2018-19 Writing Pieces
Facebook virtual reality, Oculus, to move to Burlingame office
September 2018
Facebook’s virtual reality division, Oculus, is currently negotiating with the city of Burlingame about moving to the Bayshore area within the next two years.
Facebook is eyeing the 767,000 square foot area at 300 Airport Blvd., which was formerly occupied by a drive-in theater, but was closed 10 years ago. The lot is currently under construction and will eventually boast six multi-story buildings that will host Facebook’s expanding operations. Main construction is planned to be finished in 2019, but a move-in date has not yet been set.
Cleese Relihan, Burlingame’s chief economic development specialist, and Kevin Gardiner, the community development director, analyzed the pros and cons of the large employer moving into Burlingame in written responses to the Burlingame B.
“[Facebook’s new office] can draw attention, provide more media coverage of our community, result in the creation of more jobs for residents and more revenue for the City to contribute toward community services and create more job opportunities,” Relihan said.
In general, Burlingame’s economy should rise since “large tech companies often invest in their communities as they expand. Having a large employer can attract more restaurants, eateries and other shops that can bring new energy and excitement to the community, improving the quality of life. With all this synergy and activity, Burlingame’s overall economic health can improve,” Relihan said.
Not only is Burlingame’s economy projected to rise, the move could also present internship and employment opportunities to Burlingame High School students.
“Bringing more tech companies to this part part of the bay is a great idea,” math and computer science teacher Christina Wade said. “The companies also need to make sure to integrate into our community, like extending invitations to students for internships and field trips. Teachers can teach, but currently there isn’t enough hands-on experiences for students in this [mid-peninsula] part of the Bay Area.”
However, some problems could arise due to the presence of a new Facebook office. With possibly more business, employees and job opportunities moving to Burlingame, prices and rent for residential and office real estate in Burlingame may rise due to increased demand and limited supply. Traffic in Burlingame already presents a challenge to commuters, and traffic in the Bayfront area and already congested Peninsula, Broadway and Anza Highway 101 exits may worsen.
To combat worsening conditions, Facebook “will be required to conform to an aggressive Transportation Demand Management program, which is intended to minimize additional traffic,” Gardiner said. “It will include dedicated shuttle buses, direct access to regional transit such as Caltrain and BART and provisions for bicycling.”
Tightened security at BHS in response to threat
October 2018
BURLINGAME CA -- In response to a threat made on Snapchat by a Burlingame High School student last Thursday Sept. 27, BHS and the Burlingame Police Department (BPD) had heightened security around campus Monday.
BHS and BPD has deemed it safe to continue classes and activities.
“As a district, our first priority is the safety of our students and staff. If our students and employees aren't safe, nothing else matters,” said San Mateo Union High School District Communications Manager Laura Chalkley in written response to The Burlingame B.
“This is a guiding principle for all school and district administrators, and we take all threats very seriously.”
A telephone and email message was sent out to inform parents of the situation.
The student in suspicion is being investigated by the BPD.
To prevent future possible threats, BHS Principal Paul Belzer stressed the importance of inclusive school culture.
“I appreciate that BHS has staff and students who work to connect and make a culture of inclusion and community,” BHS Principal Paul Belzer said, “and that everyone feels supportive and safe.”
Commemorating Burlingame’s WWI fallen heroes
November 2018
Nov. 11, 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Sparked in 1914 by a complex system of European alliances, militarism and the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, World War I was one of the deadliest human conflicts ever, with a death toll of about 37 million soldiers and civilians worldwide. The war involved the Allied Nations of the United Kingdom, France, Russia and later the United States fighting the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. After four years of conflict, the war ended with an armistice on Nov. 11, 1918.
According to the United States military records, three residents of Burlingame fought as a part of the American Expeditionary Force and died in the war.
Raymond A. Lee was born in 1896 in San Jose, Calif., but lived in Burlingame. After working as a caddy boy at the Burlingame Country Club, he was drafted into military service and died in the war.
Lieutenant Colonel Hiram J. Slifer was a general manager of the Chicago Great Western Railroad Company and had worked on the construction of the Panama Canal. He served with the 21st Engineer Regiment and died of disease in February 1919. Although he spent most of his life in Chicago and Philadelphia, U.S. Army death records state he had residence in Burlingame. For his service in constructing supply railroads in France, he was one of 29 Americans awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in World War I.
2nd Lieutenant Cecil S. Huntington attended the University of California, Berkeley and studied aviation while also being a star European handball player. After graduating in 1915, he managed Standard Oil’s southern California office. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1917, and died in France from wounds from an aircraft accident on July 25, 1918.
Canceled school day will not be made up
December 2018
As a result of unhealthy air quality due to smoke from the Camp Fire in northern California, all San Mateo County public schools, including the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) locations, were closed on Friday, Nov. 16.
Although prior to Nov. 16 other schools in the Bay Area such as the University of California- Berkeley had already canceled due to health concerns, SMUHSD schools remained in session.
“The air was getting worse; a lot of schools in the county had already canceled, but we decided to stay in session for the time being,” Superintendent Kevin Skelly said. “We know it’s disruptive to parents when kids aren’t in school since they have to make arrangements. And I reasoned that the filter and ventilation systems in our schools are better than those in students’ homes.”
However, as the air quality became progressively worse and as other schools began to cancel classes, SMUHSD reconsidered its decision. SMUHSD District code BP 3516.5 “authorizes the superintendent or designee to close a school site, to change the regular school day schedule or to take any necessary action when adverse weather conditions or other emergencies warrant.” In other words, the protocols for closing SMUHSD schools are more called play-by-play, instead of having a set checklist or standard.
“After consulting with other superintendents in the country and with SMUHSD principals, we made the decision to cancel school for Friday the 16th,” Superintendent Skelly said. After this decision was made on the afternoon of Nov. 15, an email and voicemail recording were sent out to all SMUHSD students and parents to notify them of the cancellation.
The lost school day on Nov. 16 will not be made up.
“I’ve been working in California schools for 30 years, and this is only the third time I have had to cancel school,” Skelly said.