Archive for July, 2009

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

The SF Business Times tells us who’s been appointed to San Francisco’s Oversight Board and tasked with keeping an eye on projects formerly managed by the City’s redevelopment agency.

It’s been a bumpy ride for many of San Francisco’s commuters to get to their destinations safe and sound.  Not only do you have to navigate the swerving drivers on our City’s streets, but also the uneven surfaces that can cause quite the tumble.  The City wants to help, but without sufficient funding we may end up stuck on this journey much longer than we would like.  So buckle up, wear those helmets, and cross your fingers!

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.

Although San Francisco won’t be hosting an official Halloween celebration this year, some groups and businesses are still concerned that some will have difficulties keeping their party hats and costumes on.

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.

Despite a few scattered violent incidents, the SFMTA is happy to report that crime aboard its fleet of vehicles is down.  The reason: a data-driven police presence aimed at positioning officers on the agency’s most crime-plagued transit routes.

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.

The SF Weekly reports that the SF Department of the Environment has been searching for new ways to spend some green since Mayor Gavin Newsom’s GreenFinanceSF program was shut down, leaving the agency with a couple mil to put towards environmental efforts in our city.  Show me the money!

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 are facing pay reductions this budget cycle… just like everybody else.  Stay tuned for today’s Civil Service Commission’s ruling on just how drastic those cuts will be.