Southline 28-acre Business Park Moves Ahead at 30 Tanforan Avenue in South San Francisco

While I always hate to engage with paid mercenaries working for a propaganda ministry, I see a few flaws with some of the conjecture included in the aforementioned article. How can adding hundreds of jobs while adding only 183 housing units alleviate the housing shortage? A little simple math would seem to indicate it would exacerbate the problem. As a matter of fact, at the September 14 city council meeting as the council gleefully prepared to unanimously approve this project, Ms. Nicolas mentioned she was pleased that, with this project, SSF would be addressing part of our RHNA obligations. I e-mailed her and the other council members to ask how adding a life science campus and the associated creation of hundreds of new jobs could possibly lower our RHNA obligations considering the negatively skewed ratio of new workers to planned housing? After approximately a week, it appears that our SSF city government chooses to be MIA when faced with this difficult question. Or, maybe the answer is uncomfortable.

Again, the powers that be put forth the tired, false claim that proximity to public transit eliminates the need for cars or parking for those cars. As the demise of the “horseless carriage” is premature, might I say SSF is going even further back by putting the “cart before the horse.” People will still rely on cars well into the future as public transit does not satisfy all needs. This is particularly true when you are talking about Bay Area public transit which is abysmal at best and abysmal at worst. It’s got it covered. People don’t want to lug their groceries on the bus, they may need to drop their kids at daycare, school or other events and heaven forbid, these hard working individuals want to take advantage of the marvels of Northern California by loading up the car for a getaway weekend. They will have cars, just not a place to park them as the developers readily will apply for waivers as their projects are within a half mile proximity of public transit. Not to worry, those homeless cars will find a home as they radiate into surrounding neighborhoods and park in front of your house on the streets you paid to construct and maintain. If it’s any consolation, the developers thank you for your inconvenience while saving them tens of thousands of dollars per parking space.

And, just look at that shiny new Safeway. The community thought this was the “anchor business” for this out sized project but at the September 14 council meeting, Mr. Addiego practically twisted himself into a pretzel in gratitude to the developer for including this grocery store in his project when it just might not be as profitable as other segments of the development. And here you thought development was focused on benefits to SSF residents.

In closing, it was quoted that “we are in dire need of development in SSF after years of stagnation.” Has this person ever visited SSF. All he needs to do is look around the city to see it is being buried with development. He also says we “need taxes and jobs long term” to “keep the city afloat.” SSF has been overrun by development to the point there is no longer room for the residents. Our city coffers should be overflowing with cash unless it has been misspent. Is this person even talking about the correct city?

If you don’t believe my “take” on the attempts by the SSF city government to mislead resident/taxpayers who are being forced to sacrifice their quality of life, just tune into one of the council meetings where you will painfully witness your city officials laugh at us as they act with impunity in approving every project plan put in front of them. And, when I say laugh at us, I mean literally.