News

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Mayor to tap Matt Dorsey for D6 supervisor, triggering high-stakes political brawl

by Joe Eskenazi : 48hills – excerpt

Multiple sources close to the process on Sunday told Mission Local that Mayor London Breed will today name SFPD Director of Strategic Communications Matt Dorsey as the next District 6 supervisor, replacing Matt Haney.

Let the record show that Dorsey — the former longtime spokesman for City Attorney Dennis Herrera — is an extremely smart and competent man, is a savvy political operator with longstanding relationships in this city, and possesses a deep knowledge of the dark arts of San Francisco politics. He is someone ready for a street fight — certainly on the moderate-friendly streets of the newly formed, Tenderloin-free District 6.

But, make no mistake: Tapping the cops’ spokesman for political office — a career communications pro and political operative, who also recently served as a lobbyist for a firm representing tech and business titans — is a hell of a thing…(more)

Joe was right about that. It appear there will be another battle for the new district so this position may be short lived. We shall soon find out who the priorities are of the residents of the newly contrived district 6.

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Letter to the Editor: Supply and demand doesn’t apply to housing — or really anything

By Mary McFadden : 48hills – excerpt

Emphasizing supply intentionally ignores what drives demand: tax subsidies for multi-billion-dollar corporations

Apple still gets huge tax breaks that promote the economic inequality behind the housing crisis. Wikimedia Commons image by Andrew Hitchcock.

Zelda Bronstein in her article, Supply Sophistry, is completely correct in her examination of the many flaws in the supply and demand argument as it pertains to housing. It is worth noting that supply and demand doesn’t really apply to anything.

The supply and demand mantra has infiltrated all our economic debates and permeates our housing discussions even as it leads further and further away from economic justice. This myth is propagated by those who profit from entrenching it into our assumptions. Nothing has ever been a direct supply-and-demand relationship because a host of conditions—slavery, labor devaluation, tariffs, taxes, global corporate conglomeration—make consumerism an indirect relationship…(more)

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Questions Linger Over Future of San Francisco Neighborhood ‘Slow Streets’

By tyndicated Local – CBS San Francisco : msn – excerpt (includes video)

 

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — Over the course of the pandemic, so-called “slow streets” popped up in neighborhoods throughout San Francisco. They’re designed to limit through traffic on some residential streets to create a common, shared space for those also traveling on foot and by bicycle.

There are nearly 30 corridors throughout the city, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA).

But at Kirkham St. and 34th Ave., longtime local Elisa Smith thinks the slow street there is more of a nuisance than a benefit.

“The one here on Kirkham, it’s almost never used by anybody other than cars whizzing around the signage,” she said. “A lot of these are just causing more problems than they are a source of enjoyment for people.”…(more)

RELATED:

Residents Fight To Preserve San Diego’s Last Remaining ‘Slow Street’ 
…In January and February, the city quietly removed slow streets in the College Area, North Park and Emerald Hills. Now Diamond Street in Pacific Beach is the last that remains of the program…(more)

Surveys and polls are rigged everywhere. This is a non-partisan issue. Mayor Falconer is  a Republican who follows the Democratic biker path down the road of lost political causes. California politicians have decided to link transportation and housing programs under a program that forces density and removes cars at a pace that most people object to. Sacramento created the war on cars and it is up to the voters to fight back, surrender, or leave.  We shall soon see where the SF voters stand.

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Shutdown of Civic Center Tent Village Underway in Advance of Pride Festivities

by David Sjostedt : sfstandard – excerpt

City officials are demobilizing a city-sanctioned tent village at Civic Center in preparation for the comeback of Pride festivities in June.

The encampment opened in May 2020 as a temporary solution for unhoused residents, many of whom were evicted from the city’s shared shelter spaces due to Covid outbreaks. The city is now in the process of moving tent dwellers to other shelter and shutting down the site in the coming weeks.

Denny Machuca-Grebe, spokesperson for the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, said the city is in the process of rehousing the remaining 24 guests at the site into permanent supportive housing. Those who aren’t rehoused will be placed into one of the city’s shelters until an appropriate placement is found, Machuca-Grebe said… (more)

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Guiding Principals of Home Rule

This document states some rather interesting principals:
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
 Principles of Home Rule for the 21 st Century

https://www.nlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Home-Rule-Principles-ReportWEB-2-1.pdf

This one caught my eye as it appears to be relevant when accessing state bills that orride local control government authorities :  The Local Fiscal Authority Principle :   Home rule should guarantee local fiscal authority and recognize the value of fiscal stability at the local level. This principle accordingly includes local power to raise revenue and manage spending consistent with local budgets and priorities. To support local fiscal authority, a state should ensure adequate intergovernmental aid for general welfare at the local level and be prohibited from imposing unreasonable unfunded mandates.

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Task Force members say Mayor’s Office was calling the shots on redistricting

By Tim Redmond : 48hills – excerpt

Task Force members say Mayor’s Office was calling the shots on redistricting

Shortly before the Redistricting Task Force meeting Monday, approximately 150 protesters gathered outside City Hall, saying that the Task Force is under political influence and has ignored concerns aired by members of the public during prior meetings.

Their concerns reflect the very public statements of some Task Force members, who say the mapping process has been secretly driven by the Mayor’s Office…(more)

Don’t know how secret this is since the allegations are pasted on headlines around the city, but, what is interesting in this impromptu rush to tell, is that so far no one has denied the story. Or I missed the denials if there are any. Let us know if you see any.

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Fourplexpalooza Continues: Supes Wrestle With Westside Development

From sfstandard newsletter – excerpt

Two bills designed to allow more housing on the city’s West Side came under the microscope again on Monday as the Board of Supervisors parsed through how to streamline housing development as it faces the monumental task of finding room for 82,000 units by 2031…

At Monday’s meeting, the Land Use and Transportation Committee scrutinized Supervisors Rafael Mandelman’s and Gordon Mar’s proposals to allow up to four units on lots citywide and up to six on corner developments. READ ON ABOUT THE CITY’S CONTINUED PUSH FOR GREATER DENSITY…

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If you can join us for this zoom meeting tomorrow night…

Find out how the new state laws are changing the way our cities grow and taking away our rights to voice our opinions.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022 – 6:30PM CSFN LUTC Meeting. We will investigate how passage of recent state laws and local oridances and policies have effected our neighborhoods by concentrating on some neighborhood projects that concern our members. See flyers with details on these two projects: 2955 Misison and 2700 BLVD We are looking for any SB 9 or SB 10 applications people are aware of. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84386587854?pwd=RSszKy9jbkR4cXIzeXB4MG5IZnBSUT09

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HEARING APRIL 14: Improve Public Safety – Provide Adequate Funding for Police Staffing

via email

Police staffing levels, hiring & retention are scheduled for a hearing this Thursday before the Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Cttee.

SFPD staffing levels are at historic lows. If you wish to register your support for more police officers in our neighborhoods, please email the committee members by this Wednesday,

Send an email Please send an email to the members of the Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee urging increased funding for police staffing. You can access a sample email with the appropriate email addresses here:  Send Pre-Written Email

If you have more time, please give public comment at the hearing. The committee agenda provides the link to SFGOVTV and call-in info.

Share with your neighbors, safety aliases, etc. Contact RescueSF for more information:  info@rescuesf.org     Visit our website: RescueSF.org

San Francisco Police Department Collaborative Reform Initiative
PHASE III – FINAL ASSESSMENT REPORT
https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/hillard-heintze-phase3-report-sfpd-cri-021122.pdf

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Big real-estate and GOP money is backing a move to gerrymander SF districts

By Tim Redmond : 48hills – excerpt

Why did the Task Force suddenly change direction? Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes.

In case anyone was still seriously wondering about the clear gerrymandering that’s going on with the new Board of Supes lines, an email that’s circulating, apparently from real-estate developer Nick Podell, answers the question.

I was given an email that came from Leslie Podell, who based on what I can tell from social media is married to Nick Podell. She says “this is from my husband.”

A broad group of community activists opposes what is happening with the task force

Public records show that Nick Podell has been involved in Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, the real-estate and tech-funded failed effort to keep progressives off the board. The message lays out exactly what the group wants to do.

Here are the details:…(more)