Archive for April, 2012

Michael Cabanatuan of the Chron tells us that those fare increases for BART are strictly targeted towards capital improvements.

Yesterday, protestors took to the streets in San Francisco to make a statement at a Wells Fargo shareholder meeting. In total, 24 people were arrested in the protest over foreclosures, corporate taxes and executive compensation.

Andrew S. Ross gives us the deets on the San Francisco Examiner’s purchase of the San Francisco Bay Guardian. And for those who are interested, he also provides a mini history lesson on journalism in San Francisco.

After all the trials and tribulations, it appears that Bill and Nadia might get back together. Stay tuned….

The Examiner shines a light on the city’s Tip Jar Bandit, Mr. Odis Jack Gillard, who just can’t seem to keep his hands out of local merchant’s tip jars.

The SFPD substation on 6th Street is set to open today on the block between Market Street and Mission Street.

The team over at the Examiner offers cable station Current TV a word of advice relating to its newly announced deal with former SF Mayor and Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom to host the “Gavin Newsom Show.” Their advice? Remind Newsom that an hour means an hour.

Three members of the BoS are calling to create an LGBT Seniors Task Force that would address needs for LGBT seniors, including housing and health services.

The Examiner tells us about new legislation aimed to address safety conditions in parking lots outside of entertainment venues.

A deal between the City and the Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21, was struck on Thursday. Local 21 is the second largest union in the city, and this deal sets the stage for 27 other contract negotiations, accounting for more than a third of the City’s budget. Although, the Suspects Updater Union has still not locked up our contract, we are confident that negotiations will go well.

Protesters briefly took over a vacant building in Castro, saying empty buildings should be used to house the homeless. Meanwhile, over in Oakland, about 100 people came together to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Occupy Oakland. Err, happy birthday?

The Chron tells us all about Prop E and how our City’s elected officials were able to accomplish that oh so rare goal: compromise.

A “stripmobile” that has been roaming around some of our more family oriented neighborhoods is drawing the ire of quite a few folks, including Supervisor Eric Mar. The truck was supposed to hang around the Hustler Club in North Beach, but has been spotted all the way in the Outer Richmond. Supervisor Mar is working on making sure it leaves and never comes back. On a completely unrelated note, I would like to point out that I have a garage. A very large garage.

Companies that are socially responsible and beneficial will get a leg up when bidding for city contracts; these “benefit corporations” will be called B Corps. I thought of a lot of jokes with the word “B” in them to follow up with, but then decided to save our readers from that. Just savor and appreciate the fact that I made that decision.

The Ex reports on why the price of flying a flag at half-staff in San Francisco costs a very pretty penny, an is even subject to weekend and nighttime price increases. Yowza!

Across the Bay, Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan sends an open letter to George Lucas with promises of sunny days and friendly neighbors if he brings his Industrial Light and Magic campus to the Biggity, Biggity O.

Get ready for a change of pace on public television. If you can’t get through the week without your Jim Lehrer or Cat in the Hat (for SF’s 13%), you might soon get to know quite a bit about your favorite political candidates. On Thursday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a 1981 federal law prohibiting campaign ads from public television, violates freedom speech. Move over Arthur, it’s an election year!

The Examiner reports that despite the City’s stricter enforcement measures, statistics show that San Francisco’s streets have become increasingly dangerous.

Mayor Ed Lee reached his goal, and then some, of putting San Francisco’s teenagers and young adults to work, saying that 5,002 paid positions had been created over the summer.

The three-acre site that sits kitty corner to AT&T Park has been acquired by the Strada Investment Group, who eye a hotel, housing, and retail project for the triangular parcel. I am still waiting for them to announce the Jesse Feldman dog park and basketball courts, which would be aptly named after the best hooper/dog owner in our fine city. Think about it, it would be the perfect opportunity to get the next Air Bud movie to be shot here - something for which we are all waiting on pins and needles.

In non-Matt-Cain’s-Behemoth-Contract news, the Giant’s have submitted a $1.6 billion plan to turn what is currently a giant parking lot into shopping, housing, restaurants, and parks. I am just hoping that after building this and paying Cain that we still have money left over to pay Lincecum. If not, can we get Joseph Gordon-Levitt to hang out at games? At least he looks similar.