Apparently, the current batch of trustees and administrators running the San Mateo County Community College District are suffering from a convenient form of memory loss — or they are simply delusional.
They are strongly considering a large bond measure that could total in the hundreds of millions of dollars. How soon they forget. A previous, $388 million bond package, approved by district taxpayers, proceeded to be mismanaged in spectacular fashion.
Legal proceedings to address their former chancellor’s handling of fiscal matters associated with bond monies are ongoing. There was also an expensive whistleblower settlement.
To make things even more egregious, a bumbling prior administration utterly botched the sale of its valuable public TV station, KCSM, and lost millions in the process.
The idea of handing the inept district more gobs of public cash is less than stellar, no matter how needed the funds are alleged to be. History is not kind in this case.
As the district prepares to engage a pollster to determine the public’s eagerness (or lack of same) for another bond measure, one of the key questions ought to be:
“Do you trust the district to properly handle your tax dollars in light of its past performance?”
The chances of such a question appearing on a poll are probably slim and none. But you get the idea.
A POSSIBLE RUNWAY SOLUTION: For years, if not decades, officials who operate San Francisco International Airport have been seeking an additional runway. The aim would be to permit two planes to land at the same time in bad weather. Now, that’s not possible.
The problem with an added runway: It would be constructed out on the Bay. Critics have vehemently opposed that idea, based largely on environmental concerns. The main objections are based on the use of fill material to create the runway.
However, during a recent question-and-answer session at The Magnolia in Millbrae, hosted by former San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Mark Forcum, a guest reminded this writer that one option could be a new, raised runway built on pylons. No need for fill.
The notion isn’t entirely new. But it might be worth taking another look at it.
KINGS MOUNTAIN ART FAIR: It’s one of the oldest art fairs conducted annually in San Mateo County. But the stunning, rural location is not typically on the radar of the average Peninsula resident.
The Kings Mountain Art Fair, which is held among the towering redwood trees high on the county’s verdant spine, is back. The event made its debut in 1963 during the JFK administration and it has grown considerably in stature and scope since then.
This year’s fair will be held Aug. 30 through Sept. 1 at the Kings Mountain Community Center grounds, the address is 13889 Skyline Blvd. The hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Food and beverages will be available.
As always, proceeds will benefit the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade and the area’s public elementary school. Visitors are encouraged not to bring their pets.
WE ARE TARIFF-FREE HERE: In a world of doubt, distress and dysfunction, all of us would be more than thrilled to latch onto a silver lining whenever and wherever we can find one. Look no farther than this tidy space for a positive note, a blessed ray of hope as it were. It is to be emphasized that this weekly literary effort is tariff-free, both now and into the future. We are nothing if not upbeat in uncertain times.
NO VISA, NO VISIT: Parishioners at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in San Mateo had been anticipating a visit from a South Sudanese missionary this past weekend. He never made it here. He was denied a visa by U.S. authorities in Kenya, according to St. Matthew’s pastor, Monsignor John Talesfore. Apparently, such a visa denial for a South Sudanese is now routine U.S. travel policy — even for members of the clergy.
BETTING ON 12-YEAR-OLDS: It was only a matter of time. Little League baseball officials last week issued a plea to the betting public not to place wagers on their ballgames. There is a segment of the gambling crowd that will put down money on just about any human endeavor. Little League, apparently, is not immune. Its World Series concludes Saturday.
John Horgan began writing a neighborhood diary at the tender age of 9 in San Mateo. He’s been doing much the same thing as a Peninsula journalist for decades ever since. You can contact him by email at johnhorganmedia@gmail.com.
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(1) comment
Thanks, Mr. Horgan, for your tariff-free column in the past and in the future and for your upbeat weekly words of wisdom. As for the college bond measure and just about all bond measures, I’d recommend voting NO. We all know most, if not all, of the proceeds from the bond measure go to paying ever-increasing salaries, pensions, and benefits. As for an additional runway, when SFO encounters bad weather, the bad weather would also affect the new runway, would it not? Not only that, I expect environmentalists will say any runway, even on pylons, would have an adverse effect on algae, fish, frogs, water, air, climate change, etc. so there would be a legal fight. Officials need to find a way to bypass environmental issues in their proposal. Perhaps they can give money to Newsom’s wife for a waiver. As for a denied visa, perhaps the missionary was caught up in the thousands of student visas canceled by our State Department. Perhaps our federal representatives can contact Mr. Rubio for a reason for cancellation.
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