Don't say Watch Dog didn't warn you...Belmont is finally getting around to hiking garbage and sewer rates. And the increases are going to be steep. Mostly because they didn't plan for it, Belmont is now facing big garbage rate increases at the same time they are going to have to pay for their share of sewer/storm drain upgrades. Admitting that they haven't planned for the financial hit of the sewer upgrades, Belmont City Manager (amazingly) said, "...for the 35 years this has been operating, we have not been putting away for renovations..." Well, no time like the present Great Recession to start hitting people's pocketbooks...on the garbage rate side, Belmont (amazingly) is running a $600,000 deficit with the garbage company + the new service contract due to go into affect in 2011 = huge rate hikes. It will be a really bad day to be a Belmont City Councilmember when residents finally get these bills in the mail...
Perhaps it is time for Watch Dog to drop a little sewer knowledge: Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, and the West Bay Sanitary District are all part of the South Bayside Systems Authority that handles wastewater and sewer. The system is old and needs upgrades. Upgrades are expensive. Everyone is figuring out what to do to cover these costs. Hence Belmont's new rate increase...and San Carlos's rate increase...et tu Redwood City and West Bay Sanitary?
MediaNews has an investigative report today talking about a cab company that is ripping people off in Burlingame and Millbrae. It includes under-cover reporting...how exciting!
Cities and the County are licking their chops at the stimulus bill compromise that was reportedly hashed out this weekend. One caveat, apparently the difference between the House and the Senate versions of the bill (about a $100 billion difference) comes from school funding and from extension of unemployment -- which would have helped a lot locally. Ever-present Congresswoman Spieir held a public forum on Saturday morning to talk to local folks about the spending/tax-cut package.
But until that money comes gushing into County coffers...
Tomorrow, County Supervisors will be having a 'brainstorming forum' to talk about how to deal with the budget crisis. They will talk about cutting back on overlapping services and streamline how things are done to make dollars last longer. Unlike Sacramento, they make actually have some ideas and implement them...
The "kitten killer" is going to jail for a bit and will be on probation for a long time. Perhaps (hopefully) this will be the last animal cruelty story for a while...
Remember the psychic swindler? Well, she's likely going (back) to jail for bilking old ladies. (Insert your own 'she should have seen it coming' joke here...the Daily Journal did in their headline: San Mateo psychic sees conviction in future.)
Last week the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Mirabella project in Foster City closed. The County Times "Insider" column takes a look a little deeper about the ins and outs of the proposal -- including ideas for schools and senior housing...
A few weeks back, a Menlo College football player was arrested for assaulting another student nearly to death. The assaulted student turns out to be a baseball player and he is now (thankfully) out of the hospital. Benjamin Kain-Williams, one of the men arrested for the assault, has withdrawn from Menlo College...
If you are planning a Coastside trip to Half Moon Bay on February 16th -- that might be a bad idea because of all the road closures. Unless, of course, you are interested in seeing a bike race, then Half Moon Bay will be a great place to be...
Pacifica has hired from within for their Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Department. Michael Perez is taking over the helm after serving 21 years with the City/Town...
South San Francisco is going to hold a job fair for folks who have been laid off from bio-tech companies -- of which there are about 1,500 in the County. This sounds promising. But one question Watch Dog has to ask: Who is hiring these days?
A(nother) violent weekend in East Palo Alto. A man was shot and killed leaving a kids birthday party at the East Palo Alto Senior Center Saturday night. A few hours later, early Sunday morning, a cyclist was shot while pedaling and then got himself to the hospital a few hours later -- he is going to live.
Menlo Park Councilmember Andy Cohen is not only a practicing politician...he is also a practicing artist. His paintings are on view at The Little House activity center.
Following on Councilmember Cohen's art story, we have this: Former San Mateo Mayor Claire Mack has a new book out. Perhaps a new County tagline is in order: San Mateo County, where politics is art...
Monday, February 9, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment