Editorial : sunsetbeacon – excerpt
Those who have recently moved to San Francisco may not be aware that the 55-acres of Strybing Arboretum were free to all comers until relatively recently, via four different gates from morning until evening. It was a great place where one could really relax and get away from urban life and meet a wide variety of people. Along with a UCSF library whose four floors were open until midnight, and a plethora of cheap food shops, this place was one of the reasons I moved to the Inner Sunset originally.
Unfortunately, wealthy people saw an opportunity for wealth and glory and, after paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to consultants such as BMWL’s Sam Lauter, privatized these 55 acres. As a result, many can no longer get in without paying; none of us can bring guests without paying; and the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society (originally the Strybing Arboretum Society) complete controls who enters, how much we pay. and what ID we must show to prove we are genuine San Franciscans and not San Franciscans exiled by skyrocketing rents to other locales. No meetings with locals and the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society have ever been held.
Gardens have been destroyed, but new commercial spaces have been developed. Taxpayers forked out $1.1 million for an imperial new fence. The San Francisco Botanical Garden Society has been granted complete control of the Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers as well…(more)
Delegates at the November CSFN GA Meeting voted unanimously to oppose this and other enterprise projects that are selling public space for private gain. Perhaps it is time to talk to our leaders at City Hall about that practice that came about when the city decided to turn our public space into enterprise zones. We might also discuss how much of which services do we want to pay for. The make up mentality has made enough work and it is time to back down.