Joshua Sabatini

Muni crime to be discussed

Supervisor Bevan Dufty is holding a hearing Monday to scrutinize efforts by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Police Department to ensure riders on Muni are safe. The hearing comes following several high-profile events of violence on Muni buses, included an actor being attacked on a Muni bus in the Mission and other fights that have broken out and wound up videotaped and posted on the Internet. The hearing takes place Monday at 11 a.m. at the Board of Supervisors City Operations and Neighborhood Services...

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'Trauma' revived for additional filming

NBC's show "Trauma" has been revived. The show, which is being filmed in The City, is not finished just yet, according to the head of the Film Office, Stefanie Coyote. After earlier reports that the show was canceled by NBC and it would close down the series after the filming of 13 episodes, it now appears the order came for an additional three episodes. “Yes, it is true. They have been asked to produce three additional episodes,” Coyote told The Examiner. "Trauma" is the first major television show to be shot in The City since "Nash Bridges," which went of the air in...

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Newsom announces return of Shop SF

Mayor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday the City will bring back Shop SF for the holiday season. Being called Shop SF, Get More, the program offers special discounts and promotions exclusively for residents of the nine Bay Area counties until January 2010. It’s mean to help stimulate the local economy. “Shop SF, Get More was a great shot in the arm for our small businesseslast year,” Newsom said in a statement. “This year, we are bringing it back to showcase our world-class dining, museums, events, attractions and hotels. Whether it's shopping in Union Square or touring our diverse neighborhoods, there's something for everyone.” Among the shopping incentives...

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DPH seeks to protect firefighters in SOMA

Director of Public Health Mitch Katz said the Public Health Department’s air quality experts are assisting the fire department in its plan for a new Fire Station 1 in the South of Market Neighborhood. The problem, Katz said, is that “Many parts of SoMa have relatively high levels of air pollution from roadways, making them undesirable for residential uses and creating challenges for site selection. SFFD, whose firefighters may work multiple 24 hours shifts per week, are concerned about employee health.” The experts helped figure out the air quality at potential fire station sites in the neighborhood. “The process allowed them to identify sites that would limit...

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SF budget takes another beating

Property owners could receive an across-the-board tax break next year, but it would be at the expense of millions in losses to city coffers. News that property tax revenue will likely decrease for the next fiscal year is the latest blow to the city and county budget. The budget, which was projected to have a shortfall of $350 million, has been revised. The new number, due to be released today, will climb “well north of $400 million.” Departments are expected to be told to come up with cuts in excess of 25 percent of their budgets. San Francisco has long relied on healthy property taxes that bring in about $1 billion a year, one-third of The City’s general fund, which...

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Human Rights moves into the Bayview

The Human Rights Commission announced Thursday that in partnership with the African American Chamber of Commerce it is opening an outreach office in the Bayview neighborhood “to strengthen the relationship between local African American businesses and The City.” The outreach office will let the small local businesses in that neighborhood know about all of The City's contracting opportunities, host workshops and seminars on The City’s contracting procedures, link small businesses with city financing programs and “create a forum where small local businesses can directly share their ideas and concerns with city agencies.” The office is located at 1485 Bayshore...

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New rules skirt gift limitations

Elected officials have received tickets to several events this year — including 49ers home games and the Presidents Cup — but new rules mean they can avoid calling them gifts. City officials are barred from taking more than $420 worth of gifts annually from a single source, but now they can use more than a dozen exceptions to avoid the cap on freebies. Free tickets have sparked controversy in the past. The Giants used to provide elected officials with Opening Day tickets, but in 2007, the Ethics Commission put a stop to the practice after determining the giveaways violated rules about an organization providing gifts directly to individual city employees. Despite that ban,...

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Alioto-Pier commends John Does

The Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized the payment Tuesday of two $10,000 rewards for witnesses who came forward with information that led to an arrest and conviction in two separate homicide cases. “We all know that we don’t ordinarily see these rewards to John Does in our agenda packet. It’s really great,” said Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier. “This is how we are going to be able to help bring down the homicide rate in San Francisco when people have the courage to step forward and come up and tell about what they have seen. I hope to see more of these in the future.” Reward offerings have previously met with little success with few witnesses...

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Herrera seeks ‘assurance’ over new law

City Attorney Dennis Herrera sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello requesting “adequate assurance” that city officials or employees will not be prosecuted if they follow a new law adopted by the Board of Supervisors. The letter was sent the day the Board of Supervisors voted 8-3 to overturn Mayor Gavin Newsom’s veto of legislation changing the city’s sanctuary policy. The law prohibits city officials from reporting undocumented youths arrested on felonies to federal authorities for possible deportation. Under the law, they can only be reported if they are convicted of a felony or charged as an adult. Herrera said that “if the U.S....

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Supes shoot down Newsom’s veto

Mayor Gavin Newsom’s veto of legislation changing the sanctuary policy was soundly defeated Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors in an 8-3 vote. Supervisor David Campos, who introduced the legislation, voted to overturn the veto along with Supervisors John Avalos, Chris Daly, David Chiu, Bevan Dufty, Sophie Maxwell, Eric Mar and Ross Mirkarimi. The legislation has changed The City’s sanctuary policy to prohibit city officials from reporting undocumented youths arrested on felonies to federal authorities for possible deportation. Under the law, they can only be reported if they are convicted of a felony or charged as an adult. It’s estimated that 160 youths were reported...

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Parking lot may be draining Port coffers

A prime Fisherman’s Wharf parking lot operates with little oversight and cost the Port of San Francisco nearly $600,000 in unreported revenue and overcharges during a two-year period, according to a city controller’s audit released Monday. The Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant Association, a coalition of 11 establishments, has had an agreement with the Port since 1982 to operate a 286-car parking lot that its businesses surround. But now, the two are locked in a fierce battle about who will control the lot at the corner of Taylor and Jefferson streets in the future. The city audit, requested by the Port, doesn’t seem to help the association’s cause. It...

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Supes to vote on spending $7M

Four months into the fiscal year, the Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on whether to spend $7 million in the city’s approximate $25 million operating budget reserve fund to prevent the laying off of more than 150 certified nursing assistants and clerical workers. The spending plan is being pushed by the Service Employees International Union Local 1021, the largest city employees union which represents the health...

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Supes OK Lush Lounge relocation

For nine years Lush Lounge has operated along Polk and Post streets but were forced to relocate after “they recently experienced a significant lease rate increase,” according to Police Department Inspector David Falzon. Falzon’s duties include reviewing liquor license transfer applications and recommended to the Board of Supervisors whether to approve the transfer or not as well as adding conditions on to the approval. The Board of Supervisors City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee unanimously approved Lush Lounger’s liquor license transfer application so it could reopen at 1221 Polk Street, between Bush and Sutter streets. The business was praised...

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Cap on number of supe aides lifted to exceed two

Members of the Board of Supervisors can now hire more than two legislative aides. Proposition B was placed on the ballot to remove the specific number of aides allowed per each member of the Board of Supervisors. The City Charter says the 11 members can each only have two aides. The change allows the members to have as many as they want, within the constraints of the board's budget. Each aide earns between $69,500 and $93,100 annually. Proponents of the proposition said the additional aides would expand residents' access to city government....

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Cat declawing now a crime in The City

San Francisco has become the first major city in the nation to outlaw the declawing of cats. Some pet owners declaw their felines to protect themselves, or their furniture, from scratches. But pet advocates condemn the practice as animal cruelty. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 to enact a ban on the declawing of cats. Supervisors Sean Elsbernd and Michela Alioto-Pier voted against the legislation. “It is well-documented and well-understood from a medical prospective that [declawing] is torture. It is a form of animal cruelty,” said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who introduced the legislation. Other California cities are considering adopting similar bans. The...

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Supes greenlight CleanPowerSF search

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation Tuesday in a second and final vote to allow The City issue request for proposals for companies to help San Francisco get into the green energy business. Tuesday’s vote is a significant step for the City to move forward with its CleanPowerSF program, which strives to provide at least 50% of CleanPowerSF's energy from renewable resources and energy efficiency within ten years. The City could have an agreement in place by May 2010 that aims to provide San Francisco’s power consumers with less-expensive energy from more renewable...

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Eviction protection proposal postponed

A vote on a proposal to extend eviction protections to tenants in about 20,000 rental units that have gone onto the market since June 1979 was postponed for at least a week on Monday by the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development Committee. The City requires that landlords offer “just cause” for evictions of tenants living in rental units built prior to June 1979 – the same units that have controls on rent increases – but no such protections are in place for those units built later than that date. Supervisor John Avalos introduced the legislation that would make “just cause” evictions apply to all rental units in the city. The...

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Night-club managers may be on call

On the same day the Board of Supervisors is voting on legislation to empower the Entertainment Commission to crackdown on problem nightclubs, the commission is voting to amend its so-called Good Neighbor Policy. On Tuesday at 5 pm the Entertainment Commission meets to vote on revising the policy to read: “In addition, a manager or other responsible person shall maintain a cell phone number for at least two hours after the close of business to allow for police and emergency personnel or other City personnel to contact that person concerning incidents that have occurred at establishment.” City officials are attempting to curb violence associated with problem night clubs. For...

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Debate on sanctuary policy unlikely

“I doubt it,” was the response of Mayor Gavin Newsom spokesman Nathan Ballard, when asked if the mayor would accept Supervisor David Campos’ invitation to publically debate the Board of Supervisors legislation that changed The City’s sanctuary policy. “The mayor has already determined the right course of action for city government,” Ballard said. “There is no need for further public spectacle.” Newsom said he will not enforce the law since it’s unenforceable. Campos’ disagrees. The legislation as adopted last Tuesday in an 8-3 vote by the board making the law veto-proof. Newsom went ahead and issued a veto, which is expected...

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Campos challenges Newsom to debate

Supervisor David Campos sent a letter to Mayor Gavin Newsom on Monday saying the mayor’s veto letter on the adopted sanctuary policy law “raises more questions than it answers, which is why I would like to extend a formal invitation for you and I to debate the matter publicly.” Campos wrote: “I hope you accept this invitation.” No word yet if Newsom will accept. The letter was written in response to Newsom’s vetoing of Campos’ legislation that was adopted into law last Tuesday in an 8-3 vote, making the law veto-proof. The legislation changes The City’s sanctuary policy to prohibit city officials from reporting undocumented immigrant...

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Pre-emptive move to curtail attack on CleanPowerSF

Supervisor Bevan Dufty said he heard from a Pacific Gas & Electric official that the company planned to start contacting constituents in each supervisors’ district telling them “what was wrong with” Community Choice Aggregation, otherwise known as CleanPowerSF, and was concerned there would be misinformation or misleading information spread about. Based on the warning, Dufty and other local officials gathered on the steps of City Hall on Friday as a sort of pre-emptive attack. The local officials were joined and supported by state Assemblymember Tom Ammiano and state Sen. Mark Leno. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation authorizing the issuance...

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Crime rewards paying off

Two separate $10,000 rewards offered for information in the solving of two murder cases are set to be authorized. On Wednesday, the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee is expected to approve two separate $10,000 rewards offered for information in the solving of two murder cases involving members of the Down Below Gang. The legislation to authorize the payment of the rewards was jointly introduced by Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Bevan Dufty. On Feb. 18, 2004, Mayor Gavin Newsom offered a $10,000 a reward for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who killed the Jovanie Banks and Michael Hill. The reward is for a witness who came...

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Commission to vote on allowing a chain pet store to open up shop in the Marina

As the Examiner reported back in August, a chain pet supply store’s plan to move into the Marina district is being fought against by pet boutique shop owners in the area. On Thursday, the Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on whether to grant the pet store a special permit required for a chain store to open for business in that location. Planning staff has recommended not approving the permit. San Francisco-based Pet Food Express has applied to open up a third city location in The City at Lombard and Divisadero streets. The business wants to move in to 7,000 square-feet of space once occupied by a Blockbuster store. The smaller boutique shops say the chain store would...

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Library’s new program yielding results

To help with the homeless using the San Francisco Public Library’s main branch in the Civic Center, library staff asked for help from the Department of Public Health. Health Director Mitch Katz recently reported that the effort is having success. The department has stationed a psychiatric social worker at the Main Branch who refers library patrons to city services and helps deal with patrons in a learned way. “This partnership has resulted in a marked decrease in behavioral incidents at the Main Branch,” Katz reported. “Surveyed library staff members report that the Main Branch has become a better workplace. So far, over 50 patrons have been engaged into case...

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Supes embrace Exploratorium’s waterfront move

The Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee supported on Wednesday a 66-year lease between the Port of San Francisco and the Exploratorium museum. The full board will vote on whether to approve the lead agreement and environmental review document on Nov. 3. The Exploratorium plans on moving from its existing home in the Palace of Fine Arts to Pier 15 and possibly Pier 17, if it decides to expand once they relocate there. “For the port, it will be an historic rehabilitation of a major important historic resource on the Embarcadero while we retain maritime uses and also create a new a attraction to attract visitors to the waterfront,” said Jennifer Sobol, the...

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Supes take an Afghanistan stand

The supervisors urged President Barack Obama on Tuesday to withdraw U.S. troops out of Afghanistan and “end the U.S. military occupation” of that country. The Board of Supervisors voted 8-3 Tuesday in support of a resolution introduced by Supervisor John Avalos that urges Obama “to stop the escalation of troops and begin to withdraw military presence in Afghanistan, in an orderly fashion, while providing humanitarian aid to support the recovery of the country from the effects of the war.” Avalos argued the resolution makes a difference for those “fighting for peace.” “I think there are so many people urging the world for peace that I think...

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Supes officially adopt sanctuary policy-change

The Board of Supervisors took its second and final vote on legislation that changes The City’s sanctuary policy. The legislation, introduced by Supervisor David Campos, prohibits city officials from reporting undocumented youth arrested on felony charges to federal authorities for possible deportation. They can only be reported if there is a conviction. The legislation was approved in an 8-3 vote. Supervisors Michela Alioto-Pier, Carmen Chu and Sean Elsbernd opposed it. Mayor Gavin Newsom is expected to veto the legislation within 10-days. And the board has enough votes – it takes eight votes to overturn a mayoral veto – to overturn the veto. Newsom has also said that...

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Supes support state booze fee

The Board of Supervisors supports a statewide fee on alcohol. The board voted 9-0 Tuesday in support of a resolution urging the adoption of state assembly bill 1019, which was introduced by assembly member Jim Beall, that would impose a 10 cent per drink surcharge on wholesalers located in California who distribute alcoholic beverages to retailers for consumption in the state. The fee would pay for the costs associated with alcohol, such as treatment programs and emergency response. Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier recused herself, noting she had a stake in a wine-making business. Supervisor David Campos was absent for that vote. The resolution, which was introduced by Supervisors Bevan...

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Cat-declawing ban nears approval

The Board of Supervisors City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee approved on Monday legislation that would make it illegal to declaw cats in San Francisco. The full board is expected to vote to approve the ban next Tuesday, Nov. 3. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who introduced the legislation, said that “we believe that there are a great number of reasons why that this should be banned” noting that the practice is “animal cruelty.” The ban was recommended by The City’s Animal Control and Welfare Commission. Declawing is illegal in 20 countries, including most of Europe, Brazil, Japan and Israel. In the United States, Norfolk, Virginia and West...

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Killings way down, ‘baddest of bad’ locked up

San Francisco’s homicides are down by more than 50 percent, Lt. John Murphy told the Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee meeting Monday. “As of today, the homicides in 2007 totaled 87, in 2008 89, and today year-to-date in 2009 is 39,” Murphy said. Shootings that don’t result in a death are also down. Between January and September there were 114 incidents of nonfatal shootings and 146 non-fatally shot, down from 150 gun shot victim survivors in 2008 and 230 in 2007, during the same time in those years. “Many of the baddest of the bad, so to speak, are in custody now and their cases are coming to trial, and we are seeing that these individuals that...

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Charting future use of Muni substation

The future of the Muni substation in the Fillmore could soon -- and finally -- become clear. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi is hosting an Oct. 15 community meeting to find out what residents want to see there and what process The City should use to approve a final plan. The meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m., at the West Bay Conference Center, located at 1290 Fillmore, between Eddy and Turk streets. Mirkarimi is working with the Office of Economic and Workforce Development on a final plan for the substation’s...

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Should supes’ school committee live on?

One of seven Board of Supervisors committees, the City and School District Committee is up for a renewal, if the supervisors approve of its continuance. The supervisors do not have jurisdiction over the San Francisco Unified School District, but they do approve some funding for the schools, which gives them a certain amount of sway. The committee is not as lively as other supervisors’ committees and was in jeopardy of disappearing altogether. The committee was established by the board of supervisor in 2003. The committee is made up of members Supervisor Sean Elsernd, committee chair, two other supervisors and three school board members. This Thursday, the Rules Committee will...

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Daly to handcuff certain fundraising

Supervisor Chris Daly wants to prevent city employees from engaging in fundraising efforts for nonprofit organizations that support city departments. Legislation he has introduced to prohibit such an occurrence is before the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Thursday. It would require approval by the full board to become law. The proposal surfaced amid a heated political fight when Daly accused Newsom of “pay to play” politics....

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Newsom’s Treasure Island appointee before supes

Mayor Gavin Newsom has reappointed Claudine Cheng to the Treasure Island Development Authority Board of Directors for four-year term ending February 2010. For that to happen, she must pass muster before the Board of Supervisors. On Thursday, the board’s Rules Committee meets to vote on the appointment. Back in November, Cheng was among a number of candidates in a crowded race vying to represent District 3 on the Board of Supervisor, a seat vacated by termed out Aaron Peskin. The race was won by now Board of Supervisors President David Chiu. The Treasure Island board has 10 members, with seven appointed by the mayor. The board makes decisions around planning and redevelopment. It...

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Supervisors target plastic newspaper bags

San Francisco's ban on plastic bags may soon extend to newspaper delivery. The Board of Supervisors City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee is expected to meet Oct. 26 to vote on proposed legislation that would ban plastic newspaper delivery bags unless they are compostable or recyclable in the blue bins. The hearing comes just five days after a law mandating the sorting of garbage into three different bins kicks in....

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City moves to dismiss Fallay case

City Attorney Dennis Herrera has filed in a motion to dismiss a former building official’s lawsuit filed in San Francisco federal court against the city seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer is scheduled to hear the motion on Nov. 13. “[Former San Francisco building official Augustine “Gus” Fallay] is now suing the City and various of its employees, as well as two FBI agents and other defendants, based on the false and offensive allegations that he was terminated and prosecuted because of his race and for other improper reasons,” the motion said. “An employment arbitrator has already found that Fallay's...

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SF power changes charging forward

Next Friday, a key a vote is expected to take place that would authorize the issuance of a request for proposals for Community Choice Aggregation, commonly referred to as CleanPowerSF, a city effort underway to supply cleaner power, more energy created by renewable resources like wind, to customers than is currently supplied. A draft request for proposals was released late Thursday afternoon. Responses to the RFP are expected to be due on Dec. 29. The draft rfp seeks a “single proposer to provide comprehensive energy procurement, resource generation development and customer and administrative services.” Experience sought includes long-term power purchase agreements,...

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More financial support for future City College grad

Impoverished citizens ought to tap the $300 million in government resources that go unclaimed in The City each year, and Mayor Gavin Newsom says he knows one way they should use those funds. Calling a college education the “pathway out of poverty,” Newsom today was at City College of San Francisco to launch the expansion of a project that helps low-income residents pay the bills while getting an education. Counselors in the program, called Single Stop, search for government benefits residents may be eligible for and guide them through the application process, the mayor’s office said. They also provide financial counseling, legal assistance and free tax preparation...

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Presidio road closure causes ‘unrest’

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier said a temporary closure of the Presidio Boulevard “has caused a great deal of unrest” and called for hearing Tuesday to learn about the findings of the closure. On Sept. 29, the boulevard was closed to vehicles between West Pacific Avenue and Simonds Loop, and Crissy Field Avenue was shut down on its one-way uphill portion. The temporary closure was done by transportation officials who are testing out traffic calming measures in anticipation of the construction on the nearby Doyle Drive, which carries traffic on and off the Golden Gate Bridge. The study is being monitored by San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Presidio...

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Daly wants city to spend $150K in aid relief

Supervisor Chris Daly introduced an ordinance Tuesday that if approved would have the City spend $150,000 in emergency aid relief. The money would be split equally in three ways for the people of the Philippines, Samoa and Indonesia, countries hit hard by either a typhoon or an earthquake. The money would come out of the City’s operating budget’s reserve fund, which has about $20 million. But the City is laying off workers, facing mid-year cuts and projecting a deficit of at least $350 million next fiscal year that begins July 1. “I think we have the responsibility to pitch in,” Daly said. “We are not talking about an enormous sum of money but it’s...

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Chiu seeks new car garage, parking controls

Board of Supervisors President David Chiu introduced legislation Tuesday that would make it more difficult to evict tenants and then build a car garage, and also change the number of parking spaces allowed per dwelling unit in San Francisco’s northeast neighborhoods. “A recent survey of new garage permit applications show that almost a half of all permit application to build new garages there have been a previous mass eviction involving the Ellis Act,” Chiu said. (The Ellis Act, which state legislators passed in 1986, granted landlords the legal right to evict tenants if they no longer wanted to rent out their housing but sell it on the market instead.) “Working...

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Newsom: mid-year cuts expected

Mayor Gavin Newsom told the Board of Supervisors Monday that “we will continue to closely monitor the state’s plan for implementation of spending reductions and we plan to work closely with the Board of Supervisors to address our financial challenges during the coming year. What this means is that Newsom is planning on making mid-year cuts later on this fiscal year “due to the economic climate.” Indications of challenges facing the city’s budget include the Sheriff alerting Newsom and supervisors of the need for millions of more dollars to handle the uptick in jail population, a budget worry that the Examiner reported first. Also, the city’s most...

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Fees keeping food vendors away

Last Sunday there was a festival in the Excelsior District, but there was one problem. “Unfortunately, everyone who came was pretty hungry because there weren’t any street vendors who could afford the $700 fee for providing food at the festival,” Supervisor John Avalos, who represented that neighborhood, said Tuesday. The fee hike was part of a number of fee increases included in Mayor Gavin Newsom proposed city budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. Avalos requested on Tuesday that the City Controller’s Office analyze the impacts of the fee increase on vendors who serve food at street fairs throughout the...

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Polk Street sees tougher smoke shop controls

It just got a lot tougher to open a business along Polk Street if it plans to sell any tobacco smoking paraphernalia items. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation Tuesday that requires any business that wants to sell tobacco smoking devices along Polk Street to obtain a special permit. The permit could be appealed to the Board of Supervisors, who could vote to reject it. The targeted businesses sell items such as hookahs and hand or water pipes, commonly used to smoke marijuana, along with other products. Selling drug paraphernalia is against the law, but the pipes are considered legal because they are also said to be used to smoke tobacco products. The legislation...

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SF’s skateboarding laws could change

Supervisor John Avalos said Tuesday that he is requesting a legislative analyst survey of skateboarding laws in California and elsewhere in the nation “and see what we might be able to apply here.” The request comes after Avalos watched a video of a group of skateboarding youth being cited for skateboarding on the sidewalk. “My children are really starting to have a lot of fun with skateboards,” Avalos said. But after watching the video, he said he realized that “my children perhaps are maybe breaking the law. I think it’s important for us as a city understand what our laws mean towards skateboarding in terms of skateboarders’ ability to move...

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Mar: Thanks Hellman, but bike parking needed

By most accounts, last weekend’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass was a hit, as usual. Supervisor Eric Mar praised the event, but also found something “appalling” as well. “One incident and visible incident that concerned me quite a bit was the lack of bicycle parking and how people will put their bicycles on top of trees. It was just appalling to see so much of that,” Mar said. “But I think it could be resolved with much more bicycle parking.” Despite these “appalling” sights, Mar said: “I just wanted to first thank Warren Hellman and the organizers of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival this weekend. My daughter and I really...

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Supes back Muni ‘backbone’

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved unanimously a $30 million agreement to improve Muni’s Advanced Train Control System. The system controls the location, speed and routing of trains and the braking of the Light Rail Vehicles in the Muni Metro subway system between the Embarcadero and the West Portal, which is considered the “backbone” of the transit system, accounting for more than 120,000 daily trips. The contract is between the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Thales Transport & Security Inc. Before the system was introduced there were 23 to 26 trains running per hour and after the system was installed there were 60 trains per hour, or...

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Supes OK financing ‘green’ upgrades

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Tuesday a “green loan” program to help property owners pay for green upgrades of their buildings, which will help San Francisco reduce its carbon emissions. Supervisor Eric Mar, working in collaboration with the mayor’s office, introduced the legislation to create the program. Financing tools will help property owners afford to pay for such things as window replacements, efficient lighting installation, solar installations and rainwater capture. “This program would help us reduce significantly our city’s green house gas emissions much of it which comes from local buildings and at the same time also reduce our...

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Supes OK $90K settlement for former PIO

Rose Dennis, a former public information officer for the Recreation and Park Department, was awarded a $90,670 settlement Tuesday when the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the payout. Dennis had filed a complaint against the city. The complaint is not considered public because it is a personnel matter, but it reportedly included allegations of religious and sexual harassment. It is thought to be related to a report that Dennis, who is no longer with the department, was reassigned after she filed a complaint against then department head Yomi Agunbiade. Dennis submitted the claim April 2. Agunbiade is also no longer with the department, having reportedly been forced out by...

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Community development sees new oversight

The Board of Supervisors gave unanimous and final approval Tuesday to changes in how the citizens’ community development advisory committee functions. The committee helps guide the city in how to spend federal dollars on development projects. The new committee structure was proposed with the help of Supervisors Chris Daly and John Avalos following a consolidation between the Mayor’s Office of Housing and the city’s community development. The existing community development advisory committee of 17 members will be reduced to nine, each of whom will be appointed by the mayor, subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors. The committee's first business will be to...

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S.F. student develops clothing line, competes for $10K

Jesus Ballote, an 18-year-old San Francisco student, developed a company called Chuyz Fresh Fits, which focuses on urban clothing, and became a finalist in the 2009 OppenheimerFunds/NFTE National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. Ballote will present his business plan to a panel of judges and compete for a $10,000 grand prize during the competition Wednesday in New York City. What sparked your interest in this venture? The fact that I could help people find and buy what they want and need. What neighborhood in The City did you grow up in? In the Fillmore district. Why urban clothing? I’ve seen a lot of urban youth and they are wearing a lot of baggy jeans. [My items] are...

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Public Works Dept. accident yields $1.75M payout

The City has reached a $1.75 million settlement agreement with the surviving family members of a 66-year-old woman who was struck and killed in a crosswalk by a Department of Public Works employee driving a pickup truck. On April 11, 2008, Florencia Tiongco was crossing Bayshore Boulevard around 8:15 a.m. on a green light. A Department of Public Works employee was driving eastbound on Bacon Street in a city-owned Ford F-250. The driver, who also had a green signal, turned left and fatally struck Tiongco, the lawsuit said. The city worker failed to yield to the right of way of a pedestrian in a crosswalk and was driving at an excessive speed, the lawsuit said. The settlement agreement...

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Supes to vote on $30M Muni contract

As the Examiner reported Sept. 24, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is seeking the Board of Supervisors approval of a $30 million agreement with Thales Transport & Security Inc. The contract comes before the full board on Tuesday. The contract would allow the agency to pay for improvements to the MTA’s so-called Advanced Train Control System. During September’s board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee meeting MTA spokesman Judson True said the system “is crucial because it controls the location and speed of trains and routing of trains and the braking of our LRVs in the Muni Metro subway system between the Embarcadero and the West...

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Groundbreaking set for hospital rebuild

The City is moving forward with its $887.4 million rebuild of the San Francisco General Hospital, with a ground breaking scheduled for Oct. 22. The voters approved the $887.4 million bond to rebuild the hospital for it to meet state seismic standards. The project is scheduled to be complete in 2015. The hospital operates the only trauma center in the city. The hospital also provides 20 percent of the city’s inpatient hospital care. The top reason people come to the hospital is to give birth. The new hospital will have a seismically safe base that can move 30 inches in any direction. It will be a nine-story hospital with seven floors above ground and two below. About 60,000...

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City already planning for Xmas tree program

While Christmas may seem far off, it apparently is never too early to plan. The City has begun planning for another year of its Green Christmas Program, the Examiner has learned. The program was successful last year and apparently trees will become available again in November. Residents can order potted trees online for a fee, keep them at their house and decorate them and keep them healthy. After the holidays, the city will pick up the trees and then plant them somewhere....

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City Librarian seeks sculpture demolition

City Librarian Luis Herrera is asking the Library Commission Thursday to support the demolition of a 1960s Jacque Overhoff brick sculpture inspired by Medgar Evers, a civil rights activist who was assassinated in 1963. The sculpture is part of the existing Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library. The library plans to tear down the branch library and build a new one in its place and the sculpture, the library staff says, does not fit into that plan. “After a careful study of potential options, Library staff recommends that the Overhoff sculpture not be inserted into the design of the new Bayview Branch Library,” says a Sept. 28 Herrera memo to the commissioners. “Staff...

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Newsom to show off his report card

On Monday, Mayor Gavin Newsom is expected to release his very own “accountability” report card. The comprehensive report will list his many initiatives, pledges and the like that he has made as the leader of tThe City, then detail how successful they were. It will include details such as if they’ve been implemented, or if they are in the process of being implemented or if they were just outright abandoned. The report will be available online for all to read....

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Alioto Veronese eyes elected office

Joe Alioto Veronese, once a police commissioner and who made an unsuccessful bid for senator in a race with the likes of Joe Nation and Mark Leno, is making a go at becoming a member of the Democratic County Central Committee in 2010. This committee is often used by the politically ambitious to gain exposure and contacts to make a run for positions like a seat on the Board of Supervisors. Veronese has filed papers to form a political committee to begin raising money for the race. Recently, former Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin and fellow progressives gave the DCCC a whole new reputation and cast it into the political spotlight. It once was a little-known political...

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Medallion plan seeks cash for city coffers

A new proposal to change the way San Francisco’s coveted taxi medallions are distributed aims to improve service, but also generate income for The City, according to an advocate of the plan. The cab industry, however, has historically been sensitive to changes. The system for doling out taxi medallions, which permit a driver to work in The City, has been in place for decades. Drivers wait for years to obtain the limited number of medallions, of which there are only 1,500. Most are generally in the hands of older drivers who eventually begin leasing them out to others, although medallion holders are supposed to meet an annual driving requirement to legally hold on to them. There...

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Supes back radio station

A resolution encouraging Ed Stolz, the new owner of FM 92.7 to continue with the LGBT radio format of Energy 92.7 was approved by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. The resolution, introduced by Supervisor Bevan Dufty, said that the board “urges Mr. Ed Stolz to reconsider his choice to abandon the successful format of Energy 92.7 and rehire the talented staff that provided a radio format that was adored and appreciated by so many fans throughout San Francisco and the Bay...

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$40K gift for city van purchase

The Board of Supervisors approved a $40,000 gift Tuesday allowing the Police Chief to spend it on the purchase of two new passenger vans. The gift was donated by the Supporters of the San Francisco Police Department’s Wilderness Adventure Youth Program. The program, run by the police department, brings kids on wildness trips. “We are deeply impressed with the activities of this program and are happy that it will again be possible to have vans available that can meet the school district requirement for transport of its students,” said Walt Scott, president of the support group, in a...

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Supe welcomes President's Cup to The City

Supervisor Sean Elsbernd introduced a resolution Tuesday welcoming the Presidents Cup to San Francisco, which will take place on the Harding Park golf course, which is in Elsbernd’s district. The world’s greatest golfers will hit the links from Oct. 6-11. Not only that but “we are expecting no only big names in the golf world but big names in the political worlds, big names in the entertainment worldm,” Elsbernd. President Barak Obama is expected to attend, along with Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and George Bush. “You can expect well over 100,000 spectators,” Elsbernd said, and the event will be broadcasted in more than 200 counties....

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New community development oversight

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Tuesday changes to how the citizens’ community development advisory committee, which helps guide how federal dollars are spend on projects. The new committee proposal came after a consolidation between the Mayor’s Office of Housing and the city’s community development. The approval Tuesday means the existing community development advisory committee of 17 members to nine, each of which will be appointed by the mayor, subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors. Among the major undertakings is putting together a five-year plan on how to spend $200 million in federal funding during the next five...

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Supes vote on Muni substation postponed

The Board of Supervisors postponed a vote Tuesday on whether to buy back an old Muni substation on Fillmore Street from the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, which failed in its plans to transform the vacant building into a well-used jazz facility. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said the redevelopment agency needs to hold another meeting on the proposal before the board votes on it. The Board of Supervisors is now scheduled to vote Oct. 6 on the deal. The redevelopment agency purchased the building, once used to house large electricity-generating turbines for streetcars, from The City in 2003 for $900,000. The plan was for the agency to convert the building into a jazz center or some...

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Businesses bound by red tape

In a city known for its restaurants and bars, opening new locations is hindered by outdated and imposing obstacles, officials say. The City adopted neighborhood commercial district zoning laws 20 years ago in an effort to keep the unique character of communities in the face of mounting development and economic pressures. But the controls, which have been subjected to “piecemeal” changes, are outdated and prevent desirable businesses from moving into neighborhoods where they would be welcome along commercial corridors, according to City Planner Dan Sider, who presented the department’s NC@20 report to the Small Business Commission last week. The 76-page report examines...

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Grocery worries mount

A grocery store will be rebuilt where a Cala Foods is now, but that’s not calming the fears of Nob Hill residents. The Cala Foods supermarket at the corner of Hyde and California streets will close for good when its lease expires Dec. 31 of next year. In its place, San Francisco-based development company Prado Group plans to build 107 condominiums and 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail that will include another grocery store. Residents agree that they want another supermarket to replace Cala Foods, a one-story building that has been at the location since the 1960s, but just as important is the type of store that would move in. The community doesn’t need a high-end...

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October 5 is a politically loaded day

October 5 has become one of those days brimming with loads of political activity. Supervisor David Campos’s immigration legislation, which is opposed by Mayor Gavin Newsom, is expected to undergo its first hearing before a Board of Supervisors committee on that Monday. Mayor Gavin Newsom is expected to be in Los Angeles on Oct. 5 campaigning for governor with Democratic power house Bill Clinton offering a ringing endorsement at two campaign events. And Oct. 5 is also the deadline for Newsom to submit to the Board of Supervisors his plan for addressing the city’s budget shortfall of about $8 million as a result of the impact of the state’s budget...

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From ‘dumping ground’ to vibrant waterfront

Kimberly Brandon was praised during the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee hearing Thursday for her years of service on the Port Commission and her reappointment was then supported. It is expected to be confirmed by the full board. Brandon, who was chair of the commission when it selected the developer of the Ferry Building, said one of her main focuses is the southern waterfront. “It just became a passion of mine to bring the resources to the southern part of the city. And with the development of Mission Bay and now with the possible development of Seawall Lot 337, the Giants parking lot, and Pier 70 -- the southern waterfront, there is just so much that can be on it. And just...

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Bringing your own bag could pay

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who spearheaded the movement that made San Francisco the first city to ban plastic bags in large grocery stores and pharmacies, requested on Tuesday that the City Attorney draft legislation that would require retailers to financially reward patrons who opt not to use the bags that businesses provide to carry purchases but instead provide their own. The request submitted reads: “draft legislation to incentivize retail patron’s use of reusable, self supplied shopping bags by mandating a $.10 rebate from the retailer for each shopping bag utilized by the...

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Surf photographer graces Chu’s office

Supervisor Carmen Chu is hosting in her City Hall office an opening reception on Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. for surf photographer and filmmaker Elizabeth Pepin. Pepin’s series of Ocean Beach photographs will remain on display in Chu’s office through November. Pepin is a native of the Sunset District who grew up “playing along California's coastline. She learned to surf in 1986 and has been capturing the women's surf scene with her cameras since 1997,” according to her Web...

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Lobbyists for The City start to comply

Director of the Ethics Commission John St. Croix is reporting that lobbyists who are contracted by The City to lobby on its behalf have filed the required disclosure reports. An Examiner investigation discovered that those lobbying on the city’s behalf had violated the city’s local sunshine laws by not filing since 2005 the required reports with the Ethics Commission. The filings are supposed to show lobbyist activity, including payments received and what they lobbied for. “Staff worked with the Mayor’s Office, the Public Utilities Commission, and the San Francisco Airport, which are the only City departments that hire lobbyists to lobby on behalf of the...

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Commission to vote on Gascón's power

Legislation that would allow San Francisco's new police chief to appoint people from outside The City's police department to command staff positions will be voted on by the Civil Service Commission at a special meeting Friday. Supervisor David Campos has introduced legislation that would amend The City's Administrative Code, so Police Chief George Gascón could make such changes, which would also include promoting from the department's lower ranks. The commission meets at 12:45 pm at City Hall in Room...

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Commission hears school expulsion reform pitch

The Youth Commission will meet Tuesday and hear a presentation from School Board member Jane Kim about a resolution she had introduced to the school board. Kim’s resolution state’s that “there still remains an overwhelming need for further reform to address the alarming rise in the suspension/expulsion rates for SFUSD.” Included in the resolution is a call for devising alternatives to suspension and expulsion of students and a requirement of the superintendent of schools to issue a public report at the end of the 2009-2010 school year with a detailed a plan that would be implemented in the subsequent school year to expand the alternatives to expulsions and...

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Sunday Streets to continue next year

The popular Sunday Streets program will return next year with even more routes and longer hours. “We have created a new tradition in San Francisco that will improve our quality of life for years to come,” Newsom said in a statement. Sunday Streets was launched by Newsom in 2008 with two events. His idea of closing roads for exclusive use by pedestrians came from a similar event which began in the 1980s in Bogota, Colombia, where it’s called “ciclovia,” the Spanish term for “bike path.” The city concludes this year’s Sunday Streets events this Sunday....

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City wants input on how to spend $200M

The City is holding six meetings, each in different neighborhood, for residents, business owners, nonprofit groups and others to weigh on how it should spend $200 million in federal funding during the next five years. “Participate in the process and make a difference in your community,” says a city brochure advertising the meetings. The City can spend the money on such things as construction of affordable housing, the expansion of community centers, small business assistance, improving commercial facades, small business loans and employment training. The funds must “primarily” benefit low- and moderate-income people. The first the meetings is Sept. 9 at 6 pm....

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Ambulance response times report requested

It’s unclear just exactly when the report will come out, but the president of the Fire Commission, Victor Makras, has requested that Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White report on the performance goals for ambulance response times. Part of that request is to see how the responses in the southern portion of The City compare with response times elsewhere in San Francisco. Makras has asked the Hayes-White to deliver the report at her...

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Murad leaves Small Business Commission

Gus Murad, owner of the popular Medjool, a popular restaurant and bar in the Mission District that has hosted numerous political fundraisers, has resigned from the Small Business Commission. Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed him to the post in January 2006. Murad became embroiled in controversy this year when another property he owned benefited from a typo in the drafting of legislation, a typo which drew support from Mayor Gavin Newsom. Newsom and Murad became the target of sharp criticism from several members of the Board of Supervisors. Murad also found himself battling claims he was operating an illegal rooftop bar on top of his Medjool restaurant in violation of zoning laws. In a...

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Ed Jew sentenced to more than 5 years in jail

Former Supervisor Ed Jew was sentenced today to 64 months behind bars after pleading guilty to extorting $80,000 in cash from local business owners. He will have to surrender on July 1 to serve the sentence. Jew pleaded guilty in October to soliciting cash bribes from owners of Quickly tapioca-drink shops in exchange for promising to help them obtain city permits to operate legally. Jew was under FBI surveillance when he accepted $40,000 in bills marked by federal agents, as a partial payment from the business owners. Federal prosecutors asked for a 57-month sentence for the charges of mail fraud, bribery and extortion. Jew's attorney Stuart Hanlon argued for a sentence of a year and...

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San Francisco seeks election cash

There may be money available from previous elections. Under state law, The City is legally allowed to obtain reimbursement for the cost of holding elections from jurisdictions such as BART, San Francisco Unified School District and City College of San Francisco. It appears, however, that the Department of Elections has historically failed to collect the money, and now city officials want the jurisdictions to pay up for past dues. Budget Analyst Harvey Rose’s office discovered City College failed to reimburse $247,161 for the November election of its board of trustees, and subsequently found it had failed to reimburse The City for other elections. “When [Director of...

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S.F. voters may see bond for street repairs

This November, voters may be asked to approve a $309 million bond recommended by the Department of Public Works to pay for street repaving and sidewalk repair. During the next five years, The City projects that total of $238 million is needed to maintain the current condition of its streets and another $439 million would be required to address the backlog of streets in disrepair. “There is a recognition and full acknowledgment that any investment now decreases the maintenance costs later,” said Adam Van de Water, assistant director of The City’s Capital Planning Program. “A dollar spent today is five dollars spent down the...

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Attorney blames head injury for Ed Jew's actions

The former supervisor about to be sentenced for extorting money from local business owners is blaming his crimes on brain damage. Ed Jew pleaded guilty in October to soliciting $80,000 in cash bribes from owners of Quickly tapioca-drink shops in exchange for promising to help them obtain city permits to operate legally. Jew was under FBI surveillance when he accepted $40,000 in cash as a partial payment. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston is scheduled to sentence the former District 4 supervisor Friday for federal charges of mail fraud, bribery and extortion. Federal prosecutors are asking for a 57 month sentence. Jew deserves leniency in his punishment, however, because he suffers from...

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Land sale could net city $35 million

The last plots of land from a torn-down freeway may go on the market, but the weak economy could bring prices down. The sale of the parcels where the Central Freeway once stood is a final piece of the project, nearly 20 years in the making. The freeway’s removal, which began after it was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and the construction of its replacement, Octavia Boulevard, left a trail of 22 vacant parcels totaling about 8 acres. Many of the parcels were already sold, raising about $23 million to pay for the construction of Octavia Boulevard. The remaining city-owned plots are now expected to enter the real estate market. Mayor Gavin Newsom has submitted...

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S.F. board encourages dinner by candlelight

Romantic candlelight dinners this weekend may come without a fee that is usually imposed by The City. The City requires a $270 permit for use of “open-flame devices in public assembly,” which would require restaurants to pay that fee if they only use candles. The reason that’s an issue this weekend is that Saturday evening is the annual Earth Hour event. Earth Hour is an international movement where everyone is asked to turn off their lights for one hour “to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.” In San Francisco, that hour is between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier...

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Air-travel costs soar past $1M

City departments plan to spend about $1 million in airfare and more than $100,000 in new fees imposed by Mayor Gavin Newsom on officials taking to the friendly skies. Air-travel spending in previous fiscal years is unknown because departments paid for it out of their lump “travel” budgets. But for this budget cycle, Newsom ordered departments to isolate airfare in their proposed budgets, which were submitted last month. As The City faces a projected deficit of more than $460 million, the departments propose spending a combined $1.2 million on air travel next fiscal year, according to data from the Controller’s Office. Newsom has also asked departments, for the first...

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Incentives offered to stimulate S.F.'s ailing movie industry

If you pay them, they will film. That’s the gist behind offering moviemakers a larger rebate for filming in San Francisco, a move aimed at breathing new life into The City’s ailing movie industry. The film industry, which boomed in the 1990s, reached an all-time low in 2003 and the first half of 2004. The loss of movie magic in San Francisco comes with an economic toll. Between 2001 and 2006, 1,099 film-industry jobs were lost, along with more than $123 million in spending and more than $8.4 million in tax revenue, according to a Film Commission report. In an effort to reverse that trend, the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on legislation Tuesday that would...

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Officials balk at data-center move

The City’s problem-plagued data center is turning into a heavy budget burden. Located in a costly space at 1 Market Plaza, the critical system that houses e-mail, payroll and public-safety data for The City needs to move. The Department of Technology said the data center is “aging [and] in need of considerable upgrades,” and poses security and system-failure risks. To compound the matter, rent on the space skyrocketed by more than 50 percent, the department said, leaving The City on the hook for $83,965 per month. The department, however, has failed to come up with a long-term alternative site, and it faced criticism from the Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance...

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