Ku Klux Klan had a modest presence on the Peninsula

With the Ku Klux Klan in the news again this month, it might be worth pointing out that this hooded outfit did not appear to have a dramatic impact on San Mateo County in the 1920s and 1930s, an era of startling KKK political influence in other parts of the U.S

However, the Klan did have a presence here generations ago. In fact, judging by published reports during that period on the Peninsula, local Klan members tried to give the impression they were almost like community service club folks, akin to the Lions or Rotarians, albeit with a racist, bigoted overlay.

In 1924, the Klan advertised publicly for new members, posting blurbs in local newspapers, including the San Mateo Times. Then, a year later, some who appeared to be affiliated with the group drove their vehicles to the new Burlingame convent of the Sisters of Mercy.

On that occasion, the Catholic nuns were subject to an obnoxious display of attempted intimidation by Klan individuals. There were no reports of injury or property damage.

In those days, prejudice against any number of groups was common. One example: Many local real estate deals contained specific language banning property ownership by certain non-white minorities. Some of those restrictive policies existed for decades.

So, on balance, the ugly existence of the KKK on the Peninsula, even in a peripheral way, should not have been a total surprise. It was a different time for sure _ and not altogether pretty.

There is no available current evidence that the Klan has anything close to an ominous footprint here now.

Apocalypse Uber

Today, in a fresh era of innovation and high-tech advances in Silicon Valley, the cultural apocalypse seems to be getting closer with each passing day.

One example: Last week, as I drove into a Millbrae hotel parking lot, a gaggle of tourists approached my ancient vehicle. One of them tapped on the passenger side front window.

I rolled it down slightly. “Are you our Uber driver?” she wanted to know. “Uh, no, I don’t think so,” I answered. “But I suppose just about anyone could be under the right circumstances.”

The visitors were disappointed. But, really, one look at my auto should have made my status pretty obvious. It’s a 1993 Honda Civic with no frills whatsoever. Cloth seats, roll-down windows, manual transmission, you get the picture.

If that were an Uber car, the company would be in trouble.

Objections muted

Site preparation work is in progress at the former location of the Burlingame Drive-in Theater across bay water from Coyote Point.

Eventually, the 18-acre property, now dubbed Burlingame Point, is slated to embrace nearly 800,000 square feet of commercial development.

Included in the plans are office buildings up to eight stories in height. In the past, Coyote Point windsurfing enthusiasts had protested such tall structures, arguing that wind patterns would be affected by them.

Apparently, that’s not much of an issue anymore.

Web address

An incorrect website address was listed last week for Vietnam War veterans who might be interested in sharing their stories for posterity. Here is the accurate address: www.vietnamwar50th.com.

Rock bottom

Another newspaper showed this price for a fivebedroom home on 1.3 acres for sale in Portola Valley last week: $14,995. Something tells me at least three important zeroes were missing in that blurb.