Brent Begin

Woman hit, killed in crosswalk

The number of pedestrian fatalities in The City continues to mount after a 70-year-old woman walking across Geary Boulevard at Ninth Avenue was killed Thursday morning after the driver of a white van struck her while making a left turn. It was the 23rd pedestrian fatality in San Francisco this year. Nearly half the traffic fatalities in San Francisco are pedestrians, a rate that’s more than four times the national average, according to a recent study by Transportation for America, a coalition of transit, housing and planning groups. The crash happened about 8:15 a.m. when the van, heading south on Ninth Avenue, turned onto eastbound Geary Boulevard and hit the woman, police...

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Van driver kills pedestrian in Richmond District

A woman walking across Geary Boulevard at Ninth Avenue was killed Thursday after the driver of a white van struck her while making a left hand turn, police said. The crash happened at about 8:15 a.m. when the white van going south on Ninth Avenue turned onto eastbound Geary Boulevard and hit the woman, police spokesman Officer Samson Chan said. She was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. She was pronounced dead hours later, Chan said. No one else was hurt. The driver stopped after hitting the woman and stayed for a police interview. There was no alcohol involved in the incident and the driver had a valid license, Chan said. He has not been charged or...

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Sunset district car fire not likely part of series

Police are searching for whoever torched a car in the Sunset district early Wednesday morning, though inspectors believe the arson is not related to previous fires that plagued the Richmond district and downtown earlier this year. The San Francisco Fire Department responded to reports of a vehicle fire near 34th Avenue and Taraval Street in the Sunset district at about 2:30 a.m. The fire was quickly extinguished and police have made no arrests. There was also no indication that it was related to a series of car fires over the summer, according to police spokesman Sgt. Wilfred Williams. More than a dozen vehicles burned in San Francisco in the month of July. A 62-year-old woman was...

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Mayor’s crime czar hands in resignation

The second high-profile resignation in the Gavin Newsom administration came when Kevin Ryan, director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, resigned Tuesday. The departure comes on the heels of the mayor’s press secretary, Nathan Ballard, resigning Monday and just weeks after Newsom dropped out of the race to be governor of California. Ryan was hired away from a private practice by Newsom in January 2008 as a rising homicide and violent crime rate plagued the administration. He made an immediate impact on city policy by reversing a politically embarrassing practice of shielding undocumented youth who committed crimes. During his two years in the office, making about...

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Firefighters training for underground explosions

A scourge of underground explosions in electrical vaults has the Fire Department training its workers to deal with subterranean blasts. A handful of explosions and fires in underground vaults operated by Pacific Gas and Electric, which is the power supplier for San Francisco, has the utility teaming up with the Fire Department to train firefighters in safely putting out the blazes. That partnership includes PG&E purchasing a new truck for the department that is specially designed to fight the vault fires. In the last few months, firefighters have been taking tests online to prepare for an underground explosion, with lessons ranging from electrical safety to responding to a...

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Cast your vote for I Love SF Water videos

What do anti-plastic bottle teddy bears, a cheerleader and a living room quartet have in common? They’re among the contenders for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission I Love SF Water video contest. It took about four months to receive submissions, but now there are six videos ranging from slick to silly, and the PUC wants you to vote on the winner. See the videos...

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Supes seek consensus on police discipline reform

The Board of Supervisors is taking up an issue near and dear to police Chief George Gascon’s heart, reforming the police disciplinary process to rid the Police Commission of a serious backlog. Board of Supervisors President David Chiu called for a hearing on a charter amendment that may make it to the June ballot. By most accounts, the system is broken, Chiu said. Supervisor Sean Elsbernd was quick to point out that he already took up this issue 18 months ago, drafting a charter amendment to change the disciplinary process. He told Chiu on Tuesday that he’d be happy to dust off the old parchment in case Chiu wanted it for a reference in drafting the new one. The hearing is...

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SFFD to participate in cancer study

After dragging their feet a bit on participating in a national study on cancer among firefighters, the San Francisco Fire Department has agreed to help the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health collect data after all. While the delay caused some outrage from the firefighter’s union and a group of firefighters who have worked tirelessly to bring the issue to the fore, the department administration says it was just concerned about the confidentiality of firefighter records. Now that it’s all clear, the department will participate, Deputy Chief Gary Massetani recently told the Fire...

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City’s greening director takes post at EPA

Another Mayor Gavin Newsom appointment is off to greener pastures. Jared Blumenfeld, who served as director of The City’s Department of the Environment and interim head of Recreation and Park Department, will take on the job of administrator for Region 9 of the Environmental Protection Agency, which includes Arizona, California, Nevada and Hawaii. Employees at the EPA were notified this morning about the decision. Blumenfeld, an attorney who took on his role in the Department of the Environment in October, 2008, was not immediately available for comment. His enthusiastic approach to environmental issues found a sympathetic ear in Newsom. Blumenfeld was behind several issues, such...

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Gascon calls on civil rights expert for help

Police Chief George Gascon is putting together a workgroup to look at the entire promotional process within the SFPD, and he’s bringing in some high-profile help to do it. Constance “Connie” Rice, a civil rights attorney in Los Angeles known for fighting police misconduct and race and sex discrimination, could be leading that team. Read her bio here. The goal is to have a different testing process for the next promotional exam, a captain’s test, in October, 2010. Some officers, such as the four-decade old group, Officers for Justice, have long complained that promotions at the SFPD don’t encourage racial diversity. By the time we get to October of 2010...

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Gascón moves forward with changes

It looks like police Chief George Gascón was serious when he suggested changing the city charter to allow more power for police chiefs to discipline problem officers. Gascón is putting together a work group and hopes to have the paperwork for a ballot initiative in to the Department of Elections by Dec. 15, in time for the June, 2010, ballot. The chief wants to send fewer cases to the Police Commission, which is required to approve any disciplinary actions of more than a 10-day suspension. He says the chief should have the power to terminate an officer, while others would prefer to take a less drastic approach. The Police Officer’s Association has yet to weigh in on...

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SF officer under investigation again

It looks like Hanley Chan, a longtime San Francisco Patrol Special officer and candidate for the Broadmoor Police Commission, is in trouble again. The San Francisco Police Department, which oversees the Gold Rush-era security detail known as the Patrol Special, has leveled charges against Chan that he failed to keep valid worker’s compensation insurance while supervising an assistant patrol special officer, according to Police Commission documents. That assistant experienced a stroke while on duty – and all indications are that he won’t be covered for disability. Chan has already come under fire for a couple incidents, including a macho moment at a Los Angeles firing...

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Last chapter for seedy Tenderloin club?

A Tenderloin adult nightclub that earned the ire of neighbors and city officials alike for noise and violence was ordered closed by a Superior Court judge Wednesday. The club recently closed its doors voluntarily after the City Attorney’s Office filed a motion to shutter the nightclub, which would often operate after hours. The court ordered the club to stay closed for one year. The City Attorney’s Office complained of “illicit drug sales, prostitution, extended hours permit violations, illegal alcohol consumption, noise nuisance violations, and repeated episodes of violence and disturbances of the peace in the surrounding neighborhood, which includes nearby senior...

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Police scare Halloween revelers away from Castro

Apparently, banning Halloween revelry in the Castro was such a success in 2008 that the Police Department has gone with the same policy again this year. The San Francisco Police Department recycled a press release from 2008 to remind revelers that there’s a zero-tolerance policy on stuff that may or may not be tolerated in The City otherwise. “There will be no City-sponsored venue in the Castro district for Halloween, Saturday, October 31,” it reads. “There will be no official entertainment provided and no street closures are planned. The San Francisco Police Department will be enforcing a zero-tolerance policy regarding public drinking and any other criminal...

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Trial of suspected killer can include gang allegations

The trial of an illegal immigrant suspected of killing a father and two sons in the Excelsior neighborhood can feature gang allegations despite a lack of previous gang-related convictions, a judge ruled Friday. Edwin Ramos, 22, is charged with three counts of murder in the June 22, 2008, killing of Tony Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, 20, and Matthew, 16, as they returned home after a family picnic. Ramos also faces special allegations related to his suspected involvement in the Mara Salvatrucha gang, commonly known as MS-13. Several law enforcement witnesses took the stand in June and described arrests in Ramos’ past, such as on Oct. 22, 2003, when he allegedly took part in...

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Police honored 5 years after shootout

It took more than five years, but the San Francisco Police Department handed out 20 medals Wednesday night for a 2004 gun battle. Ten officers received the department's prestigious gold medal of valor, six received silver and three received bronze for a June 29, 2004 showdown in the Mission Terrace neighborhood. Gus Rugley, 21, was killed by San Francisco police officers after he began shooting at officers. Police said Rugley had several outstanding warrants, including one for attempted murder. Rugley was shot dozens of times by the officers and died at the scene. During the incident, officer Michael Lewis injured his head in a car collision. Lewis was awarded the Purple Heart. Why...

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District Attorney program is now statewide example

A San Francisco program started by District Attorney Kamala Harris is now an official example for California counties to emulate. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed AB 750, the Back on Track Reentry Act . The bill, authored by Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass and sponsored by Harris, encourages counties to use the San Francisco model. The program, created by Harris four years ago, is meant to reduce recidivism among nonviolent drug offenders by enrolling them in a job-training or educational program. So far, fewer than 10 percent of Back on Track graduates have re-offended compared to a 54 percent statewide average recidivism rate for the same population of offenders, according to...

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Anti-billboard ad hits the Internet

The backers of a plan to put billboards along a two-block stretch of Market Street may have picked up some key endorsements, DA Kamala Harris and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu among them. But opponents have hit back with an ad and Website warning San Franciscans that allowing signs in one area is the first step towards plastering the Golden Gate Bridge with an electronic stock ticker and advertisements for fresh meat. “If we allow them to exploit our city, where will it end?” asks the commercial, with major funding from San Francisco Beautiful. Watch the ad here. You can also check out a balanced, city-sponsored video here. By the way, officials coming out...

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Backlog of police discipline clearing slowly

Clearing the backlog of disciplinary cases at the Police Commission may not be moving as fast police Chief George Gascón had hoped. In the first week of settling low-level disciplinary cases against officers, only four or five cases were agreed upon, Gascón said. He had originally hoped to sweep about 20 out of the 70 or so cases out the door. Some cases have lingered years at the Police Commission, while officers plug away at desk jobs or retire before they can be punished. But Gascón remains confident. “If we can do four or five every week, then we’ll do a good job of clearing our backlog,” Gascón said....

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SFPD adopting corporate management techniques

In the spirit of a CEO, police Chief George Gascon is looking to a business management strategy to help find the weak spots at the San Francisco Police Department. Six Sigma, a process developed by Motorola, helps companies find defects in its structure. People who use the system rank themselves much like martial arts masters: yellow belts, green belts, black belts, and so on. Gascon said he wants to train his command officers in the practice, although the technique isn’t exactly 100 percent effective....

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Tasers for SFPD under debate

The use of Tasers by the Police Department is a matter of “when, not if anymore,” Chief George Gascón told The Examiner. Two recent officer-involved shootings and a high-profile case from last year have kept pressure on the Police Department to approve the use of stun guns, which have been rejected in the past. Gascón — who used a Taser in the early 1980s when they were adopted by the Los Angeles Police Department — said with the help of civil liberties advocates, San Francisco can develop a policy that avoids police abuse of the weapon. The most recent police shooting occurred Sunday night, when officers wounded a 27-year-old man they say was...

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Gascón’s first CompStat meeting in two weeks

The first of what police Chief George Gascón plans as a twice-monthly meeting to discuss crime statistics and police performance will be on Oct. 21. The four-hour CompStat meeting is open to the public and will take place, oddly enough, at a hotel. Gascón is having difficulties with choosing a permanent spot for the meetings, and only plans on having the first meeting there (the exact hotel hasn’t been divulged yet). Want to see a preview of what the CompStat reports may look like? Just check out this comprehensive report on crime statistics in Mesa, Ariz., where Gascón instituted CompStat when he was...

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Eight arrested on suspicion of intimidating a witness

A chaotic scene spilled out of a San Francisco courtroom Tuesday after a prosecutor accused a homicide suspect’s friends of intimidating the key eyewitness to a murder on a notoriously violent North Beach strip. Charles Heard, 25, of San Francisco, is charged with fatally shooting Richard Barrett, 29, in the back outside a cluster of bars and nightclubs on Broadway at Kearny Street on Nov. 25, 2008. The homicide happened at about 1 a.m. and police said the fight may have been over a medallion shaped like the Flintstones cartoon character Bamm-Bamm. A Texas woman who was in The City for a conference at the time said she was smoking outside a bar with a friend and saw the whole...

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Chief probation officer to call it quits

Patrick Boyd, a longtime corrections leader who has served as San Francisco’s Chief Adult Probation Officer since July 2008, will retire in January. The City’s probation officers have been stretched after years of budget cuts. Boyd told the Examiner last year that the office is dealing with probationer-to-officer ratios that are four to 10 times that recommended by national standards. There are 6,675 adults on probation in San Francisco. More than 84 percent are on probation for a felony. By comparison, an average of 47 percent of adults on probation nationwide were sentenced for a felony conviction. The San Francisco Superior Court, which is responsible for picking the new...

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Music promoter evolves with LovEvolution parade

A DJ and promoter by night, a child psychologist by day, Syd Gris is one of the originators of LovEvolution, an electronic music parade and festival that moves up Market Street for an all-day party at the Civic Center on Saturday. How did this festival begin? LovEvolution began as Love Parade in 2004. It was originally an event in Berlin that wasn’t exactly a protest, yet it was trying to send a message about peace, love and unity. You changed the name this year. Why? To make a long story short, they stopped licensing the Love Parade event. The Berlin board decided to concentrate on their own event. For our team, it wasn’t a really hard decision to keep putting on the...

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Arts Commission picks for Church-Duboce on display

Muni is planning a major renovation of the heavily trafficked area around Church Street and Duboce, and the Arts Commission has been charged with picking the candidate to provide the art. The Commission is showing the three concept finalists, starting today until Oct. 14 at the newly renovated Harvey Milk Recreation Center, 50 Scott St. Regular folks are encouraged to provide their input to the Commission. The three finalists, Rebar Group, Masayuki Nagase and Primitivo Suarez Wolfe, have created some interesting concepts for...

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Legal seminar in Mandarin, Cantonese on Friday

The City’s Chinese community is getting some legal advice from Public Defender Jeff Adachi on Friday – in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. “We are focusing on issues that are of most interest to Chinese and Chinese American residents, such as immigration, mental health and our Clean Slate program,” Adachi said. “We're also discussing the importance of jury duty and will give an overview of how the juvenile and criminal justice system works.” The event is at 2 p.m. at the Four Seas Restaurant, 731 Grant Ave. And just in case you didn’t know, 152,534 people identify themselves as having Chinese heritage in San Francisco, according to the latest...

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DA Harris to teens: Chris Brown-Rihanna abuse is not cool

District Attorney Kamala Harris kicks off Domestic Violence Awareness month at Galileo High School Thursday and is pointing to Chris Brown’s assault of his pop star girlfriend Rihanna as a prime example of the crime. “After the Chris Brown/Rihanna abuse scandal elevated the issue nationally, the DA partnered with local service providers to make sure young people understand what abuse is and how to be safe in relationships,” reads a press release for the event. Harris, who is running for attorney general in 2010, will gather with students at 11...

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Police discipline backlog could shrink after Wednesday

The Police Commission plans a brief review of its disciplinary caseload Wednesday after a special meeting on Treasure Island. The stagnant caseload has been a problem for officers and commissioners alike, with some cases taking more than five years to resolve. Police Chief George Gascon said he is committed to working with the Police Officers Association in providing amnesty for minor cases such as driving drunk while off-duty to using foul language during arrests. There are currently 62 disciplinary cases involving 69 officers and 2 patrol specials assigned to the Police Commission, according to commission secretary Lt. Joe Reilly. Of that total, 10 cases are appeals of suspensions...

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Muni crimes raising an alarm

Recent violent crimes on Muni and the failure of cameras to record them have various city leaders calling for change, but concrete plans have yet to be disclosed. The most recent high-profile crime on a Muni vehicle happened Saturday at about 9:45 p.m. when an adult passenger on a 14-Mission was stabbed after a fight with two men and one woman on the bus. A Muni official told The Examiner that the recorder for the up to six security cameras on the bus was not working at the time of the incident last weekend, leaving no footage available for a police investigation. As Mayor Gavin Newsom has pledged a crackdown on crime on the transit system, the lack of security cameras is one obstacle...

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Illegal immigrant guilty in drug charges despite trafficking claims

A San Francisco jury found a 23-year-old illegal immigrant guilty Friday of selling crack cocaine in the Tenderloin despite his claims that human traffickers forced him to do it. The case pitted the issues of human trafficking versus illegal immigrants who commit crime in the sanctuary city of San Francisco. While it is common for illegal immigrants to claim they are blackmailed into a life of crime, the cases rarely go to trial. After what jurors described as about seven hours of intense and at times heated deliberations, an applause came from the jury room as the decision was made. Jury foreman Daniel Ludwinski said he was one of the last to hold out against finding Rigoberto Valle...

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Firefighters to swim Alcatraz to fight cancer

It’s fire station versus fire station in an all-out competition of the “League Of The Strong, Cold And Courageous.” Firefighters will swim the chilly waters of the bay from Alcatraz to the mainland Friday morning and a trophy will be awarded to the first-place male and female swimmer. The station with the greatest participation will be placed on a perpetual plaque. All proceeds go to the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation. Cancer is a tough subject when it comes to...

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Seattle man’s scarring S.F. trip

The 49ers had some good hits in Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, but this one would surely be penalized. Keith Gustin, a 40-year-old network operation supervisor from Puyallup, Wash., has a fractured bone above his lip and a missing tooth in what he says was a sucker punch by a Niners fan after Sunday’s game in San Francisco. Gustin is a die-hard fan who attended his first Seahawks game in 1976. He has earned the nickname “Rooster” for the white and blue mask he wears to home games, complete with Mardi Gras beads and a Seahawks uniform emblazoned with the number 12. He was at a bar near Fisherman’s Wharf on Sunday, where he says a couple of rowdy 49ers...

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Gascon beefs up SFPD homicide unit

Police Chief George Gascon has approved a request by the deputy chief of investigations to move inspectors into the unit that investigates homicides. The homicide detail has long been criticized for its less-than-average record at making arrests in killings. One solution that was kicked around for years was transferring more inspectors to the detail. At times, because of retirement, injuries and restrictions on overtime, the homicide detail was at less than 18 inspectors. Now, after transfers from details such as robbery, narcotics and sexual assault, there are 31 inspectors assigned to homicide. Gascon’s success at clearing homicides in Mesa has been clearly documented. When he...

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Police arrest fake headhunter who promised jobs with Muni

Want a job with Muni? Do not contact Clarence Jackson. Jackson bilked at least one hapless victim out of hundreds of dollars with promises that he could place the victim on a hiring list for the San Francisco Municipal Railway, police say. Jackson, an Ingleside resident, allegedly pretended to be a city employee, complete with an official-looking county identification badge. He met the unidentified victim outside the McDonald’s at 1201 Ocean Ave. to take the money, promising in return a sweet gig with Muni, according to police spokesman Sgt. Wilfred Williams. Police would not reveal how much money was involved, but Jackson was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, meaning it had...

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New police emergency ops center in the works

The Police Department is one step closer to cashing in a $1 million federal grant for a new emergency operations center. The new center will go into a recently purchased building at 16th Street and De Haro which the Department’s tactical unit will call its home. The Department of Emergency Management already has a headquarters on Turk Street. Costs for setting up the new police emergency headquarters have been estimated at $50,000 for wiring and technology, including 10 laptop computers. The grant was one of three approved by the Police Commission on Wednesday. Funding for methamphetamine abatement and a new academy class were also approved. The grants still need approval from...

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Ouch! Gascón pops his knee on City Hall steps

It looks like police Chief George Gascón will start the season on the injury list. The chief hurt his knee while jogging a few weeks back and now he may need arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage. Gascón told the Police Commission on Wednesday evening that he realized it was time to see the doctor when he heard his knee pop as he was taking the City Hall stairs two at a time. Now, the salubrious chief is awaiting doctors’ orders as far as surgery goes. Let’s hope the injury doesn’t slow down the new chief, who is moving fast to restructure the department. The reorganization should start by November. He’s looking to promote a number of officers...

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Young Muni stabbing victim on road to recovery

Hatim Mansori, the 11-year-old boy stabbed while riding the 49-Mission on his first solo Muni ride, is in good spirits and looking to go home soon, according to San Francisco General Hospital spokeswoman Rachel Kagan. “Hatim is here and in good condition,” Kagan said. “They’re doing a lot better and hoping to leave in the next couple days.” Mayor Gavin Newsom paid a visit to the boy this week after he was stabbed by a yet-to-be-captured assailant. The mayor’s office even set up a fund for Mansori and his mother. Police said they are working with Mansori and another witness to create a composite sketch of the suspect, who witnesses described as a...

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Safety calls camera reliability into question

Evidence in at least two high-profile incidents involving Muni vehicles doesn’t exist and officials are still unsure how a man died Thursday because cameras inside Muni vehicles are either not installed, not working or unable to capture the action. The Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees Muni, is conducting a comprehensive review of the surveillance system to find out how many cameras are inoperable. Last week, for instance, there were at least 29 vehicles at one time that needed work on its camera systems. “It’s a significant number, and we’re working to address this unacceptable situation as quickly as possible,” said MTA spokesperson Judson...

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Furlough Wednesdays could spell trouble for courts

A monthly closure of San Francisco Superior Court scheduled later this month could have far-reaching effects, including an increased backlog of cases and longer jail stays. Starting Sept. 16, all state courts in San Francisco will be closed to the public on the third Wednesday of the month through June 2010. The decision impacts courthouses statewide and comes via legislation passed to close California’s multibillion-dollar deficit. In The City, closing the civil and criminal courts for 10 days, along with the Tenderloin Community Justice Center, will save about $2.5 million for the state, which funds the bulk of San Francisco’s court operations. But it also could throw a...

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Union reaches tentative plan to skirt layoffs

The labor union representing the largest group of city workers has reached a tentative deal with San Francisco to help bridge the budget gap and prevent layoffs. Service Employees International Union Local 1021 represents about 14,000 workers including nurses and clerical workers, according to the union. The mayor’s chief of staff, Steve Kawa, the Director of Human Resources Micki Callahan and Controller Ben Rosenfeld had been in late night negotiations with union representatives over wage increases set to go in to effect next week. The City had asked the union to give up about $36 million of the total $90 million in union concessions Mayor Gavin Newsom is hoping to achieve....

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Niners seek pricey park fixes

As it looks more and more likely that the 49ers will leave The City, the team has slapped taxpayers with a request for $61 million in repairs to Candlestick Park. Every year during the offseason, the 49ers sit down with the Recreation and Park Department to negotiate how much money will go to repair the team’s home stadium, which The City is obligated to maintain, according to 49ers spokeswoman Lisa Lang. Under the lease provisions, the Recreation and Park Department is required to keep the aging stadium in good order and repair. This month will mark the 49th anniversary of opening day at Candlestick Park. In 2007, the two worked out an agreement to allow $10.3 million in rent...

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Mayor’s wedding gala a real frame-up

How many picture frames can San Francisco's first couple use? Apparently, more than the 19 they received for their 2008 wedding. Mayor Gavin Newsom released his statement of economic interest Wednesday, which included, among a wide range of investments, an inventory of all his wedding gifts worth more than $50. Among Newsom and bride Jennifer Siebel Newsom's wedding loot were six pieces of glassware, two decanters, several candlesticks and 11 vases. Frames, including one from actress Molly Sims, were the most common gift. The big ticket item for the Newsom wedding was the hoedown-themed event itself. Financial tycoon Chuck Schwab and his wife, Helen, contributed $23,141 for the wedding...

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Fundraising battle looms

Mayor Gavin Newsom and District Attorney Kamala Harris may want to start checking each other’s calendars before tapping into the wallets of The City’s young professionals. The two, who are both exploring runs for statewide office in 2010, will hold dueling fundraisers Tuesday night -- competing for small-dollar donations from many in the same demographic. Newsom and Harris could one day be working closely in Sacramento in much the same capacity as they do now in San Francisco, with Newsom is all but officially running for governor and Harris has declared in the race for attorney general. But neither seems to be helping each other reach that goal. Harris raised eyebrows...

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Feds allocate more cash for Hunters Point cleanup

The federal government has committed another $81.6 million to clean up toxic waste in the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. The money will fund the removal of hazardous materials to clear the way for a massive $2 billion development by Lennar Corp. The amount, which is for the 2009-10 fiscal year, mirrors the $82 million dedicated to clean up the site in the current fiscal year. "These funds will allow The City to continue to move forward with plans to transform the long-abandoned shipyard from an environmental blight into a job-producing economic engine for all of San Francisco," Mayor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. Almost a half-billion dollars has been dedicated to...

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Massive city deficit only becoming worse

The grim fiscal outlook for San Francisco is growing darker. While city leaders will have to close a $438 million deficit by summer — which is less than previously thought — The City is still in the hole for $615 million in 2010 and $746 million for the next fiscal year, according to a report released Tuesday by the Controller’s Office. Local tax revenue, which comes from the transfer of property, sales tax and other factors affected by the national credit crunch, has steadily declined in San Francisco since last year. City forecasters are expecting the economy to stop its downward spiral by 2010, but the rebound will not mean instant prosperity. “San Francisco...

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Feds pave road to street repairs

Federal stimulus funds will fill a financial pothole for street-repair work in The City. California’s budget woes led to the state freezing about $11 million in funds guaranteed by voters. That money would have gone to road repairs. Luckily for San Francisco drivers, The City will receive about $11 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that has been allocated to smooth out stretches of crumbling corridors. The six projects chosen for the stimulus dollars — Jones, Turk, Bush and Divisadero streets, and Seventh Avenue and Geary Boulevard — were chosen not only for their state of disrepair, but also for the readiness of each. “It’s a...

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Nightclub problems grab attention of supervisors

Proposals to clean up The City’s nightlife will be back in the limelight today. Violence has long been in an issue in the popular party districts in San Francisco, including the South of Market area and North Beach, with fights and even murders occurring outside entertainment venues. Mayor Gavin Newson in February 2008 introduced a bundle of ordinances that were aimed at tackling some of the major issues from which violence stems, including loitering outside of the clubs. The Board of Supervisors City Operations and Neighborhood Services committee will today discuss three proposals meant to curb nightclub violence. One of those is Newsom’s loitering law that would allow...

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Pelosi trucks in millions for city

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrangled $34 million in federal earmark funding for San Francisco projects, ranging from big-ticket items such as the rebuild of Doyle Drive to several of Mayor Gavin Newsom’s projects, such as an environmental showcase at the Civic Center. Pelosi took part in bringing in the money from a $410 billion federal spending bill that President Barack Obama signed last week, according to information compiled by The Examiner. Some of the larger projects include $2.6 million to rebuild the seismically unsafe Doyle Drive — which is the southern approach to the Golden Gate Bridge — and $1.9 million for construction of the new Transbay Terminal. The...

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Willie Brown birthday bash halts labor talks

Talks between the Mayor’s Office and the largest labor union representing city workers were brought to a close near midnight Tuesday, as staffers — including mayoral Chief of Staff Steve Kawa — had to prepare for an early flight to Paris to celebrate former Mayor Willie Brown’s 75th birthday. The groups tried unsuccessfully to hammer out a deal until Kawa, the man responsible for the closed-door negotiations toward labor concessions, decided to end the meeting, union representatives said. Mayor Gavin Newsom, anticipating a projected deficit of about a half-billion dollars next fiscal year, has been trying to convince unions to concede about $90 million from city...

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