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ELHA Urges Yes Vote For Measure B! March 5th Bond Seeks School Improvements Safety, disability access, and roofing repairs are targeted "Nothing is more important to increasing property values and a community's ability to attract new business than the reputation of the schools. Measure B will help enhance the schools and that's good for the community." -–– John Lee, co-founder of Telogy, Inc. and former President of the Redwood City/San Mateo Chamber of Commerce. On March 5th, voters in the Redwood City Elementary School District will be asked to pass Measure B, a $22 million bond initiative to fund badly needed improvements throughout the 15 schools in the district. The Emerald Lake Homeowners Association (ELHA) strongly endorses this Measure. A competitive school system with adequate facilities is essential for our neighborhood's children. We find it is critical for the economic vitality of a community. The ELHA believes that passage of this bond will also have a positive impact on property values. Failure to pass will hurt property values for every homeowner in our area. The Bond funds will be used to:
In addition there are several taxpayer protections in Measure B:
The bond measure will cost the average homeowner in the district less than $1.50 per month and it is tax deductible. The cost is based on the County Tax Assessor's assessment of property values, not on current market values. The formula is $9 per $100,000 of assessed, not market, valuation. If your assessed valuation were $100,000, your tax would be $9 a year. At $500,000 of assessed valuation, the tax would be $45 a year. Because it is not based on the possible market price of a home, many seniors and others who have lived here a long time will pay very little if the bond passes. Measure B has received endorsements from the entire local political leadership, liberal and conservative, Democratic, Republican and independent. Leaders in business, labor, real estate, law enforcement, religion, and community organizations have examined Measure B and endorsed it. Local senior organizations and leaders are also major supporters of the Measure. One of the most prominent local realtors is Dennis Pantano of Pantano Properties. Along with being a Director of the ELHA, Dennis is the President of the San Mateo County Association of Realtors (SAMCAR), and a past San Mateo County Realtor of the Year. Given the future impact this measure will have on property values, we asked Dennis to explain why he and many Realtors support Measure B: A Realtor's Perspective "It is important to realize that we are in competition with neighboring school districts when it comes to prospective home buyers and their decision to purchase. With adjoining school districts passing school bonds with an 80% or more voter approval, these districts send a loud message to buyers that schools are important in their community and an asset. We need to send the same message about Redwood City Schools. This election is critical to our future property values." "As an Emerald Hills homeowner for nearly 13 years and someone who does not have children, I would urge you to vote yes on March 5 for Measure B." A Solid Investment We urge you to Vote YES on Measure B. Call for Volunteers Annual Meeting All Emerald Hills homeowners are invited to attend and participate in the meeting. As always, we will have a speaker from our community, and hold our annual election for Directors on the ELHA Board. Directors are elected for 2-year terms, and this year 5 of the 9 Directors' terms will expire. For more information about the election, contact one of the ELHA Directors (see last page). We encourage Emerald Hills residents to come and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about what is happening in our community. Mulch Giveaway? A (Very) Brief ELHA History Once Again - Unleashed Dogs There is a leash law in force in Emerald Hills. Owners are legally responsible for their pets. Attacks may result in Sheriffs’ citations, civil suits, as well as all medical and veterinary costs. In extreme cases involving severe injuries the animal may be impounded and put to sleep. Dogs must be kept either in an enclosed area, or on a leash while being walked. Protect Yourselves From Burglars (Once Again) For the most part, burglars look for easy targets, so make your home appear guarded and secure at first glance. Even if your home does get targeted, most burglars will spend no more than 60-90 seconds trying to open a door or window before moving on to an easier target, so slowing a burglar down will help. Since burglars like dark spaces in which to work, keep shrubs trimmed back from blocking the view from the street. Install a motion sensitive light by the front and back doors. Don't rely on door chains as a means of defense. Install a peephole instead. Statistics show that half of all burglaries occur during the day, and more than 85% of the time burglars enter an empty home. Interior lights on timers can help at night. Even the barking of a dog is enough to make most burglars move on to another home. Security experts suggest that increasing security is often as simple as cleaning up the "burglar bait" that attracts thieves: things such as ladders and other break-in tools left outside. Examples of burglar bait include: open curtains that allow crooks to see if anyone is at home, and what's inside worth taking; your name on the mailbox that allows a thief to look up your phone number and call to see if you're home; empty cartons left curbside for garbage pickup that advertise expensive electronic purchases (cut the box open and turn it inside out.) Have the Postal Service hold your mail (for free), or ask your neighbors to pick it up along with periodicals and other printed material. For a 12-page booklet of security tips, send a self addressed, stamped business size envelope and $1.00 to the Burglary Prevention Council, 221 N. LaSalle St., #3500, Chicago, IL 60601-1520. Bike Lane Tickets According to Emerald Hills resident Sheriff Don Horsley the bike lane is a "NO PASSING" zone. On school days you may have noticed that there is a crossing guard at the intersection of Edgewood Road and Scenic making sure that Clifford School students get safely across Edgewood Road. The primary function of the bike lane is to remind motorists that they should not be passing left turning cars on the right as it puts our children in danger. And to make sure you remember the CHP and Sheriff regularly hand out tickets at this location. ELHA Directors Chris Bohl -- 364-1843 ----------------------------------------------------------- Yes! I want to help preserve Emerald Hills.
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