Archive for December, 2009

Custodian Chris Salcedo, who has been taking care of City Hall for over 30 years, sits down with the Chronicle to tell a few of his favorite stories.

By unanimous vote, James Fang is elected to serve his third term as president of BART’s Board of Directors.  Hints of what’s to come during Fang’s third year as the head of BART? You’ll be able to take a ride on the new connector to the Oakland airport in a brand new train car, and stop at new stations in Livermore and Fremont.  Ah, the best years are ahead of us.

A guest columnist pens an opinion piece asking San Francisco’s former mayor to consider running for Governor in 2010.

Early returns indicate that the City’s seismically unstable affordable housing units will likely remain on shaky ground.  The Earthquake Safety Bond, Prop A, doesn’t look to have the two-thirds majority it needs to get the cash.  Thousands of ballots still need to be counted, so it ain’t over just yet.

In the latest chapter of the San Francisco Bay Guardian vs. the SF Weekly, the Weekly asks the court to stop the Guardian from seizing and selling its assets.

Mayor Newsom proposes regulations on the sale of mobile phones - he wants labeling on radiation output available to those who are making purchases…

The Examiner reports that fewer citations were handed out to SF voters (and drivers) when Prop B was in the mix, but now all is back to normal with Prop B off the table and you faking tears and telling the officer you have tummy troubles…don’t ask.

The BAR sits down with Dr. Mitch Katz, Director of San Francisco’s Department of Health to talk national health care reform and how it will affect patient care in San Francisco.  This is important stuff, folks.  Read up!

Most of us know this intuitively; some of us get to find out the hard way.  And many kids in the SFUSD are experiencing the dual joys of Classroom Larnin’ and No Heat this unseasonably cold winter…

Firefighters are becoming increasingly aware of the risks associated fighting fires on rooftops with solar panels.

The Rec and Park Department has prioritized thirteen open-space facilities for renvovation in the coming months.

We at Suspects send our best wishes to Melman Bentley Hinckle, who passed away after a brief bout with lymphoma. During his life, this much-beloved basset hound went to more cocktail parties than you did, enjoyed lots of canapes (some of which fell on the floor, but many of which were just flat-out stolen from tables), and never met a rope line he couldn’t charm his way past. Our condolences to Linda and Warren.

The Mayor’s Office prepares legislation aimed at improving the energy efficiency of San Francisco’s big buildings.

Former Ethics Commissioner, renowned open government advocate, and friend to many, Joe Lynn died yesterday.  We honor the memory of this unique San Franciscan.

The latest victims of the budget crisis are our city’s recycling centers, which may face layoffs or even closures in the wake of financial difficulties.  And just when I was getting the hang of all the different colored bins…

The City’s anti-graffiti efforts are about to enter the 21st century.  A new computer program will allow residents to upload photos of illegal tags, leading to more arrests and less tagging on buildings near you.  (Unless you give permission, in which case it’s art.  You know what they say: one man’s art is another man’s graffiti.)

Okay, I know that this is not political at all, but it’s so frickin’ cold out there that our birds are dying.  I mean, really.  Don’t we live in sunny California??

San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting warns residents of a property tax scam arriving in a mailbox near you.  CliffsNotes version: if you get an official looking document asking for $180, don’t fill it out.  Instead, head down to City Hall for the same services… for free!

Parking, pedestrians, and bicycles are being considered as the Powers That Be re-envision how this landmark should look, work, and feel.

The region is celebrating a grant that will invest millions of dollars into electric cars.

…it’s a water taxi!  The San Francisco Port Commission has approved a water taxi service that will transport passengers all along the city’s waterfront and beyond.

2009 brought increased fares and reduced Muni routes.  What’s to come for transit riders in 2010?  Sorry, East Bay, my crystal ball shows the new year promising the same fate for AC Transit riders.