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Self-aggrandizing Housing Advocates

I have to hand it to Cynthia Cornell.  I've been following Burlingame politics for 25+ years and I have seen very few people climb up on such a high horse as Ms. Cornell.  And that is saying something.  Rather than just opine about her, let's use her own words from a letter to the Daily Journal yesterday as evidence.  She is writing about a Peninsula Health Care District board meeting where she expects the board to just give away a huge chunk of B'game real estate to whoever can make "comprehensive 100% affordable senior and workforce housing" pencil out.  Any educated person knows that cannot be done without more taxpayer money being shoveled in at some point.  She then writes

There is no possible excuse to build any market-rate housing on public land during this housing crisis.

Really?  I'll bet I could walk into Lunardi's, Behan's, or Alana's and find dozens of people who might think "Gee, if it's public land perhaps the general public should get at least some of the benefit from its development instead of it all going to 'affordable' whatever".  They might think "mission creep" at our Health Care district is a bad thing.  Perhaps the community might think the sweetheart project on Lots F & N right downtown is enough of a public donation to her crusade.  She complains about board members Dennis Zell and Helen Galligan and puts words in their mouths that are quote-free and rely her impression of what was said, and then states

We (that would be the Royal "we") are shocked by the behavior  of these elected officials.  Were it not for the great leadership of Congresswoman Jackie Speier and support from state Sen. Hill and Assemblyman Kevin Mullin, D- South San Francisco, the board would continue to ignore the community voice.

What blather.  Her Highness Cornell doesn't speak for the community.  She doesn't even speak for a third of the community from where I sit.  The woman has never run for anything; never mind actually win an election.  Zell and Galligan are both well-known in the community for years and have won elections.  This stream of nonsense will continue as it has for some time as noted here.

But if either Zell and Galligan did tell Speier's staffer to "stay in her lane" as Cornell asserts in her letter, I say "Good on ya."  Maybe they should stay in their lane, let the local electeds do their job – which in my mind means keeping our Health Care district out of the housing business — an take the consequences at the next election.

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48 responses to “Self-aggrandizing Housing Advocates”

  1. You suck

    oh please. You resist every change unless it’s immediately evident how it will benefit you. Buzz off, Scrooge.

  2. Bruce Dickinson

    Well, Joe, look at the bright side: At least someone telling you that “you suck” is better than “you’re dumb”.
    In that vein let me oblige by responding to the comment above:
    Hey You Suck, guess what? You’re dumb!

  3. Just Visiting

    It wasn’t Speier or Cornell who inserted the Health Care District into the housing business–it was the Health Care District, when it decided to use public land to, wait for it…build housing.
    Once the Health Care District made that decision, it was sure to attract the attention of housing advocates, and elected officials who are looking for ways to address the housing shortage.
    Cornell is a one-trick pony and agitator–though give her credit for how hard she works at it, even if you don’t agree with her.
    And, if PHCD is going to use public land to build housing, it’s hardly revolutionary to expect a benefit to members of the public not served by market-rate housing (who, presumably, don’t need any public help–that’s why it’s “market rate”). Stated another way, the “market” doesn’t need PHCD to supplement housing stock, but if housing is an appropriate use of PHCD’s land–and PHCD seems to think it is–then it’s reasonable to expect public benefit in the form of below-market housing.

  4. Paloma Ave

    It appears that Cornell wants something that others will subsidize. I for one am not in favor of subsidizing her or anyone else.
    If you cannot afford to live in Burlingame then go elsewhere.
    Burlingame has never been affordable and will never be affordable.
    Can’t she get that through her thick skull?

  5. Barking Dog

    Nail on head Paloma Ave
    In my retirement years, and being able to maintain my minimalist lifestyle, I can’t afford to live here anymore starting in 2021, so I am moving.
    Last thing I would ever vote for is to subsidize housing for tech employees who make over 100k a year.

  6. Paloma Ave

    Barking Dog – Why would you want to subsidize housing for anyone?

  7. Barking Dog

    The only people/persons I would CONSIDER SOME form of subsidize housing for is Police/Fire personal and elementary public school teachers(not SMUHSD) and ONLY in the city that they are employed in. And only for the duration of their employment for these agencies. Once retirement or pursue new career, they would lose that right. I feel they would have a better pulse on the neighborhoods/residents if they were fully vested in the community. Most aren’t now. Back in the day in Burlingame, many of the police/fire/teachers lived and had children in Burlingame. They felt the pulse of the community and their needs/concerns.
    Techies, Seniors, other administration workers for the city, etc, NEVER would I consider voting to subsidize. Just my opinion. Sorry Cornell if this makes me ‘selfish’

  8. It don’t come easy

    less housing, more parks.

  9. hollyroller@gmail.com

    Thank you for posting “your feelings.”
    I believe you are an incredible Mean Human being.
    Though you have unlimited sources of income, no matter what you try to “Fix Yourself” nothing ever works, and it is ALWAYS someone else’s Fault.
    All your pseudo friends/co workers dislike you.
    Anyway, just an observation.
    Goodnight.
    PS less housing, more parks.

  10. hollyroller@gmail.com

    What is Wrong With People?

  11. professor awesome

    Self-aggrandizing??? That doesn’t even make sense. Do you really think Ms. Cornell receives any material benefit from her tireless advocacy? If you’re going to launch ridiculous ad hominems, at least try to come up with something halfway plausible.
    And I question your grip on reality when you state that the “general public” would benefit from market-rate housing but not affordable housing. I know plenty of teachers, seniors, and low-income families in Burlingame that would qualify for affordable housing. Are those people NOT members of the general public in your view?
    I agree that the PHCD should not be in the housing business. So does Ms. Cornell, from what I can tell. It sounds like you actually agree with “Her Highness” on that point. Except she is actually doing something about it.
    I certainly think someone’s up on a high horse, but it ain’t Ms. Cornell.

  12. hollyroller@gmail.com

    First Responders:
    Police, Fire, EMTs all have GREAT Benefits, plus make @ $200,000.00 a year.
    If anyone out there lives next to a “First Responder” in the entire San Francisco Bay Area- New Cars,Boats Private Schools, Nice House.. this myth of the Poor First Responders living Pay Check to Pay Check is ridiculous.
    Walk into any Fire House in Burlingame, and you will see incredible appliances, $2-3 Thousand Dollar Personal Chairs, “Architectural Digest” fixtures and more.
    Educators, on the other hand could use some help.
    Please set up a Tour of any COB Firehouse. See for yourself.

  13. Fugit All

    Less housing, more parks!
    The parks will make great campsites for those people who can’t find affordable housing here.
    Just wait until the Facebook campus opens. You folks will really bust a nut when young techies looking to stash their cash or who just don’t want to pay Burlingame rents start parking their RVs all over town.

  14. hollyroller@gmail.com

    More Parks.
    Less Housing.
    Military Style Barracks for all at Facebook.
    Start your voting now!

  15. resident

    It’s probably a good time to start a towing company! Call it “Burlingame Streets For All”.
    Joe, you can put this page in the “Truth Hurts” file. Thanks for standing up for reality and real principles. Professor Awful confuses tireless advocacy with the idea that the bit that starts with There is no possible excuse … reflects more than a tiny minority’s twisted reality.

  16. Cali

    Well said Joe

  17. Portia

    Who precisely is responsible for the Burlingame destruction in just the last 4-6 years? The intimate little town offers noise, crime, average schools, massive government spending, traffic/parking issues,some of the countries highest taxes all while they turned the town into a renters town with people screaming for free handouts. My sweet Jesus. The little town who once was is gone for good.

  18. Sign me up

    I hear Her Royal Highness Queen Cindy had less people at her rent control meeting than a fraternity can fit into a phone booth.

  19. RON JEREMY

    I think they should set up affordable housing in Hillsborough too. I mean who doesn’t want to live in a nice area on “someone” else’s dime? That make makes complete sense to me.

  20. Paloma Ave

    Ron “The Human Hedgehog” Jeremy?

  21. Barking Dog

    YouTube Norm Macdonald telling a story about The Hedgehog and Rodney Dangerfield on Howard Stern

  22. Sign me up

    Little Miss Priss Cornell has her panties in a twist over on the Nosey Neighbor website because this site is calling her on her stuff. What a loser.

  23. Joe

    A letter to the Daily Journal says it better than I ever could:
    I am responding to the letter, “An ugly public meeting that you will never see” by Cindy Cornell in the Oct. 2 issue of the San Mateo Daily Journal.
    I see that Cornell is still trying to get someone/anyone to subsidize her housing here in Burlingame. As a local taxpayer, I do not want to subsidize anyone’s housing.
    So called “affordable” housing equals subsidized housing. If you cannot afford to live here, then move to where you can afford to live. Does Cornell have skin in the game? I doubt it.
    When I bought in 1989, the earthquake hit days later. If either my wife or I had lost a job, we would have had to sell at a loss for the next six to seven years. We had skin in the game. I am tired of hearing Cornell thinking she is somehow entitled to a subsidy.
    Go and live where you can afford to live.
    Ron Field
    Burlingame
    https://www.smdailyjournal.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/affordable-housing-is-subsidized-housing/article_6f726f50-fb77-11e9-adb0-9be4f6ef8a2d
    Well put, sir.

  24. Joe

    Our very own local Socialist is at it again with another letter to the DJ. Here it is with my COMMENTARY embedded along the way:
    After pleas from seniors (NOT MANY SENIORS APPARENTLY AND FEWER THAN ARE WORRIED ABOUT RENT CONTROL DIMINISHING THEIR LOCAL RENTAL INCOME) to enact an emergency moratorium barring their last-minute no-fault evictions, the Burlingame City Council set a “study session” for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, instead of setting an emergency session when a vote could be taken. (OH MY, WE’RE GOING TO STUDY IT INSTEAD OF RAMMING IT THROUGH IN A SECRET SESSION??)
    Redwood City, San Mateo, Daly City and other California cities easily passed these emergency moratoriums without “study sessions.” They saved their constituents from evictions and homelessness during the holidays before a new law barring no-fault evictions takes effect Jan. 1.
    Why then is Burlingame delaying a vote, forcing seniors and families to scramble to find housing in less than two months? (WHO ARE THESE SCRAMBLERS AND WHY AREN’T THEY WRITING LETTERS? OR ARE YOU JUST BUILDING YOUR OWN NAME RECOGNITION?) Because Burlingame has the most reactionary and regressive council on the Peninsula when it comes to protecting renters. (YOU HAVE TO LOVE WHEN PROGRESSIVE HACKS CALL NORMAL PEOPLE REACTIONARIES)
    Councilwoman Ann Keighran, celebrated by the San Mateo County Association of Realtors, and whose parents own apartments in Burlingame, asked the clerk to include the text of Measure R, a 2016 rent stabilization initiative, in study materials. (WOW! WHY CONFUSE THE ISSUE WITH ACTUAL FACTS AND PRECDENT? HOW ABOUT INCLUDING THE VOTE TOTALS FROM THE LAST RENT CONTROL VOTE IN BURLINGAME? NOW THAT WOULD BE REACTIONARY) The reason for this may be that she wants to show that voters earlier rejected eviction protections; however, the only relevant language is in AB 1482 which takes effect Jan. 1. (PLEASE LOOK UP RELEVANT IN THE DICTIONARY–YOU NEED A REFRESHER) She wishes to deny even this crumb to renters.
    The Burlingame City Council never fails to disappoint renters and defers, delays and denies on issues not favored by the real estate lobby. How refreshing it would be to see them join neighboring cities and pass a moratorium before people are forced to move or become homeless. (HOW REFRESHING IT WOULD BE TO SEE YOU GO AWAY)
    Cynthia Cornell
    Burlingame
    The letter writer is the founder of Housing for All Burlingame.

  25. Concerned

    Measure R was soundly beaten.
    Mike Dunham was soundly beaten.
    Burlingame has more renters than homeowners.
    Why does Cynthia hate Democracy?

  26. JP

    Lot of ego invested in this little scam.

  27. Andrew Peceimer

    Cynthia,
    My offer to teach you how to purchase a residential property is still good. Instead of spending a vast amount of time fighting and complaining you could use that time and earn additional additional money for a down payment.
    Let me know if you have any interest!

  28. Bruce Dickinson

    Once again, Bruce Dickinson must quote myself, namely, Bruce Dickinson for another blurb of Dickinsonean worldly wisdom that I shared in the election thread and dovetails into what the poster Concerned said above:
    “Look at the rent control proposals that were resoundingly defeated and represented a wholesale rejection of the externalities that rent control brings to cities such as San Francisco, Berkeley, Santa Cruz and Santa Monica (all rent controlled cities). Again, it was Burlingame residents coming out and saying “we’re different, we don’t want to be like them”. So despite the fact that advocacy groups and candidates try really hard to change it, they get resoundingly defeated, over and over and over again. The reason: they don’t really understand the overall pulse of the community.”
    This Cynthia person may have a local fan club, but let’s face it, it’s a tiny fan club that seems to hold membership meetings in an echo chamber! She and her minions would be far better off to focus their efforts on moving to a rent control-friendly city such as SF, Santa Cruz, Santa Monica, Berkeley where they would be welcomed with open arms and they would be amongst more like minded individuals. Compare that to “fighting the system” over virtually insurmountable odds by trying to get Burlingame on the rent-control bandwagon. The only thing crazier would be trying it in Hillsborough or Portola Valley!
    Maybe they love the challenge, maybe they like to fight to change hearts and minds, maybe they’re masochistic, maybe they have issues with boundaries and don’t feel self-actualized unless they are pushing these boundaries..who knows…I’ll leave that to the local psychiatrists!
    What Bruce Dickinson does observe is that they don’t really seem to be enjoying themselves very much and are seething with vitriol and anger, lashing out at every opportunity, blaming everyone yet providing little/no evidence (as Joe mentioned, what complaints from citizens?), making unconvincing, illogical arguments and literally putting their worst foot forward when making these proposals and dealing with the community and its leadership. It’s totally backfiring, which only seems to get them more angry in an endless (and increasingly pointless) vicious cycle!
    They would be a lot happier and will probably lengthen their life expectancies by moving to their utopia rent-controlled cities and enjoy everything they have to offer. Folks, life is way too short to be miserable all the time, do yourself a favor and invest in your happiness and mental well-being!
    I know I did, and look where it got Bruce Dickinson! *wink*

  29. Barking Dog

    What came out of the Nov 13 study session?

  30. Barking Dog

    Did Cynthia really think that Ms Keighran and Ms Colson were going vote for YES on the emergency ordinance in advance of AB1482 becoming law 1/1/20, after months of trashing their names and families in OpEds in the SMDJ and on the HFAB website? For the renters that didn’t get this protection they feel they were owed by the City of Burlingame, they can look directly at Ms Cornell and thank her. Keep poking the bear Ms Cornell, it’s worked out so well for you and your ‘so called’ cause to this point…

  31. Bruce Dickinson

    At the end of World War II, the Allies had a very serious debate with respect to whether they should attempt to assassinate key people in the German high command. The thinking was that some of the battle decisions, many of which were directed straight from the top, were so bad that it was better to let them make poor military decisions and get whooped in these key battles. In essence that would lead to a quicker end to the war.
    As mentioned by both BD’s above, this Cornell person may be sealing the fate for rent control for many years to come via tactics that are completely backfiring and only causing extreme annoyance and fatigue. The problem is, that group is so fringe and so small, that I’m not even sure there is someone to pull an Alexander Haig and say “step aside, I’M in control now” and usurp power and really propel the cause forward with any hope of efficacy.
    Herein lies the problem with an unpopular idea and one that goes against economic fundamentals and even common sense. Will be an uphill battle. As Bruce Dickinson said, for those who really believe in rent control, they can move to the other cities mentioned and live in their own utopia.
    Win-win for everyone involved!

  32. hollyroller@gmail.com

    So anyway, has anyone out here gone out to see the City of Burlingame Fire Depts?

  33. Jennifer L Johnson

    For the record, Cynthia is at it again. If you have not plugged in to what is going on at Mercy on Adeline, get ready. The sisters are making an honest effort to have a dialogue but Cynthia and Mike Dunham are jumping in with their agenda. It is too early to tell but you might want to get plugged. https://courbanize.com/projects/mercy-campus

  34. Concerned

    Haven’t Cynthia and Mike D. yet decided to actually get a job and productively contribute to society?
    Acting as an entitled and spoiled person is not very attractive.

  35. Barking Dog

    Jesus Christmas
    Any insight into there requests? Excuse me, demands. Ms Cornell I see from today’s DJ still attacking the Heathcare District.
    As soon as AB899 passed last week, Mr Dunham felt a rise in his pants, knew to go on the attack with his mentor Ms Cornell and their blivet.
    Disgusting

  36. Barking Dog

    Jennifer, good for you bringing to the sisters attention the non neighbors input. Tell the San Bruno councilman to worry about San Bruno’s fiscal and housing needs. Jordan Grimes is another chiming in. Hes as delusional as they come.

  37. Barking Dog

    We are all racists because we chose to live and raise our families in the suburbs….according to Mike Dunham.
    https://suburbs.substack.com/p/the-suburbs-should-be-less-racist
    Yes Mr Dunham, I’m the “grumpy a%*hole” next door.(Mr Dunham’s quote)
    Mr Dumham goes into great detail his hometowns(somewhat clone of Burlingame) racist and inequality issues according to him. If Pittsford has such an suburban racism and inequality problem, doesnt Pittsford seem like the perfect starting point and opportunity too push the social justice reforms he believes in?
    https://suburbs.substack.com/p/your-suburb-has-very-few-black-residents-9aa

  38. SnitchDoor Sam

    Very enlightening. Dunham is a purveyor of hate speech. When he writes
    “Homogeneity and resistance to change are hallmarks of suburban life in the United States. And that’s what we need to talk about.
    I’m a white person who grew up in a suburb (Pittsford, New York: 1.1% Black) and as an adult, have lived in a big city (Manhattan: 17.8% Black), a suburban-ish part of a big city (the westside of Los Angeles: 4.4% Black), and now a suburb again. Shit needs to change here.”
    FU, Dunham. The only things that need to change are the meds for your White Guilt that aren’t working and your zip code. I suggest going back to Manhattan. You will fit right in with de Blasio emerging civic nightmare.

  39. Bigpicture

    White performative wokeness maintains the victim status of black America through the soft racism of low expectations.

  40. Bruce Dickinson

    Bruce Dickinson has read the two articles published by Dunham. First of all, he is much better when he puts pen to paper and thinks about his ideas, rather than spewing up stream of consciousness nonsense on blogs and during in-person speeches.
    However, I still think there is very large over simplification of the race issue and how it applies to Burlingame.
    First there is a huge debate on whether an “equality of opportunity” approach is better than an “equality of results” approach. Dunham seems to favor the latter, whereas Bruce Dickinson believes continued focus on the former is what will achieve lasting results.
    Secondly, in citing some of the historical references of Pittsford and Rochester in terms of some of the HUD classifications, when you apply it to CA, it all falls apart! Looking at the map of San Francisco from back then, I only see some passing relation of the better neighborhoods classified then vs. now. Actually, it’s quite different, and in some cases the opposite! Pac Heights and the Waterfront are the best areas now, Marina is still a good area, the Sunset is considered lower tier now vs then and really only the Marina, Bay View/Hunters point and St Francis Wood are the same as were in that map. Also the Mission District and SOMA have experienced substantial improvements. So there is something else going on in the much more dynamic California economy/society vs the no-change upstate NY (an area in that has been secular economic decline for decades). A couple of them are intense growth of Tech and Biotech firms, big proponents (and consumers) of talent from abroad (immigration!).
    Thirdly, trying to tie Pittsford to Burlingame also isn’t a great analogy because Burlingame actually has some of the most affordable multifamily rental housing on the Peninsula via the apartments. Very few “upper tier” cities have a population that is over 50% renters and has a top performing school district and enjoys some of the highest real estate values. So you do have more economic diversity here compared to other typical suburbs. I will concede that Burlingame does not have a large Black population, but is that a reflection of the Peninsula area in general and I think a reflection that we still have a long way to go in the “equality of opportunity” department. Burlingame however have strong representation of LatinX and other families from other countries and is very socio-economically diverse.
    I would challenge Dunham to work with the Burlingame Historical Society and figure out exactly what were the “racist policies” of Burlingame that led it to be predominantly white for the majority of the 20th century. I’m not sure that there are any! I think he correctly identifies that most of us were “born in the right womb” and that things take a long time to change, especially when single family real estate prices are high on the Peninsula (driven more by industry and wealth than anything else), but I can’t help looking at the HUD maps and seeing how SF and cities in CA have changed so much but Pittsford and Rochester haven’t. One size/paradigm does not fit all!
    I prefer Dunhum’s less confrontational approach/writings to some of this prior ones, but Bruce Dickinson thinks there is a lot of oversimplification and “equality of results” type approaches actually end up backfiring by creating resentment, thereby giving more “reasons” for people to not want change, which inadvertently perpetuates racial inequalities.

  41. Joe

    Still typing one-handed for a couple more days so only a short addition to remind of the saying “there’s lies, damned lies and statistics”. Inferring anything about human nature from these factoids is fraught with error.

  42. Phinancier

    An even better quote by Thomas Sowell in his 1995 socio-political treatise The Vision of the Anointed:
    “Extrapolations are the last refuge of a groundless argument.”

  43. Concerned

    When the unemployed Dunham posts about San Francisco being racist for having only 6% of their population Black and about Boston being truly one of the most racist cities in the nation, I will begin to listen to his diatribe and condescending lectures.
    Equal rights and opportunity are an American ideal that we should always strive to achieve. Equal outcomes are proven failed socialist policies. In Dunham’s case, they are Marxist policies.
    Also, where are Cynthia’s thank yous for the free market significant drop in rents recently? Once again, free markets have accomplished much more than she ever has, or ever will.

  44. Barking Dog

    More hypocrisy?
    Mr. Dunham’s main source of household income(his wife’s) comes from the real estate market where his wife is an Operations and Sales manager.
    https://www.sonder.com/

  45. Barking Dog

    Mr Dunham’s main source of income(his wife’s)doesn’t like the “rules” either. 1.3 Billion valuation, but don’t want to honor their lease. Blaming San Francisco for lost revenue due to Corona.



    It’s comical the hypocrisy from Mr. Dunham

  46. Paloma Ave

    Dunham and his wife claim to have multiple degrees but cannot afford to live in Burlingame.
    It is too bad those degrees don’t equate to smarts.
    If they were smart they would have picked an area in which they COULD afford to live.

  47. Barking Dog

    Mr Dunham is now using Marxist rhetoric on his Twitter feed using words like proletariat.(Yes I had to look it up!)

  48. Barking Dog

    Mr Dunham for the time being, has moved on from Burlingame and mounted his attack on his previous residence, Palo Alto/Stanford. He has taken his new lead role @penforeveryone by the reins, kicked the horse, and taken off.
    https://suburbs.substack.com/p/local-politics-is-the-reason-your
    Mike’s last 6 zip codes of residence
    -Burlingame(T21)
    -Stanford(23)
    -Palo Alto(18)
    -NY,NY(5)
    -Santa Monica(3)
    https://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-zip-codes-in-america-atherton-2018-11
    *Failed in Corporate America
    *Failed Educator- sorry 2 yrs in the classroom for Teach for America and a couple years as a data tech at a Charter school, isnt a ‘career’ in education
    *Failed Entrepreneur
    *Failed Politician
    *Professional Student
    Looking forward to his next article where he will share his ‘blueprint’ for indoctrination…excuse me…on how to get more involved in local politics.

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