Latona Street Block Party
(one block up from JJFish at 3rd & Revere)
May 5th, Noon-6
From the Baptist Church to the community garden residents of Latona street and their friends & family will be celebrating the history, friendliness, and cultures of their one block street in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood.
Provided: Music, tables and a bouncy house.
Bring: Food to share, chairs, an instrument, but most of all just bring you.
There will be tours of the garden, local residents homemade products for sale, and a chance to sign up for the new neighborhood association.
Everyone is welcome. We encourage friends & family to make a day of visiting the Bayview and check out the Quesada Garden walking tours and the weekly Mendell Plaza celebration on 3rd & Palou as well as the many amazing restaurants on 3rd Street.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Petition to SFCTA re Quint St Bridge Replacement
I've created a petition on change.org to be sent to all the SFCTA Board members (who are our eleven city supervisors) and the SFCTA Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) regarding the Quint St Bridge replacement. I would like to ask that you sign the petition and share it broadly before the CAC meeting May 23. If you would like to find out more about the project or ask questions of Caltrain, DPW, or the SFCTA (the money people who are driving this), there will be two more community meetings in May: one May 10, 6-8PM at the HPS CAC Planning & Development Subcommittee, at the HPS Office Trailers Conference Room (near Innes at Donahue); the other TBD in front of the full HPS CAC. Emails of people who are working on this project can be found at the bottom of this email.
Following that, there will be one meeting of the SFCTA CAC and three of the Board, the final of which will be the one at which the Board makes their policy decision regarding which plan to adopt (bridge or berm):
May 23 Citizens Advisory Committee Scheduled for Wednesday, May 23, 6:00 PM, 100 Van Ness Ave., 26th Floor
Jun 12 Finance Committee Scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, 11:00 AM, Room 263, City Hall
Jun 19 Plans and Programs Committee Scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, 10:30 AM, Room 263, City Hall
Jun 26 Authority Board Scheduled for Tuesday, June 26, 11:00 AM, Room 250, City Hall
The Change.org petition reads:
Quint St Bridge Replacement: Make Policy Decision to Pursue Bridge Option
The SFCTA Board is being asked to make a policy decision in June that will chart the course for the Quint St Bridge Replacement project from here on out.
At community meetings held over the past six months, the community has been told that the berm/connector road plan may cost close to $30M, exceeding the $25M available for the project. We have also been told that a value-engineered bridge that could accommodate a station at Oakdale Ave could be built for close to $30M. If there is little to no cost difference, and the choice is to close Quint St, create a narrow connector road and eliminate at least 25% of the connectivity between Silver Terrace and Bayview, or keep Quint St open via a bridge at the Caltrain tracks as it is today, retaining all accessibility to and from our neighborhoods and ensuring access to a future station via roads that are sufficient to accommodate the expected traffic increase, then we strongly support the latter.
We, the residents and business owners in the Bayview and Silver Terrace neighborhoods who rely on Quint St remaining open, ask that the board's policy decision be that the ill-conceived berm/connector road option be taken off the table and that Caltrain be instructed immediately to design a cost-effective bridge that would accommodate a future station at the Oakdale Ave site.
-------
Some things that came out of Saturday's Open House at the BVOH:
- possibility that engineers can design a cheaper bridge option that would still accommodate a station at Oakdale
- possibility of a policy decision delay and dual-path planning and design approach to look at both options (berm/connector and bridge) simultaneously
Some things that came out of Wednesday's SECF Meeting:
- connector road may cost as much as $8M, $3M more than they have for it, reducing its feasibility (if they can pull $3M out of the air for the road, then they can value-engineer a bridge and find the money for that, too)
- possible Oakdale Station has no parking planned, but they recognize that it should, and so they would need to find money to build a parking structure somewhere nearby
- connector road eliminates left turn at Jerrold from Quint, which affects 25% of drivers
- closure cedes the section of Quint north of the tracks without financial compensation to the city or neighborhoods
Thanks for getting the word out about this and your support in seeing that the connections between Bayview and Silver Terrace are kept strong.
SFCTA Staff:
Deputy Director for Planning Tilly Chang, tilly.chang@sfcta.org
Planner Colin Dentel-Post, colin.dentel-post@sfcta.org
SFCTA Board:
Chair, Supervisor David Campos, david.campos@sfgov.org
Vice-Chair, Scott Wiener, scott.wiener@sfgov.org
Supervisor Malia Cohen, malia.cohen@sfgov.org
SFCTA CAC:
CAC@sfcta.org
http://www.change.org/petitions/chair-supervisor-david-campos-quint-st-bridge-replacement-make-policy-decision-to-pursue-bridge-option
Thursday, April 26, 2012
SPUR: Public Harvest
Public Harvest
Expanding the use of public land for urban agriculture in San Francisco
 |
| Photo by Michael Waldrep |
Urban agriculture has captured the imagination of San Franciscans
in recent years. More than 20 new urban farm and garden projects have
launched since 2008, and in 2011 the city changed its zoning code to
permit urban agriculture in all neighborhoods. City gardens and farms
provide greenspace, recreation, education about fresh food, cost savings
and ecological benefits. But the city will not fully capture these
benefits unless it responds to the growing interest and energy behind
the issue.
The demand for more space to grow food is strong. In most neighborhoods, residents must wait more than two years for a community garden plot. The current amount of land dedicated to urban agriculture is insufficient, funding is down from its peak 10 years ago and support from city agencies is largely uncoordinated, understaffed and, as a result, inefficient. SPUR offers 11 recommendations to expand and coordinate the city’s institutional support, increase funding and provide more access to public land.
The demand for more space to grow food is strong. In most neighborhoods, residents must wait more than two years for a community garden plot. The current amount of land dedicated to urban agriculture is insufficient, funding is down from its peak 10 years ago and support from city agencies is largely uncoordinated, understaffed and, as a result, inefficient. SPUR offers 11 recommendations to expand and coordinate the city’s institutional support, increase funding and provide more access to public land.
Download full report: SPUR_Public_Harvest.pdf
Quesada Gardens Initiative Topsoil Fundraiser
Gardeners!
Instead of getting your soil and manure at a garden center this year, get it this Saturday and help Quesada Gardens Initiative grow.
Topsoil Fundraiser at the Palou Community Garden
This Saturday, April 28, 10AM - Noon (or while supplies last)
Palou Community Garden located about a block west of All Hallow’s Church on Dunshee St between Palou St and Oakdale Ave
Palou Community Garden located about a block west of All Hallow’s Church on Dunshee St between Palou St and Oakdale Ave
It all has to go! Neighbors are clearing out 1800 bags (0.75 cu-ft) of Scott's topsoil and another 1200 bags (1 cu-ft each) of steer manure. We want to share it with you.
Please come and get the goods. We’ll be giving it all away, and asking for donations (optional) from those who take more than a bag. No one will be refused.
Bags retail for around $3.50 each. Suggested donations: 2 bags = $7 donation
3 bags = $10 donation 5 bags = $15 donation 7 bags = $20 donation, etc...
Of course, larger donations are welcome! It all supports the Palou Community Project
- Advance donations are easy via Paypal on our website QuesadsaGardens.org.
- Cash donations accepted on site.
- Make checks payable to our fiscal sponsor “BVHPFCI” noting “QGI on the check.
- All donations are tax deductible (non-profit tax code #94-1747575).
Thank you! To our design partners in Seth Wachtel’s Architecture & Community Design Program at USF
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Plans
Being the nosy-nelly that I am, when I noticed a sign the other day mentioning a "Major Encroachment Permit" hearing regarding the UCSF hospital campus at 4th St between 16th and Mariposa, I wanted to know more. So, the lovely Barbara Moy at SFDPW hooked me up with some drawings.Order No. 180,183
To consider a request from the Regents of the University of California, for a Major Encroachment Permit for occupying portions of the 4th Street, Owens Street and 16th Street public rights-of-way to install, use and privately maintain a public plaza within a portion of the 4th Street right-of-way between 16th Street and Mariposa Street; University of California underground utilities; specialty paving; and a new median divider on a portion of Owens Street between 16th Street and Mariposa Street within the Mission Bay Redevelopment Plan.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
9:00 AM
City Hall, Room 400
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
More pictures after the break:
Love Your Parks Day
Alemany Farm Herb Gardening
Join SFPA and Friends of Alemany Farm for an herb walk and hands-on demonstration with herbalist Kathryn Delwiche. Enjoy refreshments made with herbs from the farm, kids
activities, then get a tour of Alemany Farm- the largest working farm in San Francisco.
Where: Alemany Farm (700 Alemany Boulevard)
Time: Noon to 4:00pm
Visitacion Valley Greenway Native Planting
Green your thumb at Vis Valley Greenway, one of the most successful community gardens in the City. We'll be putting in native plants and mulching, and then enjoy lunch in the beautiful Herb Garden.
Meet: VVG Native Plant Garden (between Tioga and Tucker)
Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Hilltop Park Beautification and Lunch
Join SFPA, Habitat for Humanity and Parks 94124 to beautify Hilltop Park. We'll be replanting flower beds, clearing debris, and pruning vegetation, then sitting down for lunch to admire our work!
Where: Hilltop Park (Hudson St. at Whitney Young Circle)
Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Join SFPA and the McLaren Park Collaborative for morning nature walks, exploring McLaren Park- one of San Francisco's largest and least known habitats. We'll then revitalize the Turtle Play Area with some new sand, and enjoy lunch together.
Where: See www.LoveYourParksDay.org for meeting times, locations and schedule
Time: 9:00am to 1:00pm
KQED's Bayview Foodie Crawl
KQED's Bayview Food Renaissance
Radio Africa & Kitchen is one of a growing list of city- supported food businesses on Third Street in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood. It's all part of a calculated redevelopment strategy to drive foodies to this long neglected corner of Southeast San Francisco. Yes, there is plenty of the mouthwatering BBQ and Soul Food you'd expect to find, but Bayview has a lot more to offer now, including at least three places to get a latte. (Is it just me, or is that a key indicator of foodie culture?)
"Welcome to our Bayview. Welcome to Third and Oakdale," said Mayor Ed Lee at a recent press conference for the restaurant's launch. Most restaurant openings don’t feature the local mayor, but the people packing this party were mostly city officials. Because San Francisco is this project’s biggest backer.
Radio Africa & Kitchen's chef, Ethiopian-born Eskender Aseged, has served "pop up" dinners at one venue after another over the last eight years. His approach is heavily influenced by his experience at the now-defunct Square One, one of the first restaurants to take classic recipes from the Mediterranean and reinterpret them for the California palate.
"We take any country from all over Africa, specifically Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal or Nigeria, and then we sort of bring on the fresher, more straightforward focus and cleaner taste," says Aseged.
You won’t find fried food at Radio Africa. Or ketchup. Or hot sauce. Aseged uses what he likes to call the power of Ethiopian spice mixes, like Berbere.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Potrero Hill Penny Carnival
Potrero Hill Art Show Reception
 |
| "Potrero Hillside" 1965 by Charles Griffin Farr |
The Potrero Hill Artists Exhibition is the oldest annual art show in San Francisco and owes its longevity to a group of artists who painted with, or under the tutelage of, the late Charles Farr. In 2006, before the branch closed for renovation, over one hundred Potrero Hill artists submitted artwork for the show!
Please show your support and join the community for this special event!
ROCK's Summer Programs
Summer is right around the corner and ROCK SF's program is filling up quickly. Our summer programs are open to children and youth who attend SFUSD. Priority for enrollment in ROCK’s summer programs will be given to youth who attend one of the schools: El Dorado Elementary School and Visitacion Valley Middle School. Our high school program is open to all high school youth.o Go Camp: Elementary School Summer Program
o Summer Escape: Middle School Summer Program
o Tech Trend Setters: High School Summer Program
Bank funds makeovers for Visitation Valley business
From Nick Wolff of VVBOOM:
In case you missed the news broadcast [on KTVU], G&L Bakery (198 Leland Avenue) has a newly designed and remodeled interior!
The renovation comes courtesy of a Wells Fargo Small Business Renovation Grant which VVBOOM secured for G&L Restaurant & Bakery along with G&K Grocery which will be renovated early next month. The work was carried out over the weekend by volunteers from partners at Rebuilding Together who continue to do great work in Visitacion Valley!
Senior Scam Stoppers
WHAT: Senior Scam Stopper Seminar ~ FREE and open to the public
WHEN: Friday, May 18; 12:30pm – 2:30pm
WHERE: Portola Family Connections, 2565 San Bruno Ave. (btwn Burrows and Felton St.)
Seniors,family members and caregivers welcomed at this FREE seminar! As technology continually changes and scams become more sophisticated, it is increasingly important we educate, empower and protect ourselves and loved ones from financial and consumer abuse.
Brown Sugar Delayed - Hopefully not Denied!
A not very encouraging post on Tablehopper today:
I know, I know, many of us in the 415 have been waiting for news of Tanya Holland opening her second location of Oakland favorite ~BROWN SUGAR KITCHEN~ at 5800 Third Street. After a number of project delays, the latest word I received from her was this: “Not happening in SF anytime soon.” Ack, what a bummer—no waffles from Ms. Holland in the 415 for now.
BSK’s impeccable waffles. Yelp photo by Pei K.
Bayview Dishcrawl a Success
Last night, about forty intrepid foodies ventured down to 5800 Third St for the first ever Bayview Dishcrawl! What's a Dishcrawl, you ask? It's a progressive dinner from one restaurant to another. The event saw us start out at Smokin' Warehouse BBQ, then a bus (that seemed like it would never arrive) took us to Radio Africa & Kitchen, and then we headed back to Limón.
I'd never even heard of Smokin' Warehouse (1465 Carroll Ave) before, but there, we were treated to pulled pork sandwiches, corn bread, and their famous steak chili! I could have eaten that steak chili all night. Owner Bill Lee, an electrical contractor, licensed locksmith, and ordained minister who also loves to cook, told the crowd how he got started in the restaurant business by giving away food to friends and colleagues. He affably told us how he has the best corned beef in the city, his prime rib was better than House of Prime Rib's, and some of his dishes were so hot they'd "make your butthole quiver" when you ate them. He said that no one ever leaves his restaurant's order window hungry, even if they can't pay. He believes it's better to give food to someone who needs it than to deny it to them or to throw it away at the end of the day.
At Radio Africa & Kitchen (4800 Third St), diners seated at their tables were shocked to see a crowd of forty come in to disrupt their evening, but I think we managed to chow down on the shrimp, edamame hummus, and mushroom dishes without too much fuss. Restaurant owner Eskender Asaged was his usual personable self, and told diners of the local organic garden he uses to grow many of the vegetables he uses.
At Limón Rotisserie (5800 Third St), we ended the evening never having to come down off the high-note that it started on. The dishes at Limón never disappoint, and so the ceviche, empanadas, lomo saltado, beets, and other (sorry, can't remember all we had) were delish as usual, as was their wonderful sangria!
All in all, a wonderful night and a great introduction to the Bayview for the twenty or so people who'd never been. The rest of the crowd were locals who were excited to see our neighborhood put into such a positive spotlight. A great many thanks to the organizers for a fun evening so close to home!
 |
| Smokin' Warehouse Owner Bill Lee talks to Dishcrawlers |
At Radio Africa & Kitchen (4800 Third St), diners seated at their tables were shocked to see a crowd of forty come in to disrupt their evening, but I think we managed to chow down on the shrimp, edamame hummus, and mushroom dishes without too much fuss. Restaurant owner Eskender Asaged was his usual personable self, and told diners of the local organic garden he uses to grow many of the vegetables he uses.
 |
| Ceviche at Limón |
All in all, a wonderful night and a great introduction to the Bayview for the twenty or so people who'd never been. The rest of the crowd were locals who were excited to see our neighborhood put into such a positive spotlight. A great many thanks to the organizers for a fun evening so close to home!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Mendell Plaza Presents
Mendell Plaza Presents... Saturday, April 28 1:30 - 4PM
Vivian Ellis' Castle of Dreams Musical Productions Presents: Legends of Bayview Hunters Point
SFCTA Quint St Closure Meeting
|
| Top: Quint St Bridge Bottom: Jerrold Ave Bridge |
Southeast Community Facility, Alex Pitcher Room
1800 Oakdale Ave
The SFCTA is holding another meeting tomorrow night regarding the permanent closure of Quint St at the Caltrain bridge. If you were unable to attend Saturday’s open house, please consider attending tomorrow night and voicing your opinions.
The SFCTA has $25M allocated to this project. They will be showing options for the replacement of the bridge, which include:
- a $25-30M option: permanent closure of Quint St using a 20’ high earthen berm (~$20M) and the possibility (not certainty) of a narrow connector road, flanked to the west by the back of new Produce Market buildings, and to the east by the rail tracks atop the existing berm, from Quint to Jerrold, ($5-10M);
- a $25M option: replacement of the bridge “in-kind”, allowing Quint St to remain open and traffic to flow as it does today
- a $30-35M option: replacement of the bridge with one that would allow Quint St to remain open and would provide for a proposed future (15-20 years from now) station at Oakdale
They will also be there to answer questions on the timeframe for a possible Oakdale Caltrain station, the planning and decision-making process, the timeline for getting this work completed, and cost estimates for the various options presented.
 |
| Quint-Jerrold Connector |
The bridge replacement in-kind is fully funded and does not alter or disrupt existing traffic or neighborhood access conditions.
The bridge replacement w/ station capacity could be done for as low as $30M, the same as the potential cost of the berm/connector option.
If unable to attend this meeting you can still voice your opinion or ask questions by calling: 650.622.7845 or emailing: info@leblancassociates.com.
For special needs assistance or translation services, please call 415.593.1670
Para ayuda especial o servicios de traducción por favor llame al 415.593.1670
如或需要特殊協助或翻譯服務，請電 415.593.1670
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Quesada Gardens Spring Celebration
The event is free, but participants will be asked for a $5 donation if they are able
The family-friendly event will have food, refreshments, and music. There will be fun kids' activities, with community youth heroes receiving awards.
There will be dance performances by Flyaway Productions and Not Your Grammy's Theater, neighborhood history storytelling and tours of some of our gardens, including the Quesada Garden, the Bridgeview Teaching and Learning Garden, and the Latona Garden.
Come see what your neighbors have been up to, and enjoy a beautiful afternoon in the Bayview.
QGI's Palou Garden effort is determined to keep blooming
From the SF Examiner,
After nearly three years, the Palou Community Garden is ready to open — whether or not it has funding.
Photo: SF Examiner
Garden leaders say the effort to create the space at Palou Avenue and Dunshee Street has already given them plenty in the form of community rewards. But they will have to work a little harder to keep it afloat since their parent organization, Quesada Gardens, is struggling financially.
“Every nonprofit has its difficulties getting funding,” said Chris Waddling, one of the leaders of the Palou Community Garden.Click here donate to the Quesada Gardens Initiative
The Palou garden, roughly one-third of an acre, is on an arched piece of land above the Caltrain tunnel. Instead of letting it remain a blighted mess, nearby residents banded together in 2008 to turn it into a garden.
Project leaders, including Waddling, hope it can thrive as an educational center. Jeff Betcher, co-founder of Quesada Gardens, said he and the organization’s board of directors help other garden projects in the Bayview, such as Palou, get started because it can be a discouraging process.
“Permission takes years to get on a piece of land,” Betcher said.
Quesada Gardens grant funding is expected to run out by July, but Waddling and other members do not expect the Palou garden to fold. Waddling said he knows all the work that went into the garden’s creation — securing rights of way and other permissions from The City, and countless volunteer hours — is just the beginning. The group needs to test the soil, continue mulch work, create elevated plots and teach neighbors how to use the space.
But Waddling said he’s already seen results.
“I’ve found this community to be really open and friendly,” he said. “When I read about it in the news, it doesn’t feel like where I live.”Read more at the San Francisco Examiner and come to our fundraiser event Saturday, April 28 from 10-noon at the Palou Garden, at the corner of Dunshee St and Palou.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Univeristy Mound Nursery
Mendell Plaza Presents... April 21
SATURDAY April 21
1 – 4pm
Celebrate in Bayview’s Town Center / MENDELL PLAZA with a community-wide social and arts event. Third Street @ Oakdale Avenue • San Francisco1:00 Community Gathering with sounds and staging CHESS in the PLAZA; sponsored by ART94124
1:50 Introductions and Welcome Bayview Merchants Association / Bayview Opera House
2:00 Infinity Productions Presents: SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS Ms. Mary L. Booker, playwright, actress, poet, dramatist Poet James Martin, a.k.a. “ The Announcer”
2:30 PAT WILDER LIVE! (Returning from her tour of FRANCE)
4:00 Announcements / Upcoming Events
Future Attractions
APRIL 28: CASTLE OF DREAMS PRESENTS VIVIEN ELLIS DANCE COMPANY
MAY 5: GRUPO ADELANTE
MAY 12: 100% COLLEGE PREP CLUB MOTOWN MUSICAL SHOWCASE
Final 2012 Redistricting Map
Here it is, folks, your 2012 Supervisors Map:
Some notable changes in the north part of D10, where the line runs up Potrero Ave to 20th and then digs into the Mission as far as Byrant St. It looks like the entire UCSF Mission Bay campus is in D6, which to me makes some sense from a UCSF community point of view. I'm sure the university itself would have liked to have had two supervisors advocating for it, but they end up with just the one.
It was really interesting to me being part of the process, going to some of the task force meetings, getting my name on my own sfgov.org link! Seeing the process play out was quite interesting, and above all else, the nine task force members, who gave a great deal of time and energy to the process, ought to be commended for a job well done.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Final Supervisor District Map Approved: What it Means …
From BeyondChron,
District 10 More Progressive: Loses Portola, Picks Up Slice of MissionIt's funny, this near mythological influence that Potrero Hill supposedly has over D10. In the 2010 supervisor election, Potrero Hill cast 5930 votes, while Bayview cast 8533. Yes, the percentage of registered Potrero Hill voters who cast ballots is 63% compared to Bayview's 47%, but the raw numbers of votes cast that supposedly make Potrero Hill so powerful and influential simply aren't there. Potrero Hill also split its votes last election, with the top vote-getters (yes, I'm only basing this on first-round votes) being all Potrero Hill residents Tony Kelly (1548) and Steve Moss (1029), with DeWitt Lacy coming in a relatively distant third (452). In Bayview, Malia Cohen (1183) and Lynette Sweet (1152) were the top two vote-getters, with Marlene Tran (747) a relatively close third. If there had been a single candidate for either group of voters - Bayview or Potrero Hill - to have gotten behind, it would have made that the powerhouse part of the district.
One major drama at the Redistricting Task Force that had major political overtones was about the Portola – and whether to put it in District 9 or 10. Supervisor Malia Cohen came to a meeting, and spoke in favor of putting it in District 10 – which led some to wonder if she wanted Potrero Hill removed from her district. Following that meeting, she failed to get endorsed by the Potrero Hill Democratic Club in her run for S.F. Democratic County Central Committee.
Potrero Hill has always been in District 10, and it’s always had a disproportionate influence – because its white progressives vote in higher numbers than working-class residents in Bayview Hunters Point or Portola. That’s why, since district elections (in the 1970’s and today), three of the four District 10 Supervisors have been from Potrero Hill – with Malia Cohen being the fourth. By losing over 6,000 people in Portola to District 9, Potrero Hill will have even greater influence in D10.
In addition, the Task Force added a small slice of the Mission – about 1,500 people – from District 6 into District 10. This is the part east of Bryant Street and north of 20th Street, which includes Franklin Square and the Safeway on 16th Street. Residents there live next to Potrero Hill, and will vote very much the same way.
Foreclosed properties could fall under nuisance law penalties
From the SF Examiner,
Read more at the San Francisco ExaminerOwners of foreclosed properties in San Francisco, such as banks, are coming under fire for allowing some of those homes to fall into disrepair.
Photo: Mike Koozmin, SF Examiner
Supervisor Malia Cohen, whose District 10 includes the Bayview, has introduced legislation that would subject foreclosed properties to The City’s nuisance law, which allows for court abatement injunctions and fines. It also would triple the nuisance penalties for owners of 10 or more foreclosed properties.
The proposal is an attempt to address one of the impacts of the foreclosure crisis.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Fixing up Candlestick Point Recreation Area
From SFGate,
Growing up, Reneka Jones capped off 49ers games with family barbecues in Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. She celebrated birthdays there, too, and fished and skipped stones across the waves.
Reneka left Hunters Point at age 12, but Saturday she was back, digging in the dirt and planting native shrubs. The state park would need all the help she could give. Due to budget cuts, it is one of 70 slated to close by July.
"If something this big were to close, it'd rip a piece of the heart from Hunters Point and Bayview, period," the 16-year-old said.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/14/BAAH1O3E9Q.DTL
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Art springs up in Bayview
The grand unveiling will take place Saturday at 11:30AM.
Transportation Projects Open House for the Southeast Community
Transportation Projects Open House for the Southeast Community
Featuring three projects:
• Quint St. Bridge: The rail bridge over Quint St. is more than 100 years old and needs to be replaced, which may entail a street closure at the bridge. Three design options have implications for cost, local access, and a future Caltrain station at Oakdale Ave.
• Quint-Jerrold Connector Road: Design concept for a possible connecting road to divert local traffic toward the entry of the Produce Market if Quint St. is closed at the bridge.
• Proposed Caltrain Oakdale Ave. Station: Results from the Caltrain Oakdale Ave. Station Ridership Study.
Join Caltrain, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, and Supervisor Malia Cohen for an informational open house to learn more about these projects and how they will affect your neighborhood. You will have the opportunity to speak with planners, ask questions, view presentations, and voice your opinion.
Saturday, April 21, 11am–1pm
Bayview Opera House, 4705 Third Street
(between Newcomb Ave. and Oakdale Ave.)
Take Muni T-Third, 23, 24, 44, or 54
There will also be Caltrain small business subcontracting opportunities and CityBuild recruitment information
A light lunch will be provided by Yvonne's Southern Sweets
Get in touch
For questions, to RSVP, or to schedule a presentation to your community group, call: 650.622.7845 or email: info@leblancassociates.com.
For special needs assistance or translation services, please call 415.593.1670
Para ayuda especial o servicios de traducción por favor llame al 415.593.1670
如或需要特殊協助或翻譯服務，請電 415.593.1670
Can't make the open house?
Check out the project websites for updates and upcoming presentations:
www.sfcta.org/quint and www.sfcta.org/oakdale
I've posted previously about this here.
Future meetings:
Presentation to the Southeast Community Facility Commission
Wednesday, April 25 6–8pm
Southeast Community Facility, Alex J. Pitcher Room
1800 Oakdale Ave.
Presentation to the Hunters Point Shipyard Community Advisory Committee
Planning and Development Subcommittee
Thursday, May 10 6–8pm
Hunters Point Shipyard Site Office Trailers Conference Room
(near Innes Ave. and Donahue St.)
Presentation to the Hunters Point Shipyard Community Advisory Committee (Full CAC)
Monday, May 14 6–8pm
Southeast Community Facility, Alex J. Pitcher Room
1800 Oakdale Ave.
 |
| The Caltrain bridge over Quint St. (top) needs to be replaced. Replacement of the Jerrold Ave. Bridge (bottom) is complete. |
• Quint St. Bridge: The rail bridge over Quint St. is more than 100 years old and needs to be replaced, which may entail a street closure at the bridge. Three design options have implications for cost, local access, and a future Caltrain station at Oakdale Ave.
• Quint-Jerrold Connector Road: Design concept for a possible connecting road to divert local traffic toward the entry of the Produce Market if Quint St. is closed at the bridge.
• Proposed Caltrain Oakdale Ave. Station: Results from the Caltrain Oakdale Ave. Station Ridership Study.
Join Caltrain, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, and Supervisor Malia Cohen for an informational open house to learn more about these projects and how they will affect your neighborhood. You will have the opportunity to speak with planners, ask questions, view presentations, and voice your opinion.
Saturday, April 21, 11am–1pm
Bayview Opera House, 4705 Third Street
(between Newcomb Ave. and Oakdale Ave.)
Take Muni T-Third, 23, 24, 44, or 54
There will also be Caltrain small business subcontracting opportunities and CityBuild recruitment information
A light lunch will be provided by Yvonne's Southern Sweets
Get in touch
For questions, to RSVP, or to schedule a presentation to your community group, call: 650.622.7845 or email: info@leblancassociates.com.
For special needs assistance or translation services, please call 415.593.1670
Para ayuda especial o servicios de traducción por favor llame al 415.593.1670
如或需要特殊協助或翻譯服務，請電 415.593.1670
Can't make the open house?
Check out the project websites for updates and upcoming presentations:
www.sfcta.org/quint and www.sfcta.org/oakdale
I've posted previously about this here.
Future meetings:
Presentation to the Southeast Community Facility Commission
Wednesday, April 25 6–8pm
Southeast Community Facility, Alex J. Pitcher Room
1800 Oakdale Ave.
Presentation to the Hunters Point Shipyard Community Advisory Committee
Planning and Development Subcommittee
Thursday, May 10 6–8pm
Hunters Point Shipyard Site Office Trailers Conference Room
(near Innes Ave. and Donahue St.)
Presentation to the Hunters Point Shipyard Community Advisory Committee (Full CAC)
Monday, May 14 6–8pm
Southeast Community Facility, Alex J. Pitcher Room
1800 Oakdale Ave.
The final city redistricting map?
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| 04/11/12 Working Draft Map |
As of today, this is what it looks like:
DISTRICT 10 – beginning at SF/Daly City border on the shoreline: west along SF/Daly City border to census block line just west of Red Leaf Ct: north following census block line, east at Walbridge, west at Geneva, north between McLaren Park and Crocker Amazon Playground, north following La Grande, east at Persia, east along Mansell, northeast at Wheat Street, north along Bay Shore Blvd, west at Cesar Chavez, north on Potrero, west at 20th Street, north on Bryant, east on Division, northeast at Townsend, southeast at 7th Street, east at 16th Street, south at Pennsylvania, south along I-280, east at Mariposa, north following Terry Francoise Street, east to shoreline.
A Great Roundup of the Radio Africa & Kitchen Media Explosion!
For reservations, email radioafricak@yahoo.com (or call 415.420.2486).
If you missed the piece on Huffington Post, check it out, too.
Mendell Plaza Presents
MENDELL PLAZA PRESENTS . . .
Week 2 in a 12-week Series
SATURDAY April 141:00PM – 4:00PM
Celebrate in Bayview’s Town Center / MENDELL PLAZA for a community-wide social and arts event this Saturday afternoon.
Third Street @ Palou/Oakdale Avenues • Bayview • San Francisco
1:00 Plaza Gathering with community sounds and staging by DC Productions
1:45 Welcome by: Bayview Merchants Association Bayview Opera House
2:00 LINE DANCING with Ramona Pam
3:00 JAY’E and FRIENDS R&B • POP • SOUL
4:00 ANNOUNCEMENTS / Upcoming Events
MENDELL PLAZA PRESENTS...
415 730 2072
info@mendellplazapresents.com
Appearing Saturday, April 21, Ms. Mary L. Booker and other spoken word performances; Pat Wilder Live
Un Poquito de América Latina en Dogpatch
From SFGate,
More pictures at SFGateLatin American tapas and cocktails are front and center at this Dogpatch delight. Owner Richard Vila's spilt-level restaurant features the bar and all its associated trimmings up front and the main dining room up a short flight of stairs. Sit high or low, and indulge in food and drinks that hail from Ecuador to Peru.
Photo: John Storey, SF Chronicle
The vibe: Festive and casual. This isn't a place for dressing to the nines, but rather to unwind after that 9-to-5 workday. Meet friends for happy hour or get a group together to properly sample the long list of finger foods, hand foods and, if you're really hungry, dinner-size plates.
The crowd: Expect a mostly local crew, as with most Dogpatch establishments.
Best seat: Grab one of the spacious high tables on the upper level for a bird's-eye view of the bar.
Killer app: Too many to count, but we especially loved the crispy and creamy patatas bravas ($5) and the shrimp tacos ($9), light and refreshing thanks to its ingenious jicama wrapper. If you're a burger type, the chorizo sliders ($7), with gorgonzola cheese and caramelized onions, are a must.
Signature drink: Get your dose of holiday cheer year-round with the Calabasa Spice cocktail ($9) - reposado Tequila with pumpkin, lemon, maple syrup and cinnamon. Not your thing? There are about 15 inventive cocktails to choose from, as well as the trusty Poquito's Signature Margarita ($7).
Also on tap: Red and white sangria, both by the glass ($5-$6) or pitcher ($18-$21). Plenty of wine and beer. On the non-alcoholic front, a dozen fruit smoothies and juices, including the hard-to-find but oh-so-good Lucuma smoothie.
Bonus: Happy hour runs every night from 4 to 7 p.m. and features a $4 draft beer and $5 cocktail. Food specials include arepas ($2) and llapingachos ($2), which are cheesy Ecuadoran potato pancakes.
Poquito: 2368 Third St., S.F. (415) 643-3900. www.poquitosf.com. 4-10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri., 4-11 p.m. Sat.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SEMINAR
At Flowercraft on Bayshore at Alemany
FREE CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SEMINAR
This Weekend!
You will learn:
- How to select the correct native plants.
- How to plant them.
- How to maintain them.
When: Saturday, April 14th - Starts at 10:00am, come early to assure space
Hosted by Mike Craib
You will learn:
- How to select the correct native plants.
- How to plant them.
- How to maintain them.
When: Saturday, April 14th - Starts at 10:00am, come early to assure space
Hosted by Mike Craib
Green Connections in Bayview
How can we improve your path to the park?
Join us for Green Connections Office Hours
Green Connections is a new project about improving the City’s streets and routes that lead to our parks, waterfront and open spaces. This project builds on current efforts to create sustainable corridors that enhance mobility, green neighborhood streets, and improve pedestrian and bicycle access to community amenities and recreational opportunities.
The second year will build on this framework to design green connections in the following six neighborhoods: Bayview-Hunters Point, Chinatown, Potrero Hill, Tenderloin, Visitacion Valley and Western Addition.
Get involved! Join us for office hours! Visit the project web site for project information and upcoming events. Follow Green Connections on Facebook and take our survey!!!
APRIL 25, 2012
WEDNESDAY 3:00-6:00 PM
JOSEPH LEE RECREATION CENTER Community Room 1395 Mendell Street (@ Newcomb Avenue)
FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT:
KEARSTIN DISCHINGER, Project Manager
San Francisco Planning Department greenconnections@sfgov.org, 415.558.6284
: 558.6282 Para sa impormasyon sa Tagalog tumawag sa: 558.6251
Para información en Español llamar al: 575.9065
Bayview Supper Club Provides Inspiration
With all the new restaurants opening in Bayview, this blog is turning into a food blog!!
From SFGate,
From SFGate,
The corner of Third Street and Palou in the Bayview isn't just troubled. It's dangerous.
"We had homicides on this corner in 2009, 2010, and a fatal stabbing a month ago," says Bayview Station Capt. Paul Chignell. "In the last 10 months we've had 17 firearm arrests on this corner. Things have improved, but there is still an unacceptable level of violence."
So obviously what's needed is a jazz/supper club.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Radio Africa & Kitchen gets more press
Wow, I have never seen so much buzz and press about a single restaurant before. It's already tough to get a reservation at Radio Africa & Kitchen, at 4800 Third St., and this isn't helping! Just kidding. I love to see positive news and reviews for what's becoming a local hot spot for dining. With a rise in the mid-priced restaurants in the area, including Old Skool Cafe and Limón, I hope there's also a rediscovery of restaurants and businesses that have weathered the storm that construction of the light rail caused. Hopefully others decide to join those already there, like Auntie April's and Las Isletas, and take a chance on the Third St corridor as a viable place to do business.
From SFGate,
From SFGate,
Aseged, known for his nomadic African-centric dinners over the last five years, finally has a permanent home, a sparkling new restaurant in San Francisco's redeveloping Bayview district.
Eskender in his community garden
Combined with the expected reopening of Moya, which burned down in a SoMa fire last May, the Bay Area's Ethiopian and Eritrean food scene is getting a jolt.
Whether concentrated along Oakland's Telegraph Avenue, with stalwarts such as Addis and Asmara, or scattered about San Francisco from Assab in the Lower Haight to New Eritrea in the Inner Sunset, there's now African food to be found in a variety of settings.
The upscale Sheba Piano Lounge in the lower Fillmore pushed the envelope in 2006 with Ethiopian-inspired cocktails and fusion fare like Drunken Chicken Drumettes glazed in Tequila, berbere and tejj, a honey wine.
Now comes a permanent Radio Africa Kitchen, where Aseged is serving "modern African cuisine" that celebrates the bold flavors he grew up with while spinning them forward.
The Renderings For The Corner Of 8th And 16th Streets
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| 1150 16th St at 8th St |
To me, it looks like every other condo building that's being built in the city right now, but what're you gonna do?
I wonder how long Wolfe's Lunch can hold out where they are?
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| 1000 16th St at 7th St |
Saturday, April 7, 2012
San Francisco's first 'za trailer
All Good Pizza
Run by a guy and a girl whose very meta job is as CEO of a business that helps women start their own businesses, All Good will unleash 650 gas-powered-degrees on hyper-locally sourced eight-slicers featuring ingredient groupings like pesto, red potato, and roasted garlic; Louisiana hot links, mixed peppers, and fennel; or thyme, grana, garlic, truffle salt, and mixed mushrooms, or why the paramedics had to take Luigi to Dr. Mario. Using an attached 8'x4' smoker, they'll also be making their own sausages (i.e. those LA hots, chicken chorizo, and Italian garlic), and they'll be pressing paninis like the Nola Muffaletta (Genoa salami, ham, housemade olive salad, fior di latte mozz, provolone) or their take on the Cubano, which's topped with gruyere, house pickled onions, cornichons, aioli, and smoked ham, which, after Darvin shattered that backboard, all the Texas Tech cheerleaders probably did.
Soon-ish, they'll also be adding Straus Family ice cream, which they'll use for floats and a grape-soda'd Purple Cow, also the unfortunate nickname of the Williams College co-ed your face-stuffing managed to attract. Lucky you!
Read more at Thrillist
SEFA Launches New Website
SEFA is a collaborative of residents, community based organizations, city agencies, and others working on food access and food systems. SEFA's goal is to leverage similar efforts and encourage partnerships and collaboration in order to achieve a vibrant and robust food system for all in Bayview Hunters Point. The SEFA Food Guardians are a group of BayviewHunters Point residents who educate, advocate, and mobilize to address community food security and justice, promote nutrition education and awareness, and support urban agriculture in their community.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Redistricting winds down with a fight
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| March 22 Draft Map |
SFGate and SF Examiner previewed the meeting.
You may recall that at last week's meeting, a video was presented showing some Portola residents backing staying in D10, with another 6 or so present in person to support the move. About eleven people also showed up supporting a unification inside D9.
Supervisor Cohen was also there last week, supporting the move to D10. Although she claims to have been following the process closely since the beginning, it was clear that she either didn't have a full understanding of what was going on, or was there to subvert the process at the behest of the Realtors Association lobbyists who'd come to speak with her on this topic back in February. Personally, I don't think she's uninformed on the subject. I think she made a political calculation that backfired on her. She followed advice from her political consultants who'd arranged contact between her and the Realtor's Association CEO James Fabris on Feb 9 (the same consultants who'd arranged for the pro-D10, Realtors' Association favorable video to be produced) and tried to craft a nuanced response that would satisfy all sides. Unfortunately for her, many people have been following this topic much more closely than she has, and know that advocacy for Portola in D10 AUTOMATICALLY means support for Potrero Hill in D6. There were no other options on the table, and so if she truly didn't know this, then she had been grossly misinformed. I know, however, that she had been well informed on this ahead of time, and yet went ahead anyway with her politically-driven failed attempt at having it both ways.
The sad thing for Supervisor Cohen is that she's now stuck without the Potrero Hill Democratic Club's endorsement of her SFDCCC run. She now has the distraction of having to mend the wounds that she herself created within the Potrero Hill community that feels that she left them out to dry. And assuming the map doesn't get altered at the last minute, she has to try to win in 2014 without the help of the voters in the Portola, who will likely find themselves in D9, voting for or against Supervisor Campos this fall.
Art Project Unveiling in Bayview
On April 14, 2012 San Francisco Housing Development Corporation (SFHDC), 4800 Third Street Homeowners Association, and the 94124 Arts Program will proudly unveil a new public art installation From the Hill and Beyond by artist Malik Seneferu. As the developer of the mixed use building at 4800 Third Street, SFHDC has been a long advocate for revitalization and improvement in southeast San Francisco, especially Bayview’s Third Street commercial corridor. Those development efforts have lead SFHDC to not only construct buildings but promote and engage in public space improvements with the goal of bringing neighbors back to Third Street to shop, dine, and be entertained especially in Bayview’s Town Center area.There are approximately 29 MUNI communication boxes on Third Street from Evans Ave to Wallace Avenue. SFHDC along with 4800 Third Street Homeowners Association partnered with local arts the 94124 Arts Program to solicit proposals from local artists for the project. The goal is to mitigate issues of public dumping and nuisance that have occurred around the communication box. Malik Seneferu’s work was chosen for this mural location. This bustling corner is home to 18 new condominiums and the recently opened restaurant, Radio Africa and Kitchen. SFHDC, the 4800 Third Street Homeowners Association, and Art94124 hope that this is the first of several MUNI communication boxes to get murals in the Bayview neighborhood.
This project is funded by the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation (SFHDC) and 4800 Third Street Homeowners Association. SFHDC and the 94124 Arts Program are actively seeing funding to bring more art to Bayview’s Third Street.
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As part of D9, the Portola will not be thrown under any buses, as some people have asserted. Instead, it will be given a full seat on the bus and be allowed to speak up for itself in a way that it hasn't been able to for ten years, becoming a vital and strong part of a vibrant District 9.
With the current draft map, Potrero Hill remains part of the eastern neighborhoods to which its long history and its future are so inherently tied. Keeping Potrero Hill in D10 honors its working class history and the continued connection many of us experience daily, whether on foot, bike, or the T train. It also retains in one district the seemingly ever-shrinking African American community that lives throughout, and keeps their voice in shaping their own destiny as strong is it possibly can be.
Some people like to use the Potrero View newspaper's tag line as being indicative of the mindset of Potrero Hill towards the Southeast sector of the city. The tag line goes, "Serving the Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, Mission Bay, & SOMA neighborhoods since 1970". What they forget to mention is that the paper's section known as "Southside" now comprises about half of the paper's space, and covers an area that follows the Third St corridor all the way to Visitacion Valley. What it doesn't include is the Portola. I suppose that since the Portola isn't in a part of the city that the View covers, they wouldn't readily know this.
To stick with the current draft map, roughly 3200 Portola voters move to D9. To move Portola into D10, 5100 Portola voters and 9400 Potrero Hill voters move districts. Those D9 Portola voters haven't voted for supervisor since 2008, and wouldn't get to again until 2014 if moved to D10. The Potrero Hill voters moved to D6 would not get elected representation for the next two years. Moving Portola to D10 would end up unnecessarily disenfranchising 14,500 voters, while putting the smaller southern chunk of Portola into D9 allows them to vote for supervisor this fall.
After public comment last evening, the Task Force decided NOT to reopen the boundary discussion insofar as the Portola was concerned. And so it would seem the Portola will be reunited in D9. My hope is that the last precinct of the Portola between Mansell and Dwight gets to join them.