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No excuse for Bay Farm neglect

Editor:

Alameda's South Shore has gone through gradual, but major, remodeling within the past decade — from no longer having typical American diners like Sizzler or Lyon's to also obtaining the nation's largest Safeway. Alameda's Park Street has also gradually improved on its business aiming for the younger generations' appeal. This includes the Alameda Theatre and Cineplex. However, this may be great for the "main islanders," as we say, but that same attention is necessary for the area that needs it the most: The Landing on Bay Farm Island next to Lyedecker Park.

This shopping center is pitiful and has yet to attract any type of business with its old wooden shops, limited variety and sparse entertainment. The landlord is careless as it is clearly disposable property.

First, there is no clear form of advertisement for the many empty spaces that could be fi lled; not even a contact number is provided for possible leases on the windows, therefore obviously showing no interest in benefi ting and or providing the community with more business or opportunities. Second, the small businesses in the area have never seen his face or presence once within the whole time in running their businesses, and the few remaining strong stores have occupied the same business for over a decade, at least, if not more.

This shows no effort in listening to his clients by allowing impersonal forms of communication like email or phone calls.

Third, even without this inside information and ignoring the landowner's indirect neglect, it is clear to anyone with common sense and a pair of eyes to notice the drastic diminishing of The Landing.

Comparing the successful businesses that both South Shore and Park Street have gained, it is baffl ing to me that while all of the Main Island is improving, The Landing is dropping off the radar and becoming an unappealing place to be. There is no excuse for the neglect Bay Farm's shopping center suffers, harming not only small business family owners, who have limited variety of customers, but also the entire Bay Farm Island community itself.

When there are no businesses, there are no job opportunities for the enormous number of students who live on Bay Farm. Also when there is poor maintenance including lighting the area after dark, vandalism is proven to increase in this area, according to Project for Public Spaces.

Overall, the disdainful attitude the landlord holds has ultimately destroyed Bay Farm's potential success. This will cause Bay Farm to play catch up with Park Street and South Shore for the decades to come if reconstruction and attention does not begin now.

— Carol Tam

Swamped

Editor:

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) decided to build on the swamp owned by Cal Berkeley. Of course construction will be allowed.

Possibly after years through the courts, and after a phalanx of mistletoe lawyers litigate the demands of a host of concerned departments, like the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,) the water quality control board and the many state representatives creating commissions to cover waste and fraud on the taxpayers.

LBNL scientists know global warming is a hoax and the ocean will rise only a few inches, if at all. That's why they planned on a sea level site. A dike can be made from Point Richmond to Albany hill with a hiking and bike trail to fi t the environmental agenda.

Not to worry, the federal government will pay the excessive cost to build on a swamp. Your rich children who are taught fear of the consequence of global warming will eventually bear all the extra tax.

— Philip Tribuzio

AEF thanks Adopt-AClassroom donors

Editor:

The Alameda Education Foundation (AEF) made 13 Adopt-A-Classroom presentations in January 2012. AEF would like to thank the following donors (recipients in parentheses): Google on behalf of The Heppe Family (Tat Lam, Paden Elementary School Media Center), Linda Bytof and Mark Renner (Jeanette Frechou, Wood Middle School), Perforce on behalf of Sylvia Kahn (Susanne Sharpnack, Paden), Roger and Judy Ecker (Timothy Hickey, ASTI, Emily Kim, Encinal High School) and the Wells Fargo Foundation (Kelly Johnson, Academy of Alameda; Laurel Carman and Eric Friedman, Alameda High School; Jerry Reynolds, Lum Elementary School; Lara Weber, Susan Jones-Szabo, Kenny Wong, Ruby Bridges Elementary School; Elisabeth Lemon, Washington Elementary School).

AEF's Adopt-A-Classroom program makes it easy for members of the community to support teachers and students. Each $500 adoption goes directly to the teacher or program leader who uses the funds to benefi t the classroom or program. Undirected donations go to teachers or programs most in need. To become an Adopt-A-Classroom donor, visit www.alameda education.org.

— Kathleen C. Woulfe

Adopt-A-Classroom Chair Alameda Education Foundation Bitter end to love story

Editor:

On Tuesday, Feb. 7, my Nissan truck was stolen from in front of my son's residence on the 300 block of Broadway.

I met her in Roseville, Calif. in 1997. Although I was not quite 16, it was love at fi rst sight. I looked at her and thought this is a girl that will be with me through high school and college. Little did I know she would stay with me, through thick and thin, accompanying even me to work each day as an adult.

I loved her and she me, unconditionally. She didn't particularly like the city, as she didn't receive the respect there that she had come to rely on from me. Nevertheless, she accompanied me to and from work without complaint.

In 2009, I moved her from the city to Alameda where she enjoyed the less hectic environment, making the commutes into the city for work more tolerable. I rewarded her by making sure she remained accessorized properly and received regular spa treatments, for which she was thankful.

On Feb. 7, she was brutally violated. I went to pick her up, as I did each morning, and she was nowhere to be found. I know she wouldn't leave voluntarily, so I knew immediately that something was wrong.

Now, on the month of my 30th birthday, we have been separated for the fi rst time since 1997. A thief stole her from me. I mourn the loss of my white 1995 Nissan King Cab truck; she served me well and was taken too soon with no opportunity for a respectful goodbye.

— Susan Stauder

Beware of phishing

Editor:

On Thursday, Feb. 9, the Financial Benefi ts Credit Union (FBCU) received emails from fi ve individuals who are not credit union members about an attempt to phish credit card information. The message states that the credit union has deactivated their card and they need to call a number. The number, a 510 area code, does not belong to FBCU. Today, we have received a few more emails, some phone calls, and at least one visit to our offi ce.

Once they call the phony number, they are greeted with a recording that states that they have reached a department within the credit union and to enter their 16- digit card number. If a false number is entered, the call disconnects.

FBCU — or any fi nancial institution — will never send these types of messages. If people do receive an email or text message, they never want to either click on the hyperlink provided or call the number listed. Please either go directly to the institution's website or call through the listed phone number.

Also never enter private information should you mistakenly click the link or call the phone number listed in these phishing attempts.

— Heather J P Ziemer

Vice President, FBCU Legal but not civil?

Editor:

In your story ("APD Towed Hitand- Run Victim's Car," Feb. 2) you quoted Alameda Police Department Lt. Sean Lynch as saying, "If we were to drive everyone whose car was impounded then that is all we would be doing." But wait, the police do their job on a case-by-case basis. So here's the thing. I'm not questioning the legality of the actions taken. I am questioning the civility of the actions taken or not taken. Any civilly responsible person would not have left those citizens on the side of Doolittle Drive to walk home. And as a side note: If I was on the beach and I saw someone drowning and my employer would not allow me to attempt to save him or her. I would quit my job and do what I could. And if they didn't hire me back when I was done, then it would not be a place I would want to grace with my presence.

— Burton Prescott

Editor's note: APD did not impound Donnel Roberts' car on Doolittle Drive. The car was impounded on the well-lit properly side walked intersection of Otis Drive and Mound Street. Roberts and his passengers chose to walk on Doolittle Drive.

Another star in our constellation

Editor:

Alameda has been blessed with the likes of Willie Stargell, wrestler Pepper Gomez, culinary superstar Weezie Mott and beloved opera legend Frederica "Flicka" Von Stade.

We have another much younger star in our midst in KGO and cable television host Lisa Quinn. Among her more popular shows, which can also be viewed on livewellnetwork.com, include her full home makeovers, outstanding meals for family cooking, sewing 101, inexpensive spa at home tips, greener homes, exercise, wedding planning, home repair and much more.

She does not toot her own horn, but deserves major recognition right here, where she calls home. From set designing for television and fi lms, television production, her Design and Commercial Staging Entertainment Firm.

She's a best-selling author with her Life's Too Short and $500 Room Makeovers books, and she regularly contributes to Parade Magazine; as well as repeatedly appearing on the CBS Morning Show, HGTV, the National Geographic and Discovery channels, Oprah; plus her regular segments on KGO Channel 7's View From The Bay and 7-Live weekday shows.

This superwoman is also a respected wife, mom and news junkie. She'd kill me if she knew I was saying this, but she's also absolutely stunning in person. It would be criminal not to see "The Quinn" shine further as an anchor at some point on affi liate news, Good Morning America, the Today Show or another vehicle suited to her incredible skill set. We're lucky to have her here.

— Michael Lano

Take control of AMP

Editor:

Thank you to the Alameda Sun for the article describing our municipal utility's scheme to sell excess electricity to power companies across the country ("AMP to Sell Excess Renewable Energy," Feb. 9). This was not announced in Alameda Municipal Power's (AMP) little fl yer that comes with my bill.

I would never have known this was planned without your investigation.

Who would get this electricity instead of the ratepayers is not stipulated. This power comes from sources generated by our rates paid down through the years. Our electricity has been reliable for many years, thanks to this investment.

Is this power really "excess"? It is not, unless you think that the state of California's mandate of "no less than 33 percent" is really relevant. Seems to me that the prudence of Alameda is being siphoned off to less responsible utilities that haven't bothered to change their power mix.

Our loss, their gain, huh? Since natural gas is mentioned, the ugly odor of that bankrupt utility power broker, our biggest rival, Pacifi c Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), is starting to waft up from AMP's offi ces on Grand Street.

And what do we get out of it? Will our electricity rates be lowered as payment for our investment? No. We are told instead that the money will be used to "reduce green house gasses."

Fortunately, the earth is not a greenhouse. A greenhouse is a building with translucent walls that admit light. Its walls prevent ventilation, so it retains heat. The mix of gasses inside does not govern how hot it is. There is no such thing as a "greenhouse gas."

It seems that our "Bureau of Electricity" has bought into the theory that carbon dioxide causes the earth to warm, which affects the weather.

This carbon dioxide cult has gotten a lot of publicity. It is a novel theory that hurricanes, tornadoes, fl oods, drought, blizzards and sea level rise are caused by power plants and cars.

The news media have embraced this, but public policy should not be made on the basis of crackpot notions. Alamedans must join together and shut down this whole dubious proposal. This is an eight-year policy that it will be diffi cult to get out of, if we allow it to go forward. No contracts have been signed, and it's not too late.

Write to the PUB and tell its members to overturn this agreement. The address is: Alameda Public Utilities Board, Alameda City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda CA 94501. Tell your Mayor Marie Gilmore and the other city councilmembers, too. Take control of your power company.

— Steve Tabor

Task force turns to initiative

Editor:

Alameda Citizens Task Force (ACT) spent an evening with Larry Broussard, chief of staff to Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, who was unable to attend due to illness.

At the meeting, Broussard told the task force that Alamedans must learn about what is and who are on election ballots. Choosing candidates based on cards and flyers received in the mail is not educating ourselves. Candidates shown with an asterisk by their name have paid to be on the flyer.

Of course, other interest groups support candidates sympathetic to their cause through mailings as well. After seeing so many of these ads during the last election season, ACT encourages all voters this year to learn which issues and candidates will represent the best interests of our community.

Broussard was able to lay out ways to maintain public open space and park land, including how to ensure the Mif Golf Course is not sold or swapped without citizens voting to do so.

A petition to circulate an initiative requiring a vote of the people has been submitted to the city. We are hopeful our city councilmembers will support this action.

— The 2012 ACT Steering Committee, Janet Gibson, Nancy Hird, Corinne Lambden, Gretchen Lipow, Ken Peterson, Brian Schumacher, Kathleen Schumacher and Red Wetherill