Politics Here… Politics There

Item Uno: California's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will impose the largest-ever fine for violating the state's campaign finance laws (about $1 million) against two groups that funneled $11 million into the 2012 effort to defeat Governor Brown’s Prop. 30 (the income/sales tax increase that was on the ballot).

The sanctions will be levied against the non-profit groups Americans for Responsible Leadership and the Center to Protect Patient Rights, a separate Arizona-based organization. The FPPC claims the nonprofits were used to illegally diverted $11 million into a campaign account that worked to defeat Prop. 30.

Item Dos: The Belmont City Council seems to be scrambling to enact rules and regulations that will neuter any future city leadership. What you say? Just last night, they approved a new zoning designation to preserve the open space portion of the San Juan Hills. Granted the issue has been around for a while and the council had directed city staff to amend the original zoning designation of the properties they own to keep the hills as dedicated open space.

But consequentially, they created an entirely new zoning classification. When first purchased, the city’s portion was classified as hillside residential and open space and the surrounding privately-owned lots were zoned as both hillside residential and open space, or single family residential.

The action was in advance of the Nov. 5 election, where two of the current Council opted not to seek re-election. That will mean a new Council composition; a different, energetic approach to city governance; and,  technically, a future Council could change the zoning designation. But the  current Council is not going to let a future Council respond to contemporary conditions dictating rational change (i.e., it’s the same as it ever was…)

Item Tres: Residents of Belmont, Menlo Park, San Bruno and South San Francisco, are you feeling a tad schizophrenic? You should. (And use of the  term ‘schizophrenic ‘ here is not a derogatory reference to those who are mentally challenged… it’s a descriptive word usage for you in the PC Police – learn the difference.)

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has adopted a map establishing supervisorial district boundaries per the mandates of a successful ballot initiative last year. The glaring problem was that the cities of Belmont, Menlo Park, San Bruno and South San Francisco were not kept whole in the process despite the outcry and pleas from elected leaders and residents of the affected municipalities.

In what has to be the oxymoron of the year, the adopted map was entitled the "Community Unity B Plan" even though it divides the cities of Belmont, Menlo Park, San Bruno and South San Francisco. So much for 'community unity.' Only District Five was left intact as currently constituted, but even then, that included the existing split of South San Francisco.

South San Francisco is divided along Junipero Serra Boulevard to Interstate 280. San Bruno is divided along Interstate 280 and Sneath Lane. Menlo Park is divided along El Camino Real. Eastern Belmont is divided from the west starting at Mountain View Avenue in the north, going along Old County Road to Ralston Avenue to a border starting at Ralston Avenue and Chula Vista Drive. Clear as mud?