San Mateo's new Economic Development Director is a familiar face. Welcome back from Motown Marcus Clarke!
Press release forthcoming.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
New Bike Racks In Downtown San Mateo
This week as part if the City's Bicycle Master Plan, the City started installation of these cool new bike racks.
If you haven't ever left your car at home and ridden a bike to downtown, what are you waiting for?!?
If you haven't ever left your car at home and ridden a bike to downtown, what are you waiting for?!?
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Meeting With The Community
Part of being an effective Mayor is getting out into the community to meet with neighborhood groups. Over the past week I had the opportunity to meet with two distinct yet equally important groups.
On April 16, I met with residents of the Sunnybrae Neighborhood Association to discuss development trends, train noise, and public safety.
Then today, I had lunch with business leaders in San Mateo to discuss economic and development trends, as well as the general state of the City.
If you organization would like to meet with me, feel free to contact me at dlim@cityofsanmateo.org to arrange a meeting!
On April 16, I met with residents of the Sunnybrae Neighborhood Association to discuss development trends, train noise, and public safety.
Then today, I had lunch with business leaders in San Mateo to discuss economic and development trends, as well as the general state of the City.
If you organization would like to meet with me, feel free to contact me at dlim@cityofsanmateo.org to arrange a meeting!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
In Memory of the Victims in Boston
Following the horrific attacks at the Boston Marathon yesterday, following a directive from the President of the United States, I have requested all flags over City buildings and property in San Mateo be lowered to half staff in memory of the victims of this senseless act of terror. The flags will remain at half staff until April 21.
The City of San Mateo offers condolences to all those affected by this tragedy, and stands united behind the People and City of Boston during this troubling time.
The City of San Mateo offers condolences to all those affected by this tragedy, and stands united behind the People and City of Boston during this troubling time.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Progress Seminar - Monterey
At the Progress Seminar with San Mateo elected, business and community leaders discussing regional issues.
Attending on my own dime -- no taxpayer funds used.
Attending on my own dime -- no taxpayer funds used.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Drones Over San Mateo County?
Today I was dismayed to learn through local newspaper outlets that the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department won approval for federal funds to purchase an aerial drone through the Urban Areas Security Initiative.
The City of San Mateo, including the San Mateo Police Department, was NOT involved in the decision to request or apply for the aerial drone.
As your Mayor and Councilmember, I am opposed to the use of military hardware such as aerial drones over American Cities, especially the City of San Mateo. I have sent an email to San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks asking for clarification on how the decision to purchase aerial drones was made, and why the public, including the San Mateo City Council, was not involved in the discussion.
I will continue to seek answers to this very troubling topic.
Tweet
My Letter to San Mateo County Sheriff Munks
San Mateo County’s request for money to purchase a drone was approved last month, but county officials said Monday that plans to deploy the controversial robot are not moving forward.
A grant of $70,000 for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office to buy a small surveillance drone dubbed a “fully autonomous first responder” by developer Lockheed-Martin was approved March 14 by the Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative, which doles out money to local law enforcement for counterterrorism activities.
San Mateo County’s request for the drone was first reported by the Oakland Tribune. Efforts by other Bay Area law enforcement agencies, including the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, to buy and deploy drones have been abandoned after public outcry.
Drones are a key part of the United States’ international efforts to combat terrorism, but lethal drone strikes against suspected terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan have led to questions over their legality and the rights of due process.
Though the grant to acquire a drone was approved, the device will not be deployed anytime soon, according to a county spokeswoman.
Though the grant to acquire a drone was approved, the federal sequester means those funds are no longer available, and the device will not be deployed unless more money becomes available.
“Unless additional funding becomes available this project will not move forward,” Capt. Mark Wyss wrote in an email.
Drones are used by first responders to gauge the severity of fires and other disasters. The machines can stay in the air for about 25 minutes and transmit high-quality video, including at night using an infrared camera.
croberts@sfexaminer.com
Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2013/04/drone-funding-approved-san-mateo-county-sheriff-s-department-lockheed-martin#ixzz2PwV85aWf
The City of San Mateo, including the San Mateo Police Department, was NOT involved in the decision to request or apply for the aerial drone.
As your Mayor and Councilmember, I am opposed to the use of military hardware such as aerial drones over American Cities, especially the City of San Mateo. I have sent an email to San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks asking for clarification on how the decision to purchase aerial drones was made, and why the public, including the San Mateo City Council, was not involved in the discussion.
I will continue to seek answers to this very troubling topic.
Tweet
My Letter to San Mateo County Sheriff Munks
Dear Sheriff Munks,
I was dismayed to read in the local media
this evening that the County of San Mateo won approval of a military-style
aerial drone for use over the communities of San Mateo. While I understand that
funding for the equipment may be delayed due to sequestration issues, I am
nonetheless troubled that as the Mayor of one of the largest communities in San
Mateo County, I am learning about this issue for the first time via the media.
Was there any outreach to local
communities over this issue? Were there public meetings to discuss the
potential uses of this equipment? While I understand that much of the federal
funding goes for training and other vital equipment that helps local law
enforcement agencies protect our communities, as you know aerial
drones carry legitimate issues regarding privacy rights and civil
liberties. If I missed notification on this important topic, I
apologize for the oversight, and ask for a chance to discuss this with you at
your earliest convenience.
On behalf of the residents of the City of
San Mateo, I would like to discuss the planned uses of an aerial drone over the
City of San Mateo prior to acquisition of such a device. I also plan to bring
this issue up at public meetings and before the entire City Council of San Mateo
to discuss formulation of a policy on this issue.
Thank you for your time and service to our
community, and I look forward to your response.
Mayor David Lim
San Mateo City Councildlim@cityofsanmateo.org
San Mateo City Councildlim@cityofsanmateo.org
************************************************************
Drone funding approved for San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department, Lockheed-Martin
San Mateo County’s request for money to purchase a drone was approved last month, but county officials said Monday that plans to deploy the controversial robot are not moving forward.
A grant of $70,000 for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office to buy a small surveillance drone dubbed a “fully autonomous first responder” by developer Lockheed-Martin was approved March 14 by the Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative, which doles out money to local law enforcement for counterterrorism activities.
San Mateo County’s request for the drone was first reported by the Oakland Tribune. Efforts by other Bay Area law enforcement agencies, including the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, to buy and deploy drones have been abandoned after public outcry.
Drones are a key part of the United States’ international efforts to combat terrorism, but lethal drone strikes against suspected terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan have led to questions over their legality and the rights of due process.
Though the grant to acquire a drone was approved, the device will not be deployed anytime soon, according to a county spokeswoman.
Though the grant to acquire a drone was approved, the federal sequester means those funds are no longer available, and the device will not be deployed unless more money becomes available.
“Unless additional funding becomes available this project will not move forward,” Capt. Mark Wyss wrote in an email.
Drones are used by first responders to gauge the severity of fires and other disasters. The machines can stay in the air for about 25 minutes and transmit high-quality video, including at night using an infrared camera.
croberts@sfexaminer.com
Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2013/04/drone-funding-approved-san-mateo-county-sheriff-s-department-lockheed-martin#ixzz2PwV85aWf
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
San Mateo Mayor David Lim’s home remodel challenged
March 27, 2013, 05:00 AM
By Bill Silverfarb Daily Journal
Homeowners often take issue when someone in their neighborhood wants to remodel or add on to their home, but what if that someone is the mayor?
San Mateo Mayor David Lim wants to construct a 109-square-foot first-story addition and a 640-square-foot second-story addition to his growing family’s Sugarloaf Neighborhood home and filed an application with the city last July.
Through the process, Lim held a pre-application neighborhood meeting to spell out to those who live nearby what his construction plans were.
One neighbor’s home, however, will lose part of its 180-degree view of the Bay with Lim’s addition, which initially called for building about 800 square feet on the second floor.
So, Lim scaled the project back and was eventually granted permission by a city zoning administrator to move forward with the project.
The neighbors with the great view, however, filed an appeal with the city’s Planning Commission within 10 days after approval to try and reverse the zoning administrator’s decision.
The neighbors, Terry Larson and Megan Goggins, paid $515 to appeal the decision but the process will end up costing the Lim family an additional $4,400 to pay for city staff time and other expenses, he told the Daily Journal yesterday.
In the meantime, Lim is still working with his neighbors to find a solution outside of the city process. He is also not sure whether he will appeal himself to the City Council if the Planning Commission sides with the appellant and turns down Lim’s application.
The appellant can also appeal to the City Council if the Planning Commission sides with Lim.
So concerned about any potential conflicts of interest, however, Lim sent a letter to the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission for advice, especially since the city at the time was entangled in the 7-Eleven controversy in which Lim was directly involved.
Lim asked specifically whether it was proper for the same city staff to handle his application while also handling the 7-Eleven situation, which centered on whether the market could continue operating on land zoned residential.
The FPPC ruled that a conflict does not exist and Lim actually entered his letter and the FPPC letter into the record during deliberations related to 7-Eleven.
Outside of those letters, however, Lim has been essentially mum on the matter. He does not want the public to think he is getting or deserves any special attention related to his remodel application. In this case, being mayor might actually be a detriment, Lim told the Daily Journal.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 9, City Hall, San Mateo.
silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com
(650) 344-5200 ext. 106
By Bill Silverfarb Daily Journal
Homeowners often take issue when someone in their neighborhood wants to remodel or add on to their home, but what if that someone is the mayor?
San Mateo Mayor David Lim wants to construct a 109-square-foot first-story addition and a 640-square-foot second-story addition to his growing family’s Sugarloaf Neighborhood home and filed an application with the city last July.
Through the process, Lim held a pre-application neighborhood meeting to spell out to those who live nearby what his construction plans were.
One neighbor’s home, however, will lose part of its 180-degree view of the Bay with Lim’s addition, which initially called for building about 800 square feet on the second floor.
So, Lim scaled the project back and was eventually granted permission by a city zoning administrator to move forward with the project.
The neighbors with the great view, however, filed an appeal with the city’s Planning Commission within 10 days after approval to try and reverse the zoning administrator’s decision.
The neighbors, Terry Larson and Megan Goggins, paid $515 to appeal the decision but the process will end up costing the Lim family an additional $4,400 to pay for city staff time and other expenses, he told the Daily Journal yesterday.
In the meantime, Lim is still working with his neighbors to find a solution outside of the city process. He is also not sure whether he will appeal himself to the City Council if the Planning Commission sides with the appellant and turns down Lim’s application.
The appellant can also appeal to the City Council if the Planning Commission sides with Lim.
So concerned about any potential conflicts of interest, however, Lim sent a letter to the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission for advice, especially since the city at the time was entangled in the 7-Eleven controversy in which Lim was directly involved.
Lim asked specifically whether it was proper for the same city staff to handle his application while also handling the 7-Eleven situation, which centered on whether the market could continue operating on land zoned residential.
The FPPC ruled that a conflict does not exist and Lim actually entered his letter and the FPPC letter into the record during deliberations related to 7-Eleven.
Outside of those letters, however, Lim has been essentially mum on the matter. He does not want the public to think he is getting or deserves any special attention related to his remodel application. In this case, being mayor might actually be a detriment, Lim told the Daily Journal.
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 9, City Hall, San Mateo.
silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com
(650) 344-5200 ext. 106
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