We experience poor DSL service from AT&T.  Because I work from home and use the Internet extensively, it is vital to me that DSL service function properly.  Comcast does not service this area.  If you also have DSL service in or near the Miramar area, you probably are experiencing DSL problems also.

I am reaching out to you because I believe that we are more likely to cause AT&T to make the necessary investment that would provide good DSL service if we all share a common understanding of what the issues are, and know how to effectively act on that information.  If you get your service from Coastside.net you are also affected by these issues because AT&T provides the basic connectivity.  My hope is that this letter will give you the information for you to discover if your service is substandard, and the instructions on how to navigate AT&T will allow you to add your voice to mine in requesting an improvement in service quality for this neighborhood.

Symptoms are any of the following: Internet videos such as YouTube and Netflix do not play smoothly; web pages take a long time to load; downloads go very slowly; voice conversations using Skype do not work well and/or your modem lights frequently turn red.

The main reason for poor DSL service is that AT&T’s central office (often referred to as the CO) is too far away, in downtown Half Moon Bay.  DSL is not supposed to reach this far.  However, before moving here I contacted AT&T to verify that DSL was available for this neighborhood, and I was told that 3Mb/s was available.  Based on that information we moved in.  The first problem, then, is that AT&T’s sales team is selling a defective product.  AT&T can make this right by investing in additional equipment.

The County Times has a good summary of the Half Moon Bay city council’s threatened dissolution if its proposed 1% sales tax increase is rejected by voters. The full article is well worth reading.

“The council has done everything in its power to keep the city whole,” [city county member John] Muller said. “If it doesn’t pass, we could seriously not be in business much longer.” [...]

City Manager Michael Dolder admits disincorporation is one of the options on the table now. The City Council already cut $900,000 from the current budget—including half its employees—and imposed furloughs on those who remain. Some of the cuts were needed to pay for the Beachwood lawsuit settlement, a $15 million burden the city will shoulder in bond payments for the next 20 years.

Despite those efforts, the city will finish the current fiscal year with a deficit north of $500,000. And tourist dollars, the city’s economic mainstay, aren’t likely to flow in anytime soon.[...]

Although the law lays out a clear procedure for disincorporation, including public meetings and a final majority vote by residents, it’s unclear how it could work from a practical standpoint, said Martha Poyatos, executive director of the San Mateo County Local Agency Formation Commission.

“We’re in uncharted territory,” she said.

One thing is certain: disincorporation is not a bailout. The county would lay claim to revenues, including Half Moon Bay’s property taxes, sales taxes and hotel taxes, but not its liabilities. Today’s Half Moon Bay residents would be required to assume the debt burden of Beachwood bond payments, which would likely be added as a lien on their properties, according to Assistant County Controller Bob Adler.

Disincorporation: how would it work?

• A City Council, school district, special district or group of residents can initiate disincorporation with the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCo, by presenting a petition signed by 25 percent of voters.
• LAFCo would then hold public hearings and choose whether to affirm the proposal with conditions or deny it.
• A special election would be held, in which a majority of voters have to approve the terms of disincorporation.
• The county Board of Supervisors would work with LAFCo and the city on disposition of the city’s assets.
• Note: Disincorporation proceedings can be subject to legal challenges.

Pacifica police are warning the public about a great white shark seen attacking a sea lion near Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, reports the AP. The shark was spotted about 200 yards offshore about 1pm on Monday.

[Pacifica police Capt. Fernando] Realyvasquez said a surfer in the water at the time saw a large amount of blood in the water as the shark thrashed about with the sea lion in its mouth.

Witnesses estimated the shark was anywhere from 18 to 25 feet long. After the sighting, two men in a small boat drove up and down the beach warning swimmers to get out of the water.

Coastside Campfire & Community Sing-Along join us at the Outback @ Cameron’s Corral, coming up:

• Tuesday, Aug 31, 7:00 - 9:00pm
• Sunday, Sept. 12, 5:30 - 8:00pm
• Sunday, Sept 26, 5:30 - 8:00pm

Good-spirited music for all ages, featuring contemporary and classic songs to sing together. Words provided, instruments encouraged. Hot beverages & good food available, plus FREE S’MORES! Dress warm, come hungry, & sing well!

Cameron’s Pub @ 1410 S. Cabrillo Hwy, just south of downtown Half Moon Bay For more information, lyrics to the songs, and a forum to suggest songs, go to: http://coastsidecampfire.com

A full volume test of the Coastside tsunami warning sirens is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 1.

Eight sirens will be tested on Wednesday, September 1st. On the Coastside, sirens are located in Princeton, El Granada, Miramar and Half Moon Bay and should be heard in the beach areas west of Highway 1 as far south as Kelly Street in Half Moon Bay. In Pacifica they sirens should be heard in the Linda Mar Beach, Rockaway Beach and Sharp Park areas west of Highway 1.  A siren will also be tested in the town of Pescadero.

The test will last between one and three minutes to insure all the sirens to reach their peak sound level. Even at full volume, sirens may not be heard inside. In an actual emergency the Emergency Alert System and a Telephone Emergency Notification System would also be activated to notify people indoors.

In an emergency, the sirens will sound continuously for several minutes. Should this occur, people should immediately leave the beach areas and tune their radios (KCBS 740 AM or KQED 88.5 FM) for official information and evacuation instructions.

The Coastside Film Society proudly presents: Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North (86 mins)

“A far-reaching personal documentary examination of the slave trade. The implications of the film are devastating.” Stephen Holden, The New York Times

What would you do if you discovered one of your ancestors was one of the greatest slave traders of all time? Director Katrina Browne’s reaction was to invite members of her family to travel with her to Africa to explore and confront the implications of this shocking family discovery. Nine of Browne’s relatives took up her challenge and traveled with her on the long road from Ghana, to Cuba, and back to New England tracing the steps of the slave trade that made her family so rich.

Who should pay for the sins of our fathers? It is tough question to ask, and harder to answer. Holly Fulton, one of Katrina Browne’s relatives who appears in the film will be on hand to discuss her take on this most difficult of questions.

Friday, August 27 at 8:00 pm Suggested adult donation, $6.00, Kids $3.00 (The film makers feel this film is appropriate for kids from the 5th grade and up.) United Methodist Sanctuary 777 Miramontes at Johnson, Half Moon Bay

More info: www.HMBFilm.org

Coastal armoring, whether a seawall, riprap boulders or both, often results in a loss of the beach and ultimately, over the long term, can affect the surf zone and the entire environment in that vicinity.
 
This was one of the many interesting facts mentioned in a presentation by California’s premier coastal engineer and local Pacifica surfer Bob Battalio on August 16th in the Community room at Sharp Park Library. Coastal erosion, sea level rise, and flood control were the focus of discussion.

Pacifica’s coastline has been eroding for thousands of years and will continue to erode into the future as the sea level rises, according to Battalio. Apparently armoring the coast can actually speed up the rate of erosion, although these “active” effects of seawalls are being debated.  While in the short term armoring can stop erosion of the land immediately behind it, experience along California’s coast has shown that erosion continues in front of the engineered structure. As the waves remove sand in front of the structure, engineers and geologists who study coastal processes have discovered that the beach is lost and the wave energy that the beach once absorbed makes the structure and what is behind it more vulnerable.
   

Sabrina Brennan is a candidate for Harbor Commissioner. All candidates for Coastside offices are welcome to post letters to Coastsider.

I’m running for San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner because I believe the Harbor District needs to do more to help Pillar Point Harbor and Oyster Point Marina thrive.  And in order to thrive, I believe it’s especially important to improve the facilities at both marinas which serve visitors and the public generally. An increase in public traffic will help local restaurants and businesses strengthen their customer base. Pillar Point Harbor should be known as a premier site for buying fresh local seafood. The commercial fishing industry is an important part of the local economy.

As Commissioner I will work with local restaurant and business owners to broaden the economic viability of the Harbor District.  I will put my marketing and event planning skills to work promoting the Harbor as a great place to enjoy fresh seafood. 

The Draft Project Management Plan being developed by the Army Corps of Engineers to address Surfers Beach erosion is scheduled for release September 2010.  I strongly support plans for a demonstration project to determine the best strategy for slowing the rate of erosion at Surfers Beach and look forward to reading the draft plan.

Many members of the public have expressed the need for a public-restroom facility at Surfers Beach.  Meeting this need would be clear evidence that the Harbor District cares about the comfort and convenience of its visitors, and this could be achieved through a management agreement with County Parks.

I support developing the California Coastal Trail through Pillar Point Harbor. This segment of the trail will offer pedestrians and bicyclists a working harbor experience while meeting ADA standards.

I’m committed to improving water quality at Pillar Point Harbor and Oyster Point Marina.  San Mateo County Beachwater Contamination Results are the second worst in the state.  In 2009 Pillar Point was ranked number two and Oyster Point was ranked number five in terms of beach closure/advisory days due to beachwater contamination.

If elected I will prioritize Harbor Patrol Search and Rescue services.  Fast emergency response time is a very important service currently being provided by the Harbor District. The Pillar Point Harbor Search and Rescue team works with Cal Fire and the Coast Guard to provide fast response times to emergencies.  This important service has saved numerous lives.  Beach goers, recreational boating, surfing and the commercial fishing industry ALL benefit from maintaining a high level of service.  If the Harbor District Search and Rescue team suffers cut-backs or is disbanded altogether the Coast Guard will have to fill the gap; response time by helicopter out of San Francisco can take up to 45 minutes. 

I will work hard to balance the Harbor Districts budget as soon as possible.

I would be honored to have your vote on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Sabrina Brennan
for San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner
http://www.sabrinabrennan.com