If it seems that “redevelopment” has been on the tip of the tongue of many of San Francisco’s political, community, and policy leaders for ages now, it’s because it has. In 1969, the Redevelopment Agency was brought in to help the city reinvigorate a portion of it’s struggling Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood, and nearly 40 years later is still engaged in an arduous process with city officials and community members to bring the vision to fruition.
Category Archives: Politics & Government
Syrian Ambassador Slams U.S. Over Nuclear Weapons Claims
BERKELEY–Syrian Ambassador Imad Moustapha blasted claims Tuesday that North Korea is helping his country develop nuclear weapons. Speaking at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, he called that accusation a “total, sheer, absolute fabrication that could only be found credible here in the United States.” Continue reading
Propositions Pit Walkers, Bikers, Drivers Against Each Other
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By Maria Jose Calderon and Gabriel Leigh
SAN FRANCISCO – Two transportation and parking propositions on the ballot this election – pitting bicyclists against drivers and pedestrians against Hummers – could answer a fundamental question about San Francisco’s future as a walkable city.
Of the eleven propositions on the ballot in the San Francisco municipal elections today, Propositions A and H are two that could dramatically affect transportation infrastructure in the city.
The debate over the measures has ensnared passionate advocates on both sides of the issue – should San Francisco put more money into its bus system and increase emission reductions, as Prop A suggests; or should the city pave the way for more parking lots for drivers, the main goal of Prop H? Continue reading
“Loser’s Ball” Ends Eccentric Mayoral Campaign
It’s Election Day, and for “Chicken” John Rinaldi, even though he’s not going to win, this calls for a celebration. He’s not giving a concession speech; he’s throwing a party.
Oakland Set to Officially Oppose Potential Iran Strike
City Council members will vote tonight on an uncontested resolution opposing preemptive U.S. military action against Iran ¬— a measure, that, if passed, will put Oakland among a growing number of cities making public pronouncements about the nation’s foreign policy.
Berkely, Santa Cruz and Portland, Oregon are among the cities that have passed similar resolutions. Continue reading
Diebold Gets Smashed
SAN FRANCISCO—Bits of a Diebold voting machine went flying in front of City Hall today. Every swing of a sledgehammer drove home the message that organizers of the demonstration want corporate software out of the election system.
Cannabis Users and Advocates Gather to Shop, Smoke
SAN FRANCISCO- Wearing a black magician costume, with a big green marijuana leaf design, Ed Rosenthal, an icon of the movement for the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana, welcomed an enthusiastic and stoned crowd today at the third annual Wonders of Cannabis Festival in Golden Gate Park.
“This event is a celebration of Cannabis,” said Rosenthal, who has written more than a dozen books about marijuana and is the founder of the cannabis festival, which raises funds for Green Aid, a medical marijuana legal defense and education fund dedicated to protecting patients. “We are not trying to convince anyone or make a point,” Rosenthal said. “This is not a political event, it’s a cultural event.” Continue reading
Golden Gate Advertisement Debate Postponed; Board Deals With Other Issues
SAN FRANCISCO – With the Golden Gate Bridge Partnership vote postponed until next week, today’s San Francisco Board of Supervisor’s meeting saw little debate. A contentious issue, the Partnership plan would allow corporate advertising on the Bridge.
Agenda items that did hear discussion during the meeting dealt with children’s cold medicine, a proposed building at 700 Valencia Street in the Mission District, and a charter amendment to outline minimum qualifications for members of certain City bodies. Continue reading
Two Hospital Bond Measures Headed to February Ballot
On Tuesday morning, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to put two very similar measures on the February Presidential Primary ballot. Both involved increasing property taxes for Alameda County residents to help fund a new, expanded Oakland Children’s Hospital. Both were reluctantly approved by the Supervisors, even after one supervisor called one of the two measures “confusing,” and misleading.” Continue reading
Public Spaces, Private Dollars
Corporate logos are everywhere – we see them as we are going to a ball game, catching a bus, driving in our cars, or sitting in a movie theater. As these marketing tools continue to evolve, and corporate advertisers pioneer new frontiers in search of untapped audiences, a debate grows. Where is the line drawn between public space and corporate promotion?
Group Urges Dellums to Buck Bottle Water
OAKLAND–A consumer advocacy group hoping to revive the use of tap water urged Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums today to join mayors from San Leandro, Emeryville and San Francisco in phasing out city contracts with bottled water companies. Continue reading
Tree Sitter and Mayoral Candidate Turns Attention to “Recall Bates” Campaign
Zachary Running Wolf leads a recall campaign against Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates.
Defeated candidate calls for Berkeley Mayor’s impeachment. Continue reading
Clinton Appeal Not as Strong for Hillary as It Was for Bill
OAKLAND — When Toni Morrison called Bill Clinton America’s “first black president” she was articulating a sentiment shared by leaders and individuals in the African-American community that remains today. But despite this, affection for his wife is not absolute, Oakland leaders said on Wednesday as they prepared for democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Sunday appearance in Oakland. Continue reading
Judge Delays Ruling on Social Security ID ‘No Match’ Controversy
Judge takes another 10 days to review arguments, but says only Congress has authority to impose an obligation on employers to fire no-match employees. Continue reading
Obama Headquarters Draws Longtime Supporters
Presidential candidate Barak Obama’s northern California campaign headquarters opened in Oakland. Continue reading
Labor, Immigrant Groups Protest New Warnings on Social Security Mismatches
Protestors rallied in San Francisco against the new recommendations for no-match letters — the documents employers receive when employee information doesn’t match the Social Security Administration database. Opponents say the changes would disrupt the labor system and would be used as an immigration tool. Continue reading
The “Chicken” Who Wants to Be Mayor
Commissioners Struggle to Finalize Bond Proposal
SAN FRANCISCO — The debate over a $185 million bond proposal for the city’s most run-down parks continued Monday as commissioners and bond supporters struggled to finalize the controversial bond measure. Continue reading
Dean, Newsom Blast Republicans on Electoral College Ballot Effort
SAN FRANCISCO–Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today accused California Republicans of trying to “steal” the upcoming presidential election by seeking changes in the Electoral College system. Continue reading
Over public lunch, Mayor Bates Talks Transit, Lawsuit
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates discussed current issues and future plans for the city at a quarterly lunch Tuesday. Continue reading
Creative Protesters Spell Out Their Dislike of President
More than 800 people gathered in a San Francisco field Saturday to give mile-high onlookers a creative take on their view of the Bush adminstration. Continue reading
Alameda Residents Concerned About Retrofit Projects
Officials addressed lighting and funding questions about seismic retrofitting scheduled for the tunnels and bridges between Oakland and Alameda. Continue reading
Obama Campaigns for Women’s Votes in San Francisco
Senator Pledges to Remove Troops From Iraq by March 2009
SAN FRANCISCO— Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, hoping to steal away support from rival Hillary Clinton, told a crowd of hundreds Friday that California is still open to either candidate in the Feb. 5, 2008, primary election. Continue reading
Defeat of Bond Measure Forces Library System to Rethink Improvements
OAKLAND–The narrow electoral defeat this month of Measure N, a $148 million bond measure to fund improvements to the Oakland Public Library system, has forced the city to rethink its approach to much-needed renovations.
Continue reading
New Congressman is Greeted as Conquering Democratic Hero
SAN FRANCISCO — Jerry McNerney seemed unexcited as he entered a standing room only crowd chanting “Jerry, Jerry” Tuesday morning, just hours after he unseated Richard Pombo in an unlikely win to add to the Democratic majority in the newly elected House of Representatives.
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