Greater East San Carlos Neighborhood Organizes
Neighbors to the east of White Oaks have also formed an organization: Greater East San Carlos, or GESC. This groups focuses on many of the same items as the White Oaks Neighborhood Organization, but also includes school issues and parking problems.
This group is holding an emergency meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, January 12.
We will be discussing the Holly/101 Overpass alternatives, the San Carlos Transit Village Apartment complex, and School District redistricting along with a few other topics. The Transit Village has a number of ramifications regarding our school district budget, city services budget, Caltrain parking, and a host of other issues. Please see our website for more details:
http://greatereastsancarlos.org/
Al Savay and Robert Weil from the city, Brian Fitzpatrick from SamTrans, Jesse Couch from Legacy Partners, and Craig Baker School Superintendent will be there.
Dear White Oaks Community,
According to their announcement at the Athletic Site Advisory Committee on January 12, the San Carlos Park & Rec department plans on closing multiple parks this year, as well as the Youth Center 10 months of the year. (See Bob Bredel’s post at http://www.sancarlosblog.com/archives/856 )
The city’s priority should be to increase accessibility to all our parks, not shut them down in favor of building one synthetic field at Highlands Park that will be scheduled out to the highest bidders and closed to all others.
Synthetic at Highlands is an over $2 million investment in a short-term solution lasting only 8 years. (See “Staff Report,” Fiscal Implications, at http://www.epackets.net/cache/2/ddnu3p45hhllqc2x3kq3bu45/1027303101272010045940946.PDF ) When you figure in the replacement costs every 8 years, the cost is nearly double that.
Our police and fire service is stretched to the breaking point. Essential services are being cut. How can we commit that kind of money, in today’s budget crisis, to one project that robs all other park and recreation needs? It is time to redirect the Measure G and PAMF funds to be used to keep all our parks open and functional. This may require a ballot measure.
San Carlos’ budget crisis is severe, and we must let the city know where our priorities are. If City Council votes to select a synthetic turf installer at the February 8 Council meeting, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to change course once they enter into a contract.
We invite you to join us this Friday evening, January 29, at 7pm for a brief planning meeting. We encourage you to inform your friends and neighbors about this urgent issue, and the need to press the City Council through letters and most importantly, speaking at the Council Meeting February 8.
Thank you,
Heidi
SaveSanCarlosParks@yahoo.com