Archive for January, 2010

Six million dollars from the City’s rainy day fund will be directed to San Francisco public schools to help address the district’s serious budget deficit.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi introduces legislation that would establish new training programs for high school students interested in careers in public safety.

Mayor Gavin Newsom’s revised business tax plan focused on credits for new hires was shot down by the Board’s Budget and Finance Committee yesterday.  The Examiner reports that even Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, who frequently allies himself with the Mayor’s proposals, offered his skepticism and dissenting vote.  Sorry dude.  Maybe next time?

For those who didn’t pick up a Chronicle today, here is what you missed: Phil Matier and Andy Ross’ coverage of BART Board President James Fang’s proposed fare rollback, a $360 a year parcel tax in Oaktown, what attorney John Burris has been doing for people with complaints against the Oakland Police Department, why the San Francisco Tenants Union is shocked (and pretty upset), and pot-growing permits in Oakland.  Plus, we get Willie Brown’s $0.02 on former United States Department of Agriculture worker Shirley Sherrod’s recent resignation, movie reviews, and more.

SFPD Chief George Gascon sure plans to.  During a Friday press conference, the City’s top cop revealed his new year’s resolution, albeit a little late but it’s worth the wait, to reduce San Francisco’s major and violent crimes by 20 percent in 2010.  (Some of us resolve to exercise five days a week, eat more mangos, or to travel the world, and that seems like a big deal.)  Kudos to the chief for his determination!

Newsom wants to reevaluate how San Franciscan’s elect our Supervisors, and thinks we should return to city-wide elections that aren’t based on districts.  Just think, we could all be one big happy family!

The San Francisco Business Times says the City should focus less on making cuts to our workforce and more on reforming development fees to help San Francisco out of our budget slump.

Union representatives packed City Hall yesterday as three charter amendments came before the Board of Supervisors that would reduce benefits and wages for some of our City’s workers.

Everyone who was ever an introspective youth takes a moment today to consider the passing of J.D. Salinger.  No, he had nothing to do with San Francisco politics - but almost all of us found something personal and meaningful in his well-crafted words.  RIP, Holden Caulfield.

A San Francisco real estate agent who was working with nonprofit housing groups throughout the city is in jail for swindling the very people he was brought on to help.  For shame.

Like everything else in San Francisco, City Hall is going green.  Solar panels will be laid on the building’s roof in the first step to turn Civic Center into a sustainability district.  Don’t worry, the building will retain its historic character.  The panels won’t be visible - unless you’re up on the roof, of course.

The Bay Guardian profiles Larry Brinkin, a long time LGBT advocate who is retiring from the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.  Enjoy the rest and relaxation, Larry, and thank you for your service!

John King considers the role of the yet-to-be-formed sunlight protection task force.

Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Port of San Francisco announced yesterday that Pier 27 will be equipped with a new cruise terminal that will be able to accommodate significantly more luxury liners and the money-spending tourists who ride them.  And yes, a really really really big boat was involved in this announcement.

The Board of Supervisors ashed Mayor Gavin Newsom’s legislation that would have prohibited vendors from selling tobacco products within 1,000 feet of San Francisco’s elementary and high schools.

A June bond is generating controversy over the proposed development of a forensic sciences center that would not require the traditional competitive bidding process.  Some Supes are on board while others have their doubts.  Let the debate begin!

The Chron’s John King muses on various ideas being floated to fill lots awaiting developer action (which means, f’reals, that we’re waiting for an economic recovery).  Various greening and cleaning ideas abound - which will come to fruition?

In order to help close the budget gap, the department staffing 311 may soon face cuts in operational hours.

A local city official moves to transfer ownership of a public garden to the Department of Public Works.

Mayor Newsom and some members of the Board of Supervisors see different paths to balancing San Francisco’s budget.

The Bay Citizen looks at a recent report on the City’s year old local hire ordinance, and sees a trend that could leave some workers out of a job.

Supervisor Sophie Maxwell is the target of a recall effort, whose sponsors have until Monday evening to come up with 7,529 signatures to get the issue on the June ballot.

The Examiner reports that Supervisor Chis Daly’s charter amendment to establish a zero tolerance policy for firefighters found drinking on the job failed to gain enough support to make the June ballot.

The Chronicle discusses why Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier is frustrated that Mayor Gavin Newsom is touting recent business-friendly tax initiatives as his own.

In an attempt to raise revenues, the New York Times will start charging users for the majority of their online content in 2011.  This will likely have reverberations for newspapers throughout the country — though I’d like to think this move is reflective of the Chronicle’s recent decision to limit its Sunday online content.  You know what they say: as goes the San Francisco Chronicle, so goes the New York Times!