Let’s Talk / Memo to the Kensingtonian Club Faithful
John Gaccione
Date: 04/23/2022
Subject: Let’s Talk
From: The Memo Desk
Change is such a difficult concept for the faithful to embrace. As we have seen over the years, the Kensingtonian way is to view change as unnecessary. Maintaining the status quo is by far priority numero uno around these parts.
An example of this is the reluctance of some Kensingtonians to realize the Kensington Fire Department and the Kensington Police Department can’t quite fit into the Public Safety Building remodel. Expensive delays to the PSB remodeling project have resulted because some folks can’t accept the facts on the ground. It seems folks would rather take a form-follows-fiction approach. Go figure.
Arguments for keeping the KPD and KFD in the PSB were always pretty thin. They should remain in the PSB simply because that’s the way it has always been. Or the “Taj Mahal” argument claiming the proposed KFD quarters are larger and more luxurious than most homes in Kensington. Firefighters only live and work there, so how much space do they really need?
Seemingly rational people have had great difficulties acknowledging the code requirements for the police and fire department facilities have changed and become more complex. A great deal of time was lost because some folks were seeking work-arounds to required accessibility, health and safety codes. And as we know with construction projects, time is money.
The logic of housing police, fire and emergency first responders in a building located in close proximity to a major and active earthquake fault makes little sense right out of the gate. So why not take the opportunity the remodeling of the PSB presents and locate the police department’s new facilities in a location further from the fault?
The Kensingtonian way has resulted in; the president of the KCC ranting about being “evicted” from building E by the KPPCSD, the PSB remodel not yet breaking ground, the KPD still looking for a new home, and a host of temporary locations for both the KFD and KPD being reviewed. And ironically, our KFD and KPD temporary facilities could end up in the dreaded El Cerrito. (Gasp!).
“The changes we dread most may contain our salvation.” (Barbara Kingsolver)
Note: Caution contains satire, not suitable for folks with a challenged sense of humor.