Homeless Potrero Hill residents Jennine Jacob and Stacey Randecker Bartlett, along with other San Franciscans angry about encampments in their neighborhoods, pitched tents last month in Civic Center Plaza. The protest followed an incident in which Jacob took her three-year-old son to Franklin Square playground and found a homeless man sleeping in the sandbox; at… Keep Reading
On November 8, you can dramatically improve our regional transportation system by voting “yes” on the BART bond, Measure RR. A “yes” for RR will bring $3.5 billion in investment to keep BART safe and reliable. RR will allow BART to update fundamental parts of its system that are 44 years old: replace more than… Keep Reading
Despite decades of trying, or at least talking about trying, to tackle the problem, there are at least as many homeless individuals in San Francisco as there were 30 years ago – a few of them the same people – and very likely more. There’s no single answer as to why this is the case,… Keep Reading
Last month, the San Francisco Planning Commission voted seven to zero to approve California College of the Arts’ (CCA’s) proposed four-story 228-bed student dormitory at 75 Arkansas Street. The endorsement was the culmination of a two-year effort by CCA to site additional student housing near the school’s Eighth Street campus. Construction will begin next spring… Keep Reading
In a series of articles this year, the View reported that the City’s response to homeless encampments is often reactionary. For instance, earlier this year District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener requested information about housing and the homeless from the Mayor’s Office, and demanded removal of Division Street encampments, with the occupants provided with a reasonable… Keep Reading
Candidates President and Vice President: Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine United States Senator: Kamala Harris U.S. Representative: Nancy Pelosi State Senator: Scott Weiner State Assembly: David Chiu State Propositions Vote “yes” on: Proposition 51, school bonds Proposition 52, Medi-Cal hospital fee Proposition 54, legislature Proposition 57, criminal sentences Proposition 58, English proficiency Proposition 59, corporations… Keep Reading
It’s not uncommon to be left scratching your head over the lyrics to a rock song. That may be because, in many cases, the songwriting process is as important to an artist as the final message the tune delivers. Brian Gorman, along with the rest of the Rock Band Land staff, is teaching kids exactly… Keep Reading
Founded in 1999, BAE Systems is a global defense, aerospace and security solutions company, headquartered in London, operating in more than 40 countries and employing about 83,400 people. It’s one of the world’s largest defense contractors in terms of revenue, much of which comes from sales of products and services to militaries. In addition to… Keep Reading
The 21-acre Potrero Power Plant site is slated to be developed into housing, retail, and open space. The power plant, once one of the dirtiest in California, was shuttered in 2011 after more than a decade of advocacy by nonprofit San Francisco Community Power, among others. After it was closed the power plant site was… Keep Reading
Last September, Christopher’s Books, a Potrero Hill fixture at 1400 18th Street, marked its 25th anniversary with more than 50 guests, a taco truck, live music, bubbles, wine, and cookies. According to owner Tee Minot, who purchased the store from founder and store namesake Christopher Ellison in 1994, “Christopher’s Books is kind of an oasis… Keep Reading
In response to a question from a St. Louis newspaper editor about what drove her, Betty Packard recalled studying French in college, realizing that only two letters separated the word ‘mushroom’ – champignon – and ‘champion’ – champion – and deciding that “I’d much rather be a champion than a mushroom.” Over the years Packard,… Keep Reading
California Department of Justice data suggests a dramatic decline in felony arrests in San Francisco. In 2008, there were 18,282 felony arrests compared to 8,753 in 2011, and 7,709 in 2014. For violent felonies, 3,904 arrests were made in 2008, with 1,871 in 2014. Arrests for felony property crimes have also dropped, with 3,165 made… Keep Reading
Nearly half a century has passed since the 1969 disaster that was California’s riotous Altamont Speedway Free Festival, the bizarro-world Woodstock that claimed the lives of four of its attendees. The racetrack where five of the world’s most notable rock bands played to an audience of delirious acid trippers and rowdy biker gangs now sits… Keep Reading
11/5 MakeArt: Hand-Stamped Holiday Design and carve your own temporary or reusable rubber stamps, then use them to make your own cards, tags, and papers for sending or gifting. 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. $10 non-member child, $5 member child. Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 Third Street. For more information: http://sfmcd.org/event/mcd-makeart-hand-stamped-holiday/ or 415.773.0303. 11/8 ELECTION… Keep Reading
I had a Saturday mid-morning call at a dilapidated apartment complex off Highway 280 in the Excelsior. I was met by a heavyset woman with a pleasant face and demeanor in her mid-60s. She told me she was the building’s owner, and needed a carpet quote for one of four identical units, occupied by her… Keep Reading
“Why didn’t I know about this?” asked the Supervisor. She was standing behind her desk in her City Hall office, looking down at a copy of The SF Lightning Bolt. “If you want my help you’re supposed to keep me informed.” She peered over half-glasses at John, whose body overflowed in the armchair facing the… Keep Reading
Low enrollment resulted in closure of Potrero Hill’s only comprehensive high school, International Studies Academy (ISA), which had been located at 655 De Haro Street, at the end of the last academic year. The campus had experienced declining registrations for several years. Once serving grades sixth through 12, a phase-out of middle school grades began… Keep Reading
Numerous items are caged behind glass doors at the Potrero Center Safeway, dissuading some would-be shoppers from patronizing the store. “My family has stopped shopping there,” commented J.R. Eppler, Potrero Boosters president. “Too many of the items, including infant formula, that we went specifically to Safeway for, are now behind lock and key.” Around 4… Keep Reading
In fiscal year (FY) 2016, the City and County of San Francisco’s budget increased by $650 million, to $9.6 billion. In FY 2017, expenditures will rise by another $135 million, to roughly $9.7 billion. The budget reflects approximately $35 million in San Francisco Board of Supervisor cuts from Mayor Edwin Lee’s proposed spending. The Board… Keep Reading
Corovan Lawsuit Save The Hill and Grow Potrero Responsibly have filed a lawsuit challenging the environmental review conducted on the development of 395, primarily market rate, residential units on approximately 3.5 acres at 901 16th and 1200 17th streets. According to the community groups, the City improperly relied on an “outdated” 2008 environmental study from… Keep Reading
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) plan for traffic was to make it disappear. That plan has failed miserably. SFMTA doesn’t appear to have a Plan B, other than to ignore the public and blame us for their failure. It’s time for them to disappear. Since SFMTA laid the thermoplastic red carpet on Mission… Keep Reading
Editor, I’m writing as an old Potrero Hill resident to advise View readers of a serendipitous event. A month ago, my car was burglarized, right in my own driveway. Anything of value was stolen, including the prescription sunglasses I need for driving. A week or so later, I received a phone call from a local… Keep Reading
I work in the East Bay. My coworkers who’ve fled over a bridge, through a tunnel, or down a freeway to raise their children frequently encourage me to move out of San Francisco. The schools in the suburbs are better, they say. The City is so inconvenient, they allege. There’s so little outdoor space, they… Keep Reading
With 25 local measures, 17 state initiatives, and many, many candidates, voters need a decision framework, or guiding philosophy, to render thoughtful ballot decisions. One approach is to group measures into like categories, and apply a consistent thought process throughout, deviating only when there’s compelling reasons to do so. Here’s ours, limited to local measures… Keep Reading
San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD)’s fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget is approximately $208.8 million, a $30.1 million jump from FY 2015. According to Joey Kahn, RPD media relations and policy manager, the 14 percent expenditure rise reflects growth in operating costs. RPD’s budget includes more than $34.7 million in capital investments for playgrounds,… Keep Reading