Face It!

When there is nothing we can do about it, our public employees and elected representatives need to step up to the plate. But don't hold your breath.

•••••••••• September 13, 2022 ••••••••••

by Steve Lawrence

Face it: for many readers, homeowners, the cost of water and sewer service, and electric service too, is like a property tax. There is little one can do about it. When costs rise you need to earn more or live less large. Property owners should be concerned with rising costs.

Have costs risen! For water and sewer over the past decade costs are up about 8% annually; costs have doubled.

Big expenses loom. Between 2003 and about 2020 the water system was improved at a cost about $4.8 billion. But half of that was paid by suburban customers, who use most of the system's water. So say $2.4 billion for SF ratepayers.

The ongoing sewer program is to cost $8.1 billion (as of Jan 2022), about three times what the water program cost San Franciscans. The expected cost has inflated considerably early in the program. Programs like this, big public works, usually swell in cost and time. The cost of the water program rose 28%. A guess that the larger sewer program (SSIP, Sewer System Improvement Program) will end up costing ten billion dollars is not out of line.

Needless to say, the upcoming spending of $8-10 billion or more means rates will rise big-time.

The cost of water, power and sewer service is not top of the list of SF problems. But just as the cost and unavailability of housing, and the prevalence of crime and disorder, drive residents out of the city, so too does the rising cost of utilities. Our public employees and elected representatives must be held to account. ”

Yet San Francisco's politicians pile on ways of making the program more expensive. It's not just that the General Manager's salary is the highest of any city employee. SF piles on "social justice" costs, community benefits, and worst of all: costs from reduced competition.

Once competition for big public works was fierce. No longer. Not an insider who has cultivated a cozy relationship with upper management? You waste your time to even try to bid for work. To have a chance at winning work, you need to cozy up to the City Family, and show your willingness to spread the gravy with the many who have come to expect their share.

Competitive bidding is neither required nor done in any real sense. As competition is stifled, cost to ratepayers rises–often drastically.

No one watches out for the ratepayer. There is no ratepayer watchdog. Board of Supervisors? Please. The folks that the Feds busted for corruption were the supposed guardians of your purse.

What's been the response of our leaders to the corruption busts? Silence, pretty much. Mayor Breed is in hot water of her own making; she's not lowering the boom. Bulldozing aside the process for finding a new GM, after the old one resigned for corruption, she appointed Dennis Herrera, who for years had signed off on much done under the corrupt regimes. Expect Herrera (General Manager of SFPUC, the group responsible for implementing the SSIP) to clean house?

With a friendlier administration in Washington, the corruption investigations seem to have fizzled. What a surprise. San Francisco pols have a magician's history re rules: poof, disappear.

Power politics rules.

# # #

Housing: Honesty Please.

Every politician, and nearly every voter, is all for affordable housing, the buzziest of buzz words. Each election has its affordable housing bond proposal; how many millions this time? Every politician supports the bond measure.

How much is already in the pot unspent? How many units have been produced with what we've spent? These are niggling questions not asked or answered.

Every politician is also in favor of "Neighborhoods" and "Process." While supporting affordable housing in theory, when it comes to siting an actual property, well, let the process play out, and let's not destroy our wonderful neighborhoods. Something can be worked out to the satisfaction of all, can't it?

Sure. In what long-lost world?

Isn't it time for honesty? We're not really for affordable housing. In 2020 the supes suspended one project to study racial implications; by September 2022 the study had not even commenced. This from a "progressive" board, supposedly dedicated to affordable housing, and certainly willing to make hay by condemning "greedy developers" to whatever process and cost they can dream up.

Isn't it time SF honestly faced and solved problems?

Yet we know it's unlikely. SF will fail to meet state deadlines re housing and affordable housing. SF will then do as it has with City College and Laguna Honda Hospital: we don't do rules set by others, we exercise power politics. SF will get the recent state rules suspended, or itself exempted. SF need not comply.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

SEPTEMBER 2022

Public Power?

•••••••••• August 18, 2022 ••••••••••

by Steve Lawrence

Is there any company easier to despise than PG&E? Explosions, fires, outages: PG&E is constantly in the “ain’t it awful” column. Progressive Supes thrive on bashing PG&E.

SFPUC (water-power-sewer) has made an offer, spurned by PG&E, to buy PG&E’s SF electrical assets. Does anyone understand how the offer of $2.5 billion was made? Why not $3 billion, or 2 billion? It is claimed experts carefully valued the assets, but the reports are confidential and privileged, unavailable.

Today the city generates and buys power but distributes only a portion, mostly to municipal users. The lines in your backyard are PG&E's. There are many such lines and related facilities. If the city acquires PG&E assets, it would vastly increase its power work.

Is there a plan for taking over? No, although an RFP (request for proposals) is said to be in the works.

How many new employees will be needed, and at what cost? The head of the power division has already complained that it is hard to hire for the work she has now. Yet there is no recruitment or hiring plan.

Nor can your correspondent, no expert in electric power, even begin to review matters intelligently when he is constantly met with “confidential and privileged,” authored under the auspices of the City Attorney... good luck with information held so tight to the vest. Why?”

Tax revenues will be lost if PG&E is ousted.

What other ramifications are there? The Power group of the Citizens Advisory Committee has a resolution cooking that asks SFPUC to get on the ball and answer.

What the city has done is ask the state PUC to determine the value of PG&E’s SF electrical assets. The state PUC may well do so, over PG&E’s objections, but the city is likely to pay for the consultants used, and the city may pay PG&E’s costs if SF doesn’t end up acquiring the assets. What are these costs? Unknown, not estimated.

We live in a city that has lost and is losing downtown business. Downtown is in last place in the race to get back to where downtowns once were before covid. We’ve already got a very high number of public employees per resident. We’ve got not a few problems: homeless, housing, crime, emergency prep, and water/sewer come to mind. City government has not exactly aced these. A recession is likely in our future. Interest rates (cost of financing public work) have risen dramatically. A good time to take on another challenge?

PG&E Speaks...

While listening to PG&E is not exactly in vogue, some reasons it advances for ditching the city’s valuation petition are: separating gas and electric is inefficient, the city’s inexperience and inability to hire and retain employees, the city’s lesser ability to respond to emergencies (earthquake), reduced state and local tax revenues, and PG&E’s need to spread the cost of fire avoidance (undergrounding). To the latter, utilities were created to spread costs; when electric service was “invented” cities were desirable, easy customers; rural places not so much. The utility was required to serve all at the same price, spreading the benefits and costs widely. Now SF proposes to selfishly withdraw.

The PG&E asset purchase, if it goes through, will not happen soon. The state PUC will hire consultants who will do considerable work valuing equipment not easily valued, and then the parties will debate and perhaps hold a sort of trial. All of this costs. Ultimately city taxpayers or ratepayers pay.

As the city spends, it digs in deeper; bailing out will look less and less good. Momentum will favor leaping whether things look good or not.

Meanwhile, the proposal to buy PG&E’s assets is going largely under the radar. Sure, it is highly technical. Got to leave it to the experts to conjure reasonable value, and to city staff to plan hiring and takeover. Once upon a time we had powerful newspapers and other civic institutions to take a look and root out the unreasonable and impractical. Today? City companies are nearly as mobile as their employees, here today, gone tomorrow.

Nor can your correspondent, no expert in electric power, even begin to review matters intelligently when he is constantly met with “confidential and privileged,” authored under the auspices of the City Attorney. Even if a citizen or group were sufficiently expert and motivated, good luck with information held so tight to the vest. Why? What’s to hide?

When bad news dominates the news, one way forward for the enterprising politician is to create new endeavors, promising wonders to come. Clobbering PG&E is a convenient way to shift the spotlight. But even spotlights require juice. Let’s not wander down a road fraught with difficulties–and pitfalls. Union workers are opposed. Citizen advisors call for more scrutiny. Economic conditions flash yellow. Conversion to all-electric looms. Let’s not jump at buying assets which even the would-be buyer says are likely among the oldest of PG&E’s facilities without full and careful, sober review, objectively considering costs and risks.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

AUGUST 2022

Statewide Drought Emergency

Please use 5% less water — Please?

by Steve Lawrence

Declared last November, the Water Shortage Emergency remains in effect. Recently a Water Shortage Level 2 has been declared. This means our water system will cut back 11%, to 175.7 million gallons per day (mgd); summer usage is not to exceed 200 mgd, a challenge mostly to our suburban customers. Retail use is to be 62.3 mgd, or 37%.

Although the Hetch Hetchy reservoir is expected to fill, our larger water bank storage is not.

San Franciscans’ average water use is 42 gallons per capita per day. The new level of use goes into effect July 1. Citizens are asked to voluntarily cut back their water usage by five percent.

San Francisco’s action is consistent with and pursuant to the State Water Board’s further action of May 24, 2022.

Should the next level of cut-back be declared, retail use will be cut to between 16 and 20%, instead of today’s 11%. Voluntary reduction would likely still be the rule, although mandatory reductions could be enforced. 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.”

Temporary water restrictions could be imposed should the shortage level be increased again. These restrictions would add to permanent ones, such as allowing water to run into the street, hose use without a positive shutoff, potable water for fountains, and more. Temporary restrictions could include personal washing of vehicles, and filling hot tubs, pools or spas.

For those planning new landscaping, there is a Water Efficient Irrigation Ordinance (City and County of San Francisco Ordinance No. 24-16, approved March 4, 2016.

* * *

Vulnerability. How vulnerable is SF’s water supply to climate change in combination with other foreseeable factors? A study has been completed. It’s concerning.

Rates could easily need to rise 50%. Should today’s level of capital spending increase from $350 to $525 million, unless demand increases 30%, rates would rise 50%. It’s not at all hard to imagine such capital needs.

For one thing, the dam that holds Hetch Hetchy reservoir, the linchpin of the system, is old. Standards for dams evolve, always towards more safety. A fair number of San Franciscans support removing the dam, regardless of safety concerns. It’s not hard to imagine these folk – who have not gotten their way politically – advocating for tougher standards to pressure on decision makers to make the decision they want. Repairing the dam, or replacing it with some downstream substitute, would be extremely costly.

Plenty of other risks exist. Our watershed may receive less precipitation, the State may strictly enforce its mandate to increase the river’s fish population (as it seems to be doing), fires, floods, breakdowns – all out there; consolidated in one report, they are scary. We’re second in line for much of the spring runoff, we serve and have obligations to suburban customers who use close to two-thirds of the water, and we live in an earthquake prone region. Our water supply is plenty vulnerable.

* * *

Overruns. The Water System Improvement Program, launched in 2002, is nearly completed. Overruns were 28% in dollars; the time to complete doubled. That’s public works.

The Sewer System Improvement Program is well underway. The work was to take about 25 years and cost $6.9 billion. Increase that cost by 35% (28% +7% for greater difficulties as work is in a crowded city) and the likely cost might be $9.3 billion. Add inflation. Surely we’re talking $10 billion.

However it is possible – and there are already indications – that the scope of work to be performed is reduced. Who can say whether that’s a good thing, or reckless?

Early work on the sewers is far from reassuring. Bids for the new digesters came in so high that the whole bid package was canned and re-packaged. Staff claims to be satisfied with the second go; good. But delay has occurred, and only time will tell whether this huge job goes per initial contract price, or more than doubles in cost as did the largest water program job. Our water agency has a new GM who is not an engineer nor a construction expert.

Be thankful that this year bills don’t rise substantially; don’t count on that continuing. Between 2010 and 2021 rates rose at an average annual rate of 7.6%. But our suburban customers paid for half of the water system improvements, and the sewer improvements are likely to cost twice as much–all paid for by SF customers. Labor shortages, inflation, bonds issued at higher interest rates, drought…these factors point to higher rates to come.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

JUNE 2022

Time-Out for Rate Hikes?

A short respite — or calm before the storm?

by Steve Lawrence

Good news: this year there will be no rate hike after July 1 for water and sewer. That’s rare; for more than decade rates have been rising at least three times faster than general inflation.

Certainly costs continue to rise. Probably the main reason for pause in rate increases is that work is being delayed, is being stretched out over more time. Partly this is due to covid, and partly to the change in leadership: about a year passed before SFPUC (water sewer power) had a General Manager. Too, it is uncertain how much water can be taken out of the river system. The state insists that free flowing water double, and that constricts SF’s supply. That matter remains open.

...should the state’s plan (40% of full river flow required, give or take 10%) take effect, 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.”

At present the average bill for water and sewer is 1.6% of median income. In fifteen years that is expected to rise to nearly 2%.

For the lowest earning quintile water and sewer bills are 4.5% of income. The SFPUC aims to help these folk, and already does quite a bit. Just how many in this group directly pay for water and sewer is something that never seems to be reported. Probably many rent and do not directly pay a water/sewer bill.

Another problem is Prop 218. This limits rates to cost of service. When an agency forgives bills, or lowers bills for one group, how can it not overcharge the remaining customers, those not benefited by the agency’s bill-lowering program?

In order to secure more water, SFPUC pursues alternative water supplies. This costs. Mostly these alternative supplies are small. Recycled water for cemeteries to SF’s south so that water is not pumped from the aquifer is one example. The hope is that when drought comes there will be more water left in the aquifer to supplement drinking water supply. A variety of other programs are listed; some are mere ideas. Even with alternative supplies, should the state’s plan (40% of full river flow required, give or take 10%) take effect, 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.

Debt service is rising as more work is done and bonds to fund it issue. If interest rates continue to climb, debt service will rise faster. Again, rates follow.

Finally, as noted often in this column, big projects often have big overruns. One of the projects on the sewer side, Biosolids Digesters, is huge. Costs were already so out of expectation that the team paused and reconsidered. Two-thirds of the job remains to be done. Customers can only hope that overruns are not too large.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

FEBRUARY 2022

Rate Hikes and Murky Politics

Drought has been declared and a new drought surcharge — the first step

by Steve Lawrence

Water and wastewater (sewer) rates are rising. According to SFPUC (water-sewer-power) over the last decade rates have risen at an average of 7.6% per year. That means rates double in less than ten years. Expect that, or worse, in the upcoming decade.

A drought emergency has been declared. Beginning April 1 (no foolin’) a 5% drought surcharge will be added to water and sewer bills.

A new manager is on the scene—our former City Attorney, Dennis Herrera. He’s certainly a member of the “City Family” so discussed in our press. His knowledge about water, sewer and power matters remains to be evidenced.

This summer the City asked the CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission) to put a value on the SF electrical distribution assets the City wants to buy. Again, we’ll see. Perhaps this is a play to pressure PG&E to sell. The City claims that state law requires the CPUC to value assets when asked to do so.”

Herrera does wish to expand SF’s power profile. Right now SF buys power and resells it to you and three-quarters of the City. But PG&E still distributes the power—and owns the power lines and facilities. Herrera would have the City buy out PG&E. The City has made an offer of $2.5 billion, made after nine months of investigation into what the City PG&E distribution assets are worth. Let’s see what the City ends up paying.

Power (electricity) already costs more from SFPUC’s CleanPowerSF than it does if purchased from PG&E, although the difference is small. Rates just went up, and are to rise again early next year. So far CleanPowerSF’s rates have closely tracked PG&E’s, rising in tandem. PG&E rates are pressured by the fires, and by its expensive decision to underground lines that cause fires.

Does the City care what your rates are? The Commission recently passed a resolution to guide the new General Manager (Herrera). It lacks anything about keeping rates as low as possible. Many worthy aims are stroked: equity, diversity, union labor, community benefits, fish, rivers, and more. But the ratepayer’s pocketbook? Go fish.

The City’s finances are strained. In the past when that has happened the City turns to “enterprise agencies” such as SFPUC’s to make up. Short funds? Let’s see what can be transferred to SFPUC. Emergency water fire-fighting has, as has Lake Merced. SFPUC has built greenways, and a whole community center in Bayview. Its property is transferred or used. Possibilities for financial help, at ratepayers’ expense, are nearly endless, limited only by the creativity of bureaucrats.

That’s the way it is these days for hard working citizens. You exist to support causes. City knows best. Use less water, water that is less tasty, and pay the rates the City sets.

###

Water Supply. SF’s water supply is in jeopardy. Not only is there a drought, but also there are two major uncertainties. The state’s Bay-Delta plan has been stewing for a long time. The state wants more water flowing down the river; SF wants to divert some of that, and makes up by helping the fish that are going extinct. But a second major uncertainty has risen: The state has curtailed diversion of water. This is a first. It creates a big problem for SF. SF’s largest place to store water is Don Pedro Reservoir, which is not owned by SFPUC; it is owned by two irrigation districts. The deal is that SF lets its water run into Don Pedro in return for the districts’ rights to divert a like amount of river water. Until the curtailment, this worked fine. It’s just like putting money in the bank. The bank controls the money, but you have a right to withdraw it at any time, so you’re happy. But if the bank is closed down, is prevented from giving out your money, now you’re not happy. Nor is SF with water. With the curtailment order SFPUC can’t actually take from the river the water to which it has rights. Whoops.

So now we don’t know how long the drought will last, we don’t know what protection the fish ultimately get, and we lack access to the largest portion of our water. A bit of a pickle, this.

So a drought emergency has been declared. This is a first step. SF asks that the curtailment order be lifted. But if not, then it asks that a bare minimum (55 gallons per person per day) be allocated to our water system, regardless of river or fish. Or, discussed as another possibility, perhaps the curtailment order could be modified so that SF gains access to water now held by the irrigation districts. However, that puts us at odds with the districts, allies in other respects.

That’s water politics in California. Ever murky.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

NOVEMBER, 2021

Our City. Our Power.

by Steve Lawrence

Seeing ads for “Our City. Our Power.” you might well not realize that this is sponsored by SFPUC, our city’s water-sewer-electricity provider. Your rates pay for propaganda propagated by public employees.

Not that these public employees don’t enjoy support of elected officials; they do. San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors supports public power, and the rising General Manager of the SFPUC, Dennis Hererra, is a strong supporter.

Nonetheless, should ratepayer money be used to convince San Franciscans to support buying local PG&E assets? And if it is, why is it done in a manner opposite of transparent?

Now while SFPUC’s CleanPowerSF division generates and wheels (buys for resale) electricity provided in-city, PG&E owns the distribution facilities — the power lines and other infrastructure needed to bring that power to your home or business. It’s one thing to buy up power on the market, adding in power generated by the water system and solar panels. It’s quite another to distribute electricity throughout the city, tending power poles and lines. PG&E has experience; SFPUC little.

Of course the city can hire and manage workers the same as PG&E can. In theory there might be little or no loss of efficiency. But given the highly political way our city departments operate, how likely is it that efficiency loss is minimal?

Public officials are ever ready to expand their remit. Power is their game; more power is what they crave. That’s easy to understand.

Proponents of this likely take-over say that it’s necessary to achieve the city goal of no net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But why? There will be plenty over which the city lacks control in 2050; why is this particular ownership piece key? And after take-over PG&E will not be totally gone; it will still be relied on to sell and bring electricity to San Francisco.

The city has offered $2.5 billion for PG&E’s local assets (electrical infrastructure). It justifies that offer as based on nine months of careful study by experts, in-house and out. Your columnist predicts that the offer will be substantially increased without justification other than “it’s a negotiation.” Those in charge are so keen to achieve full public power that price — paid by you — is unimportant.

Public utilities were created in good part to spread the cost, allowing rural areas to be electrified, permitting all to enjoy this then-new boon. San Francisco proposes to selfishly carve off the best cut of the business. Let the outlying regions pay for undergrounding lines so fires aren’t sparked.

Enjoying the advantage of serving a densely populated area, perhaps San Francisco, through the SFPUC and CleanPowerSF, can both generate and deliver electricity at reasonable cost. That remains to be seen. But count on over-paying for assets — then hearing complaints about their condition — and over-paying public employees to run the system. Hope and pray that it is run with as few outages as under PG&E.

It looks like we’re bound for a brave new world. Let’s hope the citizens aren’t first lulled, then zapped.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

August, 2021

NASA Photos — NASA's Earth Observatory photos: March 31st, May 18th, July 7th /Photo: hypebeast.com

All Wet

by Steve Lawrence

Light has been shed on how and why SFPUC (water-sewer-power) perennially over-forecasts how much water will be required in upcoming years. The agency’s methods are logical and sound. But the underlying assumptions are flawed — by design.

Turns out that SFPUC’s forecasters use fanciful numbers. The numbers are supplied by others: official organizations that are tasked with providing the numbers, SPUR and such. These future forecasters come up with numbers that are “right.” By “right” is meant not accurate, but what should be.

If SF should build x number of housing units for 4x new jobs, as is about typical, then it is assumed that SF will do so. So many jobs will be created, and thus so many housing units, with population growth duly following.

That’s great, in theory. But then there’s what actually happens. Not only are there downturns, and maybe disasters, but also people resist. Urban planners don’t get what they want; what “should” happen doesn’t. Development does not proceed apace; it is delayed by community opposition.

SFPUC is not entirely wrong to follow the numbers that officialdom provides and blesses. What should it do? Undermine officialdom and its plans? Is it for SFPUC to second-guess future population increases? The mayor ultimately controls who gets on the governing board (the Commission), as well as who is General Manager. Can appointees defy those in ultimate control?

... none of this means we water users are out of the woods ... many expensive efforts will be made to reduce demand and increase supply. Recycling, purification, groundwater, maybe desalinization, and many conservation schemes are coming. All that costs, and guess who pays?”

So SFPUC uses the numbers it is given, even while knowing that such numbers have been unreliable in the past. Because population is going to grow per the Bay Area Plan and similar urban planning, we’ll need so much water. Theoretically.

According to the environmentalists (Tuolumne River Trust leading), the true numbers are closer to Dept of Finance numbers, which SFPUC could use, it suggests. But then SFPUC would be defying orthodoxy.

The upshot is that SFPUC is in less trouble than it blares. If the state’s Bay Delta Plan is imposed, yes, we’ll be short, but not nearly as short as the crocodile tears SFPUC has been crying. Fanciful figures dreamed-up by urban planners and their ilk will not be realized.

Understood this way, SFPUC, through its Commission, is best served by pretending to wring its hands, worrying about the shortage of future water, shedding 96 tears, but ultimately letting what happens happen. If the state imposes its full will, so be it. If all the acting and hand-wringing wrings out a bit more water, better. The Commission is Gulliver, tied by a hundred strings. Pull one way, tighten from another. Relax and play along; await opportunity.

Now, none of this means we water users are out of the woods. Whatever happens, whatever the state imposes, water will be in short supply. That means many expensive efforts will be made to reduce demand and increase supply. Recycling, purification, groundwater, maybe desalinization, and many conservation schemes are coming. All that costs, and guess who pays? Rates are forecast to rise 91% over the next fifteen years, and likely will rise more. That’s 5% per year. We’ll see. Things are not looking good with the largest project of the huge sewer program. Staff has thrown up hands, wants a reset; bids come in far too high. This is but one of many surprises likely to cause rates to rise more than currently forecast. But at least we can understand that the loud alarm bells re water supply are partly a product of playing a role. The machinations of government are rarely crystal; it’s a small win just to see shapes below the surface.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

July, 2021

Fishing in Tuolumne County — Salmon and Steelhead Trout restoral on the Tuolumne are the cause of major problems for city water users Photo: Dave's Sierra Fishing

SFPUC's Double Whammy

by Steve Lawrence

With the West’s extreme drought much in the news, perhaps it’s time to review the fix our water department is in. Uncertainty prevails. Berated from multiple sides, our challenged bureaucracy procrastinates. Perhaps that’s the best it can do.

The water department is part of SFPUC (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission). For the past seven months it lacks a permanent general manager. A commission of five guides the agency. The State Department of Water Resources is now a key foil. Its “Bay Delta Plan” to save fish in peril of extinction looms, and threatens to prevent SFPUC from taking needed water out of the river. SFPUC serves two-thirds of its water to suburban customers, who have rights via a binding agreement. Eighty-five percent of SFPUC’s water has come from the Tuolumne River. To Tuolumne water SFPUC has junior rights; irrigation districts hold senior rights. Being senior means that you get first dibs; if little or nothing is left after firsts take, tough luck for junior. Getting needed water depends on adequate precipitation, favorable timing of runoff, and ability to store water to bridge times when senior rights holders get all the available water.

Not only does the state want more water to go down the river, but also climate change is changing patterns of precipitation and runoff. SFPUC is being hit with a one-two punch.

What are some of SFPUC’s assumptions? That demand for water will grow 19% between 2020 and 2045; that San Francisco’s population will rise 39% to 1.25 million; and that average usage per resident will fall from 42 to 38 gallons per person per day; ”

The State is under legislative mandate to save the river’s fish. It has decided that the best, if not the only way to do so is to mandate that more water flow down river. It proposes to double the flow. In many years this would limit SFPUC to inadequate water. SFPUC proposes to allow some more water to flow while benefiting the fish in other ways. It would provide gravel beds for spawning, and places for fry (young fish) to shelter and thrive, and would control predators which feast on fry. It would pulse the water that flows to optimize what the fish need. All this SFPUC proposes to do by what’s come to be called a Voluntary Agreement — a settlement with the State Department of Water Resources.

But so far the State refuses to accept SFPUC’s plan. Its experts insist that doubling river flow is the least that is necessary. Environmental groups, too, want more flow. They are keen to influence the Board of Supervisors, Commission, public, and selection of the new General Manager, all towards getting more flow per the State’s proposal.

SFPUC’s plan is not without supporters. The big one is the organization of suburban customers, who use two-thirds of the water.

There is tremendous uncertainty. Will the State relent and settle, entering into a “Voluntary Agreement,” allowing SFPUC to take close to the water it has customarily taken from the river, while SFPUC aids the fish with gravel spawning beds, nice hideouts for fry, and suppresses predatory bass? If the State does stick to its demand that the river runs double, does SFPUC get lucky with a big water year to fill reservoirs once every four or five years? Or does climate change raise the snow line so that the pattern of spring runoff changes to the detriment of SFPUC and its water rights? How much money does SFPUC invest in expensive recycling and in yucky water purification, or perhaps in energy-intensive desalination? Can SFPUC pull a rabbit out of a hat, finding new sources of water in an increasingly parched state?

Water customers will be asked to pay more and use less. Those are among the few sure things. It’ll help some, but not enough. The truly consequential decisions lie elsewhere, shrouded by uncertainty.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

June, 2021

SFPUC Commission — President Sophie Maxwell, Vice President Anson Moran, Commissioner Tim Paulson, Commissioner Ed Harrington, Commissioner Newsha Ajami

Is Herrera the General Manager SFPUC Needs?

by Steve Lawrence

The papers are abuzz with Mayor Breed’s announcement that City Attorney Dennis Hererra is her choice to become the next head (General Manager) of the SFPUC (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, water-sewer-power). But…

The Mayor does appoint the GM of the SFPUC. But, she does so from a list of qualified candidates provided to her by the five member Commission. And Hererra ain’t on the list. Yet.

The Commission was busy (take word advisedly) going through the Process (sacred?) of selecting one or more qualified candidates to forward to the Mayor. The Commission had engaged, at no little expense, a search firm to winnow through the minions who might provide service. Despite the passage of weeks and months, the search firm had not yet reported in when the Mayor announced her choice, Hererra. Hmm.

The Commission was blindsided. From its perspective it is diligently engaged in a search, in good faith and fair, for the best possible leader of an important city enterprise that has suffered from allegations of corruption. ”

So the Commission meeting to discuss where to go from here was...well, interesting. Many words were spoken; meanings were exceedingly difficult to discern. Commissioners are political creatures. No one wants to anger the mayor; no one wants her to ignore them and their prerequisites. But the upshot seemed to be that the Commission will not accede to the Mayor, at least right away.

The word “stakeholders” was used more than any other. We need to hear from stakeholders (not just the mayor). Is that code for: “we’re going our own way?”

May 25 is the day set for decision, although is that perhaps early? A postponement should not surprise.

The General Manager’s position is important. Not only is there corruption to weed out — and Hererra is alleged to have slow-walked City Attorney interest in that corruption -- but also the GM sets the tone and charts the course of the agency. There are big problems. Number one is water supply. Our century of taking freely from Yosemite and the Tuolumne is, or may well be, at an end. The State is mandated to save the river’s fish. Or is it? Recently Newsom’s action cast a monkey wrench into plans the State water people had crafted over more than a dozen years. Newsom may be telling the State to settle with SFPUC (enter into a “Voluntary Agreement”). Regardless, SFPUC will be expected to go all out for fish, including making every effort to save water (reduce demand) and find new sources. No longer is the agency one that runs as its own fiefdom, thumb on nose, fingers waggling. It’s a new day.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

May, 2021

utility bill shock — Just remember as you pay your ever higher combined water and sewer bill, it’s a privilege to live in San Francisco!

The Future & Unlimited Rates

by Steve Lawrence

San Francisco’s Water Enterprise is rich. That’s the take-away of a recent audit presented to the Commission of the SFPUC (water-power-sewer).

The Water Enterprise, one of four SFPUC enterprises, has assets of $5.5 billion. In the year ending last year, revenues were up 16.6% to $688.6 million. Expenses were up 11%. Most of the rise in revenues came from—you guessed it—your rate increases.

Rates Up, Up and Away!

Rates rose 8% for that most recently completed fiscal year (2020). That followed a 9% increase the year before, and precedes what they claim is a 7% increase this July 1. But your correspondent calculated the bills for a four person household, using 44 gallons of water per person, and the bill rises 7.95%. “Your value may differ.” Over ten years rates are up 138%, so they’ve doubled and more. Has your income?

It will take a few years for SF to deplete its stored water, but rationing could begin early to prevent worse later.”

Much of that rate and bill increase is due to what was called the Water System Improvement Program. This built up infrastructure. Trouble is, at the end we’ve got fine infrastructure, but we may have insufficient water. The State’s Bay Delta Plan parches San Francisco during droughts. While SFPUC has tried mightily to change the State’s plan (aiming for what SF calls a Voluntary Agreement, or settlement of SF’s lawsuit against the State), it has had no success. So soon SF will be asset rich and water poor. Who knows what this does to your rates. But all those outstanding bonds have got to be paid, whether or not water flows. And costs hardly decrease when less water flows. Same cost, less water delivered...what happens to rates, folks? Up, up and away!

Frantic Activity

But of course that’s not all. There’s already frantic activity aimed at alleviating the upcoming shortage of water. For years SFPUC has tried to buy water, with almost no success. It’s not getting easier. Water recycling, and “purification,” are coming. Purification is...well, you don’t want to know. But how much wastewater can be purified? At what cost?

Frantic activity doesn’t come cheap in SF. SFPUC needs to hire a GM (general manager) as it lost its old one to scandal. It faces an audit of its community benefits program. Some believe the benefits went to insiders, with crumbs at best to community. But the audit shows that SFPUC Water does pay generously for art, and also pays MTA for “water conservation.” Maintaining good city relations is important!

Sewer Shock

Your water bill is only a part of your monthly bill. (It used to be bimonthly; it was made monthly to mask increases and minimize sticker-shock.) The other half of your bill is sewer. Your sewer charge is based on the amount of water you use — nine-tenths is assumed to go down the drain. The Sewer System Improvement Program, $7.9 billion sticker price, is still in its early stages. That’s where the big increases to your bill will be coming in upcoming years. Should you lower your water use to only, say, 30 gallons per person per day in future dry years, that does not mean the cost of sewer improvements declines. Oh, no, quite the opposite. Less water will mean more expense. Now, how does that affect rates? Oh, never mind!

Just remember as you pay your ever higher combined water and sewer bill, it’s a privilege to live in San Francisco!

# # #

Water Supply for 2021 and beyond.

You’re hearing about drought. How is San Francisco doing; how much water do we have for this summer and fall?

Enough. In early April our water system stored 77% of maximum. Average at that point is 82%, so we’re a bit low, but no worries for this year.

The future is a big question mark. SFPUC is required to report about water planning, and it has recently done so in a draft Urban Water Management Plan 2020 (issued just recently). Because the State’s Bay Delta Plan would parch us, but SF has not accepted it and still seeks a settlement (“Voluntary Agreement”), SFPUC writes about two “scenarios.” If the Bay Delta Plan is not implemented (wishful thinking), all is well. If implemented, all is terrible. Here’s the summation: “Implementation of the Bay-Delta Plan Amendment would result in system-wide shortages of 30 – 55% in single and multiple dry year periods, leading to up to 42% shortages for retail customers and 59% shortages for the Wholesale Customers.”

When does the Bay Delta Plan kick in? Unknown. Perhaps as soon as 2022. It will take a few years for SF to deplete its stored water, but rationing could begin early to prevent worse later.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

April, 2021

drought graphic — When drought times come, and they will, San Francisco will run short

River Flows, Water Woes.

by Steve Lawrence

For decades the SFPUC (agency delivering water, sewer service, and power) has been walking on clouds. Pure mountain water, nearly free; power generated by the flow and fall of this water from nearly 4000’ elevation to sea level; a gravity system, mostly, to deliver the water; politicians aplenty to protect the flow; jobs and contracts to liberally disperse; support from a population that remembers the critical importance of water, and knows what its lack meant after the 1906 quake, reminded in 1989, when the Marina District nearly burned. SFPUC was so in the clover that it doled out millions to supes who used it as a deep pocket for pet projects and programs--until a rate freeze put an end to that theft a quarter of a century ago. The freeze expired, SFPUC got a new state-of-the art headquarters, expanded its staff to about 2300, raises all around, and works at its own (slow) pace at achieving its various aims and commitments.

Now it looks like the good times may be in jeopardy.

Three forces are pressuring SFPUC. First, water. For pushing a century SFPUC has enjoyed a spectacular flow of crystal pure water from Yosemite, water diverted from the Tuolumne River. But soon that free flow is likely to be choked. The State and its agencies are under mandate to keep fish alive in the river. Scientists say river flow should be at least 55% of unimpaired flow. SFPUC and its allies have them down to 40%, plus or minus ten percent, but that still means a loss of perhaps half of San Francisco’s water.

Decades ago, when SF built its water conveyance system, it tapped water out left and right to the then minor communities along the 167- mile line from Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite. These communities came to rely on SF water ... the suburban customers were smart enough to extract a commitment ... basically the ‘burbs get the first water, the city the leftovers ... The system runs short, the burbs get first dibs, the City gets the dribbles.”

On February 5 there was a special meeting to address the matter of what to do. So far SFPUC has promoted a “voluntary agreement,” a nice term for a settlement. The State ain’t buying. It wants its 40% unimpaired flow, and feels that’s too generous. The NGOs (environmental groups, mainly) aren’t buying, either. SFPUC’s staff was tasked with presenting their case for their VA, voluntary agreement, or settlement. NGOs were invited to critique.

While there was science and jargon enough to make a head spin, the impression this listener came away with is: not going to cut it. Desperately, SFPUC has hired good scientists and tasked them with figuring out how to keep our water. And they’ve done a credible job. But it’s probably not good enough. The fish are in desperate straits. They’ve been declining for decades. The State has been lenient, has gone easy. But that’s over.

While the severity of droughts have temporarily lessoned, it's only temporary

Maybe not. SF has amazing political clout. Newsom has encouraged settlement; maybe he will mandate it. But don’t count on it. SFPUC will likely be required to ensure a flow of 40%, and once drought times come — and they will — we’ll run way short.

Which brings us to force #2 pressuring SFPUC: our suburban customers. Decades ago, when SF built its water conveyance system, it tapped water out left and right to the then minor communities along the 167- mile line from Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite. These communities came to rely on SF water. When SFPUC was finally tasked with updating and preserving its water conveyance and storage assets (instead of diverting big bucks to supes’ pets), the suburban customers were smart enough to extract a commitment. SFPUC committed to deliver up to 184 mgd (about ⅔ of the system’s present deliveries). There are some exceptions for drought. But basically the ‘burbs get the first water, the city the leftovers. It’s our system, but we run it for others first. That’s the second major force. The system runs short, the burbs get first dibs, the City gets the dribbles.

The fish are in desperate straits. They’ve been declining for decades. The State has been lenient, has gone easy. But that’s over.”

Third is our own self-inflicted wound: corruption. The SFPUC has lost its General Manager to the FBI’s corruption probe. It has happened at an inopportune time. Not only is covid slamming the workforce, but also there’s an seven-billion-dollar sewer program just getting underway. It’s already delayed. There’s also the possibility that the agency will be pressured into taking over PG&E’s job of delivering electricity throughout the city. It’s the long-time dream of public power advocates who are unlikely to be put off. In other words, there is a lot to manage other than keeping our supply of water.

Mountain water has been 85% of what is served. Groundwater has been developed; there’s no more. We’re building a recycled water plant; it’s not much. Water could be “purified.” That is taking wastewater and making it pure enough to re-serve; not appetizing, that. We could try to buy water; but in dry California, good luck with that. We’ve tried for many years, without success.

Back in 1988 your correspondent lived on 32 gallons per person per day. We crimped and saved — shower water to toilets, washing machine wastewater also, landscaping dead. Within a decade that 32 gallons may look generous. There are more low-flow devices. Still, San Francisco is down to using 43 gallons per resident per day now. How low can we go? Looks like we’ll find out.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

February 23, 2021

Bad News and Worse News...

by Steve Lawrence

There’s bad news and worse news about sewer infrastructure. Most readers already will be aware of the resignation of SFPUC’s (water, sewer, power) General Manager, who has been charged with corruption. That’s the bad news. In addition, a new report about expected capital costs is out, and costs are up 42%. That’s even worse.

Capital cost refers to the cost of building infrastructure, including repairing and upgrading. Since 2012 SFPUC has been spending your rate payments (included in rent for some) in part for its Sewer System Improvement Program (SSIP), a set of many projects, initial cost about $7 billion. Phase One of this big program included about $2.9 billion worth. Now that’s $3.655 billion. Completion dates have slipped too. Program management is up $50 million, a 40% increase.

Work outside what has been considered the SSIP has been added to the to-do list. All in all, the cost is up 42%, all to be done this decade.

SFPUC need not get voter approval to sell bonds to fund its work. You-the-voter will not be voting up or down on a bond proposal. Only the SFPUC Commission (rubber stamp), and Board of Supervisors can stop the spending. Not going to happen.

Likely the work, or most of it, is needed. Costs have risen rapidly. Why? Among the reasons are: unfavorable market conditions and bidding environment (means contractors are busy, so they bid high; you’d like them hungry for work), project interdependencies (means it’s city work and Public Works and other departments are impacted, creating trouble), scope refinements (means we planned, we erred, we re-plan), differing site conditions (means we dug, WTF?), site logistics (city work is tough), and, of course, covid-19.

Among the reasons are: unfavorable market conditions and bidding environment (means contractors are busy, so they bid high; you’d like them hungry for work), project interdependencies (means it’s city work and Public Works and other departments are impacted, creating trouble), scope refinements (means we planned, we erred, we re-plan), differing site conditions (means we dug, WTF?), site logistics (city work is tough), and, of course, covid-19.”

It’s difficult enough to run a big city sewer system. Doing so wounded (General Manager down, corruption investigations) and with covid while the recession does not even yield the usual benefit of hungry contractors bidding low and working faster has left those who pay for all this paying more; much more. That additional payment does not show up immediately: bonds are sold as funds are needed; typically payment does not even start for 18 months after bonds are sold. But pay you will.

A previous re-pricing was done in 2018. Surely there will be further re-pricings. But costs up 42% in a little over two years is very bad news.

A couple of the larger projects are: biosolids digesters, up $404 million to $1.68 billion, with completion delayed 28 months (now expected August 2028); Headworks up $200 million to $619 million, still to be completed by September 2023. Stormwater projects have been delayed, bad news for those who suffer flooding. Also, a project at South Ocean Beach is delayed and the cost is up; while not such a large job, should climate change and ocean storms come unlucky, lots of trouble and expense might befall SF’s sewer system.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

December 30. 2020

More related...

Chaos at SFPUC

Voters abandon their right to OK SFPUC plans

What’s a couple of hundred million bucks?

Hold Up on that “Insurance” for Your Water and Sewer Lines

by Steve Lawrence

By mail homeowners have received a solicitation to buy insurance for their water and sewer lines. The offer comes on the letterhead of San Francisco Water Power Sewer, the new appellation of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), as well as American Water Resources Insurance Services. What is this; is it legit?

In bold and all caps the solicitation says IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SAN FRANCISCO HOMEOWNERS. The Subject is Homeowner Service Line Repair Responsibility. The text suggests the homeowner is to “enroll,” if you’re responsible. Don’t be fooled: you’re being sold insurance. Do you have a choice? Yes you do, although the letter veils it.

SFPUC did authorize the use of its logo and name. What the reader of this Notice letter does not discover is that SFPUC receives $3.61 per month per enrollee. SFPUC expects to receive more than one million dollars. If the enrollee picks the plan that covers both water and sewer lines, SFPUC skims 28% right off the top.

Don’t be fooled: you’re being sold insurance. Do you have a choice? Yes you do…”

This is your trusted local water agency? The one you trust to provide you and your family with pure water, continuously, and sewer service? In bed with a sleazy insurance company?

The actual insurance company turns out to be Virginia Surety Company, Inc. out of Chicago. But you only find that out if you make a call and get referred to the online Terms — to which many will “agree” without ever reading.

American Water Resources has long-time connections with SFPUC. AWR was one of two bidders for this business. Usually the low bidder wins. But here the high bidder won. Presumably tvhe company paying SFPUC most per customer (enrollee) won. How’s that for looking out for your interest?

Worse, if one reads the Terms, much is not covered (insured). “Yes, I want protection and peace of mind,” reads the enrollment form. You decide:

Exclusions: Damage caused by the actions or negligence of You or third parties;

Breakdown...earth movement caused by normal settlement and not caused by natural disasters or other external forces (external forces includes Your actions and the actions of third parties).

Good luck urging that settlement that caused your line to break was “normal” and not caused by a natural disaster or human actions. Also, if your lines do not meet building code, no compensation for you. Do you know whether your lines comply?

At the hearing at which the Commission approved this business the General Manager stated that SFPUC wanted homeowners to understand their obligation to maintain their sewer and water lines. Perhaps this offer will inform some that they own and are responsible for the pipelines on their property. But allying with this insurer, and skimming more than a quarter off each payment, seems...well, sketchy at best. This is not how to build trust and confidence.

Nor is it the first instance of sewer line funny business. Back in the early part of the last decade payments to sewer repairers soared, and were found to be for unnecessary work. Seems when the City goes underground, things often stink.

* * *

Drought? As of early February system reservoirs are 86% full. That compares to 80% average, so despite the paucity of rain this winter, water supply is still in good shape.

February 2020

Who in this rich city cares about price anyway?

CM/GC—Moneymaker. “CM/GC” stands for “construction manager slash general contractor.” It is a new method of contracting now in favor with the SFPUC (water-power-sewer agency). Is it working?

The old method of contracting, required of most public agencies but not of SFPUC, is “design-bid-build.” First the city, or professional engineers it hires, designs what it wants—a new facility, or repairs or update to an existing facility. The designer prepares plans and specifications so that competent contractors can understand what is required, and then competitively bid for the job. Sealed bids are submitted all at one time; the low bidder wins the job. The public gets the lowest available price. The possibilities for hanky-panky—for corruption—are minimized.

Well, that’s no fun for public servants. And who in this rich city cares about price anyway?

And so a new means of contracting for public works has arisen: CM/GC. Here the SFPUC makes a deal with a firm that “manages” the construction, and also does a portion of the work itself.

Why is the public fleeced? Well, don’t worry about it, it’s in the future. The bonds that pay for today’s work (and lunch) won’t be paid off immediately. Payment begins in a couple of years, and then continues for thirty years thereafter. During all those years in the future homeowner bills will be higher.”

The first thing the firm does is review early city plans, and rearranges and completes them. This involves, undoubtedly, many long lunches with officials, where the new scheme is thoroughly chewed, swallowed and digested. Often more testing and study is done. Eventually, all become convinced that they have a fine plan.

Both of the largest two projects of the SSIP (Sewer System Improvement Program, $7 billion) are being accomplished by this new CM/GC model. And in both the first thing that happens is serious revision of the project. Naturally the price rises. Quite a lot. And that’s before construction even begins.

The largest job, new digesters, has been delayed “a year,” so it is now said, but don’t bet on merely a year. The price rise is even more understated: at present $39 million.

The second largest job, new Headworks, is up in cost 37% before construction begins. No delay for the time being, it is said, just an extra $90 million, and also no backup electrical generation.

Why does this happen? Why is the public fleeced? Well, don’t worry about it, it’s in the future. The bonds that pay for today’s work (and lunch) won’t be paid off immediately. Payment begins in a couple of years, and then continues for thirty years thereafter. During all those years in the future homeowner bills will be higher.

Not only is the pain of payment delayed, but also there is the SFPUC Commission. Theoretically the five commissioners are there to pay attention to rates. But the position of SFPUC commissioner is a political plum. In recent years commissioners have come to have special constituents with other agendas. There’s the environmental commissioner, the labor commissioner, and the commissioner from Bayview, each concerned perhaps not so much with the ratepayer but with a subset of our SF community. Not that commissioners have the time, information and expertise to evaluate or understand what they routinely approve, anyway.

Maybe the SFPUC staff understand. But it has learned how best to deal with the Commission. The appearance of propriety and deference is important. Actual understanding not so much. Keep it simple (for the…).

Sophisticated CM/GCs are hip to the new game, of that you can be sure. Where there’s money to be made… So yes, CM/GC is working—for some.

* * *

Public Power Surge? CleanPowerSF, the city’s rather new purveyor of public power (a division of SFPUC) already generates, or buys generation, to supply most electricity used in the city. Today PG&E distributes that power over its lines. The city offered $2.5 billion for PG&E’s facilities (lines and more) so that CleanPowerSF could distribute power as well as generate, could do it all. PG&E turned the offer down. But in bankrupcy, PG&E is not entirely in control. Who knows what the city’s spark might light?

Scott Wiener, one of the progressive supporters of public power, says the politics has shifted: more people understand that “PG&E is not up to the task.” How many blackouts have you experienced in recent years? Even if PG&E is deficient, what makes Scott think the city will do a superior job?

Naturally CleanPowerSF says that it is ready, willing and able. It can hire experienced PG&E employees. It will bravely take on the distribution infrastructure—after modifications necessitated by the split into two separate jurisdictions, city and PG&E. Perhaps. But don’t bet on a glitch-free transition.

* * *

Bonds Away. Does Prop A ever lose? It seems a safe bet that the $600 million bond for affordable housing will prevail. All the city swells gush for it. And “Prop A” just sounds good. Besides, who can say no to affordable housing? Everyone should be for that. Let’s not think about whether government’s steadily increasing intrusion into what once was mainly a private market is working to promote the general welfare. And certainly let’s not think about less expensive and intrusive ways to accomplish the same end. For example, for each new unit with less than median rent the city could provide a subsidy equal to half the difference between median and the unit’s rent. But elected officials naturally want control to remain with them and the nonprofits they influence. Once the money is secure, it often is years and years before it is spent. Having money is power. Once spent, gone.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

November 2019

Time for a Change?

Is it time for the Water-Power-Sewer department (SFPUC, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission) to consider hiring a new General Manager?

Today and for the past seven years the GM position has been and is occupied by Harlan Kelly. Under Kelly SFPUC has nearly completed the $4.9 billion program to renew the water system, and has begun an $8 billion renewal of our sewer system. CleanPowerSF has been formed to provide greener power (electricity) to San Francisco. These are impressive accomplishments.

But time takes its toll. Circumstances change. A leader for one time may not be optimal for another.

Kelly and SFPUC are no strangers to procrastination. The agency he presently leads, and the city, can ill afford costly delays.

The largest project of sewer system renewal, building new digesters, is off to a bad start. Right out of the box the billion dollar job is delayed a year, at least. If we get it done at a loss of less than a billion we should consider ourselves lucky. Too, there will be delay in having new up-to-date digesters. With each month of delay there is risk that the old ones fail, causing damage and more expense. As it is, the new digesters are only sufficient until 2045, for less than twenty years.

...the largest project of the water system renewal, Calaveras Dam. This job is still not complete. By its end will have overrun by more than five years, and more then $300 million; it has more than doubled in cost.”

The delay to digesters comes on top of the long delay to the largest project of the water system renewal, Calaveras Dam. This job is still not complete. By its end will have overrun by more than five years, and more then $300 million; it has more than doubled in cost.

In addition to project delays there is dealing with problems within the agency. Or rather failure to deal with same. It is alleged in a legal complaint that one of Kelly’s employees wrongfully terminated an older, black employee three days before his probationary period expired. Further detailed allegations of this complaint paint a grim picture of employment within Kelly’s SFPUC. If allegations are even partly true, there are reasons to question his stewardship.

More questions are raised in the area of community benefits. These are payments, usually through contractors, to organizations said to be doing good works in San Francisco. Under Kelly’s leadership the employee in charge, one who has had her troubles with ethics and been fined, has remained in charge despite questions and allegations. Community benefits are too easy to corrupt; special diligence is wanted.

In 2003 Kelly came to the organization from within the City family. He soon got in trouble by repainting his brand new SUV at a cost of more than $5000. While a second chance for this peccadillo was warranted, it is not forgotten.

Kelly serves at the pleasure of the Commission. Commissioners are given their positions by the mayor as a political plum. Absent direction from the mayor, it is probably unlikely that the Commission will take the initiative. But it should.

Civic organizations benefit from periodic renewal.

Today challenges abound. A $2.5 billion offer has been made to acquire PG&E power facilities in the City. This would require major expansion of an already large organization. The City and PG&E have been in litigation for years. Whatever deal is made, expect pay-back. Will PG&E’s best employees be transferred to the City? Should the deal go through, not only will City employees service your power outage, but also new employees, hired in a tight labor market, when cost of housing nearby is high, will do the servicing.

The State has announced plans to seize a portion of the City’s Sierra water supply. While SFPUC continues to try to talk the State out of some of this water grab (to protect fish), hoping for a Voluntary Agreement, SFPUC’s customers are already whipping the agency into line to find replacement water.

Kelly seems tired. One sees that in his demeanor during Commission meetings. Work is likely to grow harder with the $8 billion sewer renewal program, including the already delayed digesters, and possibly a whole new set of electrical facilities and employees to manage. It is time to review options.

If removal were desired, the procedure seems to be that the mayor recommends removal of a department head to the Commission, which acts within thirty days. Then the Commission submits at least three qualified candidates for replacement, and the mayor chooses or rejects; BOS may nix on two-thirds vote. Kelly’s employment contract is at-will.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

October 2019

Water-Sewer-Power: A Primer.

Steve Lawrence

We begin the “school year” with a primer: What is the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC, water-sewer-power), and what does it do?

SFPUC is a billion dollar public business. The City calls it an Enterprise Department as it generates its own revenues. Those revenues are mainly from your monthly water and sewer (wastewater) bill payments. Thousands of employees are busy, from San Francisco to the Sierras, where most of our water originates. SFPUC headquarters is at 525 Golden Gate, in the Civic Center. Its general manager is Harlan Kelly, husband of the City Administrator.

SFPUC employs numerous private companies by contract. Construction contractors do most building; engineering companies do much planning and design.

In the past rates were used by the City as a sort of slush fund, paying for Supervisors’ and Mayors’ pet programs, unrelated to water and sewer. Corruption and waste are ever-present concerns where public money flows. SFPUC is the one city department that need not get voter permission to sell bonds.”

SFPUC’s Water Enterprise gathers and purifies water for City residents, and wholesales water for about 1.8 million of those living south and east of San Francisco, our suburban customers. The Wastewater (sewer) Enterprise treats and discharges City sewage and storm water (plus a bit from outside the City limits). Wastewater is treated at one of three plants. One, North Point, treats only during the wet season when flows are large. Eighty percent of the City’s wastewater, from the Eastside, is treated at the Bayview (Southeast) plant. Twenty percent, from the Westside, is treated at the newer Oceanside plant south of the Zoo. While the sewage of Westside residents does not flow to Bayview, that plant holds interest for Westside residents because your sewage rate pays for it, and will be paying for its improvement—now underway.

Since 2003 SFPUC has been engaged in upgrading aging facilities, first water (Water System Improvement Program, WSIP, $4.9 billion, now nearing completion) and recently sewer (Sewer System Improvement Program, SSIP, $7 billion). SFPUC sells bonds; these are paid off over 30 years. The cost of $7 billion will be well over $10 billion once interest is also paid to bondholders. Your monthly rates rise to pay off the bonds, as well as paying for ever rising salary and operating costs. Rates have been rising at multiples of inflation, and are expected to continue to do so. For example, recently sewer rates rose in one recent year 11%.

Recently SFPUC also operates an electricity provider, CleanPowerSF. City facilities long generated electricity for MUNI, City Hall, the airport and Port, power generated when water falls from the high Sierras. Now CleanPowerSF also buys renewable power on the market, and sells to ordinary consumers—you. It may buy PG&E facilities and undertake to distribute electricity citywide. (Generation of electricity, and distribution of it, are separate functions.)

Recent SFPUC issues include: the $7 billion SSIP (sewer program) is off to a shaky start, with its largest project, building new digesters, delayed by at least one year; the cost of that delay will be at least $39 million, but expect much more overrun. From PG&E CleanPowerSF may buy electricity distribution facilities of unknown value and condition. The largest project of the WSIP (water program) remains incomplete; its cost has more than doubled. The State mandates that the volume of water coming down the Tuolumne River be doubled; SFPUC will lose much of its water; how will the lost water be replaced? Or, can SFPUC convince the State to accept a remedy that forfeits less water?

Governance is ever a concern. SFPUC is led by a Commission of five appointees of the Mayor. The City Charter and oversight groups guide as well. SFPUC has recently let a billion and a half of work without competitive bidding—which is not necessarily required. This raises questions of whether, through our rates for water and sewer, residents overpay. In the past rates were used by the City as a sort of slush fund, paying for Supervisors’ and Mayors’ pet programs, unrelated to water and sewer. Corruption and waste are ever-present concerns where public money flows. SFPUC is the one city department that need not get voter permission to sell bonds.

After the City’s private water provider failed to deliver water needed to extinguish fires in April 1906, after the Great Earthquake, San Francisco stepped up. It obtained permission to tap a watershed in Yosemite, built a gravity-flow conveyance system, and has since enjoyed abundant, exceedingly clean water, 85% from the Sierras. Over the years it has acted to clean wastewater so that discharges in Bay and ocean are acceptably clean. SFPUC is and should be proud of its accomplishments. Yet there are inevitably warts, too. Please return here for more on accomplishments and warts.

* * *

Necessary? California has a new standard for when police may use deadly force—that is, shoot: “when necessary in defense of human life.” “Necessary” replaces “reasonable.” Suppose there is a hostage situation; you’ve probably seen the police shows on TV. Perp has a train car (or MUNI bus) of 15, and a gun. Perp tell authorities no one need get hurt; he just needs a helicopter, or plane, and money. False moves by authorities, or failure to do per demand, then and only then does someone get hurt. “Necessary in defense of human life?” Were you the police, would you risk finding out?

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

SEPTEMBER 2019

C’est la vie PG&E

Steve Lawrence

by Steve Lawrence

Will SFPUC kick PG&E out of town? With PG&E in bankruptcy it’s possible. Both mayor and Board of Supervisors have directed SFPUC (water, sewer, power) to investigate acquiring PG&E’s City infrastructure, and report.

A preliminary report to the mayor is in. It fails to answer all of her questions, but is a start. The report identifies three levels of involvement from which to choose.

First, background: Just a couple of years ago PG&E was the main provider throughout the City. There were exceptions. Hetch Hetchy powered City Hall, General Hospital, MUNI, the Port and airport. PG&E distribution lines were used.

A couple of years ago, with the advent of SFPUC’s CleanPowerSF, the City began supplanting PG&E. Homes and businesses, not just municipal customers, were enrolled. PG&E does still distribute the power over its lines, and bills. CleanPowerSF generates, buys and supplies cleaner electricity.

Electric power comes from the grid. The origin of any electron that lights up your light is unknown. It’s an accounting thing. CleanPowerSF buys and generates, and supplies to the grid as much electricity as its customers take from the grid; PG&E too.

Now, with PG&E’s bankruptcy, the idea is for CleanPowerSF to supply possibly all of the electricity used in the City, and to take over the lines and distribution facilities that have long been maintained by PG&E. Workers at those facilities, and on those lines, would no longer be riding in PG&E trucks; they would be City workers.

Returning to the three levels identified in the report, the first option is to very modestly increase City involvement in providing power -- essentially the do-nothing option bureaucrats routinely trot out and reject. The second is a targeted increase in distribution. The third, serious option, is full takeover.

Many reasons are advanced for full-takeover, but the first among them is to take control and be in the driver’s seat in the City’s effort to be greenhouse gas free by 2030. Lacking control of electrical facilities is a path to failure, implies the report. PG&E is roundly disparaged as well: unsafe, unreliable, uncooperative, etc. Seventy percent of San Franciscans are said to favor kicking the bums out.

So what’s the problem? What will it cost? SFPUC doesn’t know: “a few billion dollars” to buy PG&E assets. In what condition are these assets? Unknown. How difficult would it be to integrate the PG&E assets with City facilities? Unknown, but there is a shortage of electrical workers. How difficult will it be to hire skilled workers given SF’s housing and cost of living?

The upshot is: the matter needs more study. Stand by.

###

Last month this space raised an alarm concerning the largest active SFPUC project: the $1.3 billion bio-solids digesters, part of the $7 billion Sewer System Improvement Program (SSIP). The digesters are located in Bayview and will be the heart of sewage treatment. Digesters are big tanks. They will be half in the ground and half above, about 65 feet tall above ground. Sewage is separated into “solids” and water; digesters take the solids. Bugs eat (digest) the sewage, then die; the resulting sludge is disinfected and hauled off for fertilizer.

New digesters (the old ones from the Fifties are beyond their useful life) were to be completed in 2024, but now, with a year’s delay, 2025, and operational in 2026. The new digesters are designed to be sufficient until 2045, only twenty years.

Alarm was raised in this space because, right out of the starting box, the job has been delayed one year. Cost implications are yet undetermined. Is the job being drawn out to optimize profitability? That is what happened on the largest job of the soon-to-be-finished water program. Calaveras Dam more than doubled in cost and time.

Who is in charge? The unusual method of contracting used for the digesters calls for “collaboration.” The foundation for the digesters is still unknown. Study continues. No one seems in charge. Decisions are easily postponed. Costs mount while decisions are deferred.

Digester construction is to start this August. Expect nominal, not substantial, work in early months.

To your bill, how important is the digesters project? Suppose it overruns as did Calaveras Dam, the largest job of the water system program. The overrun would be about $1.5 billion. Today’s annual budgets for water and sewer are almost a billion; by project midpoint, say $1.2 billion. For thirty years the overrun would increase the average bill, now about $115/month, by about $4.80 in current dollars, without considering interest on debt. Added to each month’s bill, with interest, perhaps $7-8 per month (escalating from today’s dollars).

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart.

JULY 2019

The Golden Fleece.

by Steve Lawrence

It’s not only in Tech that one finds unicorns. The construction industry may be old and boring, but once in a while there are riches galore. Big jobs, and owners with more dollars than sense: bonanza.

Owners get reputations. And then there are owners who advertise their ripeness. “Look at this plum!”

In SFPUC’s (water sewer power) water system work the plum was Calaveras Dam. The contract for the dam, big to begin with, more than doubled in size. With about $300 million in change orders, what a bonanza! Not hard to imagine tens of millions of profits pocketed. That’s the kind of job about which contractors dream, and drool.

So when the much larger sewer program came out with a job 3 to 4 times larger than the Calaveras bonanza—wow! SFPUC the owner again.

Who controls rate rises? Nobody. There’s no citizens’ organization. Theoretically the SFPUC Commission keeps reigns on costs; but come on: If a pol plays along all is swell. Rock the boat? You don’t make friends.”

Even better, the job was not competitively bid. Taking the low bid is the traditional way of putting some limit on the greed and price of your contractor. He or she must be low bidder to win the job. But managers dislike testy bid competition. So the contract for the mammoth biosolids digesters avoided dollar competition, in favor of which contractor is supposedly overall “best.” Shmoozing quietly invited.

And once a contractor has shmoozed to success, securing the billion dollar biosolids digester baby, the name of the game is maximizing. First thing: elongate the work, stretch it out, extending the opportunities to milk to the max the cash cow. And sure enough, right out of the box, in its first year the digesters job has been delayed one year; two according to some.

And what a fat cash cow this mammoth digester job is! Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime. Mixing metaphors, it’s truly a Golden Fleece. Whoever controls is king-maker. Plenty of largess there is to spread around town, and barrel-fulls of benjamins to bag as profits.

Who is the fleece-ee? Need you ask? It’s the sheeple, of course. We’ll pay and pay in our rates—for decades.

Water and sewer rates have been rising at about seven and two-thirds percent per year over the last decade, doubling. Rates are supposed to continue at about the same pace, at least triple inflation. But it’s not hard to see the writing on the wall. Not only the digesters fleece, but also the loss of water from the Sierras must be paid for. Those extras are likely to be big—and are yet to be figured in.

Most homeowners have reduced water usage during the past decade. Usage is down to 41.5 gallons per person per day. Reduction in use offsets rising rates. But that won’t continue apace.

SFPUC is an enterprise generating well over a billion dollars a year, growing fast. Opportunities abound. For contractors, employees, Commissioners, and of course for the professionals who land contracts worth tens of millions. But biggest of these opportunities is the fat contract for the biosolids digesters. Watch it swell.

###

Public Power. Another step towards full public power has been taken by SFPUC, which issued a report favorable to acquiring PG&E’s city distribution assets. Cost: “a few billion dollars,” plus loss of about $40 million per year PG&E now sends SF in payroll and other taxes. But benefits are said to outweigh costs. The report accuses PG&E of delaying and disrupting SF efforts to reach its goal of being 100% greenhouse gas-free by 2030. Dual provision of power doesn’t work well. A poll shows that 70% of San Franciscans support full take-over. Rates will be lower, and more transparent, according to the report. Revenue bonds can fund the take-over.

At present SF, through CleanPowerSF, supplies almost 80% of SF’s electricity needs. But this is the generation of the power only for the vast majority of accounts. Distributing power (power lines) is far more difficult than buying and selling power. Under the preferred plan, SF would buy PG&E’s distribution facilities to become the sole public power provider for the city.

The report does not specify how many new employees would be required to distribute power, but certainly SFPUC would expand lots. Billing would also shift from PG&E to SFPUC.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart.

JUNE 2019

New Blood, Same Old Feud

by Steve Lawrence

Two new Commissioners join the SFPUC (water-sewer-power) governing Commission: Sophie Maxwell and Tim Paulson. There are five commissioners, so two may have quite an impact. Paulson is the labor guy, serving as Secretary/Treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trade Council, which represents 140 unions. Before that he was with the Labor Council. Sophie Maxwell served ten years on the Board of Supervisors representing District 10. She lives in Bayview. These appointments may not be good news for ratepayers. Labor typically is keen to maximize local jobs and salaries. Bayview, where the major sewer treatment plant is located and where much of the $7 billion sewer program will be spent, typically extracts max for that community. A new community center is being built, and more.

…settlement negotiations … would double river flows and deprive SF of considerable mountain water … The state has been reluctant to accept steps to boost fisheries other than more flow. SF will surely lose water. The question is how much.”

Word is that settlement negotiations with the state continue and progress well regarding the Bay-Delta Plan (aka WaterFix), which would double river flows and deprive SF of considerable mountain water. SF seeks to invigorate fisheries by means less onerous. The state has been reluctant to accept steps to boost fisheries other than more flow. SF will surely lose water. The question is how much. Finding replacement water is very hard, and costly.

The sewer program (SSIP Sewer System Improvement Program) has spent about one-tenth of its budget of about $7 billion. Right out of the starting gate the largest project, Biosolids Digesters, has fallen one year behind. No budget adjustment is yet made. The reason given is underground water and utilities. Really? Those were not expected? When you dig sixty feet into city ground, what is expected?

SFPUC is a billion dollar plus City business that is growing rapidly. Financed by ratepayers, and exempt from the usual requirement to get voter approval before incurring debt, City pols increasingly find SFPUC a convenient vehicle. It has expanded its reach formally, taking over the firefighting water system and Lake Merced, as examples, and touches ever more of City life. Bioswales, greenways, community center, gardens, landscaping—no need for highly competed general fund bucks; ratepayers rarely notice or squawk.

* * *

At last the Planning Commission takes aim at the Westside and its single family zoning. Too few new housing units are built on this side of town, miniscule in number compared to the Eastside. Most commissioners seemed copacetic with overturning single-family zoning protection.

It’s the shot heard ‘round the Westside, is it not? If Scott Weiner’s SB50 fails to fly in Sacramento, look for San Francisco’s pro-housing crew to zoom in on zoning.

* * *

Internships for High Schoolers. SFPUC is growing about three times as fast as the economy at large. Doing an internship with SFPUC may give a high school student a leg up. The intern shows interest in practical, local matters while also learning and gaining experience about horticulture, environmental, and social justice issues. College resumes might do worse. Post-college the intern might find a job opportunity. Consider recommending to your high school student becoming a SFPUC intern this summer. Go tosfwater.organd type internship in the search box.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart.

MAY 2019

Ratepayers and Homeowners Future

by Steve Lawrence

Vince Courtney has resigned as commissioner on SFPUC (SF Public Utilities Commission: water, sewer, power). A new labor commissioner (“at-large,” officially) will be appointed by the mayor, confirmed by the BOS.

Environmentalists have proposed electing commissioners. They would have an excellent chance at putting up a slate of candidates, and winning.

As things stand, a balance exists. Environmentalists are heard most frequently at commission meetings, and one commissioner is firmly in their camp. But other commissioners are more cognizant of rates and local communities.

SFPUC should do a good job of providing water and sewer service, and lately electricity too, but should do so efficiently and affordably. The standard has been to keep the rate burden (for water and sewer) from rising above 2.5% of median income. It is expected to hit that level in about twenty years. If commitments and programs become too extravagant, that level will be reached sooner, and passed. Lower and middle income San Franciscans will suffer.

The system opened in the early 1930s, and has been a godsend. But all good things come to an end, or at least come to be challenged. Now that the state wants twice the water for fisheries, SF is challenged. Eighty-five percent of our water, very pure water, has come from Yosemite. In the future?”

For 90 years San Francisco has enjoyed low water rates. The 1913 Raker Act allowed SF to build a water system in Yosemite for next to free. The system opened in the early 1930s, and has been a godsend. But all good things come to an end, or at least come to be challenged. Now that the state wants twice the water for fisheries, SF is challenged. Eighty-five percent of our water, very pure water, has come from Yosemite. In the future?

For certain more of our water will come from groundwater. Probably we’ll have to desalinate, and also “purify”, which means making wastewater pure enough to drink.

SFPUC is a large agency, running about a billion dollars a year, employing well over a thousand. As it can incur costs and add them to rates, it is tempting to do things through SFPUC. It provides community benefits, summer programs, internships, local hiring, community gardens and greenways, cares for Lake Merced, has taken over the fire-fighting water system, and much more. Commissioners can’t always say no, but they can be stewards of your rate money. Or not.

Ratepayers remain unheard at Commission meetings. None testify. There is no ratepayer organization.

In a city where government is called upon to do much, and more all the time, all it takes is creative rationalization to find a nexus with water, sewer or power. Once found, pressure for SFPUC to do “off-budget” good is easily applied. Which is why the list of what SFPUC provides to “the community” has grown so over the past couple of decades.

Last month this column reviewed challenges SFPUC faces in 2019 and beyond. All these challenges pressure rates. When will rates, and limiting their rise, which has been fast -- three times inflation at least -- become a civic focus?

* * *

Grants to Deal with Stormwater. SFPUC (water, sewer, power) has a new grant program to reduce stormwater going to sewers from large, paved surfaces. Grants of up to $2 million are available to qualifying property owners. Half-acre and up parking lots may qualify.

* * *

Affordable housing. Everyone favors buzz-word affordable housing. But, really? City Hall sits on hundreds of millions of unspent dollars while arguing over who, where, what, and how to spend. Neighborhoods challenge each proposal and seek to extract benefits, each activist vying to be boldest and baddest. Supes pump up affordable housing percentages private developers must pay for the “privilege” of providing a necessity of life, shelter. The cost of a housing unit keeps climbing, and most is unnecessary soft cost, not hard construction cost. Based on what is done, rather than said, an outside observer might question SF’s commitment to affordable housing.

Suppose zoning were sensible, and owners could build so long as it complied. Suppose we had a building inspection department that served pronto. The claim is that only $10 million dollar homes would be built. But that is not what has happened in the past (see for example the book Supreme City, Donald L. Miller, about New York in the Twenties); perhaps it is a baseless fear today. Why not pilot a neighborhood? Or, we can keep doing what works so well - not.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

March 2019

Focusing on the Big Picture

Happy New Year! For SFPUC (water-sewer-power) it will be achallenging 2019.

Water: A whole lot of water has been taken from our water supply, throwing a monkey wrench into SFPUC’s careful planning. To survive the inevitable dry spells, water from wet years must be stored. Our water system was designed to weather a long dry spell, using what is called a “design drought.” The entire system of facilities was sized accordingly. The process took years.

But the state has implemented its Bay-Delta Plan over the strenuous objections of SFPUC and the irrigation districts that share water rights with SFPUC. SFPUC’s rights are junior, which means that it drinks at the fountain only when the irrigation districts have had their quota. If flow is insufficient in any year, tough luck for SFPUC.

The state has decided that twice as much water must go down-river as before. Fish benefit. SFPUC and the irrigation districts have sued to overturn the state’s decision (and to maintain some negotiating leverage). They say there are other ways to benefit fisheries.

SFPUC’s rights are junior, which means that it drinks at the fountain only when the irrigation districts have had their quota. If flow is insufficient in any year, tough luck for SFPUC.”

SFPUC calculates that during its design drought, rationing of 40% will be required under the state’s plan. Previously, its design drought was based on a maximum of 20% rationing, and suburban customers claimed that was too high. Serious economic harm would result.

SFPUC is searching for replacement water. But in California that is very hard to find, and is expensive. Desalination and “water purification” are likely to be explored. Water purification is making wastewater fit to drink.

Power: With PG&E going bankrupt, SFPUC’s infant public power agency will be challenged in 2019. There is talk of buying up PG&E’s physical assets. CleanPowerSF lacks experience handling those. This Spring, enrollment is to triple; most of the city (including the Westside) will be automatically enrolled.

Additionally, pressure is being applied to build renewable energy generation. Everyone agrees that local, renewable generation of electricity is desirable. But accomplishing this is difficult and expensive. Now, with PG&E’s competition fading from the picture, the heat is on to do what has been put off. Leaders have promised to begin working up a build-out program beginning in July. The Commission is to receive it in January.

Sewer: On the sewer side, the largest project of the $7 billion SSIP (Sewer System Improvement Program) is set to begin this year. Deep foundations for the new digesters will be dug. This will be an early test of whether the mammoth project can be kept on time and budget. The largest project of the earlier water program more than doubled in cost, overrunning by $300 million and years in time. Will that repeat? The digesters job is considerably larger.

What do all these challenges mean for the ratepayer? No one knows, it all depends on how the challenges are met. But the signs are ominous. Will progressive supervisors and advocates berate CleanPowerSF into fast-track building local renewable generation facilities? Will it be able to handle physical power facilities? Will the digesters job overrun? Will replacement water be found? So much converging all in one new year.

###

South Ocean Beach. While storms and high surf have pounded the beach, no emergency action has been required (at time of writing). No sand was brought in last year, but previous years’ sand has helped. Rock (riprap, revetments) remain to protect the cliffs, although eventually these will be removed. Rain runoff has been controlled. The southbound lane of Great Highway was briefly closed, but roadway has not been permanently lost, nor has wastewater infrastructure been seriously threatened. (A small portion of closed roadway has been undermined.)

SFPUC says it is on track to protect wastewater infrastructure with a 3000 foot buried wall. It is advancing geotechnical (soil, earth) investigation, and hopes to have a conceptual wall design in about six months. A permit is needed by the end of 2021; construction is to begin mid-2022, and should take 28 months. The cliffs will likely be somewhat reshaped. Once wall protection is in, rock can be removed from the beach. Until then, large sandbags will be added if “trigger points” are reach, that is, if the ocean closely threatens damage to wastewater infrastructure.

###

Fiscal San Francisco. For those who missed it in the mainstream press, San Francisco projects a deficit of $644 million in five years, no recession figured in. In response the mayor directs departments not to add new positions, and to cut budgets two percent. The average annual cost of each employee is $160,700. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of 31,000 employees, costing about $5 billion per year.

Steve Lawrence is a Westside resident and SF Public Utility Commission stalwart. Feedback: lawrence@westsideobserver.com

February 2019

Click here for older columns from 2010-2018 by Steve Lawrence (May be best viewed on desktop computer while we convert our older files to mobile).

Local News.

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The suit names Engardio and Melgar, Mandelman, Preston and Dorsey all Prop K proponents as Real Parties in Interest.

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Trash Talk

Garbage Rates: A Whopper Increase

by George Wooding

Single-family homeowners in San Francisco will see an anticipated 30% increase over the next three years

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Laguna Honda: Almost out of the woods?

by Dr. Teresa Palmer

Remaining hurdle: 120 LHH semi-private rooms are still in jeopardy. 2016 regulations limits bathroom sharing to 2 patient beds. The building opened in 2010—and the rooms are spacious and safe.

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Scammed and Slammed!

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

I received calls representing they were claiming “We are PG&E”. They told me I was eligible for a 30% discount on my PG&E bill.

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How did shredding urban assistance work out?

Urban Decay Began with Reagan

by David Romano

In 1980, federal dollars accounted for 22% of big city budgets. By the end of Reagan it was only 6%.

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Scaling back scientific Federal employees

Farallones — It’s for the Birds

by Glenn Rogers

Today, the islands are considered off-limits to all but a few scientists; they are considered the Galapagos of California.

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Inner Sunset: The Once Great Neighborhood

by Harry Pariser

Back in the '60s, you could spend a day visiting the park—all free! Rents were affordable, the neighborhood diverse...

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Trans Athletes and School Sports

A San Francisco liberal accepts some MAGA arguments: What’s going on?

by Carol Kocivar

This issue is not hypothetical for me. My son has played on a girl’s team, and my daughter has played on a boy’s team

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The Quandary at Fine Arts Museums SF

by Anmarie Mabbutt

It should have been Diane Wilsey’s last meeting as President but FAMSF Trustees voted to elect her to a sixth term.

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Please No Artificial Turf in Crocker Amazon

An Open Letter to the SF Giants

by David Romano

Microplastics are crossing the blood-brain barrier and accumulating in human brainsNature Medicine

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SF Author’s Remarkable Novel

by Linda Ayres-Frederick

The Doctor from Madras is the epic story of one family’s collision between old ways and a changing world

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A new Mayor and some new, some old problems

by Quentin Kopp

Mayor Dan Lurie, however, has acted twice in a questionable manner insofar as taxpayers are concerned.

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Mayor Lurie’s Hiring Freeze Hits Laguna Honda Hospital

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

Under Mayor Ed Lee and Mayor London Breed employees grew to 42,584. Wages skyrocketed by 94.8%, from $2.5 billion to $4.9 billion.

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Officials Need to Act Now to Prevent a Sunset District Conflagration

Ted Loewenberg

It is not prudent to rely on drinking water from the Sunset Reservoir —quake survivors will need potable water after a major earthquake.

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Two Sensible Oceanview Library Sites

Will New D11 Supe Meet Reality?

by Glenn Rogers

It’s next door to the existing library and accessible public transportation with safe platforms is nearby.

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Educating Undocumented Children

by Carol Kocivar

About a fifth of California students live in a family with insecure immigration status, many include a mix of authorized and unauthorized. ones.

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Pardons, recalls, bridges & undocumented voters — just for starts

by Quentin Kopp

When the Bay Bridge opened in 1937, motorists were charged 25¢ per crossing and were assured tolls would end once the bonds sold to fund it.

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Letters: Tumlin Hatchet Job

It was such blatant advocacy of cars as a solution to the city’s transportation problem.

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Letters: Futile Prop K battle

Sunset residents may blame Supervisor Engardio but the Pacific Ocean is an invincible foe.

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Letters: Pedestrians Out of Control Too

Pedestrians enter crosswalks against the red signal as drivers are the midst of a turn.

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Tumlin resigned from his $400,725 annual salary + benefits

Jeffrey Tumlin: The Real Story

by George Wooding

SFMTA reports inflation and the end of emergency funding will leave a $260-million to $322-million deficit beginning in 2026...

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Betrayal in Golden Gate Park

by Harry Pariser

For decades, Strybing served as a gathering place for one and all, hosting people from all walks of life and every economic strata. What could possibly go wrong?

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Sorry Melania...

by Carol Kocivar

With a sincere sense of regret, I declined the invitation to sit next to Melania at the presidential inauguration.

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Designing for Fire & Wind Safety

Lessons from LA

by Glenn Rogers

The common belief is that homes are too close to woodlands, where fires catch on easily. However, one home in Pacific Palisades contradicts that notion..

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Breed Expands Drug Tourism

by Randy Shaw / Beyond Chron

People unable to afford rent come to San Francisco and wait until a city-funded outreach worker offers them an unlimited stay in a tourist hotel with a private bathroom. Plus two meals a day.

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Laguna Honda: Finish the Job
—Open the Doors.

Health Commission?

by Dr. Teresa Palmer

Why are ALL types of admissions so slow? As of the end of November, less than 430 of the 769 licensed nursing home beds at LHH were occupied.

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”A DUTY TO PROTECT“!

DPH’s Preparedness Plan Ingores climate change and sea-level rise

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

Its policy and directives need to be updated to incorporate climate change, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and chemical and radiological exposures

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Despite Funding, City’s Warning Sirens Silenced

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

The devastation in Maui was a tragic example of how important emergency notifications are, we must be ready when the time comes.

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Open Letter to Mayor Lurie

by John Farrell

We can either continue the downward spiral of government waste, unneeded bureaucracy, and patronage or start running City Hall as a business.

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You Are What You Learn

by Carol Kocivar

Do white Christian nationalists, some advocates of liberated ethnic studies, and fascists have anything in common?

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SF’s Undocumented and Other Resolutions

by Quentin Kopp

Remember that a New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.

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West Portal Beat

Two Injured As Miraloma Club Sustains Significant Damage

by Maura Corkery

A man drove through the front wall of the Miraloma Club on Portola Avenue, injuring two and essentially demolishing the bar’s façade.

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West Portal Beat

Two Injured in Walgreens Crash

by Maura Corkery

The driver accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake as she pulled into the parking spot.

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BEST OF THE NET

Engardio Recall Faces Uphill Battle

by Zhe Wu / SF Public Press

A cadre of west side San Franciscans want to recall District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio for supporting Proposition K

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DPH Commissioners Could Cut Long-Term Care

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

This is not the first or last time that SFDPH will keep periodically trying to eliminate long-term care at Laguna Honda.

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West Portal Notebook

Westside Underwhelmed by Tsunami

The Wave that Wasn't

by Maura Corkery

Emergency Management sent a warning to stay away from Ocean Beach as many people ignored it as took it to heart

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How Billionaires Beat Dean Preston

by The Phoenix Project

Under Breed’s direction, Redistricting removed progressive Inner Sunset from Preston’s D5. At the same time, the Tenderloin was grafted onto District 5.

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SF Jail Overcrowding

Lock ‘Em Up Ain’t Working

by David Romano

We haven't funded the support systems to divert offenders to other programs programs that make real public safety possible.

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Reader Response

SF Ready to Repeal Rent Control?

Now More Than Ever

by Jennifer Fieber/SF Tenants Union

In 1979, facing an unprecedented housing crisis, Supervisors enacted rent control for hundreds of thousands of renters.

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Be Good for Goodness Sake

Kids Books for Christmas

by Carol Kocivar

Truth, kindness, empathy, good choices, equality, and patriotism there's some confusion over what these words mean.

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White House Dilemma, City Hall’s Muddle

by Quentin Kopp

Quentin wraps-up a Disappointing Year

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BEST OF THE NET

Melgar Beats the Bigbucks

GrowSF/TogetherSF Left in the Dust

by Kelly Waldron/Mission Local

When the city’s district boundaries were redrawn, D7 lost its most conservative precincts to D4, and gained more progressive ones from D5.

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West Portal Notebook

Chancellor Bilked City College—$8 Million

From Deficit to Surplus

by Maura Corkery

We were led to believe City College was in dire financial straits—the fiscal reality was a substantial surplus.

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Admissions at Laguna Honda Slow to Snail’s Pace

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

Does that mean San Franciscans needing skilled nursing carewill continue being dumped out-of-county?

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SIP the Poison

...by any other name.

by Steve Lawrence

No doubt about the cost to ratepayers. SIP is not free, since the lowest bidder may not get the job. That costs ratepayers.

Read More ...

SF Ready to Repeal Rent Control?

Voter’s Rejection of Prop 33 Opens the Door

by Stephen Martin-Pinto

I am not suggesting an elimination of rent control over night... it is too late for many tenants to move and afford another unit. However...

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Following SFPUC Over the Cliff?

Open Letter to the Coastal Commission

by Glenn Rogers

Yearly, as much as 1.2 billion gallons of combined stormwater runoff and sewage containing feces, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and trash are dumped into the Bay.

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Saving the Religion/Public School Divide

Focus on Education

by Carol Kocivar

Our country’s political divisions are again raising basic questions about the separation of church and state.

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Indecisive Supes Bequeath Voters 15 Ballot Measures

by Quentin Kopp

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.—George Jean Nathan’s warning.

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SFPD’s Toy Drive is on!

by Jonathan Farrell

“Release your inner child—buy a toy for a kid who needs one.

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Billionaires Target SF Mayors Race

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

TogetherSF Action’s Project 2024–2028 scheme starts with a Mark Farrell victory. From there it seeks to eliminate district elections.

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Trump v Harris: Weighing Education Policies

Kamala, Trump, and public education

by Carol Kocivar

On the campaign trail education policy has taken a back seat to other really important national issues, such as eating dogs and the size of crowds.

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West Portal Notebook

Farrell & Lurie at Bookshop West Portal

by Maura Corkery

Candidates Mark Farrell and Daniel Lurie both spoke at the neighborhood bookshop and attracted considerable audience attendance.

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Prop B: Deciet Exploits Laguna Honda Patients

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

The $390 million bond allocates just $66 million for our two hospitals. The rest—$324 million—is for other totally unrelated projects.

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Sunshine Anyone?

Candidates on Open Government?

by Richard Knee

The City’s sunshine laws are in need of updating, but most mayoral and supervisorial candidates are mum on how to increase city government transparency.

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Presto Chango!

New Docs Reveal Trail of Navy Deception

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

The Navy’s Parcel F Radiological Impaction map was excluded from the Record of Decision of September 2024. Raw data was also excluded from environmental testing for radionuclides.

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Another SFMTA Disgrace

Distressed Cab Drivers Speak Out

by Glenn Rogers

With no limits on the number of ride-share cars on the street undercutting fares, taxi drivers cannot make a living.

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Letters: Prop K Rebuttal

It’s a logical, environmentally sound plan for what is already happening to the Great Highway.

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Letters: West Portal’ Decline

We now are beginning to see the filth and degradation Breed’s gang has encouraged to infest West Portal.

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Nobody wants to close schools

SFUSD’s Quandry

by Carol Kocivar

An under-enrolled school does not have enough students to offer educational opportunities we want for them in a fiscally responsible way.

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Prop D: The Strong Mayor Sans Oversight

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

Following the money. Prop D is the billionaire’s attack on citizen oversight.

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D7 Supervisor Candidates

Do you support Props D or E?

Candidates Melgar, Martin-Pinto & Boschetto all agree on one thing.

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Over-Controlled Housing

by Steve Lawrence

Should we double down–on what has so far failed? Do we just need to spend more public money?

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West Portal Notebook

Aaron Peskin at Bookshop West Portal

by Maura Corkery

Over the next two months, each mayoral candidate will have an evening to greet attendees and answer questions in a laid-back “meet the candidate” event.

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Why is SFF’s Crime Rate Dropping?

Should We Believe It? Is It Enough?

by Frank Noto

Property crimes have plunged the most (42%), led by a steep decline in car break-ins, but violent crimes...

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Prop K is wrong for San Francisco

Misleading Attempt to Close Great Highway

by David Romano

5 supervisors put Prop K on the Ballot, unannounced and at the last minute. No community input, no questions answered, no concerns addressed, no discussion by the Supervisors.

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Prop K: a new park for all

Ocean Beach Park: A significant asset for SF

by Supervisor Joel Engardio

Why transform a section of the Great Highway into an oceanside park? It will help the environment, boost local merchants, and bring people joy.

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Escalating power, water & sewer rates

by Steve Lawrence

At present, there is no citizen group concerned with rates paid for water, sewer and power. Few attend or comment to the SFPUC Commission.

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D7 Needs a New Supervisor

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

The West Portal debacle, Laguna Honda disaster & neghborhood density. She’s out of step.

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Shipyard toxics—activists join forces

The Bomb Within Us

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

They originally consisted of fifteen residents and UCSF workers, located within six blocks of the western fence line of the NRDL campus and industrial landfill”

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SFUSD needs chutzpah...

to tackle antisemitism

by Carol Kocivar

District must provide training about the American Jewish experience and antisemitism to ensure that instruction is free of anti-Jewish hate

Read More

Environmental Windfall

Revolutionary Process Turns Rubble Into Concrete

by Glenn Rogers

This new concrete removes many of the wasteful steps commonly used in producing concrete.

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D7 Supervisor Candidates

Were Westside RV Dwellers Mistreated?

Reaction from the candidates for Supervisor in D7 ranged from pleased to dismayed.

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West Portal Notebook

SCOTUS’ Homeless Ruling Hits the Streets

by Maura Corkery

Ruling that “cruel and unusual punishment” does not apply to fining, ticketing, or even arresting homeless (even when there are no public shelters available),overturning the 9th Circuit Court.

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Will School Closures Dampen Back-to-School?

It’s a Good Idea.

by Carol Kocivar

After too many years of ignoring financial crisis, SFUSD is biting the bullet. It’s called resource realignment...

Read More

Supervisors Throw Drivers Under the Bus

Paul Kozakiewicz

On the last day the Supervisors could put an initiative on ballot, Engardio and Melgar pounced and forwarded the legislation to the Department of Elections.

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Sisterhood Gardens Light Up Oceanview

by Glenn Rogers

Once just a border of California native plants around the garden’s perimeter, providing habitat and nourishment for local fauna it’s now a beautiful neighborhood gem.

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Looking at the November Election

by Quentin Kopp

How I’m voting? I plead guilty in favor of a write-in candidate—me! Therefore, I proceed to the local ballot measures.

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Harris or Trump? No Contest

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

No matter how much my esteemed colleague at the Westside Observer, Quentin Kopp, wants to quibble over Kamala Harris ...

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No break for DPH

Class Action Lawsuit Looms Over Laguna Honda

by Dr. Derek Kerr & Dr. Maria Rivero

City has long minimized the root cause of LHH’s dysfunction and decertification. Just look at the self-congratulatory Press Release announcing its re-opening.

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West Portal Notebook

SFMTA’s Plan for West Portal Station Pushes Buttons

by Maura Corkery

West Portal merchants, residents, and long-time frequenters have weighed in for months on the City’s plan to institute significant new traffic regulations and barriers primarily at the mouth of the MUNI station.

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Time for the Governor to Do the Right Thing

Newsom—Declare a Public Health Emergency at Hunters Point

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

The Precautionary Principle affirms SF’s leaders duty to prevent harm through anticipatory action. ‘There is a duty to take anticipatory action to prevent harm.”

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Open Roads

Keep the Great Highway a Highway

by Glenn Rogers

SFMTA claims 10,000 people visit the Great Highway on a weekend. Residents ask for an unbiased study.

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What happened to the education budget?

Some good news!

by Carol Kocivar

California no longer lurks in the basement of national school funding.

Read More

Who Vetted Kamala Harris?

by Quentin Kopp

Visualizing Ms. Harris as president makes me fear for the future of our country. Coupled with convicted felon Donald Trump, we possess little choice.

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D7 Supervisor Candidates

Are Laguna Honda’s Problems Fixed?

Since the Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility closed, the City began relocating mentally troubled and drug addicted patients to LHH, mixing them with frail senior and disabled populations.

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Our City Our Power Our Pocketbook

by Steve Lawrence

No doubt PG&E is quite imperfect. But is the City bureaucracy an improvement? Shall we expand an already oversized City department?

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How will Education fare under Republicans?

by Carol Kocivar

It’s not only how schools are funded but how important topics are taught. At stake is what our children learn about democracy as well as about their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

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West Portal MUNI Station Committee

Melgar’s Plan for West Portal Station

by Maura Corkery

West Portal accounts for 6% of the City’s accidents; after the implementation of Project Zero in 2014, accidents of every kind in the West Portal area have dropped from 20% - 48%.

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West Portal MUNI Station Committee

Community Panel Pans SFMTA’s Plan

by Maura Corkery

Right now, there’s no timeline or budget for this project. The SFMTA admitted it had not conducted a preliminary cost/benefit analysis despite the multi-million-dollar deficit they’re facing this year.

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City’s Granny Dumping Spike

City Health Department’s Missing Report Concealed Shameless Patient Dumping

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

The hospitals shed their Skilled Nursing bed capacity in the City’s private sector hospitals en masse. It Was adversely affecting profits

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West Portal Notebook

West Portal Merchants Want Cameras & Cops

by Maura Corkery

Police patrolling up and down the block, speaking to residents, shop owners significantly prevents possible crime.

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Build Artists Housing to Revitalize City

by P Segal

...before artists were forced out by rising rents and landlord policies, artists made up about 7% of the City’s population, around 50,000 people.

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City’s Decline is SFMTA Designed

Are Bike Lanes Choking Businesses?

by Glenn Rogers

San Francisco is designed by SFMTA planners who have more design clout than any other agency in the City, except perhaps the State.

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Budgets, Candidates & Salaries

by Quentin Kopp

The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.” Thus spoke H. L. Mencken

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An Open Letter to City Hall

Laguna Honda may not close
—but is it open?

by Dr. Teresa Palmer

There is a dire shortage of nursing home beds in SF—especially for those on Medi-Cal—which pays for chronic long-term care when a resident cannot afford $15,000 a month.

Read More

D7 Supervisor Candidates

Do you support
Mayor Breed’s Upzoning?

Doug Comstock

Mayor Breed has proposed an unprecedented rollback of San Francisco’s height and density limitations that would allow six story buildings in areas previously zoned for one and two-story construction

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We Can’t Wait

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

The slow pace of climate action has never been about lack of science or even lack of solutions; it has always been about lack of political will.

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Newly recertified
—same old problems

Laguna Honda Recertified:
Hold the Fireworks

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

How long will the Health Commission delay the “LHH sustainability plan” that will shape its management in the future?

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Happy Birthday America!

Hope it's not your last.

by Carol Kocivar

Many of the basic rights we value are under attack. There are even those who think Jan. 6th should be celebrated instead of July 4.

Read More

City for Sale

First Mayoral Debate Defines Candidates

Doug Comstock

The format made it difficult for candidates to evade tough questions—all four seasoned politicians are skilled in. Even non-politician Lurie was not exempt.

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Showdown at Hunters Point

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

A confluence of major legal actions has moved forward to pretrial deposition testimony in BVHP Residents v Tetra Tech brought by SFPD and whistleblowers under the False Claims Act.

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Yes, trees can be weeds

Trees in McClaren Park

by Jake Sigg

Removal of the weedy species is necessary. All plants have natural predators in their native ranges, but landscape plants imported from, say, across the ocean, left their predators there.

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Bureaucrats, Bicyles, Taxes & Immigration

by Quentin Kopp

While gasoline tax-paying automobile owners finance the streets of San Francisco San Francisco’s Budget finances the SF Bicycle Coalition, a private entity?

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Nightmare Plan from Melgar, Breed, and Tumlin

Showdown on West Portal

by George Wooding

SFMTA still has no quantifiable road safety data other than right turns are bad, left turns are bad, fast-moving cars are dangerous, slow-moving cars are dangerous, cars are bad, and bikes are good.

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12 Questions to Ask School Board Candidates

by Carol Kocivar

Local school board elections used to be sleepy affairs. No more. Political activists now pay close attention to these local contests — for good reasons.

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Designing for Drought

SFPUC pushes drought scenario

by Glenn Rogers

Despite a surplus of water in our reservoirs sufficient to withstand a drought for four years, the SFPUC has imposed a drought surcharge on San Francisco ratepayers.

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A Great Day for Kids and Books

by Susan Tunis

A perfect illustration of the magic that independent bookstores can create—It was a day filled with joy, connection, and a shared love of books!

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City Hall’s Budget Deficit Step One

by John Farrell

The previous City Administrator was a protégé of Willie Brown—resigned due to corruption. The current City administrator is a protégé of a protégé of Willie Brown.

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Tony Hall’s Blueprint to Save SF

by Tony Hall

What happened to The City that Knows how? What happened to the City that Everybody Loves?

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So What’s the Damage?

Counting the Costs of the Laguna Honda Debacle

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

Sadly, LHH has not been recertified, patient admissions have not restarted. So patients needing skilled nursing care are displaced out-of-county.

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Addressing the West Portal Tragedy

Planning for a Safe Intersection

by Supervisor Myrna Melgar

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.

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City’s Clear Cut

More SF Trees Get the Ax

by SF Forest Alliance

According to the SF RPD’s plan at least 809 trees were planned to be cut down in McLaren Park

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City Hall’s Dilemmas

by Quentin Kopp

With housing and commercial vacancies like Park Merced and businesses still closing downtown, on Market Street, and in most neighborhoods, it’s dogging the Mayor’s election.

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In Praise of PTA’s Stars

by Carol Kocivar

California’s PTA got started in San Francisco way back in 1897 with the California Home and School Child Study Association.

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Overdose Deaths Bewilder DPH

Battling lethal drug combinations

by Dr. Derek Kerr

The devastating effect of drug addiction is evident from the human wreckage ...Yes, it’s a nationwide plague. But SF overdose rates are twice the national average.

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Thumbs Down

Everyone Hates MUNI’s City College Transit Plans

by City College Group

“It is a significant reconfiguration of the street. A two-way bikeway would replace existing parking. Bus stops would relocate from the curb to new transit boarding islands in traffic lanes.

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Homeless seek respite at Ocean Beach

Life at the end of the safety net

by David Romano

If you do get into a shelter — they’ll take away your belongings, you can’t have a pet, you can’t have visitors and after a few days or a week, you’ll likely be turned out on the street again with nothing.

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Major Surprises in the Primary Vote

by Quentin Kopp

Two surprises. Republican Steve Garvey, and Democrat Adam Schiff were the top two finishers. Schiff concentrated on making Garvey his opponent rather than Barbara Lee and Katie Porter.

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Removing density controls in western and central SF?

Mayor’s Upzoning Plan Endangers Our Neighborhoods

by Dennis Antenore

Demolitions, speculations, and displacement are in store if the city moves forward with Breed’s approach.

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SFPUC’s Employee discontent under Herrera

by Dr. Derek Kerr

Herrera’s team has settled in. The disruptions from the FBI probe and COVID had abated. Employee satisfaction should have improved. It didn’t.

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Big Changes in Store for Twin Peaks

by Jonathan Farrell

“As it is right now...there is no plan to manage and care for Twin Peaks

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SFUSD Considers School Closures

by Carol Kocivar

No one wants to close schools. Not the communities. Not the school boards. Not administrators and school district personnel..

Read More

Phil Ginsburg: Stop poisoning our world

by David Romano

Will Rec and Park be satisfied when every square foot of Golden Gate Park is concrete and artificial turf?

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Is Hydrogen in our future?

Consider Hydrogen Power

by Glenn Rogers

Unfortunately,it also has many disadvantages. The gas is explosive. It needs to be compressed or converted into other chemicals, such as liquid ammonia...

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Don’t Miss Pipeline

by Linda Ayres-Frederick

African-American Shakespeare’s stunning production at Taube Atrium Theater

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Every five years, the EPA determines the success of superfund cleanups

New Shipyard Report Confirms: Unsafe for Habitation

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

Take-home message: Cleanup efforts in 15 parcels and sites do not protect residents from hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants emanating from the dirty base

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Trump, Harris and other pains in the neck

by Quentin Kopp

The problem is Harris replacing him — she’s the D.A. who defeated incumbent Hallinan by lying under oath in that 2023 campaign

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How Safe is SF’s Aquifer Water?

City’s Emergency Water Plan

by Glenn Rogers

Unlike Flint, we don’t use salt to deice roads. However, if we over-tax our ground aquifers, we could draw salt from the Pacific into our drinking water.

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Letters: Cavalier Cease-Fire Call

Re: David Romano’s recent commentary — is simply bad journalism.

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Letters: Sutro Tower’s Future

When the tower comes down what will replade it?.

Read More ...

Bevy of Lawyers Target Laguna Honda Mismanagement

More Trouble for DPH

by Dr. Kerr & Dr. Rivero

Just when Laguna Honda seemed to be turning the corner on its struggle toward reform, three law firms have teamed up to expand their Class Action lawsuit.

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Algebra and District Elections Bedevil SFUSD

by Carol Kocivar

It reminds me of when my kids did something that I thought was not well thought through. I tried to bring them back to reality.

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Original Joe’s Goes Mexican in West Portal

by Jonathan Farrell

“Tamales are such a delicate process... things like the balance of masa to filling, or how long you steam them for, or how tightly they’re wrapped in their husks And time... timing is crucial to ensure they do not become dry and tough.

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Will Nancy Pelosi represent San Franciscans?

by David Romano

She is out of step with the majority of San Franciscans who are calling for an immediate cease-fire and a halt to military aid to Israel

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Could SF be the next Lahaina?

Budget Scrunch Endangers Westside Firefighting

by Thomas K. Pendergast

Hetch Hetchy water supply comes from 167 miles away, crosses 3 major faults, goes under the bay and then up the San Andreas Fault for 25 miles.

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Today’s students alarming lack of knowledge

Don’t know much about history

by Carol Kocivar

This is an education emergency made worse by a divided America where many believe it is ok to make up your own facts.

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Looking to the 2024 Elections

by Quentin Kopp

Confronting taxpayers and other voters are six ballot measures, one state measure, and presidential, Congressional and legislative primaries.

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Parkmerced Residents complain to SFPD

by Glenn Rogers

The complaints ranged from as many as ten squatters living rent-free, theft, casinos, dog kennels, brothels and drug laboratories at Parkmerced.

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Sowing Discord

by Julie Pitta

Big money ‘neighborhood’ groups step up their campaign of take-over tactics in 2024 elections.

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Say NO to expanding yacht harbors for the wealthy

by Evelyn Graham

Rec and Park’s plan expands access for the privileged few bupkis for the rest of us.

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New proposed location for Ocean View Library is ideal

by Glenn Rogers

Few were surprised when Supervisor Safai learned the library was not to be built in the Greenbelt — he feared the worst. No library at all.Since 2023, the Library Commission has been considering 466 Randolph Street, where the I.T. Bookman Community Center and the Pilgrim Community Church are located.

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San Francisco. In Alameda? Wait, what?

by David Osgood

When the runways for the Alameda Naval Air Station were extended out into the bay—using dredged bay fill, the same way Treasure Island was created — they crossed over the city line. The federal government apparently didn't know or care.

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San Franciscans need nursing home care

Will Laguna Honda Admissions Start Soon?

by Dr. Teresa Palmer

The survey attests to a quality of care that is higher than in for-profit private nursing homes. But there are ongoing problems.

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Your ballot will be in the mailbox in a few weeks

Issues and Candidates on the Primary Ballot

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

The March 5 election is fast approaching. The San Francisco Department of Elections will start mailing all registered voters automatic vote-by-mail ballots in early February.

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Looking to the 2024 Elections

by Quentin Kopp

Your local self-appointed sage hopes Trump is barred from his presidential candidacy by high courts such as the Supremes. (And I don't mean the singing group!).

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Parking Control

RV residents on Winston Drive face uncertain future

by Thomas K. Pendergast

A four-hour parking limit is going to make things even more difficult for RV residents.

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Does this look like wildlife habitat?

Oppose Botanical Garden’s Lightshows

by Kathy Howard

“GG Park provides not only habitat for wildlife but also a haven for San Franciscans who find refuge in nature in our parks.”

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UCSF proposes settlement for Joseph Miranda and his radioactive truck

ONE BIG MAN — ONE HOT TRUCK!

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

Two UCSF workers with respiratory disease, cancer and lung disease were not evacuated during shipyard landfill fire that erupted in “green, yellow, and orange” flames.

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Chris Duderstadt’s Mission

Good Benches Make Good Neighbors

by Jonathan Farrell

“A Bench helps promote a sense of community,it encourages neighbors and passersby to stop and visit and enjoy some sunshine.”

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Peripheral Canal Redux?

Delta Conveyance Plan leaves Northern California dry

by Glenn Rogers

Delta Conveyance Project is back on the drawing board, attempting to move clean water to the Los Angeles Southern Basin.

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Assessing Judge Bergert’s use of mental health diversions

by Lou Barberini

Fortunately for Mendez, he appeared in ultra-liberal Judge Michael Begert’s court. Despite Mendez’s failure to comply with diversion, Begert nevertheless granted Mendez “mental health diversion’ (again).

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Remembering the Heroine We Lost in 2023

A Tribute to Nancy Wuerfel, Mentor to Many

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

Newsom, Breed, and SF’s Supervisors may all have taken a hands-off waiting game approach I knew Nancy and her good government advocacy for years, sometimes crossing her path when we both attended meetings at City Hall.

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Sending Judges out to pasture

by Quentin Kopp

The unreliability of American and San Francisco media today is not new to our country. Neither is the people's right to discard biased, unsound judges.

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SFMTA’s Grinch Strategy

RV Residents Brace for Christmas Evictions

Doug Comstock

To families parked along Winston Drive the dreaded December 19 date is less than a month away. Four-hour parking restrictions approved by SFMTA will certainly upend their lives and dampen their holiday spirits.

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Neighbors apprehend a thief in the act, but will he be back on the street?

A Man Walks Into a Walgreens ...

by Michael Antonini

Aware that his escape was implausible, or perhaps it was the ear-splitting sound of approaching police cars, the thief turned and ran back into the Walgreens

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SF’s Enlightened Pretrial Diversion Programs

Diversion Programs for Criminals are a Disaster

by Frank Noto

The Judge denied a motion to detain an alleged drug dealer despite the defendant had over half a kilo of drugs, including 170.8 grams of fentanyl, enough to kill 85,400 people.

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Delayed Inspections Mean Dumping More Seniors Out-of-County

Laguna Honda Hospital’s Endless Waiting Game

by Patrick Monette-Shaw

Newsom, Breed, and SF’s Supervisors may all have taken a hands-off waiting game approach to LHH’s Medicare recertification inspection process that will take four months to complete.

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The Future of Journalism in the Bay Area

Falling advertisements, digital transitions and major lay-offs plague journalists

by Dr. Derek Kerr

Emilio Garcia-Ruiz worried about the New York Times becoming a “huge competitor” in the Bay Area by “undercutting the market on subscription costs to $1/week.

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SFUSD needs to take responsibility

SFUSD: The White Supremacy Strawman

by Carol Kocivar

At last! SFUSD has identified why students aren’t learning. Ready? The real cause is White Supremacy. That’s right. White Supremacy Culture is preventing our students from learning.

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Our Transit-First Policy is Long Gone.

Is MUNI on Deathwatch?

by Glenn Rogers

Today, ridership is entirely different — a problem. And the money Congress spent to save transit dries up next year.

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sending Judges out to pasture

by Quentin Kopp

The unreliability of American and San Francisco media today is not new to our country. Neither is the people's right to discard biased, unsound judges.

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Behind Peskin’s Dark Maneuver

Sudden Death of Remote Public Comment

Patrick Monette-Shaw

It effectively punishes hundreds, if not thousands, who want to participate in our local government. Even worse, it will force those who have disabilities to disclose their special needs. Or face the burden of traveling to City Hall.

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New Playgrounds for the Wealthy from Diverted Clean-up Funds

by Laurent Philonenko, Erin Roach & Evelyn Graham

Rec and Park’s plot to build a new boat harbor will close the Bay views and access from Marina Green.

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Three Consecutive Burglaries at Star of India

by Jonathan Farrell

It cost Star of India nearly $5,000 to replace the glass doors and to put new bars up.

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District Elections, London Breed & the Housing Exageration

by Quentin Kopp

Construction of new housing? I’ve concluded from present vacancies and dispirited new home construction the matter is extravagantly exaggerated by City Hall politicians and local media.

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Streets, sidewalks and roofs of cities all absorb heat during the day

Signs of Climate Change Beneath Our Feet

by Glenn Rogers

Unlike the temperature in the atmosphere — ground temperatures become increasingly warmer over time a recent study found

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Neighbor Power

Support for Shaw’s Candy Victims as New Evidence Emerges

by Thomas K. Pendergast

It is alleged that on the afternoon of September 27th, Janda was sitting on the bench in front of her ice cream shop.

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Bait and Switch in the Marina

by Laurent Philonenko & Evelyn Graham

The city fought PG&E for 20 years over Marina harbor’s toxic waste. And when they finally secure a settlement of $190 million?

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The Atlantic’s attacks on San Francisco miss the point

by David Romano

When so much wealth is concentrated in the hands of so few people without money and power lose out.

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Undaunted, Shaw’s Candies Gears Up for Halloween

by Jonathan Farrell

Owner Diana Zogaric has little time to bemoan setbacks. She notes that the original owner, Douglas Shaw, opened the business during the Great Depression in 1931.

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Follow the $$$

by Julie Pitta

Phony ‘neighborhood’ groups exploit a loophole in campaign laws — evading the $500 limit on campaign contributions.

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SF’s Armenian Community

Homeland Troubles Loom as Locals Celebrate

by Jonathan Farrell

Tragedies in Azerbaijan were overshadowed at local Armenian Food Festival at St. Gregory’s.

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Troubles in the ‘Transit First’ City

by Gerald Cauthen

SFMTA’s capital deficit is projected to grow at an average rate of $1.1 billion a year to create a total gap of $20 billion by FY2040.

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Laguna Honda Wake Up Call

SFDPH Must Act Quickly to Save 120 Critical Beds

Patrick Monette-Shaw

SF has lost 1,381 Skilled Nursing Facility beds. If LHH loses 120 more beds it will leave only 2,161 meanwhile 4,186 patients were discharged to other counties in 2022.

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District Elections, Ward Politics, Hidden Gas Taxes & Ministry of Truth

by Quentin Kopp

Instead of 100,000 votes to elect Supervisors, now with ranked-choice voting a paltry 8,237 votes, elected Supervisor Matt Dorsey.

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State Mandated Development Endangers Westside's Greenbelt

by Glenn Rogers

Does SF needs more housing? Downtown is 31% vacant and Parkmerced has a 25% vacancy.

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SFUSD High School Task Force:

Color Me Disappointed

by Carol Kocivar

How familiar are the Task Force members with the research and how well are they equipped to make data driven recommendations?

Read More

Letters: Outside Land Growls & Grumbling

RE: David Romano’s recent commentary — the neighbors are supposed to smile and put up with these shows year after year...

from Dennis Minnick & others

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Anxious Residents Crowd Town Hall

by Dr. Derek Kerr

Over 100 crowded the room to address Westside disorder, homelessness and street crime.

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Stop Crime SF seeks to inform voters about our judges...

Who’s Keeping Score on Local Judges?

by John Trasvina

California law entrusts its citizens to retain or reject sitting judges. We need more light, not less.

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Humans Have Crossed 6 of 9 Essential Safety Boundaries

by Glenn Rogers

Scientists who analyzed Earth’s safety boundaries found humans are currently transgressing six.

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Outside Lands — not a good neighbor

by David Romano

After neighborhood protests at Rec & Parks residents got more, not less concerts.

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Failing Grade for SF High School Task Force

by Carol Kocivar

How familiar are the Task Force members with the research and how well are they equipped to make data driven recommendations?

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Five of the state”s dirtiest beaches are in the Bay Area

SF’s Sewage Agency Needs Some Treatment

by Jeff Ruch

Want your taxes & utility fees to pay to pollute our beaches? SF taxpayers and ratepayers are footing the bill to fight for that privilege.

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Thank You Nancy Wuerfel

by George Wooding

Oh no! You don't want Nancy Wuerfel on your case! That woman does her homework, which means that you're going to have to do yours as well!.

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Laguna Honda’s battle to keep 120 skilled nursing beds is unnecessary.

Patrick Monette-Shaw

LHH’s bedrooms exceed the minimum square-foot restrictions. They have sliding doors between each bedroom — essentially making them all private, single-person rooms.

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SFDPH enables contaminated development

Health Dept. Streamlines Article 31

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

The Health Department’s Article 31 needs to prevent housing on radioactive sites.

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Inside the State’ Education Budget

by Carol Kocivar

Budgets are built on predictions. Will Californians actually earn income and pay taxes at the levels predicted? No one knows for certain.

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Judges, Justice and the Re-naming Game

by Quentin Kopp

Our critic of all things civil tackles the City, State and the rest of the world.

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Laguna Honda Seeks Additional $18 Million for Consultants

Recertification accomplished - so what’s this for?

Patrick Monette-Shaw

On top of the $64.9 M already spent — including $30.5 M on consultant contracts, $22.3 M lost Medi-Cal reimbursement, and $12 M misc.

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Beyond the tangle of red tape

Will SF be the first City with a Public Bank?

Doug Comstock

Mired in Dull-as-Dishwater Details, It's an Amazing Accomplishment — But Will Oakland Beat Us To It?

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Race-blind Admissions in California

by Carol Kocivar

Schools scramble to comply with Supreme Court’s admission decision AND still create diverse college communities

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Greenland Will Cause Sea Rise First, Not Antarctica

by Glenn Rogers

Should all the ice in Greenland melt, we could expect the sea level rise an additional 23 feet.

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It’s time to assess Prop 47’s havoc on the safety of San Franciscans

by Lou Barberini

Before Prop 47 eliminated California Penal Code section 666, a police officer could charge a thief with a criminal history with “felony theft with-priors” and take him to county jail.

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SF's Housing Snag

... E.T. versus City

by Steve Lawrence

Pretend you're an alien (E.T.) come to earth in human form to live and learn and even to rationally guide humans who have lost their way. You land in San Francisco.

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Don't Let High Rises in the Sunset Overshadow Other City Hall Absurdities

by Quentin Kopp

Have any such housing units been built? Of course not! Why? Probably because there’s no market for them. Why not? Because the population has declined

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Costs to Rescue Laguna Honda Continue to Escalate

Managers disregarded the risks to patients

Patrick Monette-Shaw

Known costs climbing to $65 Million but City Attorney conceals ($5 million?) in legal fees.

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A Few Cheers for What’s Great About San Francisco

by Carol Kocivar

I’m reminded again and again that there are really great things the world of San Francisco.

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West Side Stories

by Julie Pitta

SF has 60,000 market-rate apartments standing empty. They’re unlikely to be filled any time soon since about 70,000 left in the last three years.

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Corruption Central

... & The Family Enterprise

by Steve Lawrence

Some say a little bit of corruption greases the wheels. Just don't kid yourself ... each of these words, Social Impact Partnering, are buzzwords. There's a reason for that.

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A Home in the SF’s Countryside

by Glenn Rogers

The neighborhood was much different then. Yellow and white margaritas were everywhere in wild areas on the south and north side of Alemany Blvd. There was no Highway 280.

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Grand Jury Tackles Homeless Providers

by Dr. Derek Kerr

City Family’s coziness with contractors sustains a “Homeless-Industrial-Complex." Politically-connected entrepreneurs are awarded City contracts and return the favor.

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Laguna Honda’s Mismanagement Costs Reach $64.1 Million

Patrick Monette-Shaw

Moss Adams’ contract increased by by $5.9 million to $9,987,293 — just $12,707 shy of requiring Board of Supervisors approval.

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Selective Admissions

by Carol Kocivar

One small problem. Although we called it a computer match, we did not have a computer. Yup, that long ago.

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Ethics should be called The Narrow Commission

by Sullivan

Giving a complaint to the “Ethics” Commission is like giving a complaint to a black hole. Your complaint goes in and the chance that anything comes out is slim.

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Ignoring the Neighbors — Rec & Park Shows How It’s Done

by David Romano

Neighbors were not adequately notified — the few who showed up were ignored.

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Supervisors Honor Nancy Wuerfel

Long-time Westside activist commended

by Kathy Howard & Sally Stephens

The Supervisors celebrated her preservation and conservation efforts and recognized her significant contributions.

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Bored? Libraries to the rescue

My Summer Reading List

by Carol Kocivar

The good news: it's available to every child though our public libraries in every corner of San Francisco. And it's free!

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A History Lesson and the State’s Future

by Quentin Kopp

Observations and criticisms with a bit of the usual snark.

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Laguna Honda Admits Its Own Staff Jeopardizes Its Recertification

Patrick Monette-Shaw

We will lose Laguna Honda Hospital if immediate jeopardy citations continue.

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Major Meter Hike Hijinks

by Glenn Rogers

Budget Problem? City Hall's Reliable Cash Cow to the Rescue! Stop the exploitation.

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Laguna Honda Finally Hires a Nursing Home Administrator

Patrick Monette-Shaw

After 20 years without a licensed Nursing Home Administrator at the helm, that will change. At last someone knowledgeable about Federal nursing home regulations will be in charge.

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The Greatest Story Never Told

Hunters Point Continues to Poison San Franciscans

by Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai

The Health Department burned down a village of Chinese fishermen dependent on the lucrative shrimping industry when the Navy purchased the 934-acre property using eminent domain for the Naval Shipyard.

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Rec & Parks Scheme to Cash in on Outside Lands Income

by David Romano

“ You guys had a bunch of secret planning meetings ... no Brown Act notice ... now you want to permit an additional 60,000-person event ...”

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Let’s Fight SFPUC for Affordable Water

Ratepayers may need to rely on the courts

by Brian Browne

1985 to 2022, the nominal SFPUC rates have increased annually by an average of 10.1%.

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Railroaded Out of Town

by Sullivan

Inside the Sunshine Task Force’s “Compliance and Amendments Committee.”

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The day before evictions of all residents — a final last-minute reprieve

Too late to save Laguna Honda intact?

by Dr. Teresa Palmer

CMS extended federal funding while the facility continues without resident evictions until September 19, 2023

Read More

Families Sue Laguna Honda for Transfer Deaths

LHH “disregarded” the risk of transfer trauma to elderly dementia patients

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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

by Doug Comstock

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.

from Joel Engardio

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SFUSD: Failing Math and Literacy for Kids

Can the Commission admit they were wrong?

by Carol Kocivar

The evidence is in time for SFUSD to change.

Read More

A Spring Collection

by Quentin Kopp

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

Grassroots anti-crime and pro-accountability organizing could imperil elected officials who can’t get a handle on the disorder.

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The Truth about SF's Crime Spree

Fear and Trembling
— Frisco Style

by Julie Pitta

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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?

by Glenn Rogers

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

by Carol Kocivar

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

by Sullivan

When I made a simple request for documents what I got left me confused — should I laugh or cry?

Read More

SF's Public Guardian Sues Laguna Honda for Abuse

The lawsuit cites seven Causes of Action

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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

by P Segal

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?

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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!

by Carol Kocivar

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

by Quentin Kopp

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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

by John Farrell

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.

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Let the Bay Lights go dark

Heather Knight Plugs the Bay Lights

by David Romano

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?

by Sullivan

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

by Quentin Kopp

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

by David Osgood

For decades, the City has allowed weaker standards for buildings shorter than 240 feet — no signs of seriously considering these structural deficiencies.

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SFPUC: 90% Rate Increase

... & Housing Dreams

by Steve Lawrence

Our Board of Supervisors is keen for the City to acquire the PG&E infrastructure.An offer of $2.5 billion has been rejected.

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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.

by San Francisco Resident

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Screen California Students for Dyslexia

by Carol Kocivar

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.

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Tuesday, March 21st - 9:30am

Westside Neighbors to Protest Climate-Hostile Banks

by Ken Hoegger

West Portal's Chase Bank protest highlights banks’ dominant funding of fossil fuels.

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Dreams Come True

Get That Neighborhood Improvement Funded

by Supervisor Myrna Melgar

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.

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Recology, Reparations, Preservation and Supervisor Walton are among Quentin's Observations

by Quentin Kopp

Concerns that trouble Quentin but may only annoy most folks.

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Stop Using Herbicides in San Francisco

The Oxalis Obsession

by SF forest Alliance

The herbicides don’t kill the bulbs. You can kill the top growth and other plants, but you won’t kill the oxalis.

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Fighting Against a Stacked Deck

by Sullivan

No wonder the City finds itself in scandals — when the Ethics Commission and the City Attorney doesn't enforce misconduct.

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Parents Who Help SFUSD

by Carol Kocivar

PTA's Honorary Service award recognizes people for outstanding service to children and youth — above and beyond what is asked of them.

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Mayor Breed’s Mysterious Appointments

Is it true that none of Mayor Breed’s four nominees for the Homelessness and Supportive Housing Oversight Board seem to have any experience or credentials in dealing with the problems of homeless citizens?

by Chris Gray and Susan Chen

Read More ...

Laguna Honda Debacle: Root Cause Analysis

DPH kept the report secret for months

by Dr. Derek Kerr &
Dr. Maria Rivero

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

by Jake Sigg

Its a tragedy for all the foragers who depend on native plants: myriads of insects, the birds and others that feed on them ...

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The Mystery of the New Housing Element

Roadmap or Pipedream?

by Steve Lawrence

Well-resourced Neighborhoods are guilty of plenty, explains the new Element. Racism, greed, selfishness– ... it's time to reform

Read More ...

Did 20 years of mismanagement prompt the Feds to intervene?

The Bungled Management of Laguna Honda

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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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What could possibly go wrong?

Judge Gives Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card for Union Square Ransacker

Frank Noto

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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Ignoring document requests, misinforming Supes and Boards — are Feds feed up yet?

Squeezing the Truth from Laguna Honda Management

Patrick Monette-Shaw

The showdown at LHH. Now the Feds are demanding SF hire qualified Nursing Home Administrators!

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An easier way to pass local taxes for schools

California Supreme Court grants a wish to school communities

by Carol Kocivar

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

The proposed fix is to return to at-large board seats to get more done for the whole City.

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Problems looming at the Shipyard

Newsom's Albatross

by Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai

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

Check it out

Let's Rethink Hospice Admissions

Oversight for Patients’ Rights

by Brian Browne

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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

by Steve Lawrence

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?

by Carol Kocivar

The issue is heating up AGAIN. the SFUSD high school task force will present recommendations on admission policies

Read More

Say No to Bay Lights; Stop polluting the night sky

We Have Better Uses for $11 Million

by David Romano

Our resources are precious, and we shouldn't be using them in displays of lighting that serve no practical purpose.

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What do Recology, Nate Albee, President Peskin, & Bloated City Government have in common?

by Quentin Kopp

City Hall and its environs are fair game for Quentin’s inquiries.

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Are Progressives Making Homelessness Worse?

A book review of San Fran-sicko

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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?

by Glenn Rogers

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...

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California Deserves Better

Time for Feinstein to Step Down

by David Romano

Feinstein has been an enthusiastic supporter of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. How have those wars benefited the families of California?

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Madam Mayor parties down as City is deluged in “atmospheric river”

Mayor's Clueless New Years Fumble Signels Trouble

by Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai

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

by Carol Kocivar

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

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Gender Neutral, Affirmative Action, Gary Kamaya and John Arntz

by Quentin Kopp

Moses was a great lawgiver. He was satisfied to keep the Ten Commandments short and to the point . . . he was not an ordinary lawyer..

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First Victim of Redistricting: Supervisor Gordon Mar

by Doug Comstock

Mayor Breed’s backroom manipulations brought the defeat of Mar and the election of Dorsey — more targets in 2024?

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No Religious Discrimination for the Holidays

by Carol Kocivar

It's America! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah

Read More

Root Cause Analysis: Key Report Missing?

Costs to Rescue Laguna Honda Climb to $20 Million

Patrick Monette-Shaw

... 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

by Carol Kocivar

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.

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What Happened at Laguna Honda? Update

by Dr. Teresa Palmer

...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

by Quentin Kopp

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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.

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UNs’ COP27 / Healing Starts at Hunters Point

Heeding the Clarion Call for Climate Reparations

by Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai

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

by Carol Kocivar

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

Has LHH been skirting its Admissions Policy — by accepting patients who endanger themselves and others by using and distributing drugs?

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Willie's Pay-to Play Lives On!

by Tony Hall

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 More

Nobody Home?

Prop M: SF Grapples with Vacant Apartments

by Thomas K. Pendergast

We’re not building at the price points where the demand actually is, so we’re overproducing what folks can’t afford.

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What could possibly go wrong?

Will the Police Commission
Ban Traffic Stops?

Frank Noto

3 meetings held so far —will Westside feedback be considered?

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Can the Supes Clean-up the Shipyard?

by Glenn Rogers

… the statistics remain grim. In 2018, DPH found that Bayview is significantly more at risk than other neighborhoods.

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City Attorney’s Legal Case Was Strong

But Then He Rolled Over

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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

by Carol Kocivar

School districts with the more low-income students, English learners, foster youth and homeless students get a lot more money.

Read More

Reassesing DA Boudin's Recall

"Failed City" fails to convince—Pt. 2

by David Romano

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

by Brian Browne

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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The Cow Palace & Ruminations on Immigration & Gun Control

by Quentin Kopp

On the eve of an election, a candidate asked a reporter: “Did you hear my last speech?” The reporter replied: “I certainly hope so.

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Ongoing Issues Threaten Re-Certification

Worrisome Proplems Plague Laguna Honda

Patrick Monette-Shaw

The first survey completed in July found Laguna Honda would not pass a CMS certification.

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Reassesing DA Boudin's Recall

"Failed City" fails to convince

by David Romano

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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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School Board: Learn from Your Mistakes

by Carol Kocivar

The school board, ... voted to create these Muslim holidays. The threat of a costly lawsuit then forced the school board to reconsider.

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Vote NO on L!

by George Wooding

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.

by John Farrell

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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

by Steve Lawrence

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

Laguna Honda followed the wrong rulebook and failed to follow training guidelines

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$Math in chalk$

Solving California's Math Problem

by Carol Kocivar

Reducing access to advanced mathematics — elevating trendy but shallow courses could cause lasting damage

Read More

September is the best month for skywatching

Searching for the Night Sky

by David Romano

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!

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Travel: Sergio is back!

Looking for Leonardo—Florence

by Sergio Nibbi

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?

by Dr. Teresa Palmer

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.

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Outside Lands Outrage

More concrete replaces grass in Golden Gate Park

by David Romano

It's clear Outside Lands damaged Golden Gate Park but has not honored its agreement to repair any damage to the Park

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DPH's Slipshod ”EPIC“ Datasystem Compounds Senior's Problems at Laguna Honda

Patrick Monette-Shaw

Laguna Honda Update EPIC software bungles safe transfer process - Will Failed ”Restorative Care“ program be a major cause of closure?

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Digging Into the PG&E Buyout

Public Power

by Steve Lawrence

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

by Carol Kocivar

At about $17,000 per student, California funding no longer lurks in the national basement.

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Travel: Sergio is back!

My Orcha - Mallorca and Barcelona

by Sergio Nibbi

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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.

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Westside Fire Response

City Leaders Value Saving Money Over Saving Lives and Property

by Frank T. Blackburn
and Nancy Wuerfel

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

Supervisor Myrna Melgar rallied Supervisors, passing two urgent Resolutions — before the Board went out on summer recess. She achieved this victory!

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Dead Trees of LaPlaya

The Mystery of the Trees

by David Romano

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

by Glenn Rogers

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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Tammany Hall, District Elections, November and Boudin

by Quentin Kopp

“A successful man or woman is one who thinks up ways of making money faster than the government can take it away from him or her.”

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Time to Shine a Brighter Light on SFUSD Chronic Absences

by Carol Kocivar

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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.

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Will District 7 Join the Progressives?

Voting in the Redistricted D7

by Doug Comstock

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

Carving Up LHH Patient Towers into Two Uses, “Cohorting” Different Patient Populations in Each Tower? A Disaster for SF's Health Needs

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West Virginia v EPA

Overreach at the Supreme Court

by Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai

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

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How parents changed school start time in California

Carol Kocivar

It began in 2016 with an op-ed by a parent and writer, Lisa Lewis. School started at 7:30 — her son strugged each morning. He came home exhausted.

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Karma or Persecution: Laguna Honda’s Ordeal

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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?

Patrick Monette-Shaw

Both consultants provided “preliminary assessment reports” of their initial recommendations. Only HMA’s “preliminary assessment report” has been made public.

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It's Climate Change — Stupid

by Glenn Rogers

in the near-term, methane is 80 times more potent than CO2 as a contributing factor to global warming.

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Culture of Silence" and Cover-up Plagues LHH Management

Gray Panthers Pounce on Laguna Honda Crisis

by Dr. Derek Kerr

Crises like COVID-19 and the one at LHH have “unmasked a society that does not value the aged and disabled.” Dr. Palmer noted

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Celebrate Independence, but There's More To Do

by Quentin Kopp

MTA management ignored two reports in 2011 that would’ve saved hundreds of millions on an essentially useless transportation project.

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DPH's “Flow Project” Comes Home to Roost

The Agony of Laguna Honda Hospital

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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?

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Sea Level Rise and Toxic Groundwater

Civil Grand Jury Blasts Hunters Point “Clean-Up”

by Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai

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

by Jonathan Farrell

“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.

Carol Kocivar

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.

by Glenn Rogers

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

by Doug Comstock

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.

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Californians Asked to cut water by 5%

Statewide Emergency Drought

by Steve Lawrence

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

...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

by Lou Barberini

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 among Frail Elderly—What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Turmoil and Crackdown at Laguna Honda

by Dr. Derek Kerr

State Health inspectors diagnosed “Substandard Quality of Care.” Records showed the disarray was more dire than LHH publicly disclosed.

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Breed's Policing Numbers Don't Add Up

SFPD Discloses Staffing Shortfall

by M. Sullivan

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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Biomonitoring Finds Toxins in Hunters Point Residents

Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai

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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GUEST OP-ED

Why I Oppose Boudin Recall

D. M. Scott

They would have us believe he’s responsible for the statistical rise in crime that’s occurred since the pandemic. Research, however, suggests otherwise...

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Rethinking the Recall Process

by Doug Comstock

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

by Glenn Rogers

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

by Doug Comstock

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

Carol Kocivar

...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.

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International Dark Skies Week

San Francisco Needs to Address Light Polution

David Romano

In Pittsburgh a new ordinance makes it the first major American city to adopt lighting standards addressing light pollution.

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A great beginning that ran into WWI

St. Francis Wood and the Planned Garden Residences

Jonathan Farrell

36 Garden Residence neighborhoods were planned only St. Francis Wood was actually built.

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Chaos at the Redistricting Task Force

by Doug Comstock

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?

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Medicaid & Medicare threaten payments...

Laguna Honda: Overdoses

Dr. Derek Kerr

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

Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai

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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Mysterious Subversion of Oversight at SFPUC

by Brian Browne

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

by Doug Comstock

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.

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Garbage, Redistricting & Gas Taxation

Quentin Kopp

Three new Board of Education commissioners were appointed last month by Mayor London Breed who promises implicitly that SFUSD will somehow conquer a budget deficit of over $125,000,000.

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Westside Public Safety Forum

Too Much Crime — Not Enough Cops?

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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 — Final Battlelines

by Doug Comstock

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

Jill Wynns & Carol Kocivar

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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Homelessness and the Mental Health Housing Crisis

by Roger Rogers

As additional funding for supportive housing services through programs like Project Home Key become available, radical reform of board and care programming and funding will be necessary to maintain and expand this crucial resource.

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Retreat from Sea Level Rise is Avoidable

Coastal Commission Takes a Wrong Turn

by Dennis Holl

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

by Doug Comstock

SF has had some surprising changes since the current lines were drawn in 2011 — they could change which Supervisor represents us.

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Banning Cars from JFK is Exclusionary

by Howard Chabner

Civil rights laws have been enacted to protect people who are being denied equal access and opportunity. The closure is a violation of the ADA and California disability rights laws.

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War, Worries & Waste

by Quentin Kopp

Donald Trump, disregards 42,000,000 Ukrainians by lauding Putin’s “genius” in invading Ukraine. I urge readers to divest themselves of any reverence or respect for Trump, a draft-dodger, who could demolish the Republican Party.

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Labor Union Sues City for Corruption and Retaliation

Union Lawsuit Reveals "City Family" Backroom Maneuvers

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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

by Rick Knee

When an elder dies, a library burns to the ground Old African Proverb.

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SFMTA's Continuing MUNI Problems

by Gerald Cauthen
& Angelo Figone

… 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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The Growing Pacific Plastic Patch

by Glenn Rogers

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

Patrick Monette-Shaw

The Health Dept. continues to flout the open records laws. Our seniors deserve better.

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Shipyard Development, Mired in Problems, Continues to Pay Off for Willie Brown

by Matt Smith

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

by Quentin Kopp

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?

by Brian Browne

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

by Dr. Derek Kerr

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

by Doug Comstock

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

Paul Kozakiewicz

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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Transform the Great Highway

by John Elliott

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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SF Parks Alliance Records Subpeonaed

More Fallout from the SkyStar Wheel Deal

by David Romano

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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“Housing Galore—if you're a millionaire...

Where’s the Affordable Housing?

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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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“Granny Dumping”

Dumping Patients Out-of-County

Patrick Monette-Shaw

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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Rate Hikes & Murky Politics

by Steve Lawrence

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.

Read More ...

Face It!

Public Power?

Statewide Drought Emergency

Time-Out for Rate Hikes?

Rate Hikes and Murky Politics

Our City. Our Power.

All Wet

SFPUC's Double Whammy

Is Herrera the General Manager SFPUC Needs?

The Future & Unlimited Rates

River Flows, Water Woes.

Bad News and Worse News...

More related...

More articles by Steve Lawrence...

Fish Gotta Swim...

The Irony of Progressivism.

Can Ed Harrington Save the SFPUC?

Free Government Money.

Chaos at SFPUC

When We Need Leadership the Most

Hold Up on that “Insurance” for Your Water and Sewer Lines

Who in this rich city cares about price anyway?

Time for a Change?

Water-Sewer-Power: A Primer. Steve Lawrence

C’est la vie PG&E Steve Lawrence

The Golden Fleece.

New Blood, Same Old Feud

Ratepayers and Homeowners Future

Focusing on the Big Picture

Local News.

Is the City writing off 120 badly needed public nursing home beds?

Are the “Safety Projects” Safe?

Here Comes the Commission Streamlining Task Force

Neighbors Review Plans for Brotherhood Way

Philanthropy—Billionaire Style

Ratepayers Alert...

Neighborhood Opposition to High-rises Re-emerges

SF Must Take Steps NOW

Rec & Park Fudged the Numbers for Sunset Dunes

SF’s Wheelchair Accessibility on the Skids

Winners Update

Much to Celebrate—Much to Castigate

Moritorium Halts Cleanup Efforts

SF’s Superior Court Records Maze

“Congestion Pricing” Won’t Work for SF’s Downtown

Engardio must go — Jenkins must stay

Here’s Looking At You

Pelosi Challenger Chakrabarti’s Uphill Battle

Repeating Breed’s Failed Policies

Design Buildings to Withstand Earthquakes

Funny Money at Fine Arts Museums

How Managers of SF’s Public Pension Left $5 Billion on the Table

Trump Cuts Hit Neighborhood Schools

Some Trees Are Not Appropriate for City Sidewalks

Could things get worse?

Is It Time to Revisit Birthright Citizenship?

Neighborhoods Reject Lurie’s Upzoning Plan

Wienerville

Chaos and Loss at a City Clinic

A Sobering Silence

The Chronicle and Phony Neighborhood Groups

Housing at Balboa Reservoir Set to Begin Building

LHH Housing Slashed

Color Me Thrilled!

Appeals Court Rules in Favor of 6,500 Bayview-Hunters Point Residents

Fare Evaders Joepardize MUNI’s Fiscal Health

All Eyes on the Amazon

Four more years... Meanwhile...

Garbage Rates: A Whopper Increase

Laguna Honda: Almost out of the woods?

Scammed and Slammed!

Urban Decay Began with Reagan

Farallones — It’s for the Birds

Inner Sunset: The Once Great Neighborhood

Trans Athletes and School Sports

The Quandary at Fine Arts Museums SF

An Open Letter to the SF Giants

SF Author’s Remarkable Novel

A new Mayor and some new, some old problems

Mayor Lurie’s Hiring Freeze Hits Laguna Honda Hospital

Water-Sewer-Power: A Primer.

Steve Lawrence

C’est la vie PG&E

Steve Lawrence

SF’s Wheelchair Accessibility
on the Skids