Archive for February, 2012

After sitting vacant since 2006, a new life is being offered to the Strand Theatre, a Market Street landmark. The long story of the Mid-Market revival continues…

Once again, San Francisco becomes the first city in the nation to try something new. The Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 in favor of adopting a pilot program that provides legal counsel to defendants in civil cases.

As we learn the results of the City’s report on the economic impact of the entertainment industry, the Chron gives us its two cents on those numbers and provides recommendations on how to address issues like patrols and oversight.

A Chinese film company is considering expanding westward, considering both San Francisco and Los Angeles as potential locations. If this doesn’t get Zhang Ziyi to come here (a dude can hope), then I hope we can at least get a Jet Li sighting out of this.

The San Francisco school board received accolades via an editorial in today’s Chron, the author quite clearly supported the board’s recent vote to protect teachers at 14 schools from possible dismissal.

Salesforce’s proposed plan for, and subsequent exit from, a new Mission Bay campus was big news. Well, actually, it still is and today’s detailed story digs deep into what happened and even infers a revival possible. Except for the fact that the Business Times reports that Salesforce has just signed another ten year lease downtown. All of this renting has me thinking… Salesforce: the Mission is really cool - I’ll sublet my sunroom for use as an office for $35k a month, deal?

A new poll shows that San Franciscans like tax breaks for job creators. Oh, and the poll also shows that people are optimistic and that homelessness is still a major bummer.

The Chron sheds light on the meeting attendance and stipend collection records of the City College Board.

Mr. King over at the Chronicle fills us in on Board of Supervisors President David Chiu’s plans to introduce legislation to require improved signage outside of the city’s POPOS (Privately Owned Public Open Spaces). You know what this means? Even more of this great city to explore!

Mayor Ed Lee makes his public pitch to the Golden State Warriors to return to San Francisco.

Okay, so she’s certainly no “kid,” but Commissioner Cindy Wu IS new to the Planning Commission, where she’s already settling in quite nicely - she’s just been elected to serve as vice president. But it appears not everyone is on board with her quick ascension - it’s never easy being the “new kid.”

The Examiner takes a look at Mayor Lee’s recent (and somewhat successful) efforts to revive San Francisco’s economy with the help of the tech sector, and asks the question, “Will this tech bubble burst?”

The Bay Guardian calls out SF District Attorney George Gascón for not aggressively pursuing indictments against independent expenditure groups that supported Mayor Ed Lee as well as the official mayoral campaign itself. The accusations are certainly flying in this editorial!

Some harbor tenants are none too happy with plans to regulate the management and transfer of boat slips. Tenants argue that the City had promised to allow transfer of boat slips, invoking the honored, age old “no take backsies” axiom.

Word on the street is that the tax break Zynga received is quite a pretty penny. Well, actually, a lot of pretty pennies. Speaking of which, can I deduct the nonprofit harvest donations from my FarmVille property?

Today, we learn about how San Fran has changed in its treatment of domestic violence cases and what new measures we can take to protect our own.

A fundraiser for the ballot measure to restore Hetch Hetchy reservoir raises some serious cash, bringing the group closer to their $500k total goal. Meanwhile, with all this rain we’ve been getting (you’re welcome, Tahoe), the BAR says that PUC head Ed Harrington isn’t too worried about our water supply this year and really doesn’t like the measure that’s been proposed for HH.

Following Assessor Recorder Phil Ting’s study that revealed more than 80% of defaulted mortgages in San Francisco contain errors, Attorney General Kamala Harris and District Attorney George Gascon have both said they plan to look into the matter further. Yeah, I’d say that’s a good idea.

The New York Times does a profile on former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and his career after leaving public office. One thing is for sure: The man has got serious style!

On Thursday, the Board of Education will consider whether or not to close Liberty High School. Lunch-money-stealing bullies and pocket-protector-wearing band geeks alike plan on attending to show their support for the school.

Board of Supervisors President David Chiu is looking at a statewide program to ensure the city’s indigent population get their fare shake. The legislation will be considered at Committee on Thursday.

Read up on a developer who’s trying to flip the script on the City by backing out on what he claims is an expired agreement to keep 20 percent of the apartments in his property affordable housing for low income renters. As the Examiner reports, our City Attorney Herrera is on the case and seeking to enforce the agreement in court this Thursday.

The Examiner sheds light on a North Beach nightclub that was operating illegally. Vajra Grenalli of the Entertainment Commission tells us more…

The Examiner fills us in on the San Francisco Parent Teacher Association’s efforts to gather signatures for a proposed ballot measure - Our Children, Our Future - which would put a tax initiative on the ballot that would send money directly to schools. This effort is led by the California PTA, which is hoping to bypass Sacramento when it comes to filling the coffers of our State’s school system.

It looks like it’s a good thing Schmidt from “New Girl” doesn’t live in San Francisco, ’cause Zooey Deschanel might no longer be able to throw him epic surprise party bus birthday parties. That’s right, the Examiner tells us that the SFPD and city officials are considering whether to regulate our local playahs’ preferred form of transportation.