 |
| Home |
| About OMVNA |
| Emergency Preparedness |
| Newsletter |
| OMVNAtalk E-mail list |
| Coming Events |
| Meeting Minutes |
| Steering Committee |
| Links |
| Advertisers |
Volume 14, Number 6
Help Save the James Stover House
Leave Me Alone … or How I Stopped the Second Round of Junk Mail
Free (YES FREE) Home Repair from Rebuilding Together
PAYPAL - The Little Company that Could … and DID!
Nominations for the OMVNA Steering Committee Officers
History Corner - The History of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce
Noise Issues in the Neighborhood
Help Save the James Stover House
Dear Old Mountain View resident,
I am your neighbor from a historic Mountain View neighborhood on the
other side of Shoreline Blvd. I am writing to ask you to help our neighborhood
save the James Stover House, a heritage house that is key to our neighborhood's
character. The James Stover House at 340 Palo Alto Avenue was built in 1908,
making it one of the oldest homes in Mountain View. It has been declared
eligible for the California Register of Historic Resources due to its unique
architectural style and historic integrity. It is a large farm-house built
in the Vernacular Eclectic style popular between 1890 and 1915. Architects
using this style created unique buildings by combining individual architectural
styles from different styles and regions. City historian Barbara Kinchen's
recent research shows that the house was probably built by Reverend Hampton
W. Cottrell, president of the Pacific Press Publishing Asso-ciation and
one of Mountain View's leading residents.
The current owner of the house is proposing to demolish it and replace it
with two identical two-story homes with inhabitable basements. The owner
is disabled and the homes are designed to accommodate his needs. The Development
Review Committee, made up of professional architects and chaired by the
city's Deputy Zoning Administrator, re-viewed the owner's plans for the
property. The committee could not endorse the proposed demolition and commented
that the new homes appeared out of character with the neighborhood because
of their modern, somewhat commercial appearance and orientation away from
the street.
City staff proposed three different development options that would save
this historic resource while still allowing the owner to build a new home
with the disability accommodations he needs. I am writing to ask that Old
Mountain View residents join my neighborhood in helping to save the James
Stover House. To help out you can:
· E-mail City Council members and candidates and tell them that you want this house and other historic Mountain View properties to be preserved.
· Show up and speak out in support of development options that would both preserve the James Stover House and meet the needs of the disabled owner.
· Join with the Mountain View Preservation Alliance (MVPA) in preserving this and other heritage homes. Find MVPA at www.mv-pa.org and come to the next meeting on September 15, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Red Rock Cafe on Castro Street.
Thank you for helping to keep Mountain View neighborhoods livable.
Mark Sullivan
307 Palo Alto Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94041
650-965-9307
imarksullivan@yahoo.com
Editor's Note: In January of 2002 the OMVNA general meeting attendees voted "Historic Preservation" as a top issue.
Leave Me Alone … or How I Stopped
the Second Round of Junk Mail
By Valerie Harris
My husband and I own, breed and race thoroughbreds. As part of our business,
we subscribe to numerous satellite services, which carry horseracing broadcasts
so that we can track the progress of our stallion's progeny.
In March of this year we subscribed to the Arabic Language Packages on Dish
Networks in order to watch the full broadcast of the Dubai World Cup in
the United Arab Emirates. I subscribed online and the service was started
almost instantly. Not only did we have access to the UAE races, we were
able to tune in to Aljazeera as well.
Three months later, we started receiving advertisements in the mail in Arabic.
Our personal information had been sold to marketers by Dish Networks!
Two years ago we researched and employed methods to reduce junk mail and
telemarketing calls. Here are some tips.
If you want to reduce the amount of national advertising mail you receive
at home, send your name and address to the Direct Marketing Association's
Mail Preference Service (MPS):
DMA Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
If you want to reduce the amount of national advertising calls you receive at home, send your name, address, area code and telephone number to the Direct Marketing Association's Telephone Preference Service (TPS):
DMA Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 1559
Carmel, NY 10512
After a few months, the TPS will reduce the amount of advertising mailers
and calls you receive from national marketers such as credit card and magazine
subscription companies. Some local organizations and charities may not participate.
Names remain part of the TPS for five years. After five years, you will
need to register with the TPS again.
If you continue to receive unwanted phone calls or advertising mailers after
a few months, the Direct Marketing Association suggests that you request
your name be removed from a company's list when they call.
In addition, we added a block of unidentified callers, a service offered
by PacBell. This service prevents telemarketing firms from calling from
a corporate PBX.
The results in junk mail and tele-marketing call reduction for us were dramatic.
But now we were added to junk mailing lists again. How did this happen?
In the past two years our family started using the internet exclusively.
Most of our bill paying, banking, magazine ordering, books and CDs purchases
are processed online. So why the new junk mail?
A visit to the dishnetwork.com site answered my questions. Every internet
commerce site has a "Privacy Statement" or "Privacy Policy"
link, but these links are not that obvious. Privacy links are usually at
the bottom of the page buried in the fine print along with the copyright
information.
When I clicked on the Privacy Statement, much to my surprise, my personal
information was "For Sale" unless I wrote to Dish Network instructing
their organization not to sell my personal information. Not only did they
want a letter, they wanted my social security number! I did write a letter
to Dish Networks omitting my social security number, but submitted all other
requested information.
After the Dish Networks revelation, I started checking every site with which
I interacted commercially to view their privacy policies. I was stunned
to find out that the default is to sell your information unless otherwise
instructed in writing through e-mail, FAX, or a letter.
I sent a letter to every magazine and periodical, credit card company, airline
company, e-commerce site, and cell phone company. Luckily, most of the contact
information can be found online along with the privacy policies.
My advice to anyone who shops online, or uses a company website to pay bills,
please take the time to check the site's privacy policies and do your part
to thwart unwanted junk mail.
For more information on how to stop unwanted information, please visit anti-junk-mail
sites like www.junkbusters.com.
This site has form letters you can print, fill out and send in. For SPAM-related
issues, visit www.cauce.org.
Free (YES FREE) Home Repair from Rebuilding
Together
From a "Building Together" Letter
What is it? It is neighbor helping neighbor....people helping people. And,
they need of help in spreading the word about their services.
Rebuilding Together Peninsula is a non-denominational organization that
builds volunteer partnerships to rehabilitate homes and community facilities
of low-income, elderly and/or disabled neighbors so they can live in warmth,
safety and independence.
In 1989, the Peninsula program was founded under the leadership of the Junior
League of Palo Alto, Mid Peninsula, and a community-based advisory board.
The first program was completed in April 1990, when 500 volunteers renovated
18 homes and community facilities.
Rebuilding Together Peninsula seeks to organize, train and direct volunteers,
and to raise the funds necessary to repair these homes and community facilities
of neighbors in need. This neighbor-helping-neighbor effort, culminating
in a "National Rebuilding Day" held each April, requires a partnership
between city government, private businesses, skilled trades, community volunteers
and contributors
Rebuilding Together, formerly known as Christmas in April, began in Midland,
Texas in 1973 when a few generous people decided to devote one day to help
some neighbors in need. The program acquired its name when one early home-owner
exclaimed, "Why, this is just like Christmas...in April!"
In 1983, Christmas in April came to Washington D.C. after a reporter witnessed
the Midland program and was overwhelmed by what he saw. A national program
was launched in 1988 as Christmas in April H USA. This effort has spread
Rebuilding Together to 600 cities and towns in 50 states with 245 programs.
Many of our neighbors have worked hard all their lives and have been physically
and financially able to repair their homes for most of that time. Now due
to illness, aging, inflation, etc., they are unable to do this work themselves
and their homes have deteriorated. The result is a loss of the homeowner's
dignity, unsafe conditions and crumbling neighborhoods. One day of volunteer
effort can make a difference in people's lives.
Homeowners who are able-bodied are expected to work along-side volunteers
on National Re-building Day. Family members living in the home or the area
are also ex-pected and encouraged to work. While it is not always possible,
homeowners have found other special ways to make volunteers feel welcome
and appreciated, some providing a special snack or lunch, words of appreciation
or notes of thanks. In addition, homeowners are encouraged to return year
after year to work on future projects and reinvest in the program in relation
to their capabilities.
Eligible homeowners are those whose income meets the federal low-income
guidelines, with emphasis primarily on the elderly and disabled. Non-profit
centers such as schools, shelters, day care centers and health care facilities
are also eligible for Rebuilding TogetherPeninsula support.
Community organizations, housing rehabilitation departments, social service
agencies, civic and religious groups may refer to Rebuilding Together Peninsula's
web-site. Many of their former recipients refer their neighbors. An application
form must be filled out by the homeowner, accompanied by proof of income.
Sites are previewed and selected by the "Site Selection Committee."
Selection is based on need and the ability of Rebuilding Together Peninsula
volunteers to accomplish the required tasks. What are Rebuilding Together
Peninsula's most outstanding accomplishments? Everyone benefits. Hope and
independence are restored for homeowners. Volunteers are empowered by knowing
and seeing the difference they have made. Sponsors receive a return on their
investment that far exceeds their contribution - the average site renovation
has been valued at $17,000. Neighborhoods are revitalized. Horizons are
broadened and bridges are built between people.
Applications are due October 15, 2002 and may be obtained from
rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org
or calling Seana at (650) 366-6597.
PAYPAL - The Little Company that Could
… and DID!
By Valerie Harris with assistance from Julie Anderson of PayPal
My first introduction to PayPal was shortly after PayPal launched its
website. A friend down in Los Angeles wanted money for tickets to the horseraces
and requested that I send my portion of the money over PayPal. "PayPal?"
I asked, "What's PayPal?" Once Dave sent me to the website I was
hooked. What a wonderful way to transfer funds.
Since that first interchange, I have used PayPal for all sorts of transactions.
I bought and sold items on eBAY, sent money to friends for ticket reservations,
set up websites for political candidates to accept money for their campaigns.
But how much did I know about this gem of a company that operates right
in the heart of the Old Mountain View Neighborhood?
PayPal co-founders Peter Thiel and Max Levchin began building a business
together in December 1998, though the business model for the company has
changed a number of times. Initially the company was named Fieldlink and
the intent was to build security software for hand-held devices like Palm
pilots and other gadgets popular at the time. Shortly thereafter the idea
to transmit money by handhelds surfaced and the company was re-named Confinity.
As it became clear that the true market for money transmission was the Internet
the company re-focused once again and launched a consumer-focused product
called PayPal -- which eventually became the corporate moniker as well.
PayPal launched its services in October of 1999 with approximately 30 employees.
However, adoption of the PayPal service was incredibly rapid. Within two
months of launching the service, more than 20,000 people were signing up
every day -- an incredible rate even for Internet companies.
PayPal has emerged as the most successful new payment service provider on
the Internet. Growing at a rate of 28,000 new accounts per day atop a base
of 17 million registered users, PayPal, more than any other service, is
shaping how the online community thinks about consumer payments. PayPal
customers send more than 300,000 payments through the system every day.
Many of these payments are made for sales on auction sites (eBay is Pay-Pal's
largest revenue source), but many are also made to mom-and-pop type businesses
that sell goods and services through their own websites.
While the traditional financial services industry looks on--partly in contempt,
partly in awe--PayPal continues to bear down: focusing on customer needs,
methodically expanding its service, and steering toward profitability.
How did PayPal do it? According to CommerceNet Security and Internet Payments
Research, November 9, 2001, "The company obsessively focused on the
needs of under-served customers; it kept the solution simple in spite of
the human tendency to chase the hard problems; it leveraged the Internet
to deliver, market, and support its service; it made sure that viral adoption
was integral to the underlying design; it incrementally improved the payment
service on a month-to-month basis, based on real-world feedback and actual
usage; it continually drove costs out of its internal operations; and it
refused to listen to industry experts who said it couldn't be done."
Apparently eBAY agrees! On July 8, 2002, eBAY tendered an offer to buy PayPal
in an acquisition, which is valued at $1.5 billion.
For those of you that have not had the pleasure of the PayPal experience,
you can visit their website at www.paypal.com. PayPal is located at 303
Bryant in the offices at the corner of Bryant and Dana.
The Downtown Beat
By Valerie Harris
On July 23, 2002, the Downtown Committee met to hear an update on Phase
2 of the Downtown Precise Plan, sections H, I and J, and to give the committee
members an update on the Interim Use Ordinance - Conditional Use Permit
(CUP).
Area H consists of the downtown segment of Castro Street between California
and Central Expressway. This is a very pedestrian-friendly segment with
buildings, which now fall under the Historic Preservation Ordinance.
Area I is that section over by Wells Fargo Bank and the Chamber of Commerce
Building by City Hall.
Area J is that segment of Castro by El Camino Real with the strip mall that
backs up against Hope Street. Since this segment of future development and
renovation will affect residents, the City will invite impacted residents
to participate in focus groups to gather inputs.
As for the ordinance, the City Council granted a 6-month lead-time before
violations will be issued. The Central Business Association and the MV Chamber
of Commerce are working together to educate the downtown business owners
on understanding how the new ordinance affects them.
On June 11, the City authorized commencement of the design of a parking
structure at California and Bryant. The first floor of this structure will
be dedicated to retail.
Nominations for the OMVNA Steering Committee Officers
The OMVNA Nominating Committee met twice, once in July and once in August, to determine a list of candidates for the OMVNA Steering Committee. An election will be held at the General Meeting, scheduled for Sunday, October 27th, 2002, from 11:30 am to 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Methodist Church at 748 Mercy St.
OMVNA Steering Committee nominees are as follows:
· Chair: George Harris
· Vice-Chair: Alison Hicks
· Treasurer: Aaron Grossman
· At Large #1: Julie Wrobel
· At Large #2: Larry Rosenberg
· Newsletter Editor: Valerie Harris
· Community Liaison: TBD
· Secretary: TBD
The CERT Chair position remains open. CERT's mission involves emergency
preparedness for the neighborhood in case of disasters. Since most of the
development of CERT is completed, CERT may revert back to the Steering Committee.
History Corner - The History of the Mountain
View Chamber of Commerce
By Valerie Harris
As long as commerce has existed, traders have banded together for the
common protection against enemies, to govern the conduct of trade, and later
to exert influence on legislation.
The first known use of the term "chamber of commerce" occurred
in Marseilles, France, where such an organization was established by the
city council toward the close of the 17th century. From this beginning,
chambers of commerce spread to Germany, and then throughout Europe.
European chambers have little parallel with the American organization. They
frequently operate as quasi-public agencies, with administrative and judicial
powers with respect to trade.
The oldest chamber of commerce on the American continent is that of the
State of New York, chartered by King George III, in 1770. The establishment
of the New York Chamber was a direct result of the Stamp Act that was passed
by Parliament in 1765, 8 years before the Revolutionary War.
The first local chamber of commerce was founded in Charleston, South Carolina
in 1773. By 1870, the number of local chambers had increased to 40. The
early American, like their European prototypes, were associations of tradesmen,
organized for the protection and promotion of commerce.
In the United States, early chambers promoted the sale of goods, organized
markets, made and enforced rules of trade, protected goods in transit, and
even operated their own trading floors. But their activities were limited
to those directly connected with commerce.
The emergence of the chamber as a true community organization came much
later, as businessmen began to realize that their own prosperity depended
on the development of a prosperous community.
In the 1950s and 1960s, chambers placed major emphasis on industrial recruitment
and job creation activities. As we entered the 1970s, 80s, and 90s major
problems with inadequate housing, schools, community services, and high
unemployment, the role of chambers of commerce expanded to socioeconomic
concerns.
The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce formed in 1922. An article in the
Mountain View Register Leader, dated April 14, 1922 says, "... a movement
is under way to build in Mountain View a modern, efficient community organization
with a membership representative of the whole community." Then the
article continues, "we are here to seek to secure the cooperation of
the churches, the schools, the clubs, the business men, the farmers and
every element in the community in a proven plan of community organization."
Seventy-seven years later, the Chamber still strives to serve the same purpose
that those founding members had intended.
Although the Mountain View demographics have changed since its inception
in 1922, the basic mission statement is still the same. Today there are
fewer farmer members, but more business owners, more women and more minorities.
Today the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce is a business organization working
for the mutual benefit of its members and the community by enhancing an
environment in which business can succeed. This action is accomplished through
progressive leadership in the areas of business assistance, educational
partnerships, legislative advocacy, economic development and professional
networking.
The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce serves not only as a business liaison,
but also as a tourist center, and a center for various community-based programs
such as the Diversity Youth Forum, School Adoption Programs, Shadowing Programs
(where students "shadow" a corporate employee for a day), and
Community Outreach. The Chamber administers the Leadership Mountain View
Program, a community leadership education program for adults who live or
work in Mountain View. Many LMV graduates have gone on to become community
leaders and activists. The Chamber also sponsors the annual Art and Wine
Festival. Each September, the Chamber's annual Art & Wine Festival draws
over 200,000 visitors to Mountain View for the two-day event. Visitors may
shop for arts and crafts while sipping some of California's wonderful wines
or beer from the local microbreweries.
Carol Olson is the current President/CEO and has served in that capacity
since 1998. Carol joined the Chamber after serving as Studio Director of
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic in Palo Alto. She is a graduate of
UC Berkeley.
The Chamber is located at 580 Castro Street in Mountain View right next
to City Hall and the Wells Fargo Bank Building. The Chamber may be reached
at 650-968-8378 or via email at info@chambermv.org,
and the URL is www.chambermv.org.
Noise Issues in the Neighborhood
By Valerie Harris and Bruce Karney
A couple of noise nuisances have been reported to the OMVNA Steering
Committee from residents in the Old Mountain View Neighborhood.
Over the last few months OMVNA Chair Bruce Karney has had conversations
and exchanged e-mail with several people in the central part of our neighborhood
who have been bothered by noise from parties and dances at the SFV Lodge
(Portuguese Hall) at 361 Villa St. At the April, 2002, OMVNA Steering Committee
meeting we had a presentation from one of the Hall's neighbors. The Steering
Committee requested that that a letter be written to Police Chief Vermeer
to seek more information about the noise issue.
Based on the presentation OMVNA heard, OMVNA believes it is possible that
many dances and parties held at the SFV Lodge violate the terms of their
City-issued permits by being louder and lasting longer than they should.
OMVNA also requested the list of noise complaints, number of permits issues
and whether a representative of OMVNA could review the details of dance
permits issued to the SFV Lodge in the past, and whether it would be possible
for us to receive notification 2-3 days in advance whenever a dance permit
is issued to them in the future.
The second noise complaint was from Tom Macagno of 272 Bryant Street about
problems caused by patrons of the Lime Light nightclub.
The Committee feels there are six problems that affect neighborhood residents
and require police attention:
1. Noise from patrons, primarily outside the club in the adjacent City-owned
parking lot
2. Illegal consumption of alcohol in and around the parking lot
3. Drunken driving and dangerous driving by patrons of the Lime Light
4. Littering on private property near the parking lot, as well as in the
lot and nearby streets
5. Other alcohol-related misdemeanors, such as urinating in public
6. Excessively loud music from inside the club
OMVNA has been in existence for over 12 years. This is the first time problems
of this type have been reported to us regarding the building at 228 Castro
now known as the Lime Light. When the same building housed the Rio Grande
nightclub, and for the first year or two of operation of the Lime Light,
there were no reported problems. Mr. Macagno traces the rise of the problem
to a recent change in the management and marketing of the club. He believes
they now attract a younger and rowdier clientele.
OMVNA would welcome action by the Police and other City departments (working
with the Lime Light's management) that would eliminate or significantly
reduce the six problems identified above. To that end, OMVNA Chair, Bruce
Karney's letter to city officials stated, "OMVNA would be willing to
participate in meetings or other activities that may be helpful."
The OMVNA Newsletter
is published by a volunteer editorial committee & distributed to some 2400 homes and businesses by volunteers.
To get in touch with us:
- Write to P.O.Box 391328, Mtn. View, CA 94039
- Call the editor, Bruce Karney at 964-3567 or e-mail him at editor@omvna.org
- Find us on the Web at http://www.omvna.org/
The opinions printed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the OMVNA Steering Committee.