Archive for December, 2012

The SF Newspaper Company pulls off the trifecta as the burgeoning media empire (which already owns the Examiner and San Francisco Bay Guardian) has just purchased the SF Weekly!

As Katherine Feinstein wraps up a stellar career as a San Francisco Superior Court Judge, she is leaving the door open for a future run for public office. And one thing is certain with Feinstein, name ID will not be an issue.

Mayor Ed Lee has directed his City departments to improve the process of public construction contracting in order to increase efficiency and avoid payment conflicts with vendors. Seems easy, right?

It’s one of those San Francisco places that is just so San Francisco… and it looks like it will stay that way for ever and ever and ever and ever and ever. With a Wednesday vote of the Historic Preservation Commission, the Duboce Park neighborhood will be on its way to landmark status.

Voters in November 2014 just might encounter a vehicle license fee on the ballot, which would increase the current fee to two percent and generate $70M for the City in the process.

The San Francisco School Board contemplates a local hire resolution to help keep the dollars spent on campus projects in the pockets of 415ers.

The Chron reviews (again) departing Supervisor Sean Elsbernd’s resume and career highlights.

The San Francisco Business Times has a piece of advice for the Board of Supervisors regarding the brewing fight centered around a possible restaurant moratorium on Valencia Street: stay out of it.

Good news for CCSF Trustee Chris Jackson: he gets to have his re-election certified despite the recent campaign finance paperwork issues.

Fisherman’s Wharf is lined up for a lift and tuck, with work on a new and improved Jefferson Street slated to begin next month.

The SF District Attorney’s Office asks Twitter to tattle regarding the social media activity of two users with supposedly key roles in a Columbus Day protest that took an unsavory turn.

When City officials got wind of a cutting-edge budgeting practice that creates a new avenue for public participation, you better believe they were all over it like my 2-year-old on a PB&J. Participatory budgeting will make its San Francisco debut in D3 this coming year. Start working on your wishlist!

The Chron profiles Al Baccari. You should know about this guy. But you probably do already…

Civic leader, Commission president (over and over again), veteran, and nice guy Walter Newman passes away.

An effort to provide a gay-friendly homeless shelter moved one step closer to becoming a reality due to a challenge grant.

Usually when you preform a service that takes longer and costs more money than other, more convenient forms of transportation you don’t expect to be regulated as much as other… oh, wait, this is San Francisco; you should definitely expect the regulation. The funny thing? Apparently it kind of works.

The owner of the SF Examiner and the Guardian wages a campaign against Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.

The Examiner covers a story on the bicycle lanes in Golden Gate Park - those lanes that are between a mid-street row of parked cars and the sidewalk. You know, those lanes that make you do a double-take when you see them first?

Seems the head of the SF Housing Authority has failed to make friends and influence people (at least some people) within his department. The charges against the housing honcho multiply with a second agency lawyer filing suit.

Muni and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission are both looking into basing fares on need, rather than age. Should be a fun debate…

Few involved in Bay Area politics have been untouched by the life and legacy of Mike Nevin. Mike was the real deal, and his passing has left an un-fillable hole.

(…and while you’re at it, explain to the youngsters what a “Rolodex” is…)

Barbary Coast Consulting - the company that brings you Suspects - is moving. Our new address is 38 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.

We’ll move in in late December. Come visit - and please change the addresses for any Barbary Coasters you’ve got in your address books…

Friends:

We’re having a big month. The Barbary Coast team is moving our offices, a couple of us are out on maternity and paternity leave, and there are some holidays you might have heard about. So we’ll be back on January 2 with all the big stories from the break.

Happy December. Enjoy your friends and families!

- the Suspects team