Welcome to Westside Observer
The Political Game of Hiding the Long-Term Debt
San Francisco's cash-strapped politicians are relying heavily on an expensive form of debt called Certificates of Participation (COPs) to pay San Francisco's bills, perhaps hoping they can continue hiding this practice from voters.
The public doesn't know what COPs are, which seems to suit City politicians just fine. San Francisco construction projects that are either unaffordable, unpopular, or need to keep a low profile can be funded by COPs...
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Breach at Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach is one of San Francisco's gems in the rough. What's up out there on the Western front?
All is not quiet. The beach is in retreat. In the past decade the boundary between ocean and beach moved east – quite a lot. While not noticeable to the casual beach walker, south of Sloat Blvd the beach is inland on the order of 235 feet of where it was in 2000. That's a lot of change.
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Taraval Beat
Taraval Police: Sidewalk Parking Crackdown
The Department of Parking and Traffic (SFMTA) will be stepping up sidewalk violation enforcement next week. I wish to inform the Taraval Community of SFMTA's plan.
California Vehicle Code Section 22500f prohibits the parking, stopping, or standing of a vehicle on ANY portion of the sidewalk (property line to curb line). Parking on the sidewalk is a hazard to pedestrians and the disabled individuals and is subject to a $105 fine (effective March 2011).
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Taraval Beat
Robberies Up In the Taraval Beat
At a recent Compstat meeting, the ten district station captains, the commanders, the deputy chief, and the Chief of Police gathered to discuss one topic. Robberies. Robberies are up in the in SF, including the Taraval Police District.
Police Blotter has been discontinued.
The establishment of taraval.org and specifically taraval.org/archive/archive.html gives the Westside residents full access to newsletter and crime reports beginning with the December 9, 2009 issue to the present. We applaud the Taraval Station for this major step to keep the residents informed.
Police notices that have sigfnificant interest will be covered in this Taraval Beat page, old Blotter pages will still be available.
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Parkmerced Edges Out Critics
The proposal to redevelop Parkmerced passed the SF Board of Supervisors on a 5-6 vote. Spokesman for the 116-acre high-rise apartment and garden townhouse complex PJ Johnston said that the redevelopment project would be a "win-win."
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Neighbor-On-Neighbor Disputes Resolved
By Darlene Wiede, Executive Director of Community Boards
Many of us have dealt with neighbors with overgrown yards, but the large bushes next door recently became a lesson in conflict prevention for one West Portal resident. He was concerned that the bushes prevented him from seeing the road (and oncoming traffic) when he was entering and exiting his driveway. He usually had a good relationship with his neighbors, but it quickly soured ...
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BUSINESS CORNER
TRUE SOUND…a resourceful store for your hearing
The question is: How many of us have ever thought about having a hearing evaluation (unless we have a family member who is telling us that we need to)? The answer is probably very few, as the typical response is, "My hearing is fine!"
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Ethel Rohan: West Portal Writer Celebrates Debut
"I have to write, it's what I am meant to do. I have always had this preoccupation of being 'incomplete' in various ways, not physically incomplete, but looking at the incompleteness of the spirit. That's what guided the stories in this collection."
Sitting with West Portal writer Ethel Rohan, I am struck by her intensity and dedication to the craft of writing. An accomplished and prolific magazine and short story author...
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West of Twin Peaks Central Council
Planning, the Housing Element and another Supervisor/Mayoral Candidate visit highlighted the May 23 meeting of the West of Twin Peaks Central Council, held at the Forest Hills Clubhouse.
Photo: Planning Director John Rahiem
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Always Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth
... Mission Playground improvement project. The project includes a new playground, new landscaping, new fencing, resurfacing of the tennis and basketball courts and a completely renovated and seismically retrofitted clubhouse. The project also includes converting the open blacktop soccer area to a fenced artificial turf field. At first glance a free $500,000 gift of a new state of the art soccer field to a historically lower income minority neighborhood sounds great, but then why all the secrecy and backdoor lobbying?
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Money Matters
Get Smart About Getting Smar
t
Are the season's hottest accessories—a cap and gown—in your future? You might be returning to school to advance your career, or start a whole new one. Maybe you've heard a rumor that your department is slated for the next round of layoffs. Perhaps your little one now needs diplomas instead of diapers. Or maybe you're finally ready to fulfill that promise to yourself.
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Laguna Honda
Corruption of SF's Whistleblower Program
Who could guess the Whistleblower program would morph from being about investigating complaints involving city services, and government waste, fraud and inefficiency, into a "risk management" program assessing the the "relative materiality of possible loss to the City"?
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REMEMBER WHEN...
Mt. Davidson
Mt. Davidson S.F. Calif. Date Unknown. Reprint permission was be obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
This photo and many more from the San Francisco History Center.
More Items of Interest in the June Issue
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Westside Observer
The Wild, Wild West of Density Development
By George Wooding 
The newly-approved third revision of the 2009 Housing Element is about to turn the Westside of San Francisco into the wild west of density development.
After a lengthy collaboration between neighborhood groups, the Planning Department and interested community groups, the June 2010 draft of the 2009 Housing Element was issued and deemed acceptable by neighborhood representatives.
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Yee Makes It Official on May 7th
State Senator Leland Yee opened his “exploratory” committee for his campaign for Mayor in November. Now, he plans to make his candidacy official with a launch event at his Van Ness headquarters on Saturday May 7th. The Headquarters is located at 710 Van Ness Avenue, at the corner of Turk Street, and all San Franciscans are invited to attend.
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Follow The Supes’ Money
All right, we’ll admit upfront that it’s not a lot of money. But it is your money, and each Supervisor gets to spend it without anyone asking questions – or even looking at the books.
What is it? It is the office account that each Supervisor can spend as he or she wishes – fresh flowers every day, paper hats for the staff to wear on constituent days, mani-pedi in the office Wednesdays, whatever.
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HENRY SHERMAN BASAYNE
Hank Basayne passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family. He had just turned 84. San Francisco columnist, Humanist minister, and a Union Street restaurateur were just a few of the roles Hank played in his long entrepreneurial career. Each of his ventures emphasized and encouraged human vitality, the arts, and mental and emotional well-being.
Born in New York City, he graduated from the High School of Music and Art in 1945. He started his career at WCBS as Edward R. Murrow’s “bag boy.” He studied broadcasting at New York University and continued work as radio writer, producer, and executive producer at WCBS - Radio, program manager at WCCO - Radio (Minneapolis) where he won a Peabody award, and program manager at KCBS - Radio in San Francisco from 1960 through 1965. Hank also produced 50 TV shows for Westinghouse Television.
Stink about Sewage
Now that cell phones are everywhere, how easy it is to dial 311 and report that unpleasant odor wafting up from the street sewer.
Apparently increasing reports recently came to the attention of Supes. I’ll defer making a comment about how impossible it seems that that bunch could find objectionable the smell of sewer gas, given their own odoriferous business.
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Laguna Honda
Commingling of Public and Private Funds
The on-going scandal of Laguna Honda Hospital’s patient gift fund reveals that not only did administrators in charge of charitable contributions divert funds intended for patients for use by staff, other ethical lapses occurred involving the commingling of public and private funds between two separate non-profit affiliates and this public City hospital.
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BUSINESS CORNER
Smooth skin the easy way: EUROPEAN WAX CENTER
When you first walk through the front door at the European Wax Center in the Westlake Center, you immediately feel like you are at the entrance to an upscale European spa. Limestone tile, frosted glass, antique-looking exposed brick display cases welcome you to the center.
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Money Matters
How to Keep Rising Costs from Sinking Your Mood
Your favorite brunch spot has a new menu. With higher prices. Airfare for the trip you’re planning to Buenos Aires jumped over $80 from the last time you checked. And the gas station you pass on your way to work is raising prices every other day.
Welcome to what could be a new era of high inflation. Blame it on the sluggish economy that refuses to pick up, devastating disasters happening all over the world or unrest in the Middle East. Whatever the underlying causes, the truth is, prices are going up. And yes, the truth hurts.
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West of Twin Peaks Central Council
Planning, traffic congestion, AT&T above-ground boxes and a Supervisor/Mayoral Candidate visit highlighted a well-attended and boisterous session at the West of Twin Peaks Central Council meeting on April 25..
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May 2011
Several of us monthly newspaper publishers had the opportunity to sit and chat with Mayor Ed Lee last week about things around the town and it was quite a pleasurable experience. The Mayor, who told us he is definitely NOT running for the job on a permanent basis, was very forthcoming with his views and comments and quite a fan of the local, small businesses that make up the neighborhoods in San Francisco.
West Portal Family’s Garden Transforms Beautifully Over Time
When Sally Maske and her husband Chris moved into their West Portal home in San Francisco 21 years ago, like many new homeowners they concentrated their time, attention and budget on fixing up the house, with plans to renovate the garden later. With a 7-year drought also underway, they sensed no great urgency.
“Those were the years when we lived in each of our rooms at one time or another, pulling our futons around with us,” says Sally. “We concentrated on the interior of the house first, hired a contractor to handle structural issues, and did the finish work ourselves.”
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REMEMBER WHEN
OCEAN BEACH, Car & Bus At End of “B” Line. Date Mar. 20, 1927. Folder: S.F. Districts-Ocean Beach-1920’s. Reprint permission was be obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Just like clockwork you can hear their melody every hour on the hour and every fifteen minutes in-between. It may not look like Big Ben or sound like St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter morning, but this modest little chapel nestled amongst San Francisco’s historic fishing fleet provides the sweet sound of its bells for all to hear. Built over 30 years ago, the Fishermen’s and Seamen’s Memorial Chapel has served as a haven for visitors, locals and most importantly, as a memorial for those lost to the sea.Read More...
More Items of Interest in the May Issue
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Westside Observer
City Hall Escalates War on Residential Neighborhoods
By Ge
orge Wooding
San Francisco neighborhoods that consist of single-family homes had better get ready for major changes in their neighborhoods...
The Housing Element is the Planning Department's blueprint for what can and cannot be built in neighborhoods. All new Planning Department decisions will be based on this new planning constitution.
Zapping PG&E: Progressives Plant Public Power
"As you sow, so shall you reap." That's the wisdom that San Francisco will test.
Progressives have long sought to plant public power in the abundantly fertilized soil of San Francisco. They are about to get their season. Let's hope the fruit isn't bitter.
An Updated Electricity Resource Plan was adopted last month and passed on to the Board of Supervisors. That plan advances public power, and seriously zaps PG&E.
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MUNI: Reducing Costs Can Increase Service
Almost every year Muni has another financial crisis. It's usual solution has been to either: cut service; raise fares; increase parking fees or all three. However if Muni can think a little harder and smarter it might be able to reduce costs and improve service at the same time. As an example let's try to improve our West side route, the 28 on 19th Avenue.
Un-Muddy the Waters: Recycled Water Treatment Plant
The Westside Observer article ("Recycled Water No Walk in the Park" 3/11) on the proposed water treatment facility for Golden Gate Park reflects some confusion about the increasing opposition to placing this facility in Golden Gate Park. We would like to respond with additional information, which the authors of that article might not have known.
Privatizing Our Parks-Pro and Con
In its February newsletter, the Westside Observer featured George Wooding's ill-informed attack on the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department's ...
I am responding to Mr. Buell and Mr. Ginsburg directly, since they have signed and distributed an article questioning my facts and credibility regarding the privatization of the RPD...
Important issues are all around us here on the Westside: changes to the SF Housing Element document (affecting what is and is not acceptable to be built in existing neighborhoods); projects planned for Golden Gate Park; the ongoing planning and discussions related to the 30-year planned revamping of Parkmerced, including the revised 19th Avenue Transportation Corridor planning; the race to be the next Mayor of San Francisco; the budget impasse in Sacramento and how it will affect all of us; the continuing public discussions on the direction of MUNI, Recreation and Parks Dept.; public pension reform; street repairs; the list goes on and on.
THe Medallion Muddle
For years, San Franciscans have been complaining about their taxi service. Those complaints used to be made in the form of letters to the editor. Now, they go to numerous electronic websites. These complaints signal out every taxi company able to afford a Yellow Page advertisement and a phone number. It is often very difficult to get a cab on Friday night, in the rain, rush-hours, in many of the outlying suburbs, other strategic times such as medical visits, worship, etc. Who is to blame for these unmet demands? Should we be yelling at the taxicabs or the city bureaucrats who regulate the San Francisco taxi industry? Both?
West of Twin Peaks Central Council
Three "H's" – High Speed Rail, Housing Element, and (Dennis) Herrera – were the main topics of discussion, as well as a spirited Q&A session at the West of Twin Peaks Central Council meeting on March 28.
WOTPCC President George Wooding called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM with about 30 people in the audience at the Forest Hills Clubhouse, but the crowd increased as the night wore on.
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Laguna Honda's Gift Fund Scandal
By Patrick Monette-Shaw
How many City administrators are asleep at the wheel, or snoozing? Mayor Edwin Lee might want to consider cutting LHH's public relations staff budget, since Marc Slavin earned $132,470 in 2010 and his assistant Linda Acosta — hired as, and sitting on, a job requisition for a 2588 Health Care Worker IV Activity Therapist, but is performing public relations work, instead — earned $66,742. Shouldn't activity therapists be working with patients, rather than doing public relations work? This totals $199,212 in salaries Mayor Lee could easily trim.
Westside Observer's April 2011 Calendar
REMEMBER WHEN
INGLESIDE TERRACES, Ocean Avenue at Cerritos. From the Willard E. Worden Glass Plate circa 1912, by permission of the SF Historical Collection of the SF Public Library. Were the iron Ingleside Terrace signs scrapped for WWII metal? editor@westsideobserver.com
More Old Photos...
More Items of Interest in the April Issue
Real Travel: Giants in Scottsdale
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Vocal Opposition Surfaces as CVS Plans Liquor Sales
CVS is planning to build a brand new drugstore at the site of the old Shell Gas station, now called Miraloma Auto Care. The completed CVS store will sell prescription drugs and a wide assortment of general merchandise, including over-the counter drugs, beauty products, film and photo, greeting cards, convenience foods, and … alcohol.
Recycled Water No Walk in the Park
What tops water officials' wish-list? Recycled water does. Since the deep drought of the late 1980s and early 1990s, recycled water is a must-have.
In PC San Francisco, then, one would imagine that recycled water long flowed. Yet all that flows today are words and fury.
The problem is that recycled water must be produced at a physical treatment plant. Self-styled Park advocates are fighting furiously to keep what they call the recycled "factory" out of Golden Gate Park. Meanwhile, octopus-like, the bureaucratic process of "outreach" crawls.
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Westside Observer's
Restore Free Access to the Arboretum
March 17th • 1 pm • Budget and Finance Committee • City Hall Rm. 250.
Housing Element at the Planning Commission
March 24th • 1 pm • Planning Commission • City Hall Rm. 400
March 2011
More Community Items Calendar
Wisconsin Events Don't Affect Pension Reform
While both supporters and opponents of government may agree that pension reform is essential, they support pension reform for different reasons. The Tea Party is intent on reducing both the size and cost of government. Pension reform is one way to do that. However, progressive Democratic leaders support pension reform for a very different reason: because pensions and retiree health benefits are "crowding out" essential governments services, from police and fire, potholes and education, to the social "safety net." This is a very important distinction.
Parking in the Park
Because a great City has to provide so many services for so many different people it gathers revenues from many different sources. For years San Francisco has done a good job and the revenues were adequate for the services and we all took pleasure in paying our share and enjoying the services. More recently, essential services are beginning to disappear. We can probably suggest a lot of things that might be done better at lower cost but we also have to show a willingness to help cover the costs.
Tony Hall / Speaking Freely
Tony Hall: It's official
... the enthusiastic crowd gathered at 99 West Portal Avenue on Thursday, February 24th to listen to and applaud Tony Hall as he opened his Mayoral campaign headquarters.
Hall, a veteran of more than 25 years in San Francisco politics, and a former District 7 Supervisor, jumped into the race for Mayor with a simple question. "When was the last time you had a city government you were proud of?" he asked the crowd of more than 60 supporters and volunteers.
209 More Reasons to Protect Golden Gate Park
The SFPUC met with the public on February 15th and discussed adding five alternative water treatment plant sites to the Environmental Impact Report. All of these sites are outside of Golden Gate Park.
Why is this important? First, let's review the reasons for this industrial facility. San Francisco is mandated by the State to develop alternative sources of drinking water for the future.
Supervisors Demand Muni Cut Switchbacks
... the increasing practice of leaving riders stranded along the L-Taraval, N-Judah, M-Oceanview and K-Ingleside streetcar lines. The Board of Supervisors requested that Muni officials account for the increasing number of switchback, or turnaround maneuvers, on the light rail system in the past year.
Hunkered down under piles of blankets and layers of clothing, many were disappointed when snow did not happen. Many news outlets had been predicting. Snow is a rare sight in San Francisco with the last memorable snowfall occurring in 1976. City officials and planners were preparing trucks ready to spread sand on the icy slopes. As a transplanted Easterner, but being here almost 30 years, I cannot recall any city where freezing temperatures and icy roads could be more hazardous. (OK maybe Pittsburgh.) Heck, even our driveways are steeper than most hills in many parts of the country.
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From the Chicken Coop
The Revenue Bond Oversight Committee was created by 2002 Proposition P.... It was the best chance to ensure fiscal oversight for huge expenditures of citizen wealth.
... After eight years the Board of Supervisors is considering its parental responsibility regarding who supports this committee, where it should live, and what it's supposed to be really doing.
West of Twin Peaks Central Council
Budgets, Golden Gate Park, Pensions, a new Supervisor and a little larceny were the topics as the West of Twin Peaks Central Council closed the ledger on February in their monthly meeting on February 28th.
When WOTPCC President George Wooding called the meeting to order about thirty people had arrived to fill the seats at the Forest Hills Clubhouse. After the Treasurer's report, Elliot Wagner of Dimitra's Spa confirmed to the group that the Bank of America on West Portal Avenue had indeed been robbed on Saturday afternoon...
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Revenue Shortfall: Discontinue the Arboretum Fee
... the non-resident fee at the Arboretum and Botanical Garden is performing poorly compared to expectations. Given the devastating impact of this fee on non-resident attendance,the facts argue it is time to discontinue the fee ...
... the Botanical Garden at the Strybing Arboretum, was established by Helene Strybing as a gift to the City and was free for nearly 70 years until Mayor Newsom's RPD directors, pushed to establish a fee for all as a means of turning the 55 acres of Golden Gate Park into a tourist revenue-generating destination.
Money Matters
Uncle Sam, Retirement and Being Self Employed
and Joanne Jordan, CFP
Being your own boss at this time of year can feel more like you work for Uncle Sam than for yourself. By the time you pay federal, state and self-employment taxes (for Social Security and Medicare)—not to mention what you owe if you have employees—your wallet may be feeling pretty thin.But there are several (legal) ways you can keep more of your earnings for yourself—and build your investments for the future.
REMEMBER WHEN
Sunset District Homes
Date [190-?]. Sunset-1900's. If you have more information about the date and location of this photo, contact: editor@westsideobserver.com. By permission from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
More Old Photos...
More Items of Interest in the March Issue
Thanks for reading the Westside Observer
Vote "NO" on Rec and Park's Upcoming Parcel tax
On
August 15, the Recreation and Park Department (RPD) fired every Recreation
and Park Director in San Francisco. This is one of the best kept secrets in
San Francisco.
About 99.9% of the people in the neighborhoods had no idea what the RPD was about to do. The people who work in City government, the RPD, and Service Employees International Union — the very union that represents the Rec and Park Directors — knew, but apparently didn’t care enough about the Rec and Park Directors or the people in San Francisco to let us know beforehand.
Golden Gate Water Treatment Facility
Found! Alternative Sites
Great public suggestions to the rescue! At the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Site Alternatives Workshop on December 9, many practical ideas were put forth to save Golden Gate Park (GGP) from industrialization.
This is a win-win situation.
Laguna Honda's Gift Fund Scandal
By Patrick Monette-Shaw
As I reported in the December issue of the Observer, restitution of at least $350,000 to the Laguna Honda Hospital patient gift fund is a good first step, along with recommendations to improve oversight of the gift fund. It’s too bad that it took nearly a year to obtain both outcomes.
Lingering questions remain unanswered, following foot-dragging by San Francisco officials.
Watchdogs, lapdogs and Rubes
Just Because There Is An Oversight Committee, Doesn't Mean There Is Effective Oversight
It is said that legislating is like making sausage. What is City governance like? Rube Goldberg comes to mind.
I follow the SFPUC, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission...
Westside Observer's
Parkmerced Planning Commission Hearing
SFPUC Westside Water Recycling Plan
Golden Gate Park Historic District
Minnie and Lovie Ward Rec Center District
Urban Agriculture Zoning Proposal District
February 2011
More Community Items Calendar
West of Twin Peaks Central Council
New Supervisors, resolutions on Recreation and Park actions and general information were the crux of the agenda at the West of Twin Peaks Central Council meeting on January 24th.
Tony Hall / Speaking Freely
Parkmerced Shake, rattle & Rollin
No doubt the crazy world of San Francisco politics has provided many of us with endless scenarios and theories as to what the future might bring to our great City, but as is always the case, time will reveal all. Needless to say, we are all hopeful that the new Board of Supervisors, and their selection of an interim mayor, Ed Lee, will serve the common interest of the City in an honorable fashion.
Little Restaurant big Ideas
Shangri-La Vegetarian Restaurant
In 1978, when the Central Sunset had little resemblance to the splashy display of ethnic shops, restaurants and businesses that crowd Irving Street today, William Sang opened Shangri-La Vegetarian Restaurant. Now the street is chockablock with Chinese signage, meticulously calligraphed in gaudy colors and flashing neon, vying for attention, while Anglo-centric shops are rare.
Jeff Adachi / Setting the Record Straight
Fixing OUr City's Broken Pension System
By Public Defender Jeff Adachi
San Francisco is facing a fiscal crisis that threatens the quality of life for all San Franciscans and the future of our children.... But what's most frightening is that these costs will increase by $100 million a year, until we are spending one-third of our city's budget for benefits for city employees and retirees... at a cost of $35,000 for every San Francisco household.
New supervisors, a new Mayor and a new District Attorney (the former Police Chief) have taken office, as well as an interim Police Chief. And that’s only in San Francisco. California has a new Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General all who should smile favorably on the City. Read More...
Money Matters
Love and Money
So you’ve met the love of your life. Congratulations! After you’ve moved in together and agreed on where to put the sofa, how do you join your finances? And should you? There’s one commitment that should be agreed upon from the beginning or quickly move to the head of the line; agree to a simple process for communicating your newly-joined financial lives. Here are a few tips we recommend to our lovebird clients, ensuring each is protected during a happy long-term relationship or the unfortunate break-up.
REMEMBER WHEN
View of San Francisco from Twin Peaks
(190?)
Permission from the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library. More Old Photos...
More Items of Interest in the February Issue
Film Noir Lights Up the Castro
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST ISSUES
