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April 6, 2021 – 5:30 PM – AD17 Debate

Please join us for a follow-up debate between Matt Haney and David Campos for State Assembly District 17.

April 19th is a runoff election between these two candidates to replace David Chiu’s former seat. We’re expecting far fewer people to show up for this election so it’s critical we get the word out.

If you have questions important to you or would like to be considered, please submit them here by Tuesday, March 29th.

Free tickets are available here.

We’ll see you there!
-Telegraph Hill Dwellers

P.S. Co-sponsors include Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association, North Beach Business Association, NEXT Village SF, Russian Hill Neighbors, Lower Polk Neighbors, Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods, D3 Democratic Club, Rincon Point Neighbors Association, East Mission Improvement Association.
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Top Breed Appointee Failed To Disclose Potential Conflict on Amazon Project

By Chis Roberts :sfsttandrd – excerpt

The head of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development failed to disclose her recent employment with a nonprofit that has dealings with the city as required by law, raising new questions about her involvement in negotiations over a new Amazon delivery center.

The omissions in disclosure forms filed by OEWD Director Katie Sofis came to light after The Standard revealed in late January that she signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Amazon that governs negotiations for the proposed 7th St. delivery center project. The existence of the MOU caught organized labor, community groups and some city supervisors by surprise.

Sofis, whom Mayor London Breed appointed last spring, admitted in an interview with The Standard that she erred on her Form 700, a “statement of economic interest” that local government officials must file with the city’s Ethics Commission. Sofis said it was a “misunderstanding” and that she would file a new Form 700.…(more)

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Qualified June 2022 Local and District Measures

https://sfelections.sfgov.org/measures

Charter Amendments:

A – MUNI Reliability and Street Safety $400,000,000
B – Building Inspection Commission
C – Recall Timelines and Vacancy Process

Ordinances and Declarations of Policy

D – Victims and Witness Rights
E – Behested Payments
F – Refuse Collection and Disposal
G – Public Health Emergency Leave
H – District Attorney

Three pending Proposals:
Initiative: Use of Herbicides on City Property – gathering signatures
Initiative Ordinance: Tax on Keeping Residential Units Vacant – gathering signatures
Initiative Charter Amendment: City Approval of Affordable Housing – awaiting proof of publication

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Wait, Why is the Airport Paying for Mayor Breed’s Trip to Europe?

By Sarah Wright : sfstandard – excerpt

This week, Mayor London Breed is jet setting across Europe on an all-expenses-paid trip with one goal: Bring European travelers to San Francisco.

Footing the bill is San Francisco International Airport, who’s paying for Breed, her staff, and various leaders at SFO and SF Travel, the city’s main tourism lobby, to tour several European cities. During the 10-day, $25,000 tour, Breed will visit London, Brussels, Frankfurt and Paris, meet with airlines, airport and local leaders to pitch San Francisco as a prime destination and gateway to California.

Why is Breed going to Europe?

San Francisco’s travel recovery is lagging behind other major cities—and a lack of international travelers is partly to blame…(more)

Maybe she needs a break from these stories? Board of Supervisors Question Evolution of Tenderloin Emergency

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The Treasure Island toll is regressive, pointless—and still somehow alive

ByTim Redmond : 48hills – excerpt

The developers got a sweet deal, and now want to make low-income residents pay for the ferry service they need to sell high-end condos.

The announcement was pretty low-key, and hardly anyone in the news media paid attention: A special meeting of the Joint San Francisco County Transportation Authority Board and Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency Board set for March 8 was cancelled.

I suspect most San Franciscans have no idea what the Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency is, or what is does, or why the Board of Supes, which is also the CTA, would be meeting with that entity…(more)

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Ballot argument deadlines for June ballot

DEADLINES:  https://sfelections.org/tools/cscal_jun22/  

Thursday March 7, noon is the deadline for Submission of official Proponent and Opponent Ballot Arguments for Local Ballot Measures and District Measures 

Deadline for paid arguments is March 21, 2022. 

Writing arguments is extremely important. Paying for a ballot argument or signing onto one has been somewhat effective in the past.

Many of you are concerned about the $400 million bond issue.

You must fill out the forms and hand them in to City Hall with payment by noon Thursday, so get on that now if you want to write something.

We believe that opposing this bond is one of the first steps to take to convince City Hall that the voters oppose the agency policies and would make demands for more voter ballot initiatives on city policies easier to get on the ballot and passed.

I  believe that killing this bond measure may lower sales taxes tied to the current bond or keep them from going up. I am not clear on that. I’m sure someone will correct me if I am wrong about this.

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The new draft district supes maps: WTF?

By Tim Redmond : 48hills – excerpt

Critics—and there are plenty—say the plan would undermine LGBT, Black, and progressive representation on the board.

The San Francisco Redistricting Task Force just published its first draft of a map for new supervisorial districts, and the general response I am hearing is: Huh?

Or better: WTF?…

A whole lot of changes that seem more political than necessary…

… (more)

I sat in on about 5 minutes of the public meeting last week and that was all I could stand of it after two of the committee argue over which map to start with. These people do not appear to know what they are doing or are following orders to disrupt the system, in my opinion.

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Should JFK Dr. be closed forever?

Rally on the SF City Hall steps this coming Thursday, March 10, 9 AM and then stay for public comments at the 10 AM Joint meeting where Rec and Park and SFMTA Board will consider how to handle the street closures in Golden Gate Park.

John Rothman Show on KGO 810 taped podcast:
https://www.kgoradio.com/johnrothmann/  with Megan Bourne de Young Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, and Richard Skaff, Executive Director of Designing Accessible Communities. Federal ADA issues are discussed and the public has some comments.

Supervisors are expected to have the final say.  According to and article in  SFist.com there are three Supervisors who support permanent closure. The Mayor has voiced support for permanent closure.

Thursday March 10 there is a rally to Re-open JFK Drive at 9 AM prior to a special joint meeting at 10 AM with Rec and Park and SFMTA. They are expected to vote on the closure after the public speaks on the matter. Stay tuned for more news as it developed. Please try to attend he meeitng and speak in person or call in to do so.

Remote Meeting Access: : http://www.sfgovtv.org/sfmtaLIVE or
https://www.sfmta.com/calendar/board-directors-special-meeting-march-10-2022 Please note the remote access call in numbers to join the meeting by phone: +1.415.655.0001

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UC Berkeley must cut new enrollment by 3K students after high court ruling

By Frances Dinkelspiel : berkelyside – excerpt

Since not all admitted students enroll, Cal will now have to tell 5,000 high school seniors there’s no place for them at Berkeley in the fall.

The California Supreme Court has turned down UC Berkeley’s request to postpone a drastic cap on enrollment for the fall, meaning that Cal will need to cut its incoming class by 3,050 students next year. This means 5,000 fewer high schoolers will be offered admission this month than the university had hoped…

On Aug. 23, 2021, Alameda County Judge Brad Seligman ordered UC Berkeley to toss out the EIR it did for the Upper Hearst project and start anew. He also ordered the enrollment cap.

UC Berkeley appealed that decision first to the Court of Appeal and then to the California Supreme Court. Both appeals were denies.

The Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the matter in the coming months. No date has been set yet.

UC Berkeley has not yet started to do a new EIR on the enrollment increases, according to Cal officials…(more)

We hope the case will be published soon so we can review the comments and reasoning behind the decision.