Issue 188, Summer 2009 - Telegraph Hill Dwellers

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FROM THE DESK OFSupervisor CHIUAs barbecue grills grow cool and schools startagain, I hope that everyone has had a wonderfulsummer. The summer months havebeen a very busy time at City Hall and throughoutDistrict 3. Here are a few highlights:Budget:After one of the most grueling political battlesof recent memory, the Board of Supervisors finallypassed our city’s budget on July 28 th , closing the largestDavid Chiu, a working Supervisor!budget deficit of $438 millionin San Francisco’s recent history.While the Mayor’s initial budget proposal calledfor deep cuts to crucial city services while simultaneouslyincreasing other areas of government, the finalbudget negotiated between the Mayor and the Boardof Supervisors shared the sacrifice of balancing thebudget across all city departments, without having tolay off any police officers, firefighters, nurses, or teachers.The Board negotiated the largest add-back in thecity’s history (the difference between theMayor’s proposed budget and the finalagreed-upon budget) to ensure fundingfor critical public health and social servicesto protect our city’s most vulnerablepopulations during our economic recession.I am proud that unlike Sacramento,we were able to work through our differencesand agree upon a budget thatreflects our shared San Francisco values.North Beach Library:As many of you know, thecurrent North Beach Libraryis headed for a major overhaul.When Mayor Christopher built the currentlibrary as part of a quest to buildlibraries on city park land, the final outcomewas a library that inadequatelyserves library users, and a park that inadequatelyserves park users. As part ofa plan underway to rebuild the libraryand expand the park, an EnvironmentalImpact Review is being conducted todetermine the feasibility of—and alterna-continued on next page8 Issue #188 • Summer 2009
From the Desk of Supervisor Chiutives to—building a new library on the parking lottriangle at 701 Lombard and turning one block ofMason Street into park land.Based on consensus worked out between projectsupporters and opponents, we agreed to a temporaryclosure of Mason Street between Columbusand Lombard, to ascertain once and for all whethera permanent closure would significantly adverselyaffect North Beach. As part of the closure, neighborhoodvolunteers and staff from several city agenciesworked together to create a temporary “park” insidethe closure, and neighbors have planned a series ofevents on the closed portion of Mason.Broadway:I have spent considerable time tackling theissues of violence on Broadway Street and aroundthe city stemming from late-night entertainmentrelatedviolence. While many entertainment venuesself-regulate themselves as they should, there are stilltoo many clubs that have not responded to violentincidents and neighborhood complaints; moreover,the city agency responsible for regulating theseclubs—the Entertainment Commission – has beenunable or unwilling to tackle these problems. Tothis end, I have proposed and supported legislativemeasures to beef up the Commission’s regulatorypowers and obligations; assuming the passage of thelegislation, we will know once and for all whether theCommission is capable of fulfilling its mission.I also have been working with the foundersof the newly-created Broadway Entertainment andCultural Association (BECA). Founded in the wakeof last year’s unsuccessful effort to create a newBroadway community benefit district, BECA isa non-profit group comprised of business ownersalong the Broadway corridor, with the aim ofdecreasing violence and beautifying the neighborhood.On a trial basis, BECA has engaged theservices of a security firm to assist and augment theefforts of the Police Department. BECA is also coordinatingefforts to beautify the Broadway corridor,and is planning a rollout of hanging baskets suchas the ones currently displayed on Grant Avenue,as well as cleaning crews to steam-clean sidewalks.Fingers crossed for all of these efforts.Vacant Buildings:One result of the current recession has been anincrease in the number of vacant and abandonedbuildings throughout the city, which has contributedto neighborhood blight, crime and a decline in propertyvalues. To alleviate this situation, at the suggestionof many constituents, I introduced and passedlegislation requiring the owners of vacant buildingsto register their property with the Department ofBuilding Inspection. The legislation also requiresthat property owners maintain the exteriors andinteriors of their properties, secure properties to preventunlawful entry by strangers, and obtain appropriatelevels of insurance. I hope that this legislationwill minimize neighborhood blight and foster publicsafety during these tough economic times.Issue #188 • Summer 2009 9
Page 2 and 3: p. 36p. 23p. 27THE SEMAPHORE # 188
Page 4 and 5: PRESIDENT’S CORNERwhere demolitio
Page 6 and 7: North Beach Saloon Culture continue
Page 10 and 11: a d v e r t i s e m e n t 10 Issue
Page 12 and 13: North Beach Vacancies cont’d from
Page 14 and 15: Murals of North Beach continued fro
Page 16 and 17: Murals of North Beach continued fro
Page 18 and 19: NORTH BEACH UNIQUEby Art PetersonMo
Page 20 and 21: North Beach Unique continued from p
Page 22 and 23: Restaurant ReviewNOT JUST A CHOPHOU
Page 24 and 25: Art & Culture Salon CelebratesHisto
Page 26 and 27: What’s Special about Appleton?by
Page 28 and 29: PARKS, TREES, & BIRDS REPORTCoit To
Page 30 and 31: PARKING & TRAFFIC REPORTby Gail and
Page 32 and 33: 32 Issue #188 • Summer 2009
Page 34 and 35: ART & CULTURE REPORTby Julie Jaycox
Page 36 and 37: DEPRESSiON ERA GARDEN RAISESCROPS A
Page 38 and 39: THE ALFA NOSEBy Kathleen CannonSpid
Page 40: Telegraph Hill DwellersP. O. Bo x 3

Issue 188, Summer 2009 - Telegraph Hill Dwellers

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