Strike won’t benefit the district’s image

The timing of strike talk compounds an uncertain atmosphere already tainted by the disgraced leadership of ex-chancellor Ron Galatolo whose legal case is finally winding down, however, still a glaring reminder of shockingly bad past district practices.

The (relatively) new administration, led by current Chancellor Melissa Moreno, is trying to right the district ship and reestablish public confidence in its operations. But, through no apparent fault of her own, a credibility gap remains with the public. Trust has been severely eroded.

Still, she and her team reportedly have been able to secure new work agreements (one final, one tentative) with other district unions and there is cautious optimism that the instructors, represented by the American Federation of Teachers, will eventually settle. As of noon Tuesday, they had not.

Moreno and her decision-making colleagues just have to hope that the teachers and their negotiators don’t antagonize and anger the voting public in this process. Then everyone involved loses — including the teachers themselves.

LET’S TALK ‘AFFORDABILITY’: The question of a fresh bond request by the local two-year college district brings up a sensitive point that will probably make itself felt in 2026 and beyond.

Whatever happened to the clarion call for “affordability.” It’s a buzzword that we hear time and time again. It’s almost a mantra for our politicians, some of whom are responsible, in part, for the very issue they are fretting about.

It isn’t just the college district that is making noises about adding taxes. Again. It’s also the San Mateo-Foster City School District, BART and Caltrain, local child care advocates and on and on. The list is growing. It’s nonstop.

It’s almost as though “affordability” is an important everyday matter only when it applies to the private sector (utility costs, gas prices, housing and food expenses, etc.). Government agencies at all levels get a pass.

Total taxes and fees (municipal, county, state) in California are already among the highest and most onerous in the nation. Piling on more will only exacerbate the situation for the average resident.

MISSING DENNIS RICHMOND: On the subject of Bay Area TV news (a topic that never ceases to be relevant during tumultuous times, both generally and in the industry itself), we still miss the unbiased, objective journalistic presentations of Dennis Richmond on KTVU’s 10 o’clock evening news show. He handled those important chores on Channel 2 with consistent fairness, gravitas and adult aplomb for 40 years on the Oakland-based Fox affiliate. He was ultra-dependable and unflappable, even Walter-Cronkite-esque in some important ways. Richmond, who had retired from the station by that time, passed away a year ago at the age of 81. The void left by his departure from the tube has yet to be filled by any of his replacements — or anyone else at other competing TV outlets in a late-evening time slot.

THE KINGSBURGER ROCKED: Back in the 1950s, San Mateo County’s car culture was all the rage. From the shadow of San Bruno Mountain in the north to the Palo Alto border in the south, young drivers motored along El Camino Real in an almost ritualistic fashion. Drive-in dining spots were important gathering points along the way. The one-time King’s Drive-In mini-chain, with locations in San Bruno and Redwood City, offered a varied menu. A favorite was the Kingsburger. It was a culinary delight and happily came with all the fixings and shoestring spuds on the side. The cost in 1960 was 45 cents; add a nickel for cheese. Factoring in inflation through the decades, that specialty would cost about $11 now.

WE NEEDED SUBTITLES: After all of the huffing and puffing prior to last Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show starring a performer with a worldwide following, Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, aka “Bad Bunny,” the 13-minute affair turned out to be something of a conundrum. Though an energetic and impressive performance, sadly, the music’s lyrics were incomprehensible for most of us — since they were in Spanish. So the show’s point was missed by those who lack a workable facility in that language. We kept waiting for English subtitles. They never arrived. Too bad. The visuals were terrific. So was the Seattle Seahawks’ defense.