text:
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, March 15, 2010, 6:02 PM
Town Square
Court strikes down Pleasanton housing cap
Original post made on Mar 15, 2010
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, March 15, 2010, 6:02 PM
Comments (107)
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 15, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Sandra De Gregorio must be happy to have hurt Pleasanton. I wonder what her family thinks? Any doubts now that Jerry Brown shoul NOT become governor?
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 15, 2010 at 7:05 pm
"However, it not only invalidates the city's housing cap ordinance, it also orders that provisions in the recent voter-approved Measures PP and Measure QQ hillside development bans related to housing limits also be removed."
Steve B. must be happy now. How about putting all those low income families right in his back yard?
a resident of Birdland
on Mar 15, 2010 at 7:18 pm
(Post deemed inappropriate by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff)
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 15, 2010 at 8:02 pm
This judge is the same judge that sided with the Oak Grove developers and that decision was turned over by an unanimous vote by the appeals court. On this issue, since we have a council majority that does not want the housing cap, so they can built till we look like Dublin, I am sure they directed our city attorney to not defend the housing cap. The mayor and two members of council that are up for election in November should be thrown out.
The judge here does not say who should be paying for the subsidized housing. As we know in Pleasanton, and much of California, "affordable housing" is a euphemism for "subsidized housing". They want people to be able to buy housing in Pleasanton with an income of $40,000. Who is going to pay for the 2,524 subsidized homes? If the state is going to require it, they should pay. I say we only approve subsidized housing right now. That will be the unintended consequence of requiring that much subsidized housing. The developers have to subsidize all the homes they sell or ask the state to.
With all the school finance issues we have now. What is going to happen without the housing cap (which Casey said that all bets were off if the housing cap was overturned). How many students will be from 3,277 new housing units? Also the 2,524 subsidized housing units would be exempt from paying the higher school impact fees. So we will have more students and less money.
We should hold our mayor fully accountable for this. She has been stating that she has been on this important agency which determines the number of houses to build (ABAG). She has certainly not stood up for the Pleasanton voters who voted for the housing cap.
a resident of Laguna Oaks
on Mar 15, 2010 at 8:03 pm
i agree that a huge welfare state is a bad thing, but i don't follow your logic... a judge ruled on a lawsuit brought forward by a teacher who couldn't afford to buy a home in pleasanton that pleasanton's housing cap is unconstitutional, and somehow illegal aliens are the root cause?
your side note is pretty small minded. there are plenty of people of mexican descent living here in pleasanton that have jobs, speak english, own homes, vote, pay their taxes, park their cars in their garage and don't commit crimes. i'm one of them.
a resident of Livermore
on Mar 15, 2010 at 8:04 pm
grow up matty...you have NO CHOICE! You have been betrayed...again, again, and again...tee hee hee, tee hee hee!
VIVA LA GENTE! (Long Live The People!) GORA! GORA (Rise-Up!)
The "Mexican community" didn't do a thing, it's your elected reps that have done nothing.
Are you afraid to ask them for the truth! hahahahahahahahaha...
a resident of Birdland
on Mar 15, 2010 at 8:17 pm
If a Pleasanton teacher doesn't know how to make her generous salary stretch far enough in Pleasanton, then she shouldn't live here. Working in a city doesn't mean that person has the right to own property in it. Can everybody who works in San Francisco afford to live there? Are they going to try and squeeze in more low-income housing there in hopes of building up the community.
There is also a difference of being of Mexican descent and not speaking English. I have no problems with people who have assimilated into American culture like many generations past. They put in their time and they reap the rewards. And if the so people that you speak of are doing so well there, why is it that there is a need for low income housing?
I'm sure if you are over in Laguna Oaks you have no opposition to low-income housing being built in the open land south of you. With the same children attending the schools that your children attend, lowering test standards and as a result funding for the school district. It's time the country becomes less concerned with being politically correct and starts being responsible and letting people take care of themselves.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 15, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
Whoa slow down Anonymous! If you want school impact fees that are proportionately high relative to the actual impact, let's get Oak Grove built! And yes, the judge doesn't say who is going to subsidize the housing because the issue is about planning, not actual building.
About the LAFCO agency, you know that Hosterman only got a full time seat on that after Janet Lockhart exited the Dublin mayorship, right?
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 15, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
"and reduce greenhouse gas emissions"
That argument always makes me laugh. Do these people who say these things really believe that BS? Since when has a dense urban center ever reduced greenhouse gas emissions?
"However, it not only invalidates the city's housing cap ordinance, it also orders that provisions specifying housing limits in recent voter-approved Measures PP and Measure QQ that affect housing development on hillsides also be removed."
This part is interesting. One would probably have to read the actual decision to understand this, but it probably refers to the 10 house exemption in PP since that is a hard limit.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 15, 2010 at 8:35 pm
To Stacey,
The reduced greenhouse emissions come from people living here and working here, get it? They don't drive as far.
How much of your time have you volunteering making more low income housing available in Pleasanton?
"The city is in clear violation" of the state housing law, the judge said.
That says it all. And it was a long time coming.
$500,000 for a house makes no sense and finally we are going to get some downward pressure on prices.
"At least three-quarters of them must be affordable for low-to-moderate-income residents."
It is the right thing to do to enforce this. Homeownership is important and we need to do everything we can to encourage it. People are still having trouble meeting downpayment requirements and it is time to do something to help out with this too.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 15, 2010 at 8:43 pm
what is the basis for your comment "we have a council majority who don't support a housing cap"? Everything I've heard at council meetings says that's the one item the 5 of them do agree on, which is the housing cap.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 15, 2010 at 8:56 pm
[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 15, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
Pleasanton resident,
Where has there ever been a large concentration of humans living in one area that have reduced greenhouse gas emissions? Does San Francisco put out more or less greenhouse gas emissions than Pleasanton?
"How much of your time have you volunteering making more low income housing available in Pleasanton? "
Look, I think you don't know what you're arguing about. I've written many times in the past about how the housing cap will be ruled illegal. I didn't see how it would not be. But I also find the argument about greenhouse gas emissions totally wrong and just something thrown in. That's why you won't find anything about greenhouse gas emissions in the briefings on this case! You only find this mentioned in press releases.
a resident of Laguna Oaks
on Mar 15, 2010 at 9:10 pm
i never said the people of vineyard are doing well or not doing well. i never said they need or don't need low income housing. i am saying don't go blaming this ruling on poor people, and more specifically don't blame it on poor mexican people. they didn't file the lawsuit.
you want to be upset? be upset with de gregorio, urban habitat, jerry brown, and judge roesch. direct your anger at the source. that source is not on vineyard avenue. aim then fire, not the other way around.
i agree with you on one thing, people need to take care of themselves, live within their means and stop seeing the government as a santa claus.
and just so you know, some of the most affordable housing in pleasanton is already just south of laguna oaks. a condo sold there recently for under $200k.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 15, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
Would that we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing density!
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 15, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
How about making a State law that requires companies to give hiring preference to residents?
a resident of Livermore
on Mar 15, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Good times!!!! "well we are moving on up to the big time our ship has arrived!!!!
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 15, 2010 at 9:46 pm
With all of these new voters coming to town I bet we can get a parcel tax passed now. Especially when they do not have to pay for it.
a resident of Livermore
on Mar 15, 2010 at 9:56 pm
what if they're all ILLEGALS& can't vote? tee hee hee, tee hee hee...
i am so tickled by matt i'm beside myself...tee hee hee, tee hee hee...
salsa anyone? hahahahahahahahha....
matty machito
a resident of Livermore
on Mar 15, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Web Link The March For Freedom....dedicated to matty!
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 15, 2010 at 10:15 pm
So I gather former councilwoman Becky Dennis is the one who put the lawsuit together Web Link .
I am confused. She supported the 29,000 housing limit when it was put on the ballot in 1996, didn't she? And then after she was off the city council, she filed a lawsuit?
a resident of Downtown
on Mar 15, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Anybody here think that the judge might have ruled the housing cap to be illegal because it just might be...uh...illegal?
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 15, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Did the judge rule all of the housing caps/dwelling unit caps in all of the California cities and towns that have adopted them are illegal or just Pleasanton's?
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 12:07 am
I highly doubt the people who would be in affordable housing would be working in a Pleasanton business park (Oracle, Safeway, etc.). Affordable housing is for low income people, which often (not all) bring in criminals who have low income because they don't work in the first place. I know several instances in Union City where criminals move in from Richmond and Vallejo and use their newly found base to commit crimes (burglaries, robberies, etc). I have rarely heard good come from affordable housing.
I don't understand how the state can tell a city what to do in this sense. I say the law the illegal and should be overturned on appeal. I can see why the judge ruled this way, but hopefully the appeals court will take action.
This quote makes no sense by the way:
"Pleasanton has the opportunity to allow hundreds of affordable homes within walking distance of a major transit hub," said Ellis. "We call on the city to show leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while promoting social equity."
I thought the goal was to have people living in Pleasanton and working in Pleasanton? I see this more as an opportunity for the new homes to become victims of criminals coming off BART (exactly what will what will happen once the new BART station opens up).
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 12:23 am
Also, isn't home ownership supposed to be an investment? My take on home ownership is you buy a home and reap the benefits of having a tax-free capital gain up to a certain limit. To meet that goal you take care of your house among other things.
Affordable housing puts a cap on what the "owner" can sell it for. It defeats one of the main reasons to own a home in the first place. This is the definition of socialism - which never works in practice. Home values here are going to go down if these houses get built. Some people think that is good because, "$500,000 for a house makes no sense", but that is a real person's investment going down. It is called supply / demand (i.e. economics 101).
This is socialism at its best: "We call on the city to show leadership ... while promoting social equity."
a resident of Oak Hill
on Mar 16, 2010 at 12:26 am
More social engineering...
Hey, If the Oak Grove thing passes perhaps a percentage can be low income housing...:)
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 5:38 am
So let's complete the circle.
Go to school. Work hard. Get good grades. Go to college. Take out massive student loans. Work hard. Graduate. Get a job. Work hard. Eventually buy a home in a nice, crime free neighborhood.
Have it all struck down by a politically appointed judge. Have a crack dealer from Richmond move in down the street. Lose twenty-five percent of the value of your real estate investment over night. Live in terror as the violence and burglary rate rises until you sell at a loss and start the cycle again elsewhere.
Remind me again why it is important to throw more money at the education system?
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 6:37 am
Attached is the link about urban habitat. It seems that the ruling against us is the first so that other communities will have to follow suit. So based on that other cities such as San Ramon, Alamo etc may be in the same boat.
Web Link
Here is another link on their website which offers classes on how to write an application for a free govenment grant!
Web Link
It say they are all about poor, race, and the environment. I wonder if they are funded with taxpayer (our money) dollars. If so, then we are funding lawsuits against ourselves?
a resident of Pleasanton Valley
on Mar 16, 2010 at 7:18 am
I drive 70 miles a day round trip from Pleasanton to Mountain View. I did not attack Peninsula cities to provide affordable housing. I don't get it. And Jerry Brown, bite me.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 7:51 am
"Go to school. Work hard. Get good grades. Go to college. Take out massive student loans. Work hard. Graduate. Get a job. Work hard. Eventually buy a home in a nice, crime free neighborhood.
Have it all struck down by a politically appointed judge. Have a crack dealer from Richmond move in down the street. Lose twenty-five percent of the value of your real estate investment over night. Live in terror as the violence and burglary rate rises until you sell at a loss and start the cycle again elsewhere."
If you think crack dealers are moving into your town through low income housing you are another snobby Pleasanton resident who has little if any sense of reality. And I hate to brek it to you, but not everyone who works hard gets everything they want, let alone a home in a nice neighborhood.
They way that low-income = crime on these forums is iggnorant and has an implicit racial tone. Pleasanton is under fire for raising its city walls to keep those that serve our community from becoming a part of it. Everything that you fear is already in your community. We have issues with drugs, with youth, and crime already, and you dont need to live in a community to commit abuses upon it. Do you really think preventing someone from living in Pleasanton prevents them from interacting with the community? Chances are anyone trying to get into Pleasanton wants a community closer to work, where they can spend more time with their kids and possibly get into a great school district.
The lack of demographic diversity in Pleasanton is gross.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 7:57 am
As Withheld said, many people commute from Pleasanton to other areas like Mountain View and we are not demanding that those communities provide affordable housing.
So Los Altos Hills, Los Altos, Saratoga, Alamo and others are next?
If they are targeting Pleasanton thanks to the resident Sandra DeGregorio, Habitat for Humanity and Brown, then they should target other areas as well. That way, if other communities feel attacked too, maybe Brown and the courts will back off.
Brown: I will do what I can to make sure you do not get elected. Sadly, you are the only democrat running and the GOP has not provided good candidates. Anyone but you - imagine what you can do to California: we are already a welfare state, I am frightened of what you can do to an already broken state.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:10 am
"If you think crack dealers are moving into your town through low income housing you are another snobby Pleasanton resident who has little if any sense of reality."
Reality is the present and future, and therefore not yet written. But history is pretty clear on the subject.
And there was nothing implicit about my comment.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:17 am
[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:22 am
[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:26 am
"In a ruling that could halt all commercial and residential building in Pleasanton for months to come, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch has ruled the city's 1996 housing cap limiting residential units to 29,000 violates state law and is invalid."
This is the stick. By halting all issuance of permits the judge and the state can apply financial pressure to the cities.
"The case was being closely watched by cities throughout California that have policies similar to Pleasanton's, aimed at curbing rampant growth although not housing cap mandates."
So this ruling will apply to all cities in the state and Pleasanton appears to be the trial case by these environmental groups.
I am going to do some more research into this group and check on prior issues they have been involved in. Does anyone know how far our council will go in contesting this decision?
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:30 am
Pleasanton has been creating and exacerbating problems for the SJValley for years. We haven't the funds to build the roads for which Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley have increased demand. We haven't the funds to build the much-needed rail.
Pleasanton's love of the wealthy and hatred for even the middle class--who are paying your freight--have got Pleasanton to this juncture. I hope defending this indefensible action has cost Pleasanton gobs of general fund money.
a resident of Rosewood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:33 am
My concern is housing value. Our housing has dropped dramtically in the past few years. If "affordable" housing is built then it will drop again. That means it will drop below existing mortgages and force short sales. Why do anything that drops value. Also schools. If "affordable" housing is approved them where does the money to ramp up schools come from? They either will not be ra,ped up or current residents will pay more. The people in "affordable" housing will not be able to afford more taxes. Basically it will lower values of existing house. fact, and continue to ruin our schools, once the best around. It has nothing to do with ethnics or criminals moving in.
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:35 am
To What?: "But they're doing it, too" isn't a defense, bubba.
A suit is brought to court when it is RIPE. And attorneys weigh one potential case against another to determine which gives them the greatest likelihood of success. Hello, Pleasanton.
Honey, yours isn't the only city that will be compelled to comply with state law. Other cities have been watching this suit to foretell their own futures. In this ruling is the implicit statement, "Pleasanton lost. If you don't comply, we'll sue you and you'll lose. Is taking a stand worth the certain loss of millions of dollars of your budget?"
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:47 am
How much to gate the whole place like Ruby Hills and Golden Eagle? Then you can build East Palo Alto II outside of the gate.
a resident of Del Prado
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:48 am
Find another town Jerry Brown!
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:49 am
Over and over again, I have seen bigoted, fear-mongering comments such as those posted on this board.
Aside from the anti-American, stomach turning quality of such remarks, they display gross ignorance about affordable housing, "low income," and what all this means to you. Of course, since your city council has straight-armed the law for such a long time, it's unreasonable to expect any understanding from the public, since you have had the luxury of ignorance.
1. "affordability" is based on average county income.
2. The various levels of affordability are "above moderate" (hint: that's all of you), "moderate," "low," "very low," and "extremely low." Everyone, even you, Binky, live in "affordable" housing, as far as the state is concerned.
3. What the city is required to ACCOMMODATE--not build, but ACCOMMODATE--depends upon what the city has made available in the past.
4. Curiously enough, cities like San Francisco have much higher property values than burgs like Pleasantville, excuse me, Pleasanton, because they are infinitely desirable. This despite their provision of housing affordable to even the very poor. San Francisco and New York beat Los Angeles and South Orange for property values because they are highly desirable cities.
You love your city and you should. But believe me, there are plenty of people, myself included, whom you couldn't pay to live there. I live in the Valley now, but will soon move to the East Bay, an infinitely more interesting and vital place to live. If I HAD to live in the Tri-Valley, I'd choose downtown Livermore.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:51 am
I have to say that I'm very disappointed with this ruling because my husband and I moved here for a better quality of life and we wanted our kids in the best schools we could get them into (outside of private). I'm sure the same reason many people moved to this city. I'm also VERY disappointed in the ignorance being spewed by some (I.E. Matt) to blame Mexicans, of which I am one. My family and I work hard, live happily in Pleasanton, our kids go to school here (and are A students). So thank you for the reminder of how shallow, small-minded and ingorant SOME fellow Pleasantonians are. YOU are the reason these blogs turn really ugly. YOU are the person my children need to stay away from.
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:52 am
"Concerned": EVERYONE's housing prices have dropped in the last two years, and it has nothing to do with affordability, but with oversupply and bad loans made by your wealthy neighbors to people who couldn't pay.
Cool your jets. Your property will soon rise in value again, just like everyone else's. It should have stabilized by now.
a resident of Downtown
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:58 am
I think that Pleasanton residents would be surprised to find out that many people that are qualifiying for affordable housing programs really aren't "poor people" They have good jobs, work hard, but housing in the City they work in is still out of there means.
The whole state has mandated housing requirements (RHNA) Most communities won't meet their requirments, but the Housing Cap is illegal because it makes it impossible to even get near our allocation.
The state on the other hand needs to understand that it isn't possible in every community, and to look at the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) as truly "Regional" and if they tri-valley could work togeather to meet a larger allocation, all the while do it in a smart planning way, everyone would win.
a resident of Mission Park
on Mar 16, 2010 at 9:01 am
Kiss up kick down your mothers should be so proud of you!
a resident of Pleasanton Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 9:02 am
Below is a link to the ruling that I found on Public Advocates website.
Web Link
You can also access the ruling here:
Web Link
by submitting the case number RG06293831 and clicking the link for "Rulings & CMC Orders".
This ruling pertains to Measures PP and QQ reaffirming the 29,000 housing cap, reaffirming that the City Council had no discretion to allow any waiver to the housing cap, and excluding in-law units and extended-stay motel rooms from the housing cap.
a resident of Downtown
on Mar 16, 2010 at 9:06 am
I bought my first house in Pleasanton after living my entire live in the South Bay. I did not buy there because it is like living in another country. I do not want Pleasanton to turn into the next San Jose! People move to places for a reason. We need to fight to save our town from signs in other languages and growing so large it will be like living in LA!
a resident of Parkside
on Mar 16, 2010 at 9:38 am
SteveP is a registered user.
Alex, no one wants you in Pleasanton, so congratulations on your brilliant decision to move to an ethnic utopia of your choosing.
Try the Tenderloin in SF or the area near 98th avenue in Oakland if you want an 'interesting' area to exist in. I'm sure you can find something affordable in either of these desirable areas, which used to be nice before they were 'affordable'.
Take your condencending, elistist attitude to some liberal bastion that supports your socialist notions.
And don't let the door hit you on the way out.
a resident of Downtown
on Mar 16, 2010 at 9:58 am
The real sad thing is that there are some intelligent posts on here both for and against, yet most people are just using it as an opportunity to be mean.
Try being intelligent and not mean and you'll get a lot more people on your side.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:06 am
Stacey is a registered user.
Matt Morrison! Thanks for the case information!
Alex of another community,
When you obsess over something too much, you become what you obsess over. Thanks for showing us all your obsession with bigoted, fear-mongering, anti-American comments.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:07 am
Stacey is a registered user.
San Francisco's "affordable housing" for the very poor = the streets.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:11 am
Stacey is a registered user.
One of the issues with the RHNA numbers is how they are created. If Pleasanton didn't have so many business properties we wouldn't have such high RHNA numbers, the so-called job-housing imbalance. I'm sure there are a ton of current Pleasanton residents who would love to work in Pleasanton and they don't, not because they couldn't afford to live here, but because there was no job here for them. I wonder, if all current Pleasanton residents were employed in Pleasanton, how many jobs would still be available for non-residents?
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:24 am
Stacey is a registered user.
The State needs to widen 84, fix our roads, improve 580, pay for the Stoneridge extension, fund a Tri-Valley light rail system to connect all high density hubs, fund BART out to Tracy, increase funding for Wheels, fund our schools, fund our water system, fund our sewer system, protect agricultural spaces, and provide incentives for business to hire local residents.
Only then can we discuss adding more housing.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:25 am
Stacey is a registered user.
Oh yea, and if there's no more water to support a larger population, send 'em all packing!
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:36 am
Stacey is a registered user.
And actually the other fundamental that gets missed out on...
Do the RHNA allocations encourage or discourage developers? One issue in planning is whether or not zoning laws have a negative effect on the construction market. Would a developer prefer the economics of building "above moderate" homes or "very poor" homes?
So the question is, would Pleasanton's compliance encourage developers to build? What if Pleasanton didn't have a housing cap? Would the outcome have really been any different? Would Dublin and Livermore have built less homes?
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:40 am
Stacey is a registered user.
Web Link
"Inclusionary zoning ordinances encourage or require real estate developers to set aside a percentage of the units included in market-rate residential development projects for low- and moderate-income households."
"Municipalities with cumbersome zoning ordinances have the ability to increase their stock of affordable housing by relaxing the regulations governing residential development. Some have done this by expanding the amount of land zoned for multi-family housing and by authorizing higher-density development.5 These approaches do not guarantee the development of housing accessible to low and moderate-income families, but can relieve upward pressure on prices by removing supply constraints."
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:46 am
Stacey is a registered user.
Web Link
"Is it time to review California's Housing Element law?"
"Turning to the relationship between compliance and the
actual production of new housing, Lewis examined whether a
city's compliance status in 1991 helps to predict the percentage
increase in the city's housing stock by 2000, examining
communities in the metropolitan areas of San Diego, greater
Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Controlling for
a variety of factors, he found NO DETECTABLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMPLIANCE AND THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN HOUSING UNITS. Furthermore, noncompliance was not a significant predictor
of the rate of multifamily development once other relevant
factors were held constant. The analysis did show,
however, that the mix of new housing in noncompliant cities
tended to be weighted more toward single-family units."
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:50 am
Stacey is a registered user.
"Lewis identifies three basic problems with
California's housing element law.
- First, it often goes against the grain of local politics by asking cities to plan for the needs of the wider region, not just the needs of current city residents.
- Second, it may represent a mismatch of goals and policy tools. Specifically, it attempts to tackle the problems of overall housing underproduction with a process-oriented approach developed to prod cities and counties into planning for their share of affordable units.
- Third, the statute itself is unwieldy, embraces multiple objectives, and is difficult for nonexperts to comprehend."
In other words, the State expects local cities to plan for issues which are beyond their jurisdiction. That's my point about the State not providing infrastructure funding. The State offloads regional planning onto municipal governments. Somehow Pleasanton is expected to plan for growth in Tracy. Even if Pleasanton was in compliance and built all those units, it would still not be enough to offset growth in Tracy or Dublin or Livermore.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:52 am
Stacey is a registered user.
My posts aren't to suggest that I think Pleasanton should not be in compliance, they're only to show posters like Alex of another community who thinks Pleasanton is full of bigots that being in compliance isn't going to solve all the problems of providing affordable housing.
a resident of Stoneridge
on Mar 16, 2010 at 12:05 pm
- Where in the Constitution does it say a city of Pleasanton's size and wealth can vote to keep lower income people out of its domain? Pleasanton is dependent on the Bay area, we're not an island. If you think so, try to imagine building a city 100 miles east of Reno in the Nevada desert, call it Pleasanton East. Who would come to its Stoneridge East Mall? Where would the workers come from for the Hacienda East Business Park? And who would ride an eBART into Reno if its urban transit was extended? We are part of the Bay area community, we need to do our share. Its a shame that a judge has to force us to do it.
- Pleasanton politicians have had ten plus years to work on the housing cap and the regional directions. Another poster (above) says we have put up only 40 units! Reflects poorly on the planning of our current and previous 21st century city administrations.
- Ready for some magic? I believe there are 800+ units of senior citizen housing on the Staples Ranch Property being developed. The 'wise' city planners didn't want them to be counted against the housing cap, and ignoring commonly used state definitions of housing units, the senior housing was not counted against the housing cap, i.e. by limiting the kitchen equipment and expecting the seniors to eat communally it meant the apartments and condos weren't apartments and condos. Here's the magic: get the builder to install 800+ ovens and presto change-o, you have your first step in low income housing units - double points because they don't impact the school, and along the way the housing cap limit is gutted by a judge so that some wealthy landowners can blast past the city's wishes to limit expansion. If I believed in conspiracy theories, I would say they planned it that way from the beginning!!
By the way, have I angered both sides here? Hope so.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 12:36 pm
And I would ask where in the constitution does it say a community cannot determine the value of its property through the open, NON-SUBSIDISED market? There is no law controlling ethnic immigration here (assuming citizen ship – And yes, before it is pointed out, I will acknowledge that this is a substantially optimistic assumption). There is, however, a financial barrier generated by the open market. And I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
It isn't a truly open market though. Zoning laws have already affected that. Think about how many conditions of approval just for Oak Grove OVER AND ABOVE Pleasanton's vanilla requirements.
a resident of Dublin
on Mar 16, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Here we go again!
Pleasanton residents trying to inflate their property values (open market my duff!) by telling property owners what they can and can't do with their property.
Joining the fracas is Jerry Brown and proponents of "environmental justice" (please) who seek to remedy this gross injustice by... telling property owners what they must do with their property.
And property owners (I repeat, property owners) reduced to grovelling at the feet of these petty tyrants.
Glad to see that respect for inalienable natural rights is alive and well.
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Steve P: I'm a planner who does well enough to CHOOSE where I live. That I wouldn't CHOOSE your city isn't a slam--though you apparently think it is--it's a choice based upon my personal preferences, which are different from yours.
I like a walkable city near good cycling, a city that doesn't impose automobile use on me (I own a car). I like a city where I know my neighbors and where I can get a beer after work without having to drive after. I like a city that has entertainment options, such as movie theaters (including an art house theater), and venues where I can see live music.
That's not Pleasanton. But hey, that's why there are different cities. My point is that even someone like me who can make a choice doesn't choose your city. Drawing a line between the two points for you: Pleasanton isn't going to be flooded with people you hate because Pleasanton isn't everyone's idea of nirvana (gasp!).
If you think my informed comments (I am very familiar with Housing Element law) make me an "elitist," then I guess being uninformed is a good thing in your book.
I disagree. I find the world much less scary when I know more about it. And the more I know the more I understand how little I know.
You, who are a bigot by race and income, have a lot of nerve calling ME an elitist. You are the very definition.
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 2:04 pm
YES. Demonstrably, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York emit less greenhouse gases PER CAPITA than does Pleasanton. A source for you: Growing Cooler: the evidence on urban development and climate change, published by The Urban Land Institute in 2008.
"Per capita" is the key. The state's thresholds are being developed on a per capita basis.
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Stacey, I well know that accommodating affordable housing doesn't solve all problems.
Unfortunately, decisions like this one bring the bigots out of the woodwork. Happily for them, they can post their remarks openly, yet anonymously. (Happily for me, too, though I'm not ashamed of my thoughts.)
We live in an exceedingly complex world, as living with 6.5B other people will do. It takes a great deal of cooperation between us all to ensure our mutual ability to survive and thrive. People like to imagine themselves as "rugged individualists" but this simply isn't so for anyone other than the lone rancher in Montana who raises his own produce, pumps his own water, creates his own electricity--and never sets foot off the ranch. Everyone else relies on the cooperation of others.
a resident of Downtown
on Mar 16, 2010 at 2:44 pm
I'm a pretty liberal guy and agree with a lot of what you have said, but your tone does come off as a little "elitist". I agree that Pleasanton needs more mixed-use housing near BART, but it's funny that Pleasanton was picked for this lawsuit. I guess if you are a cool/hipster/super liberal town in Marin or the Peninsula it's ok to limit housing growth. If you're Pleasanton, and don't meet the urban coolness standards of Alex, a lawauit like this is great. Sorry, sometimes I forget towns like Mill Valley and Menlo Park are beyond reproach and don't need to build any houses when you can put it all on the backs of towns like Pleasanton. God forbid Alex have anything good to say about Pleasanton (even though it has great schools, a thriving downtown, low crime, etc.), Alex might look bad in front of his hipster buddies at the Berkeley coffee house.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Even if this thing actually stands up to the appeal and setting aside everyones social viewpoints, does anyone have an idea who will pay for the housing?, who will pay for the subsidies?, who will front the bill the educate the kids which come with this? how about infrastructure costs? for a city with no money and a state which is bankrupct it seems to me that these are things which need to have solutions for.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
You're not going to get a great deal of cooperation when you start out a conversation with words like "bigoted, fear-mongering, stomach turning, and anti-American". It makes the work of Pleasanton locals who are trying to address the issue THAT much harder.
As for the greenhouse gas emissions thing... It looks like only emissions by transportation are taken into account.
Here's a review on your source: Web Link
Here's a link from the review: Web Link
"The answer to this NIMBYism – "not in my backyard" thinking – does not receive much ink in this Urban Land Institute book. There is only one paragraph on Page 153 that addresses this problem:
"Successful planning requires the meaningful engagement of people who live and work in the affected community. Meaningful public engagement requires that planners and decision makers actively seek out public input early in the planning process, well before threshold questions are framed or alternatives crafted. When residents are engaged in the planning process from the beginning and know that their concerns and ideas are being considered, they are more likely to support new development. Visioning processes and design charrettes are two popular techniques that localities have used in recent years to engage citizens."
Nice words but, even when developers and architects go the extra mile, as shown by the recent controversy over a mixed-used development in the Kensington neighborhood of San Diego, opponents fling angry words in public meetings and threaten lawsuits and political retribution.
Perhaps ULI should follow up the "Growing Cooler" volume with "Cooler Heads," a study of recently successful developer-neighborhood workouts and lessons learned from confrontations that killed good ideas. "
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Stacey, I've read the book in its entirety and many of its sources, as well. It's research on the effect of the built environment on GHG.
NIMBYism is a political tangent. Is it important in making decisions? Yes. Does NIMBYism change the effects of built-environment variables on GHG? No. NIMBYism is a subject for a separate study (and there are many).
Your assumption about sources accounted for in the book is incorrect.
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 3:52 pm
If "elitist" and "ticked off" are the same, Tim, you're right. Because I'm ticked off that all the housing types--and people--the Bay Area doesn't want has been forced into the SJValley, where I live and work. Along with all the impacts.
I'm also angry at elitists who think that renters are unwashed. I rented for many years and was an excellent tenant and neighbor. I am today a model homeowner, well on my way to establishing my renovated bungalow into a historic landmark.
But those are reflections of my values, which are different from others posting here. I don't think everyone should think like me, the world would be boring and sad.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
I wouldn't expect NIMBYism to change the variables. The point about NIMBYism is related to implementation. In China, they're busy bulldozing entire neighborhoods without care for those who live there to implement changes to the built-environment, as you put it. This is America still. All stakeholders have to work together and starting out by pointing out character flaws of other stakeholders doesn't make for a good lubricant. Your earlier post tries to attribute opinions you read here to the majority of Pleasanton residents. You're going to offend more often than not.
My assumption is based upon reading summaries and reviews about the subject that seem to focus only on transportation as the pollution source. If that's incorrect, great.
a resident of Country Fair
on Mar 16, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I am sure you are a model person, citizen, neighbor because you have told us all so but I wondered if you could discussion solutions to this problem in terms of cost etc. other than you humanistic beliefs because that is not the subject of this posting about a town you do not even live in. It is quite boring to hear your hissy fits.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
Aw Alex, now you're just revealing your biases!
How about this... I have a 30 year time frame in Pleasanton from which to gain a long-range perspective on this issue. All those impacts you see in SJValley, I saw happen here first. I probably would not be here today if it weren't for the Peninsula cities and their job-housing imbalance. It looks like California's Housing Element law for the past 30 years DOESN'T SOLVE these issues. So why does Pleasanton today, created by the VERY SAME pressures occurring in SJValley, get shat on?
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
That isn't to say that Pleasanton is right in having a housing cap, to behave the same way as those cities closer to the Bay. You need to understand that the housing cap in Pleasanton came about because the same things you see happening in SJValley are/were happening here. People wanted to protect the environment by limiting the amount of housing units that could be built!
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Mary, it's not a humanistic belief, it's a state requirement.
My city complies with state law. Not happily, because we get a LOT of the spillover from the Bay Area and it costs us an enormous amount of money. Not to mention that long distance commuters aren't available to parent or to be neighbors or to participate in their communities, which are personal concerns of mine.
Stacey, I appreciate Pleasanton's problem, but perhaps you're not understanding (or maybe you do) that every city with a cap or that otherwise has refused to comply with the Housing Element law will have to comply. The suit against Pleasanton is leverage against everyone else.
For example, San Bernardino County was sued three years ago over failure to comply with AB 32. No other agency has been sued, but many have been threatened with suit and have settled instead. Suits aren't necessary because case law has been established.
My personal opinion about HE law is that is was enacted to prevent the very problem posed by Pleasanton, Petaluma, Atherton, and others that have refused to accommodate housing. We get dragged along and are forced to prepare a costly and time consuming document when we have never denied a housing development. But, the state regulations are applied equally (and unjustly, IMO) to one and all.
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Oh, and Mary, you're right, I don't live in Pleasanton. But what Pleasanton does affects everyone nearby, which makes it my business.
That and when Pleasanton doesn't comply, it's awfully hard to explain to Council why we DO have to comply and why we get a share of what Pleasanton doesn't want.
Do you see?
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 16, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Stacey is a registered user.
Alex wrote: "My personal opinion about HE law is that is was enacted to prevent the very problem posed by Pleasanton, Petaluma, Atherton, and others that have refused to accommodate housing."
I think you're correct on the reasons for the law. I think the law fails at it though. Even if a city is in compliance, there's still an underproduction. See, for example, the link I shared earlier: Web Link
a resident of another community
on Mar 16, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Stacey, thank you for your thoughtful remarks.
I've had a lot of time to consider whether one or another of the state's demands is reasonable and, while I think the goal is laudable, I am on the record saying that state needs to have a general plan of sorts by which all of its departments shall abide.
The ARB and governor's office are flogging AB 32, while Caltrans is building new roads and new capacity, HCD doesn't care where in a city housing is accommodated, and DoC wants everyone to stop building on farmland. Those things don't coexist.
Roadbuilding alone spurs new development and is one of the best predictors for where new development will happen next. People are willing to drive up to THREE hours to and from work, so when roads are widened, sprawl happens. Local examples of this include U.S. 101 in Sonoma and Santa Clara Counties, SR 120 in San Joaquin County, and I-80 in Sacramento and Placer Counties.
I also reject entirely HCD's notion that everyone over the age of 18 should have his own dwelling unit. HCD's projections are developed from population trend lines and there's an implicit assumption that people of a certain age should move out. Why?
Why doesn't HCD care where housing for poor people is located? The average cost of auto ownership in California is almost $8,000/yr. If you're poor, that money could be better spent on food and college.
Why doesn't the state bother to protect farmland? Agriculture is the basis of the local, state, national, and world economies. It vies with clean water as most important to sustaining human life. Yet it disappears year after year and can't be replaced.
There are lots of potential solutions, but only a small number will help solve our problems. And of course there are many problems that none of this will solve.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 8:08 pm
When 70% of the residents of Pleasanton commute outside of Pleasanton (from Pleasanton General Plan), how is adding more housing in our city helping the problem. If we build 1000 homes, that puts 700 people on to the roads commuting outside of Pleasanton.
Stacey, Oak Grove would not actually pay it fair share for school impact fees. They get to build homes up to 12,500 square feet but their impact fees are capped at 6,000 square feet. Perhaps the school district should remove that cap now since they will be having to deal with a lot of subsidized homes that will not be paying any of the gift fee school impact fee.
Where are we going to put these additional students? If they build all these additional homes in the Hacienda Business Park, there is no land for a school there. So all those students would go to Lydikson and Mohr which are already at capacity. What will happen is those kids will have to go to schools all over the city by driving all over the place, making traffic worse.
Also, Hosterman said she was on ABAG during here 2006 mayoral campaign. Was she lying then?
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:27 pm
The cap for impact fees is 7000 sq ft.
If you take 5000 sg ft homes and multiply it by the gift tax, which is what will be paid, it comes to over 3 million dollars. Check the number of students that development will produce, (between 40 and 50) and you could see that the impact fees would be more than enough. This does not even take into account the yearly amount from property taxes that go to the schools and the tax that goes to the city.
And the jobs that will be generated!
Most schools in the area are slated to loose students in the coming years.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:40 pm
The "gift fee" is voluntary, not mandated and comes from the individual homeowners in custom home developments as well as commercial development. Also, the courts have invalidated the cooperative fee agreement with some residential developers.
Also, the fees finance building school district facilities, not operating expenses or programs.
Oak Grove is not paying its fair share of fees because all the square footage of the monster homes are not counted. Only the first 7,000 sq feet of those 12,500 sq feet monstrosities are counted. Every developer or homeowner who builds structures in Pleasanton pays fees to the school district. Web Link has the rates.
a resident of Vintage Hills
on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Why do people try to diss the Mayor and the Council? I live down the street from the Mayor and I watch what she does. Hosterman was on ABAG IN 2006. Recently, she had another Councilmember take her place - I think the Vice Mayor.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 17, 2010 at 8:30 am
Stacey is a registered user.
We could be talking about two different things. I was thinking of Hosterman's attendance on LAFCO, which was a subject of the last campaign.
a resident of Val Vista
on Mar 17, 2010 at 8:47 am
I'm concerned by some posters reference to low-income housing as the equivalent of "subsidized housing",it is not. The low income housing mandates that developers make available to low income residents a certain percentage of homes in a new development. These homes are not subsidized. The concern that low-income equates criminals is also fallacious. #1. it does not mean that residents from outside of the city can come in and buy the reduced price homes because preference is given to City employees and City residents. #2. Low Income buyers must show a stable income and be able to qualify for a home loan. I have attended the "lotteries" held for the low income housing with my daughter who is a resident of Pleasanton, single mother, and has a stable and decent paying job. Other attendees included firemen, police officers, and school teachers. This is not a hand-out, but an opportunity for the hard working people of our community to have an opportunity to purchase a home in their community.
Whether the housing cap remains in effect or not, the low-income housing issue should not be demeaned in this manner.
Regarding the poster who suggested that we move all the low-income residents to Steve B's backyard; you can move them to my backyard, I'd love to have people like my own daughter living near me.
a resident of Birdland
on Mar 17, 2010 at 8:50 am
Let's see where Jerry "nutjob" Brown lives. It is not with the common folks. He lives in a gated community to let everyone know. Let's make sure the schools have enough money to teach/reach all children in the state. Education is how you improve a society. Improve education, you improve uqlity of life. Improve quality of life and you improve personal wealth. Then housing becomes "affordable".
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 17, 2010 at 9:20 am
Stacey is a registered user.
Sounds like an improvement from sleeping on the floor!
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 17, 2010 at 9:32 am
Fair share tries to mitigate the impact the number of students those homes would generate and the amount far outweighs the impact as does the amount of money collected each year through property taxes that would go towards programs and staff. This is in addition to the taxes the City would receive.
a resident of Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Mar 17, 2010 at 9:46 am
Stacey is a registered user.
Thanks for bringing visibility to such details by your debate.
a resident of Ironwood
on Mar 17, 2010 at 9:53 am
As I read the comments, I am surprised how ignorant some people are.
1. Jerry Brown is the Attorney General, not a Judge
2. Jerry Brown lives in Oakland, not a gated community (this one made me laugh)
3. We have a legal system...this will take years to figure out
4. and Yes we do need to donate money to the schools, so that our schools stay great
5. Oh yea, I think it was 2 middle age white men, running the Meth Lab
Grow Up People
a resident of Alisal Elementary School
on Mar 17, 2010 at 10:51 am
One more for your list:
One of the players in the legal action is Urban Habitat - not Habitat for Humanity.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 17, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Dave - full disclosure, please! From your LinkedIn bio:
"David Stark is the Public Affairs Director for the Bay East Association of REALTORS®. He manages the Association's media relations, political activities and works with elected leaders and government staff in the development of housing policies"
To top that off, Dave is a member of the Pleasanton Housing Commission and the Kottinger Place Redevelopment Task Force. Convenient ways to influence housing policies that benefit your clients. I bet Dave and Chamber of Commerce Director Scott Raty are dancing in the streets over this ruling!
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 17, 2010 at 2:06 pm
And Stacy, since you obviously know everything there is to know about city politics, why don't get off your behind and this blog and run for City Council! Maybe take out that pesky McGovern or Sullivan who keep insisting on actually representing the citizens and throwing up barriers to even more development!
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 17, 2010 at 2:16 pm
PleasantonMom said:
"2. Jerry Brown lives in Oakland, not a gated community (this one made me laugh)"
Have you BEEN to Oakland? There are some really exclusive communities there that are well-insulated from the low income areas. I'm guessing Brown's living in the hills, well away from the low income parts of the city. Who cares if there's a physical gate?
a resident of another community
on Mar 17, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Jerry Brown not only lives in the Oakland Hills, he was the mayor so he gets looked after quite nicely. When he got the wheels stolen off his car it was headline news and the police investigated it. I doubt the average resident of the flat lands gets such treatment.
Check out what happened to taxes and fees in Oakland under Jerry Brown's watch, and what happened at the same time to city services and what happened to the schools. A microcosm of what will happen if we send the Atty General of CA back to the Governors desk.
And taxes? Jerry Brown will only say that "there will be no new taxes unless you the people vote for them".
Web Link
What about increasing existing taxes? What about cutting taxes?
If you get a chance, ask Jerry Brown, if the Democrat controlled Legislature sends tax increase legislation to his desk, will he veto it?
a resident of Alisal Elementary School
on Mar 17, 2010 at 3:44 pm
It should come as no surprise that this ruling occurred. For the past 20 years, Pleasanton policy-makers have approved housing densities at either the mid-point or less than that which is designated in the General Plan. And along the way, a housing cap number is established based on some abstract number. All in response to NIMBY-ism. Then the City takes 7 years to update the latest General Plan and continues to argue with its neighboring cities and Alameda County over building its fair-share of arterial roadway networks, not to mention argueing with HCD about the RNHA allocation. Then Jerry Brown decides he wants to run for Governor and wants more visibility. I mean, can Pleasanton wave a bigger red wave that it has already been waving for yeeeeeeears.
a resident of Val Vista
on Mar 17, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Dancing, Why so hostile to Dave? It appears to me that he's doing a good job of networking and being involved in commissions that affect hischosen profession; that's certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Also, I hope he's a member of the Chamber of Commerce, an organization that supports the local economy and businesses in our community. I know I'm proud to be a member.
a resident of Alisal Elementary School
on Mar 17, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Inmart: I agree with you. As Dancing points out, Mr. Stark is active and volunteers alot of time to be on commissions regarding housing (market rate and affordable housing for senior citizens) which makes sense and I applaud him for it.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 17, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Between the 10% sales tax, a choice between Newsome and Brown, etc....
and now it has become all too local.
Hey...anyone know how Sunol has remained unscathed?
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 17, 2010 at 7:21 pm
To the previous poster, "Affordable Housing" is subsidized housing. The amount that an owner can sell an "affordable house" for is less than the price of materials, and that does not even include the price of the land.
Also, our firemen, police, and even entry level teachers do not qualify for "affordable housing". Their entry-level salaries are more then the maximum amount allowed to get the "affordable", I mean, subsidized, housing.
"Chamber of Commerce, an organization that supports the local economy and businesses in our community". PLEEZE! In every election, the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce has a single litmus test before they endorse. Do you support more housing. They are actually the "Chamber of Developers". I have a business in town and saw what they are up to and will not join the organization. The decision-makers support the developers.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 17, 2010 at 9:08 pm
I'm not "hostile" to Dave. I'm just asking for full disclosure. There are a lot of "interests" involved here. Most with and wanting more money.
a resident of Alisal Elementary School
on Mar 18, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Dear Anonymous: To your comment:
". . .the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce has a single litmus test before they endorse. Do you support more housing. They are actually the "Chamber of Developers". I have a business in town and saw what they are up to and will not join the organization. The decision-makers support the developers.
I presume you live in a house in Pleasanton in addition to having a business here. You are truly the epitome of hypocrisy. Please reveal the name of your business. Im sure you wouldnt want me or any of the other evil Chamber-supporting businesses to bother patronizing you. Heaven forbid you should be in business to make any profit.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 19, 2010 at 12:26 am
If the City of Pleasanton, along with past leadership from elected officials and community activism were absent...a maintainable and sustainable future would not even be possible. Mr. Stark and Mr. Raty are just doing their job with the limited resources available. People have been trying to break the spirit of OUR community for years. Hell... I get pissed off a lot for no other reason than an average citizen thinks everyone is watching their back. Not!!! Our problem today, in my humble opinion, is the average citizen does not know where to go without jumping through hoops to receive an answer worth a shit. Leadership, not Pleasanton Staff, thinks you want to take them down. Not all of us do! Our general plan has moved along at a rate that becomes manageable. Maybe not for the rest of the world.. but as planned as I understood it as far back as the 60's. Housing Cap? It is a damn good way for a community to take a reflective look at themselves toward current change with future needs. Schools...? there was only one past person patient enough to take the time to understand a persons context of a conversation and apply its application to todays current affairs with an answer to why? or why not? it would/could provide educational value. Who are those persons today, within OUR community, that provide that peace?
a resident of Country Fair
on Mar 19, 2010 at 8:33 am
I think most of these posts are pretty accurate. But, let's look at the history: A very old Council approved an initiative after completion of the 1996 GP update to look for voter support for a 29,000 unit cap on housing and an urban growth boundary. I remember thinking it was a great idea, and I voted, with the vast majority, to support it. Now, many years later, under a new Council, the cap part of it gets challenged. This Council defended our voter approved cap, as is their duty and responsibility. However, they knew it was going to be a tough fight, especially given all the new legislation passed in recent years to erode local land use rights. And now that it has been set aside, Pleasanton will have to do what other cities have done - figure out how to hang onto what local controls we have, while looking seriously at "smart" growth policies. Remember, the city is not in the business of building housing, just making zoning changes to accomodate the state's mandates. In this economy, not a whole lot of building is going on, nor will it for some time, which gives the Council time, with public support, to put together new policies with a HE update that will insure our long term fiscal health and quality of life. Nothing wrong with that!
a resident of Danbury Park
on Mar 21, 2010 at 12:52 am
We have low crime, great school scores and a family oriented town. I think the slow growth is in part responsible for that. Low income & subsidized housing is not what the most of the citizens want. They don't want to pay for it either. Jerry Brown is jealous that we have a better city than Oakland and he wants to drive some of their problems onto our streets.
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 21, 2010 at 9:29 am
Ironically, the Pleasanton schoolteacher, Sandra De Gregorio, who screwed us all will not even be able to qualify for an "affordable" home, because we pay her too much!
Perhaps Oak Grove should just become a "project" - two or three big tall apt. buildings - developers won't have to worry about the ridgelines, because no local legislation will stand up to the needs of Sandra, Jerry and the entitled.
a resident of Pleasanton Meadows
on Mar 22, 2010 at 9:56 pm
The California Teachers' Association and Nancy Pelosi support Public Advocates - no surprise. So do some companies that you may currently patronize. So long At&T, hello Comcast.
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Radharc a Celebration
Radharc was first aired in January 1962 and over the next 34 years broadcast more than 400 programmes from Ireland and around the world.
Radharc is the title of a series of documentaries broadcast by RTÉ between 1962 and 1996. The first programme was aired on January 12th 1962, just 12 days after the new Irish television service was launched. Over the following 34 years, more than 400 programmes were televised. We have made 12 Radharc programmes available to view in this exhibition from RTÉ Archives.
The word 'Radharc' (pronounced 'rye-ark') is the Gaelic for 'view', 'vision' or 'panorama'. What the Radharc team set out to do was to bring to an Irish TV audience reports from around Ireland and later from 75 countries on different ways of living the Christian Gospel understood in its broadest sense. Among the issues covered were human rights, injustice, faith, religion, persecution, struggles against oppressive regimes, famine, and Christian heritage.
In 1959 Archbishop John Charles McQuaid of Dublin sent two priests to New York to learn something about the new medium of television, due to begin in Ireland soon. On their return, Fr Joe Dunn and Fr Desmond Forristal gathered a few like-minded priests with creative talent around them and began to produce short experimental films. Although he was sceptical of the venture, McQuaid gave them a gift of £300 towards the cost of a 16mm sync-sound camera and wished them well. When the films were shown to Michael Barry, who was to be Controller of the new TV service, he immediately commissioned them for broadcast. The team of priest-filmmakers immediately got to work and produced the first series of programmes which were over the following three decades among the most popular and critically acclaimed programmes on Irish television. They picked up many awards both national and international and were regularly in the viewers' top ten most watched programmes on RTÉ.
In choosing titles for inclusion in this exhibition, the aim was to select films from different periods in the Radharc output, from various locations - three from Ireland and nine from other countries and continents, and using a variety of formats within the documentary genre. With such a wealth of material available, this can only be a representative sample.
'Down and Out in Dublin' looked at poverty in Ireland's capital in 1964. It is notable for its beautifully crafted and poignant commentary written by Des Forristal and spoken by Fr Peter Lemass. 'Radharc in Derry' is a powerful witness to the inequality of the Northern Catholic nationalist community in 1964. It was considered too sensitive politically to broadcast at the time and in fact was not permitted to be aired until 25 years later, in 1989. Who knows what effect it might have had on later Irish history if it had been transmitted in 1964, with the ensuing national debate it would have undoubtedly created.
'Mother of the Kennedys' is a unique extended interview with Rose Kennedy, whose sons, President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy were both assassinated. She gives a revealing account of how her faith helped her through these very public tragedies.
'Turkana' and 'Father of the Red Bull' were both filmed in Kenya and are colourful accounts of the lives and innovative work of Irish missionaries and the difficulties they encounter in a hostile desert climate.
'Night Flight to Uli' – one of the most significant films ever produced by Radharc – covers the horror of war and famine in Biafra and the dangers in flying Irish aid to a starving population of refugees.
'Escape to Nowhere' is another poignant programme filmed among refugees from Laos and Cambodia during the terror of the Pol Pot regime. 'Pain is the Price' was the first documentary produced on the work of Irish Columban missionary, Fr Shay Cullen, nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his rescue work among street children in Olongapo in the Phillipines.
'The Forgotten Irish' and 'The Black Irish' are informative and amusing accounts of the Irish diaspora in Newfoundland, Canada, and the Caribbean island of Montserrat. 'New Day in Brazil' was the first English language documentary on liberation theology lived under the military regime in Brazil in 1977. It was broadcast on many TV stations around the world.
'Dying for a Drink' is a Radharc drama-documentary on alcohol addiction in Ireland. TV reviewers noted 'hauntingly good', 'should be compulsory viewing for every man, woman and child', 'this film was badly needed', 'will help to avert a lot of misery'.
We hope you enjoy dipping into this sample of programmes, the result of a long and fruitful collaboration between Radharc and RTÉ.
Dermod McCarthy
Dermod McCarthy was a producer with the Radharc team from 1965-1982 and was editor of RTÉ Religious Programmes from 1991-2008.
The Radharc Squad is a two part documentary produced by Tyrone Productions in association with RTÉ looking at the work and legacy of Radharc. The series was first broadcast in 2012 and can be viewed here.
The accompanying image shows Desmond Forristal, Dermod McCarthy and Joe Dunn with the UNDA award for the film 'Heirs of the Father' in 1979.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
If you are trying to pare back your budget in the food category this year there are ways to save money eating out that can drastically change what you spend every month. Some personal finance gurus might suggest avoiding it altogether. And that might be wise in some cases. However, I consider checking out my local eateries more of an experience than an excuse not to cook. So if you've got the urge to hit the town for a meal every once in a while, or if you're just a mess in the kitchen, here are 7 tips to help you reduce your costs and to gain some more control over an area of your finances that can easily spiral out of control.
Eat out on weekdays. If you decide to eat out on a weekday instead of a weekend you'll almost certainly save money. The key is finding out which local restaurants offer the best weekday discounts. For instance, a couple of seafood places in my neck of the woods offer a dozen oysters for $5 on Tuesdays. My local Irish pub offers $5 burger and fries on Wednesdays. These types of specials are pretty much only offered on weeknights – so start finding out what deals are going down at your local spots! Another perk is avoiding those crazy Friday night crowds. I hate waiting for a table!
Sign up for restaurant emails. My favorite local eatery (it's a mildly fancy one) sends out monthly e-mails with updates about what's happening. At the bottom of every email they place a gorgeous little coupon. It can save us 50% of our entrees if we will arrive early…on a weekday. That makes it not the easiest deal to use, but because the discount is so awesome we find a way to make it happen. Maybe I'm too cheap, but I don't go to this restaurant now unless we're using the early bird special coupon. This restaurant also offers a sweet deal on gift cards around the Holidays. If you spend $100 you get a free $50 gift card. That can make a great gift or just add to your sweet discount all year long. Sign up for e-mails with your favorite local establishments. Maybe you'll get some sweet offers because of it!
Share an entree. The portion sizes at most restaurants are insanely large! Most of us really don't need that much food. Consider sharing a meal with your dinner partner instead and halving the check. There's one particular place that my wife and I always split the entree. We need to be better about finding more places to do it. It really does make that final bill much more manageable. Plus, if it's spaghetti you've got a possible lady and the tramp moment waiting to happen!
Don't order dessert. The end of meal delicacy is a wallet slayer. Desserts often have a higher profit margin than the main course. And honestly, who needs 'em? Staying away from that dessert page in the restaurant menu will save you money and the unnecessary calories. It's much cheaper to have some popcorn or a bit of ice cream at home anyway.
Use discount websites for specialty deals. I've written a little bit about this before but it bears repeating. My wife and I probably eat out a little more than the average American. There are just too many good restaurants within a stones throw of us to not make it part of our lifestyle. BUT, websites like Scoutmob, Savored, and Groupon have helped make this possible. Chances are you won't find a deal for the exact place you want to go that night. But if you are flexible, these websites can really slash the price of your culinary excursion. Scoutmob is my personal favorite by the way 🙂
Plan ahead. Thinking about your upcoming week and what you'll do for sustenance ahead of time can save you big money. I know that some of my most costly food months are the ones in which I didn't spend very much time planning my meals. Writing down your meal schedule can help you avoid a costly last-minute trip to your favorite restaurant. If you wait until you get home to see what you have on hand chances are you'll take the easy (and expensive) way out far more than you envisioned you would.
Go out for lunch instead! If you can't hit up any of those early bird specials during the week or if eating out Monday through Thursday is just too difficult in your household, know that lunch on a Saturday or Sunday could also save you some real money. There's one seafood place in my city that I've been dying to try. But it's ridiculously freaking expensive! I've looked at their website though and they've got some really decent lunch prices. When I do make it there (hopefully soon) I'll definitely be enjoying a long lunch with my wife. And I won't feel bad about it because I'll be eating amazing food at much lower prices just because I changed the timing of my visit.
Use a gift card. I've told you about how I shop for clothes. I love to pre-purchase a hugely discounted gift card at Cardpool.com before I even step foot in the store (or their online presence). You can do the same thing with certain chain restaurants. You can save 10-15% right off the top just by using this strategy. If you pair it with some of the discounts above you're talking about big possible savings.
There are certainly other tips that will save you money when eating out. Drinking water and staying away from beer and liquor will certainly make asking for the check less scary. I'm such a craft beer fanatic though that a dry hopped IPA or a smooth Scotch Ale are usually something I'm willing to pony up for when I go out for some grub. Remember, going out to a cool restaurant and taking the night off from cooking can be worth it. It can be more than just choosing to spend more money on food that evening.
I enjoy dining out for the experience. I'm not sure of the exact reason but my wife and I often have our best conversations when dining out together. Maybe it's just the fact that we are able to slow down and be more cognizant of each other. I hope these are some helpful tips and that they make your next trip to the restaurant a little less financially frightening.
What are your favorite ways to save money eating out?
[photos courtesy of TaxCredits.net, Little Tulip, and Me!]


text:
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
What a CHARMing surprise
82 comments:
- Bethany James Leigh Shady said...
i got stinks
- April 8, 2008 at 1:18 AM
- Congested said...
Dammit. I wish I could just say I like someone/something and then get free stuff from them. Damn you!
Though tbh idk even know what Charm City Cakes is :(
Sounds good though. Sort of like this cupcake place I go to here in NY called "Sugar Sweet Sunshine" XD
- April 8, 2008 at 2:54 AM
- Geoff Gentry (aka xforce11) said...
Duff & crew rock. Congrats on the cake.
- April 8, 2008 at 3:12 AM
- Apex Zombie said...
Damn! That's wicked awesome!
- April 8, 2008 at 3:22 AM
- Jennifer said...
That's awesome, I love Ace of Cakes! I'm still learning how to cook a lot of things, but I can't imagine pulling off some of the awesome things they make!
- April 8, 2008 at 4:19 AM
- TheUnity (Siv) said...
Smooth tactics Jorge :D
- April 8, 2008 at 4:19 AM
- bertas said...
You dont mind if I call you a smooth arse do you? :) Lucky bugger...
Oh and anytime I mess up a cream cake I use the whipped cream trick :)
- April 8, 2008 at 4:38 AM
- redelf said...
I am completely allergic to cooking!!!
But your cake looks yummy!
- April 8, 2008 at 5:12 AM
- jen said...
Recipe! You must share the recipe! I have no idea what a tres leches cake is, but it sounds and looks gooood.
- April 8, 2008 at 5:25 AM
- jcnemecek said...
Whipped cream fixes everything--lopsided cakes, dented cars, holes in roofs....
- April 8, 2008 at 5:58 AM
- Topanga said...
Bethany? What does "I got stinks" mean? Maybe that's a loaded question I shouldn't ask. Never ask a question unless you are sure you want to hear the answer. But I'm just the curious kind of person that when they see somebody randomly saying "I got stinks", has to ask the enduring, age-old question... "Huh?"
Was it the beans that did it? The egg salad sandwich you had for lunch yesterday? Last night's brussel sprouts? The garlic spare ribs or maybe you had one too many beers? Perhaps you ran the 'tour de stade' that night with Jack and Desmond and didn't adequately cool off before showering? Or maybe, as Frank Zappa (rest his soul) once said:
"You got stink foot! stink foot, darlin'
Your stink foot puts a hurt on my nose!
Stink foot! stink foot! I ain't lyin'
Can you rinse it off, do you suppose?"
- April 8, 2008 at 6:05 AM
- Honeybell said...
You are totally a Latin, masculine, Betty Crocker. Looks fantastic! Sadly I too, am ignorant about Charm City Cakes. Must google.
- April 8, 2008 at 6:20 AM
- Jodi said...
That's so nice that they sent you all that stuff.
The cake looks good. Quite the talented guy.
- April 8, 2008 at 6:58 AM
- youseedrybones said...
Dude! I love that show. I also like Clutch (the receptionist is the sister of the lead singer).
Good swag from Charm City Cakes.
- April 8, 2008 at 7:50 AM
- chefmom said...
Nicely done! Charm City's cool. I'm doing a lot of 3D cake lately. Latest was golden lab, sitting with a bone in it's mouth. You look SO COOL in your chef coat! And your tres leches cake looks great...just rotate it every few minutes and it will even out next time. I'm going to post the molasses cookie recipe here: www.fortheloveofcakenj.com
Obviously you can bake, so make them!!
- April 8, 2008 at 7:50 AM
- Tiffany Noélli said...
Hummm.. Então agora virou Gourmet??? Essa torta parece estar deliciosa... rsrsrs... Uma ótima semana Jorge! Beijão... =)
- April 8, 2008 at 8:36 AM
- Colleen Oakes said...
Anytime I try to make a three layer cake, it comes out weird looking - but the glorious frosting covers all.
- April 8, 2008 at 9:23 AM
- maven said...
And you cook, too!
- April 8, 2008 at 9:27 AM
- Amy said...
How cool is that?! I love Ace of Cakes & I love Tres Leches cake...I've never tried to make it though ... I'd LOVE it if you shared your recipe!!!
- April 8, 2008 at 9:46 AM
- James Hernandez said...
Your totally amazing! The last time I tried to bake a cake was when I was twelve and I used my sisters little magic chef oven (toy for teaching girls how to be domestic). Long story short - I burnt my hand and got the equivalent of a sticky cupcake. Geez tres leches sounds interesting - I'm heading down to my local Pollo Tropical to try one.
- April 8, 2008 at 10:06 AM
- Kaileigh Blue said...
Man, I've not been having a good day and this made me giggle so hard. Thanks :D
- April 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM
- Irishcoda said...
Ooooh, can I come over and have some of that dessert?
- April 8, 2008 at 1:03 PM
- Avinash said...
Seems like Tara Reid's breasts and your tres leches cakes have something in common...
- April 8, 2008 at 2:52 PM
- Ack said...
I am so jealous! My dream job would be working at a place like Charm City, they all seem so cool.
- April 8, 2008 at 2:53 PM
- Capcom said...
Fantastic! :-D
Martha Stewart just showed how to make a tres leche cake recently! Yours looks wonderful.
Maybe your oven is "listing". You can either turn the cake like Chefmom said, or some day get it leveled out.
- April 8, 2008 at 4:54 PM
- redelf said...
I thought you guys might like this. Cutest Kitten EVER!!!
- April 8, 2008 at 5:50 PM
- VaLiGirl said...
Any chance you might Fed Ex me a piece of that lopsided cake?
My favorite quote from that whole post was "So I put on my chef's jacket..." You just happen to own a chef's jacket?
Okay, so I'm going to try to score free swag now... Ummm... I really love BMWs. Or Lexuses (Is it Lexi? I digress...)
Continue rocking.
- April 8, 2008 at 6:48 PM
- groovymom said...
Very fun (always) post! What tunes do you play when you cook? We could almost hear the music - great pictures!
I had to look up Charm City Cakes - WOW!!! How much fun are those??
But maybe a shame to eat. They should do an art gallery show of pictures of those amazing cakes!!
- April 8, 2008 at 8:06 PM
- alix said...
for y'all in the dark about tres leches (three milks) cake... imagine a snow white spongy cake that has been soaking for hours in sugary milk, so that once it's fully saturated, and generously slathered with whipped cream, and you finally have a bite, you experience a most pleasurable burst of the sweet, cool milk... kinda like gushers, but a million times better, and with a lot more gush. i love it so bad.
- April 8, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Hi peeps
Here is a video about Charm City Cakes I found as I had no idea what it was either.
Jorge you make my day when when I come to your blog and have the joy of a new post by you.
- April 8, 2008 at 9:28 PM
- Dave said...
As a person that lived in Charm City (Baltimore) for 6 years, I must say I'm jealous. :)
- April 9, 2008 at 1:14 AM
- oh pook said...
Love the chef jacket on you!!!
Any need for a cutting board *winkyfaceguy*
So if Hurley ever gets killed off we can find you on the Food Network, right!??!
- April 9, 2008 at 7:58 AM
- sneffik said...
Pun intended.
You should come to Charm City and suprise the folks at Duffy's bakery. Charm City rocks! Born and raised!
- April 9, 2008 at 1:01 PM
- Helen ¬¬ said...
I love u Jorge!
i wanna have sxxx with u !!
nice cake!
Cheers from Argentina :D
- April 9, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Totally off the topic comment here, but you are so funny in a completely effortless and random way...you remind me of, and make me miss my older brother who lives out in North Hollywood (2000+ miles from where I reside in Lawrence,KS...ROCK CHALK JAY HAWKS!). Though he looks nothing like you, or visa versa....
- April 9, 2008 at 9:19 PM
- Miss Scarlett said...
I'm gonna have to look this place up because if that recipe is from their site...and also - I have to know what kind of bakery/cake place sends drum sticks?!
- April 9, 2008 at 9:30 PM
- Freckles said...
Your cake with strawberries on it made me hungry. A Tres Leches cake? mmmmmm even more delicious...
Take Care Jorge!! I already send your best for all your fans in Chile! (Lostchile ;)) Thanks again!
Take care!
- April 10, 2008 at 12:32 AM
- zazita said...
your blog is great!!
i'm a big fan of Lost and i'm happy to see your blog!!
- April 10, 2008 at 2:03 AM
- zazita said...
That has the too good sight!!
- April 10, 2008 at 2:06 AM
- Radioactive Tori said...
I am totally jealous...they are awesome!
That looks delicious. Do you have a recipe you want to share????
- April 10, 2008 at 8:01 AM
- ROSA said...
I want a cake like this at my birthday!!! Receipt, please ;p
- April 10, 2008 at 10:08 AM
- Congested said...
He deleted (or at least as far as I can tell he did) some other post called "Got stinks?"
- April 11, 2008 at 2:20 AM
- JiMoOo said...
Please Jorge, visit our blog, we talk about your's
from Spain, Jimo
- April 11, 2008 at 9:20 AM
- JiMoOo said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 11, 2008 at 9:21 AM
- JiMoOo said...
And send a comment please!! It will be a dream for us!!!
a lot of Thanks! your spanish Fan! Jimo
- April 11, 2008 at 9:37 AM
- L said...
Seens delecius!
- April 11, 2008 at 11:45 AM
- jeg118 said...
Lucky! I love that show! Awesome!
- April 11, 2008 at 11:48 AM
- Selina said...
Wooooow! That's so awesome! :D
- April 11, 2008 at 12:23 PM
- carnaval-andino said...
Dude, do you understand the spanish language?. I speak a poor english and i can´t express all the things that i want you to say in each post :(. I hope so.
Greetings from Argentina
- April 11, 2008 at 12:49 PM
- sassa1971 said...
Hello Jorge,
Such a cute chef hehe! How can someone get an autograph when he lives far away? Do you send to funs with e-mail?
Thanks anyway and congratulation for your blog! It is always a pleasure to see Hurley in his kitchen!
Take care dude!...Dimitris from Athens Greece
- April 11, 2008 at 1:00 PM
- lovelylorina said...
- April 11, 2008 at 3:50 PM
- bignivanut said...
yum! a man in an apron....
- April 11, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Buen pastel jaja
- April 12, 2008 at 4:02 AM
- Lucas said...
Ten I love your blog, but I will be like ma Spanish images, and also lost your performance.
I also have a blog I hope you know Spanish.
- April 12, 2008 at 8:59 AM
- Nicole said...
Crap, now I want cake
- April 12, 2008 at 1:24 PM
- moc815 said...
Yum Jorge!
I saw Alton Brown make that cake. Now you. I must have that cake.
- April 12, 2008 at 11:22 PM
- Dr. B. said...
You, ('ThinkI'mGonnaHurley') my good man, are a dude among duds. Thanks for this charming blog, as well as for the questions you also faithfully answer daily elsewhere (here's the elsewhere): http://thefuselage.com
Of the whole cast, only Gorge and Terry O'Quinn (John Locke) faithfully respond to registered members at The Fuselage; Daniel Dae Kim only answers at his MySpace page these days: www.myspace.com/danieldaekim
OK, gang, just cut and paste these URLs into your browsers, get in touch, and make friends spreading the word about blogger.com, MySpace.com, and thefuselage.com
These three men have stuck with us... communicated with us... Gorge, Terry, and Daniel deserve our true loyalty.
- April 13, 2008 at 12:54 AM
- Lucas said...
I am lucas wave to me again if I have some pardons faults, but I am esque Spanish aaa and my blog is: http://lascosillasdelucas.blogspot.com
- April 13, 2008 at 1:27 AM
- elainemarieg said...
It would be so cool if you dropped a comment in your comments once in awhile - like a nice surprise. Do you speak Spanish? You have lot of fans who do!
- April 13, 2008 at 8:19 AM
- Flá Romani... said...
I like :)
- April 13, 2008 at 9:28 AM
- twisby said...
i am SO JEALOUS! i love that show!!!
- April 14, 2008 at 6:01 AM
- Edgard Cravo said...
Hi Dude, congratulations. This cake seem delicious.
A hug
- April 14, 2008 at 7:23 PM
- Isands are forever said...
You're cake looks yummy!!! But what is a Charm City Cake?
- April 15, 2008 at 5:48 PM
- Sabrina said...
Would love to see the recipe, too! Those berries looks sooo yummy!
- April 16, 2008 at 8:22 AM
- Charlie X said...
oh you spoiled turd! :-p
I love that show! Very jealous of the free stuff.
- April 16, 2008 at 11:09 AM
- Tara @ Pacific Bride Guide said...
Hey there- I just happened upon your blog. Just wanted to let you know I totally appreciate your blogs about Hawaii. It's nice to see that you've really made our home your home :) tara
- April 16, 2008 at 9:06 PM
- Rosemary Bats said...
You are clearly more sophisticated than I, for I have no idea what the hell a tres leches cake is. Does it mean "three milks" like I'm thinking it does? I took French in high school, not Spanish like this seems to be, but that's what it sounds like. Weird name for a cake.
...and this is the eight or ninth time I've tried posting this damn comment. I need to stop making my passwords in French/Japanese/Latin so that I can actually remember them. XP Only for you, Jorge, would I even bother to keep guessing. Because you're cool.
- April 17, 2008 at 11:11 PM
- Le_Mags said...
Tu postre luce muy bien Jorge.
Un saludo desde Bolivia, a ver cuando actualizas en español para tu fanaticada hispana.
- April 18, 2008 at 9:08 PM
- SBTVD said...
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the SBTVD, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://sbtvd.blogspot.com. A hug.
- April 19, 2008 at 4:30 AM
- Utter Basketcase said...
I.... don't know what to say!
I'm star struck!!!
Is 'I Love you' a little over the top? :-P *GiGGLeS* xx
- April 19, 2008 at 1:09 PM
- Lucas said...
ola soy lucas valla tarta, espero que sepas español para que puedas ver mi blog: http://lascosillasdelucas.blogspot.com/
- April 19, 2008 at 4:27 PM
- nirese said...
This has absolutely nothing to do with cakes, but I just had one of the best ice cream treats ever and I just had to mention it. You may have heard of it...it's called "it's it" mint ice cream treat! I got it at the Kailua Safeway. It's an excellent version of the ice cream sandwich...oatmeal cookies with mint icecream covered in dark chocolate. Divine!
- April 19, 2008 at 11:51 PM
- nitebyrd said...
Whipped cream makes EVERYTHING better.
- April 20, 2008 at 4:20 PM
- rubbercement said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- April 22, 2008 at 11:35 PM
- rubbercement said...
aww, chef duff was recently at the local aquarium (he made a cake for the rare shark ray they have). i wanted to see the cake, but no one else i know is a fan of charm city cakes like me. LOL on april fool's day I made a "grilled cheese" cake for my sister. i used a couple slices of toasted angel food cake and buttercream frosting dyed with food coloring. it was hilarious. i took a pic, thought it may amuse you- http://img254.imageshack.us/
- April 22, 2008 at 11:40 PM
- Fairyskull In Cucina con Me said...
Wow good cake !!! :-)
- May 10, 2008 at 5:14 AM
- Yovanna said...
Tres Leches!!!! I'm half-Panamanian (my mom was born and raised in Panama near the border with Costa Rica) and we love tres leches cake! I want a slice! Ever had tostones/patacones? (fried plantain). They are to die for! I grew up on a steady diet of patacones, arroz con guandules and corn meal tortillas. mmmmMmmmmMM
- May 16, 2008 at 2:40 PM
- Erin said...
Oh, man, does that look tasty!!
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In 1981, ed hardy and his wife formed Hardy Marks Publications. In 2004, Christian Bale licensed the rights to produce the high-end Ed Hardy UK line, which is based on Hardy's imagery. Prior to the ed hardy clothing line, Bale was the Head Designer at Von Dutch Originals, which marketed the imagery of Kenny Howard. Don ed hardy, commented, As demand for my artwork continues to skyrocket, I felt it was ed hardy clothing time to take on a partner that could help me manage the demand and opportunities for the ed hardy T-shirts name. Iconix is at the forefront of brand management and clearly has the capabilities to dramatically grow the Ed Hardy UK business. I'm thrilled to have them as a partner. Cheap Ed Hardy are located in everywhere. We also believe that by owning the brand alongside ed hardy clothing, the founder, there will be opportunities to further leverage his iconic name along with his new artwork. Largest selection of Ed Hardy T-Shirts and Ed Hardy here.
- October 20, 2009 at 7:58 PM


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"A commons arises whenever a given community decides that it wishes to manage a resource in a collective manner, with a special regard for equitable access, use and sustainability. It is a social form that has long lived in the shadows of our market culture, but which is now on the rise." —David Bollier
- Without exception, we all belong to our community, and we each have an equal stake in what happens.
- We must recognize and repair the damage that has been done, and the inequities that have been created, by our current, market-based society.
- The things that belong to all of us must be named, claimed, defended, protected, and improved. We have a mutual responsibility to take care of these commons and pass them on to the next generation in better shape than we found them.
- We must honor our full humanity. We are not merely individuals and consumers—we are neighbors, community members, citizens, and experts on the places we live.
- We are surrounded by abundance and opportunity that the market does not recognize or value. We must see and claim this abundance for the benefit of all.
- Everyone should have the chance to participate in defining, restoring, creating, managing, leading, governing, and owning anything that is important to the future of the community.
- People most affected by critical decisions must be included in the process of making them.
- History, cultural distinctiveness and people's personal stories are important factors in setting goals and making decisions, as well as simply understanding our community.
- Sufficiency and resilience are the opposite of the folly of growth.
To create a commons-based society people need more than exposure to new ideas; they need tangible ways of experiencing, practicing and living out these bright possibilities. To ensure the survival of the community and of our common assets, we must create new customs, understandings, systems, and structures.


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