News
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Muni’s chronic lateness and frequent ‘switchbacks’ draw community ire

04.05.2011
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From high school students to senior citizens and advocates for the disabled, angered San Francisco residents vented their frustrations about the ways that the city’s Muni transit system is failing them last week. Delays in getting to class on time, and a high number of “switchbacks” — in which Muni light-rail vehicles and buses turn around before they reach their scheduled final destination, forcing riders to walk the remainder — were key points of contention at the March 28 Board of Supervisors public hearing. Mission High School sophomore Alexandria Edwards, who was one of more than a dozen students attending the hearing, complained that chronic lateness on the J-Church light-rail line is damaging performance at school. “It causes truancy,” she said. “Many students are late, so then we have to make announcements over the intercom, which takes away from class time.”
Raymond Leung, who does community development work with the Mission-based Neighborhood Vision Project, also slammed the reliability of the J-Church line.

Neighborhoods
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New Muni crash comes as agency defends safety record

03.21.2011
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A Muni light-rail vehicle was struck by a big rig Monday morning, injuring six people, according to San Francisco Fire Department spokeswoman Lieutenant Mindy Talmadge, in an incident that highlights the rancorous debate happening right now at the state level concerning the city’s transport safety.

The California Public Utilities Commission is weighing a decision to penalize San Francisco’s Metropolitan Transit Agency for alleged violations of key safety regulations on its light-rail system, including defective tracks and a malfunctioning automatic train control system.

A failure to communicate more regularly, and transparently, with the state was another charge leveled at the agency in a recent report issued by the commission, which oversees safety guidelines for all rail systems in the state..

Arts & Culture
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Proposal to ban shark fins in California heats up

02.14.2011
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Assemblymen Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) have proposed legislation to ban all sales and distribution of shark fins in the state. Both assemblymen say the shark population has decreased dramatically due to the popular rise of a Chinese delicacy of shark fin soup served at many Chinese restaurants in the Bay Area.
Opponents of the legislation like State Sen. Leland Yee says this is an attack on the Chinese culture and heritage.

City Hall
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City takes aim at reducing fats, oils and grease clogging sewers

02.04.2011
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The city says it spends $3.5 million annually on unclogging sewers from fats, oils and grease from food service establishments. A new ordinance that received a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors this week requires all restaurants to have a grease capturing device. The devices will be inspected by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to make sure they are working properly and are well-maintained.

City Hall
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Supervisors choose City Administrator Edwin Lee for interim mayor

01.07.2011
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The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 on Friday for City Administrator Edwin Lee to fulfill the remaining term for outgoing Mayor Gavin Newsom. Lee will become the first Asian American mayor of San Francisco when the vote is ratified at next week’s board meeting on Tuesday. Sheriff Michael Hennesey, who was also considered for the position, was rejected by the board 9-2.

City Hall
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Illegal dumping costing city millions of dollars

01.05.2011
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The Department of Public Works wants residents to stop dumping unwanted items such as furniture and mattresses on city streets through a campaign launched last month and by the threat of fines of up to $1,000.

The department says illegal dumping is costing the city millions of dollars to clean up the mess left behind by residents and contractors. The city is encouraging residents to take advantage of free services offered by Recology Sunset Scavenger and Golden Gate.

The San Francisco Police Department and the City Attorney’s Office are also working to find those responsible for dumping construction materials in the Bayview-Hunter Point area.

City Hall
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Muni says it will improve practice that forces riders off trains early

12.13.2010
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In the past several months, Muni riders have been frustrated by Muni light-rail vehicles turning around mid-route without informing them of the switch until the very last minute.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which operates Muni, addressed those concerns in a new report and plans to change some of its policies when turning trains around including operator announcements and displaying the correct final stop on the train display.

City Hall
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City assessor running for mayor next year

12.01.2010
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San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting filed for papers Wednesday morning to start organizing his campaign to become the city’s next elected mayor. He will join other candidates state Sen. Leland Yee, City Attorney Herrera and Supervisor Bevan Dufty.

“Politics is too important to leave to politicians alone. We need to engage the whole population to identify problems, to help fix them and most of all to hold government officials accountable for results,” said Ting in a statement.

He also said the city needs a mayor who can solve the ongoing budget problems, which he believes has the credentials to do so. He said his office has generated $245 million in new revenue without raising taxes.