AroundTown Wrote:
What's up with Downtown San Mateo? There is no nightlife other than mediocre bars, and those are reminiscent of college town establishments. I walk around the city in the morning and the streets, gutters and sidewalks are strewn with garbage and bar aftermath. Where's the pride? Downtown San Mateo needs a makeover. Or maybe just some community investment...? I would imagine there are groups who organize this sort of stuff, and, like most city agencies, they are probably overwhelmed and understaffed. Does anyone know where we can find out more about what's happening around town cleanups and other projects?

PostGhost Wrote:
I couldn't agree more with this blog. And I'm actually really surprised that I'm only the second person to post a comment?!!?? The streets downtown (and everywhere else) are pretty dirty, even in the early morning hours when I'm on my way to work. Is there really no money for street cleaning or general upkeep? How about all those folks at the Resource Center looking for work? Is it a political thing? I grew up here and don't remember it being so dingy. And what's up with our community in general? I think the city does a good job of providing trash receptacles in good numbers around town, but people just don't use them. It's really sad when we don't take pride in where we live. Group effort, people. You wouldn't throw trash around you home, right? And this is our home, collectively. Is this really the example we want to set for kids? For each other? Thanks for the rant -- Fed Up With The Filth in San Mateo!!!

Nelson Wrote:
Interesting question, apparently with no answer at present. In the olden days, when Claire Mack was San Mateo's quite energetic and concerned Mayor and CouncilPerson, she had a City Program that quite easily and cheaply solved the problem, as well as 'killing two birds with one stone' (as the old expression goes!) Every Saturday morning at 4AM, Claire herself would get out and meet with a large group of the city's homeless and low-income folks (on the street level of the old downtown Main Street Parking Garage, which has since been replaced by the San Mateo Century/CineMax Movie Theatre), to whom she'd hand out brooms, sweepers and trash bags/buckets, and then she and her cleanup-crew would spend the next two hours cleaning up the streets of our downtown area! All the cleanup brooms, etc. were provided by the City and and at the end of two hours, Claire's Crew would once again gather at the Main Street Garage, where they would then return all the cleanup gear to a nearby storage locker, and Claire would then give each person present a crisp 5 dollar bill for their 2 hours work! That was a community-service job that lots of the homeless looked forward to every Saturday, Claire loved the work and what was accomplished, the downtown area of our City was 'spic-and-span' for at least a couple of hours, and everyone went home happy (or to their spot under the freeway or wherever!) Of course, many homeless folks spent their money on their 'addictions' or drinks, but the downtown at least looked better! But this is another Day and another Age! $5 doesn't get much of anything today, and it is less than the Minimum Wage, so hardly anyone would be interested! But it was a Good Thing while it lasted, with Mucho Thanks to Claire and her Crew!

Gato55 Wrote:
Seriously, great discussion. The city could definitely look into some of the people who are looking for work, offer the decency of minimum wage ($5.00? Dude, welcome to 2008). Or at least offer a weekly volunteer gig whereas some of the downtown restaurants could offer breakfast or lunch -- wouldn't this be a tax write-off for them? They may actually start to feel like part of this community instead of the stigma that alot of us (be honest) put upon a certain citizen population. Maybe this would be a good topic for a town meeting or community forum? Does this city even even have those?