Make sure we are utilizing best election methods, practices and systems.

San Mateo County is located in the heart of the leading technology geographic area-  but we use voting systems that have been reported as deficient by government study.  We should lead the country toward less expensive, more secure, open source / paper ballot voting systems.

– Brent Turner

We need those who supervise us to have an understanding and appreciation of those species which were here before supervision was needed. Endangered species need to be protected by those who have the power to protect them. April Vargas understands this. Few in power these days do.

– George Cattermole

The San Francisco Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) pictured above is found only in San Mateo County and bits of far nothern Santa Cruz County.  This subspecies of the common garter snake is considered one of the most colorful snakes in the world.  Classified as endangered since 1967, only 1,000-2,000 individuals are predicted to remain.

Find out more about San Francisco Garter Snakes and efforts to protect them on Wikipedia , Don Robertson from Monterrey’s website, or the Center for Biological Diversity.

Original Image: Flickr user occam.  Used under Creative Commons license.  Tree: Public Domain.

Many people use Hwy. 101 and it is really a boring drive and frustrating.  If we could make it more beautiful and relaxing, perhaps we could lessen the road rage, etc.  Also, this greening of the highway by planting more trees would bring more rain to this desert state (as trees attract more rain).  I, for one, take Hwy 280 because it is such a lovely drive and never go on Hwy 101 unless I have no alternative.  Once the trees are planted, they should not need any upkeep.  Nature would provide that.

- Ron Meier

Thanks for this opportunity.
My main concern is the ugly billboards.
Get rid of them.

- Rick Gilbert, Redwood City

Original Photo: Flickr user crderivative.  Used under Creative Commons license.

Install bus shelters that provide shelter from the weather, not advertising space.

Recently many of the bus shelters which had provided shelter from summer hot afternoon sun and winter rain and wind, we removed and replaced with more open shelters which provided illuminated billboards for advertising, but which do not provide protection from weather.

Since a rider has to wait for up to an hour, sometimes more, for a bus, don’t they deserve some protection? It gets pretty rough out there. The old shelters should have been kept in place which would have increased the number of shelters. – Dana Callen

-Ann and Alan Fleisman

Original Photo: Flickr user Pink Dispatcher.  Used under Creative Commons license.

Install solar panels on all San Mateo County buildings to achieve an economy of scale.

We must act to mitigate global warming. – Charlie Nordlinger

Original Photo: Seattle Municipal Archives.  Used under Creative Commons license.

-Ann and Alan Fleishman

Plan now to make sure that San Mateo medical personnel and facilities will be able to provide first class medical care to all county residents when Congress passes and the President signs medical reform legislation.

The closure of the Coastside Family Clinic earlier this year in Half Moon Bay  focused attention on the fact that medical care is not readily available to all county residents, particularly those who lack mobility because of disabilities, cannot drive, or live in remote areas.

Planning and preparations are also needed to deal with the potential influenza A (H1N1) pandemic that may hit this fall. – Avis Boutell

Environmental damage from plastic waste is a serious reality on California’s coast.  Here’s an excellent article from Salon.com on waste in Oakland’s Lake Merritt.