No easy solutions for housing
Regarding “The crux of the crisis” (Editorial, Dec. 29): The Chronicle’s editorial criticism of the scrutiny that the city of Brisbane is giving to a 2015 Baylands development proposal is mistaken. Building housing is a complex issue for any local government, and significantly more complicated when the proposed housing is to be built on a long-contaminated former industrial site. It’s infinitely more difficult when the developer, Universal Paragon Corp., hasn’t committed to fully cleaning up the site, as is the case with Baylands.
Indeed, UPC has yet to fulfill any steps required to make the Baylands ready for development, such as site contamination cleanup, securing water resources or demonstrating how it will finance this proposed $1 billion development. Overpromising and underdelivering are par for the course with UPC. They’ve had approval for a decade to build housing in San Francisco but have yet to commence construction despite high demand. They’ve owned another parcel in Brisbane for nearly 30 years, committed to building a hotel, but have never built it.
Working through serious issues with a developer isn’t evidence of a “lingering impasse.” It’s validation that Brisbane is doing its job properly, recognizing who it is working with and that whatever development decision is made will irrevocably impact the health and welfare of future residents and neighboring communities. Brisbane is prepared to act but needs to know it has a sound financial partner that will deliver what it promises. We understand the desire of many to alleviate California’s housing crisis. The Baylands looks like an easy solution, but upon inspection, it isn’t. Clay Holstine, City Manager,
Brisbane
Absurd remarks
Regarding “Starbucks faces a latte opposition at Yosemite” (Jan. 10): The “brew ha ha” at Yosemite over coffee generated some of the most preposterous remarks I have heard in a long time about Yosemite Valley. To compare what has been called the Incomparable Valley to Disneyland is just absurd. Yes, one finds a lot of people and cars, but one also finds the Merced River, El Capitan, vibrant meadows, forest, wildlife, glorious waterfalls, historic buildings and bridges. There are no rides, no fake mountains and no Mickey Mouse.
And by the way, because of the hard work and dedication of the National Park Service, compared to even 10 years ago, there are fewer parking places, less asphalt, restored meadows and no dam on the Merced River. Moreover, Aramark, the current concessionaire at Yosemite, had to buy into the vision of an overall restoration and management in the process of being implemented that reduced the scope of business opportunities in Yosemite Valley. Jay Watson, Sonoma
Not about coffee
What I think needs to be done is to limit the number of passenger vehicles in the park to perhaps at most one-third per day of the usual number. People would need a ticket and could get one up to a year in advance online. The same with walk-in parks such as Muir Woods. Reduce foot traffic by at least two-thirds and require a ticket. That would end the horrible traffic congestion on the road leading in. Cars, trucks, minivans, motorcycles and other contraptions are the problem, not coffee. No, people do not have some God-given or constitutional right to these places whenever they like.
Michael Biehl, San Francisco
Shifted burden
Regarding “PG&E to test pricing based on time of use” (Business, Jan. 9): I thought peak usage was business hours to power workplaces and midafternoons in the summer. I don’t understand Pacific Gas and Electric Co. targeting 4 to 9 p.m. to charge higher “time-of-use” rates to encourage shifting activities to other times of the day. Isn’t that when families turn on the stove to cook dinner and the lights to help our kids do their homework? That lets businesses off the hook as they shut down for the night. Wait! Charge higher rates that burden families while labeling business hours as “off peak”? Not only is the tax burden shifting from business to working people, but now the electricity bill too?
Barbara Morita, El Cerrito