District 6, which saw a 35% increase in population since the last census, is going to experience the most dramatic changes when the boundaries of the city’s 11 supervisor districts are redrawn. A special nine member task force will have until April 15 of next year to complete its work. At stake is the progressive majority, for what it’s worth, on the Board of Supervisors. Continue reading
Stand up for LGBT youth
The theme for the 41st annual San Francisco Pride parade and festival is “Stand up for LGBT Youth.” My warmest best wishes to Dan Savage and everyone who has helped with the “It Gets Better Project.” As they say on their website, “Many LGBT youth can’t picture what their lives might be like as openly gay adults. They can’t imagine a future for themselves. So let’s show them what our lives are like, let’s show them what the future may hold in store for them.” This is my 34th parade in San Francisco. I marched with a handful of Midwestern folks in Chicago when I was a kid. I survived. We’ve got so much to celebrate. So much left to do. Happy Pride everyone!
Filed under social justice
Emergency community meeting on violence
There have been several incidents of violence this past week that are of concern to the community’s health and safety. Supervisor Jane Kim would like to have a community conversation around the subject. The Luggage Store on Market Street (1007 Market St.) has generously offered their space on Thursday, June 23 from 5-7 pm to have this conversation. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Community Stabilization Policy heads to Board of Supervisors
Supervisor Jane Kim’s resolution to support the historic balance of affordable vs. market rate housing and retain a healthy percentage of jobs in the Western SoMa community planning area cleared the Land Use Committee today and will be voted on by the full Board of Supervisors on June 14. Supervisors Eric Mar and Scott Wiener voted to move it forward without recommendation. Supervisor Malia Cohen voted against the measure. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
WSoMa Plan nears completion
The Western SoMa Citizens Planning Task Force is beginning to comb through a draft of what will become the final Proposal for Adoption when the EIR is adopted, a process that will begin in August. The final draft of the Western SoMa Community Plan includes public input, clarifications and new policies that have been added since the original Draft for Citizens Review was released three years ago. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
25 mph speed limit approved for Folsom and Howard Streets
Following a hearing last Friday, the SFMTA agreed to lower the speed limit along Folsom and Howard Streets. The new limit will affect Howard Street from the Embarcadero to South Van Ness and Folsom Street from 13th Street to the Embarcadero. “Reducing traffic speeds is one of the most powerful ways we can save lives and prevent injuries,” said Walk SF Executive Director Elizabeth Stampe. “It’s an excellent idea. A lot of the community in SoMa has been very concerned about pedestrian safety, and this is a smart step towards making the streets in SoMa safer.” Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Underground entertainment: the good, bad and the ugly
Late night parties in an empty restaurant at the corner of 9th and Folsom Street have been keeping neighbors awake for the last few months. Last Wednesday a fed up neighbor unloaded a fusillade of eggs at the partygoers who responded by storming the apartment building, climbing up fire escapes to gain entry, necessitating frantic calls to 911. Last year, police were called to 7th and Howard Street by a Fire Inspector who was refused admittance to a warehouse party. A brawl broke out between officers and several attendees. M-80 firecrackers were tossed and up to nine people were arrested. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Nostalgia greets closure of Eagle Tavern
Patrons were greeted with locked doors on Sunday as the Eagle Tavern finally shut down after months of drama. “Out on the back porch Saturday afternoon, the final-day crowd was in a nostalgic mood,” reported the San Francisco Examiner. “Final pictures and videos were being captured and chalked messages on the walls said things like, ‘I broke my jaw here in 1993,’ and ‘I left my heart at the Eagle.’” Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Mid-Market CAC debated at Board today
The Rules Committee of the Board of Supervisors will take up the issue of appointing a new oversight body to ensure that Twitter and other digital media businesses that are lured to the Mid-Market area by new tax incentives live up their community benefits agreements. Those agreements are yet to be ratified by the Board. Continue reading
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4 alarm fire devastates Park Hotel
The San Francisco Fire Department called a fourth alarm shortly before 7:00 tonight as flames continued to burn out of control at the Park Hotel, a three story single room occupancy residential hotel on Folsom Street between 6th and 7th Streets. Neighbors have been angrily shouting at firefighters, urging them to fight the flames more aggressively. Strong winds and high temperatures have forced fire fighters away from the building, which appears to be a total loss.
Filed under Uncategorized
soma leadership council 