Archive for July, 2009

Supervisor John Avalos is hosting an Art Walk tonight in the Excelsior District.  All ages are welcome!

The Hunters Point shipyard development project is shut down for two days as elevated levels of asbestos are detected.

While this won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who walks, drives, or bikes in San Francisco, our city streets have officially been scored as “fair” by the annual Pavement Condition Index.  The Examiner takes a look at how we’ve ended up here and what we might do to fix the problem.  (Hint: it involves money.  Lots and lots of money.)

The Examiner covers a battle over open space, new condos, and paving taking place in Potrero Hill.

Board President David Chiu is urging BART to allow airport employees to bypass BART’s new new $4 surcharge for trips to SFO.

Barbary Coast Consulting has four tickets to the Giants/Phillies game on Thursday, July 30, and we gave them away this morning to a couple of smart cookies who know their city history.  Our question: Who was the last Republican elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and what year did that take place?  Thanks to the approximately sixty of you who wrote in with your guesses.  A popular answer was AnneMarie Conroy.  While she was indeed the most recent Republican to serve on the Board, she was not elected to that post.  She was appointed by Mayor Frank Jordan.  Other popular guesses: John Barbelagata, Tony Hall, Bill Maher, Ed Jew, John Bardis.  All good shots, but no - I believe that Hall was an Independent when he was elected, Jew was either an Independent or a Democrat when he was elected, and Bardis and Maher were Democrats.  Barbelagata was indeed a leading Republican voice on the Board of Supervisors - but he was elected years before the gentleman we were looking for.  The elusive name: Supervisor Lee Dolson.  He was elected to two non-consecutive terms, most recently in 1980.  Congratulations to our two scholars who got it right - Sandra Lowe and Alex Lantsberg.

The Chronicle takes a look at another side of Supervisor David Chiu and how he’s finding harmony both on and off the Board.

The Bay Area Reporter digs deeper into the politics behind what’s being referred to as “Theresa’s Law.”

City Attorney Dennis Herrera’s team concludes its investigation, and publishes a report on Supervisor Chris Daly’s domicile, which it has concluded is in San Francisco.

Supervisor Carmen Chu will discuss financial management at a resource fair this Saturday.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera succeeds in his efforts to see that North Beach strip club Heaven is shut down.

San Francisco won’t be hosting an official Halloween party but we still want your money, Bridge & Tunnelers (hmmm… I guess I’m just talking to the Tunnelers).

A bond set to be on November’s ballot would provide $10.1M for sidewalk repair, something a few City departments and advocates say is much needed.

A policy change proposed by Supervisor Chris Daly would prohibit City employees from fundraising for nonprofits that donate money to City departments for which they work.  Hmmmm.

San Francisco Police Chief George Gascón sits down with BAR and shares his antidote to stopping the Muni violence and increasing support for LGBT officers: community involvement.

In order to even out the playing field, the Civil Service Commission is looking to cut the salaries of the City’s elected officials by an amount comparable to what City workers have given up.  A decision is expected early next month.

Taking a cue from the City of Berkeley, Supervisor Eric Mar and Mayor Gavin Newsom plan to introduce legislation that will give homeowners loans to make environmental improvements to their properties.  And you thought San Francisco couldn’t get any greener…

District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier officially announces that she is seeking higher office with a statewide run for Insurance Commissioner.

Giants owner Sue Burns, who along with her husband were largely credited with keeping the Giants in San Francisco, passed away at the very young age of 58.  Those who knew her well speak of her warmth, her nurturing spirit, and her passion for the team.  The Giants family and all of San Francisco mourn a true civic leader.

A local jazz nonprofit unveils plans to build a new headquarters and concert hall in Hayes Valley.

A proposed helipad for UCSF hospital at Mission Bay is receiving mixed reviews from neighbors.

John King expresses both hope and consternation for the new Trinity Plaza.

The most storied, trusted, and human news anchor of our time was Walter Cronkite.  Covering our nation and the world from the staid and stable fifties, and through the generational shifts and upheavals and wars of the sixties and seventies, Cronkite reported on our republic’s most tumultuous years with understatement, integrity, and grace.  Without Walter Cronkite keep a steady eye on things, things will never be the same.  That’s the way it was, friends.  That’s the way it was.

According to the City Charter, when City workers and unions take a pay cut, so do our elected officials. Following suit, San Francisco’s civic leaders - including the Mayor, the District Attorney, and all eleven members of the Board of Supervisors  - face pay reductions this budget cycle… just like everybody else.