Quint St Closure a Fait Accompli?

Last night I attended the BVHP PAC Land Use meeting, at which the future (or lack thereof) of Redevelopment Agencies was discussed, as was the landscaping plan for Third at Cargo Way.  The issue that got me to the meeting was the proposed closure of Quint St at the Caltrain overpass.

To refresh your memory, there are four separate projects:

1. Proposed Oakdale Ave Caltrain station
2. Quint St bridge
3. Jerrold Ave bridge (completed)
4. Quint/Jerrold connector road







We were told by SFCTA Deputy Planning Director Tilly Chang that a 2005 study indicates that the site could just barely accommodate a station at Oakdale Ave.  The station design that was thought to be best had two outer platforms with two tracks side by side between them.  This study took into account electrification, the bullet train, and local service. From p.54 of the final report from that study,

"With the two-platform option, the platforms could be built initially at a narrower width of 20 feet, and then widened to 30 feet when the additional third and fourth tracks were built. This would also allow the Quint Street Bridge replacement to be built at a narrower width, then if necessary, widened in the future to accommodate third and fourth tracks."

Fast forward to 2012.  There is $25M in the pot to replace the Quint St. bridge.  To replace it in-kind, "at a narrower width", as was done at Jerrold Ave., it would cost $25M.  To design it such that it can be "widened in the future to accommodate third and fourth tracks", and this is the very plan that was recommended in the 2005 report.  However, according to Ms. Chang, this option is no longer on the table.  What?!?  Another option, to replace the bridge with one already wide enough to accommodate all four sets of tracks would be $35M, but the extra $10M is nowhere to be found.  According to Ms. Chang, this leaves us with only one solution: close Quint St., erect a 20' high earthen berm across it, and divert Quint along the western edge of the train tracks so that it meets up with Jerrold right at the Produce Market and the soon-to-be-reconfigured Jerrold/Rankin/Kirkwood/Innes intersection.  According to Ms. Chang, this plan would cost $25M.  Or would it?

To erect the berm and put tracks on top is proposed to be $20M.  The remaining $5M from the pot of money would then have to get transferred to another agency, DPW I believe, to do the work on the Quint/Jerrold connector road.  According to Ms. Chang, to do this might cost $5M, but it might also be $6M, or $7M, or $8M, depending on what they find in the soil and what remediation needs to be done.  The $5M might also get snapped up by another cash-strapped agency or project, leaving us with no connector road at all.  This was a concern leveled by Linda Richardson, chair of the BVHP PAC Land Use committee, and one that we ought to take very seriously.

After much discussion about the berm plan, including ridiculous interjections by some bureaucrat who claimed that no one will miss Quint being closed because it's always flooded out in the wintertime anyway, I asked, "Why has there been no mention of the option to replace the bridge in-kind for $25M with one that can be expanded in the future when a station is approved to be built?"  Ms. Chang's response was that this option was off the table because it didn't allow for the station, despite this being the very plan that the 2005 final study indicates is the best option.  Ms. Richardson quickly shut down this line of discussion, saying something about being concerned we'd lose the station if we did this and also something about the SFPUC's plans for the digesters on the east side of the track benefiting from closure of Quint. 

Missing from the berm and Quint/Jerrold connector road plans presented last night, which by the way were identical to those proposed at the November community meeting, was any mention of the SF Produce Market's plans to reconfigure Jerrold Ave traffic on the west side of the bridge so that it is diverted around the market onto Kirkwood and Innes Aves.  The berm/connector plan creates a complicated intersection for the proposed Quint/Jerrold connector road, as it would then put drivers squarely into the new Rankin/Kirkwood/Innes interchange that comes with the Produce Market's plan.  The DPW rep at last night's meeting was just as unprepared to answer Michael Hamman's question about how this would be addressed as he was when I asked it of him two months ago.  If DPW is to take the lead on this phase of any project, I'm scared.

Without question, the 100-year old Quint St bridge is a safety concern, and it must be replaced as soon as possible.  If the bridge fails as a result of all these delays in its replacement, it's not going to be a pedestrian or car driver who gets killed, but rather hundreds of Caltrain riders plunging to the street below, followed by a months-long service elimination on the line.  As such, it is up to Caltrain to replace the bridge, which they're rightfully anxious and ready to do, and its irresponsible for every other agency involved to delay this bridge replacement by even a single day.

Caltrain already has a $25M bridge replacement plan that takes into consideration a future station and the $25M to do it - let them.  Follow the recommendations of the 2005 Final Report and replace the bridge in-kind with a $25M expandable bridge.  Caltrain can worry about finding the money to expand it when and if we ever see a station at Oakdale.

SFPD Bayview Police Captain's Meeting

There were about 30 residents at last night's SFPD Bayview Station meeting.

Here's a snippet of what happened during the hour-long meeting:

Captain Chignell was delayed by a shooting that happened in the Bayview right before the meeting. When he arrived, he mentioned that about 2500 people now get the Bayview Police Station newsletter that now goes out three times a week. To sign up to receive it, you can email SFPDBayviewStation@sfgov.org. He mentioned that several guns had been taken off the streets this past month. He also mentioned that more police resources are dedicated to the area around Palou/3rd St than any other in the Bayview PD's jurisdiction.

Capt Chignell reminded people that if we see a problem (open container, urinating in public, illegal gambling, drug deals), that you should find a safe place and call the police immediately. The more you call, the more that crimes of all nature are logged, and the more accurately the city can deploy services to trouble spots. He also mentioned the "Hot Prowl Burglaries" (where the perp comes into a home while the resident is present) happening in Potrero Hill. There are two sergeants assigned to finding the perps. If you see anything or have had a burglary in your home or business, call police and report it!

Taneta Thompson, the Deputy District Attorney who works out of the Bayview Police station a couple of days a week talked about the Community Court system. She suggested that those who would like to become 'panelists' contact Jackson Gee at jackson.gee@sfgov.org

Greg Crump of DPW was there to talk about blight and illegal dumping. He mentioned a $350K grant to target 25 hot spots. He said you could find on the sfdpw.org website out where these sites are, but I had to do a google search to finally find where the sites are:

http://sfdpwcalrecyclegranttracker.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/illegal-dumping-
targeted-hotspots-dpw/

DPW Dumping Hot-Spots

This grant was to target illegal dumping in the Bayview, and so that's where the majority of the 25 'hot spots' are located. That doesn't mean that DPW won't come if you call them to a spot near you, and the more you call about a trouble spot, the more they'll have it on their radar and will be more proactive in cleaning it up.


Crump's take-home message was that if you see a problem, it is your responsibility as a citizen to call 311 or tweet SF311. Don't be discouraged by the reply saying that it is DPW's goal to clean things up in 3-days. They simply say this to cover their butts (I'm paraphrasing). Usually they try to get out there in 1-2 days.

 
Someone from DPT was supposed to be at the meeting, but never showed up. He will likely be at next month's 6PM Bayview SFPD meeting, held Tuesday, Dec 6, so if you have a DPT question/complaint, you should come. The Captain would like to have the meeting somewhere other than at the station, so if you know of somewhere to host it, please send a suggestion to SFPDBayviewStation@sfgov.org

Is SF Broken?

I certainly hope that the next mayor, whomever he or she may be, really buckles down to fix not only the potholes, crime, education, deficits, graffiti, (insert problem here), but also the oftentimes byzantine and inefficient bureaucracy that we as citizens have to deal with on a regular basis.

Case in point: Complying with order to remove tree results in fine

Speaking of the Mayor's race:

The Potrero Hill Mayoral Debate
Tuesday, August 30, 6:30 - 9 pm
At International Studies Academy
Sponsored by the Potrero Boosters and Potrero Hill Democratic Club

D10 Gigantic 3 Program

The Gigantic 3 program is a free Bulky Item Drop Off Service allows residents to get rid of unwanted household items at various locations around the City, and usually coincides with DPW's Community Clean Team Events.

Appointments are highly recommended for you to avoid lengthy waits, and proof of residency is required for the Gigantic 3 in your district.

Next Gigantic 3 events:

                District 10 - July 16, 8-12pm
                Martin Luther King Jr Middle School
                350 Girard Street

The following items are eligible for dropoff:
Green Waste and Other Compostables
        •Yard waste, landscaping debris, and all other organic material: leaves, grass, flowers, tree and brush trimmings, plants, weeds, food scraps, etc.
Free Shredding & Document Destruction, Truck on site
        • Limited to two Bankers boxes
Large or Bulky Items 
        • Curbside recyclable material (cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, cardboard, and all paper).
        • Appliances (water heaters, stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers).
        • Scrap Metal (any item that contains metal, such as a kitchen chair, lamp, pipes, bird cage, bed frame, etc.).
        • Mattresses and Box Springs (including futon mattresses).
        • Electronics (including stereo equipment, VCR’s, old telephones and microwaves). 
        • Goodwill Industries will be on hand to recycle and reuse computer equipment (limit 5 computers per household).
Non Recyclable/Non-Compostable Waste 
        • Plastic bags, Styrofoam, ceramics, light bulbs, painted or treated wood, etc.
Goodwill Industries will be onsite to accept donations such as clothes or furniture in resale condition.
Special Wastes - The following special waste items can be dropped off at the Gigantic3 site:
        • Used motor oil/oil filters. Place used filters in a plastic bag. Do not mix motor oil with anything!
        • All household batteries (non-automotive)
        • Fluorescent bulbs and tubes (Broken tubes will not be accepted)

You are encouraged to call your garbage company at 330-1300 to make an appointment for a free drop off. Proof of district residency is required. No businesses.

For more information, call (415) 552-9201 or visit SF Clean City.

Next Community Clean Team Event

Join District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen next week at Candlestick Park (the meeting location), Silver Terrace Playground (Silver Ave at Bayshore), and Palou/Phelps Mini Park (1800-block of Palou at Phelps).

Meet at Candlestick Park, Gate A (Harney Way & Jamestown Ave)

Saturday, July 16

9am - 12pm

Join Community Clean Team to clean and green San Francisco. Volunteers will work on tree planting, landscaping and gardening projects, remove weeds and overgrown vegetation, paint over graffiti, and help clean up litter in District 10. Lunch provided

SF Officials Going Door To Door In Fight Against Illegal Dumping

From SF Appeal,

San Francisco city officials are going door-to-door in the city's Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood this afternoon to educate business owners and residents about the effects of illegal dumping.

The San Francisco Department of the Environment and Department of Public Works are collaborating on the outreach effort, which is focusing on an area of the city that is a known hotspot for illegal dumping, public works spokeswoman Gloria Chan said.

The departments are about halfway through a six-week campaign targeting industrial and other businesses that dump waste and residents who leave bulky items like couches and mattresses on city sidewalks and streets, Chan said.

Read more at SF Appeal

Sidewalk dumping is costly blight in San Francisco - SF Examiner

Back in November, I posted something about this that was in the SFWeekly, but am posting it again because it's important, and even some friends of mine, who know that I tweet 311 DAILY to report illegal dumping in my neighborhood, have thought nothing of leaving their own trash on the sidewalk for the city to pick up. Thankfully, in the years since I started calling 311, I've actually noticed that the amount of trash dumped near my home has been reduced.  Unfortunately, it hasn't stopped.

Especially in the Bayview, with our freeway and rail overpasses acting as protection for the scofflaws, we have a real problem with people from outside coming into our neighborhood, transients, and with local residents dumping their trash illegally. When you see trash dumped illegally, CALL 311 and report it!

DPW's Mohammed Nuru writes for the SF Examiner,

There is a misconception that if no one picks up your old stuff, there is a planned and budgeted city service that collects the items from sidewalks — things like that old busted fridge or an outdated exercise bike. There is no such service. When The City is picking up sidewalk debris, it is responding to a complaint about sidewalk dumping from nearby residents. The City receives a call and the Department of Public Works sends someone out to pick up and haul items to the transfer station.

What residents do not know is that they are already paying for this service in their monthly refuse bill. In simple math, residents are paying twice to get rid of their junk. It is included in your monthly refuse bill already and we all pay again when Public Works hauls away the items on the taxpayers’ dime.

At a time when The City is tightening its belt, it is paramount that residents take advantage of easy ways to save money, and this is one of them. Save The City $4 million by keeping junk off sidewalks, and that means $4 million more for other services.

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner

DPW StreetSmARTS Call for Muralists

The San Francisco Arts Commission, in conjunction with the Department of Public Works, has created the StreetSmARTS program to connect established urban artists with private property owners to create vibrant art and make the property less likely to be vandalized. During the program’s pilot year, ten murals were created; this year twenty murals will be commissioned. The Arts Commission is currently seeking additional urban artists to add to the StreetSmARTS artist pool."

Click here to download the application. Applications must be submitted by Friday, January 14, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. (in-house). For more information, please contact Tyra Fennell at 415-252-2597 or email tyra.fennell@sfgov.org.

For more information, check out StreetSmARTS

(h/t Floyd in the Portola)

Urban Gleaning Program

My only concern with this program and food collected from D10 is that there is a potential for our soil and air to be so full of toxic heavy metals from years of industrial abuse that it's not fit for growing food, and that the city may find itself liable if it helps distribute it.  Jennifer Gorospe, a graduate student at San Jose State, is currently doing a Masters thesis on heavy metal levels in our area, the results of which should be made available in the coming year.

Still, it sounds like an awesome program!

DPW is working with San Francisco residents and businesses to help collect and distribute food grown from trees and community gardens for distribution to shelters, food banks and other communities of need. You can participate by registering your fruit trees and coordinating with DPW as a part of the Urban Gleaning Program.


Give Back and Help Enhance Access to Healthy and Nutritious Food in the Community
The goal of this program is to:

• Provide all of San Francisco residents access to healthy and nutritious food;
• Reduce waste of locally grown food;
• Create a food distribution system that targets communities who normally do not have access to fresh and healthy foods.

Join Today!
Sign up and register your tree! When you do: DPW will provide supplies to gather the fruits and will distribute the collected food to local food banks, shelters, soup kitchens, and hot-meal delivery programs.

How Much Does Cleaning Up Illegally Dumped Crap Cost San Francisco? - SFWeekly

"According to the DPW, the yearly bill tops $4 million. This comes from two manners of leaving crap around. The first is the aforementioned sprinkling of worn detritus on the public right of way for the supposed benefit of apocryphal students. The second is the large-scale dumping of toxic materials in the city's more industrial zones -- such as the repeated discharging of toxic roofing materials in Bayview throughout September and October." - SFWeekly

Community Clean Team District Ten Cleanup--Coastal Cleanup Day

Not necessarily a 'candidate event' per se, but what politician would pass up an opportunity for a great photo-op where they can be seen actually cleaning up the district they keep talking about helping? I would imagine you'll find a couple of them here, right?

Come join DPW at this year's Community Clean Team Event at Islais Creek Park at Cargo Way @ Third St. To volunteer, email DPW, or call (415) 641-2600.

Let's see who shows up!

FYI - there are eleven of these coastal clean-ups in D10 this weekend. Check out The Ocean Conservancy website for more information on events in near you.