Still Standing

Summer is just around the corner, with summer solstice taking place this year around June 20 or 21. This is the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It's no surprise, then, that solstice (Latin) means sun stands still...if you pay attention, you'll see the sun's noontime elevation will not seem to change between June 19th - 22nd.

But even the sun's powerful rays can't keep Brisbane's stars from shining brightly. Case in point: every summer, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) provides students grades 10 - 12 the opportunity to see through paid internships what a career in the transportation industry would be like. In 2008, Brisbane was fortunate to have Dominique Bocanegra as an intern in the Public Works Department, taking on job duties such as installing traffic counters and conducting a streetlight inventory using the City's internal computer-aided drawing (CAD) system. The City has applied every year for this program, seeing the value in introducing students to a career they may not have thought twice about, and have been successful in affording students to come and spend a summer in Brisbane. It's hoped that will continue in 2009. To read more about this program, please click here.

There is, though, something that will be standing still in Brisbane, and that is the occupancy of 325 Valley Drive. The applicant in a letter to the Community Development Director informed the City that Fed Ex has pulled out of the process after having been presented a very attractive offer from their current landlord in South San Francisco. After evaluating all factors of the situation, they decided that it was significantly more cost effective for them to not relocate...and in light of today's economy, the decision to remain put probably weighed more heavily than ever. So, the building previously home to Gilmore Envelopes will continue to appear so for the time-being.

Lastly, there will be a City Council meeting coming up this Monday, June 1st at 7:30pm. To view the agenda, please click here and plan on attending...because community engagement in their local government is something we can't afford to have just stand still!

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