Welcome to Westside Observer
Tigers and Bears on Bengal Alley
Kay and her husband Fred Curry have an unobstructed view of Bengal Alley from their Mount Davidson balcony on Lansdale. It's not an alley at all, but a three section pathway that begins along the side of the Curry's home, where its newly restored cobblestone stairs invite a leisurely meander, then turns down the 17° slope to the exit at the cement stairs on Miraloma Street. With stunning ocean views, it's a peaceful public right-of-way where squirrels and wild birds compete for nature's bounty.
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Best of the Net
Rose Pak Makes Deals, Gains INfluence
Rose Pak had more in mind than a light Thai dinner when she walked into the now-shuttered Bong Su restaurant, with David Chiu in tow, on 3rd and Folsom in March 2009.
Harlan Kelly, her old friend who is assistant general manager for infrastructure of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, was waiting for the pair. Pak had been Chiu's date for the first few months of his time as Supervisor of District 3.
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Parkmerced Agreement Illegally Excluded PubliC
By Hope Johnson, Chair, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force
Lurking in the darkest corners of San Francisco’s Parkmerced Development Agreement is the question of enforceability of the agreement’s rent control provision. The elusive answer remains shadowed in odd mystery, and the Board of Supervisors has done little to shed much needed light on the controversial issue.
Can the City require replacement of existing rent controlled housing scheduled for demolition?
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Best of the Net
The Dog Killer and the Art Commission
The 59-year-old Brooklyn-based artist Tom Otterness has forged a very successful career as a maker of cartoonish bronze sculptures that often look like outtakes from a Ziggy comic strip. Governmental bureaucracies in charge of public arts funding love his work because it’s whimsical, inoffensive, and he’s a brand-name artist who has created work for the feds (a courthouse in Los Angeles, for instance,…
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RPD's Ginsburg and Ballard's Official Misconduct Referred to Ethics Commission
The outcome involved a citizen's victory at the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, which has referred "willful violation" and "official misconduct" charges against RPD staff to San Francisco's Ethics Commission for enforcement of the Sunshine Ordinance.
There are many fine people who work for San Francisco's RPD, but RPD General Manager Phil Ginsburg and RPD's Director of Policy and Public affairs, Sarah Ballard — among others — are ruining RPD's reputation for good governance.
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Hang Those Ornaments
Ever noticed that the little extra expenses add up? How tempting is the seemingly insignificant little extra. What a pretty ornament!
Not that we don't already have too many.
It's the same or worse at the municipal level. Let's do something nice for those in favor.
Examine almost any agenda for a Commission meeting of the SFPUC and you will find ornaments, large and small. A large ornament can be a whole program, such as the CCA program (community choice aggregation)…
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Hail to the Chief…with all of the angst being written about Ranked Choice Voting, and how it would play out with the mayoral candidates the election turned into a big yawn, as Ed Lee put away the competition. Entering the race with a base of about 30% of the voters, he finished with 31%, with John Avalos and Dennis Herrera pulling in 19% and 11% respectively. None of the other candidates could muster more than 9%. Congrats to Mayor Lee on winning a full term.
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SF PUC Declines Rec & Park's Lake Merced Deal
Is Joint Management With Rec & Park Off the Table?
For years there has been media coverage of various problems and issues at Lake Merced, including the water level crisis of the 80s and 90's, the disrepair of docks, piers and buildings, the departure in 1999 of the last fishing concession, and the recent failed effort to find someone to invest millions of dollars in the Boathouse building and operate a "destination" restaurant. But despite considerable publicity over the years, the public is generally unfamiliar with the ownership and management arrangements (and problems) at the lake…
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A Belfast Thanksgiving Remembrance
The heavy unusual rainfall of this Thanksgiving eve drummed up in me remembrances of a far more ferocious Thanksgiving eve storm.
It was November 1995, I was in Belfast, in the company of two friends, one American and one Irish, both of whom had just become acquainted with each other. My American friend, Ed Emerson, was a White House liaison, an advance man for President Clinton…
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Westside Observer Turns 25
This coming January the Westside Observer will celebrate 25 years in print. On Sunday Nov. 6, the owners Mitch and Alice Bull hosted a gathering at Que Syrah wine bar on West Portal Ave.
"It is our way of thanking everyone who contributes to the Westside Observer," said Mitch as he addressed the gathering of about 30 people that evening. He and Alice also own and manage the Castro Courier, another neighborhood newspaper that serves the community's need for local news.
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Laguna Honda Charitable Giving Plummets — Again
Laguna Honda Hospital's patient gift fund, and the separate Laguna Honda Foundation run by former City Attorney Louise Renne, are once again in the news.
On October 18, the Department of Public Health presented its annual gift fund report for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to the Health Commission. Of note, contributions to Laguna Honda Hospital's patient gift fund have dropped to their lowest levels across seven years.
...
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Finally, the Bus Rapid Transit Study
By Howard Strassner
In November 2011 San Francisco released its first ever Draft Environmental Impact Study, EIS, for a Transit Project for Bus Rapid Transit, BRT. The purpose of an EIS is to list all of the possible impacts of a proposed project for consideration by involved public agencies and legislators, and to allow ample time for the public to respond by suggesting additions to the list and/or support for the project. The Board of Supervisors, sitting with its Transportation Authority hat, will consider technical and political components before the Study is certified as Final. …
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West of Twin Peaks Central Council
November Meeting
President Matt Chamberlain and the WOTPCC were the audience for a discussion of the election results by Fall Line Analytics principal David Latterman, who enthralled the crowd with his detailed metrics and conclusions drawn from the voting information for the November 8th election.
Latterman, who had previously spoken to the group on the process of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a political consultant who has worked on many San Francisco campaigns, including the recent mayoral campaign for Board of Supervisor's President David Chiu.
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Westside Observer's Special Notices
December 2011
Beach Chalet Soccer Fields - Public Comment Due
Written comments due by 5:00 p.m. on December 12, 2011
Scoping Meetings on MUNI's Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP)
Tues Dec 6 &Wed Dec 7 • 6:30 pm • One South Van Ness 2nd Floor Atrium (So Van Ness & Market St.)
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More Community Items Calendar
Cyclists Meet Commute Advocates Head-on Over Oak/Fell Lanes
At a "discussion" on separated bikeways on Oak Street and Fell Street between Scott Street and Baker Street, it was clear that the three-block territory is a battleground among local residents who want to maintain precious parking spaces, auto commuters, who want to retain consistent traffic flow and bicyclist, who want to improve the safety of their commute.
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Money Matters
Time Right to Refinance?
"Rates can't go lower." Or so advertisements from mortgage companies have been claiming for years. But it's possible that now, it's more true than ever. According to research done by Freddie Mac, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. dropped below 4% for the first time ever in 2011. Rates on shorter-term, 15-year mortgages are even lower.
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REMEMBER WHEN...
Market Street from Twin Peaks
Market Street from Twin Peaks (Note Bay Bridge construction). By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
This photo and many more from the San Francisco History Center.
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More Items of Interest in the December Issue
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Westside Observer
Best of the Net
More Than Voter Fraud
Mayor Lee Alliance Committee and Others Hide Their Donors
Since the news came out that workers with independent expenditure group SF Neighbor Alliance for Ed Lee for Mayor 2011 may have engaged in voter fraud, including marking others' ballots, accounts of serious voting irregularities have mounted at the feet of Ed Lee's campaign for Mayor. Seven of Lee's rivals have even issued a call for our election to be watched over by federal observers and state election monitors.
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Two Tough Little Dogs Survive Attack of Two Hungry Coyotes 
Two small dogs were attacked by coyotes in Glen Park at around 10 am on Thursday, October 20. The dogs ran away in two different directions, pursued by the coyotes, which also split up. One of the dogs, Simone, a wiry-haired 20 pound girl was recovered several hours later at a friend's house, but the other, Xena, an all-black, 25 pound girl with pointy ears wearing a bright red collar seems to have taken a tour of the City and finally was recovered two and a half days later.
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Traffic On 19th Avenue To Take A Turn For The Worse
There are plans afoot (or should we say a-car) to make northbound traffic on 19th Avenue more congested than it already is. The MTA is floating plans to move the bus stop for the northbound #28 - 19th Avenue bus and the northbound #29 Sunset bus, to a small sliver of land inside Golden Gate Park.
"Diapers and politicians should be changed often, and for the same reason."
No, "noisy cries" is not the reason – although surely these will be heard. In the one case, loud and guileless; in the other, soft, seductive, sibilant and full of guile.
What politician can resist promising supporters what they want? A public servant who promotes the "general welfare" receives scant thanks, few contributions, and probably not many votes. "Support me and mine" is the overwhelming demand of today's voters. Successful politicians avoid saying no.
How might society encourage politicians to promote sound public policy rather than pay-back politics? In today's world it is hard to imagine.
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A Ballot Measure Slate Card For The People Who Actually Live and Vote in San Francisco
We the people of San Francisco have the right to determine our own agenda for the upcoming election.
Surrounded by large donors, special interest groups, unions, think tanks, lobbyists, politicians, and City departments that no longer have the neighborhoods best interests at heart, this provides a voting slate for the people who live in San Francisco's neighborhoods.
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West of Twin Peaks Central Council
November Meeting
Lively debate echoed throughout the Forest Hills clubhouse, as President Matt Chamberlain and the WOTPCC were the audience for a discussion of the ballot Propositions E and F. District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, the proponent of the two propositions, explained his rationale for the proposed ordinances, while Community College Board member John Rizzo and Sunshine Task Force member Bruce Wolfe opposed the propositions.
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Election day is upon us and we are being reminded by email, telemarketers, newspapers and television ads about the candidates and the initiatives. Like the first snowflakes in winter, it's finally feeling like an electoral contest as some of the campaigns are dropping the "we all get along well" gloves and ratcheting up the hyperbole and rhetoric.
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Westside Observer's Special Notices
(October 26, 2011 - Draft EIR to be released)
November 16, 2011 - Historic Preservation Commission hearing
December 1, 2011 - Planning Commission - public hearing
December 12, 2011 - Close of public comment on DEIR
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More Community Items Calendar
The Bullying Epidemic
Why PARENTS Have to Take the Lead?
Every few months, it seems, there's another headline about the death of a child or teen as the result of bullying. That's terrifying, and it's also unacceptable. To some extent we expect to hear about economic woes, political strife, and natural disasters. We don't expect to hear about the premature (and preventable) deaths of our young people. And we shouldn't have to. According to Todd Patkin, it's past time for America to realize that bullying is "the" problem of our day, and for parents and educators to lead the revolution on stopping this dangerous behavior..
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Money Matters
Got Wealth?
Here's Why You May Want to Give It Away
It's hard to miss all the controversy arising from the average Joe's frustration with how the money in this country is unfairly dispersed. But no one is talking about an easy way to redistribute some of that wealth.
For the tax years 2011 and 2012, you can give someone (or several someones) up to $5 million dollars tax free. This lifetime gift tax exemption is usually $1 million, so this is a substantial opportunity.
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Great Dickens Christmas Fair: Early Ticket Discounts
The day after Thanksgiving the annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair will open and usher in the Holiday season. "Early bird tickets" went on sale this past Oct 15, and while obtaining tickets early offers significant discounts, the long-standing family-operated festival has always been a big hit with everyone associated with it. Based upon last year's attendance, according to Adrianne Biggs, publicity rep for the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, the event anticipates over 30,000 visitors.
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Six Deadly Ballot Initiatives
As I wrote last month, the dueling pension reform ballot measures both have it backwards:Neither measure addresses salary reform, a necessary precursor that must come first, since salaries drive pensions.
The alphabet soup of ballot measures on the November 8 ballot represent six deadly sins, and six misguided ballot measures, some of which are being bankrolled by billionaires seeking to overwhelm the electoral process, ...
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Does MUNI Subsidize Driving?
By Howard Strassner
The majority of San Franciscans are willing to extend themselves a little to help fund Muni, even if they rarely use the system. Others feel that Muni is overly subsidized. I suggest a study of Muni expenditures and sources of revenue, and comparison with expenditures and revenue sources to facilitate driving. I believe Muni riders, who can drive but choose to endure less than ideal transit, subsidize drivers by reducing traffic so that drivers can get close to their intended destination and then not have to pay even higher parking fees.
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BUSINESS CORNER
City Sites Open To Collect Gift-Filled Shoe Boxes
Nov 14–21 Volunteers Working to Collect Over 4,800 Gifts While many San Francisco families are busy with holiday activities, a group of local volunteers is focused on filling empty shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, hygiene items and notes of encouragement for needy kids overseas. San Francisco families are participating in the world's largest Christmas project of its kind—Operation Christmas Child—an effort that has hand-delivered 86 million gifts to kids worldwide since 1993...
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REMEMBER WHEN...
Parkside
Aerial View of Parkside in the early '50s. By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
This photo and many more from the San Francisco History Center.
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More Items of Interest in the November Issue
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Westside Observer
Large Turnout as Candidates Woo the Westside
By Mitch Bull
A crowd of over 400 provided a standing room only audience for the West of Twin Peaks Central Council Mayoral Candidates Forum, held last Saturday at St. Stephen's Hall.
Eleven candidates spent 90 minutes responding to questions submitted by the audience and there were few surprises in their answers. Candidates …
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Turning Losers Into Winners
After nine years, most San Francisco voters still do not understand Ranked Choice Voting (RCV).
In 2002, San Francisco voters passed Proposition A, a charter amendment that requires the City to use ranked choice voting to eliminate run-off elections that San Francisco had traditionally used for electing the Mayor, City Attorney, District Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff, Assessor-Recorder, Treasurer, and Board of Supervisors.
Local Activists Join In the Fun as Interim Mayor Lee Opens West Portal Office
Interim Mayor Ed Lee, seeking election as Mayor, opened his West Portal HQ. Assisted by speakers such as SF Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, and Lee's wife Anita, the candidate kicked off the campaign in front of a crowd of over 100 citizens, many waving "Mayor Ed Lee –Gets it done" signs and placards.
RANKED CHOICE VOTING TESTED
RCV WILL BE USED IN THE MAYOR'S RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME
We Asked Some of the Candidates
What They Think
Bond Funds Forever — for Whatever
Sophisticated voters know that bond funds are not necessarily spent as campaign literature promises. Laguna Honda Hospital is Exhibit A.
Once bureaucrats acquire bond funds, they may change course and spend pretty much as they please. Bond funds become spending money.
Voters are being told that $248 million will be spent paving city streets. Maybe. But it is very possible that a fair portion will be spent building bike lanes, handicap ramps, and mini-parks, or on traffic calming, islands, planting trees, or studying whatever consultants can dream up.
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PROPOSITION D — Pro and Con
The organizations attacking City employee pensions — the Chamber of Commerce, BOMA, and SPUR, among others — are the same guys who routinely attack City services.
Prop D, the pension reform measure I am sponsoring, endeavors to tackle the pension problem – arguably the most pressing problem relative to the City's future financial health.
The election season is heating up, and there is barely more than a month to go. Candidates are making proclamations, ads are appearing on TV and in the papers, and local offices are cropping up all over. And, of course, the accusations of "hypocrisy" are springing forth from all different directions.
This month we cover issues relating to the election; the opening of Interim-Mayor Ed Lee's campaign office on West Portal Avenue; a solid piece on "Ranked Choice Voting" by George Wooding, on what the candidates and political pundits think of the process.
A Dirty Fight Over Clean Elections
Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, frustrated over his proposal to gut a key provision of San Francisco's public finance program, turned to bitter sarcasm, accusing his colleagues of "dereliction of duty" at last week's Board meeting, setting the stage for this week's make-or-break vote.
Elsbernd's loss of control showed the frayed nerves of the newly moderate Board majority unable to corral an eight-vote supermajority as they sweep aside reforms passed when the Board was less influenced by downtown priorities.
Murphy Windmill Gets A Cap
Crowds gathered on Sept. 12 as the Murphy Windmill, now restored, got its cap placed on top with the help of a gigantic crane.
The dome-like roof was designed in Holland by Lukas Verbij and constructed separately. The "cap" is made of metal and is the part of the windmill where the "sails" or vanes are attached…
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NERT Response Set for October 15th
October and April are San Francisco's earthquake months. Of course, we don't know in what month the next one will come, but the last three major quakes to hit the Bay area were in April of 1906 and October of 1868 and 1989. So October is a good time to remember that we live with earthquakes and need to prepare for them. After the 1989 quake, the San Francisco Fire Department …
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Leadership Needed at Lake Merced
With a governing document called a Memorandum of Understanding from 1950 that is in need of revision, the future of San Francisco's Lake Merced is in need of not only maintenance — it needs leadership.
…the Park, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee (PROSAC) met at City Hall to discuss the need for better care for Lake Merced…
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Lake Merced: PUC Shirks Its Responsibilities
For years there has been media coverage of various problems and issues at Lake Merced, including the water level crisis of the 80s and 90's, the disrepair of docks, piers and buildings, the departure in 1999 of the last fishing concession, and the recent failed effort to find someone to invest millions of dollars in the Boathouse building and operate a "destination" restaurant. But despite considerable publicity over the years, the public is generally unfamiliar with the ownership and management arrangements (and problems) at the lake…
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Money Matters
Raising a Bundle for Your Bundle of Joy
You're longing to be a parent. You fuss over every baby you see on the street. You can't stop scrolling through the Baby CZ and Svan of Sweden websites. And in your mind, you've already turned the spare bedroom into a nursery decorated in a gorgeous shade of earthy chocolate with light turquoise accents.
If you're choosing the adoption or surrogacy route, you might find the costs a bit sobering…
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Brian Browne vs Aimee Brown
An Alternative View
The main topic was to question the legality of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Revenue Bond Oversight Committee (RBOC) and the Controller. This MOU makes the Controller the sole source vendor for RBOC contracts. This inside-dependent relationship is in direct contradiction to what was intended in creating an independent RBOC (2002 Proposition P)
Independent, Transparent Oversight
In 2002, San Francisco voters approved Proposition P and established the SFPUC Revenue Bond Oversight Committee (RBOC). Our job is to ensure that the SFPUC spends bond proceeds appropriately and complies with prudent financial management. The Committee meets on the third Monday of the month at 9:30 AM on the 4th floor of the SFPUC building at 1155 Market Street.
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REMEMBER WHEN...
Forest Hill
Golden Gate Heights - rubble wall on 14th Avenue, northerly to 15th Avenue and Aloha Avenue • Mar. 7, 1927 By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
This photo and many more from the San Francisco History Center.
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More Items of Interest in the October Issue
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Westside Observer
Pension Reform Champion Jeff Adachi Enters Mayor's Race
On August 12th Public Defender Jeff Adachi filed his papers to run. While there had been much speculation for weeks that he would decide to do so, Adachi told the Bay Guardian why he was prompted to jump in the race: "It wasn't until I really listened to what the (other) candidates were saying in the last few debates about pension reform. I became convinced that either the candidates don't get it or they don't want to get it."
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Road Repair Bond: NO, NO, NO 
The streets of San Francisco are terrible.
To fix their deplorable state of disrepair, the City is currently trying to convince San Francisco voters to "save the streets" by passing a $248 million bond measure this November.
Safe, accessible, and well-maintained roads are at the very core of services a city should provide to its residents. Whether you walk, take public transit, bike, or drive, people rely on a safe, smooth and accessible route …
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Lake Merced: Irate Citizens Give PUC Bureaucrats No Respect
By Jonathan Farrell
Over 50 people showed up at the Harding Park Golf Course Clubhouse on July 19 to listen to Steve Ritchie, Assistant General Manager of Water Enterprises for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. His presence was well-received by the audience, as he knows many in the community. Residents and community groups have expressed skepticism about the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission plan …
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Mayoral Debate
President Matt Chamberlain and the WOTPCC have been on Summer recess, but that doesn't mean they've been on vacation…in fact, they have been very busy putting the finishing touches on an upcoming WOTPCC organized and sponsored "San Francisco Mayoral debate" featuring many of the candidates for the upcoming Mayoral election in November.
Mark your calendars NOW!
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It's Only (Your Ratepayer) Money
By Steve Lawrence
To the citizen on a budget, spending in San Francisco's public realm can seem unreal.
Let's examine one recent agenda from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the folks who provide water, sewer service, and, for now, power for MUNI, General Hospital, City Hall, and other public places.
Three lucky engineering firms get contract amendments worth $6,700,000. For what? …
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DCCC and Other Underhanded Machinations
…Meantime, the DCCC committed a major political faux pas when they chose not to endorse, from a field of 5 qualified Asian candidates, even one. What made their actions more repugnant was they had three clear chances to name one Asian. This insult showed an arrogant disdain for Asian American aspirations, and made their endorsement process a farce.
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Around the Town September 2011
It's gonna be a fun election season…Now that the declaration period is over, we finally can see the field for the running of the SF Mayor's derby. Front-runners, dark horses and long shots abound with a candidate or two to fit every voter's profile. The next two months will be a blur with the candidates trying to get their messages out any way they can.
The good news is that the field is stocked with an overflow of political talent. Of the plethora of candidates vying for the Mayors' office, at least 11 look like they could do a very credible job as SF's chief exec. Leland Yee, Tony Hall, Dennis Herrera, Michela Alioto-Pier, Bevan Dufty, David Chiu, John Avalos, Joanna Rees, Phil Ting and yes, Ed Lee and Jeff Adachi …
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Founder of Project Open Hand Dies
Ruth Brinker, Founder of Project Open Hand, passed away peacefully at Eden Villa Assisted Living Center in San Francisco.
Ruth was born on May 1, 1922 in South Dakota and moved to San Francisco in the mid-1950s. She died after a series of strokes and the effects of vascular illness.
In 1985, having retired from a career in food services, Ruth heard about a neighbor who died of AIDS. She was shocked to discover that malnutrition was as much the cause of her neighbor's death as the illness itself. She realized that many others living with AIDS were in the same situation and she knew she could do something. Ruth began preparing meals in her kitchen and delivered them to seven people. That number quickly grew and volunteers came to help her cook and deliver hot, nourishing meals all over San Francisco to people living alone and struggling with a devastating illness. "I didn't think I was doing anything special," Ruth said. "I did what anyone would have done under those circumstances." With this simple act of kindness, repeated day after day with compassion and care, Project Open Hand was born.
When Ruth delivered her meals, she took the time to talk with each person and help each feel loved and cared for. For Ruth, it was more than nutritious, dependable food. It was 'meals with love.'
Commemorative Service: Monday, September 12th at 5:30pm in the North Light Court of City Hall.
Parkmerced Edges Out Critics
Save—Don't Pave Golden Gate Park
For long-time residents and those who grew up near Golden Gate Park, the noticeable change in the quality of care that the park receives is very disheartening. Kathy Howard of the Golden Gate Park Preservation Alliance and many other concerned citizens called together a community meeting this past July 20 to let it be known that Golden Gate Park (GGP) needs better care.
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Patient Gift Fund Records Referred to D.A. and Feds
As I reported in the Westside Observer's July-August edition, fallout from the Laguna Honda Hospital gift fund scandal has expanded, with citywide implications into City Hall's ethical mess. It's amazing that Laguna Honda Hospital's CEO, Mivic Hirose, has retained her job.
The two Sunshine ordinance complaints filed by this author to unearth gift fund records …
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BUSINESS CORNER
Healthy Pets Veterinary Hospital – the total holistic approach to pet care
Since its opening in September of 2010, the Healthy Pets Veterinary Hospital has been quietly growing and expanding as local pet owners are embracing the clinic for the holistic-based methods of treatment offered by Dr. Adam Piaseczny and his staff.
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Dracula guards the Blood Bank
The City needs real versus politicized regulatory oversight. No oversight is better than the illusion of oversight.
The imperfections of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulatory oversight are often noted. These regulatory failings often pale in comparison with those of San Francisco's self-regulating system.
A case in point is the Public Utilities Revenue Bond Oversight Committee (RBOC). It was created by 2002 Prop P…
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Money Matters
Smart Ways to Get Smarter
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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Privatizing Our Parks: Public/Private Parks
Anmarie Mabbutt
Public private partnerships are driving the commercialization of San Francisco's public park space. The loud voices ringing in General Manager Ginsburg's ears belong to the Department's private partners who are constantly seeking preferential access to park land and facilities while at the same time advocating for increased fees and reduced levels of service to the public. In the past year, the Department, responding to requests by the Botanical Garden Society and the San Francisco Parks Trust …
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Sun Shines on Rec & Park Efforts to Curtail Free Speech
By Katherine Howard
In March 2011, community groups organized a Commonwealth Club panel to discuss the impact of two proposed development projects on Golden Gate Park. The panel included moderator Jim Chappell (former Executive Director of SPUR), and panelists Anthea Hartig, Ph.D., (President of Western Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation), Mike Lynes (Conservation Director and General Counsel for Environmental Matters, Golden Gate Audubon Society), George Wooding, (Past President, West of Twin Peaks Central Council), and myself. The Club approved the program, notice went out to the general public, and people started to register for the event.
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REMEMBER WHEN...
Forest Hill
Sunset Dist. from 26th & Quintara St. to ocean 1945. By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
This photo and many more from the San Francisco History Center.
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More Items of Interest in the
September Issue
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Westside Observer
CITY HALL'S DEBT MARGINALIZES THE VOTERS
San Francisco voters have lost control over what, when, where, and how our City spends its borrowed money. Only 57.9% of San Francisco's $2.6 billion long-term obligations have been approved by the voters through General Obligation Bonds (GOBs) and parcel taxes.
The balance of the City's long-term debt is dedicated to Certificates of Participation (COPs), which are currently 28.5% of owed long-term debt and Revenue Bonds, which represent 14.6% of San Francisco's current long-term debt load.
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Ethics Commission: A Sleeping Watchdog
The San Francisco Civil Grand Jury today reported that the SF Ethics Commission is a Sleeping Watchdog that abdicates its responsibilities, has failed to act on all 18 Sunshine violations referred to it for action, and is vulnerable to manipulation in assessing fines against politicians and political groups.
It recommends several corrective actions, including televising Ethics Commission meetings to ensure greater transparency in its deliberations.
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Westside Observer's
When: Wednesday, July 20 • 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Where: Community Meeting Room - Richmond Police Station • 461 6th Ave (Geary/Anza)
What: Two construction projects threaten the western end of Golden Gate park— the seven-acre artificial turf with 60 foot tall stadium lights Beach Chalet Soccer Fields project and the 40,000 square foot water treatment factory.
More Community Items Calendar
Around the Town July-August 2011
Summer is upon us and that means music in the Stern Grove on Sundays, the Outer Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park, and many other local musical events. Check out our calendar for listings and dates.
Unfortunately, a young driver with extremely poor judgment crashed his car into the fountain at St. Francis Circle on June 26th at about 4 AM, causing an extreme amount of damage. Rumor has it he was trying to "jump" over the structure with his car…
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New Technology Reclaims an Old Treasure
For decades the North and South Windmills have been mere shadows of what they once were. Often called "the Dutch Windmill" and "Murphy Windmill," the tower-style windmills with horizontal axis turn-style vanes were among the largest of their kind in the world.
Their majestic vanes (or sails) turning in the wind have been missing from our local landscape, looking more like ghostly structures from an old horror movie like 1931's "Frankenstein." Our City has so many things that are "old world" and "new" for all to enjoy.
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Time for SF Taxpayer & Ratepayer Org?
On July 1 rates charged for water and sewer rose again. For water the rate rose about 13%. Over the past five years the cost of water has doubled. Sewer rates have been rising at an average of 7.5% per year; this year the rate increase is 3.6%.
Rates are sure to rise more. Water Power & Sewer, the new moniker for the city department still officially called San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), has completed a little more than one-third of its big work on the Hetchy water…
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Privatizing Our Parks: Hidden from View
The drive to privatize our public park space began on November 7, 1995 … voters approved a new City Charter which contained numerous restrictions regarding the leasing of public park space. Sec. 4.113 of the new Charter reads "No park land may be sold or leased for non-recreational purposes, nor shall any structure on park property be built, maintained or used for non-recreational purposes, unless approved by a vote of the electors." Sec. 16.112 requires that public hearings be held and Notice published "prior to the leasing, selling or transfer of management" of any facility …
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Watchdogs, Whistleblowers, and Grand Juries
Fallout from Laguna Honda Hospital's patient gift fund scandal just keeps expanding, with citywide — not just District 7 — implications.
Between two Civil Grand Jury reports, and two Sunshine Ordinance complaints involving access to public records, San Francisco's Ethics Commission and the Controller's whistleblower program aren't faring well as a result, nor is the City's Department of Public Health.
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West of Twin Peaks Central Council
A new slate of officers, a photo op, and a briefing by Mayor Ed Lee highlighted the West of Twin Peaks Central Council meeting of June 27th.
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BUSINESS CORNER
Hard Copy Still King at Bookshop West Portal
Bookshop West Portal is a locally owned, independent bookstore in the heart of the West Portal, just a block down from the MUNI tunnel.
"People like coming in, we get lots of foot traffic," said store manager Kevin Atkin.
It is because of the steady flow of foot traffic that local author Joseph Sutton was eager to sell his most recent book at the shop: The Year the Giants Won The Series. "Sales are going very well," he said.
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MUNI Deserves Credit for Its Vision of the Future
A few months ago I wrote of how to improve service on the Muni 28 line on Nineteenth Avenue. But improving Muni service is much more than something we do to make it easier for me or you to get around. A Muni that works is an important part of every level of San Francisco today, and a Muni that works well will be important for all of San Francisco, including the west side, in the near future. In the more distant future public transit, like Muni, will: save some of our limited reserves of oil for our grandchildren's children; preserve some dry land; provide food for people that we will never meet; and preserve habitat for creatures of which we never think.
Money Matters
Reverse Mortgage:
Sound Option for Retirement Income?
The concept behind reverse mortgages is nothing new. They provide a way for those who are retired or about to retire to generate cash flow based on the value of their home. The terminology may sound confusing, but a reverse mortgage is considered a loan to the individual—similar to a home equity loan.
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REMEMBER WHEN...
Forest Hill
The San Francisco Commercial Club visits Forest Hill, April 18, 1913. Permission SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library. Source: Greg Gaar Collection; Dewey/Pacheco
This photo and many more from the San Francisco History Center.
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More Items of Interest in the
July-August Issue
July-August Calendar of Events
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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)...
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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
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 Smart
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.
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More Items of Interest in the July Issue
Thanks for reading the Westside Observer
HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST ISSUES
