RIPTIDE

Whatever the problems with Pacifica government, one might want to learn something about the history up to the present of Half Moon Bay before holding it up as a superior example. Half Moon Bay is "The City That Doesn't Know How," being dominated most of the time by old-guard and neo-old-guard politics aimed at planting the final crop and making money for the in-crowd, sprawling over the land in a pattern of leap-frog development that is a textbook example of how not to grow, overdeveloping (like Pacifica and most urban areas in California) far beyond its natural resource base, dragging its feet for more than a decade after the deadline before it finally created its first weak and problematic LCP, grossly overpaying its department heads and city manager, spending huge amounts of money on plans for locally destructive developments before those developments were even a good possibility, farming out both its police and its parks and recreation departments, poor-planning itself into traffic snafus that often surpass Pacifica's even though HMB is 1/3 the size in population, failing to defend itself and its taxpayers by failing to appeal a major phony lawsuit a developer won due to a judge's flawed decision, and so on, ad infinitum, back through the years since it incorporated.

However, HMB city government is not responsible for the fire district that covers the city and the unincorporated midcoast. That is a separate special district that currently farms its services out to CalFire, so it, too, doesn't know how.

As for those of us who have resided on the unincorporated midcoast for more than a few years, we do most of our shopping in Pacifica, especially Linda Mar and Pedro Point, for daily needs we can't get in our communities. For years, even before the underground freeway in the tunnels opened, the intersections with traffic lights between Montara/Moss Beach and the city to our south made driving into HMB during commute hours or on weekends a no-go. That has been much worse the past few years. Yes, there are overpriced fou-fou tourist traps plus a number of good places to eat, especially ethnic food of several origins, in HMB; but for cafes and small restaurants with honest food that the average Joe can afford and that one can actually get to without traffic backups, Pacifica and up to Daly City and Colma have far more options. Most real businesses handling the needs of people are long gone from downtown HMB; and it is well known that if one can't lose one's money fast enough in Cache Creek or Reno, starting a small business with the high rents prevalent on Main Street, HMB, might well be a successful alternative for you.

The grass is not greener in the city 10 miles south on the other side of Montara Mountain. Might as well deal with the devil you know in Pacifica.

"Half Moon Bay, like Pacifica, is on its way to insolvency."

Losing a $37 million lawsuit will do that for you.

Of course, Half Moon Bay is a destination city that has a bustling little downtown, unlike the drive-through city known as Pacifica. Unfortunately, many longtime locals are afraid of any change that may improve the city and bring in more visitors and tax revenue.

I am with you there, Butch. Pacifica definitely needs more growth and progress in city government and finance/business. Pacifica has what it takes in natural resources to be an economic engine but is not playing it smart the way Half Moon Bay does. I live in the woods between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, so I see where all the traffic and money are going every weekend -- hear that sucking sound from the south?! They come to Pacifica to surf and hike for free, then head to Half Moon Bay for seafood dinners, kayak rentals, fishing boat charters, whale watching trips, Main Street shopping sprees, international cuisine, overnights, pumpkins, Christmas trees. CHA CHING!!!

That's what I call consistency and stability. Let the rest of America choke on progress and growth, which represent more concrete, steel, noise, and smog. We don't need any of that kind of progress and growth. We have what everybody else is dying to get: fresh air, ocean breezes, cool fog, open space to breathe free, relaxed pace of life, easy parking, etc. We don't want to be like Daly City or anywhere else Over the Hill. Resist Density! Resist development and growth. Sit still and enjoy what we have here. It is special. Sorry, Butch, but thanks for the opportunity to rant.