Tag: Rafael Mandelman

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Home News Political Notebook: Among D8 supe candidates, Nguyen lone backer of Castro historic district

by Matthew S. Bajko : ebar – excerpt

Now that Manny’s out, the field is narrowing.

Gary McCoy, left, and Michael Trung Nguyen are the Bay Area Reporter’s first and second choices, respectively, in the race for District 8 supervisor. 

Establishing a historic district in the heart of San Francisco’s LGBTQ Castro neighborhood may not have as enthusiastic a supporter of it once gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman leaves office in January. Of the four candidates seeking to succeed him at City Hall, just one has come out in full support of the creation of the historic district.

Gay Twin Peaks resident Michael Trung Nguyen, a patent attorney also known as drag queen Juicy Liu, told the Bay Area Reporter “absolutely, absolutely” when asked if he would support the designation for the Castro. As the B.A.R. was first to report last week, Mandelman introduced a resolution September 22 to initiate the process to incorporate the 400 and 500 blocks of Castro Street and several blocks on adjoining streets into a Eureka Valley Commercial & Castro Village LGBTQ+ Historic District.

It must first move out of the supervisors’ land use committee then be brought up for a full vote at the board before taken up by the city’s historic preservation and planning commissions. Once those oversight bodies weigh in, then an ordinance to officially establish the historic district will need to be introduced at the board and be approved by the supervisors.

With just three months left to get anything adopted by the board this year, it is likely it will fall to Mandelman’s successor to designate the 93 parcels identified by planning officials as part of the city’s 15th historic district. It would be the first centered around an underserved community… (more)

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Editorial: The B.A.R. makes its SF supervisor choices

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Update of 10-Story Cell Phone Tower Proposed by AT&T in Diamond Heights

by Betsy Eddy, former President of the Diamond Heights Community Association (DHCA)

The Opposition Group to the 10-Story macro tower is working intensely to prepare for hearings regarding our appeals. These hearings will take place on February, 10th at 3pm with the Board of Supervisors in the Supervisors Chambers, Room 250 at the City Hall. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend!

Here is a recap about latest news about the 10-story cell phone tower proposed by AT&T in a small parking lot behind the Police Academy, 350 Amber Drive:

  • The Planning Commission voted 4:3 to approve the project in September 2025.
  • We were able to contest this decision and filed 2 appeals – CUA (contests aesthetics and safety) and CEQA (contests environmental impact) – both were accepted after a back-and-forth with signature counting.
  • We met with AT&T. They refused to consider alternative, less harmful, less obtrusive solutions to improving cell service for AT&T customers in the neighborhood.

Our Opposition Group has these urgent needs:

  • We launched a GoFundMe campaign. Our success requires that we raise at least $15,000 – $20,000 for legal expenses and to fund experts to refute AT&T’s assertions. Please donate HERE (or click / scan the QR code below).
  • Our opposition group needs letters from every Supervisor District in San Francisco opposing the macro tower since all 11 supervisors will vote. Here are links that take you to an easy way to contact Board President Mandelman and send your message to all Supervisors as well. CEQA message CUA message Many of our reasons for opposing the 10-story macro tower are listed. Your messages may not mention radiation harm to people (except the CEQA message may include harm to birds/animals and flora) because of Federal Communication laws. You may personalize your messages and not use the suggested script but your message may not exceed 4,000 characters with spaces.
  • Let us know if you have connections to any Supervisors in order to get a meeting with them. We have contacted all the Supervisors but only have one possible meeting scheduled.
  • Please share this message with friends and your email lists in all Supervisor Districts. Up against AT&T is a difficult fight. We need support from all over the City.
  • Volunteers are needed to help with outreach, press releases, letters to the editor, advocacy, and groundwork.

For more information, please contact neighbors4safecelltowers@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance for your concern for keeping the whole City safe from cell towers too large to be in residential areas. If this 10-story macro tower receives approval, it is likely that AT&T will push for more macro towers in other neighborhoods.

The opposition group needs letters from every Supervisorial District in San Francisco opposing the macro tower since all 11 supervisors will vote.  They are also in need of funds to pay for expert statements as they advocate against AT&T’s huge resources.