Friday, January 17, 2003

Some people dis the Bay Area, but they should check out what spring is like here. It's heaven on earth. And it's still just mid-January. Fruit trees are already in bloom. The smells are to die for. Better than cheesecake. And not fattening. Hey I'm going for three hikes this weekend. How about that NY? [Scripting News] On the other hand, the "Heaven on Earth" reporting that has plagued California and the San Francisco Bay area for years is a major reason that people still flock to the area, even though there are no jobs and the cost of living is absurd. My assessment after living here nearly 40 years: Yes, the weather is great, but there are too many people, too many roads, too many buildings. It is a paradise destroyed. 8:03:24 PM     Comment []

A new office On Wednesday, I became an officer of yet another neighborhood group. I am now the Vice Chair of the United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County (UNSCC). I was elected, inspite of a last minute effort to get me off the board. While I am pleased by the outcome, I am not really looking forward to serving another year with this group. The UNSCC is a troubled organization. While it has worthy goals of fostering neighborhoods throughout the county, it doesn't have a clear understanding of how to do this. There is a conflict in the organization between the needs of young neighborhood associations and older, established neigbhorhood associations. Young neighborhood associations are often in conflict with the city that governs them. Actions by the city has forced the neighborhood to organize and protest. In contrast, older neigbhorhood associations are more likely to work with the city to achieve their goals. They have found it is easier to achieve their goals by working with the cities. This past year this conflict came to a head, hence the attempt to remove me. My primary goal in the next year is to resolve it. 5:30:24 PM     Comment []