A developer-backed proposal to shrink the minimum living space of a San Francisco apartment to 150 square feet faces a delay of at least a month, while the supervisor who floated the plan scrambles to shore up support from wary colleagues. Supervisor Scott Wiener last week delayed a vote on the legislation until at least September. Supporters of the plan say they are scrambling to line up the necessary votes on the Board of Supervisors. Wiener’s proposal first appeared before the board in June. It would redefine “efficiency” apartments, reducing the minimum allowable living space to 150 square feet from the current 220 square feet, not including the kitchen, bathroom and closet.
Yearly Archives: 2012
Posted inNews
Scandal spurs plan to keep closer eye on state parks budget
By Katharine Mieszkowski, Bay Citizen A little-known commission could be empowered to provide more oversight of the California Department of Parks and Recreation after an investigation revealed the department sat on a multimillion-dollar budget surplus for years. This week, state Sen. Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, plans to introduce legislation giving the State Park and Recreation […]
Posted inEducation
At stake if City College closes: a career, job security, a U.S. visa, family pride
After a harsh accreditation review detailing financial and administrative failures last month, City College of San Francisco has been given a year to prove itself worthy of accreditation or face the risk of closure. In the struggle to keep the school’s doors open, the possible loss of accreditation would affect more than 120,000 City College students, faculty and staff. Here, in their own words, are some of their stories.
Posted inNews
City College spends 92 percent of budget on salaries, benefits
By Erica Perez, Bay Citizen The accreditation commission that has threatened to sanction City College of San Francisco has cited the fact that 92 percent of the college’s spending goes to salaries and benefits as a main factor in its financial problems – and community college district officials attribute the high percentage to a history […]
Posted inNews
Few deportation cases tossed, despite policy to ease courts’ backlog
By Shoshana Walter, Bay Citizen Enrique Candia lives a quiet life. When he’s not working, he takes care of his ailing wife and his three grandkids, and makes sure his son is on track to finish college. Although he has no criminal record, the 56-year-old is facing a court battle that could take him away […]
Posted inNews
Oakland Zoo removes Ten Commandments monument before atheist group protest
After hearing complaints about the Ten Commandments monument in the publicly owned Oakland Zoo, the president of the zoo, Joel Parrot, denied ownership of the monument and had it removed Wednesday. Though a bit delayed — Atheist Advocates of San Francisco dated the first complaint to 2008 — the zoo’s action came just before a scheduled protest on Sunday by a group of Bay Area atheist organizations.
Posted inMuni, News
Regional transit panel rejects free Fast Passes for low-income S.F. youth
A pilot program to give the city’s low-income youth a free Fast Pass to ride Muni will not happen as planned. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted 8-7 Wednesday against giving $4 million to help Muni fund a $9 million pilot program. The commission had been debating for months on whether or not to give the […]
Posted inMuni, Neighborhoods, Transportation
Geary bus rapid transit project poses design challenges for city transportation planners
Bus rapid transit, which is meant as a cheaper substitute to light rail by using special buses in dedicated traffic lanes, is set to debut on Van Ness Avenue in 2016. However, design challenges and funding are slowing down plans for the Geary route.
Posted inNews
Pedestrian fatalities in San Francisco on track to surpass last year’s
By Zusha Elinson, Bay Citizen As San Francisco implements new measures to improve pedestrian safety, the number of pedestrians killed this year is on pace to surpass the death toll from each of the two previous years. There have been 10 pedestrian fatalities this year, according to the San Francisco Police Department. There were 17 […]
Posted inNews
Money to help vandalized Valencia St. businesses languishes, unclaimed
By Lisette Mejia, Mission Local Soon after Valencia Street businesses were vandalized during a protest last spring, donations started rolling in to help with repairs. To date, however, most of the money has not been claimed. On April 30, a peaceful pre-May Day gathering at Dolores Park turned violent when a small group of protesters […]