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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add...  (More)

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Driving your car is the official recommendation--so much for transit

Uploaded: Jul 14, 2020
The KTVU Morning News showed a telling picture early Friday morning.

There was a 15-minute backup at the Bay Bridge—on a July Friday within a week of July 4th. In other words, high vacation season. What it demonstrated was that workers were taking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control seriously. If you have to travel, the CDC recommends the best way is in your own vehicle.

That recommendation is unlikely to change as more people start to go back to their offices although many have found it productive and convenient to work from home. Until a vaccine is developed and tested, many people are not going to be comfortable in crowds—whether that’s on a BART train, a bus or riding the elevator in a San Francisco high rise.

Backed by millions of dollars high-powered companies are racing to develop the vaccine, but there’s no guarantee one will be found. The AIDS virus has been with us since the 1980s and there’s no vaccine. The same goes for the common cold virus. Fortunately, effective therapies have been developed that allow people to manage the HIV/AIDS virus and live productive lives.

The world-wide impact of COVID-19 likely will be felt for years. The airlines have seen some passengers returning, but the notion of flying for hours with hundreds of people isn’t an attractive one right now. And that’s recognizing that air filters on jetliners are equivalent to those used in hospitals and people will be required to wear face coverings.

Last week, United announced it is considering furloughing or laying off up to 36,000 people—about one-third of its work force. Boeing, in addition to trying to get the 737-Max certified air-worthy again, has seen demand plummet. Delta announced it is retiring its fleet of long-range 777s, while Southwest has offered an incentive-laden buyout/early retirement plan to its workers.

Then add in when, if ever, will people be comfortable packed into BART cars or onto buses during the morning commute. Social distancing with mask isn’t an issue with the light passenger loads now, but as the economy re-opens passenger count likely will increase.

And then consider what implications this has for transit-oriented housing. If there’s an effective vaccine and people are widely vaccinated, then higher densities close to transit could again be desirable for people. As a Wall Street Journal weekend article observed this weekend the sweet spot for families now is leasing suburban single-family homes in good school districts. The story detailed firms buying, renovating and leasing single-family homes and the robust market they are tapping.

A story in Monday’s edition pointed out that well-paid workers with families who had flocked to New York City now are taking another look at rural small towns in Connecticut.

Whether this is the “new normal” or what will be “normal” as we live with the virus remains an open question.



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Comments

Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 14, 2020 at 10:38 am

I plan to remain where I am, no plans use elevators or BART, but I will admit to being amused by DHKLMNOP aka "dando" the silly doo-doo!

So now you're a Republican? Before that you were a Libertarian...what next?

I often wonder how much African blood cacasoids have in their DNA? There's a documented Hx of inter-marriage between Africans/Native Americans. Don't fight it, stop denying reality.

Also, please stick to the topic, many discussions on Tim's blog are not about Native American folks and who was here first. I imagine that dinosaurs would have something to say about that!






Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 14, 2020 at 10:43 am

oops...forgot to mention that agree that covid will be around for awhile...wear a mask, keep a minimum of 6ft. from others, and wash your hands frequently.

It's not wise to try and fool Mother Nature, you could drop dead!

My vote is for all schools to remain CLOSED. It's not safe, and children need to be to survive.


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 15, 2020 at 6:52 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

BART and public transit will be the least of problems in this great country of ours. I am in conference calls with co-workers from Europe and Asia. Most of these countries have made a lot of progress with keeping their COVID-19 rates down and making progress with their economies. We in the US are going the opposite way. COVID-19 is not Trump's fault but he and his team are accountable for the mess this country is in. They are good at blaming others when things go wrong.


Posted by Al, a resident of Alamo,
on Jul 16, 2020 at 7:27 am

@Kevin:

Some things are certain in life: Death, Democrats raising taxes, and liberals blaming President Trump for everything.

So, Trump and his team are "accountable" for the Covid-19 mess. What about the hundreds of thousands of protesters who have gathered in close proximity the last few months yelling and screaming and spreading the virus? What about Nancy Pelosi holding a national press conference in late February in Chinatown telling people it was safe to come out and visit San Francisco and enjoy all the restaurants, bars, and night life? Any accountability there?

No, let me guess, you and your limousine liberal buddies in Castlewood blame the 10 parishioners who attended mass for spreading the virus. As your fearless leader President Obama, said, "Republicans cling to their guns and religion.". Yes, we value the first two Amendments to the Constitution, and law and order. Unlike Nancy Pelosi, we do not say, "People will do what they do" when asked about mobs vandalizing Father Serra statues. If this was a statue of President Obama that was vandalized, the liberal DA would file enhanced hate crime charges against the mob. But because it was a religious statue vandalized and destroyed, the mob gets a free pass.

"Accountability" is not a word any Democrat should ever use.


Posted by Greg, a resident of Val Vista,
on Jul 16, 2020 at 4:22 pm

Greg is a registered user.

And don't forget with all of this anti-cop defunding, BART is going to be an even bigger cesspool of criminals.


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 16, 2020 at 10:17 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

Hi Al,

I am not a democrat. I am an independent who voted for Trump in 2016. I voted for him because I thought he can make a change as a business man. After almost 4 years, I now know he is and has been a corrupt businessman and president who cares more about his image than this country. So, I am your Republican worst nightmare. I am an independent who has turned against Trump. I don't watch the BS Fox Hannity show and base my opinion on what they say.

My company is closing down our medical device manufacturing plant for two weeks in Northern Florida because of COVID-19 spread. I assure there were no protests and Nancy Pelosi in Trump country northern Florida. It is DeSantos and Trump country there. Please give me facts and not the political garbage you hear on Fox or MSNBC.


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 16, 2020 at 10:28 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

To Greg,

I don't agree with defunding the police at all. On the other hand, If you want to use “defund".as a verb, then this government has defunded Infrastructure spending ( have you driven on pot holes on 680?), trying to defund healthcare for people who don't have employer-sponsored option, defund education, etc.

The proper verb is “restructuring" the police and stopping the influence of police unions. Unfortunately local governments (Republican and Democrat) have gotten themselves in trouble by not dealing with their money and budget issues effectively. So, they have to give in to unions.

Let's restructure the police.


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 16, 2020 at 10:28 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

To Greg,

I don't agree with defunding the police at all. On the other hand, If you want to use “defund".as a verb, then this government has defunded Infrastructure spending ( have you driven on pot holes on 680?), trying to defund healthcare for people who don't have employer-sponsored option, defund education, etc.

The proper verb is “restructuring" the police and stopping the influence of police unions. Unfortunately local governments (Republican and Democrat) have gotten themselves in trouble by not dealing with their money and budget issues effectively. So, they have to give in to unions.

Let's restructure the police.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Jul 17, 2020 at 12:11 am

DKHSK is a registered user.

Kevin,

"COVID-19 is not Trump's fault but he and his team are accountable for the mess this country is in. They are good at blaming others when things go wrong."

The idiocy never ends, eh Kevin?

Did you know that the Feds come out with guidelines, but the States have the final verdict? Do any of you liberals know that?

The feds have ZERO control over the STATES response to COVID. All those decisions coming from State capitals are the responsibility of the STATES GOVERNORS.

FACT!!!!!!

Get educated dude.

Dan


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 17, 2020 at 10:02 am

Kevin is a registered user.

DKHSK, now you are playing Trump's game of blaming someone else. Trump and his team need to lead and demonstrate leadership. Instead he made people's safety and wearing mask into a political issue. Testing in Florida is taking 8 days to get the results back because they don't have enough reagents and kits to analyze tests in a timely manner. That is DeSantos's fault? Why doesn't he ask his buddy in the White House to help him?


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 17, 2020 at 10:02 am

Kevin is a registered user.

DKHSK, now you are playing Trump's game of blaming someone else. Trump and his team need to lead and demonstrate leadership. Instead he made people's safety and wearing mask into a political issue. Testing in Florida is taking 8 days to get the results back because they don't have enough reagents and kits to analyze tests in a timely manner. That is DeSantos's fault? Why doesn't he ask his buddy in the White House to help him?


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Jul 17, 2020 at 10:15 am

DKHSK is a registered user.

Kevin,

"DKHSK, now you are playing Trump's game of blaming someone else."

No! I'm playing by my rules. I'm an independent thinker. That Trump may use the same rules is coincidence. Get it?

Trump (and I) happen to be right. The feds only recommend to the States. All decisions regarding COVID are made in Sacramento and NOT by Trump. You're next comment either needs to disprove mine, or acquiesce to the facts. Your choice.

"Testing in Florida is taking 8 days to get the results back because they don't have enough reagents and kits to analyze tests in a timely manner."

Around 340+ test facilities in Florida have erroneously reported 100% infection rate and now all are being investigated.

DO NOT talk to me about Florida.

Dan


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 17, 2020 at 11:04 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

DKHSK, you are nuts and make no sense. Please seek mental help.


Posted by Kevin Please, a resident of Avila,
on Jul 18, 2020 at 5:03 pm

The internet message boards that face American audiences aee full of people who claim to be “life long conservative gop to the core" suddenly turned trump basher. Often times they're foreign agents from communist or authoritwiran countries posing as Americans to sow the seeds of confusion and division. Luckily the CCP, PLA and FSB shills talk with some very predictable talking points so it's easy to spot all these “reawakened patriots".


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 19, 2020 at 12:51 pm

1. dmhkl is a W U S
2. dmhkl is a closeted soul...trapped in a body
3. dmhkl eats...hahahahahahah


Posted by Kevin, a resident of Castlewood,
on Jul 20, 2020 at 9:14 pm

Kevin is a registered user.

To Kevin Please, wow you caught me - i cannot believe how smart and observant you are. I am working on getting tri-valley to declare its dependence from CA and USA with pleasanton as its capital. It will be a kingdom with its castle in ... where else .. castlewood where I live.


Posted by Kevin Please, a resident of Avila,
on Jul 21, 2020 at 7:12 pm

And I am a life long Kennedy Democrat who woke up and now support the other team, in my palatial adobe in Avila.

See, anyone can claim to be anything on the internet.

Like I said, your talking template so so tired and predictable, it's almost comical.


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