Archive for July, 2010

The San Francisco Bay Guardian sizes up the DCCC’s November ballot endorsements, including which of Mayor Gavin Newsom’s measures the political juggernaut gave a thumbs up to and why there is no clear front runner in the race for District 10 Supervisor.

Good vibes abound as City Hall celebrates the passage of a balanced budget.  However, warning signs remain for future years.

Mayor Gavin Newsom puts on his Social Worker Outreach hat and does some retail, one-on-one hard-selling of transitional housing to some homeless Transbay Terminal holdouts.

SF Weekly takes an in-depth look at a local organization that has added a new twist to its protests, the success they are having, and what it all might mean for the City’s labor laws.  Seriously, who couldn’t use a little BBQ on the picket line?

The Examiner covers the cost of growing old in San Francisco, as well as the limited housing options for the city’s senior population which is projected to double in the next 20 to 25 years.

Candidates vying to represent Districts 6, 8, and 10 on the Board of Supervisors engaged in an extensive Q & A session about HIV/AIDS in relation to afforable housing, prevention and education, and employment last week.  Read this Bay Area Reporter article to learn how the candidates measured up on awareness and innovation.

Message to all Recreation and Parks employees: if you get hurt, keep on working.  What may sound like cruel, intensive labor is actually the City’s plan to reduce workers’ comp claims.  Aflac!

A slew of Golden Gate Bridge upgrades may force bicyclists and pedestrians to be a little nicer to each other when traveling across the landmark.

Today, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi will try to push forward legislation increasing the valet tax rate in San Francisco.  According to estimates, the move will likely generate tens of millions in city revenue.

The SF Weekly details SFPark’s free smartphone application, meant to end the days of aimlessly circling around the block or stalking other motorists (don’t lie, you know you do that, too) in hopes of finding the perfect parking space.  Techies rejoice!

Some of the service cuts Muni has suffered in the last year have been, um, un-cut, and the Chron covers the rejoicing and huzzahs voiced by some Muni riders they found.  And the forecast for December calls for more rejoicing and more huzzahs, as the un-cutting of yet more past cuts shall be implemented as well.

The City explores the idea of using modified shipping containers to house mini restaurants and shops on an empty Hayes Valley lot.

Downtown San Francisco will get its first medical marijuana facility, despite concerns about its proximity to two childcare centers.

The future of Golden Gate Park’s beloved and be-lighted Stow Lake gets one step closer to realization with the Recreation and Park Commission voting to switch concession vendors last night.  As pink popcorn and those frozen slushees are a lynch pin of debate, not to worry if you didn’t make it out last night.  The Board of Supervisors still has to hear and approve the lease before the boat house’s vending station goes the Big O (organic, people, organic).

The Board of Supervisors voted on a new measure yesterday that will ask voters whether they want to require Mayor Newsom to appear monthly before the board to discuss the latest with City business.

Given the difficult economic times and child care services around San Francisco waning, members of the Archdiocese of San Francisco are up in arms about newly proposed legislation that would give the Board of Supes control over the closure of the city’s child care centers.

North Beach merchants team up with Board President David Chiu to develop legislation that would fine property owners of buildings with vacant storefronts.

The unemployment rate in San Francisco inches upwards after local census workers conclude their censusing and jump back on to the Craiglist job boards.

The City takes a look at the preservation of Van Ness Avenue’s potentially historic, auto-centric buildings.

The City has got its work cut out for it when trying to empty the old Transbay Terminal of the folks that have called it home for years - if not decades.

The Rec & Park Commission turns two facilities over to a private operator after City College had trouble making rent payments to run their programs at the sites over the last few years.

Despite being billed as a Jazz Preservation District, Lower Fillmore may lose out to the Mission on a new jazz club considering opening a venue in San Francisco.

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier introduces legislation that would require background checks on any would-be parking lot operators in San Francisco.