San Francisco named second greenest city in U.S.

An easterly view of San Francisco shows the Moscone Convention Center with rooftop solar panels, one of several qualifications used by Popular Science Magazine to nominate San Francisco as the second greenest city in the U.S.
City photo reproduced by Luke Thomas

By Ari Burack

February 25, 2008

San Francisco is the second greenest city in the country, according to Popular Science Magazine.

The magazine this month released its list of "America's 50 Greenest Cities," ranking them on such programs as renewable energy, transportation habits and air quality, green buildings and public spaces, and recycling programs. The list was compiled with data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Geographic Society for cities with more than 100,000 residents.

Continue reading San Francisco named second greenest city in U.S.

Not Dead Yet

District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly
Photos by Luke Thomas

By Chris Daly

February 23, 2008

A quick read of this morning’s Chronicle might lead you to believe that the Bayview Affordable Housing Initiative is dead in the water…

Continue reading Not Dead Yet

The CrackBerry Chronicles

With Elaine Santore

Elaine Santore
Photos by Luke Thomas

By Elaine Santore

February 22, 2008

Daly salutes Bayview Affordable Housing Initiative volunteers

Supervisor Chris Daly hosted a thank-you reception at Temple Bar Thursday for all the volunteers who helped gather over 11,800 signatures to qualify the Bayview Affordable Housing Initiative for the June ballot.

Continue reading The CrackBerry Chronicles

COURT JESTERINGS

With h. brown

h. "Court Jester" brown.
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

Prog pols petty posturing prevents progress

By h. brown

February 22, 2008

Peskin denied entry to Tenderloin SRO

“Hey, that’s Aaron Peskin down there in the street!” Luke Thomas was looking out
the window of ‘Chez brown’ while talking on the phone to Chris Daly.

Turned out that is was Peskin and he’d just been denied admittance to my humble abode
because Luke was talking on my phone and the front desk couldn’t reach us to verify it
was OK for the Board President to join us. I mean, like damn!

Continue reading Prog pols petty posturing prevents progress

Supreme Court rejects restaurant group bid
to suspend City health care mandate

By Julia Cheever

February 22, 2008

A bid by a restaurant owners' group to halt a mandate for businesses to help pay for the city of San Francisco's health plan was turned down by a U.S. Supreme Court justice yesterday.

Justice Anthony Kennedy declined to grant the Golden Gate Restaurant Association's request for suspension of the employer spending mandate until an appeal is completed.

Continue reading Supreme Court rejects restaurant group bid to suspend City health care mandate

Reiser trial borders on the bizarre

Hans Reiser
Police photo

By Jeff Shuttleworth

February 22, 2008

The trial of computer engineer Hans Reiser on charges that he murdered his estranged wife Nina bordered on the bizarre for the second straight day yesterday with a key defense witness sleeping in a courthouse hallway and the playing of a video of the couple's unusual wedding ceremony.

Continue reading Reiser trial borders on the bizarre

City officials pledge homeless shelter reform

"This is a moral issue, not a political issue"

Supervisor Tom Ammiano led a rally on the steps of City Hall yesterday
calling for minimum health and safety standards at San Francisco homeless shelters.
Photos by Luke Thomas

By Ari Burack

February 21, 2008

Homeless advocates rallied with members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors yesterday at City Hall in a call for minimum health and safety standards in the city's shelters.

An ordinance proposed by Supervisor Tom Ammiano would amend the city code to require city-funded shelters to supply basic needs such as clean towels, soap, toilet paper, blankets and sheets; to offer fresh drinking water and nutritional meals; to provide transportation to medical and drug treatment and housing appointments; to maintain compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; and to train staff to de-escalate violent situations.

Continue reading City officials pledge homeless shelter reform

It’s Not the Economy, Stupid

By Jill Chapin

February 21, 2008

Republicans don’t get it. Rush Limbaugh doesn’t get it. Even Senator Hillary Clinton doesn’t get it. They can define Senator Barack Obama as an empty suit from now until November, but it will fall on deaf ears to his supporters who are absolutely gaga for his oratorical skills.

Continue reading It’s Not the Economy, Stupid

Open-Armed Policy

With Cindy Sheehan

By Cindy Sheehan

February 21, 2008

Last year, on the 5th anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo torture camp in Cuba, I had the singular privilege of being able to travel there. Travel to Cuba by Americans is, of course banned, but where in a "free and democratic" society does my government get off telling me where I can travel, or not travel? So, defying the incomprehensible ban, our group of intrepid anti-torture and pro-justice activists set off from Cancun, Mexico to Havana on Cubana Airlines.

Leal's contract terminated, cause unknown

Leal releases statement

Public Utilities Commission (PUC) manager Susan Leal's contract was terminated today without cause during a closed session of the mayoral appointed commission. Though no official reason has been provided to explain her termination, City Hall insiders point to Leal's record of supporting publicly owned power as one possible reason that may have led to Mayor Gavin Newsom's push to terminate her contract.
Photo by Luke Thomas

By Maya Strausberg

February 20, 2008

During a special meeting in City Hall this morning, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission voted to terminate the contract of General Manager Susan Leal.

The four-member governing board voted during a closed session at 9 a.m. and the results were announced immediately following the session.

Continue reading Leal's contract terminated, cause unknown

Budget Blame Game

District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly
Photos by Luke Thomas

By Chris Daly

February 20, 2008

Over 100 people braved the driving rain yesterday to protest mid-year service reductions. With cuts to the General and Laguna Honda Hospital, chronic care nurses, senior services and the City's only 24-hour drop-in for homeless people, some of our City's most vulnerable face serious harm.

Organized by SEIU 1021, with the support of the People's Budget Collaborative, and featuring progressive Supervisors Ammiano, McGoldrick, Mirkarimi, and myself, the rally was tailor-made to call out the Newsom Administration for their mean-spirited cuts. Instead, I took the opportunity to examine the Board of Supervisors' complicity in the current budget morass.

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Jew seeks hearing in extortion case

"Known facts raise serious issues and suspicion"

Attorney for Gruel responds:

"As a citizen, Mr. Gruel passed on information to the FBI
that had absolutely no evidentiary value"

Former District 4 Supervisor Ed Jew is seeking to hold an evidentiary hearing
on possible goverment misconduct.
Photos by Luke Thomas

By Julia Cheever

February 20, 2008

Former San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew asked a federal judge yesterday to hold an evidentiary hearing on possible government misconduct related to an alleged conflict of interest by Jew's former defense attorney.

Continue reading Jew seeks hearing in extortion case

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