Category: Action

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Could Embarcadero become the next car-free zone in San Francisco?

by Gloria Rodriguez : abc7news – excerpt (online

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A group of advocates is pushing for a car-free Embarcadero in San Francisco.

Say goodbye to the trees. They are going down along with many of our open roads. Photos by zrants.

“We’re trying to build on the momentum of what we’ve had on the west side of town with the resounding defeat of Prop I and support of Prop J for car-free JKF and the Great Highway,” advocate Stacey Randecker said. “It’s time. It’s time for us to do something differently. We are heading in the wrong direction.”

The group has a website and organizers have three main reasons for wanting this car-free Embarcadero they’re calling the “Grand Embarcadero.”.

According to SF Gate, Assemblymember Matt Haney and State Senator Scott Wiener are among those interested in the project although nothing formal has been drawn up.

ABC7 News reached out to their offices for comment and is waiting to hear back.

This is just an idea at this point.

But, Randecker said she won’t stop until it becomes reality.

…(more)

How do the voters feel about closing the major streets in their neighborhoods. Unless you are prepared for more street closures, you better vote YES ON G!

This will never end unless the voters put a stop to it. There is already a movement by the same people to remove traffic from Marina Blvd. Now they want to remove traffic from the Embarcadero.

Send Connie Chan to Congress. Wiener needs to be taken down. If he losses here he will loses his power in Sacramento. Already over 233 cities have signed a resolution to find a way to override the bills he pushed down our throats. The voters are angry and they are going not take it out on their representatives if they continue to take away the power of the people. Forcing unfunded mandates is not going to work much longer.

Why would the city be taking out hundreds of trees if they were not preparing for a major change on the Embarcadero? If you object to trees and AstroTurf, you need to vote NO on G!

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NIMBYs lost the big arguments. Now they’re fighting over fine print State laws gutted the old arguments against new housing. So opponents are getting creative.

By Kevin V. Nguyen : sfstandard – excerpt

State laws gutted the old arguments against new housing. So opponents are getting creative…

Artist’s interpretation of the proposed Marina Safeway project by Leslie Lowinger.

Over nearly a decade, California has layered housing laws that narrow what cities and neighbors can do to block a project they don’t like once a developer files. Essentially, cities can’t change the rules mid-stream anymore, downzone a site, or use discretionary review to stall projects that qualify based on growth mandates and affordability carve-outs…

With few legal avenues for challenges to development on the grounds that it is too big, too dense, or “out of character,” NIMBYs are increasingly honing in on the fine print.

But cities that attempt to side with opponents of development can end up in court and owing legal fees. That’s what happened to Menlo Park, which was sued  this month by the developer of the former Sunset Magazine headquarters, alleging the city spent nearly three years stalling a mixed-use development by claiming it didn’t qualify for the state’s fast-track laws. (California Attorney General Rob Bonta had warned the city  about this conduct.)

‘If we apply them, let’s apply them as written’

In San Francisco, neighbors of the Marina Safeway redevelopment last month filed their intent to sue the developer, city, and PG&E in federal court, arguing that the project doesn’t qualify for streamlined approval under AB 2011 and that contamination at the site (stemming from when it housed a PG&E steam plant) wasn’t properly considered during the application process.

Specifically, they are challenging the city’s view that enough of the site’s perimeter borders “urban uses,” a test that gets a project fast-tracked. The neighbors argue that a yacht harbor and Fort Mason shouldn’t count as urban use and allege that the developer skipped a required assessment of the contamination.

Of note, the YesAnd group), which spearheaded the lawsuit, shares a founder with Neighborhoods United SF, a coalition that previously campaigned against “extreme and unnecessary development.”

Stu Gross of Gross Klein PC, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, declined to state why his clients are waiting to file their suit. However, the complaint references the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a federal hazardous waste law, that has a required waiting period after providing regulators and responsible parties notice of intent to sue.

“Politicians and interest groups can debate whether these streamlining laws are appropriate,” Gross said. “But if we apply them, let’s apply them as written.”… (more)

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Building Public Awareness

ONV Volunteers at the League of California Cities Conference Anaheim, September 23, 2026

In 2024, Our Neighborhood Voices, a 501(c)(4) campaign committee, welcomed the formation of a 501(c)(3) sister organization, Our Neighborhood Voices Education.  The sister organization was created to illuminate the issues and empower the public and city governments regarding their rights and possible solutions regarding local control.  It has built a statewide following and a network of local activist groups. Together, these groups increased public and local-government awareness of the issues and possible solutions, culminating in Friday’s vote of 253 California cities.

 

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What bills did Gavin Newsom sign into law — or veto — in his final year leading California?

By CalMatters Staff : Calmatters – excerpt

IN SUMMARY:  California lawmakers sent Gavin Newsom hundreds of bills in his final months as governor. Here’s how he handled proposals to counter the Trump administration, lower the cost of living, crack down on data centers and boost retirement plans for public employees.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is signing and vetoeing his last bills as California governor.

Wednesday is the final day for Newsom to weigh in on 1,160 bills that were sent to him by state legislators.

The governor, widely understood to be gearing up for a run for president, wanted the spotlight on some bills more than others. Special attention was paid to placing guardrails on artificial intelligence and standing up to President Donald Trump…(more)

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Mayor Lurie declares ‘rent emergency’ as San Franciscans struggle

By Silas Valentino : sfgate – excerpt (audio)

Proclaiming a “rent emergency” in San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie announced a series of tenant protections Thursday morning that he says will fight the city’s rapidly escalating affordability crisis.

The mayor’s proposed reforms include six ordinances and more than $30 million in investments, and addresses three areas fueling the rent emergency: protections from unwarranted evictions and “sudden rent spikes” while beefing up the city’s enforcement of tenant rights.

Lurie did not announce any immediate action and it’s unclear when renters in the city can expect any tangible relief as the median rent in San Francisco has risen over 25% in the last year.

The incredible increase in prices has allowed some landlords to take advantage of the booming economy by driving rents up to “astronomical” levels, according to City Attorney David Chiu. The city is now asking renters to report any wrongdoing to the city attorney’s office….

While local and state law limit some rent increases, there are numerous carve-outs to those laws that leave many San Francisco renters at risk of unlimited rent increases. Some tenants have seen rent increases as high as 90% during this latest housing crisis…

The mayor’s most progressive effort is to reaffirm his support for District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder’s proposed legislation to prevent evictions that are issued for less than a month’s worth of unpaid rent.

Introduced this month, the law would bar a landlord from evicting a tenant for nonpayment unless they’re owed at least one month of the fair market rent…(more)

Still no mention of the numerous unfilled housing units that exist in the city today. Seems like that filling those should one a priority. Read the rest of the article to see more suggestions by other supervisors.

 

 

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Sprint to the finish at the Capitol

By Lynn La via email from calmatters – see email for action items

With days to go until the end of the legislative session, lots of things are brewing at the state Capitol:
  • California Forever setback: Solano County supervisors voted against proposed legislation that would have allowed the billionaire-backed California Forever to speed up the creation of a new shipbuilding facility by exempting parts of it from environmental review. The vote threw a wrench in California Forever’s wider efforts to develop a new city and manufacturing hub in the county. Read more from Kate Wolffe and Yue Stella Yu.
  • Coastal carveouts: Newsom is pushing a plan that would give an environmental carveout to an oceanfront project belonging to Jeff Worthe, a Santa Monica developer who is also a donor to the governor. Environmental advocates are slamming the last-minute proposal and oppose any backdoor deals that sidestep a state law limiting development along the coast. Read more from Stella.
  • Cheaper GLP-1 drugs?: A bill that aims to lower the price of anti-obesity medications, or GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, is one step closer to reaching the governor’s desk after clearing the Assembly earlier this week. If passed, the state would partner with a drug maker to produce cheaper GLP-1 drugs and distribute it through the state’s CalRx program. But it’s unclear how long this could take: California’s $55 insulin took three years to bring into market under CalRx. Read more from Ana B. Ibarra.

Meta to pay $17B — and limit ‘likes’ for teens — in social media settlement with states // CalMatters (free)

Taxing the rich cracks open the Democratic coalition // Politico (free)

Trump can’t cut off funding to communities whose policies he opposes, court rules // The Mercury News (gift link)

Nearly 300,000 K-12 students are homeless in CA, UCLA report says // EdSource(free)

Years late, billions over budget: CA’s high-speed rail hasn’t laid a track // The Wall Street Journal (gift link)

CA gas prices ‘shaping up to be the highest on record.’ What you’ll pay // The Sacramento Bee (paywall)

CA lawmakers sound alarm about urgent need for $2B for Olympics transportation // LAist (free)

SpaceX windfall presents dilemma for CA pension fund // Bloomberg (gift link)

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Daly City rebels against Olympic Club’s Westlake Park proposal

By Angela Swartz, Freelance Writer : sfgate – excerpt

Beware Gifts that come with Conditions

The ‘whole idea of privatizing a public park is really nonsensical,’ protester says

Children blow bubbles and climb monkey bars on a typical foggy Thursday evening at Daly City’s Westlake Park. Just 100 feet away, in front of a pale yellow post-World War II building with a green awning, about 50 people clutch bright signs reading “No plastic park” and “Westlake Park is not for sale or lease.” Organizers, who are part of a group called Save Westlake Park, pass out neon-colored posters describing a “land grab” and flyers linking to a website with more information on their cause.
 
The Aug. 13 gathering at the park at 145 Lake Merced Blvd. brought together a new coalition of residents of the working-class suburb just south of San Francisco. They have banded together in hopes of halting a $10 million proposal to revamp Westlake Park. The Olympic Club, one of the oldest private athletic clubs in the world, has offered to make the changes — in exchange for some exclusive use of the field and facilities. … (more)

What is it about AstroTurf that YIMNYs like? This is becoming a national front to green grass trees. Who is behind this? We know who is paying for it, but why? And what role does Rec and Park pay in. this?

They cut down a tree, pour concrete or Astroturf and call it a park?

And then want the public to volunteer to maintain it?

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Grassroots Efforts Are Thwarting the Billionaire Agenda

By Ian Firstenberg : phoenixproject – excerpt

If you are not at the table you are not in game.

Despite their attempts to remain in the shadows, the state’s roughly 200 billionaires have outed themselves. Greater visibility has meant their narrow — and self-interested — agenda has come increasingly under fire.

San Francisco billionaires like Michael Mortiz and Chris Larsen have a storied history of opposing increased taxes on corporations and the wealthy, using their fortunes to elect allies who will protect them from any incursion into their wealth.

Recently a labor-backed measure, the Billionaire Tax Act earned a place on November’s statewide ballot. The modest, one-time tax that, if passed, will fund essential services like public hospitals, has mobilized California’s elite who tried — and failed — to keep it off the ballot. Despite successes in smaller statewide races, and a few wins in recent San Francisco elections, the very fact that the Billionaire Tax earned a place on the ballot may be a sign that their winning streak is coming to an end.

The measure is popular. It should also be kept in mind that the tax on billionaires will not meaningfully affect their lives or reduce the obscene generational wealth. Nonetheless, billionaires are willing to spend millions to defeat it. This won’t endear them to the state’s voters. A coalition led by Google cofounder Sergey Brin has reserved $87 million of ad space for spots to combat the measure. That number will likely increase as the election approaches… (more)

When billionaires have such an appetite for spending ungodly amounts of money to buy elections one must consider why? The end goal cannot be more money since paying the taxes might be less painful than fighting them. What is worth more than the money? Buying a seat at the table where power lies.

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Albertsons is infuriating Bay Area shoppers over vacant grocery stores

By Susan Guerrero : sfgate – excerpt

Town Hall July 23, 2026 on the Towering plans at the Marina Safeway

In the heart of downtown Larkspur, a tiny shopping center has become the grave site of a former Lucky Supermarket. The building, with its barren storefront and sealed doors, has haunted the neighborhood since 2023, yet there are currently no plans to open another grocery store in its place.

Tina McArthur, a Larkspur resident and board president of the historic Lark Theater, blames the building’s owner: Albertsons Companies.

“I think it’s terrible that they just left their building like that,” McArthur said. “The lights are still on. … I really don’t think they care one bit.”

The Lucky store is not an outlier. Albertsons — the parent company of Safeway, Vons and other major supermarkets — owns dozens of vacant surplus properties across the U.S., including at least seven vacant California stores listed for sale. An SFGATE investigation found that Albertsons appears to have a history of using its vast real estate portfolio to block the opening of competing grocers through restrictive land covenants or by keeping its properties vacant. In some cases, Albertsons has introduced controversial development plans on its properties that could raze existing supermarkets like Trader Joe’s in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood and Safeway in San Rafael without replacing those markets.

Albertsons could leave even more vacant properties on the market as the grocery company plans to shutter an unknown number of underperforming stores in California, and beyond, after its failed merger with the Kroger Company…

Grocery companies that keep properties vacant or add covenants to prevent future stores contribute to limited food access in communities, according to Christopher Leslie, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine…

The race for housing  Albertsons’ impacts on grocery availability in the Bay Area are likely to only increase as the grocery conglomerate flexes its muscle into property development. Align Real Estate and Albertsons are developing housing projects at Safeway locations throughout the Bay Area, including plans to build almost 3,500 units of housing across San Francisco’s Marina, Bernal Heights, Outer Richmond and Fillmore districts. The proposed residential housing project that could demolish the Safeway in San Rafael is not part of the Align Real Estate portfolio and is instead managed by Mill Creek Residential…(more)

Lots to take in here. I can remember hearing about food deserts from Malia Cohen years ago. Now we all are being faced with them.

What do we belive and what can be done to break those covenants? The food deserts are yet another reason to blame Wiener density bills for the loss of grocery stores as grocery chains are playing into his “HOUSING ONLY” zoning directives, except when he needs an exception and then he creates one..