Dear Chair, Vice Chair and
Commissioners,
I am here tonight to remind you,
once again, how important this issue is to this community and to ask that you
do everything in your power to bring back an ice rink for use by the citizens
of San Mateo. For those of you who missed the beginning of the struggle to
regain what was promised the people in our community, it has been a long,
relentless battle against a company who cares more about the bottom line than
maintaining the spirit and meaning of its agreement with our City.
Many who have been here before
could not be here tonight and others are frustrated at the length of the
process and lack of results. This makes sense.
The loss for the children who
were growing up engaged in an activity they cherished and lost the opportunity
to practice is heartbreaking and I hope this will not have to continue for
another generation. But we are running out of time if something is truly going
to change for the better in this fight.
It has been many years now since
the applicant begin this campaign to substitute retail for recreation. At one
early meeting I brought my newborn son. He is nearly three and ready to skate,
provided there was a location. And no, once a year at a small, crowded rink during
the winter months does not count.
Looking at the bigger picture, if
the City does not enforce development agreements they have no meaning. Accepting
a payoff for changes to the Master Plan, in my opinion, sends the wrong signal
and sets a dangerous precedent.
I wish you would force the
reopening of the Bridgepointe skating rink, because that is what seems just to
me. However, if you choose to take the course of action prescribed by the
applicant, do so with caution, put the money in a trust and consider all
loopholes.
Ultimately, keep in mind - there
is no win for most people here except a permanent ice skating rink. Please make
that happen, somehow.
And finally, this time, whatever
you decide, make the agreement ironclad and beyond negotiation. The future of
our City is depending on it.
Thank you