It is disheartening to discover that a councilmember that would most likely be in jail, or at least out of office, if it weren’t for the remaining councilmembers being a series of dastardly passive puppets, has such great influence on the developer of the Waterfront. What also remains unclear is exactly what AndersonPacific received in return for agreeing to change the name of Bayfront Boulevard (the namesake of the development, Hercules Bayfront).

As a reader noted recently, Bayfront Boulevard is probably not worth defending, in and of itself, but it does raise the question as to why a seven-year-old street has to be renamed, if it weren’t for some peculiar demand of an ethics-challenged councilmember. And I can somewhat see Councilmember Ed Balico’s point. The name “bayfront” doesn’t accurately suggest the street’s proximity, or frontage even, to San Pablo Bay. A street name that has a better “waterfront” theme would make more sense. Like Waterfront Drive.

Shortly after Ed Balico made his demand in October, I emailed Ethan Sischo of AndersonPacific: “Please tell me that AP has no plan to change the name of Bayfront Boulevard, as oddly requested by Councilmember Ed Balico last night.” An hour or so later, Sischo replied: “No plans that I am aware of… I’ll let you know if I hear anything different.”

Well, we certainly heard something different Monday evening. Not only was news released that a change to Bayfront Boulevard is a set decision (as part of a cute naming competition¹), but the rationale for the change was either nonexistent or incoherent. Sischo repeatedly stated that the change had been discussed for “some time.” That is probably true: sometime since Ed Balico asked the developer to change it. (Balico didn’t just ask. He said it “has to be changed.“)

The naming competition was likely the developer’s idea — especially since they will have majority control over the selection of the finalists — not the City’s. But after the finalists are chosen, it is up to the residents of Hercules to vote, including young children. The decision may tear families apart at the dinner table: Balico Shorefront Avenue or Lollipop Lane or a restored Bayfront Boulevard?²

More important however: who controls the future of the Waterfront? Is it the developer with the expertise of New Urbanism, armed with an adopted initiative and a supportive community, or a rather renegade councilmember set on making his mark wherever he can in the city?³

And how can we honestly measure progress — let alone success or failure — if the benchmarks keep changing? The naming competition is a pleasant little ruse when you consider the opening of the Intermodal Station has now been pushed back to 2013.⁴

Any issue or controversy surrounding the street formerly known as Bayfront Boulevard is a convenient distraction from an uncomfortable truth. Despite the hard work of the design team, City staff, and even residents, through handfuls of workshops and meetings, the city as a whole is subject to the whim of one person. We live in Ed Balico’s town, and we better get used to it.