Archive for March, 2009

Supervisors will review plans to build a green skyscraper on the Embarcadero at the site of where the General Strike of 1934 began.  A venerated union hall would need to be demolished to make way for the new building and preservationists are ready to take action.

Politicians and civilians alike celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  No reports of snakes being driven from the City, but a wee bit of the green beer got quaffed, it seems.

The Chron’s front page carries an Erin Allday story on the topic of Mayor Newsom’s trips to places not named Hayes Valley or the Excelsior, and whether they’re beneficial for our town.  In related news, cloning machines still don’t work, so it is what it is.

San Francisco Unified School District welcomes an increase in applications for kindergarten, but more families are shut out of their top choice schools.

The Municipal Transportation Agency considers increasing Muni fares in order to close the budget gap.

Mayor Willie Brown on the secrecy and politics behind Mayor Gavin Newsom’s plan to name a street after Mayor Willie Brown.  Ahhhh, recursiveness.

The number of businesses in San Francisco with delinquent taxes jumped in February, though the Treasurer and Tax Collector’s Office admits to sending out some delinquency notifications in error.

…but it is still worth a ton of dough to SF and other cities.  The second round of stimulus funds is starting, and plans are being plotted and ideas are being thunk up…

Facing the headache of filing multiple tax returns, many same-sex couples are finding that they are stuck with a larger bill from our friends at the IRS.

Bringing the case to the U.S. Attorney General, the San Francisco Police Officers Association holds William Ayers and his wife, Bernadine Dohrn, responsible for the 1970 Park Station bombing that killed Sgt. Brian McDonnell.

A new report shows that The City’s health insurance costs less than private health insurance.  But don’t go throwing away that private insurance just yet.

The Bay Guardian questions the transparency of Mayor Newsom’s office, citing both the Sunshine Ordinance and Obama’s example as reasons to make his calendar more accessible to the public.

Looks like the Culture Bus is nearing the end of the line after ridership fails to meet expectations.

The Chronicle reports on efforts by our local elected officials to secure as much federal stimulus funding as possible for projects here in San Francisco.

Local media responds to the Mayor’s announcement that he will dip into the City’s rainy day fund to help pay teachers in San Francisco.  Final approval rests in the hands of the Board.

Housing policy is serious business, especially in these crazy economic times.  Join the Housing Action Coalition for its 3rd Annual Housing Summit on Wednesday, April 1. And yes, we realize that we are breaking our own policy about not posting event notices, but we are a loyal member of the HAC and reserve the right to do as we please.  And no, this doesn’t mean that we will consider posting information about your upcoming bakesale or whatever, so don’t ask.

Supervisor Alioto-Pier is seeking federal stimulus money to assist in the cleanup of Mountain Lake in the Presidio.

The Examiner weighs in on the proposed budgetary cuts to the Elections Department, and the negative impact they will have on voters’ access to information.

The flash mob phenomenon has become a great success here in San Francisco. But when the party is over, who gets to clean up after the fun?

The global economic crisis has slowed and even deferred construction projects throughout San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.

The San Francisco Unified School District noodles on the idea of opening a new public school in Mission Bay.

We’re one step closer to a 10% fee hike at Harding Park for non-residents to hit the links.  But never fear: if you’re a San Francisco voter, your elected officials have got your back.  Sort of.  Your fees will only go up a measly 2.9%.

ABC 7 reports on stimulus money being sent to the Bay Area to help combat crime.

San Francisco judge orders prolific recycling scavengers to stop rifling through the blue bins.