Via Square
The day before evictions of all residents — a final last-minute reprieve
Too late to save Laguna Honda intact?
CMS extended federal funding while the facility continues without resident evictions until September 19, 2023
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Families Sue Laguna Honda for Transfer Deaths
LHH “disregarded” the risk of transfer trauma to elderly dementia patients
3 families filed suit, alleging LHH culpability in the deaths of patients transferred to outside facilities last year.
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It's Game On!
D7’s Participatory Budget Selection Nears
The selected projects will be up for public voting beginning June 12.
Read More ...
Letter Re: Fear and Trembling — Frisco Style
Julie Pitta’s most recent commentary misrepresents what I said in a TMZ interview — “to stoke fears about public safety.” This is false.
Read More ...
SFUSD: Failing Math and Literacy for Kids
Can the Commission admit they were wrong?
The evidence is in time for SFUSD to change.
Read More
A Spring Collection
Newsy bits and quips Quentin’s monthly criticisms, and encouragements.
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Melgar's Crime Town Hall signals public dissatisfaction
District 7 residents grill officials
Grassroots anti-crime and pro-accountability organizing could imperil elected officials who can’t get a handle on the disorder.
Check it outThe Truth about SF's Crime Spree
Fear and Trembling
— Frisco Style
San Francisco has experienced a spike in property crime, no surprise in a city of wealth disparity.
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Laguna Honda on Last-Gasp Status
While consultants released three follow-up reports ... details of the complete picture are still dripping out, like a leaky faucet.
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Stop Crime SF engages in election advocacy
Anti-crime group to test its political strength
Judges can undermine the good work of the police and the DA ... Judges are elected, but the public doesn't know about their decisions
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Is AI Ready for Prime Time?
It Could lead to more arrests of protestors, minorities, or anyone the State considers a threat if artificial intelligence is designed and executed improperly.
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It's Teacher Appreciation Week
Time to Reassess the Value of Teachers
Flowers and cards are great, but teachers deserve a fair wage for their valuable work.
Read More
Public Records Request with a Side of Fries
When I made a simple request for documents what I got left me confused — should I laugh or cry?
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SF's Public Guardian Sues Laguna Honda for Abuse
The lawsuit cites seven Causes of Action
It took courage for the Public Guardian to file suit. Hopefully, the public will learn the full extent of the scandal. The timing couldn’t be worse for LHHs struggle to survive.
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April 14th is the anniversary of Laguna Honda's decertification
Just Released—Laguna Honda Hospital's Revised Closure Plan
LHH mostly serves low-income, medically indigent patients, likely to face discharges, exile, and displacement to out-of-county facilities, away from their families, and support networks.
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The Crisis in Housing for Artists
The City's vacant downtown businesses and escalating housing rents are a San Francisco disaster. Roadkill: San Francisco's artist communities.
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Does SF Enable Drug Use?
Fentanyl overdoses have killed more San Franciscans than COVID. Yet, SF fails to prosecute dealers; no convictions for fentanyl sales in 2021. Most dealers are granted diversion.
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I am plain worn out listening to all the things that have gone wrong in our City and our Country.
Arts, Music, Dance, Drama: Great work SFUSD!
The arts are more than alive and well in San Francisco public schools. In many cases, they are spectacular. A little hyperbole? Nope.
Read More
Sporting Trolls, Reparations and Highway Tolls
The history of liberty is the history of the limitations on the power of government. And the provenance of government usually expands on federal, state and local levels
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Tranq - the Next Drug Scourge
Fentanyl has a new rival
Xylazine is infiltrating North American fentanyl and heroin supplies. It is causing more fatal overdoses, zombie-like intoxication— addictions that are harder to treat than simple fentanyl dependency.
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April 14th is the anniversary of Laguna Honda's decertification
Root Cause Factors Refute DPH Claims Minimizing LHH’s Violations
Inept managers from SF General and SF Health Network are principally responsible for the current mess at LHH, not LHH's caring and dedicated staff.
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San Francisco's $780 Million Budget Deficit
Controller's estimated $290 million deficit — $90.1 million more than projected in January. For the next two fiscal years, the shortfall is projected at $779.8 million.
Check it outLet the Bay Lights go dark
Heather Knight Plugs the Bay Lights
Our resources are precious, and we shouldn't be using them for displays of lighting that serve no practical purpose.
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Is the Sunshine Task Force Ethically Challenged?
When the City Attorney and the Ethics Commission demur — the SOTF needs to police itself.
Read More
Billions and Billions Later, California's High-speed Rail Future Is Still Illusive
The project cost for the non-high speed rail portion in the Central Valley increased last month to $35.3 billion from $25.2 billion. It obtains money from a cap-and-trade program which adds 23 cents to every gasoline gallon besides the state’s 53.9 cents tax per gallon
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Hiding the Deadly Risks of SF's High-Rises
Facing the under-reported facts
For decades, the City has allowed weaker standards for buildings shorter than 240 feet — no signs of seriously considering these structural deficiencies.
Read More ...
SFPUC: 90% Rate Increase
... & Housing Dreams
Our Board of Supervisors is keen for the City to acquire the PG&E infrastructure.An offer of $2.5 billion has been rejected.
Read More ...
Keep Diego Rivera's Mural at City College
This mural is currently on loan from City College to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) —The agreement includes the return of the mural to City College which has been its owner and guardian since 1940.
Read More ...
Screen California Students for Dyslexia
In third grade...nearly 60% of students are not yet proficient in reading — students can't “read to learn” until they have successfully learned to read.
Read More
Recology, Reparations, Preservation and Supervisor Walton are among Quentin's Observations
Concerns that trouble Quentin but may only annoy most folks.
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Tuesday, March 21st - 9:30am
Westside Neighbors to Protest Climate-Hostile Banks
West Portal's Chase Bank protest highlights banks’ dominant funding of fossil fuels.
Read More ...
Dreams Come True
Get That Neighborhood Improvement Funded
The winning projects will be most closely align to the criteria and can be successfully completed with the funding allocated as a one-time grant.
Read More ...
Stop Using Herbicides in San Francisco
The Oxalis Obsession
The herbicides don’t kill the bulbs. You can kill the top growth and other plants, but you won’t kill the oxalis.
Read More ...
Fighting Against a Stacked Deck
No wonder the City finds itself in scandals — when the Ethics Commission and the City Attorney doesn't enforce misconduct.
Read More
Laguna Honda Debacle: Root Cause Analysis
DPH kept the report secret for months
The report finally gives us a complete picture of LHH's problems and the path to recover.
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The Weed That's Destroying our Native Habitat
Oxalis is rampant in the Bay Area
Its a tragedy for all the foragers who depend on native plants: myriads of insects, the birds and others that feed on them ...
Read More ...
The Mystery of the New Housing Element
Roadmap or Pipedream?
Well-resourced Neighborhoods are guilty of plenty, explains the new Element. Racism, greed, selfishness– ... it's time to reform
Read More ...
Ignoring document requests, misinforming Supes and Boards — are Feds feed up yet?
Squeezing the Truth from Laguna Honda Management
The showdown at LHH. Now the Feds are demanding SF hire qualified Nursing Home Administrators!
Check it outWhat could possibly go wrong?
Judge Gives Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card for Union Square Ransacker
It had major consequences for SF's economy, and millions in lost tax revenue City taxpayers spent an additional $2 million for police patrols.
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Did 20 years of mismanagement prompt the Feds to intervene?
The Bungled Management of Laguna Honda
Kanaley had no experience running a skilled nursing facility whatsoever and certainly no experience or training to run a 1,200-bed nursing home with approximately 1,500 employees
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An easier way to pass local taxes for schools
California Supreme Court grants a wish to school communities
Can regulating taxation by local governments (two-thirds vote for a parcel tax) override a majority vote in a citizens initiative? Nope.
Read More
”Moderates“ Organize to Change City Hall
According to TogetherSF, District elections is the problem
The proposed fix is to return to at-large board seats to get more done for the whole City.
Check it outProblems looming at the Shipyard
Newsom's Albatross
Newsom violated ethics laws by signing into law Shipyard redevelopment measures he sponsored before the Board of Supervisors and accepted the transfer of Parcel A at the cost of one dollar
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Let's Rethink Hospice Admissions
Oversight for Patients Rights
A group of friends formed to rescind her hospice disposition and return her home to live or die among her treasured surroundings...
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Laguna Honda's 12 Transfer Deaths
Culpability extends to the feds as well as LHH
So far, twelve patients are dead. 11 patients were severely disabled and had profound cognitive impairment.
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Weeks After Forced Discharge, Patients Began Dying
Laguna Honda Residents Face Resumption of Mandatory Discharges
LHH wants to avoid culpability when patients die, but actions have consequences, sometimes grave
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PG&E, SFPUC
and even stranger things
A look at the City's lawsuit against PG&E, at at SFPUC's mismanagement of flooding, AI's artificial idiocy, and aging in SF!
Read More ...
Will changing Lowell admission policies fix the achievement gap?
The issue is heating up AGAIN. the SFUSD high school task force will present recommendations on admission policies
Read MoreSay No to Bay Lights; Stop polluting the night sky
We Have Better Uses for $11 Million
Our resources are precious, and we shouldn't be using them in displays of lighting that serve no practical purpose.
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Are Progressives Making Homelessness Worse?
A book review of San Fran-sicko
Poor people seldom end up on the street.But, addicted and mentally ill people become “disaffiliated” from supporters – a key determinant of street homelessness
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Immediate Jeopardy Violation Further Risks Laguna Honda
DPH Reveals Troubling Laguna Honda Developments
Unanswered questions: will they continue admitting behaviorally disturbed patients ... will forced discharges resume on February 2?
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Could Parkmerced Transform to Affordable Housing?
30% of Parkmerced's 3,221 units are vacant. If the Prop M Vacant Unit Tax does not encourage lower rents, the City might purchase them at a bargain, making thousands of new units available...
Check it outCalifornia Deserves Better
"Time for Feinstein to Step Down
Feinstein has been an enthusiastic supporter of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. How have those wars benefited the families of California?
Check it outMadam Mayor parties down as City is deluged in “atmospheric river”
Mayor's Clueless New Years Fumble Signels Trouble
Adorned in a feather boa and accompanied by City Attorney David Chiu, Breed's City Officials were oblivious to the massive flooding NASA satellite images predicted December 16, 2022.
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Ask the right questions to fix SF High Schools
A huge number of students who enter high school are not proficient in English and math — almost 45 percent of SFUSD 8th graders are not proficient in English. More than half are not proficient in math
Read More
Redistricting's First Victim: Supervisor Gordon Mar
Mayor Breed’s backroom manipulations brought the defeat of Mar and the election of Dorsey — more targets in 2024?
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Root Cause Analysis: Key Report Missing?
Costs to Rescue Laguna Honda Climb to $20 Million
... it tells us that they are maintaining secrecy to cover up the loss of greatly needed skilled nursing services in SF
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Banned Books for Christmas
Banning children’s books from schools and libraries is a threat not only to freedom of speech but also to our commitment to teach our children well.
Read More
What Happened at Laguna Honda? Update
...the mission of a nursing home is to promote resident autonomy. This is not compatible with the treatment of persons with unstable behavioral issues, which requires structure and agreement to "house rules." If LHH continues admitting persons with active substance use or unstable mental illness, we will lose Laguna Honda.
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Central Subway Boondoggle
Willie Brown predicted the Central Subway would reduce (can you imagine?) Muni’s operating costs by $23.9 million annually. Muni’s operating costs will now increase by more than $25 million per year.
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Renne's Gambit Goes Belly Up
LHH Patients' Class Action Lawsuit Tossed Out
Renne sought to take credit for the Tobacco Settlement Revenue lawsuit. It was used, in part, to pay for the LHH rebuild project. Renne had done no such thing.
Check it outUNs’ COP27 / Healing Starts at Hunters Point
Heeding the Clarion Call for Climate Reparations
Climate reparations dominated Egypt's UN Climate Change Summit this month — overburdened communities demand help cutting emissions, adapting to climate change…and compensation for damages!
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Expectations
The expectation is that children attend school. The latest data from SFUSD severely challenges these expectations.
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Laguna Honda Settlement Agreement
Too many questions remain unanswered
Has LHH been skirting its Admissions Policy — by accepting patients who endanger themselves and others by using and distributing drugs?
Check it outRELATED: Settlement Locks-in Re-certification
Read MoreLetter: Questions to ask about the Settlement
Read More ...
Willie's Pay-to Play Lives On!
Residents of single-family homes will be watching this variance ... if this could happen to my property, neighbors could easily be the next victim.
Read MoreNobody Home?
Prop M: SF Grapples with Vacant Apartments
We’re not building at the price points where the demand actually is, so we’re overproducing what folks can’t afford.
Check it outWhat could possibly go wrong?
Will the Police Commission
Ban Traffic Stops?
3 meetings held so far —will Westside feedback be considered?
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Can the Supes Clean-up the Shipyard?
… the statistics remain grim. In 2018, DPH found that Bayview is significantly more at risk than other neighborhoods.
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Vote Now!
In case you missed the memo, this election day Nov. 8 is a choice between two opposing visions for our nation..
Read More
City Attorney’s Legal Case Was Strong
But Then He Rolled Over
Why did Chiu do an about-face and drop both his lawsuits merely to delay re-certification?
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The Myths about School Money
School districts with the more low-income students, English learners, foster youth and homeless students get a lot more money.
Read MoreReassesing DA Boudin's Recall
"Failed City" fails to convince—Pt. 2
We are reaping what was sown in 2004. Newsom and Mark Buell, a real estate developer, had big plans for the City
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Behind-the-scenes machinations explain our surging utility rates
His required learning curve and that of his associates is just the opposite of what theory teaches is a management requirement.
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Re: Dropping the City Attorney's Lawsuit
Did our City Attorneys ask for evidence that decertifying LHH was well-founded before conceding to a Settlement?
Read More ...Your Laguna Honda Reporting
The Board of Supervisors and the Health Commission need to be bold enough to speak out and stop this nonsense.
Read More ...
Ongoing Issues Threaten Re-Certification
Worrisome Proplems Plague Laguna Honda
The first survey completed in July found Laguna Honda would not pass a CMS certification.
Check it outReassesing DA Boudin's Recall
"Failed City" fails to convince
Within months, single-handedly, this incredibly powerful man was causing misery and making people feel unsafe throughout San Francisco.
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Showdown: Dennis Herrera v. Sunshine Task Force
Since its inception, the SOTF has been a thorn in City Hall’s backside. Why? ... Engaged citizens and journalists seek more information than officialdom likes to share.
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Vote NO on L!
Post-Pandemic Light rail and buses are running empty. SF’s mass transit was designed to take people to a deserted downtown ... a ghost town.
Read More
The City is In Shambles — Here's What to Do.
Audit non-profit agencies and City contracts to ensure that services are provided ... especially those providing homeless services. ...revenue-generating departments need to ensure all revenue sources are addressed
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Whistleblower and the Disappearing Inventory at SFPUC
A 21,000-gallon diesel fuel deficit ...despite spending $230,000 on a fuel monitoring system...and the struggle to track $4.7 million tool inventory.
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Face It!
But Don't Hold Your Breath
Housing and crime are driving residents out of the city, so too does the rising cost of utilities!
Read More ...
What Me Worry? Owning DPH’s Mistakes
Rising Costs to Rescue Laguna Honda Hospital
Laguna Honda followed the wrong rulebook and failed to follow training guidelines
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Solving California's Math Problem
Reducing access to advanced mathematics — elevating trendy but shallow courses could cause lasting damage
Read MoreSeptember is the best month for skywatching
Searching for the Night Sky
You won't see from downtown what you can see from Mt. Tam. Out here at Ocean Beach the nighttime fog makes viewing an occasional event. Happy skywatching!
Check it outTravel: Sergio is back!
Looking for Leonardo—Florence
Florence, where the Renaissance blossomed and its endless treasures are still here for all of us to enjoy.
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What Happened at Laguna Honda?
Step-by-step
& Where are we now?
LHH has always been a nursing home facility, has no locked beds and no licensing to take care of behavioral, substance abuse or mental illness.
Check it outOutside Lands Outrage
More concrete replaces grass in Golden Gate Park
It's clear Outside Lands damaged Golden Gate Park but has not honored its agreement to repair any damage to the Park
Check it outDigging Into the PG&E Buyout
Public Power
Is there any company easier to despise than PG&E? Explosions, fires, outages: PG&E is constantly in the “ain’t it awful” column.
Read More ...
State Budget Helps Schools Recover
At about $17,000 per student, California funding no longer lurks in the national basement.
Check it outTravel: Sergio is back!
My Orcha - Mallorca and Barcelona
I would think that a small island like Mallorca would have a simple, antiquated airport, but that was quite the opposite.”
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Laguna Honda: Denial, Complicity, Resistance
Despite these commitments to ensure safe and minimally-stressful transfers ... it did not fully grasp the number and complexity of LHH patients. So, LHH was “pigeon-holed into rules applying to standard nursing homes.
Check it outWestside Fire Response
City Leaders Value Saving Money Over Saving Lives and Property
Mayor Breed remains blissfully silent on the need to extend adequate fire protection to approximately half the City, even though she has knowledge of Fire Department needs having been a fire commissioner in 2010.
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City's Pathetic Defense of Laguna Honda
Supervisor Myrna Melgar rallied Supervisors, passing two urgent Resolutions — before the Board went out on summer recess. She achieved this victory!
Check it outDead Trees of LaPlaya
The Mystery of the Trees
D5 gets $50,000 for tree planting. D8, $246,000 for sidewalk gardens and street trees. And that's it for the entire City. If there is a climate emergency you wouldn't know it from San Francisco.”
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Act Now to Save the Youth Guidance Center
There is a need for a routine and consistent review of this facility. Programs that exist here are rarely audited, and when they are, the list of improvements required is long and important.
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Time to Shine a Brighter Light on SFUSD Chronic Absences
Children living in poverty are two to three times more likely to be chronically absent—and face the most harm because their community lacks the resources to make up for the lost learning in school.
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The City's Muffled Defense of Laguna Honda
As of July 11, just 623 patients remain at LHH, compared to 681 in May. Most have been transferred to San Mateo nursing homes. Three went to homeless shelters.
Check it outWill District 7 Join the Progressives?
Voting in the Redistricted D7
Banished D7's western precincts voted 76% in favor of the recall. Acquired Inner Sunset voted 61% against the recall, the future is in flux.
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DPH Plan: Splitting Laguna Honda's Unsuitable Populations Won't Work
Carving Up LHH Patient Towers into Two Uses, “Cohorting” Different Patient Populations in Each Tower? A Disaster for SF's Health Needs
Check it outWest Virginia v EPA
Overreach at the Supreme Court
Power plant emissions formed black soot on windows and doorways in their homes and triggered asthma attacks, headaches and nosebleeds in their children. Residents led the successful fight that ultimately closed the PG&E Hunters Point power plant in 2006
Check it outTrouble in Outer Sunset
Farmers Market and St. Ignatious in Tug-of-war over parking spaces
...the farmers market gets: 2000-6000 visitors per weekend. Whereas if the area were ceded back for Saint Ignatius’s parking needs they would serve about 60 cars...
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Karma or Persecution: Laguna Honda’s Ordeal
LHH was given 6 months to correct its deficiencies. A follow-up inspection found persistent - and seemingly worse - drug and contraband use, despite LHH’s Plan of Correction.
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Will Laguna Honda Solve Its Problems By Abandoning 120 More Patient Beds?
Both consultants provided “preliminary assessment reports” of their initial recommendations. Only HMA’s “preliminary assessment report” has been made public.
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Supt. Matthews: Cheap Shots at Lowell Do Not Improve Student Performance
A cheap shot at the academic-based school that highlights SFUSD failures does not solve the problem.
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It's Climate Change — Stupid
in the near-term, methane is 80 times more potent than CO2 as a contributing factor to global warming.
Check it outCulture of Silence" and Cover-up Plagues LHH Management
Gray Panthers Pounce on Laguna Honda Crisis
Crises like COVID-19 and the one at LHH have “unmasked a society that does not value the aged and disabled.” Dr. Palmer noted
Check it outDPH's “Flow Project” Comes Home to Roost
The Agony of Laguna Honda Hospital
Everybody involved knew that adding “unstable” adults brought disarray and danger to Laguna Honda's seniors. Most folks just went along. Now they’re surprised?
Check it outSea Level Rise and Toxic Groundwater
Civil Grand Jury Blasts Hunters Point “Clean-Up”
The report concludes groundwater “may” become contaminated as sea level rises. In fact, Shipyard groundwater was documented as“contaminated” where thousands of homes are being constructed.
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Public Pans Ocean View Library Plans
“It seems preposterous to put a library on a congested thoroughfare when there are better places that are safer for pedestrians to use,” one community member said.
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SFUSD is not segregated.
People are frustrated and spurt out the word “segregated” That's because SFUSD has failed to prepare all ethnicities for a rigorous academic high school.
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New Library at 100 Orizaba? No.
41% of companies allow employees to relocate permanently to any state freely, while companies that do not allow the employees to relocate elsewhere represent only 5%.
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Picking Up the Pieces
The moderates only need to flip one district from the progressive side of the aisle to preclude the veto power of the Board of Supervisors, since the mayor appointed moderate Supervisor Matt Dorsey ... the Redistricting Task Force handed moderates a perfect set up to do just that.
Check it outCalifornians Asked to cut water by 5%
Statewide Emergency Drought
If a mandatory reduction is ordered, there will be a “floor” or minimum allocation per person so that those who have conserved, and now conserve, will not be penalized.
Read More ...Graft, deception, double-dealing, fraud
Living with Municipal Corruption
...competence erodes as conscientious employees get marginalized and lackeys are promoted. This consolidation promotes impunity. Betraying the public trust is normalized.
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Violent Thug Attacks, Robs Asian Visitor—Goes Free
Boudin's famed "puppy killer" strikes again
Boudin and the judge circumvented diversion rules because violent criminals are “not eligible” for diversion programs. Why did Boudin send someone to drug diversion if they weren’t arrested for drugs?”
Read More ...
Laguna Honda Losing Funding
Despite the fact that discharge is not legally required (yet) at Laguna Honda, all patients and their families are being interviewed for discharge and this is causing a lot of stress.
Too bad no one saw this coming......oh, a group of doctors from Laguna Honda did.
Read More ...Addicts Housed with Frail Elderly—What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Turmoil and Crackdown at Laguna Honda
State Health inspectors diagnosed “Substandard Quality of Care.” Records showed the disarray was more dire than LHH publicly disclosed.
Check it outBreed's Policing Numbers Don't Add Up
SFPD Discloses Staffing Shortfall
You can flood the Tenderloin with officers, but if you do not have the officers to sustain the effort, you will not see sustained results.
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Time for Clear Thinking Re: Lowell Admissions
If you don't take academic success into account, what would happen to those students who do not meet basic proficient levels
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Biomonitoring Finds Toxins in Hunters Point Residents
HP Biomonitoring was awarded a $50,000 grant from CalEPA to create a live and virtual “Community Window on Environmental Exposures””
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Rethinking the Recall Process
Over time, those special interests have proven adept at using the same “peoples protections” to further their own interests. Recalls are expensive, and a few of San Francisco’s bitterest billionaires buy low-turnout elections when they disagree with the voters...
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People are Leaving San Francisco
41% of companies allow employees to relocate permanently to any state freely, while companies that do not allow the employees to relocate elsewhere represent only 5%.
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UCSF Expansion Plans Under Submission as Judge Considers Arguments
Knowing that either way he rules, an appeal is likely, Alameda Court Judge Frank Roesch weighs the evidence.
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Restoring Confidence in SF Schools
...there are issues that can unite us.. We all want to support our educators who have been doing the hard work every day despite a pandemic and political feud.
Check it outA great beginning that ran into WWI
St. Francis Wood and the Planned Garden Residences
36 Garden Residence neighborhoods were planned only St. Francis Wood was actually built.
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Chaos at the Redistricting Task Force
Could the motivation behind all of this be to create such a god-awful divisive plan and create so much anger that the voters would just throw up their hands and get rid of it altogether?
Check it outMedicaid & Medicare threaten payments...
Laguna Honda: Overdoses
Medicaid or MediCal covers 96.5% of LHH patients, the City’s General Fund – aka tax-payers – would then foot the bill. The deadline is April 14th.
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San Franisco's Cancer Necklace
Taylor minced no words … the results of her 1995 investigation displeased health officials and influenced her decision not to publish significant findings, “I was convinced there was something there
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Hooray! New Way to Help Kids Read
Each student is tutored three times a week primarily outside of school time via an online, collaborative learning platform that offers intervention through guided reading lessons, gamification, and assessments.
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Mysterious Subversion of Oversight at SFPUC
A catastrophic rate disaster shows SFPUC's ingenious ability to evade culpability. They take full responsibility for lowering the water usage...
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Redistricting Goes Off the Rails
Chair Townsend's Solution to African-American Population Decline Will Likely Result in a Lawsuit Redistricting's latest map has everyone on edge, scrambling to find out who their new Supervisor will be.
Check it outWestside Public Safety Forum
Too Much Crime — Not Enough Cops?
What had Taraval Station done about the unprecedented rise in burglaries in 2021? There were 620 — a 29% increase over the previous year.
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Redistricting's Final Battlelines
District 7 reclaims Forest Knolls, Twin Peaks, Midtown Terrace, the Woods and Miraloma Park from District 8 as well as all of Lakeshore and Merced Manor from District 4, but loses ground entirely in the Inner Sunset.
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A New Admission Process for Lowell High School
Lowell high school's merit-based admission policy is perfectly legal. We’ve looked at the language of the law, the history of the law and the intent of the law. We've done our homework.
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Retreat from Sea Level Rise is Avoidable
Coastal Commission Takes a Wrong Turn — City Defers
The Port will spend billions to protect Bayside property but not a dime to protect Ocean Beach.
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Redistricting: Drawing the Battle Lines in District 7
SF has had some surprising changes since the current lines were drawn in 2011 — they could change which Supervisor represents us.
Check it outLabor Union Sues City for Corruption and Retaliation
Union Lawsuit Reveals "City Family" Backroom Maneuvers
Why does the FBI manage to unearth City Hall corruption, while our watchdog agencies; the Controller’s Whistleblower Program, Ethics Commission and City Attorney’s Office cry “What happened?
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Bob Planthold,
Father, Advocate, Humbug
When an elder dies, a library burns to the ground Old African Proverb.
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SFMTA's Continuing MUNI Problems
… instead of looking seriously into what could be done to solve the coupling problem … henceforth the trains operating in the subway would be only one and two cars long.
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Rate Payers Get a Time-Out
A short respite or calm before the storm?
... SFPUC says 50% rationing could be required. Environmental groups contest that judgment. But if anything like that threatens imminently, you can bet costs will rise and fast. Rates follow.
Read More ...
The Growing Pacific Plastic Patch
Limit plastic used in wrapping done by on-line shopping? Since the pandemic, online shopping has created 29% more waste in landfills which can end up in our oceans
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Hey DPH—Where Did You Dump Our Seniors?
Hint: the software is not the problem
The Health Dept. continues to flout the open records laws. Our seniors deserve better.
Check it outBlack History Month Special
Cancer Alley … At Hunters Point Shipyard
... infant mortality rates in BVHP (were) twice as high as the rest of San Francisco and one of the highest in the state, a cluster of infant deaths were detected in the shipyard region.
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Shipyard Development, Mired in Problems, Continues to Pay Off for Willie Brown
Newly unearthed public records show that the developers paid more than $1.3 million during 2020 to Brown and two partners
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Recology's About Face
In 2020 SF was paying $59.70 per garbage bin to Recology while San Mateo ratepayers (under competitive bidding) $24.93 per month...
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Can SF Keep Hetch Hetchy?
If they want to override the current cost criteria ... jack up the rates ... they must seek voter approval. The SFPUC has not done that ...
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SFPUC: Controllers Audit Reveals Compromised Bid Process
Most contractors lagged in delivering community benefits and submitting required progress reports. And, once a contract ended, undelivered benefits were not recoverable. SFPUC had no policies to monitor compliance.
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Things that Go Screech in the Night
Ideally, police can stop “sideshows” before they happen with intel from undercover officers and by monitoring social media accounts that announce where sideshows will be. That was not evident in West Portal & 30th/Lawton incidents
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Park Road Closures
Ginsburg, working with the SF Bicycle Coalition and Walk SF, have banned cars on JFK Drive and the Upper Great Highway during the pandemic. Plans are being made make the bans permanent ...
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Persistent Corruption, Incompetence & Some Good News
Despite City Hall corruption, Supervisors ignore Recology’s garbage monopoly...a year has passed with a minor refund of rate overcharges thanks to Controller Ben Rosenfield...
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The Sunset is Fired Up!
There are procedures for closing a major highway, and that includes an Environmental Impact Report — how much more pollution would be caused by rerouting up to 20,000 vehicles a day through stop and go traffic ...?
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Transform the Great Highway
Drivers ... good news for you: the vast majority of streets are dominated by cars! You can drive on all the roads, which is why a radical change is necessary.
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Senior Housing on Laguna Honda's Toxic Sites
Developers found ways to bypass environmental review of Cortese List sites granting “common sense” exemptions — evading Public Resources Code §21084.
Check it outSF Parks Alliance Records Subpeonaed
More Fallout from the SkyStar Wheel Deal
The vendor was selected on a sole source basis for a one-year term ... due to the limited time to accomodate a community event date in April 2020 ...
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CEQA Protects Us From Special Interests’ “Big Lie”
A sustained campaign, led by polluting industries, real estate developers, etc, has repeatedly and falsely claimed California’s environmental law is fueling the housing crisis.
Check it out“Housing Galore—if you're a millionaire...
Where’s the Affordable Housing?
Two years after the 2019 Affordable Housing Bond passed—No progress status reports, or annual or quarterly reports to MOHCD or the Supervisors?
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A Walk Along the 'Great Parkway'
We have one coastline; we should prioritize this safe place to recreate and be with neighbors—not a redundant roadway separating the neighborhood from the coast to save drivers a couple minutes.
Check it out“Granny Dumping”
Dumping Patients Out-of-County
Moving physically - or mentally-challenged patients is clearly detrimental to their health...leaving fragile patients stranded, miles away from their families and friends
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SFPUC: Lavish Dining on the Public Dime
..income disclosures serve to identify and deter potential conflicts of interest, pay-to-play deals and bribes ... But something was omitted – the lavish cost of the banquet at the Old Skool Café.
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SFPUC - From Corruption to Conflagration
Their plan—use the earthquake bond money to upgrade antiquated and fragile drinking water mains, is the reason expansion of the high-pressure hydrants cannot be completed before mid-century.
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Rate Hikes & Murky Politics
Does the City care what your rates are? The Commission recently passed a resolution to guide Herrera. It lacks anything about keeping rates as low as possible.
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EPA Reveals US pollution is unequally distributed — clusters known as “sacrifice zones"
The major “Sacrifice Zone” of cancer causing petrochemical emissions in the San Francisco Bay Area are the Martinez and Richmond oil refineries
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Today's Meth Fuels Homelessness
Homelessness is so grueling that getting high brings welcome relief. When the high wears off, a dysphoric “crash” ensues along with a craving for more meth.
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Drought Is Still With Us
With less water in the rivers, the temperature increases, killing salmon and allowing the green scum called algae bloom that can make water toxic to humans and fish.
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MUNI’s Phony Survey in Play
You’re on your own. What are all those bright Berkeley grads at their SFMTA desks doing?
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Too Many Kids Can't Read
Learning to read doesn’t happen naturally — it has to be taught. Years of scientific research have revealed a great deal about how reading develops.
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MUNI's Phoney Survey
This is how red herrings work ...
You already know what you want to do. And you have already been told, loudly, that riders want — and need — all their old routes back in operation. Soon. Not months from now. Therefore, the phoney survey.
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