Neither city employees nor state employees receive “free” health insurance, pensions or anything else. These benefits are part of a total compensation package where government has wisely determined that to attract and retain talented professional employees it is important to offer a career benefits package. Read More

Golden Gate Park’s land is a precious resource that all San Franciscans can enjoy, regardless of income level, age or background. Unfortunately, pressures on the park became so overwhelming that, in 1998, the Recreation and Park Department finalized its own master plan after 10 years of input from city departments, neighborhood groups and individual residents. Read More

I read with interest The San Francisco Examiner’s Jan. 25 letter “Homeless takeover has ruined Main Library.” The San Francisco Public Library is committed to ensuring all our libraries are safe, open and accessible to the 7 million visitors we serve each year. Our partnership with the Police Department provides for staffing, training and enforcement to ensure our security officers act with professionalism and responsiveness. We have enhanced security at the Main Library’s entrances and exits and established clear behavioral rules to maintain order. Read More

The idea of the restorable salt ponds in Redwood City being developed into 12,000 new houses is ludicrous. In a sane world, Redwood City would not even consider permitting one single-family dwelling out there — why are they considering an entire city? I’ve heard the developers promising pie in the sky, but realistically those promises are seldom true for the people hearing them. Read More

My wife and I are seniors with disabilities living on Social Security, and we once enjoyed visiting The City’s Main Library on Larkin Street. Now that is no longer possible because of the library’s takeover by homeless loiterers. The two comfortable chairs in the main lobby where I could sit while my wife selected her books have been removed. Now I and other seniors must stand or sit on the steps or floor. On the second floor, there are two benches that cannot be utilized because the homeless are usually camped out with their junk spread out over the whole bench. Read More

As San Francisco prepares to host the America’s Cup, we should consider how best to ensure that every San Francisco neighborhood, not just the northern waterfront, shares in the economic gains. Let’s look for creative ideas that will distribute the wealth throughout The City. For example, the need to find a suitable location for Teatro ZinZanni if and when the Pier 27 attraction is forced to relocate might just be a unique opportunity to extend tourist dollars southward, specifically to the former Schlage Lock industrial site in Visitacion Valley. Read More