Comments by Ray Olson

Photo: Surfing at Kelp Cove

October 11, 2006
I could not agree more to the above statement: "My amazement concerns how little long-time local residents bother to learn about the area in which they live, how little they observe, how seldom they actually get out into their surroundings with an informed, analytical eye." Anyone visiting the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve will easily observe that the entire bluff-side is eroding, and has been eroding, regardless of any sort of rip-rap. Ray

Weekend travel times approach an hour on Hwy 92

October 10, 2006
It is clear that the weekend traffic time shows that the current hwy 92 design is unsufficient in handling the current traffic volumes. It would be prudent for all of us to stress to the county that hwy 92 needs to be enhanceed to support the current needs of our community. Just think if we had a serious emergency on the coastside on a weekend! Ray

Photo: Surfing at Kelp Cove

October 10, 2006
Let me add from about 10 years of experience of visiting this beach I can totally see the beach washing away, regardless of the rip-rap. And, what backs my findings are the fact that the road that used to exist there has been washed away, before any such rip-rap had been installed. And, I am not saying that rip-rap does not harm the beach. I am just saying that it is a fact that the current entire beach is eroding away due to the ocean. Ray

Photo: Surfing at Kelp Cove

October 10, 2006
What amazes me is how many "experts" we have on the coast. It seems so easy today to read a book and therefore be considered an expert on a subject. Ray

What does Nimby really mean?

October 06, 2006
Mary, That was exactly my point! Thank you for getting it.

What does Nimby really mean?

October 06, 2006
How about we stick to the "No-Growther" label ;)

What does Nimby really mean?

October 06, 2006
Let me try an analogy to try and make my point. In the bay area if you say you are a "Giants Fan" most people would react to this in a positive way. At the very least, you would not be afraid to state you are a Giants Fan. But, if you were in LA and you said you were a Giants fan you would most likely get an entirely different reaction. Same goes for if you were to state you were a Dodgers Fan here in the Bay area. And for some diehard fans, they might even imply that the label is insulting. Ray

What does Nimby really mean?

October 06, 2006
Bob, I agree with you that insults and naming calling are not productive and that they should be avoided. And I do agree that sometimes we should all "bite our lip" more often, as you say. I'm just not sure whether the term NIMBY is actually insulting, because as Barry states in his post, he is asking whether we are all NIMBYs based on a given definition. And the fact is that the definition is not clear. Hope that makes sense. Ray

Photo: Surfing at Kelp Cove

October 05, 2006
Kevin, Are you saying the rip-rap is the cause of the loss of the beach? I certainly don't believe that is the case. I believe the ocean is washing away the beach, and the rip-rap is merely trying to protect the bluff. I used to go to that beach almost every day for about 7 years. There were winters where the beach was entirely gone: nothing but rocks. And then slowly the beach would come back. It was a cycle that I got used to. The ocean will defintely win this battle, just as it took the road that…

What does Nimby really mean?

October 05, 2006
Bob, Didn't you read Carl's post above? He thinks being called a NIMBY is a thing to be proud of. Also, if the whole community was of the same attitude about preventing development on the coastside, then my guess is that being called a NIMBY would be something to be proud of. However, if you knew the person calling you that name has a different opinion than yours, then you would probably take it as derogatory. That was my point. Ray

Is Coastsider Orwellian?

October 05, 2006
I would have to agree with Terry regarding activist's tactics on the coast that seem to be used to prevent a neighbor from doing something to their property. I can probably recount a dozen or more incidents where a neighbor tries to call on some agency (or lawyer in fact) in an attempt to stop another neighbor from performing some activity on their property. All they needed to do was speak to the person and see if there is something that can be done. I was so astonished how often that had happened…

Photo: Surfing at Kelp Cove

October 05, 2006
Well, the reality of this area is that there used to be a road that ran on this side of those 2 houses. When that road got washed out it should have been a sign to all of the homeowners that their property is also in danger. Though it might be seen from the picture that the red house's land is falling even faster into the sea, what is unknown is if the rip-rap were removed, would the equivalent set of land be removed from the white house. My opinion is that if you own property you have the right…

What does Nimby really mean?

October 04, 2006
I'm not sure if NIMBY is meant to be insulting, but I guess it would depend on who is saying it. Just like the recent term I heard used on another thread on this site: "Pesky gnat" I think was the term. Ray

Photo: Surfing at Kelp Cove

October 03, 2006
I believe that house with the rip-rap used to be owned by John Miller (former Giants announcer). Don't know who owns it now. I used to live on California Ave for several years and know that beach very well. Ray

What does Nimby really mean?

October 02, 2006
The only thing I could possibly profit from certain developments coming to fruition are: A new middle school, or a new boys and girls club, or a better hwy 92 to hwy 1 connector, or perhaps a better coastal trail, etc.. I read that article and proposition 90 and it is all pretty confusing. At this point I would vote no on it because it is not clear to me how/if it would negatively impact local governments on construction of roads, or other infrastructure needs. Barry, your article starts off with…

What does Nimby really mean?

October 02, 2006
Ok Barry, you really want to stir up the pot ;) I'm not sure NIMBY folks would be portrayed as "those who insist on developers follow the law". If that were so, then wouldn't it be LDCBH: Lawful Developers Can Build Here? I think the perception of coastsider NIMBYs is just that: Do not come here at all and perform any development in my backyard. What NIMBY folks actually intend to occur might be different than that, I'm just stating what the perception is. I think the issue of following the law can…

Letter:  Wither the LCP?

September 28, 2006
I'm not sure if that was such an appropriate comment Ken. If a comment is irritating and pesky to you, you can simply ignore it. Some might say your recent post has been irritating. Ray

Letter: Attacks against HMB planning commissioners are unfounded

September 25, 2006
Just read Sofia's letter to the HMB Review Editor. Sofia, why do you suggest that Jim Grady's nominee to the planning commisions was denied: "based not on experience or ability, but solely on politcal grounds"? I wasn't at the meeting where this issue came up and would be interested (as well as others) in understanding the facts behind your statement. Thanks Ray

Letter: Smart Growth and the Coastside

September 24, 2006
I could not agree more that we need a vision, something looking at 15-20 years from now, with steps on how to get us there. I think this tactic of stifling improvements to limit growth has shown that problems have just continued to exist, so we need to think differently. Ray

Letter: Smart Growth and the Coastside

September 24, 2006
Ok.. let's see about reality: Congestion worst than before = more people on the coast than ever before, while roadway bandwidth remaining as they have for probably 15 to 20 years. Major new intersections with additional lanes and lights at Frenchman’s Creek and Coronado = Allowing people to cross highway 1 without loss of life Third Middle Lane being added = marginal support of the traffic volume equals marginal solution. 4 lane hwy is a must to support the volume of traffic we see on the coast…

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