San Francisco’s coastal waters have risen 8 inches over the last century. While predictions for rising levels for the rest of this century vary, scientists predict that by 2054, water will have risen anywhere from 11 to 20 inches. According to the Pacific Institute, a global water think tank that actively attempts to influence the…
In a city where many lament that every square foot is seen as an opportunity to profit, Jean Bogiages recognizes that it takes hard work to fight for community spaces. A lover of Petanque ball and a frequenter of parks, Bogiages believes in the need for open public spaces for both mental and physical reasons…
Long a utopia for the artists and wanderers of the continental U.S., San Francisco is also an ideal landing pad for another kind of traveler: the honey bee. Due to its moderate Mediterranean climate, lax permit regulations, bounty of flora and fauna, and hippie spirit, the neighborhoods in San Francisco are swarming with urban beehives.…
At one time, Islais Creek was a vital source of fresh water for San Franciscans. About 85 to 90% of the City’s drinking water is believed to have come from it, and it helped early Portuguese, Italian, and Irish vegetable farmers in the Bayview District grow their produce during the 1850’s. The creek had two…
Four librarians at the S.F. Public library’s Potrero Branch share their personal recommendations for the best books about Environmentalism with The Potrero View. Suggested by Mary Ellen, Branch Manager and Children’s Services Librarian: 1. Redwoods by Jason Chin (ages 5 – 9) 2. Island: A Story of the Galápagos by Jason Chin (ages 8 –…
“He was always cooler than we’ll ever be.” – Chris Hilsenbeck Jordan, who split his time between California, New York and Colorado, was born in Boulder to Steve and Kate Hilsenbeck. For 50 years he wheeled his way through a life full of music, love and adventure, from the Hot Wheels he got for his…
Last fall, the Golden State Warriors made considerable progress toward securing approval for an arena to be located at Third, 16th, and South streets and Terry Francois Boulevard. The advancements came despite continuing opposition from the Mission Bay Alliance, a group of current and former University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) faculty and donors. “This…
A slightly higher percentage of registered voters in Potrero Hill cast a ballot during last month’s election than did so citywide; 46 percent compared with 45 percent. The modest participation suggests significant voter apathy, even in the face of what some called a referendum on San Francisco’s future. With the exception of the mayor’s race,…
Last month, incumbent Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi was defeated by former Chief Deputy Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, who took 62 percent of the vote. Hennessy, who was backed by the San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association and Mayor Ed Lee, was running for office for the first time. She conveyed a simple message: she’ll restore a troubled department…
The Potrero Boosters have been collaborating with other neighborhood groups – including the Dogpatch Neighborhood Association (DNA), South Beach/Rincon/Mission Bay Neighborhood Association, and Mission District merchants – to develop strategies to fill gaps in public transportation access in Southside neighborhoods. “We’ve been able to work well with our neighbors facing the same challenges, with slightly…
Fires sparking from homeless encampments located on a small strip of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) owned land between San Bruno Avenue and Highway 101 continue to pose a threat to nearby residents, and their homes. Since the View reported on the issue last month, multiple small blazes have been spotted in the area. Representatives…
The Warriors’ proposed arena would create more space for events, provide short- and long-term work for local unions, and likely generate additional profits for the team’s owners. “The idea of an 18,000-seat arena is quite exciting,” Bob Sauter, vice president and general manager of the SMG/Moscone Center, said. “We’re a convention center, so we wouldn’t…
The San Francisco–Marin Food Bank’s warehouse, located at 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, is the hub for an effort that depends on a multitude of nonprofit organizations, schools, businesses, and volunteers to feed more than 147,000 people every week. The Potrero Hill location is one of the organization’s two warehouses; the other is in Novato. “During the…
It’s illegal to throw garbage or unwanted items onto a public street or sidewalk. Trash pick-up for all public areas in San Francisco is provided by the Department of Public Works, which can be reached by phone, at 3-1-1, or online at sfdpw.org. Depending on the details of the illegal dumping, trash will generally be…
With outposts in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Writing Pad offers courses and workshops designed to immerse students in the art and craft of writing, and to prepare them to sell what they produce. The company’s City branch, which opened last fall, is located in the founding couple’s The Goodman Building loft, a live-work space…
Gazing at a row of vintage mechanical printing presses at work can conjure a feeling of Old World romance. It certainly did for Joel Benson, owner and operator of Dependable Letterpress, located in Dogpatch. Benson fell in love with “the experience of working on the machines and making things this way” while he was studio…
Last month, the San Francisco Planning Commission approved unanimously a series of documents associated with a proposed residential development at 1601 Mariposa Street, including the project’s environmental impact report, California Environmental Quality Act findings and a Large Project Authorization. Commission endorsement came with conditions, including following interim design controls developed by the Potrero Boosters, securing…
With nearly twenty years of experience owning or operating restaurants throughout San Francisco, Jocelyn Bulow has learned how to spot the City’s next foodie trend. Beginning with his first partnership, Plouf on Belden Place, when he was just 26, Bulow has followed a set formula regardless of restaurant type or neighborhood location. Launch an eatery,…
Last fall, Golden Gate Bell, LLC, a Pleasanton-based franchisee working in partnership with Yum! Brands, Inc., opened technology-friendly Taco Bell Cantina (TBC) at Third and Townsend streets. TBC is a “concept” eatery, a new model for millennial, urban, diners. The restaurant offers features the tech crowd wants: digital menu screens, recycling bins, free WiFi, electrical…
Judith Catherine Kloehn Lopez passed away at her Potrero Hill home on October 28, 2015. She was born September 28, 1947 at St. Mary’s Hospital. In 1993, Lopez posed for View photographer and writer Peter Linenthal outside Strand Service-Appliance, her family’s Connecticut Street store, to commemorate the businesses’ 50th anniversary. Lopez told Linenthal she was…
In our interconnected and device-laden world, cybersecurity has become a hot topic, especially after recent data breaches at the Sony and Target corporations. According to a study sponsored by Hewlett-Packard, cybercrime cost the average American firm $15 million in 2014, a 19 percent jump from the year prior. Average per company losses could top $40…
Multiple farmers markets dot San Francisco throughout the week. From the epic Saturday morning Ferry Building Plaza, to sleepier Fort Mason, it’s possible to find nearly any kind of fruit or vegetable, as well as arrays of cheeses, chocolates, and cakes, in these perennial souks. San Francisco has long been a leader in the food…
Last month, the San Francisco Planning Commission held a hearing on the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for a proposed development at the Corovan site, located at the bottom of Potrero Hill’s North Slope. A DEIR evaluates a project’s potential impact on such things as traffic, dislodging or releasing hazardous substances, and the historic relevance…
A series of fires emanating from a homeless encampment located on a strip of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)-owned property in between Highway 101 and San Bruno Avenue has sparked neighborhood groups to fight for safety, and inclusive solutions to homelessness. A fire that broke out in September catalyzed concerned residents. “People got really upset.…
The Good Life Grocery, located on 20th Street, is facing fines of up to $3,100 a month for not complying with the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act. The law, adopted in 1986, was intended to “…make redemption and recycling convenient to consumers… the legislature hereby urges cities and counties…to act favorably on…