Archive for December, 2008

The SF Weekly wades into the debate over historic preservation. And even from the title of the article, I think we can guess which side they come down on. “Deeply ugly?” Tell us how you really feel.

We decided to get environmentally correct with our holiday card this year, and instead of mailing cards to each of you, we hired a minor Internet celebrity to sing you a song. (No, it’s not the Numa Numa guy, or the Chocolate Rain guy, or the laughing baby - but we think you’ll enjoy it, nonetheless.) Please visit the holiday card from the folks who bring you Usual Suspects each morning - and happy holidays! BARBARY COAST HOLIDAY CARD

Airline discrimination, fireworks at a BART Board meeting, and a community court program - in Oakland. (And finally we know the identity of someone who personally knows President-elect Barack Obama and can get him to do things - whew!)

Local good guy Scott Hauge and friends are leading an effort to open a free medical clinic to help provide health care to working, uninsured San Franciscans. Bravo!

Chronicle columnist Chip Johnson discusses the trials and tribulations of Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, and reminds us that San Francisco isn’t the only city with drama under the hood of City Hall.

Willie Brown provides his take on the Gov. Blagojevich scandal, the vacant New York Senate seat, and a recent food giveaway with the NBA Players Association.

The SF cable car control system needs an upgrade….Seriously!

The duo discusses a unique connection between YouTube and the Hall of Justice, Republican wisdom on the state budget crisis, Carole Migden’s appointment to a state board, and more.

A new traffic-signal project will ensure that Muni buses and streetcars get more green lights on Market Street.

Local media outlets cover the christening of the Gemini, the first of the new environmentally friendly ferry fleet transversing the Bay.

A guest to the Chronicle opines on what the California governor’s race - particularly the Democratic ticket - now looks like without Mayor Newsom.

The District 1 baton was symbolically passed to Eric Mar at a victory party in the Richmond. Welcome to the Board, Supervisor Mar!

A mathematical error led to an overnight spike in San Francisco’s population. I’m thinking the census team should have either used a calculator or remembered to survey Russian Hill…

The Chronicle reports on Supervisor Aaron Peskin’s proposal for the City’s budget, which includes a wage freeze for all municipal employees.

Proposition D failed at the ballot box yesterday, so no special sign district with flashing billboards and illuminated signs along Mid-Market.

The Port of San Francisco, one of those revenue generating enterprise departments, is offering some great lease rates to its tenants. Month to month lease since 1952 anyone?

Some folks who use the Translink electronic pass (I’m one of them - it’s pretty handy) found an unexpected charge this month.  Along with the Fast Pass price increase, now there’s also variable MUNI pass pricing - $70 with BART access in San Francisco, $60 without - and, you see, Translink decided that everyone would want the $70 version.  EVERYONE.  It’s kind of like in 2001 A Space Odyssey, where HAL decides to take over - except the Translink pass doesn’t actually try to kill us all.  (As far as we know.)

A report commissioned by the City finds that many of our ’soft structure’ buildings are at risk of collapse in a significant quake.

While a "train box" might sound like something you’d expect to find under your tree this Christmas, the Guardian tells us that it is the needed centerpiece of the Transbay Terminal design that will deliver high-speed rail to California.

Former Supervisor Tony Hall is fined $6,000 for campaign-finance violations, three years after an Ethics Commission investigation into his dealings began.

Steven Hill writes about ranked-choice voting and how it has impacted the last five elections.

The Chronicle weighs in on the Mayor’s State of the City address.

After the cap on Union Street restaurants was lifted last year, the street has begun to bounce back from once high vacancy rates.

The Board of Education votes unanimously to mandate college-prep courses for all San Francisco public school students starting in the ninth grade.