Board of Supervisors August 14, 2007

Meeting went really fast until Item came up on Medical Cannabis Dispensary Permits. One of the 30 locations at 194 Church Street could not comply with disability access standards and Supervisor Dufty made a motion to make 194 Church Street a landmark building so this location could stay open. Michela Alioto-Pier spoke very forcefully and eloguently about the rights of disable having the same rights as gays, and especially at this type of locations everyone should be able to use the facilities. This discussion was very emotional and a problem with the supervisors because of the long time facility being used by District Eight and the gay community. The motion failed to make the location at 194 Church Street a landmark building with a vote 5 to 5. A compromise was made by giving a one year continuance for 194 Church Street to come up with a solution. Everyone involved wants to come up with a solution. I admire Supervisor Alioto-Pier's advocacy for disability rights.
The other item (see above picture) was 55 Laguna Street location development. Many people from both sides spoke. After much discussion there was a compromise solution with a portion of the buildings being landmarked so the development could continue. At the end of the discussion a man next to me said "how can both sides win at the same time"? . Many people on all sides have spent year's on this development of a housing, open space, community center and business section.
Other item: Liquor License Transfer - 845 Market Street (Bristol Farms - downtown centre) continued until September 11th (the next Board meeting after vacation break). Sean Elsbernd spoke that this has been on the calender for a year and he was tired of seeing it and would like this item resolved.
Golf Course Task Force - Continued until October 16th (all sides are working on a working solution.
Residential Hotel ordinance passed on first reading letting GOTV activists in the SRO's to register voters.
Events:
September 8, 2007
Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NEN)- Empowerment Summit, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 90 Grove Street, San Francisco. Resource fair that will feature government agencies and non profits that are comitted to partnering with the neighborhoods to help become better places to live and raise family. Four areas: Public Safety, Clean and Green, Community Building and Disaster Preparedness. 9:30 to 4 p.m. Key Note speaker is Latoya Cantrell President of the Broadmoore Improvement Association who has been charged with rebuilding neighborhood after hurricane Katrina. Information: nen@sfgov.org or call 415-554-7111.
September 23, 2007
5th Annual Excelsior Festival - Free 11 am to 5 p.m. Persia Triangle info@excelsiorfestival.org 414-585-3790. Lots of fun, booths, music and great fund.
September 26, 2007
Neighborhood Parks Council -Alamo Square Park (Hayes at Pierce) 6 to 9 p.m. Celebrate and support Neighborhood Parks Council ten years of advocacy. Information: www.sfnpc.org
September 28, 2007
Friends of Sunset Playground - 13th Annual Sunset Community Festival Fundraiser for redesign and rebuilding of Sunset Playground. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunset Recreation Center, 29th Avenue at Lawton Street. sunsetfestival@sbcglobal.net or Carol at 415-759-3690
Information:
Democratic Women in Action: New Democratic club (DWIA). Engage in direction action to address the interest and needs of children and related minors. Membership Dues: $15. Contact: Renee Golanty-Koel, PhD Acting Chair: 415-661-6276.
Transbay Contestants - www.som.com/transbay
Close It Coalition - 77 Beale Street San Francisco, Ca. 94103 (sponsored and supported by PG&E. Join coalition to support safe, clean and reliable energy and to come up with alternatives to the City's proposed power plants. Information: www.closeitcoalition.org.
ACLU of Northern California - Meets third Thursday of each month at 39 Drumm Street, San Francisco, Ca. Informatin: clint@aclsf.org. Phone No. 415-621-2493 Chair- Quinn Delaney

San Francisco FYI

How can I explain a five and a half hour Board Meeting?
1. Cesar Chavez development - passed 6 to 5. Close. There is still the question of housing being developed should it be market rate or housing for people who do not have the means to buy a home. In the Mission especially, every project should be looked at very carefully. It is good that people are paying attention again to planning issues. This type of activity will keep the planning commission on their toes.
2. Muni Charter Amendment - Passed 10 ayes. Something must have happened because all kinds of union people got up and spoke for this issue. A Plus - more money for muni. More control on how Muni hires - but then there is the parking issue which the mayor is against(mayor won't fightthe ballot though) and the Chamber of Commerce has a separate item for the ballot to increase parking in San Francisco. Two items on the ballot regarding parking at the same time. A little messy.
3. Bayview Hunters Point item about delaying Lamar project at Parcel A. I have never heard such intense, emotional testimony. The BayView Hunters community is split on this issue. Even though I was there 50 minutes early I could not get in because of the huge line. There were two rooms set up for spillover. I attempted to watch in the small room but some people who were for the project took over stood in front of the tv and gave a speech about what they should say at the hearing. When I asked to turn on the soundto hear the meeting they ignored me. Didn't realize there was a even bigger room with a bigger tv and sound. Lots of food and water were brought in (big bulky items- not sure how that go through securty?. Intimating atmosphere. After Hearing all testimony I feel that there are health problems in the Bay View Hunters Point (I am not sure if this is because of this development). But if I had to vote I would have voted for the Chris Daly motion to delay while they checked to make sure things were safe. This issue has gotten people organized. Chris Daly was right to bring this issue up. He was very articulate and strong. Ross Mirkerimi made intelligent remarks.
Items:
Rasha - Thai restaurant that had just opened at 3141 16th Street closed down. New restaurant will be called "The Monk's Kettle". Knew Rasha wouldn't stay open. The message was confused. On the side of the building it said Saki drinks but the name sound Indian to me but the food was Thai. The sign also said "great food". I am not sure if San Franciscan's trust signs like that?
Doggie Diner at 10th Street and Mission torn down.
Gustofino Fine Foods is moving in the Just Deserts location at 248 Church Street.
Best In Town (pet store) closed Noe Street location - new location is 545 Castro Street.
All Star - Souvenirs on sale. Hats $10. Hooded sweatshirts $25. Giants souvenir store at stadium.
Giants - During the game there is a hot dog stand open to the outside so people walking by can enjoy the food. Great idea.
Photo Exhibit - Hungry I - Enrico Banducci - San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum - Veterans Building 401 Van Ness Avenue, Fourth Floor, San Francisco, Ca.
Through 8-25-2007 phone: 415-255-4800 www.sfpalm.org. Free to Public Tues - Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 1 to 5 p.m.
August 4th -Diane di Prima and Michael McClure- Benefit for Bird & Beckett Books and Records,(moving fund)$20/$25 2788 Diamond St., S.F. 415-586-3733
August 5th - Jerry Day- Celebrate Jerry Garcia, McLaren Park, John F. Shelly Drive near Cambridge www.jerryday.org
August 7th -Tuesday National Night Out Community BBQ - Free BBQ with food, music. Get to know your Sunset neighbors. Tuesday 5 to 7 p.m. Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center, 925 Noriega Street @46th Ave. www.snbc.org Carol 415-759-3690
August 11th - Saturday Castro Theatre - Sing- along with Wizard of Oz 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. San Francisco with Clark Gable - www.cityboxoffice.com
August 21st Tuesday - Women for Carole Migden - 5:30 to 7 p.m. Pearson Residence, 157 South Park Street rsvp migdenevents@gmail.com or call Annie Eagan 650-873-2678; www.carolemigdenleading.com Contributions are welcome but not expected. Sponsors include Andrea Shorter, Debra Walker, Elmy Bermejo, Francis Hsieh, Holli Thier, Jaynry Mak, Jeannie Maher, Lee Ann Prifti, Margel Kaufman, Roma Guy, Sharon Johnson, Betty Yee and Doris Ward. Re-Elect Senator Carole Migden 601 Van Ness Ave. #E-611, SF Ca 94102
What I saw: 7:30 a.m. in the morning person waiting to go to work was licking the in side of a Oreo Cookie. Whatever it takes.....

Board of Supervisors

Jake McGoldrick - Spoke for an hour. I know because I kept looking at the clock! I know that the muni proposal was given to the supervisors at the last second - that is part of the problem - but part of the problem is the way the Supervisor talks and speaks into the mike. It sounds garbled and you really can't hear what he is saying. He must have made some good points- because there were someclose votes. But he does go on and he repeats himself. What was so sad there was a huge group of people that sat there for almost three hours to speak on a Bay View Hunters Point issue (I left after three hours) when they were about to start talking. They had a whole bus of people that came and left. They looked so upset and frustrated. The problem was yesterday was the only day to get the muni issue proposed Tom Ammiano spoke and voted yes but he wondered if all the time was worth the final draft. I am totally confused about some of the issues, one was parking and a question that Alioto asked which brought out that the mayor specifically asked that a portion of the agreement be left out off the press release. Sandoval was concerned about a set aside and it not being legal to move forward. Peskin worked so hard on this. Muni is so important. I don't have a problem with the Muni being separate - just so something works.
What is interesting is watching the "dance" while this is going on. Lots of smiling while Jake McGoldrick was talking. Supervisors get up all the time, go into the lobby and make cell phone calls, talk to the press. They seem to get along with each other. Then there is the moving around because Peskin needed to step down and go to one of the other supervisor's desks to speak and then one of the supervisors had to go up and be President of the Board. Back and forth.
Other comments:
You can bring in water, but not coffee and cokes. James Bryant walked in with a coke and had to walk right out.
Did you know you can go on www.sfgov.org/sfgtv and get the video for the last month of any board meeting?
John Taylor - the retired Clerk of the Board was there.
Other Items
Gough/Franklin -Stores are closing around Gough and Franklin because street was changed to One Way because of the new freeway.
Push Polling Issue was brought up for the ethics commission regarding reporting push polling information.
Newt Gingrich "Current GOP presidents field are a pathetic bunch of pygmies"!
Muddy Waters -Church and Market changed to Church Street Cafe (looks the same). Just Desserts just closed next store and Sparkys is changing to a diner and pizza place.
West Portal -
Waldenbooks is closing down. Finally. Awful store, Small and very dark - did not do a good job of presentation. (Stacey's does a good job of presentation. )
Double Rainbow changed to Cafe for All Seasons Deli (still have ice cream). Didn't realize that Shaw Candies has ice cream. Great street. Back in time - greeting cards stores, bakery, taverns, stationery store, antique store.
Street crossings: Near City Hall you push these buttons and there are crossing signals to let you know when to cross. However the sound is like tommie guns - war toys it's kind of disturbing. In Berkeley the sound is like twerping birds. (my Herb Cain moment). Change the sound.
Gay Talese - "A Writer's Life - Disappointing. I usually enjoy journalist's memoirs because they are so well written and generally span a large amount of time so you learn a lot about history. But this book is basically is notes taken over his lifetime of books he didn't write. Which is okay when the subject matter is interesting. i.E. Bloody Sunday - Selma but also goes on forever on about John and Lorena Bobbitt!
The book did not go into much about himself or how he writes (he doesn't like computers. )He is really interested in restaurants. Loves Elaine's.
Things I didn't know.
During the march at Selma there was an ambulance waiting in case Martin Luther King was injured to send him to Walter Reed hospital!
Did you know that George Wallace use to be a judge!
The Head Coach at the University of Alabama said the integration of the football team did more for civil rights than Martin Luther King.