Comments for Living in the O http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:59:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on John Gatewood: Former opponents united in opposition to Safeway plan for Rockridge Center by John http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/john-gatewood-former-opponents-united-in-opposition-to-safeway-plan-for-rockridge-center/#comment-4297 John Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:59:43 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=1737#comment-4297 Do you really know what abomination means? Or are you just throwing words around to impress people. I don't find this project offensive at all. This part of town might be in an urban area but it has a pleasant older suburban feel to it; like Alameda or Piedmont and don't think they are bad areas. I would generally agree if in fact the area was densely populated like SF, but its not! Just build it and you'll probably be one of the first people there buying stuff. Do you really know what abomination means? Or are you just throwing words around to impress people.

I don’t find this project offensive at all. This part of town might be in an urban area but it has a pleasant older suburban feel to it; like Alameda or Piedmont and don’t think they are bad areas. I would generally agree if in fact the area was densely populated like SF, but its not!

Just build it and you’ll probably be one of the first people there buying stuff.

]]> Comment on John Gatewood: Former opponents united in opposition to Safeway plan for Rockridge Center by John http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/john-gatewood-former-opponents-united-in-opposition-to-safeway-plan-for-rockridge-center/#comment-4296 John Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:54:42 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=1737#comment-4296 Thank you! If you look around this neighborhood it looks more like an older suburb, much like alameda and piedmont. For goodness sake lets just do this without someone complaining all the time. As I stated elsewhere on another blog, the people who live in this area should be glad they have this opportunity to have such a nice center being considered. The people around The Foodhill Shopping center lost a lucky's store as well as other retail stores. They would be grateful to have the chance you spoiled brats have. Thank you! If you look around this neighborhood it looks more like an older suburb, much like alameda and piedmont. For goodness sake lets just do this without someone complaining all the time.

As I stated elsewhere on another blog, the people who live in this area should be glad they have this opportunity to have such a nice center being considered. The people around The Foodhill Shopping center lost a lucky’s store as well as other retail stores. They would be grateful to have the chance you spoiled brats have.

]]> Comment on Essential Oakland Experiences by newoaktown http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/essential-oakland-experiences/#comment-4293 newoaktown Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:38:52 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?page_id=160#comment-4293 -- and top priority may be LEARN SAILING. your life might depend on it at some point? ;) – and top priority may be LEARN SAILING. your life might depend on it at some point? ;)

]]> Comment on Essential Oakland Experiences by newoaktown http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/essential-oakland-experiences/#comment-4292 newoaktown Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:34:09 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?page_id=160#comment-4292 i'd add... - chinatown eats - ethiopian eats - lake merritt horticultral garden - see show at FOX Oakland - clubbing @ somar bar - luka's, mua, for food - check out JLS at night (see ships dredging harbor) - gondola and pedicab :) rides - merritt bakery & restaurant for late night chow - giant burger or ahn's burger for a 'real big burger' - bike around oakland - take ACTransit somewhere - start your own biz - start your own (haha, maybe not) nonprofit - eat at fentons or ici - see a show at Scottish Rite temple - do OPD ridealong - google "oakland police foundation" - not only attend a neighborhood meeting or do some 'city repair' of your own, but attend a city council or committee mtg - guerrilla garden city land - visit alameda and think "oakland 2020 AD" i’d add…

- chinatown eats
- ethiopian eats
- lake merritt horticultral garden
- see show at FOX Oakland
- clubbing @ somar bar
- luka’s, mua, for food
- check out JLS at night (see ships dredging harbor)
- gondola and pedicab :) rides
- merritt bakery & restaurant for late night chow
- giant burger or ahn’s burger for a ‘real big burger’
- bike around oakland
- take ACTransit somewhere
- start your own biz
- start your own (haha, maybe not) nonprofit
- eat at fentons or ici
- see a show at Scottish Rite temple
- do OPD ridealong
- google “oakland police foundation”
- not only attend a neighborhood meeting or do some ‘city repair’ of your own, but attend a city council or committee mtg
- guerrilla garden city land
- visit alameda and think “oakland 2020 AD”

]]> Comment on Weekly events listing on hiatus by newoaktown http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/weekly-events-listing-on-hiatus/#comment-4291 newoaktown Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:27:19 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2266#comment-4291 I'm hosting a masquerade ball in midtown for NYE. Get in touch if you want in. K. I’m hosting a masquerade ball in midtown for NYE. Get in touch if you want in. K.

]]> Comment on Rediscovering Downtown Oakland: Vegetarian Restaurants by Benard Lawrencia http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/rediscovering-downtown-oakland-vegetarian-restaurants/#comment-4290 Benard Lawrencia Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:20:47 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=1067#comment-4290 I used to visit Golden Lotus. Nice place, but as time passes it becomes worse. NWV is my favorite now. Regards, Benard Lawrencia I used to visit Golden Lotus.
Nice place, but as time passes it becomes worse.

NWV is my favorite now.

Regards,
Benard Lawrencia

]]> Comment on Yesterday’s budget meeting via Twitter by newoaktown http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/yesterdays-budget-meeting-via-twitter/#comment-4289 newoaktown Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:13:15 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2262#comment-4289 @naomi: prop values are NOT going to rise anytime soon in the next 10-15 years in Oakland. Way better to sell the property now at at 50% loss than in 5-10 years at a 70% loss. though in a way, it's throwing good money after bad. the proceeds would just go to pay for bogus pensions. like kernighan's observ. that the city is becoming fire+police only. this seems most vital to me. agree with @len about bankruptcy being the politically "easy" option. we're on a bus without brakes careening toward it each day. @naomi: prop values are NOT going to rise anytime soon in the next 10-15 years in Oakland. Way better to sell the property now at at 50% loss than in 5-10 years at a 70% loss.

though in a way, it’s throwing good money after bad. the proceeds would just go to pay for bogus pensions.

like kernighan’s observ. that the city is becoming fire+police only. this seems most vital to me. agree with @len about bankruptcy being the politically “easy” option. we’re on a bus without brakes careening toward it each day.

]]> Comment on Guide for last-minute holiday shopping in Oakland by haipothetical http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/guide-for-last-minute-holiday-shopping-in-oakland/#comment-4284 haipothetical Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:19:37 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2268#comment-4284 thanks. seems like those places also have a low hassle factor esp. Rockridge Home since it's close to BART and on a bus line for those without a bike/car. thanks. seems like those places also have a low hassle factor esp. Rockridge Home since it’s close to BART and on a bus line for those without a bike/car.

]]> Comment on Yesterday’s budget meeting via Twitter by dto510 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/yesterdays-budget-meeting-via-twitter/#comment-4279 dto510 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:06:24 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2262#comment-4279 Not necessarily. The city's costs increase much faster than inflation, thanks to generous compensation contracts, so $10m now may be more valuable to the city than $14m in four years. Also, selling developable assets for a lower price increases the number of uses that are viable, so the city may see faster development of these assets and then collect taxes on the new uses more quickly. The real problem with selling assets is that most (not all) of the funds gained to the city are one-time-only. So unless the proceeds are used to pay down debt or are put toward one-time investments that reap rewards in the future, asset sales don't help create a more sustainably balanced budget. Not necessarily. The city’s costs increase much faster than inflation, thanks to generous compensation contracts, so $10m now may be more valuable to the city than $14m in four years. Also, selling developable assets for a lower price increases the number of uses that are viable, so the city may see faster development of these assets and then collect taxes on the new uses more quickly.

The real problem with selling assets is that most (not all) of the funds gained to the city are one-time-only. So unless the proceeds are used to pay down debt or are put toward one-time investments that reap rewards in the future, asset sales don’t help create a more sustainably balanced budget.

]]> Comment on Budget meeting this Thursday, no thanks to Jean Quan by len raphael http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/budget-meeting-this-thursday-no-thanks-to-jean-quan/#comment-4275 len raphael Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:59:45 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2257#comment-4275 Wasn't it JQ who a few years ago told residents to stop complaining about crime because Oakland isn't Orinda? Wasn’t it JQ who a few years ago told residents to stop complaining about crime because Oakland isn’t Orinda?

]]> Comment on Yesterday’s budget meeting via Twitter by Naomi Schiff http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/yesterdays-budget-meeting-via-twitter/#comment-4272 Naomi Schiff Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:05:07 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2262#comment-4272 Generally not a great plan to sell assets at a low point in the market, though, is it? Generally not a great plan to sell assets at a low point in the market, though, is it?

]]> Comment on Yesterday’s budget meeting via Twitter by Max Allstadt http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/yesterdays-budget-meeting-via-twitter/#comment-4270 Max Allstadt Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:29:35 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2262#comment-4270 As far as the idea of selling golf courses goes, I don't know how in depth De La Fuente went, but here's how I'd do it: Pick one of three golf courses. Sell it to a housing developer who agrees to keep the course operational until the market allows for the development of a mix of housing types on the site: Market rate rentals, condos, some affordable rentals, condos. Make sure that there's a comprehensive planning process for the development, and make sure that the developer is committed to doing the development by a certain deadline, say 2020. This does a few things really well. It gets us money now. It creates ad valorem tax revenue now. It sets up even more ad valorem tax in the future, and it keeps the course operating for the present. As far as the idea of selling golf courses goes, I don’t know how in depth De La Fuente went, but here’s how I’d do it:

Pick one of three golf courses. Sell it to a housing developer who agrees to keep the course operational until the market allows for the development of a mix of housing types on the site: Market rate rentals, condos, some affordable rentals, condos. Make sure that there’s a comprehensive planning process for the development, and make sure that the developer is committed to doing the development by a certain deadline, say 2020.

This does a few things really well. It gets us money now. It creates ad valorem tax revenue now. It sets up even more ad valorem tax in the future, and it keeps the course operating for the present.

]]> Comment on Yesterday’s budget meeting via Twitter by Patrick http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/yesterdays-budget-meeting-via-twitter/#comment-4268 Patrick Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:36:27 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2262#comment-4268 Maybe they *want* bankruptcy? If allows them to restructure without directly offending their political pals in the unions. They can say "we have no choice". Maybe they *want* bankruptcy? If allows them to restructure without directly offending their political pals in the unions. They can say “we have no choice”.

]]> Comment on Budget meeting this Thursday, no thanks to Jean Quan by Naomi Schiff http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/budget-meeting-this-thursday-no-thanks-to-jean-quan/#comment-4267 Naomi Schiff Sat, 19 Dec 2009 07:05:51 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2257#comment-4267 Me too, and I appreciate that the opinion was clear and didn't mince words at all. I often disagree with Mr. Russo but he did a good thing here. Me too, and I appreciate that the opinion was clear and didn’t mince words at all. I often disagree with Mr. Russo but he did a good thing here.

]]> Comment on Yesterday’s budget meeting via Twitter by len raphael http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/yesterdays-budget-meeting-via-twitter/#comment-4265 len raphael Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:14:23 +0000 http://oaklandliving.wordpress.com/?p=2262#comment-4265 talk about rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic. if they keep diddling like this, bankruptcy will be the only option. -len raphael talk about rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic. if they keep diddling like this, bankruptcy will be the only option.

-len raphael

]]>