Got a few weeks reprieve – so to speak – before I will be moving east, so this will really be my last “Opinion Page” – unless someone else wants to take it over. After the April issue came out I had many calls all saying “thanks” for not only the ‘hints’ but also the ‘barb’s’, so to you all: keep up the good work! All of us out here need to be reminded on occasion — when we get so engrossed that we become ‘forgetful’ – not only in our driving but with our bikers and those who like to just leisurely walk to our parks or along the levees. Which is why the arterial stop sign at Redwood Shores Parkway and Cringle is such a blessing – being that the crosswalk is a direct access to the park to the south.
During my 26 years here so much has changed in the Shores. Should any of you “old-timers” still want to have the Shores become an independent “town” my e-mail address will remain the same so do contact me. From my many years with the Redwood City Bike and Ped groups the ‘final push” will be in about two months when the bike and ped overpass from Ralston, over the 101 to behind Oracle, to join the Around the Bay path is completed and dedicated. Having sat on the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for the County Transportation Authority for the last 14 or 15 years, and having pushed for this pathway with the City of Belmont — for about the same time frame — I have asked the to have the Grand Opening Dedication in the afternoon so that I can drive back here for it — about two hours time one way. This, then, will complete many of the things I have wanted to do, which also includes the bike/ped path from Whipple north on the east side of the 101 up to the San Carlos Airport.
As I’ve written previously when I came here in 1985 there was nothing beyond Shell Lane but the open fields with the red foxes, ‘possums and the jackrabbits. All gone now because of the build-out. My personal hope is that with the final building of Max Keech’s ‘The Preserve’ nothing more will be done. The last I heard was that we are over the last estimate of some 15,000 residents.
As my final comment I want to say, if you live in a Home Owner’s Association complex, PLEASE , do a very careful background check of any of your residents that may want to join your Board. In mine we have a resident that has only been here since 2006 and rather than go down to City Hall and check out the existing CC&R’s has presumed many things that are NOT part of the common area. Many of the early complexes have specific CC&R’s which are not being followed, and some of the changes are not being given to the City Records Department — which is a specific given.
As I said when I made my ‘good-bye’s ‘ to the RW City Council, since most of those I knew are now retired, it’s time for me to do the same. However there are a few that I really want to thank for their helpfulness and they include Marilyn Harang, Chu Chang and Peter V. Also to Mr. Robert Bell, our new City Manager: you have two previous Managers, whose big shoes you have to fill !!
Take care of yourselves, be kind to your neighbors, and thank you all for the memories.