One Last Forum

Yes, there's ANOTHER forum, this Friday, October 29th, from 5PM - 7PM.

Community Election Rally and Candidate Forum
Calvary Hill Community Church
141 Industrial St
San Francisco

Hosted by Rev. Dr. Joseph Bryant
415-647-5300 or http://www.calvaryhill.org for more details.

h/t KE

Forum Notes

I've finally gotten all of my forum notes converted into actual sentences. Sorry that I wasn't able to make it to every forum, but I do have a life!! Check them out from the links at the left...

Last night's forum...

I'll try to get the 'raw' notes from last night's forum cleaned up today, but here are a few take-aways from last night:

Malia Cohen wants to make McLaren Park a world class destination park. She railed on "downtown monied" candidates, as well as on the Chamber of Commerce for ignoring parks.
Teresa Duqué was so far out of her league that people in the audience were actually laughing at her as she gave her answers. She left the forum before the last question had even been asked.
This forum hit on many topics that Kristine Enea has been intimately involved in for the past five years. Many candidates once again came out in support of many of her ideas. I won't go any further, as you all know I'm a supporter of hers, and tonight was an indication to me as to why.
Rodney Hampton, only 18% of voters "look like you", so if that's the only reason to vote for you, then you'll only ever get 18% of the vote on the best day. And no, I don't want someone in office who's just like me. I want someone who understands land use, knows people who can make things happen, etc. You and I are far from being that person.
As with many candidates, Chris Jackson insisted on bringing locals into process and not making parks for future residents, but for those here now.
Nyese Joshua has no ideas, just rants against everything - "If people are homeless, then talking about parks is moot," and "put a fence around the shipyard land and don't let anyone use it for anything."
Tony Kelly mentioned the New York City Parks directors method of building open space first, raising value of property, and then building out developments as a correct way to go.
DeWitt Lacy made a good point about needing someone in office with negotiation skills and legal acumen in contract law in order to make contracts with developers that have teeth.
Geoffrea Morris sounded like the only one who'd actually used Silver Terrace Park, and like me, is in favor of the artificial turf there - "Have you ever played a sport on a field and tripped in a gopher hole?" This time around I see you as a huge asset in our next supervisor's office. With a little downtown polishing and city politics under your belt, you could be supervisor one day.
Every question Steve Moss answers comes down to light bulbs, toilets, and 1000 doors he's knocked on. But yes, as he and others said, our parks need to be for locals, but too many voices or too big of a plan gets things bogged down - must have realistic park goals
Eric Smith echoed others on the need to help get motivated community members over the brick wall that Parks and Rec puts up in getting locals involved.
Lynette Sweet talked about bringing back parks of yesteryear, with park directors who know what locals want. Money is the main issue that needs to be sorted out.

Neighborhood Parks Council Forum

Candidates began with 1 minute opening remarks, but in this heat, I may not be able to get them all down. Questions and responses will also be on the NPC website.

In attendance:

Nyese Joshua
Kristine Enea
Malia Cohen
Eric Smith
Steve Moss
Geoffrea Morris
Chris Jackson
Tony Kelly
DeWitt Lacy
Lynette Sweet
Rodney Hampton, Jr
Teresa Duqué (left the forum early)

Ok... Raw notes below...

1. What will you do for Bayview residents who lack access to open space?

TD. Keep career criminals out
RH. No coherent answer
LS. Wants residents to have more input. Port blue greenway. Mentioned the Transbay cable project.
DL. New development has an open space plan. Need new funding sources. California endowment linking SF and Oakland together. Need more opportunities for people reentering community from prisons. He would have a dedicated grant writer for this.
TK. Substantial funding is already here but is being used for other things. Must be used for things like urban agriculture, for which no training is required. Build open space first. Clean up pollution increases value of land and entices people to build.
CJ. People in neighborhoods weren't asked what they want. Kristine Enea has a good approach (yes he said this). Hire local people to do remediation work in parks.
GM. Too often have to wait for new parks. What about old parks? Start a park group - has been talking about this with Kristine Enea (yes, she mentioned her, too), Marlene Tran, others.
SM. He helped close Hunters Point power plant. His non-profit got money from Transbay cable to clean up sites. We are sitting on toxic land that needs to be cleaned up. Need to go to Washington, DC to get money to do clean up, but no one seems to be doing that yet.
ES. Continue doing what he's doing such as the two Sunday streets along Third. He is a LEJ member. Teaching youth about environment. Involve community.
MC. It's time to pull off the gloves. Concerned about downtown interests funding certain candidates. Asked where has the Chamber of Commerce been in helping parks?
KE. Has done much already. She got her neighborhood park on the list to get restrooms. Much harder to do than it sounds. Need equity. Eco center. Has filmed a full length documentary bringing attn. to our parklands. Currently working on a $5M grant to get money to parks. City needs to purchase open space to keep it open.
NJ. If people are homeless, the need for parks is moot. She has been fighting the BAAQM District for poisoning children. City of San Bruno now dealing with the same air quality issues we do thanks to PG&E pipe explosion.

2. Do you support park renovations like that at Silver Terrace Playground?

CJ. No: need places to live and better schools before park renovations of any kind.
TK. The city is not broke, just has its priorities wrong. Need expand resources. Currently, fields are for citywide interests, not neighborhood or local interests. Looked to KE's ideas regarding bringing disk golf to India basin and not McLaren Park
DW. Local parks need to be for locals; bring back more space for kids
LS. D10 parks used to have real grass. Against the Silver Terrace park artificial turf - new renovations would have to be real grass
RH. Would encourage natural open space (grass). Park spaces bring people together and killed crime in his neighborhood. Materials used need to be natural.
TD. Open space important, but need to keep to the budget. Don't want to allow criminals in parks
NJ. Of course, but who will do the work? Project will enhance neighborhood, but need to hire locals to build.
KE. Support renovation. Important to talk about whom its for. McLaren Park: the city says there's no money to staff it, but they won't allow volunteers to do it. Need to have more creative thinking. Also need more irrigation that works
MC. KE is right. SE part of city is a priority. Need a bond measure for D10 parks. Pathways to careers. Local 261 organizes gardeners in McLaren Park.
ES. Supportive of Silver Terrace park, but need natural space.
SM. Has played at all parks in SE part of the city. Lots of parks, but no recreation in this part of town. No real park space for kids, but we have the space and resources
GM. need to have local hire legislation. Support Silver Terrace park renovation. Said, have you ever been playing a sport and stepped in a gopher hole?" Keep artificial turf for sports that need good surfaces.

3. What is the best use of clubhouses and how would you create jobs?

MC. Partner laborers with unemployed locals in caring for parks. Clubhouses are for everyone to enjoy.
KE. Keep them public and for local use. Clubhouses are public entities, not for private use - uses should be locals only. Sports fields for locals. Make sure that their uses make sense. Need more programs like Brown Bombers in our parks
NJ. Stop firing people who work for parks. Parks used to be full of people. Would fight to bring back quality parks. Doesn't want new parks. Parks have been stripped.
TD. Clubhouses should be for the people of D10
RH. Create jobs that train people to run parks. Clubhouses should be safe havens taht foster family interactions
LS. Has seen what clubhouses means to community - jobs and public safety. Parks are resources for next gen. More after school programs in parks. Jobs - local hire in parks is easy.
DL. After school programs. Large population reentering neighborhood from prison. Expand back on track program. Excess money could be used to hire people to teach or coach Brown Bombers and sports teams
TK. Clubhouses need to be public and accessible. Bring back centers that have been closed. City has 26000 employees, bit can't lose more people at parks and rec
CJ. Keep public and staffed, especially over the weekend. Could be access points for farmers markets, etc. Bring people to parks through the clubhouses. Local people hired to work in parks.
GM. HP Family rents Gilman park. Not opposed to non profits renting out clubhouses. All for non profits renting out to support. Local residents.
SM. Local 261. Parks used to be controlled by director who knew what community wants. New professional model but should shift to community model to have local control.
ES. GG park tennis club closed bc staff laid off. Non profit made up of members cleaned up bc park and rec wasnt there. Communities need to be able to get into clubhouses when city wont.

4. What is your vision for McLaren park: disk golf, off leash dog, etc

LS. Revamp the amphitheater. Disk golf might be something worthwhile looking at if revenues down. Could teach people to golf in McLaren Park.
RH. Large enough for all. Golf: work with community to integrate teach people to golf (we're talking about DISK GOLF people, not regular golf at Gleneagles!!)
TD. Lots of people use the park already. Would make changes to disk golf proposal.
NJ. More involvement needed with local community. Eliminate need for environmental impact reports to keep housing out of parks.
KE. McLaren disk golf wouldn't have been so troublesome if locals had been consulted. Need to get nets on basketball hoops, etc. Need to offer other locations for disk golf. Promote SF Urban Riders. Look at natural contours and let that determine use
MC. Wants McLaren to be a park where people from all over the world come to visit. Not in favor of disk golf. Off-leash area for dogs is a necessity. Clubhouse needs to be rebuilt. Attract some tourist dollars to park.
ES. Loves this park and loves disk golf. Doesn't necessarily want it in McLaren, however. No space for golfers at McLaren park. If locals wanted it, would be different.
SM. Fierce love of McLaren park. Needs master plan with community input and money. Need thoughtful approach to make asset better the way he community wants.
GM. Need community support. Doesn't know what disk golf is. Disconnect between neighborhoods. Needs more lighting in the park, as it's not safe. OK with off-leash dog areas
CJ. Must include disconnected neighborhoods in planning for park, especially Sunnydale. Make the park for locals who live here now, not for future residents
TK. Make the park bigger. Make it a destination for passive recreation. Likes off leash dog space.
DL. Disk golf shouldn't dominate space but can combine bird watching and habitat. Separate space for dogs. Charge people from outside zip to use park

5. Esprit Park drinking fountain? Yes/No? Everyone said "yes".

GM. Where is Esprit Park?

6. How do you ensure HP Development is as green as possible and links to the Blue Greenway and new parks

TD. Need a panel to oversee Lennar
RH. Community oversight of Lennar, accountability
LS. Is a former Sf Redevelopment Committee member. Need political will to oversee Lennar. Blue Greenway has three sections. Middle part needs monitoring to make sure linkage happens.
DL. Do it contractually. Much negotiating ahead. Need someone who understands contract law.
TK. Plan and build open space first. Creativity around financing.
CJ. Local hiring makes this green. Bring neighborhood services to keep people out of their cars. Parks have plans for artificial turf - need to make it natural.
GM. Restore citizen advisory board. People need to be able to discuss this. Ensure total cleanup.
SM. Residents don't trust Lennar. His nonprofit built trust by giving things away and wanting nothing back. Lennar needs to build trust with community in this way.
ES. Former member of the restoration committee. Don't trust either Navy or Lennar. Make them accountable. Get rid of tons of waste
MC. Need civic engagement. Maintain political will to keep connection btwn Greenway. More accountability.
KE. Knows more than anyone in the room about this project. It's the Navy's responsibility. Must restore Redevelopment Advisory Board (RAB). Knows how to deal with Navy because she's done it. There exists a gap between the shipyard and the port, so need to build a pathway first.
NJ. City is complicit with Lennar in poisoning children. Fence the shipyard and don't let anyone in ever again. No way they'll get it clean enough for people to be able to use it.

7. How do you get people motivated to help in the parks?

TK. People already are. Hire for enthusiasm more than for skill.
DL. People are motivated. Engage the community. Knock on doors. Just like campaigning. Get kids involved
LS. We all have the "What's in it for me" syndrome. People are only going to want to be a volunteer if parks are open for people.
RH. Identify key people to take care of their own
NJ. Grieving community in recovery. Must consider things going on that have left out human cost.
KE. Make it easy and empower people. Show results. Bring opportunities to people - don't expect them to come to you
MC. Agree w/ two points from KE. Make it easy. Streamline pocket parks. Taking things away from people motivates them. Once engaged, that's how they're empowered
ES. Community members motivated but up against a brick wall of parks and rec. Needs to change.
SM. Potrero View did article about this but got no response from parks and rec. Lying throughout from the city needs to be changed to get people engaged. Some ideas can get too big to be implemented.
GM. Utilize the Jobs Now program. Use social services to bring people in. Streamline process to bring groups together
CJ. Park staff talk at meetings but don't listen to residents. We need to feel like our advice will be adhered to. Increase outreach.

Whew!

Upcoming Events This Week in D10 (Update)

Lots of last-dash politicking going on this week. Expect lots of knocks on your door, too, as canvassers scurry around trying to capture your votes! Check out the poll to the left... When is it to late for a canvasser to ring your doorbell?

Prop B Round Table
Hosted by Jeff Adachi
Wednesday, 10/13
5:30pm-7pm
Alex Pitcher Room
Southeast Community Facility
1800 Oakdale @ Phelps

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Neighborhood Parks Council D10 Supervisor candidate forum

Wednesday, 10/13
6pm-8pm
Joseph Lee Gym
1395 Mendell @ Newcomb (half-block off 3rd Street)
NPC encourages community members to ask candidates their most burning park questions, which can be submitted at the event or prior via e-mail sent to supervisordebates@sfnpc.org.
Learn more by calling NPC at (415) 621-3260

(UPDATE) Forum Format: After welcoming remarks from our executive director, candidates will have one minute to state their position on parks, recreation, and open space. Next, audience questions will begin, asked through our moderator. Each candidate will have one minute to respond. At the end of the forum, all candidates will have another minute to make any closing remarks they wish.
Sandwiches, dolma and other snacks and beverages will be provided courtesy of Oralia's and Pera.

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Silver Terrace Street Calming Meeting

Thursday, 10/14
6pm
Bayview Police Station
201 Williams Ave

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Potrero Hill Street Fair
Saturday, 10/16
11am - 4:30pm
20th St between Wisconsin and Missouri

(h/t K. Enea)

District 10 Candidate Forum

District 10 Candidate Forum

sponsored by

Visitacion Valley Community Development Corp

Thursday, October 7

5:30pm-6pm Mixer

6pm-7pm Candidate Introductions + Q&A

The Village

1099 Sunnydale Avenue

Questions? Contact Karen Gilbert, 415-587-7896

D10 Family Forum

At St Gregory's Church

Format for today:

Questions submitted aead of time to candidates. Also questions from the public.

Candidates randomly picked and given two minutes to answer, then a second candidate gets a one minute 'rebuttal'.

In attendance:

Malia Cohen
Kristine Enea
MJ Marie Franklin
Chris Jackson
Tony Kelly
DeWitt Lacy
Geoffrea Morris
Steve Moss
Eric Smith
Lynette Sweet
Marlene Tran
Steve Weber

90 Minutes of questioning follows...

D10 has most kids but needs more options for childcare and preschool. What will you do?

Steve Moss: parents can't work if kids aren't taken care of.  Many different models that work. Must have space for daycare and groups should be given access to space.

Geoffrea Morris: open up more avenues for middle class families who make too much to qualify for current programs.


What are your top three action priorities for the city and county of San Francisco?

Malia Cohen: first to create jobs, support local economy, revitalize Third St corridor, Leland, and San Bruno; Health - pocket parks, and Star King.  Safety.

Marlene Tran: transparency of government; outsourcing of work from D10; monies for everyone, not just top tier management


How would you improve K-12 education given the lack of control of school board by BoS?

Eric Smith: little influence except through budget. Work more closely with school board who spend the money, make sure that school board has taken into account what families are saying to them.

Lynette Sweet: BoS has limited control over education, but can mandate things like libraries are there for students. Can help make ad hoc committee to BoS better.


Budget is BoS major responsibility. What would you do: Tax or fee increase, program cuts, or employees give back benefits, or other?

MJ Marie Franklin: other.  Don't expect employees to give back. No new taxes. City needs to look at resources and figure out what will generate funds, such as entertainment, to draw more people in to spen money here.

Stephen Weber: to balance budget, need to do all of the above. Look at revamping business taxes. Look at all programs to make sure they're all giving back what they say they are. Revamp pension program.


What is your personal hot button issue?

DeWitt Lacy: economy. Make sure approve local hiring mandate, as Avalos is working on. Incentivize local hiring by all businesses. Increases money in community and increased sales taxe revenues.

Kristine Enea: Smart development. Dev that cones to D10 provides needs o complete neighborhood, bot living in a suburb. Make sure we have libraries, historic district, preserving district, and public spaces.


What are your top three action priorities for D10?

Tony Kelly: same as for city as a whole. Infrastructure and livability. Youth and family services, wraparound services. 1 in 7 children essentially homeless. Invest and control over budget. Manage growth in D10. 100K more people in twenty years. Pollution. Life expectancy 14 ears shorter here.

Chris Jackson:  protect working families. Few spaces where two people with a job can afford to live.   Good living wage jobs, re-open shipyard. Good affordable housing. Good schools financed adequately with wraparound services.


What are the greatest problems for families, and what would you do?

Geoffrea Morris: social worker in CalWorks program. Most schools underenrolled. Better schools. SF is no longer family friendly. Already working with sfusd, make community centers out of schools in evenings.

Malia Cohen: land use conversation, but little about families. Neighborhood Community councils to give some structure as to what communities need.


What can you do to bring quality middle and high-schools to D10?

Kristine Enea:   Rainy day fund must e there. Would introduce legislation to ensure it. To rebuild Willie Brown Academy needs funding.  Address needs of children outside schools. Encourage vote for Omar Khalif, the only d10 school board candidate.

Eric Smith: arts, activities, music, etc imperative, and as supervisor, would encourage additional those things.


What would you do to improve safety of students getting to school on muni, by bike, and by foot?

Marlene Tran: 35 year teacher in sfusd. Adequate crossing guards, already asked city hall to ensure funding for this.

Stephen Weber: improve security on muni, uniformed and non-uniformed presence. Or example, parents in yellow jackets as volunteers on buses.


What recent decisions by BoS that have impacted families do you agree or disagree with.

Lynette Sweet: prohibition of toys in fast foods. Calorie content on packaging. Agrees with this. Need to ensure kids eat the right things.
Disagree with no pet stores in SF. Shouldn't have to go outside our community to get a pet.
Prohibition of cigarette products in drug stores is a good thing.

Steve Moss: parks and rec changing drastically. No sense of place or programs. Muni ratcheting back. Higher parking fees hurts families.


Give a concrete example of an action you've taken in d10 that resulted in positive change.

Chris Jackson: gateway to college program at ccsf starting at southeast campus. 400 kids helped, more than half from d10. Solar City 75 paid internships program, pays for books, transportation, and gives degrees in solar panel onstallation.

DeWitt Lacy: Solar City contract hasn't put a single person to work. City college may have ability, but hasn't done much.  Urban Debate program brings critical thinking skills to kids in D10.


What is the most important contribution you could make to the BoS.

Tony Kelly: responding to people. In terms of budget, build budget but not economy. Take control of budget. $3B sits in bank not being used to make city better. Establish municipal bank.

MJ Marie Franklin: worked in community for years, creating programs. Experience with legal, religious groups, etc. Would bring sensibility to board.


New format: one minute responses

What is our greatest crime issue in D10?

Chris Jackson: BoS not addressing working class people is a crime. Public safety, most are crimes of poverty and of opportunity, rooted in a lack of hope. At CCSF, increasing classes, expanding nursing programs. Need political will to not just enforce. Community policing. Social services. Long term solutions.


How would you increase availability of jobs in D10?

Steve Moss: development will be positive for people and environment. Areas in D10 for clusters of businesses, like produce mart could be used to develop food service area for things like school lunch program. Third St, Leland, etc. Fairly depressed. Lower burden on businesses, payroll tax holiday.


2008-09 SF civil grand jury report made specific recommendations on nonprofits - how would you implement those recommendations?

Lynette Sweet: consolidate back office functions but keep services and non-profits intact.


How would you create and support employment opportunities?

Geoffrea Morris: want to help make careers for people and not just jobs. Local hiring.


Transit:  show us your clipper card, and tell us one good thing, one bad about muni.

DeWitt Lacy: clipper card acts as a fare increase. Would look at real needs of d10 people. Can't cut services.


Immediate policy actions to ensure families can prosper,

Steve Weber. Improve Ad hoc SFUSD committee. After hours community centers, programs with the arts, use parks and rec money to bring back services.


How would you improve bike safety?

Kristine Enea: Has worked to increase Bike lanes in India Basin bike way, listening to people in areas like Dogpatch to correctly place bike lanes on Illinois and not Third, for example.


What is the role of quality childcare to our district?

Marlene Tran: children at risk, and without quality care more kids will end up in jail.


What are the biggest issues facing families?

Malia Cohen: cost of living. Parking meter fees, hours, Sundays. Against Sunday meters because it's a day for families to experience the city, parking fees a disincentive to pay additional fee.


How will you work the board of education?

Eric Smith: promote community school model, make them hubs of community activities. Fairs, meetings, etc. Create vocational schools.

Money, Money, Money...

For your Saturday morning enjoyment, and article from the SFBG...

Now, for some real enjoyment:



See you at the Family-Friendly Forum at St. Gregory's, 500 De Haro at 3PM.

Family-Friendly Forum Saturday 3PM

There'll be another D10 candidate forum tomorrow at St Gregory's Church, 500 De Haro St.


View Larger Map

The event is being billed as a 'family-friendly' event, with questions focusing on children, schools, and all things family-oriented. All of the candidates have been invited to attend.

There will be childcare provided for a small suggested donation.

Visitacion Valley Forum Tomorrow

San Francisco D10 Board of Supervisor Candidate Forum
Focus on Visitacion Valley

Where: Visitacion Valley Community Center
66 Raymond Ave 94134

View Larger Map

When: Thursday, September 30, 2010
6pm-8pm

Moderated By:
Kevin Weston (NAM) with Kwok Shu Leung (KTSF)
Kenneth Johnson (VVCC)

Sponsored by:
Visitacion Valley Community Center (VVCC)
New America Media (NAM)
Chinese American Voter Education Committee (CAVEC)

For more information contact Kevin Weston at
Kweston@newamericamedia.org or 415-503-4170

Confirmed are:
Malia Cohen
Teresa Duqué
Kristine Enea
Rodney Hampton
Tony Kelly
Chris Jackson
Geoffrea Morris
Steve Moss
Eric Smith
Lynette Sweet
Marlene Tran
Steve Weber
Diane Wesley-Smith