13 responses to “Plump up that goose !”

1. Jenn

   January 19, 2005

   Somehow, I knew those lovely canary island palms would disappear, but I could think of many ways to accomodate them again, it just has been parking Uber Alles since we first heard of this project.

   Let’s hope that our engineer and the Joint Powers fellow can rethink the east side a bit. We really got the short end of the stick.

   I vote to erase most of those new parking spots, have non-disabled people park their cars over by the donut shop, like they’ve mostly done in the past, or walk from home. We need to reinforce Burlingame Square, not chip away at it. Canary palms cost $5000 each, probably less for a govt. entity., they take hardly any space at all., and will make for a more pleasant walk around our elegant station. As Mayor Galligan said, surely there are measure A funds for these.

2. jim

   January 19, 2005

   Council meeting article by Christine – http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_2530685

   Note the quote from Hudak : Harvey “reluctantly supports what is worked out between the city and JPB”

3. Fiona

   January 19, 2005

   Once again the decisions are made around parking – date palms, small businesses, plazas and poor Seabiscuit – if he was alive today- would be outdistanced by a parking stall!

   What a silly town this is!

4. Jenn

   January 19, 2005

   I felt very bad for those business owners, and embarrassed for our town, as well. Why aren’t they considered one of the eggs in the nest of the goose?I guess they are the little crippled birds that are forced out and die.

5. Constance

   January 19, 2005

   Regarding this matter…our mayor has no vision beyond appeasing Mike Harvey. He has been carrying his water for many years. Since these taklks began last year, Mr Harvey has always held up his big club by saying he provides the town with tax money. Remember when Harvey was granted that exemption for his very ugly lighted sign that greets everyone exiting the 101 to Broadway. Burlingame has an ordinance that greenery must surround his car lots. Is anyone out there enforcing this? Just look at the car lot next to the Burlingame train station (Burlingame Ave). It is a sea of pavement with nary a bit of green. Thank you Councilwoman Baylock for pointing out that the downtown area should perhaps be re-zoned for shops, etc. as opposed to Galligan who wishes it to be rezoned for MORE auto parks. Many years ago it was practical to have car lots in our downtown area but times have changed and these lots belong along the 101 or in our light industrial area. They don’t belong in residential areas where people test drive in our neighborhoods near schools and homes and large trailors off-load vehicles where we have to cross our fingers and pray that we don’t have a car accident when we go around them.

   But really folks, this would mean our leaders would need vision and Galligan, Coffey and O’Mahoney think in a little tax box and just go along to get along. OOOOOOOppppppps, where was Coffey???? Don’t they have a phone hook-up to his place in Florida?

6. sue

   January 19, 2005

   Yes, I too, noted the the empty chair, although it is usually empty headed when he is in attendance.
   Not only do the small businesses not matter, but the owners of those small businesses seemed to be treated with such disrespect, by “Madame” Mayor, as he was accidentally referred to last night. Do you think Mike Harvery would be spoken to in the same condescending manner? I doubt it. Some things never change…and if “Madame” mayor wants to come out of his term as mayor “unscathed” as reported in some article after he took the chair, then I say that he must act the part of mayor, and that requires that you look out for ALL your constituents, both BIG and small.

7. Rosaline

   January 19, 2005

   Those small businesses better watch out – they will be gobbled up by more auto related stuff if they don’t start kissing some serious ….

   Thank God that our Station was designated a Calfornia State Registered Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places because if it wasn’t it too would be gobbled up by cars for our “historic Seabiscuit auto row”.

   Maybe we could have a Canary Palm Contest? In 1897 Mr. Kruttschnitt planted the Kruttschnitt Canary Island Palm on Station grounds and his palm miraculously stands in all its glory.

   Can’t you see it – the Galligan Palm, the Harvey Palm, the O’Mahony Palm, the Hudak Palm – and for good measure – the Karp Palm! Five ugly parking spaces turns into an oasis of palms. Awwwww!

8. Seamus

   January 20, 2005

   The meeting would make you sick and just think Coffey will have to come back to town for the next one-that makes me triple sick! He will also have to be back in town to decide on not one,but
   three seats on the Planning Commission. I am
   sure Galligan will keep Auran.

9. Rosaline

   January 20, 2005

   Certain city employees wonder why people feel so strongly against some of our councilmembers, well Tuesday’s meeting should have illustrated – even to him – why. The residents were too polite to boo but were very very close.

10. Fiona

    January 25, 2005

    http://www.smdailyjournal.org/opinion_article.cfm?issue=01-25-05&storyID=39121

    Just in case our councilmembers did not receive my hand delivered note, I hope they read my letter in the Daily Journal and Examiner today about tacky tinsel!

11. Jim

    January 25, 2005

    Now all that bullying is patently clear. It seems that Harvey wants to expand auto row and buy the properties presently conditionally zoned for un-auto row businesses. A $1.3 buyer who wanted to go into Anugrah is getting cold feet. The way it goes … any new buyer doesn’t want the problems of conditional permits, etc, the building remains unsold and then Harvey comes in and buys it cheap.

    Perhaps the rumors that those dismissed small businesses on Burlingame Avenue will become one large restaurant or a Crate and Barrel is just a rumor. Perhaps it will be Burlingame Avenue’s Auto Row. It sounds ridiculous but probably not too ridiculous for our planning department.

    Our planning department and council need their motors serviced … send them to the car man!

12. Fiona

    January 26, 2005

    I can just see it now, Burlingame Avenue’s Auto Row will be Burlingame’s Historic Auto Row District and the name changed to Seabiscuit Lane.

    This town will be ruined if the “small” businesses are not made to feel welcome, every obstacle is thrown at them by our planning department (or at least the puppeteers pulling their strings), bullying and parking problems.

    The way this town is going, maybe Burlingame deserves more auto rows.

13. Jim

    January 27, 2005

    Now we have a porn shop – wonder how many golden eggs that goose pays into the city’s kitty?