Welcome to 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.
Read More...
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.
Read More...
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.
Read More...
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.
Read More...
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.
Read More...
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.
Read More...
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.
Read More...
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..
Read More...
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.”
Read More...
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
Thanks for reading the
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.
Read More...
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.
Read More...
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
Thanks for reading the Westside Observer
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.
Read More...
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.
Read More...
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...
Read More...
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
Thanks for reading the Westside Observer
Neighbors Outraged: PRIVATIZING OUR PARKS BY LEASE
To be privatized or not be privatized: That is the question.
On
Nov. 15, the Recreation and Park Department held a meeting regarding privatizing
the JP Murphy Park and its playground. The park is located at 9th Avenue and
Ortega. The RPD’s goal of leasing out the facility to a currently unknown
non-recreational tenant met stiff resistance from a standing room only crowd
of concerned neighbors.
JEFF ADACHI: Setting the Record Straight
NEXT STEPS IN CITY PENSION REFORM
Although Proposition B did not pass in November, 110,000 San Franciscans who voted YES ON PROP B understood why changes to our pension and health care costs have to be made to protect vital services and sustain our city’s pension and benefits system for its employees.
It is just a matter of time until the rest of the citizenry will see that we must act now in order to save our city government and the basic services Read More...
Beach Chalet Soccer Fields Cost Lots of Dollars But Don’t Make Sense
We have been told over and over again that one of the reasons for using artificial turf in Golden Gate Park is to save money. However, the figures do not bear this out. Read More...
Highway Robbery
By: Former Supervisor Tony Hall
Remember all the old stories about the early west wherein highway robbers and bandits would way-lay your trip to rob you or force payment for some kind of passage? Well, if the present gang of ideologues at the San Francisco County Transportation Authority has its way with this dim-witted Board of Supervisors, then history is sure to repeat itself ...
Our “leaders” at the Board of Supervisors now want to spend $60 million to $100 million dollars to set up an electronic toll system that would charge commuters and residents alike $6.00 a day to enter and exit the City of San Francisco from the south, mainly San Mateo County. Read More...
Laguna
Honda DOCTOR Files Wrongful Termination Lawsuit
On November 16, 2010 doctor Derek Kerr — a former physician in good standing at Laguna Honda Hospital for over 21 years — filed a lawsuit in SF Superior Court, alleging retaliatory termination of employment.
His lawsuit names as defendants the City and County of SF; DPH director, Dr. Mitch Katz; Laguna Honda Hospital’s executive... Read More...
Controller Restores $350,000 to Laguna Honda’s Patients
An audit of Laguna Honda Hospital’s (LHH) patient gift fund conducted by the City Controller appears to vindicate the majority of allegations former doctors Maria Rivero and Derek Kerr raised in multiple whistle-blower complaints about potential mismanagement of patient gift funds.
Read More...
Pensions Unpayable
Among the many facets of San Francisco government, happily one group is composed entirely of volunteers: the Civil Grand Jury.
This past year the Jury reported on public pension liability. Few listened. That is too bad. With no axe to grind, and no turf to protect, these talented citizens are very likely motivated by nothing other than the desire to protect the citizenry of our fair city. Read More...
Foxes and Henhouses at SF’s PUC
In 2002 the SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) estimated its Hetch Hetchy fix-up at $3.6B. Today it is estimated at $4.6B. A revision to $5B by 2015 is likely. The ratepayers will pick up the check in significant rate spikes.
Proposition E of 2002 gave the SFPUC a virtual blank check. Its main target was the voter’s historical right to veto revenue bonds. Read More...
Westside Observer's
Parkmerced Planning Commission Hearing
Planning: Action Plan Workshop
November 2010
More Community Items Calendar
It’s hard to believe that this issue closes out another year of the Observer. There was much to cover and report on in 2010 with the excitement of elections and baseball dominating the headlines in recent weeks. Read More...
REMEMBER WHEN
Midtown Terrace
May 26, 1958. LATEST BIG S.F. HOME DEVELOPMENT
Scene of San Francisco’s latest major home development now under construction on the western slopes of Twin Peaks and Sutro Forest. First of the new Sunstream Homes in the Midtown Terrace project will be opened to the public June 4. Mayor Christopher will officiate at the opening ceremonies. Permission from the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library. More Old Photos...
More Articles of Interest in the November Issue
Senior Smarts: Know Your Contractor
Thanks for reading the Westside Observer!
Miraloma Park Wind Power Installation Challenged
The Facts The owner of the house at 400 Teresita Boulevard (corner of Reposa) has applied for a permit to install a 35-foot small wind generator (SWG) tower at 400 Teresita, a 21- foot tall home on a block with homes of similar height. The SWG would be installed four feet from the front wall of the house, and would support a swivel head with three six-foot long rotating blades forming a circle 12 feet in diameter. The Miraloma Park Improvement Club, supported by many of the nearby neighbors, requested Discretionary Review (DR) of this project on the following bases...
The Theft of Golden Gate Park
The deal between the Recreation and Park Department (RPD) and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to build a waste-water treatment plant in Golden Gate Park (GGP) does not comply with the City Charter, and is probably illegal.
§ 4.113 of the City Charter states:
“The [RPD] shall have the power to construct new parks, playgrounds, recreation
centers, recreation facilities, squares, avenues and grounds, except as
follows...
Westside Observer's
Public Input for Artificial Turf in Golden Gate Park to start in November
SF Westside Recycled Water Project
November 2010
More Community Items Calendar
Water and Sewer Bills Set to Escalate
The rate you pay for water has doubled over the past five years, and will continue to rise. Why is this cost rising at 15% when inflation is much less? What might slow further increases?
Water is billed by the “unit.” A unit is a cubic foot of water, which is about 748 gallons. If you are a typical single family residence you pay $3.09 per unit for your first 75 gallons per day, and your household pays a higher rate if you use more...
“HEARTBREAK HOTEL”— ELVIS, 1956
By: Former Supervisor Tony Hall
According to San Francisco Visitor Industry Statistics, the City hosted 15.4 million visitors in 2009, including hotel guests, those staying with friends and relatives, those staying in accommodations outside the City but whose primary destination was San Francisco, and regional visitors driving in for the day. These visitors spent $7.8 billion in local businesses.
Clearly, tourism is our number one business. This massive injection of visitor dollars directly supports local hotels, restaurants, shops...
Around The Town
Comings and Goings
Baseball in November…in SF? For only the fourth time in 52 years, the Giants are going to be playing baseball in November as they take on the Texas Rangers in the World Series. It seems fitting that the ‘orange and black” will be hosting the series during Halloween week. Let’s hope that the Texas Rangers play more like the Washington Senators they used to be prior to moving to Texas in 1972.
BUSINESS CORNER
You May Want to Mediate Your Dispute:
Why Businesses Like Mediation
Disputes are an inevitable part of doing business and most are resolved by the parties without any outside help. But there are those conflicts that reach a point and are of sufficient significance where one or more of the parties turn to the legal system for help. Litigation has long been the recourse for parties with difficult disputes...
What the Heck?
This gorgeous plant with bright yellow flowers has us puzzled.
It started out as a little soft fuzzy-leaved plant of unknown origin. Soon it became the tallest plant in the garden.
Got an answer or your own a “What the Heck? Send your photos/questions and answers to editor@westsideobserver.com.
Serious Trouble: Sleep Apnea
Are you over forty years old? Are you a male? Do you have memory loss or learning problems? Do you get headaches often? Do you snore? Do you feel tired every morning because of lack of sleep? Are you likely to fall asleep at the wheel?
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you may be affected by a condition known as sleep apnea. More than 12 million adults sleep poorly at night because of sleep apnea...
REMEMBER WHEN
7th Avenue and Lawton Street
View of the Sunset District from 7th Avenue and Lawton Street. Date 1921. Location Folder: S.F. Districts-Sunset. Reproduction permission from San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
More Articles of Interest in the November Issue
Thanks for reading the Westside Observer!
GG
Park's New Water Treatment Factory
The SF Public Utilities Commission has announced an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a new water treatment plant in the western part of Golden Gate Park. This factory will be located northeast of the historic (and soon to be restored) Murphy Windmill and Millwright’s Cottage. The project includes approximately 40,000 square feet of buildings as well as new roads, parking, and lighting. The plant would filter and disinfect pre-treated sewer and storm water that will then be used to irrigate Golden Gate Park, the Presidio Golf Course and Lincoln Park.
Read More ...
Commercialization Detracts From Recent Renovations
By Kathy Howard, Friends of the Music Concourse
The Music Concourse has just finished millions of dollars of renovations, with the final stage being the renovation of the fountains. Unfortunately, the Department of Recreation and Park has chosen at this time to place numerous food, Segway, and bicycle vendors at the Bandshell , detracting from the historic character and the quality of this space. These changes have been instituted without filing the appropriate documentation with the Historic Preservation Commission as required by the landmark status of the area.
Read More...
LIfe
on the line
Muni bus driver Howard Nelson has hazy memories of the drivers’ strike in 1976. He remembers riding his bike past crowds of people walking to their jobs, desperately trying to hail already-packed cabs, and venerable little-old-ladies discreetly holding a thumb up to catch a ride. “We may see that again,” he said.
Read More...
New Taraval Captain Announces First of “Merchant Mondays”
Taraval Police Station’s new Captain John Sanford plans a new community outreach effort. “I would like to announce a new community engagement strategy.” said Captain John Sanford, “every third Monday of each month I will have what is known as Merchant Mondays. This is my opportunity to meet with merchants in the Taraval District and discuss issues relevant to their business. Our discussion will include best practices, community relations, good neighbor strategies, loitering and crime problems that may adversely affect your business.”
The general public will be invited to this first meeting, but the focus of the meeting is to discuss issues related to local merchants.
Read More...
What does the City Spend?
San Francisco spends about $8200 per resident per year. That is far more than the state spends on your behalf, and nearly what the federal government does.
Total City spending per year is over $6.5 billion. That includes what is spent currently for benefits for retirees, but it does not include all that will need to be spent on those now working who will retire with pensions and life-time medical benefits. Also, the figure does not include schools and teachers.
Read More...
Constant Support in a Constantly Changing World
On the day he was born, Anthony Pico entered the San Francisco foster care system. His drug-addicted mother disappeared from the hospital, leaving him with poison running through his system, no home and no one to fight for him.
By 14, he had lived in three separate placements, and by 18, he had attended six different high schools. Shuffled between social workers, therapists, lawyers and group homes, he was starved for stability
Read More...
Laundry List of Dirty and Dumb Election
Politics
It’s easy to see why San Francisco voters don’t always vote.
We are often asked to vote “Yes” on “No” by the very same government employees that we pay to solve the issues that we end up being asked to vote on. The Board of Supervisors (BOS) — the legislative branch — is required to be advocates for their constituency and to vote on legislation. The Mayor’s office — the executive branch — oversees and manages the City.
Neither branch of City government plays well with each other, and haven’t for a long time.
Read More...
Tony Hall / Speaking Freely
IF You’re Going To San Francisco….
I wasn’t going to write a column about homelessness because my positions and programs that I initiated as a Supervisor were so maligned and twisted by the press and politicians who exploited the issue that I hate to get into it. But you, the good taxpayer and honest citizen, deserve to know what’s going on, so here it is.
Homelessness in San Francisco is still a major issue despite all the time, energy and money that the City has expended in the past five years. Regardless of what count or survey has been conducted or manipulated, the problem still exists...
Read More...
Halloween, Elections, and other scary stuff…
Autumn is here, and with the weather it seems that we just by-passed summer completely. I know that a summer in SF is more a state of mind than an actual weather pattern lasting more than 3 days, but this “summer” was really cool and uninspiring from a weather standpoint. At least the SF Giantsmade the season one of the most exciting in memory.
It’s hard to believe that Halloween and Election Day are right around the corner, but the calendar says that it is so. The election has some very important Propositions that will affect pensions, MUNI, pot clubs, the ability to sit/lie on the sidewalk, as well as the normal phalanx of propositions that we are asked to support and reject. ...
Read More...
Selling Reality
The market in our area has entered the busy period before the end of the year. While it might sound too early to be talking about the end of the year, selling real estate requires a time frame that stretches for a minimum of a month once the buyer and seller enter into a contract. Between preparation, marketing and escrow selling a home can take three months.
I remember when we bought, thinking that this is one of the longest deferred gratification processes in America. Buying a car or just about anything else in America,...
Read More...
BurningMoney
Escalating City Pension And Benefits Costs
Almost a year ago, I wrote the first in a series of articles about the city’s escalating pension and health care costs for the Westside Observer. I didn’t know it then, but it started a movement to reform our public benefits system, known now as Prop B, which the voters will decide on November 2.
I had met with several members of the Civil Grand Jury who had authored a report entitled, “Pensions: Beyond Our Ability to Pay,” where they detailed how the city’s retiree pension liability had nearly tripled in the past five years. Even worse was the City’s growing health care liability, which had ballooned to $4 billion in unfunded health care costs for 26,000 city employees, 28,000 retirees and their 47,000 dependents. And these costs, according to the City Controller, would double in the next five years.
Read More...
Prop L versus Prop M
The elected “leaders” of our fair City have placed a choice before us on the November ballot. We are being asked to determine which police process will cut back or better control the deterioration of civility on the public streets and sidewalks, on the surface at least. What we are really being asked is should the will of the community or the will of the Board of Supervisors be primary.
Proposition M was placed on the ballot by Supervisor’s Ross Mirkarimi, David Chiu, Chris Daly, Eric Mar, John Avalos and David Campos. The remainder of the eleven opposed the measure.
Read More...
Laguna Honda Hospital’s Red Flags
By Patrick Monette-Shaw
It is thought all City employees are bound to comply with San Francisco’s Administrative Code, since none of them are thought to be above the law or hold authority to amend the Code, unilaterally.
When last month’s issue went to press, I reported Deputy City Controller Monique Zmuda was scheduled to return to LHH to conduct a review of LHH’s gift fund accounting practices. On August 25, Zmuda indicated her “audits group” would conduct a “review” of LHH’s patient gift fund to determine whether LHH had administered the fund in accordance with the municipal code. ...
Read More...
More Articles of Interest in the October Issue
Thanks for reading the Westside Observer!
MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM PAST ISSUES
