Candidate for
Harbor Commissioner; San Mateo County Harbor District

Leni Schultz, Candidate for SMC Harbor Commission, 2000

Harbor Commissioners have the privilege, duty, and responsibility to see to it that the public has maximum access to all of its facilities and that these facilities are kept in ship-shape.

The San Mateo County Harbor District areas contain many unique and irreplaceable public resources (land, water, habitat, views, commerce, etc.). All of these resources must be managed wisely so as to benefit current and future generations.

Harbor Commissioners, as "stewards of the District's assets" should have a basic knowledge of the policies of the California State Coastal Act of 1976. These policies are the heart of California's coastal protection program. Continual consideration of these policies during their decision making process' and their application wherever appropriate impacts the public interest in responsible use of the Districts' coastal resources.

Commissioners must make informed decisions with the use of full public input and with strict adherence to Brown Act. The Commission exists for the purpose of conducting the Harbor District's business and the public has the right to know how its "collaborative decisions" are being made. The general manager works for the Commissioners, not vice-versa.

The public should not be burdened by having to watch every move the commission makes to protect their interests in the facilities. They should rest assured that such basics as standards for development and public access policies which are specified in whatever land use plan applies,(in the Coastal Zone it's the "Local Coastal Program" whose enforcement the public is legally entitled to by virtue of the Coastal Act) will be complied with.

After observing many of what I view as serious errors in judgement on the part of the Commission, and the impending occurrence of yet another "give-a-way" of an important district owned land in a lengthy undercapitalized lease to the leaseholder of numerous other Harbor District assets, I was compelled to run for Harbor Commission.