Costly , Lengthy Appeals Part of SF Culture

SF Chronicle

Stephanie M.Lee

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

San Francisco, a 7-by-7-mile square bound by the sea, is bursting at the seams.

Any change in this dense metropolis requires a sacrifice of some kind, whether one home is demolished to build another or a new wing creeps into the view of the neighbor next door.

The fights to allow or block those changes unfold through the appeals process, which allows anyone to file with the city legal paperwork that questions a proposed project's impact on the environment.

Last year, opponents in San Francisco used environmental appeals to attempt to alter or derail projects ranging from the America's Cup to a library in North Beach. The time-consuming and costly process has become a fact of life in this city to an extent rarely seen elsewhere.

"It gets too expensive. People just give up," said Andrew Junius, a land-use attorney who represents developers. "There's a lot of that in San Francisco. A lot of people say, 'I'd rather go to some other community where it's not quite as difficult to do that.' "

San Francisco Tech Jobs: A Bright Future, Not a Dark Cloud

by Randy Shaw‚ Feb. 21‚ 2012

Beyond Chron                                                                             9th & Market - New Twitter Location (image)

Critics of San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee believe they have found a dark cloud in the city’s creating new tech jobs: these well-paid workers are said to be driving up rents, displacing tenants, and forcing the working class out of San Francisco. But there are some problems with this reasoning.

First, annual rent increases on tenants in place have been less than 1% in recent years, so sharply rising rents on vacant units does not affect the vast majority of tenants. Second, Ellis evictions are still down from the housing boom high, and are driven by factors other than new tech jobs. Third, the city’s rising housing costs reflect high-paid residents in medicine, law, financial services and many other fields outside of tech. If you think new tech jobs are bad for a city, try San Jose, which has laid 20% of its public employees because it lacks the revenue stream Mayor Lee has helped bring to San Francisco.

As San Francisco announces new business openings and expansions when much the nation still suffers from high unemployment, it’s perhaps understandable that the media would seek out a contrary, man bites dog angle. But challenging the value of creating tech jobs in the city drives logic into the ditch.

S.F. tries to make homes affordable to middle class

John Coté  San Francisco Chronicle

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Oscar Luna didn't want to leave the city where he'd spent the past 20 years, but after his wife gave birth to their second child a little over a year ago, the family outgrew the studio they rented in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood.

They found nothing in the city big enough to buy or rent that they could afford on his $64,000 annual salary as a delivery driver for BiRite Foodservice Distributors, Luna said.

"It was really hard for me to leave my city," said Luna, 42, who now lives in San Pablo. "San Pablo is not very good, but the price is good."

Stories like his aren't new for San Francisco, but some city officials once again hope to change that.

If Silicon Valley Costs a Lot Now, Wait Until the Facebook Update

 By MICHAEL COOPER

NY  Times

Published: February 8, 2012

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Imagine looking for a house in San Francisco or one of the nicer parts of Silicon Valley, which are already among the most expensive parts of the country. Now imagine having to bid against a legion of newly minted Facebook millionaires.

 “I’m kind of worried — a thousand millionaires are going to be buying houses!” Connie Cao said as she and her family toured a home in a good school district here.

Her husband, Jared Oberhaus, was more optimistic. “Maybe sellers are sitting on their houses now, waiting for Facebook, and they’ll all come on the market at the same time,” he said.

It will be some time before the first Facebook shares are sold to the public, and even longer before Facebook’s employees are able to turn their paper wealth into cash and officially take their places as the newest members of the 1 percent. But the mere anticipation of the event may pour a little kerosene onto what is already a fairly hot local real estate market.

Dianne Feinstein urges Ed Lee to run for SF mayor

Philip Matier and Andrew Ross

San Francisco Chronicle

July 27, 2011 

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is calling on Mayor Ed Lee to run for a full four-year term, saying she believes "San Francisco needs his steady leadership and unifying presence in City Hall."

In a statement released to us late Tuesday, Feinstein said that despite Lee's earlier pledge not to run, "his responsibility is to the people of San Francisco, and the voters alone should determine whether this talented public servant should continue on the job."

Feinstein cited the former city administrator's success with both the budget and pension reform, and her own "unusual circumstances" in becoming mayor after the 1978 assassination of Mayor George Moscone.

"I worked to earn the voters' trust during those early months in office, and they rewarded me with two full terms," she said.

Feinstein pulled Lee aside at the Giants' White House meet-and-greet Monday to make one last pitch to him.

Ed Lee: No good reasons he shouldn't run for mayor

C.W Nevius , Chronicle Columnist

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011

Of course Ed Lee should run for mayor. I'm surprised we are even debating the idea.

He's qualified, he's popular and, most important, he's already doing the job well.

It is not like people aren't getting a good look at him. He shows up everywhere. The other day Lee was at a beach cleanup, unannounced. I am trying to remember when the last time former Mayor Gavin Newsom did that. And if he did, how big his entourage was.

OK, Lee benefits from the anti-slick factor - Newsom was a fine and popular mayor, but Lee is a welcome contrast - but that's no reason to make him mayor. This has to be a smart choice for the city or there is no reason to do it.

Right now I think it is. Sure, a bruising campaign might change my mind. But that's the reason we have bruising campaigns. Put them in the cage, and see who the winner is. We like to call it democracy.

But, you say, there are compelling reasons why Lee should stay out. All right, let's take a look at those.

S.F. Supervisors urged to back Lee run for Mayor

 John Cote, Chronicle Staff Writer

July 22, 2011

San Francisco business and development interests are pushing members of the Board of Supervisors to publicly endorse Mayor Ed Lee's potential run for a full term in November, although the lobbying appears to be bearing little fruit.

The blessing of a majority of the 11-member board could give Lee political cover to go back on his pledge not to run for a four-year term, a stance he took before he was appointed in January to serve out the remaining year of Mayor Gavin Newsom's term after Newsom was elected lieutenant governor.

The endorsement effort came as Lee on Wednesday refused to rule out running, saying, "There are interesting discussions going on."

Sen. Leland Yee campaign quick to hammer Mayor Ed Lee on promise

 City Insider - San Francisco Chronicle

John Cote, July 21, 2011

Well, it's pretty clear who is concerned about the possibility of Mayor Ed Lee reversing course and jumping into the mayor's race.

Right at the head of that pack would be state Sen. Leland Yee, who also happens to be a frontrunner in the race.

Within hours of reports that Lee was vacillating in his commitment not to run, a scathing YouTube video titled "Promise" began circulating among City Hall types. A political consultant for Yee's campaign, Jim Stearns, actually uploaded the video two weeks ago but then sent out a tweet about it today to his 260 followers saying: "If I were to make a video about Run Ed Run, it might look something like this."

The video features everyone from then-Mayor Gavin Newsom to former Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, who voted to appoint Lee, saying the post called for a caretaker, not someone who would run in November.

Surge in SF Vacation Rentals Squeezes Residents

The Bay Citizen

Aaron Glantz

July 21, 2011

Last year, Pamela Kelley went to her landlord with a business proposition: She would move out of her rent-controlled apartment in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco if the owner agreed to turn the unit into a vacation rental and pay Kelley to manage it.
“Tourists are our bread and butter in this city, and many want that real San Francisco experience, not a hotel,” said Kelley, 48, who previously ran a cleaning service and a trophy engraving business.

The arrangement has been lucrative for both Kelley and the landlord, Harold Wong. As a tenant, Kelley paid $2,100 a month for her one-bedroom apartment. It now brings in $225 a night for Wong — more than $6,700 a month if the unit is fully booked. Kelley receives a 10 percent commission.
“It’s just better utilizing your assets to get a better return,” Wong said.
He has since turned over to Kelley a second apartment to manage as a vacation rental, and he is exploring additional conversions at the 13 properties his family owns throughout San Francisco.

New Public Works chief to be picked

Rachel Gordan & John Cote

San Francisco Chronicle

July 22, 2011

Now that San Francisco public works chief Ed Reiskin will be shifting gears to take over as head of the Municipal Transportation Agency, there's a hole to fill at the Department of Public Works.

City Administrator Amy Brown, who makes the hire, briefly talked to Mayor Ed Lee Thursday about who would be best to replace Reiskin. More conversations will take place next week. The goal is to have someone in the job by Aug. 15, the day Reiskin begins at Muni.

Brown said the next DPW director will probably get the post on an interim basis - at least in the beginning. The pick most likely will come from inside city government, she said. DPW has three deputy directors and a squad of bureau chiefs, and there are plenty of public works alums scattered throughout city government.

S.F. Mayor Ed Lee refuses to rule out running

John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, July 21, 2011

In a shift that could dramatically recast the race to replace him, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee refused Wednesday - for the first time - to rule out running for a full term.

Lee, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors in January to serve the final year of former Mayor Gavin Newsom's term, acknowledged he had been in "interesting discussions about the future of the city" and what role he should play, but he declined to provide specifics.

"That doesn't necessarily translate into elections, but there are interesting discussions going on," Lee said after meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the St. Francis Yacht Club to talk about earthquake safety and the upcoming America's Cup regatta. "I would just leave it at that."

Ed Reiskin named new head of S.F. transit agency  

Rachel Gordan

Chronicle Staff Writter

July 21, 2011

Ed Reiskin, head of S.F. Public Works since 2008, now will oversee the city's Muni, parking, traffic management, bicycle, pedestrian and taxi programs.

San Francisco -- Ed Reiskin will be named today as the new executive director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, The Chronicle has learned.

Reiskin, the city's public works director since 2008, starts one of the most demanding jobs on the city payroll without experience at a transportation agency but with the reputation as a top-notch manager with a passion for city living.

The Municipal Transportation Agency governing board interviewed Reiskin behind closed doors for an hour Tuesday, but delayed an announcement until today, said a knowledgeable source.

ULI expert: More condo pain, rental gain to come

San Francisco Business Times

Date: Thursday, June 23, 2011, 7:04am PDT

San Francisco is about to see a flurry of rental housing construction unlike anything seen in a long time -- and it may be a good thing, according to John McIlwain, the Ronald Terwilliger Chair For Housing at the Urban Land Institute.

McIlwain says apartment rents will continue to escalate for another three years but for-sale housing prices will remain sluggish through 2012. Approximately 3,500 units of rental housing could be under construction this time next year if developers are successful in obtaining financing.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors Save Lives;

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            : June16,2011

Contact: DBI Technical Services, Tel. 415/558-6205, and/or Mindy Talmadge, SFFD, Tel. 415/558-3403

Most Homeowners Must Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors by July 1^st

The San Francisco’s Mayor’s Office, the Department of Building Inspection (DBI), and the San Francisco Fire Department, today announced a City-wide outreach drive to inform residents that effective July 1^st a new State law requires owners to install immediately carbon monoxide detectors to safeguard residents’ lives and safety.

The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate carbon monoxide (CO), which is an invisible, odorless and colorless gas created by the incomplete combustion of carbon fuels, kills 500 people a year and injures another 20,000 people nationwide.  To prevent these accidental deaths and injuries, the California legislature enacted SB 183 – mandating residential property owners to install carbon monoxide detectors in existing dwelling units having a fossil fuel burning heater or appliance, fireplace, or attached garage.

“This is sensible life-saving, injury-prevention legislation,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee, ”and a new public safety responsibility we want all homeowners to know about and to implement immediately.  By acting quickly and installing these warning detectors, homeowners will protect their families and give them enough time to evacuate safely and to call 911 for emergency assistance when CO poisoning is present.”

Death by Nostalgia

NY Times

By SARAH WILLIAMS GOLDHAGEN

Published: June 10, 2011

THE modern historic preservation movement started in New York City in the early 1960s, when a band of locals pushed the issue into popular awareness with their unsuccessful effort to block the destruction of the old Pennsylvania Station.

Now, nearly a half-century later, New York is home to the most high-profile attack on the movement yet: in a recent exhibition at the New Museum, the architect Rem Koolhaas accused preservationists of aimlessly cherry-picking the past; of destroying people’s complex sense of urban evolution; and, most damningly, of bedding down with private developers to create gentrified urban theme parks.

Some of Mr. Koolhaas’s criticisms are on target — but his analysis is wildly off-base. It’s not preservation that’s at fault, but rather the weakness, and often absence, of other, complementary tools to manage urban development, like urban planning offices and professional, institutionalized design review boards, which advise planners on decisions about preservation and development.

It’s that lack, and the outsize power of private developers, that has turned preservation into the unwieldy behemoth that it is today.