While you were out

For those of you for whom Root Beer Gulag has to be an actual something, the closest I can come, after extensive research within the always-reliable resources available online, is this bizarre piece of information: More than 30 years ago, Barq’s root beer had a marketing campaign celebrating the fall of the Soviet Union in which they gave away old USSR memorabilia. Somehow, Root Beer Gulag became associated with that promotion.

This is not how the phrase made it into the general ether of the newsroom and, ultimately, into the column. It floated out of the flotsam and jetsam colleague. Someone said it. I wrote it down. It was truly random.

By the way, I was not trolling around for comments and some kind of affirmation of my columnistic presence. Although one of the comments read: “I just want to let you know that I acknowledge your existence.” So, I have that going for me.

A few other responses: “I do wonder who or what gets consigned to the Root Beer Gulag.” And, “Best column ever.” Geez, really? And, “My guess is that you will receive 873 responses to the column.” Um, no.  But it got an interesting response, both in volume and content — who could ask for more?

I will leave it to you to explain why this caught the fancy of so many, but it did leave me pondering what an interesting relationship we have.

BACK TO WORK: The 2026 political season is beginning to stir.

San Mateo County Supervisor Noelia Corzo recently kicked off her reelection campaign and it was a marked contrast to her first board campaign four years ago. Then, her family provided the food and she held it at a greensward in front of the apartment complex where she was living. Less than a handful of local officeholders were there. This time, it was a catered affair at the Event Center and many of the county’s top officials — elected and appointed — were there. Then, she was an underdog; this time it appears she will be running without major opposition. This signals widespread approval of how Corzo handled herself in the first term, particularly her leadership in the effort to oust Sheriff Christina Corpus. It could have cost her politically; instead her base of support seems to have broadened significantly. … One indicator: The county Central Labor Council already has endorsed Corzo. … The council also has endorsed Supervisor Ray Mueller, who kicked off his reelection campaign last night in San Carlos. Like Corzo, it appears Mueller will be running without major opposition. … In an unrelated item, Redwood City Councilmember Diane Howard has confirmed she will be running for another term. Howard first served on the council from 1994-2009, left due to term limits, and then returned in 2013; she was reelected in 2021. If reelected, she will be termed out in 2029. With term limits firmly in place, no one will serve again as long as Howard has.

DO SOMETHING, SOMEBODY: There is growing widespread alarm at the proliferation of e-bikes, which seem, almost routinely, to be ridden by young people almost recklessly, often on sidewalks, and without regard for traffic or safety. As attorney Ilya Frangos noted in a thoughtful op-ed here in the DJ, parents are oblivious to the nature, power and danger of these vehicles, some of which are just shy of being motorcycles.

No one has died but it is only a matter of time. The closest we have come was when a boy was severely injured when he ran into a box truck in Millbrae and the recent crash in Burlingame, when an e-bike collided with a car, the driver of the car accelerated and struck and killed a child on the sidewalk. The bike community, which lobbies like no other, rushed to insist this was not an e-bike incident.

OK. But there will be one, and it will be heartbreaking. Cities may pass the buck — regulation of vehicles is generally a state responsibility. But a model countywide regulation needs to be passed by someone and adopted by everyone else. And soon.

HELLO IN THERE: Between Black Friday, which lasted most of November, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday, it is unsettling to see how many people have my email address and phone number.