year, when Rosalie O’Mahoney was mayor the BHS asked for a modest $400 in community funding. Despite over $60,000 distributed to various groups, charities, etc. the council did not fund this very modest request. Not one council person spoke up to ask why this request was not being approved. Rosalie further stated that she did not want one dime of city funding to go to the train station. City council members brag about Burlingame being the jewel of the peninsula – too bad most of them are not interested in preserving historical gems. And so it goes….let’s just move on.

7. al

   January 10, 2005

   With all due respect, and then some, I’ve seen plenty of council meetings and have seen the ill-considered responses during Public Comment that you mention. But I have NEVER seen either of the two councilwomen that I am referring to break the rules. If you think the process will somehow be improved by the rule-abiding councilmembers acting like the fools that they serve with–you are wrong.

   There are plenty of ways to get change to occur. The main one you already know–dump one or more of the problems this November. But you should not expect the hardest working councilmembers to start breaking the rules regardless of how good the cause may be. Please don’t make me remind you of this again 🙂

8. Rosaline

   January 10, 2005

   Then I think that when the council members “break the rules” the mayor (or whoever is in charge and of course that is debatable) should quietly say stop. If none of the council members have the guts to do that, then that is why we have an attorney. This happened when the speaker was asked if he was a member of a certain group and he was gently reminded to stop the interrogation!

   I would gladly put my hand up during council meetings and remind them of the rules. But of course that is against the rules too. I have sat through dozens of council meetings and the rules are gently – and otherwise – bent alot.

   But of course some council members don’t like it when we hear substantive information about those committee meetings rather than just a “church barbecue”!

9. Constance

   January 10, 2005

   Is clapping breaking the rules?

10. Cathy Baylock

    January 10, 2005

    I wanted to start right off by saying that, without Russ Cohen’s commitment to this dream, it was not going to happen. Period. He is an outstanding Historical Society President! My thoughts were two the night he made his presentation under “Public Comments”: 1) We are precluded from responding to comments made during this part of the meeting because of the Ralph M. Brown Act short of asking staff for direction or giving them direction to assist with the request 2) Since I am the Treasurer of the Historical Society, I was very conscious of NOT taking advantage of my position on the City Council to promote one of my pet causes. In fact, the formation of an Historical Museum has been one of my most passionate dreams for our town and Historical Society! I apologize if I gave anyone the wrong impression; I certainly appreciate your comments and will consider them for future meetings!

11. Jim

    January 12, 2005

    Thank you for clearing up your position.

    Thank God many Burlingame residents speak up when good things, bad things and injustices happen.

    There has not been enough speaking up about our elected officials and more importantly elected officials speaking up loud and clear (and I do not mean snide gossip a la Fuchs). Most of this has very little to do with the Brown Act and a helluva lot to do with Burlingame politics.