As a longtime property owner in the Parkside neighborhood of San Mateo, and more recently in the downtown San Mateo area, I have seen firsthand the effects of a lack of attention our stormwater infrastructure. As a longtime real estate broker, I also represented many of the buyers and sellers in the Parkside neighborhood. Toward the end of last year, when we experienced a period of heavy rainfall, there was flooding in many neighborhoods of San Mateo that resulted in significant property damage to homes. While the city of San Mateo recently released some money from their rainy day fund, which I appreciate, as do many of the Flood Free San Mateo Coalition, it is not near enough funds to adequately address projects designed to fix our storm drains and water pipes, clean and retrofit the creeks and culverts, upgrade the pumping stations, and dredge our flood control basin more commonly known as the San Mateo Marina Lagoon.
The Flood and Storm Water Protection Initiative will help to finance our future ready flood infrastructure. This initiative will be voted on by property owners via mail in ballots in early November. The city and our citizens are jointly pursuing an enterprise fund to secure sustainable investment in that infrastructure. It is critically important to protect lives and property. A lack of action on this critical infrastructure, considering changing climate, is not an option. I urge San Mateo property owners to support the measure. Â
So as a longtime real estate broker, Mr. LaMont, did you recommend soon-to-be homeowners that they might want to consider flood insurance? It might help the tax initiative if they provided an accounting of how previous funds were used, or squandered, by the city instead of putting money into the infrastructure projects you’ve described. Seems to me that all property owners should refrain from bailing out took a risk by not purchasing flood insurance. Just say No to the bailout fund.
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(3) comments
Great Writing Jeff!
So as a longtime real estate broker, Mr. LaMont, did you recommend soon-to-be homeowners that they might want to consider flood insurance? It might help the tax initiative if they provided an accounting of how previous funds were used, or squandered, by the city instead of putting money into the infrastructure projects you’ve described. Seems to me that all property owners should refrain from bailing out took a risk by not purchasing flood insurance. Just say No to the bailout fund.
Excellent!
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.