City Council Chooses Alternative 1
— by Jeffrey Wisniewski — 14 October 2009 — 8 comments below »
As expected, the City Council unanimously recommended Alternative 1 as the preferred intermodal station design last night. The process has come to an end.
More surprising was Councilmember Ed Balico’s odd request that Bayfront Boulevard be renamed Waterfront Boulevard (or similar) so people will know that it is on the water. I’m confused too.
First, the entire development brought forward by AndersonPacific is called Hercules Bayfront — and residents love it — because of its focus around Bayfront Boulevard as the main downtown in the Waterfront. Second, bayfront means exactly that — it is on the waterfront.
Let’s play a little game. What do the following words have in common: waterfront, oceanfront, bayfront, lakefront, riverfront? They are all directly on the water.
Balico also said that in order to attract people to Hercules, the street must be named something better — like Waterfront Boulevard, as he suggested — to differentiate from Bay Street in Emeryville (which Balico mistakenly referred to as Bayfront). This may be considered a valid point, although it is New Town Center (and Cinema Town) that will be directly competing with Emeryville, not the Waterfront, and I’d imagine it be quite difficult to find a waterfront-themed street name that is purely unique in the bay area.
Hercules has a bayfront. Bayfront Boulevard is the heart of the Waterfront. Changing the name to suit Balico’s peculiar demands is nonsensical and markedly indifferent to residents living in the Waterfront.
UPDATE — And the video.
Balico made his suggestion to change the name of Bayfront Blvd. because he wanted to have a hand in the station design and had no better feedback to give.
Umm…no,
and we will not change it to Balico Blvd either.
His explanation was that the name “Waterfront Blvd” would drive up the real estate values here. It would sound good in a MLS. Realtors would love it.
This begs the question, why is this the main priority for one of our most visible council members?
Since Balico came to no preplanning meetings, offered no input, and has real estate ties to the City, anything he suggests, I suggest, must not be taken seriously. It is hard to imagine he does not understand that a bay is a body of water. When are elections again???? Can he be recalled?
Mr. Balico, you are an embarrassment to the city. Any junior-level marketing person with the history and name of the overall Hercules Bayfront project could tell you that Bayfront Boulevard is a/the most suitable name.
This reminds me of the time Mr. Balico pushed for an outdoor basketball court to be built on the roof of the New Town Center. Great idea Ed! As long a no one minds having their brains bashed out by a stray basketball streaking to the ground from the forth floor, no problem at all. I’m sure none of those basketballs would ever make their way down onto the very nearby freeway either. Yes, a spectacular idea indeed, and one that took about as much thought as the renaming of Bayfront Blvd.
Please tell me that this man, who represents you and me, is not this stupid. He can’t be. He must be using his quiver of carefully crafted harebrained trivia to distract us from the rotten smell that hangs in the air as he and other city staff (yes you, Nelson) pillage our bedroom community in truly meaningful ways as we all giggle and drool in our sleep.
Mr. Wisniewski from Waterfront Watch and Tom Lochner of the Contra Costa Times are the only people around here who seem to be concerned about what our city staff is up to. Over the past year they have published numerous articles filled with many accusations and implications that should be raising our Herculean hackles – yet where is the outcry? Does anyone really care? We all knew about many of his shady dealings and inappropriate relationships when we reelected Mr. Balico last year – with the highest percentage of the vote I might add.
The real question should be “are WE really that stupid?” Well apparently we are. Maybe Mr. Balico really is that stupid too, and maybe he really is the best person to represent stupid us.
Come on people! We need to get pissed off and do something about our situation! Jeff has compiled a nice list of articles from the Times that should do the trick:
Times Editorial: Hercules loan deals don’t add up
Times: Despite sales commissions, Hercules councilman [Ed Balico] says there’s no conflict on waterfront
Times: Firm that runs Hercules’ affordable housing program has family ties to city manager [Nelson Oliva]
Times: Hercules made $300,000 loan on housing manager’s condo
Times: Hercules councilman [Ed Balico's] son lands job at City Hall
Times: Hercules councilman [Ed Balico] had waterfront ties while plans discussed
Times: Hercules loan program bails out homeowners for big bucks
Times: Hercules city programs often escape council review
We need for our representatives to explain themselves in light of these charges, and we need to throw them out on their ears when we’re not happy with their answers!
If we continue to laze on the sidelines while our representatives have their way with our city, we will be the only ones that truly deserve to be called “embarrassment to the city”.
Naming the street Balico would be an honor for all Filipinos. He is Mr. Hercules.
Why not strike a compromise and call it “Bay-lico Boulevard”?
@Promenade Pinoy- You cannot be serious. You just about had me gagging on my lumpia. I have no personal issue with Mr. Balico, but how does naming the street Balico honor all Filipinos? Freaking ridonkulous. Please don’t speak for me.
Oh Ward, aren’t we being a little hard on the Beav? I mean, besides inventing earth, air, water, fire, the internet, look at all he’s done for us: http://www.waterfrontwatch.org/archives/2008/09/balicos-long-list-of-accomplishments.html
Wow! Amazing! Hercules has its very own Forrest Gump, minus a brain. “…….I’m not a smart man but I know what waterfront is……”