Comments by Steven Hyman
May 13, 2009
I bet if someone did a cost benefit analysis of the different lawsuits, you'd find the costs greatly outweighed the benefits to the community. Beachwood is of course the Mother of Wasteful speding. N Wavecrest cost HMB a lot of money and got nothing-POST bought it. Oak Park legal tab certainly inflated the cost of the park beyond its value. Many people on this site have been calling for HMB to appeal Beachwood so now we will have a chance to see how much it costs to play with the big boys in the…
May 13, 2009
Most of the litigation that we've had could have and should have been avoided and would have saved millions of dollars that could have been better spent elsewhere benefiting the community. Its disgraceful how many millions have been wasted on nothing. I bet the HMB number is in the $10-$15 million range. Anybody want to guess what this lawsuit will cost MWSD? I could see a case where the MWSD lawsuit could relate to land use issues in that the property is an airport and there were deed restrictions…
May 13, 2009
My comment about the endless parade of lawsuits was because of this eminent domain suit preceded by the Oak Park and the never-ending Beachwood saga, etc. Your are correct in that the large majority are HMB related. I am only aware of the Kalfen suit against MWSD but know nothing about so it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment. I also have no knowledge about anything regarding CCWD or GSD. I wouldn't be surprised me at all if both Big Wave and the Burnham Strip end up in court but those…
May 12, 2009
As far as my comment about the endless litigation goes, I was referring to the Coast as a whole where untold millions have been wasted. But with the eminent domain lawsuit, there was a state trial, a federal trial and now a federal appeal. I asked my question because I would like to learn what the ultimate objective is. We will have to wait and see after the dust settles but I wouldn't be surprised that the cost of litigation outweighs any possible gain. Just like its been with most of HMB's failed…
May 12, 2009
Vince, I started this piece asking a simple question. You don't have an answer and your opinion is that you trust the board of the MWSD. That's great. Its beyond a stretch to say that my asking a question is depressing property values in Moss Beach and Montara. This suit has been going for a while and will continue. The Beachwood decision has been out there since late 2007 and people have bought and sold homes. Someone bought a home in HMB last week for almost $1.7 million. The reality is banks lend…
May 12, 2009
I guess its a question of how we view ourselves. I'd like to think we are one big "happy" family. When I show people homes, I point out the differences between the towns but its still the Coast to me.
But I would really like to get some further insight into the reason for the appeal of the eminent domain lawsuit, its implications, etc. Opinions on that would be appreciated. Thanks.
May 12, 2009
While its true that I live in HMB, I have in the past and do presently represent buyers and sellers in Moss Beach and Montara. Your argument that I can't comment on the eminent domain appeal because of where I live doesn't hold much water. Barry doesn't live in HMB but he is free to comment on things here. I think I have my facts straight and have asked for an explanation as to the reasons for the appeal. If you don't want to answer it, that's fine but others may want an explanation. We are a small…
May 12, 2009
While I agree with you Barry in that the magnitude is different between the huge judgment aganist HMB and this eminent domain suit. But this suit and subsequent appeal is fascinating from my perspective in that it raises many interesting questions (i.e. eminent domain, leases, permits, rationale, legal cost, new owners, etc) which no one seems to care about. My comments go to the lack of disclosure by officials and also by the media. After all, how often does our little community try and take land…
May 12, 2009
I can appreciate the need for privacy in litigation or even in private transactions. But here we have a public agency that has filed an appeal so their response is public. I expect some of the local sleuths will get this and post it. The mayor of HMB made public statements about the Beachwood suit and even had workshops for the public to hear from them and the attorneys. But even if the directors don't want to talk about it, that doesn't prevent others who are quite knowledgeable. It seems to me…
January 13, 2009
While I may complain about things taking an eternity to get done (no need to repeat the long list of stalled projects), I do offer solutions. But why don't we talk about the rights of the property owner in the picture above. I think the creation of PUDs is an abuse of zoning and done to restrict an owners rights. Zoning also goes by the name of Police Power and what we have seen here over the past 20 years is Police Power Brutality. But if the PUD zoning wasn't bad enough, Tony's lot was also further…
January 12, 2009
Hi Cheri, Its not my place to be the peacemaker. Like many, I have my views and others have theirs. I've been a big supporter of property rights issues here for a long time. I also have stated repeatidly, that there are many injustices that go unresolved. Despite what many may think here, I don't really care about the big developers. Its not going to make me any money in the short run so why waste my time. What I do see happening is a shift in the publics attitude to where they are getting fed up…
January 12, 2009
What has been very disappointing to me as a long time resident is how continually divided we are as a community and how so many projects are fought tooth and nail for many many years. I know I've said this many times here before and we can just say that we respectfully disagree. I think people's rights have been trampled here for a long time and nothing is done about the little guy. Whether the family on Terrace, the Kehoe and Pullman ditch, the house on 3 acres, or the hundreds of PUD owners and…
January 12, 2009
Lisa,
Thanks for sharing your story. Perhaps POST might want to use stronger materials. It may cost a little more up front but in the long run saves money because things stay up better. I'd be glad to share ideas on how POST can do this once I see what they are doing.
Hey, this might even be a new side line for me being a sign post consultant.
November 27, 2008
Perhaps the animals smell garbage when its trash day. I know in my neighborhood, the raccoons are visible the night before and over turn many garbage cans that are left outside. Putting trash out early in the morning might minimize the problem. I think its a gross exaggeration to say that their habitat is being reduced by the "gross flurry of development on the Coast". All the building, especially on the mid-coast, are infill lots. Over the past 2 years a grand total of 30 buildable lots sold. And…
September 23, 2008
When touring the Railroad Ave right-of-way, please keep in mind that half of the land west of the 60 foot strip is private property owned by many individuals. Some parcels have been sold over the past few years and some are for sale now. Its very likely over the next 10 years, this will be one of the next big legal battles facing the financially strapped City of HMB. As the price of these lots keep rising, the pressure will mount to build here. And since we spent so much money on previous battles,…
September 06, 2008
I don't think the airport has had much impact on home prices in Moss beach over the long term, either east or west side. Many of the homes on the east side have beautiful ocean views. The west side offers walking distance to the beach.
I know every home I sell there as well in El Granada and Montara has a disclosure for the airport. Additionally, its kind of hard to miss driving north from HMB.
September 06, 2008
I have probably said this 50 times or so. I also know that my views are contrary to the majority of your readers. We all agree this was a stunning defeat for HMB. That being said, our CC did the only logical thing and find a way out by settling. It would have been the height of irresponsibility to appeal since we wouldn't have the money to pay if we lost again. You can't place a bet if you can't cover it. And its not these politicians money, its our money. I also can't place much stock in the advice…
September 04, 2008
This is beyond silly. Doesn't it depend on what the definition of "The hmb city council majority" is? Barry had his list and I have mine.
But please let me borrow your weed colored glasses because mine missed the word "current" that you seem to see in the headline.
More importantly, did you send a carrier pigeon to your goat herding cousin about my sweater yet? I'd love to have it for Pumpkin Festival.
September 04, 2008
Carl, please read my response more carefully. Many comments were made about Beachwood. But our CC's made other mistakes so why not highlight those also. Everybody has their favorite screw-up. Some people don't like the lawsuits, some don't like the park purchase, some don't like the easements, some don't like insubordinate city officials, some don't like not having a Boys & Girls club, etc. And btw, the question is "the" CC not "this" CC. That's your interpretation. Anyway, have a nice evening and…
September 03, 2008
The topic is "What are the CC's biggest mistakes?" I think I added a few more items to the long list. I'm sure if Brian or George chimed in, there wouldn't be enough room on your hard drive to cover it all.
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