While there is lots to talk about, today I’m taking a little break since it’s the start of Tet for this family, and technically you’re not supposed to say bad things about people, so I’m going to attempt to try very hard today even though there is quite a lot to have a reaction to.
But for the start of this Year of the Rat, I’m wishing everyone a year of happiness, prosperity, and good health.
The Secret Of Nimh! I loved that movie when I was a kid.
Comment by edvard — February 7, 2008 @ 7:28 am
Was?
Comment by dave — February 7, 2008 @ 10:25 am
Can’t help yourself can you Dave? Doesn’t matter anyway since as you probably already know, we Gen-Xer’s are going to steal you frumpy boomer’s thunder in a few years anyhow. I bet that sounds familiar doesn’t it? circa 1965? 1970?
Anyhow, I’m in a good mood today as I have been for a few weeks, being the bear market guy I tend to be, so don’t rain on my parade!
SO there!
Comment by edvard — February 7, 2008 @ 11:14 am
Since when is a 39yr old a Boomer?
Comment by dave — February 7, 2008 @ 11:26 am
Ahhh… so you aren’t a boomer eh? Could have fooled me. So I will retract that statement.Regardless, we’re going off into the weeds once more, so for now I wish you a happy Chinese new year.
Comment by edvard — February 7, 2008 @ 11:30 am
hey dave and ed, I got a contact from Jerry Springer about doing a flaming blogger show. Obviously different than flaming tansvestites, but you see the connection. Kirwin and I are sure to clinch spots, but I could put in a good word for you two. Say the word.
Happy New Year, again.
Comment by Mark I — February 7, 2008 @ 4:27 pm
Yeah Mark, I can see it: Guests, or contestants, come center stage (or ring), shake hands and then off to their corners to start flailing fingers across keyboards. Just like ‘reality’ TV! Every once in a while contestants could turn to wave at each other (they’re practically neighbors after all.) before turning their backs again to resume pounding keys. Only Jerry could make that as exciting as another MA debate.
Happy New Year.
Comment by David Kirwin — February 7, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
Best wishes to you, and your family, and all who are celebrating the Lunar New Year today. I knew it had come when we heard the huge string of firecrackers go off last night and heard the festivities of the New Year Dinner going on. I was personally gratified to know that my street has had all the evil spirits banished for this lunar year!
Comment by Kate Quick — February 7, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
Hopefully this will clarify things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFlDUK7YG6A
Comment by Alameda NayTiff — February 7, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
Happy New Year Lauren and thank you for everything you do.
Comment by Kevis Brownson — February 7, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
In the proper spirit of a New Year and renewal….
At the Historic Advisory Board meeting last night Phil Tagami spoke about historic preservation at Alameda Point. Sadly, I was ignorant of exactly who Mr. Tagami is and what he has accomplished, but half way through his brief presentation I was saying to myself, this guy is a real force of life and a rarity.
Then I went to his web site where I found a favorite quote I had forgotten, from George Bernard Shaw’s, Man and Superman:
“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”
Here is an additional line not included on Mr.Tagami’s site.
“And also the only real tragedy in life is being used by personally minded men for purposes which you recognize to be base.”
Locally, we’ve been privileged to have people like Allen Michaan, Janet Koike who build Rythmix, Frank Bette, and other visionaries.
We are priveledged once again that Mr. Tagami is a partner with SunCal.
If you only associate the words “developer” or “expert” with bad mojo, think twice:
http://philtagami.com/about.html
Comment by Mark I — February 8, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
Nobody has followed #11, but I did get an immediate email asking if I knew who I was “pimping”. Reference was made to the investigation of Don Perata in which Tagami is cited.
Phil Tagami was also a Port Commissioner under Jerry Brown, which is not necessarily bad, but is significant.
On Tagami’s web site are links to “Tagamivision”, a series of interviews of him, including one by Chauncy Bailey, and others by him, mostly of local politicos. He focuses quite a bit on crime in Oakland and details like how the new police hires there have only resulted in a net of three new officers because of the mass of recent retirements. People who are really concerned about Oakland crime effecting Alameda, might appreciate the interviews.
Somebody who is this effective in moving and shaking may not be clean as the driven snow, but I have never seen a developer who is this outspoken about social issues, and if they are merely out to make money why would they be?
Lots of people are qualified to do nothing with Alameda Point and could do so quite nicely. In the decade and a half of meetings and presentations by prospective developers and various consultants I have not been moved by anybody like Phil Tagami. Maybe he is just a good show man.
Specifically he specializes in historic preservation. Such properties have the advantage of various tax credits which assist in both rehab and getting projects to pencil out in the black. Preserving some properties at the Point could be in conflict with what SunCall might prefer as higher uses, so as with everything out there it gets very complicated. Tagami seemed to imply that in some cases preservation might be at odds with higher density scenrios. Historic preservation has rated pretty low on most people’s priority list including mine, but I am now more curious.
The newspaper report on SunCal’s request for six month extension, cited renewed concern over soil issues which could radically reshape various alternatives. People who are afraid of development have used the seismic issue to argue their case. I’m glad to see this revisited.
I’ve also become a habitual attendee of Pete Stark’s town hall meetings. Everybody should go at least once. Mr. Stark is a seriously successful businessman, but I can’t think of a politician with more integrity and guts. Stark is extremely well versed on the issues and, as a politician he is an unusual inspiration.
At the last meeting Stark was asked by Dorothy Freeman about the veterans administration using Alameda Hospital. Stark said that they are generally autonomous and don’t operate that way. He said that regionally the location at the Point is more central than many VA facilities, but he was critical of access through the tube.
Nobody asked him about the possibility of renegotiating the $110 million price tag for the rest of the Point. Against the $2billion a day cost of operating the Pentagon, that money doesn’t go very far.
Comment by Mark I — February 10, 2008 @ 2:40 pm