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Palo Alto train NIMBYs blocking state from progress, economic recovery

A CALIFORNIA BEAT EDITORIAL
Published March 4, 2009

California’s march towards progress shouldn’t be cut short by a loud group of Peninsula NIMBYs armed with a distorted set of facts about the state’s high speed rail system.

On Monday, 50 or so protesters showed up to the Palo Alto City Council meeting demanding that the California High Speed Rail Authority reconsider its plans for sending bullet trains through their town. They were armed with dangerously misleading exaggerations and half-truths about how a “Berlin Wall” would be constructed to separate the trains from auto traffic and thus divide the city in half. (more…)

Can the public trust the BART Police Department?

A CALIFORNIA BEAT EDITORIAL
Published January 28, 2009

When BART Police Chief Gary Gee stepped in front of television news cameras Jan. 4 and said this: “I want to assure Mr. Grant’s family and the public that we’re taking this investigation very seriously, and we’re committed to completing an unbiased, thorough, and detailed investigation into what happened on the early morning of New Year’s Day,” many of us believed him.

We expected his law enforcement agency to conduct an investigation that would regain the public trust that was lost when former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle fired a shot into the back of an unarmed man and killing him in front of a trainload of horrified witnesses.

Last Friday’s release of new video showing a second BART Police Officer, Tony Pirone, inexplicably slugging the same man, Oscar Grant square in the face before the infamous shooting shattered whatever confidence the public had in the transit agency and it’s police department. (more…)

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Mark Leno resurrects battle for Harvey Milk Day

Published March 8, 2009

Thirty years after his assassination, Harvey Milk has made an impressive return to everyday life. In 2007, a bust of his likeness was placed in San Francisco’s City Hall and in 2008 a movie about his life in San Francisco was filmed. Also in 2008, a California State Senator introduced a bill calling for the designation of Harvey Milk Day, though the attempt ultimately failed.

On March 3, 2009, Sen. Mark Leno (D, San Francisco) stood at a ceremony held in front of the Tosca Café in San Francisco Castro District to announce a second and similar bill again designating May 22nd as Harvey Milk Day. (more…)

In memory of Herbert Hamrol, 1906 Earthquake Survivor

Published February 9, 2009

A couple days ago, I read in the San Francisco Chronicle an obituary notice for Herbert Heimie Hamrol, who at the time of his death at 106 years old was thought to be the last known survivor of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. As I read the obituary, I deep feeling of sadness passed over me as I realized that yet another chapter of the history of the earth quake as finished and only a few more chapters are left to be written.

I did not know Mr. Hamrol personally, nor have I had the honor to meet him. However I do remember when he came to the 2008 earthquake ceremony at Lotta’s Fountain. (more…)

Do we really need BART Police?

Published January 30, 2009

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Recently I heard on the news that BART is headed towards a budget crisis. In order to combat this crisis, BART is considering reducing service on nights and weekends, raising fares, and increasing parking fees. Essentially these are the same things that BART has been doing for the past few years.

However I’ve got an idea that will help save BART money without having to inconvenience the riders: disband the BART Police Department.

According to the BART Police Department’s website, there are 296 employees working for the department. Of them, 206 are police officers. Now it seems logical to assume that a lot of money is probably being used to maintain and pay such a large department. (more…)

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