The nonprofit organization contracted by the San Francisco Police Department to set up neighborhood watch groups as The City struggles to combat crime has no idea how many of these groups remain active and, in many cases, what they are doing, according to a city report.During the last seven years, 333 neighborhood watch groups were officially started by the nonprofit San Francisco SAFE, which was paid $590,000 for its services this year under its contract with the Police Department, according to a report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
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Some police officers stationed at the San Francisco International Airport could wind up helping to patrol violence-plagued neighborhood streets under legislation approved on Tuesday.Looking to boost the number of officers out patrolling city streets as San Francisco tries to combat the high rate of violent crimes and homicides, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi drafted legislation requiring police Chief Heather Fong and airport director John Martin to figure out by July 1 whether any of the police officers stationed at the airport could be redeployed.
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Following a patient’s death at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center that resulted in a $100,000 state fine, hospital officials on Monday defended the quality of care at Laguna Honda and said the fine is being appealed.After questions were raised over the October 2006 death of an 82-year-old patient, who suffered severe dementia and is believed to have fallen from a third story window to her death, Supervisor Ed Jew called for a hearing Monday at City Hall to address patient care at the hospital.
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Years of debate over extending closures of a main roadway in Golden Gate Park to Saturday appears over as an agreement brokered by Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Office was widely praised Monday.The negotiated deal allows for the Saturday road closure for about half of the 1.5-mile stretch of JFK Drive that is normally closed on Sundays. The closure will only take place for six months of the year, between April and September, not for the entire year.
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As soon as October, passengers flying out of the San Francisco International Airport could pass through security lines within seconds if they pay an annual fee and offer up very personal information.Five airports in the nation have implemented the so-called Registered Traveler program designed to provide frequent fliers with relief from the long waits in post-Sept. 11 security lines.
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The city agencies responsible for cleaning up streets and graffiti and caring for city parks could see a workforce boost under a proposal submitted Tuesday by Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin.Peskin said that years of budget cuts have led to "dirtier streets and less well-kept parks" and San Francisco is "sorely lacking city services that we need."
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The City’s golf course operation will be moving out of the red with a tinkering of the green — increasing the costs for city resident rates and implementing the first-ever discounted rates during times with the least golfer demand.
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Mayor Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday plans to set up an advisory board to better ensure that San Francisco Police Department officers are not conducting racial profiling.Following revelations that San Francisco has a higher rate of felony arrests of African-Americans compared with other cities, city officials said the data needed to be examined to determine if it was the result of biased policing.
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A group of neighborhood residents are fighting to save their new garden that has transformed what they call a long-standing eyesore in the Inner Richmond district. Three months ago, friends and neighbors of a vacant, privately owned parcel of land at Fulton and Stanyan streets joined forces and began transforming the spot into a garden with vegetable plants and flowers.
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A discount for 18- to 21-year-olds to ride Muni that would cost about $3.1 million a year could get the brakes put on it Tuesday when the proposal comes before the board that oversees the transit agency.Supervisor Jake McGoldrick is expected to make his case Tuesday for a $15 Fast Pass discount for those between the ages of 18 and 21 before the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency board of directors, which oversees Muni. McGoldrick will attempt to convince MTA board members to support implementing the discount on Jan. 1, 2008.
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San Francisco’s No. 1 industry — tourism — could suffer a blow as a result of another labor dispute, less than seven months after a hotel workers’ union ended a lengthy campaign to have conventions and visitors boycott area hotels. The union work force that is employed by 53 companies to set up and take down trade shows throughout the Bay Area, including the Moscone Center, San Francisco’s premiere convention arena, is threatening to strike if a contract is not agreed upon today.
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The price to enter a cab would decrease and the per-mile fare would increase, if a proposal put forth by the body that oversees The City’s cabs is approved.To help fund health care for San Francisco’s currently uninsured drivers, the Taxicab Commission is recommending the Board of Supervisors to approve an increase of the $5.35 charge for a one-mile ride to $5.40, the current $9.85 charge for a three-mile ride be hiked to $10.20 and the current $14.35 charge for a five-mile ride increase to $15.
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Less than three months before Mayor Gavin Newsom will introduce his proposed budget for The City, Supervisor Chris Daly introduced an ordinance Tuesday that would authorize a $28 million budget supplement to fund what he is calling a "housing package.""This is an item that is appropriate at this time for this board to consider," Daly said. "Yes, it is a large dollar amount on the face of it, but it is not significant compared to the struggles that working families face."
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San Francisco continued to ride the "green wave" Tuesday by becoming the first city in the nation to ban plastic checkout bags from large grocery and pharmacy chains.Opposed by grocers, legislation banning the plastic bags was widely supported by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, blaming the petroleum-based bags for littering city streets, harming wildlife, gumming up recycling machines and eating up fossil fuels.
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While the number of homicides dropped in 2006 compared to 2005, other violent crimes increased, according to statistics released Monday by the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.As 2006 drew to a close, Mayor Gavin Newsom and police Chief Heather Fong highlighted the fact that San Francisco had made progress in reducing the homicide rate — with 85 homicides last year and 96 in 2005 — as cities nationwide experienced spikes in homicides.
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