Archive for January, 2011

The federal government has spoken, and it’s not particularly good news for man’s best friend.  Under the brand spankin’ new proposal, off-leash areas in San Francisco would be substantially reduced and dog walkers would have to limit the number of yappers they’re walking at any one time.  Let the grumbling and growling begin!

The GLBT History Museum finds a home in the Castro and becomes the second museum in the world dedicated solely to gay and lesbian archives and materials.

This just in!  The Board of Supervisors Committee Assignments are as follows:

Budget & Finance: Supervisors Chu, Mirkarimi and Kim

Budget & Finance Subcommittee: Supervisors Chiu and Wiener

City Operations & Neighborhood Services: Supervisors Avalos, Mar and Elsbernd

Joint City & School District: Supervisors Cohen, Avalos and Chu

Government Audits & Oversight: Supervisors Campos, Farrell and Chiu

Land Use & Economic Development: Supervisors Mar, Cohen and Wiener

Public Safety: Supervisors Mirkarimi, Cohen and Campos

Rules: Supervisors Kim, Elsbernd and Farrell

… off to Sacramento.  Wow.  It’s the end of an era, wouldn’t you say?  After last week’s last minute power play from former Mayor Gavin Newsom, he officially took the oath of office to be California’s 49th lieutenant governor on Monday.

A big-name athletic apparel store is expected to fill an empty storefront on Fillmore Street, but not all of its merchant neighbors will be sending Welcome-to-the-Neighborhood Gift Baskets to the new retailer.  Read up and learn why.

In this week’s game of musical chairs, former Assistant Chief of Operations and current Interim Police Chief Jeff Godown - who says he’s happy to fill the post temporarily, but not permanently - plans to focus on getting Tasers and academy classes for his force, as well as mapping out security needs for America’s Cup.

After outgoing Mayor Gavin Newsom’s one week postponement of his inauguration as lieutenant governor, it seems as if he has finally taken care of his unfinished business.  He’s managed to squeeze in a lot for a week, including the interim mayor selection, the Asian Art Museum, a number of commission appointments, and the big DA appointment.

updaters, please note - this Ed Lee story block is about him as an Asian-American mayor. keywords - asian american mayor ed lee

Chronicle columnist John Diaz opines on the shifting nature of SF politics.

Supervisor David Chiu is once again the President of the Board.

The Board of Education certainly has their work cut out for them this year.  With testing and budget problems looming statewide, newly elected member of the Board Michael Kirst says he’s hitting the books and will take on these tough problems and more for our kids.

The SF Chamber of Commerce’s Steve Falk optimistically discusses our City’s potential for economic growth in 2011.  What with a new Board of Supervisors, a new mayor, the America’s Cup, and the city still bathing in the Giants post-World Series win, we’ve got a lot to offer in 2011.  And by now we’ve all sufficiently recovered from our New Years Eve, so bring it on 2011!

The Examiner takes a look at the potential conflicts of interest facing San Francisco District Attorney neé Chief of Police George Gascón.

The Bay Area Reporter takes a look at the changing faces of the city’s LGBT leadership.

The Chronicle reports on how the city’s liberal wing may have lost a potentially huge opportunity with the departure of Mayor Newsom.

Interim Mayor pick and former City Administrator Ed Lee gets was officially sworn in to his new office yesterday as throngs of people looked on at City Hall.  Big decisions await him in the coming months.

Despite some of the Supervisors’ best efforts, Mayor Gavin Newsom was still able to sneak in a few appointments before he heads to Sactown on Monday.

SF Weekly looks at how and why the cost of a license to sell art on San Francisco’s streets has risen from $374, in 2003, to $664.

As his swearing in draws ever-closer, the Examiner examines (ha!) the road traveled by (almost former) Mayor Gavin Newsom on his path to becoming the next lieutenant governor of the Golden State.  And yes, they’re already talking about what might be next…

We learn about what the four outgoing members of the Board of Supes will be doing after their last week of duties at City Hall.  (There will be lots of running involved; as in running for mayor and running a bar.)

If you are STILL recovering from NYE celebrations and didn’t get a chance to grab a Chron this morning, we’ve got your back.  No word from Matier and Ross today, but Willie Brown tells us about Jerry Brown’s re-entry into Sacramento, a new name pops us for interim mayor of San Francisco, the state of our local football team, walking tours in the Tenderloin, a movie review, and what people reveal to him in their personal letters.