Supervisor Cohen's February Newsletter

Hopefully we're back to once a month with Supervisor Cohen's Newsletter.  They've been missed.

SFPark Plan for Potrero Hill & Dogpatch on hold, Mission Bay OK

Updated Mission Bay SFPark plan

The Potrero Hill Boosters and the Dogpatch Neighborhood  Association have rallied residents and forced the SFMTA to drop plans, for the moment, to install parking meters throughout these two areas.  However, there is still a large swath of city that will become metered, as shown in this graphic from SFGate.

Tonight, the Coalition of Residents and Businesses in San Francisco's Eastern Neighborhoods will be meeting to discuss the plan.  Supervisors Jane Kim and David Campos will attend today's meeting, as well as SFMTA officials. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Project Artaud (Z-Space) at 450 Florida St.

The SFMTA, like many agencies throughout the city and beyond, miscalculated the resistance that they'd receive, didn't do the amount of outreach necessary to get people on-board, and ended up losing - or at least delaying - receiving funds that the agency says it needs, all while further alienating the citizenry. 

It seems these agencies make a cost-benefit analysis on their outreach.  Last year, SFWater seemed to think it could do very little outreach to the Portola and change plans midstream without anyone noticing that they were not going to reopen Bacon St over their reservoir.  They didn't count on a few dedicated neighbors catching wind of the plan (which wasn't a 'plan', according to the agency, but rather a 'proposal') and pushing back, getting hundreds of neighbors out to a public meeting that ended up forcing the agency to reverse course, much like what happened in Potrero Hill.

Why can't these agencies just do the actual work or engaging neighbors, laying out their case, showing the whole picture and being honest throughout, and coming to an amenable solution for the majority of people.  The minute you try to go behind someone's back, they'll mistrust you forever.

I just wish these agencies would follow one simple rule: engage, don't enrage!

Relight the Night

Taking care of quality of life issues is important to make sure we live in as safe a city as possible.  I've been a 311 junkie ever since the city instituted the service, and have taken to tweeting to SF311 simply because it's faster in getting these quality of life issues dealt with.  Basically, all they need is a description of the problem and it's exact location.  If they need to follow-up, they'll tweet you back.  Others love to use Blockboard to contact 311, but whatever works for you, I encourage you to use it.

Lately, I've started tweeting SF311 more and more about street lights being burned out.  Whenever I see one out, I'll tweet the following:

- exact location (eg. SW corner San Bruno Ave; mid-block north side Newhall btwn Oakdale and Palou)
- type of pole (metal or wood)
- pole number (if you can find one on it)

Some lights are maintained by the SFPUC, others by PG&E, and still others by the Port Authority.  Thank goodness that SF311 can figure out for us which.

If you see a street light out, especially if it's on your street, please call or tweet SF311.  A burned out street light invites people to do bad things in its shadow, so help make our neighborhoods safer by relighting the night.

SFMTA Mission Bay Parking Management Plan Rescinded

From Tony Kelly, President of the Potrero Boosters,

Hi everyone,

As you know, the Potrero Boosters and the Dogpatch Neighborhood Association filed an appeal with the Board of Supervisors, seeking to overturn the Categorical Exemption from Environmental Review for MTA Order 4005 - the SFPark program expansion adding parking meters to our neighborhoods. This was in response to the MTA hearing on January 13, where Hearing Officer John Newlin approved the order with slight modifications (over the objections of hundreds of residents and businesses) and sent it to the MTA Board.

The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and the City Attorney have just informed us that the MTA Hearing Officer has rescinded his approval of MTA Order 4005 in its entirety. Because of that rescission, there is no approval for us to appeal to the Board of Supervisors, and our appeal is being returned to us. Any new parking meter plan will have to go back to the Hearing Officer before going to the MTA Board.

Clearly this is great news for community advocates and stakeholders, who are happy to work together on a better program of parking management for our neighborhoods. We look forward to MTA joining us in that work.

Tony Kelly
President, Potrero Boosters Neighborhood Association

Redistricting Task Force Meeting

Last night's redistricting task force meeting was interesting in a strange way - tedious, yet somehow riveting.  It was like watching a chess match on TV.  After public comment, we sat quietly while the commission got down to work moving some boundaries and lines across the city to see how things looked.

When looking at the working map, the large numbers for each district are the population that this current configuration contains, while the percentage numbers are how far off from the ideal (average) value they are.  The goal at the moment is to get within ±5%, but ultimately, they have to get to within ±1% of the average in each of the eleven districts.


The results of last night's meeting are on their website now, and will continue to be updated as they work on it. 

Jan 26 Working Draft

The public comments were mostly from D10, but some from other districts as well.  Keeping Potrero Hill part of D10 for historical reasons was suggested by a couple of speakers, although one person suggested PH was too different from the rest of the district, and should be split off.  I'm not sure myself if PH is so much more similar to D6 or D9 for it to join them, though.  One suggestion made by a task force member was to see what would happen if we put Potrero Hill into D6 while leaving the Dogpatch in D10.  It appears that they ended the meeting with this still in their working draft map.  Others insisted on the Portola being recombined into one district.  It appears the working draft continues to split the Portola between D8, D10, and D11.  Every time a line gets moved in one place, it has to get moved somewhere else to accommodate.

The challenge of course is to try to get EVERY district within ±1% of the average district population all while keeping neighborhoods intact, and keeping racial, economic, and geographic interests in mind.  Seeing the process in action (such as the action was) gives one a sense of the daunting task ahead of this committee.

I took a stab at redrawing the lines myself and it ain't easy to get it all right.  My attempt is available at the HealthyCity.org website.  You can make your own attempt and actually have it made public or email a link directly to the task force.   Even if you don't draw your own map, you can still send comments to the task force at rdtf@sfgov.org.

If you'd like to attend a future task force meeting, check out the schedule at:
http://www.sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=2622

Tonight: D10 Redistricting Meeting

Current Working Draft Map

The San Francisco Redistricting Task Force will be meeting TONIGHT:

When: Thursday, January 26, 6:00 PM
Where: District 10, Alex L. Pitcher Jr.
Community Room, 1800 Oakdale Ave

Please find additional information on January meeting locations and February & March meeting announcements here.

The current working draft map can be found here.

Texas St Community Garden Meeting

JOIN US ON FEBRUARY 2nd AT 6:00 AT THE NABE, De Haro at Southern Heights Ave.

COMMUNITY BUILDING GROUP

Dinner will be served at 6:00 and the meeting will begin at 6:30pm

This is the first Community Building Group meeting of 2012!

After years of planning, meetings and discussions we are finally ready to begin construction on the Texas Street Community Garden. Many people have participated in creating the vision and now we are looking to the community to help make it a reality.

At the next Community Building Group, you will meet the two new Garden Managers and help plan for the expansion of the Potrero Garden Program and the next community wide event. It will also be a chance to learn about the new and improved Potrero Healthy Living Program that kicks off in February.

We hope you can join us!

Also, please keep your eyes open for the 2012 Rebuild Potrero Calendar. It should arrive in your mailbox (if we have your address) by the end of the week. If you do not receive one and would like one please call: Uzuri Pease-Greene at 415-368-4436.

Questions? Call Emily Weinstein at: 415-806-1429

h/t M Tran

Parking meters in Potrero Hill/Dogpatch averted for now

Via Steve Moss,

From Jay Primus:

I am writing with a brief update on the parking management proposals for the Mission Bay, 12th & Folsom, and 17th & Folsom areas.

The SFMTA Board will no longer be taking action on the SFpark expansion
areas at the February 7th Board meeting. Rather, we will conduct
further outreach ahead of Board action.

The northernmost section of the Mission Bay Parking Management Proposal was already designated as an SFpark area and will be the only part of
the proposal going forward.

For the SFpark expansion areas,  including the Dogpatch and Potrero
Hill neighborhoods and the 12th and Folsom and 17th and Folsom
proposals, the SFMTA will conduct additional outreach and engage in
further discussion with various stakeholders before any further action
is considered.

We will be in touch with additional outreach steps

City takes over redevelopment’s responsibilities

From SFGate's blog,

As it races to shut down, San Francisco’s redevelopment agency will transfer its projects and functions to the city at large, the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday.

The supervisors approved a resolution that puts the city in charge of the agency’s current responsibilities, following a California Supreme Court ruling that allows the state to abolish its 67-year-old redevelopment program. Those roughly 400 departments must shut down by Feb. 1.

The resolution, introduced by Mayor Ed Lee and Supervisor Malia Cohen, transfers the agency’s affordable housing assets to the Mayor’s Office of Housing. The city administrator will take over non-affordable housing assets.

The board also confirmed the mayor’s appointees to the seven-member oversight board that will guide the agency’s dissolution. This board, required to be created under state law, will oversee the repayments and implementation of projects under way, including Mission Bay, Hunters Point Shipyard and parts of Transbay.

Its members will include John Rahaim, director of the San Francisco Planning Department, and Bob Muscat, director of International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21, who will have two-year terms. Olson Lee, director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing, and Nadia Sesay, director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Finance, will have four-year terms.

“Given the short time frame and the nature of the board and the board’s obligation, I am comfortable with these appointees, that they will be able to make the decisions necessary to keep projects moving forward,” Cohen said.

While the redevelopment agency in its current form will shut down by next week, its 100 employees could stay for a transition period to the end of March. Christine Falvey, Mayor Ed Lee’s spokeswoman, has said it is unclear whether there will be layoffs.

Cash for College

 

 

 

Cash for College

During January and the beginning of February, the San Francisco College Access Center, along with AACE Talent Search & AACE Upward Bound will be hosting 8 Cash for College workshops throughout San Francisco & Daly City.
Cash for College can help you find grants, loans and scholarships to cover some—or ALL—of the costs of college. You can afford college! Join us for free help applying for Financial Aid. Seniors that attend a Cash for College workshop and complete an exit survey are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship!

Please visit us at one of our sites for free Financial Aid help! Chinese & Spanish translators will be available at specific workshop sites.

Upcoming:

 
Philip & Sala Burton High School – 400 Mansell St. San Francisco, CA
Thursday, January 26th, 2012 [Chinese & Spanish Translators]
5:00 – 5:30 Registration
5:30 – 5:45 Welcome / Introduction
5:45 – 6:45 Financial Aid Presentation
6:45 – 7:30 Q&A
7:30 – 9:00 1:1 FAFSA Assistance @ Computer Labs
9:00 Workshop Ends

George Washington High School – 600 32nd Ave. San Francisco, CA
Thursday, January 26th, 2012 [Chinese & Spanish Translators]
6:00 – 6:30 Registration / Dinner
6:30 – 6:40 Welcome / Introduction
6:40 – 7:45 Financial Aid Presentation
7:45 – 8:30 1:1 FAFSA Assistance @ Computer Labs
8:30 Workshop Ends

Jefferson High School – 6996 Mission St. Daly City, CA
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 [Spanish Translator]
5:15 – 5:30 Registration
5:30 – 5:45 Welcome / Introduction
5:45 – 6:30 Financial Aid Presentation
6:30 – 7:30 1:1 FAFSA Assistance @ Computer Labs
7:30 Workshop Ends

Galileo High School – 1150 Francisco St. San Francisco, CA
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 [Chinese Translator]
5:30 – 6:00 Registration
6:00 – 6:15 Welcome / Introduction
6:15 – 7:00 Financial Aid Presentation
7:00 – 7:15 Q&A
7:15 – 8:15 1:1 FAFSA Assistance @ Computer Labs
8:15 Workshop Ends

Previous workshops (sorry for not getting this up sooner!!):

Thurgood Marshall High School – 45 Conkling St. San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 [Chinese & Spanish Translators]
8:30 Workshop Ends
Mission High School – 3750 18th St. San Francisco, CA
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 [Chinese & Spanish Translators]

Balboa High School – 1000 Cayuga Ave. San Francisco, CA
Thursday, January 19th, 2012 [Chinese Translators]


If you would like to help and spread the word about Cash for College, click & download the CASH FOR COLLEGE FLYER.

h/t E. Salgado

Black History Month Kickoff at City Hall

The African American Historical & Cultural Society presents the 2012 Black History Month Kickoff Celebration


"Black Women in American Culture & History

Friday, Feb 3, 2012
12:00 Noon
San Francisco City Hall Rotunda
1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place
San Francisco

Financial Management Strategies for Growing Your Small Business

From the 3rd Street Corridor Project:

Free Workshop for Contractors sponsored by Lennar Urban, Chase and VEDC:

Financial Management Strategies for Growing Your Small Business
Saturday, January 28th, 10:00am til 1pm
Bayview Opera House
4705 Third Street, San Francisco

Join the Discussion: Keys for Achieving Fiscal Power; Credit Repair; Bookkeeping and Real Deal About Loans.

For more information, call 415-647-3728.

PG&E Bright Minds Scholarship Program

 

Program Information

The application must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, February 17, 2012.

Guidelines

Pacific Gas and Electric Company and The PG&E Corporation Foundation (collectively, "PG&E") are offering up to $1,000,000 in PG&E Bright Minds Scholarships for undergraduate study to students who live in the PG&E service territory.

The program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Scholarship America. Scholarship Management Services is the largest U.S. designer and manager of scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals.

Before beginning the application process and to better understand the PG&E Bright Minds Scholarship Program, please read the following guidelines and instructions. Print this information and keep on file for reference of program procedures and important dates.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a minimum of 16 years of age and be a high school senior or graduate, have received GED certification or be a current post-secondary undergraduate student.
• Live within one of the counties listed on the attachment hereto.
• Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire 2012-2013 academic year.

NOTE: Nontraditional students who are returning to school or planning to pursue a postsecondary education for the first time are eligible and encouraged to apply.

How do I apply?

Only online applications via this website will be accepted.

h/t T. Ellington

Senator Yee Lunar New Year Celebration

Please join Senator Leland Yee at their annual New Year celebration kicking off the Year of the Dragon! This event is free and open to public so please feel free to forward and bring others. All the details are below and attached in English and Chinese. Additionally, we’ll have an exciting line up of performance and activities including lion dancing, calligraphy, drummers, music, Shaolin martial arts, folk dancing, singing and art.

Friday, January 27, 2012
Noon - 1:30PM
SF State Building Lobby
455 Golden Gate Ave (btwn Polk & Larkin)

Candlestick Cove BMR Public Workshop

See the flyer for the FREE Below Market Rate (BMR) Public Workshop.

BMR Condo offered for $322,029 through the Mayor's Office of Housing BMR Program

4-bedroom home located in the Candlestick Point area of San Francisco

Workshop Details:
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
7:00-8:00 PM
Mission Cultural Center
2868 Mission St., SF
RSVP 415-495-4663

Applications can be downloaded or requested by phone or email:

1. Log on: www.homebricks.com
2. Call 415-495-4663, option 133
3. Email candlestickcove@homebricks.com

What's my Lucky Element?

With the Lunar New Year approaching, many of us Gweilo may be wondering what all the fuss is about.  A few people have asked me if I know my zodiac sign I was born under, and how 2012 looks from a horoscopic perspective.  Well, being the respectful scientist that I am, I am loathe to call into question their belief in the power of the zodiac, so I generally say I was born in the year of the Monkey, and leave it at that.

Well, apparently, it's not that simple.  A calculator at Chinese Fortune Calendar will tell all!  Best to start with the 2012 Horoscope for the Year of the Black Water Dragon.   From there, find out your lucky element based on the exact time and date (and even longitude) of your birth.  For me, I'm a Black Water Dragon, born in the year of the Brown Monkey, with a lucky element of Fire.

How will my luck be this year?    "It's not good. Fire is afraid of Water. When too much Water comes, then Fire has a chance to be extinguished. That implies many pressures will come in 2012. Depending on the relationship between Fire and Day Master, Fire might be related to money, career, reputation or health. This is a year to watch for safety."  My Day Master is Water, which "represents your friends, siblings or same generation relatives. The 2012 events will connected to them and spend most of time with them. You will have more energy in social activities...If Water is your Unlucky Element, then your friends or relatives will bring you trouble. They might ask for a loan, or you may be forced to spend money on them."

Whatever this new year brings, it's time to hunker down and just get started!

Gong Hay Fat Choy, Everyone!!

Home Preparedness in Earthquake Country

SF Public Library Potrero Branch
1616 20th Street
Saturday, February 4
4:00PM - 5:00PM

Matt Springer, a professor in the UCSF Department of Medicine, will give a talk and slideshow about precautions that can be taken to lessen the damage from an earthquake at home and work.  His presentation includes many photos of preparations in his own home and suggests measures ranging from simple to complex to prepare for the next temblor.

Also check out Dr Springer's earthquake preparedness blog at http://quaketips.blogspot.com/

INAUGURAL GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS UNSUNG HEROES AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED TONIGHT

Three Local Residents Honored For Their Outstanding Contributions To The Community

More from NBA.com

OAKLAND, CA – Three Bay Area residents – Magen Clay, Regina Jackson and Curt Yagi – will be honored with the inaugural Golden State Warriors Unsung Heroes Award tonight at the team’s game against the Indiana Pacers at Oracle Arena, it was announced today.  The Unsung Heroes Award is presented to local residents who go above and beyond to uplift their community by inspiring youth to help them reach their goals, and who strive daily to make their community a greater place.

The winners will be presented their awards during a special on-court halftime presentation with Warriors Owner Joe Lacob and Legend Alvin Attles, where they will be presented with a plaque that reads:

“In sincere gratitude and deep appreciation of your outstanding contributions rendered to the community, we recognize your countless hours of distinguished service with this Unsung Heroes Award.”

Clay, a native of San Francisco, has worked for the last 11 years with the Boys and Girls Club of Oakland and currently serves as branch director. During that time she has dedicated her life to enabling and inspiring the children of the West Oakland community in an effort to help them realize their dreams while becoming self-sufficient and productive citizens.

Jackson, an Oakland native, has been involved with the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC) since 1984 and currently serves as the center’s executive director.  She ensures that the EOYDC offers a safe, nurturing environment where young people can grow and thrive.  Her theory of change model is focused on character development, readiness and access for the thousands of EOYDC youth that the center has served during her tenure.

Yagi has served as the executive director of R.O.C.K. (Real Options For City Kids) since 2003, offering a valuable resource to children who live in or attend school in San Francisco’s Visitacion Valley.  Since joining the organization, he has used his passion for non-profit work and experience in the business world to help promote the positive development and long-term success of the youth that that R.O.C.K. serves by providing opportunities to those that might now otherwise have access.

Bayview District SFPD Newsletter

Chief Chignell's,

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED BY SUSPECTED CRIMINALS:

Lesson #1: if you are wanted on a no bail arrest warrant for rape from the East Bay do not make amorous entreaties to a uniformed on duty San Francisco police officer. The officer called in the man’s name and found out he was wanted and he was taken to jail.

Lesson #2: from an incident this morning around 5:00am at the Dogpatch Saloon at 2496 3rd Street. Don’t try to hide from the police by wrapping yourself in chicken wire after burglarizing a saloon! And don’t tell the police that your partner in crime did a poor job as a lookout!

Incidents of Interest:

On January 17th at 10:30 am, a Bayview resident left his home on the 2100 block of Revere St. to run an errand. He left his home secure except for a bathroom window that was left cracked open. When he returned to his home, he saw two subjects walking out of his front door. One of the subjects was carrying the victim’s backpack which appeared stuffed. The victim confronted the burglar with the bag. The suspect told him that he had a gun and the victims ID card in his possession. He told the victim that he would hurt him if he called the police. The victim was never shown a gun and never spoke to the second suspect. Both suspects then fled on foot east on Revere St.

The victim did not report the crime until 5:30 pm out of fear of retaliation. When officers responded to the scene, they found that the bathroom window screen had been cut and the window had been slid open. The victim stated that although the house did not appear ransacked, his laptop and ID card were in fact missing from the bedroom along with the backpack he saw the suspect carrying. The officers searched the area for any possible suspects but could not locate any that evening. This incident is under investigation. (SFPD Case No. 120046879)

---------------

Ring in the Lunar New Year in the Portola

Lunar New Year Celebration
Portola Family Connections
Friday, February 3, 4:30 to 6:30 pm
2565 San Bruno Avenue

Highlights include:

Lion Dance Performance (5:30 pm)
Raffle (6:00 pm)
Face Painting
Arts & Crafts
Tattoos & Games
Snacks

Admission: $1.00 per person or donation of a prepackaged snack.

Adjudicator Training for Neighborhood Court

There will be a Neighborhood Court training for new adjudicators (current adjudicators also invited if you feel a "refresher" is needed) on Saturday, February 4, 2012, 9:00am - 5:00 pm.  This training is informative, interactive and fun! You will gain much insight into the principles of restorative justice, mechanisms of the neighborhood court process and develop skill sets critical to adjudicating cases effectively.

A sumptuous lunch will be served.

Please RSVP to participate.

What: Adjudicator training for Neighborhood Court
When: Saturday, February 4, 2012, 9 - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Pre Trial Diversion Office, 567 7th Street

* Neighborhood Court is an alternative to the traditional Criminal Justice system. Instead of prosecuting the case in criminal court, the DA's Office refers appropriate low level misdemeanor cases (plus infractions in some courts) to Neighborhood Court. Residents who live and work in the community where the incident occurred resolve the case using principles of Restorative Justice. Hearings are held at various locations throughout the City, not at 850 Bryant Street and lasts for about two hours.

Currently, there are courts in different parts of the City:

Mission (Community Boards, 3130 24th St): - 1:00 p.m.
Bayview (Southeast Community Facilities, 1800 Oakdale): - 1:00 p.m.
Western Addition/Northern/Park (Ella Hill Hutch, 1050 McAllister): - 10:00 a.m.
Polk Street Corridor (1001 Polk): - 10:00 a.m.
North Beach (Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center, 660 Lombard): 10:00 a.m.
OMI/Ing (SF Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 2850 19th Ave):- 10:00 a.m.
Richmond (YMCA, 360 18th Ave): - 10:00 a.m.
Chinatown (Cathay Post, 1524 Powell): - 10:00 a.m.
SOMA (Rose Hotel, 125 6th Street): - 10:00 a.m.
Tenderloin (CJC, 555 Polk, 2nd flr): - 1:00 p.m.
Sunset - (Stonestown YMCA, 3150 20th Ave): - 10:00 a.m.

** Thanks to Pre Trial Diversion for once again allowing us to use their facility for this training.

Should you have questions, do not hesitate to contact:

Jackson Gee
Director of Community Courts and A.P.I. Safety Programs
Office of San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón
850 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415.575.6328
Fax: 415.553.9700
Email: jackson.gee@sfgov.org

h/t J Hunger

Boy and Girls Clubs of SF Looking for Tutors

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco Clubhouses provide fun and safe spaces for kids to learn and grow with the support of caring adults. Won't you consider joining us as a Homework Helper or Evening Tutor? A mere one hour a week can make an impact for a lifetime.

Click here to register

Name of Event: Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? Homework Helpers & Tutors needed!

Date: Ongoing from now until end of the school year (May 2012)

Time: Volunteer needs and hours may vary by location within the timeframe of Monday through Thursday between the hours of 3pm - 7:30pm.

Location: Our Clubhouses with the greatest needs are located in the outskirts of San Francisco (Bayview/Hunters Point; Sunnydale; Visitacion Valley; Treasure Island).

Visit www.kidsclub.org for more info.

Event max # of volunteers: Five to 10 per location

Contact Email: eperez@kidsclub.org

Contact phone: (415) 445-5482

Age Restrictions: Ages 18+ Type of Work: Homework Helpers & Evening Tutors are needed for at least one hour a week to help Club kids with their homework, which may include a variety of subjects, special projects, and/or engaging them in learning activities.

Grade levels of Club kids vary but focus mostly on elementary school levels.
Waiver Required: Three easy steps: 1) application, 2) orientation, 3) background check
Attire: comfortable attire
Meals Provided: Not applicable
Beverages Provided: Not applicable

Quesada Gardens Initiative wins 2012 GRO1000 Award

This is HUGE!!  Congratulations, Quesada Gardens Initiative!!

The United States Conference of Mayors has bestowed upon San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee's office the 2012 GRO1000 Gardens and Green Spaces Grant Award to be used by the Quesada Gardens Initiative!  The GRO1000 Award is sponsored by Scotts Miracle-Gro and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  The five award-winning cities were determined by an independent panel of judges selected by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  Awards will be officially announced at the annual Winter meeting  in Washington, DC on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Award winners each receive grants in the amount of $25,000 ($15,000 in cash and $10,000 in-kind product provided by Scotts Miracle-Gro).  Look for a local dedication event sometime this Spring.

The Quesada Gardens Initiative is a community-based non-profit located in the Bayview district of San Francisco.  It began ten years ago on the 1700 block of Quesada Ave, and has grown to include over 30  art, garden, and community projects throughout the district.

Islais Creek Sunset

Islais Creek, January 17, 2012

Beautify The Bayview Opera House With Habitat For Humanity!

Habitat for Humanity is in critical need of volunteers for this Friday, January 20 at the Bayview Opera House, 4705 Third St., From 8:30AM - 4:30PM. 

Sign up at the Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Hub, or contact:

Nadine James-Ward
Director of Programs
645 Harrison Street
Suite 201
San Francisco
California 94107-3624

Tel 415 625 1025
njames-ward@habitatgsf.org

Visitation Valley Community Center

Two notices today from the Visitacion Valley Community Center, 50 Raymond Ave:

Visitation Valley Community Center's Health and Food Access Workshop

Visitacion Valley Community Center's Family Resource Center, in partnership with the SF Food Bank and the San Francisco Health Plan, allows San Francisco children and families to get access to medical, dental and vision care services and fresh food if they qualify.

Thursday, February 2
12:00 - 1:30pm

For more information, please call 415-494-5209

--------------------

Visitacion Valley Community Center's Family Resource Center's Toddler Time
Interactive play for Families with children ages 0-5

Come and participate in story time, creative play, activities and songs!

Every Wednesday, 12:30-1:30pm

Call 415-494-5209

Portola Lunar New Year Dinner

Happy New Year! Get to know your neighbors in 2012!

We will ring in the Year of the Dragon by celebrating the Lunar New Year with a festive dinner.

New Imperial Garden Restaurant

Private Banquet Room

2626 San Bruno Ave.

Sunday, February 12 

6:00 to 9:00 pm

Have you noticed the crowds and lines at this restaurant since the new owners took over last month? Let's find out what's cooking as we get together for an evening of good conversation and outstanding food.

The Menu:

Steamed Shrimp Dumpling

Steamed Pork Bun

Shanghai Pork Dumpling

Beijing Duck

Diced Steak with Black Pepper

Salt/Pepper Filet of Fish

Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) with Oyster Sauce

The cost is $22 per person, including tax and tip.

Please RSVP by January 31 by emailing Don Roberts at publisher@fairoakspress.com or calling him at 415-508-1390. (Payment must be made in cash in advance.)

Bringing the Portola community together and enjoying its wonderful diversity is our New Year's resolution. We hope to see you on 12th!

Friday, January 20 & Saturday, January 21, 2012 San Francisco Dump Artist in Residence Exhibitions Work by Terry Berlier, Donna Anderson Kam and Ethan Estess Location: 503 Tunnel Ave. San Francisco, CA 94134 Environmental Learning Center Gallery at 401 Tunnel Ave. Date/Time: Friday, January 20, 2012, 5pm to 9pm Saturday, January 21, 2012, 1pm to 5pm Admission is free and open to the public, all ages welcome, wheelchair accessible. http://www.recologysf.com/AIR San Francisco, CA. The Artist in Residence Program at Recology San Francisco will host an exhibition and reception for current artists-in-residence Terry Berlier, Donna Anderson Kam, and Ethan Estess on Friday, January 20, from 5-9pm and Saturday, January 21, from 1-5pm. This exhibition will be the culmination of four months of work by the artists who have scavenged materials from the dump to make art and promote recycling and reuse. Terry Berlier: Even the Windmills are Weakening In today’s world where hi-tech gadgets are revered an afternoon at the dump quickly puts things in perspective, making visible technology’s vulnerabilities and illustrating how easily modern inventions can become footnotes to a bygone era. While we often consider technology to be impersonal or unemotional, when faced with a pile of old typewriters or a trove of homemade electronics it’s hard not to be struck with some gut level feelings, and it seems inevitable to think about these objects’ place within our modern history. Working with the idea of the dump as both a ruin and a monument, Terry Berlier has created sculptural works that metaphorically excavate and honor these inventions and our intertwined relationships to them. It is not unusual that Berlier is interested in how history and time mediate our understanding of ingenuity. Berlier’s own ingenuity is a main component of her work, and she frequently employs mechanical or scientific methods in sculptures that are often kinetic or physically engage the viewer. Past works have addressed nuclear storage facilities, time as recorded in tree rings or core samples, as well as issues of queer identity, interpersonal relations, and how we negotiate being human in a technological age. Berlier asks, “...as innovations alter how we perceive and interact with the world, are we coming closer to or farther from understanding each other and the world around us?” Also of interest to Berlier is sound and the instruments and machines involved in its production. An underlying current of humor can also be found in her work, along with an appreciation for failed inventions and acamaraderie with those that have made them. Berlier is Assistant Professor of Sculpture at Stanford University. Donna Anderson Kam: Beginning at the End Looking at Donna Anderson Kam’s large-scale drawings in pastel one might not realize the source of her imagery or the process behind her work. Anderson Kam uses contemporary newspaper stories as a starting point to explore pressing social issues, especially the paradox of prosperity and sustainability. She begins by photographing young actors as they perform the stories, then uses the resulting photographs to create collaged studies that she eventually reinterprets in pastels. The final drawings are finely rendered scenes in soft tones that can be as large as four by six feet and which are left intentionally ambiguous. Negative space is as significant as the drawings themselves as it serves to isolate and accentuate, and the soft pastel tones speak to hazy memories of past events. The youth of the figures alludes to everything from fragility and peril to mischievousness and rebellion, and intimates that the issues that play out in these scenarios will continue to face future generations. She explains, “…our consumption based economy, our media influenced identity, and the unrealistic expectations of personal prosperity inspired by a constant barrage of messages from the media to consume/renew/refresh, have created a mountain of discarded commercial goods, cultural amnesia, and the many spiritually impoverished ‘consumers’ that exist today.” During her residency, Anderson Kam has used the Recology San Francisco facility as a backdrop for her actors and recognizable areas—the sculpture garden, hillside, and Public Disposal Building are all visible in her final pieces. She has also incorporated new materials into her practice including computer paper and advertising signage, and as pastels have been harder to come by, she is working with a variety of chalks and crayons. Expanding on the narrative nature of her work, she plans to present drawings in free-standing circular formats, enabling the viewer to walk around a piece, entering and exiting at any place to create their own beginning and end. Ethan Estess: Stories from the Changing Tide Student artist Ethan Estess uses sculpture to address environmental issues, particularly the perilous state of our oceans. As a graduate student at Stanford University, Estess is pursuing an interdisciplinary environmental science degree where he studies science communication, mechanical engineering, and studio art, with a focus on the marine environment. “If there is one thing that I have discovered by studying the ocean, it is that it is greatly imperiled - it is treated both as humanity's waste bin and its fast food joint. As a result, most of my works tell narratives about environmental science issues, from marine plastic pollution to shark conservation. My focus is on appealing to the basic emotions of the viewer such that they can understand the scientific concepts at play and internalize the gravity of humanity's impact on the global ecosystem.” While at Recology Estess has been drawn to the copious amount of plastics found in the Public Disposal and Recycling Area, and in particular, items that have never been used, such as cases of coffee cup lids. The works he has created from his finds should hopefully give viewers pause and prompt thinking about the daily decisions we make and their effect on the environment. Estess’s work will be on view at the Recology Environmental Learning Center at 401 Tunnel Avenue. The Artist in Residence Program at Recology San Francisco is a one-of-a-kind program established in 1990 to encourage the conservation of natural resources and instill a greater appreciation for the environment and art in children and adults. Artists work for four months in studio space on site, use materials recovered from the Public Disposal and Recycling Area, and speak to students and the general public. Over ninety professional Bay Area artists have completed residencies. Applications are accepted annually in August. Directions to 503 Tunnel Ave. Directions from downtown San Francisco & East Bay Go south on Highway 101 and exit at “Candlestick Park/Tunnel Ave.” After the stop sign, continue straight on Beatty Rd. Turn right on Tunnel Ave. Direction from The Peninsula Go north on Highway 101 and exit at the first “Candlestick Park” off-ramp. Stay in the left lane and take the first left toward the stop sign. Turn left onto Alanna Way and go under the freeway. At the next stop sign, turn right on Beatty Rd. Turn right on Tunnel Ave. Public Transit The “T” Third St. streetcar and bus lines 8x, 9, 9L, and 56 stop at Bayshore Blvd. and Arleta Ave. (three blocks away). The Caltrain “Bayshore Station” stop is directly across the street from our facility.

Rational Pricing: The Mission Bay Parking Plan

As most of the news of late has been about how pissed off the residents and businesses of Potrero Hill are about SFMTA's new parking meter plan, one might get the impression that this opinion is universal.  So why, then, is SFMTA pushing ahead and forcing this down people's throats without taking into consideration anything that anyone is telling them?  Well, maybe it's because they feel like they've done the required outreach, have gotten a good deal of feedback, and not everyone, it turns out, is against them.

Back in November, a SF Streets Blog commentary discussed the issue of free parking and the dysfunction that it causes.  Thursday, they wrote again about "the plan to put a rational price on car parking around the developing Mission Bay area."  According to the article,

Among the organizations supporting the plan are Livable City and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, who sent letters to the SFMTA this week encouraging staff to move it forward.

“The expansion of metered spaces will provide the parking turnover that neighborhood-serving businesses need,” wrote Livable City Executive Director Tom Radulovich in his letter. “SFPark metering and pricing will also reduce cruising for parking in these neighborhoods. Cruising for parking generates traffic which delays Muni, produces greenhouse gas emissions, and distracted drivers making multiple turns endanger pedestrians and cyclists in these increasingly pedestrian- and cycling-oriented neighborhoods.”

The fight will continue, to be sure, but unless SFMTA backs down, it looks like meters will be coming whether some residents and business owners like it or not.


h/t A. Lantsberg

Losing Redevelopment is a Game Changer

From SFGate,

Six decades ago, redevelopment agencies were formed across the state to revitalize blighted neighborhoods and create low-income housing. By Feb. 1, as a new state law requires, all 400 of them will be gone.

Killing off a multibillion-dollar program is a messy, unprecedented process. The way it unfolds depends on the city - and the day.

...cities can continue with projects that are significantly under way. In San Francisco, for instance, Mission Bay, Hunters Point Shipyard and parts of the Transbay Terminal project can keep going. Under a proposal before the Board of Supervisors, the city would take over low-income housing, local hiring efforts and neighborhood revitalization programs.

Read more at SFGate

Residents Outraged by Proposed Parking Meters Are Mostly Ignored

With the hearing room and two overflow rooms full of residents, it's mind-blowing that the SFMTA is planning to completely ignore everyone they heard from and just do what they want.  The hearings are simply for show.  Read more at Mission Local and the SF Bay Guardian. Check out the Mission Bay Parking Plan here.

The next hearing is to be held Feb 7, 1PM, room 416 at City Hall. The way the Potrero Hill Yahoo Group is lit up about this, you can bet there will be even more outrage at the next meeting.

Celebrate with the Bayview Opera House

We are celebrating community service... Please join us on January 21st, 1-3PM, at the Bayview Opera House and celelebrateMLK Week & Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco's Renovation of The Bayview Opera House.   ·      Live Music by Jay'e and Friends ·      Light Reception ·      Silent Art Auction  ·      FREE Flu Shots by Walgreens EVERYONE is invited to this free celebration! Read the full press release.   Habitat for Humanity volunteers scraped, primed and painted the chipped black fence in a beautiful new green color matching the building and making it "disappear." Habitat Volunteers painted the classroom WHO:  The Bayview Community                   Rebuilding Together San Francisco Habitat Greater San Francisco partner families from 94124 Gina M. Fromer, M.S. District Vice President, YMCA of San Francisco Bayview Opera House Board members San Francisco Arts Commission HandsOn Bay Area Visa volunteers Wells Fargo volunteers Google volunteers WHERE: BVOH, 4705 3RD STREET, SF Muni 34, 24, 44, KT 415-824-0386 WHY: The launch of the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI) in San Francisco, in partnership with Rebuilding Together San Francisco, will focus efforts most immediately in the Bayview neighborhood and will rehabilitate and renovate 50 community facilities and 200 homes in San Francisco and the Peninsula by 2020. Habitat's NRI program is focused on improving the quality of life for residents of local neighborhoods. Visa volunteers are hard at work planting beautiful native grasses and flowers.

2011 NEN Awards Ceremony Video

In case you missed the award ceremony, at which five people and organizations from District 10 won awards for their outstanding achievements, here is the edited video. Enjoy, and again, congratulations to Leroy Loper (NEN Hall of Fame): The Bridgeview Community Teaching and Learning Garden (Best Green Community Project); The Alemany Island Beautification Project (Best Community Challenge Grant Project); The Visitacion Valley Greenway (Outstanding Park Volunteer Group); and Marlene Tran (NEN Lifetime Achievement Award).

New Salesforce Mission Bay Campus

If you like UCSF's William J Rutter Center on Owens St - the big red building - then you'll love the new Salesforce.com campus, in which there will be no fewer than eight buildings that are similar to Rutter.  Designed by the same architecture firm, Legorreta + Legorreta, these buildings will house up to 10,000 employees from AT&T Park down to 16th St.  The company hopes to begin construction this year.

To read more about it and to see pictures of the buildings, check out SFGate.

Redraw San Francisco

Want to draw your own SF Supervisor districts? Check out http://www.redrawsf.org/ a website provided by Healthy City

Don't forget to attend the redistricting task force meeting on Jan 26 at 6PM at 1800 Oakdale.

Read more about redistricting here.

h/t Malia Cohen

Limón Rotisserie's looking for a few good employees

Limón Rotisserie's newest location is up and running, and they are looking for a few good cooks and servers; organized, clean, fast individuals who want to join our team. Please, send them a copy of your resume and reference sheet attached to the body of your email. You can also stop by and drop a copy of your resume and reference sheet at their location on 5800 Third St. They will be calling for personal interviews over the weekend, giving preference to those cooks with at least 2 years of experience in high volume restaurants.

• Compensation: based on experience
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
  

Original URL: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/fbh/2797284409.html 

h/t R Morine

Eastside Recycled Water Project community planning workshops

The first of four scheduled workshops will be held:

Thursday, January 19th
1155 Market St
6:00PM


The Eastside Recycled Water Project Planning Process got underway in November with two Open House events where community members were able to acquaint themselves with the overall aspects of the project.  The Open House events provided information about the benefits of recycled water, a general overview of the program and a general outline of the planing process.

h/t A. Lantsberg