David Pollack
@davidmpollack.bsky.social
Lead, follow, or get out of the way. 縁の下の力持ち。
📍Menlo Park
📍Menlo Park
Pinned
David Pollack
@davidmpollack.bsky.social
· Nov 27
Has anyone successfully gotten busy streets to allow no left turns without a light?
This was me on bicycle on El Camino Real northbound hit by a turning driver trying to beat traffic. Pictures of me where the driver hit me in the leg and ending up on the windshield.
This was me on bicycle on El Camino Real northbound hit by a turning driver trying to beat traffic. Pictures of me where the driver hit me in the leg and ending up on the windshield.
“Until we treat e-bikes with the same seriousness as cars…”
Since when do we treat cars with any seriousness? 🤔 www.smdailyjournal.com/opinion/gues...
Since when do we treat cars with any seriousness? 🤔 www.smdailyjournal.com/opinion/gues...
Why Foster City’s children need e-bike education now
The hum of an electric motor is becoming as common as the rattle of a skateboard in Foster City, as children and teens increasingly embrace the speed and convenience of
www.smdailyjournal.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:24 PM
“Until we treat e-bikes with the same seriousness as cars…”
Since when do we treat cars with any seriousness? 🤔 www.smdailyjournal.com/opinion/gues...
Since when do we treat cars with any seriousness? 🤔 www.smdailyjournal.com/opinion/gues...
Own your car-brain.
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Own your car-brain.
Reposted by David Pollack
Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.
November 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.
Reposted by David Pollack
The only reason the owner can afford to keep this eyesore is that California's property tax system is very, very stupid. I can understand the political reasons for fixing property tax for primary residences at artificially low levels (even it's a bad idea) but why do it for commercial space?
This is way off in the fractal details of Berkeley real estate, but an eyesore I see every day is this abandoned store on a prominent block of University Ave. The City has been trying to force these guys to reinforce the brick since ... 1989. In the 4th decade, they are starting to file liens.
November 3, 2025 at 11:57 PM
The only reason the owner can afford to keep this eyesore is that California's property tax system is very, very stupid. I can understand the political reasons for fixing property tax for primary residences at artificially low levels (even it's a bad idea) but why do it for commercial space?
It’s impossible for suburban firefighters to handle 4+ story buildings according to San Mateo’s affluent retirees. It’s a wonder I survived growing up in and around Manhattan and 12 years in Tokyo.
November 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
It’s impossible for suburban firefighters to handle 4+ story buildings according to San Mateo’s affluent retirees. It’s a wonder I survived growing up in and around Manhattan and 12 years in Tokyo.
The cat should have worn a reflective vest and looked both ways at a crosswalk.
October 31, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The cat should have worn a reflective vest and looked both ways at a crosswalk.
Entitled affluent residents of Millbrae alleged to not give a fuck about anyone else www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/m...
Millbrae’s police chief alleged to live in Idaho but stay in the station
Local leaders are calling for an investigation into allegations that Millbrae Police Chief Eamonn Allen has been living in Boise, Idaho, and residing at the police station while in Millbrae.
www.smdailyjournal.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Entitled affluent residents of Millbrae alleged to not give a fuck about anyone else www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/m...
Those who can't do, do HR. Those that can't do HR call themselves "Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology."
wake up babe, a new way of saying "we just put 14,000 people out of a job" just dropped
October 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Those who can't do, do HR. Those that can't do HR call themselves "Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology."
Reposted by David Pollack
Some fun texts from Rishi Kumar's campaign for Santa Clara County Assessor! He's lying to seniors, saying he'll exempt them from property tax--which the assessor can't do.
So if you live in Santa Clara County, return your ballot by Nov 4 and vote YES on A, YES on 50, and Neysa Fliegor for Assessor!
So if you live in Santa Clara County, return your ballot by Nov 4 and vote YES on A, YES on 50, and Neysa Fliegor for Assessor!
October 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Some fun texts from Rishi Kumar's campaign for Santa Clara County Assessor! He's lying to seniors, saying he'll exempt them from property tax--which the assessor can't do.
So if you live in Santa Clara County, return your ballot by Nov 4 and vote YES on A, YES on 50, and Neysa Fliegor for Assessor!
So if you live in Santa Clara County, return your ballot by Nov 4 and vote YES on A, YES on 50, and Neysa Fliegor for Assessor!
Someone is concussed.
October 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Someone is concussed.
When I was your age, I scrimped and saved for a whole 6 months to pay off my college debt and make a down payment on a house.
October 26, 2025 at 7:24 PM
When I was your age, I scrimped and saved for a whole 6 months to pay off my college debt and make a down payment on a house.
Reposted by David Pollack
Ontario launches the perfect ad. Canadians are true brothers 💙🇨🇦
October 21, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Ontario launches the perfect ad. Canadians are true brothers 💙🇨🇦
Reposted by David Pollack
Actually building the apartment building: $35 million
Impact fees on the apartment building: $8.5 million
Now I am just a simple country planner, but it seems to me that imposing heavy taxes on the construction of new housing in the middle of an acute housing shortage is a bad idea.
Impact fees on the apartment building: $8.5 million
Now I am just a simple country planner, but it seems to me that imposing heavy taxes on the construction of new housing in the middle of an acute housing shortage is a bad idea.
Palo Alto just released a financial feasibility analysis of development in its downtown. Key takeaways:
-Nothing is feasible under current market conditions
-Removing impact fees—which are over $100/square foot and ~15% of TOTAL cost for midrise housing—would have a huge impact
-Nothing is feasible under current market conditions
-Removing impact fees—which are over $100/square foot and ~15% of TOTAL cost for midrise housing—would have a huge impact
October 23, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Actually building the apartment building: $35 million
Impact fees on the apartment building: $8.5 million
Now I am just a simple country planner, but it seems to me that imposing heavy taxes on the construction of new housing in the middle of an acute housing shortage is a bad idea.
Impact fees on the apartment building: $8.5 million
Now I am just a simple country planner, but it seems to me that imposing heavy taxes on the construction of new housing in the middle of an acute housing shortage is a bad idea.
“We are not going to fix this by forcing kids to sit through assemblies and calling it good, while the streets around schools are still over-wide and lack the separated bike lanes that make kids feel safe to ride,” Yiming Luo said during the meeting. www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/c...
Calls for increased e-bike education evokes pushback in Foster City
As part of a growing trend calling for more e-bike education and regulation, Foster City hopes the San Mateo-Foster City School District will help conduct more training programs, citing safety
www.smdailyjournal.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
“We are not going to fix this by forcing kids to sit through assemblies and calling it good, while the streets around schools are still over-wide and lack the separated bike lanes that make kids feel safe to ride,” Yiming Luo said during the meeting. www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/c...
San Francisco burrito beats DC TACO yet again. www.cnbc.com/2025/10/23/t...
Trump backs off federal deployment in San Francisco after Huang, Benioff phone calls
Democratic Mayor Daniel Lurie said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed that plans for a deployment were called off.
www.cnbc.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
San Francisco burrito beats DC TACO yet again. www.cnbc.com/2025/10/23/t...
Who will think of the mom and pop slum lords?
Headline: California renters are very picky customers
How are they picky? Do they keep changing apts because of colors? Amenities?
Oh… it’s because of rising unaffordable rent.
How are they picky? Do they keep changing apts because of colors? Amenities?
Oh… it’s because of rising unaffordable rent.
October 22, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Who will think of the mom and pop slum lords?
Reposted by David Pollack
Headline: California renters are very picky customers
How are they picky? Do they keep changing apts because of colors? Amenities?
Oh… it’s because of rising unaffordable rent.
How are they picky? Do they keep changing apts because of colors? Amenities?
Oh… it’s because of rising unaffordable rent.
October 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Headline: California renters are very picky customers
How are they picky? Do they keep changing apts because of colors? Amenities?
Oh… it’s because of rising unaffordable rent.
How are they picky? Do they keep changing apts because of colors? Amenities?
Oh… it’s because of rising unaffordable rent.
Atherton retirees are heartbroken on the demotion. www.paloaltoonline.com/real-estate/...
Atherton loses title as nation’s priciest ZIP code after 8-year run
After eight straight years reigning as the country’s most-expensive ZIP code, Atherton’s 94027 has finally slipped to second place. The ultra-exclusive Fisher Island, Florida (33109), took the top spo...
www.paloaltoonline.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Atherton retirees are heartbroken on the demotion. www.paloaltoonline.com/real-estate/...
85 year old bike rider killed by driver in their 90s. www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2025/10...
Cyclist dies after a collision on Foothill Expressway
A cyclist who was hit by a vehicle while traveling on Foothill Expressway in Palo Alto earlier this month died on Wednesday from injuries that he suffered as a result of the collision, according to th...
www.paloaltoonline.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:50 PM
85 year old bike rider killed by driver in their 90s. www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2025/10...
“State and San Mateo County officials say it's because there are more cars on the road.”
The number of times we were told this would not happen after widening 101. This time for sure. And they still want to widen it again. And again. abc7news.com/post/express...
The number of times we were told this would not happen after widening 101. This time for sure. And they still want to widen it again. And again. abc7news.com/post/express...
Express lane charges reach $20 on parts of Hwy 101 during morning Bay Area commute
"That's insanity!" There's an outrage from drivers as recent express lane charges during the morning commute have now reached $20 on parts of Highway 101 in San Mateo County.
abc7news.com
October 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
“State and San Mateo County officials say it's because there are more cars on the road.”
The number of times we were told this would not happen after widening 101. This time for sure. And they still want to widen it again. And again. abc7news.com/post/express...
The number of times we were told this would not happen after widening 101. This time for sure. And they still want to widen it again. And again. abc7news.com/post/express...
Affluent retirees continue to oppose taking away parking spaces in front of Menlo Park’s vacant rug stores. www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/15/m...
Opponents of Menlo Park affordable housing proposal reach signature threshold for ballot measure
Menlo Park petition may force a public vote on redeveloping downtown lots for housing
www.mercurynews.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Affluent retirees continue to oppose taking away parking spaces in front of Menlo Park’s vacant rug stores. www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/15/m...
When you tower gets that sinking feeling. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Trump is considering sending National Guard to San Francisco
His deployments in other cities have faced high-profile legal challenges.
www.politico.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:54 AM
When you tower gets that sinking feeling. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Papan sad for the affluent communities who are the real victims with the veto of AB650. www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/n...
Newsom vetoes housing element reform bill
A bill designed to clarify and streamline the housing element process for local cities and another to require data centers report estimated water use, both authored by Assemblymember Diane Papan,
www.smdailyjournal.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Papan sad for the affluent communities who are the real victims with the veto of AB650. www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/n...
Reposted by David Pollack
Average new-vehicle manufacturer’s suggested retail prices hit an all-time high last month, reaching $52k, up 4.2% from last year.
(The best selling vehicle in the U.S. is a ford truck that sells for more than 65k)
All that “freedom” to be stuck in car dependency & traffic sure sounds expensive.
(The best selling vehicle in the U.S. is a ford truck that sells for more than 65k)
All that “freedom” to be stuck in car dependency & traffic sure sounds expensive.
Average U.S. New Car Prices Top $50,000 For The First Time Ever
Prices for new vehicles have risen steadily in the last year as the pace of price increases has sped up in recent months, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book.
www.forbes.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Average new-vehicle manufacturer’s suggested retail prices hit an all-time high last month, reaching $52k, up 4.2% from last year.
(The best selling vehicle in the U.S. is a ford truck that sells for more than 65k)
All that “freedom” to be stuck in car dependency & traffic sure sounds expensive.
(The best selling vehicle in the U.S. is a ford truck that sells for more than 65k)
All that “freedom” to be stuck in car dependency & traffic sure sounds expensive.
So proud of high school classmate and friend Sally Kornbluth telling Trump to fuck off. Ride, Sally, ride. www.reuters.com/world/us/mit...
MIT refuses to accept White House terms for funding, other schools still mulling
President Sally Kornbluth said some of the policies would restrict MIT's independence and freedom of expression.
www.reuters.com
October 12, 2025 at 3:44 PM
So proud of high school classmate and friend Sally Kornbluth telling Trump to fuck off. Ride, Sally, ride. www.reuters.com/world/us/mit...