San Francisco Bay Guardian Issue 48.16

2014·19.4 MB·English

by  San Francisco Bay Guardian

r a i s i n g h e l l s i n c e 1 9 6 6
the san francisco bay guardian | sfbg.com | january 15 - 21, 2014 | Vol. 48, no. 16 | free
The secreT lIfe of
Sylvia Fein
at 94, the revered cult artist from Martinez gets a sharp retrospective and embraces the surreal Page 23
Black EyE, 2008, Egg tEmpEra on Board, 5 x 7 inchEs, courtEsy sylvia FEin and krowswork gallEry
on the waterfront left of the dial speculators confronted
Initiative to let voters enforce height limits P10 New music column looks at old classic P18 Tenant activists spotlight serial evictors P13
2
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opinion news food + drink the selector music arts + culture film classifieds JANUARY 15 - 21, 2014 / SFBG.COm 3
INTELLIGENCE
SF NOT GAY ENOUGH POLITICAL ALERTS
San Francisco is No. 11 in The SNAZZY SEATS WEDNESDAY 15
Advocate’s list of the 24 Gayest Cities
in America. Washington D.C. won Armrests are so 2013. bArT unveiled interior design details this week for its new fleet of trains, which will “ECoNoMiC CriSiS AND SYSTEM
DECLiNE: WHAT WE CAN Do”
the top slot (somehow). The Advocate arrive in June 2015. In: wipeable seats, snazzy bike racks, digital real-time maps with announcements in
First Congregational Church of
gives points for gay rodeos, LGBT different languages, color-coded (chartreuse!) areas for seniors and disabled riders, new door technology
Berkeley, 2345 Channing, Berk. Kpfa.
elected officials, lesbian-coupled to cut down on noise, and more. Out: armrests, which can be uncomfortable for larger passengers. True to org/events. 7:30pm, $12 advance, $15
households, gay bars, and women’s BART form, the new trains won’t be in service until 2017, until which time we still recommend against eating door. KPFA Radio presents an evening
with Richard Wolff, hosted by Mitch
colleges. Apparently, the combined off your seat.
Jeserich. Wolff, a radical economist,
might of Supervisors Scott Weiner and recently published Capitalism Hits
David Campos could not make up for the Fan, offering an alarming analysis
on global economic events that differs
our dearth of gay rodeos. Meanwhile,
sharply from explanations offered by
an enlightening article on the Mission politicians, media commentators,
Local blog, “SF: Once a Mecca, Now a AMIRI BARAKA, and other academics. Professor
of Economics Emeritus from the
Mirage,” detailed the intense struggles 1934-2014 University of Massachusetts, Amherst,
of LGBT folk who move here from other Wolff is currently a Visiting Professor in
cities to find jobs and housing in the the Graduate Program in International
The generation-defining Beat poet Affairs at the New School University in
current economic climate.
and playwright, formerly known as New York. According to KPFA, he’s got a
reputation for “blunt speaking, clarity,
LeRoi Jones, passed away January
refreshing scorn, and an enjoyable wit.”
GOOGLE AHOY 19. His work spanned avant-garde
FRIDAY 17
experiments and blues-based
File this under “not getting the point.” spoken word to politically charged GATHEr rouND THE FirE For
Google has chartered a private boat diatribes and controversial asser- EviCTioN GHoST SToriES
called The Triumphant to ferry its tions — but always delivered Silver Stone Cafe, 3278 24th St, SF.
employees to work, maybe trying to with passion. Baraka’s Black 6-9pm, free. Join Erin McElroy, of the
Anti-Eviction Mapping Project, and
avoid the stigma of its controversial Arts Movement, considered an Adriana Camarena, of the Shaping
buses. Sorry to say, Google, switching aesthetic counterpart to the Black San Francisco “Unsettlers: Migrants,
from buses to boats won’t make SF Panthers, especially influenced Hevoemniinegs ,o afn cdo mMmamunmitays ”st porroiejesc atb, ofourt an
less uncomfortable. Does this mean Bay Area arts and letters. eviction and other housing horrors.
future protests will be by kayak? In ap images file photo Gather around a campfire to listen to
and support San Francisco evictees in
other Google news, the tech giant DROP IT LIKE a family-friendly event. (No alcohol,
just bought Nest, the eerily prescient TENANT POWER ON yes s’mores.) Storytelling will be vid-
thermostat that we cited in last week’s IT’S FOGGY eotaped.
THE RISE
issue as a “robot in your home,” for SATURDAY 18
$3.2 billion. With Google, one day a Local rapper and SF native
thermostat may drive your boat. Heat, aka Game Inflikted, Renters make up the majority riCHMoND/HAiGHT TENANTS
dropped his new single “Home of San Francisco residents, and CoNvENTioN
San Francisco Public Library Park
SWEET CHRON? a(Fnadr feewwe hlla vtoe pCuatn tdhleeirs tloicvke )o”f — laabtoeluyt,. t Ehneyte dr othn’et Shaanve F ar alontc tios scmo ile BThraisn gcaht,h 1e8ri3n3g Pofa tgeen,a SnFt.s 1 f-r4ompm D,i sfrteriec.t
the now defunct foggy stadium Anti-Displacement Coalition, a 1 and District 5 is being held to hash
The San Francisco Chronicle appoint- better. “It might be old, it might blend of tenant organizations and oinu ot ustrr naeteigghiebso frohro foigdhs,t iendgu tchaet eev tiecntiaonntss
ed a new president last week, and be cold, but I left my heart here, allies with sights set on a citywide about their rights, and defend evictees.
raised a few eyebrows. The newbie is cuz this is home.” Snippets of campaign and possible ballot Participants will also make suggestions
Kristine Shine, former chief revenue local sports history that make measure. The coalition is hosting fwohr iac hb awlillol tb ien iptiraetsiveen tneedx tto N ao cvietmywbiedre,
officer of celebrity gossip website it in: “Watching Young get away a series of neighborhood tenant tenants convention Feb. 8. Other
POPSUGAR (of course it’s written in from the Vikings,” “Hittin’ conventions (see Alerts for details) neighborhoods, including the Mission,
all-caps). Insiders say the Chron has an Pittsburgh right in the mouth, in coming weeks to solicit ideas Calhsion haotoldwinn ga nodr h Taevned heerllodi nco/SnOveMnAti oanres
eye toward beefing up its web division that Monday night the lights for fighting back against soaring and will be making recommendations
— and maybe sweetening it up as well. went out,” and “When Jerry housing costs and rising evictions. to the citywide convention. Free and
open to tenants. Sponsored by the San
broke the touchdown record The meetings will culminate with a Francisco Tenants Union.
DESERT CARAVAN on the Raiders.” Check it out at citywide tenant convention, to be SUNDAY 19
heata.bandcamp.com held Feb. 8 at the SEIU Local 1021
The 2014 art theme for Burning Man headquarters. HoMELESS YouTH ALLiANCE
bENEFiT
will be Caravansary, using the old Silk
El Rio, 3158 Mission, SF. 3-8pm,
Road sanctuaries and trading out- ALL ABOARD PICK A CARD $3-to-infinity sliding scale
posts to promote “a grand commerce donation. Evicted from their
building on Christmas Day, the
of ideas,” SF-based Black Rock City On Mon/20, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the official Freedom On Jan. 13, the San Homeless Youth Alliance con-
LLC has announced, “a bazaar of the Train, commemorating the distance walked from Selma to Montgomery, Francisco Public tinues to provide services out
bizarre wherein treasures of every Alabama by Dr. King and other civil rights advocates, departs from San Library launched of the back of a van. The orga-
nization’s mission is to help
sort, from every land and age, flow in
Jose to San Francisco. This is the 29th year the inspiring Freedom Train five new library card these marginalized youth
and out to be flaunted, lost, exploited will run. More info: www.scvmlk.org. For those looking to celebrate MLK designs, selected by the build healthier lives through
and discovered.” As the population Day on the dance floor, the annual MLK + HNY house music party from public out of more than harm reduction, one-on-one
counseling, and medical
of this temporary Nevada city edges
local DJ collective Honey Soundsystem starts Sun/19 at 10pm and steams 3,500 entries in a com- and mental health care, as
toward 70,000, the company is also ahead until 4am at Beatbox in SF. (hnysndsystm.tumblr.com) Toot toot! petition including age cat- well as creative and educa-
trying to limit traffic by requiring tional workshops, needle
egories from second grade
exchange, and accurate
vehicle passes for the first time, sell-
to adult. Colorful butter- up-to-date referrals and
ing 35,000 for $40 each. Caravans flies, rainbows, and even a information. This El Rio birthday bash
indeed! But ticket prices remain at for a generous HYA supporter will fea-
lazy fox will now adorn your
ture performances by Kat Marie Yoas,
$380 this year, with directed group
passport to knowledge. (Yes, The Whoa Nellies and No Bone.
sales on Feb. 12 and individual ticket
the “classic” design is still available for the imagination-impaired.)
registration starting Feb. 20.
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Campfire Storytelling: Eviction and Other Housing Horrors
Have a story to tell about the housing crisis and gentrification of
YEAR-END CLEARANCE SALE!
the Mission? Join Erin MC El and the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project
PUBLISHER marke bieschke
EDITOR steven t. jones and Adriana Camarena and the “Unsettlers: Migrants, Homies, and
Mammas” project with Shaping San Francisco (CalHum Community
EDITORIAL We’ve got more bikes
SENIOR EDITOR, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Stories grant) for an evening of community stories about eviction and
cheryl eddy other housing horrors. Gather around a campfire on the back patio of
NMEUwSSIc E EDDITITOORR r eembmecac sail bvoewrse Silver Stone Café (former Carlo’s Bar location at 24th and Mission BART) in stock & ready to ride
STAff wRITER joe fitzgerald rodriguez to listen to and support San Francisco evictees. This is a family friendly
cOLUMNISTS marcia gagliardi,
jason henderson, jessica lanyadoo event and storytelling will be videotaped. than any shop in SF!
EDITcOOR PAyT ELDAIRTGOER bsrteuwcea rbt. barpuplgimnann Friday, January 17 from 6-9pm @ Silver Stone Café, 3278 24th St., SF | FREE
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opinion news food + drink the selector music arts + culture film classifieds January 15 - 21, 2014 / SFBG.com 5
opinion
segregated Buses have never Been a good idea.
end poverty and create
wealth with public banks
By Ken Walden loan, it simply adds to the borrow-
er’s deposit account in the bank
OpINION How would you like to by the amount of the loan. The
increase your spending power by 10 money is not taken from anyone
times (or more), relieve student debt else’s deposits: it was not previously
by more than 90 percent, increase paid in to the bank by anyone. It’s
Social Security benefits, lower taxes, new money, created by the bank
increase pay for teachers, and lower for the use of the borrower.”
loan amounts for homes and small Why is this a problem? Let’s look
business to 1-2 percent? at how much interest we’re paying
I’ll bet I have your attention. I’m on a variety of loans. If you buy a
sure you think this is crazy talk, but house for $500,000 in 30 years at an
this is based on a movement that is average interest rate, you will pay an
already happening. It’s the public additional $580,000 in interest on
banking movement. money the bank made from thin air.
In 1950s, the buying power of With a public bank you would pay
the dollar was over 10 times what less than half this amount.
it is today. That means you were On public projects like bridges,
able to buy 10 times the amount roads and schools, 30-50 percent of
of goods and services with a dollar the cost is interest. The new span of
compared to what you can now. the Bay Bridge that was just opened
What happened? Why is it so at a cost of $7 billion, the interest
hard for most people to just barely is estimated to be an additional $7
get by these days? And why are so billion. It’s estimated that the cost
many not getting by at all? of almost everything you buy is
First, let’s review how money is increased by 35-40 percent because
created. Did you know the money we of interest.
have in circulation today is created This is just the tip of the iceberg.
out of thin air? Most of it is just an The solution to the problem is
entry in a computer system. A small a public bank. With public banks,
percent is printed dollar bills like you these billions of dollars of profit (via
have in your wallet or purse, and a interest) are recycled back into the
very small percentage is metal coins. public treasury instead of funneled what ‘Google bus’ really means
Money is simply trusted as being off to private banks.
worth what it says on the bill, coin, If you think this is some theoret-
or computer screen. Did you also ical fantasy, you should know that
know that money for loans is creat- San Francisco is currently looking at eDItORIAl In recent years, “Google creative collaboration is to con- Silicon Valley companies that are
ed this way as well? creating a public bank, 20 states are bus” has become a term that encom- sider San Francisco just 49 square using us as a bedroom community.
When you take out a loan from also considering them, and North passes more than just the shuttles miles of valuable real estate, to be San Francisco writer Rebecca
a bank (for a home loan, a student Dakota has had a public bank for that one corporation uses to trans- used and developed as the highest Solnit has been developing a cri-
loan, a business loan, a car loan, over 90 years. This is not a new idea. port its workers from San Francisco bidder sees fit, as some tech titans tique of the Google bus since her
etc.), the money that the bank loans It’s impossible to give you an down to the Silicon Valley. It has seem to believe. It’s ironic that an initial shot last February in the
you (with interest charges) is not in-depth overview in a short article taken on a symbolic meaning rep- industry based on creating online London Review of Books, answer-
taken from other people’s deposits. so please go to our website (www. resenting the technology sector’s communities would place so little ing a subsequent techie/enviro
It is made (mostly) out of thin air. whattheworldcouldbe.com) and on desire to shield itself from the infra- value on engaging with its physi- criticism published in Grist with
It is simply an entry in its computer the “Solutions” page click on the structure, values, and responsibilities cal community. a Jan. 7 article in Guernica called
system ... that’s it. box titled “Creating Jobs, Student that most citizens choose to share. The proposed $1 per bus stop “Resisting Monoculture.”
Most people think they are Debt Relief, & These are the very things that use, and $50 per docking that new “And thus come the well-paid
borrowing money that is deposited the New Green motivate many of us to live here, exclusive Google ferry is paying, engineers to San Francisco, and
into the bank by Economy.” finding that community spirit in is a privatization of public space thus go the longtime activists,
other people, Public such a beautiful, world-class city. that barely covers the city’s costs. idealists, artists, teachers, plumb-
but this is not banks have the More than just the great restaurants The tech industry should be doing ers, all the less-well-paid people,”
true. possibility to and bars, its vistas and artistic much more just to counteract its she writes, citing surveys that the
Here is dramatically offerings, San Francisco represents negative impacts on the city’s econ- buses allow Silicon Valley workers
quote from change our an experiment in modern urban- omy, let alone actually being good to live in San Francisco when they
Robert lives for the ism and cultural development. corporate citizens of this region. otherwise wouldn’t.
Anderson, better and It is this collision and collusion A new report called for by the That’s the issue. The only
the sec- you can of disparate yet public-spirited cul- Mayor’s Office says Muni needs thing green about Google buses
retary of help. 2 tures that gave birth to the region’s a $10 billion investment over the are the piles of money their riders
the US great economic and social move- next 15 years just to maintain cur- and their bosses are keeping from
Treasury Ken Walden ments, from gay rights and envi- rent service levels. A big chunk of the city we all share. Segregated
in 1959, is director ronmentalism to groundbreaking that should come from the wealthy buses have never been a good idea,
on this of What academic research and the creation corporations in our community but if these companies insist on
topic: “When the World of the Internet economy. through a downtown transit assess- them, that should come with a
a bank makes a Could Be. The antithesis of this idea of ment district and higher fees on higher price tag. 2
6 SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN OpINION NewS FOOD + DRINk the SeleCtOR mUSIC ARtS + CUltURe FIlm ClASSIFIeDS
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opinion news food + drink the selector music arts + culture film classifieds January 15 - 21, 2014 / SFBG.com 7
News
“voters iN sF are deeply ambivaleNt about
the curreNt eNviroNmeNt.” – corey cook
New arts high
lies, damNed lies, aNd statistics Fcc chair
school would
gets aN earFul
cost $240 millioN When is a public opinion poll a valid represen- miss the findings of the study, which is based upon
iN oaklaNd
tation of how people feel? That turns out to be a accepted methodology, and which had nothing to
tricky and ever-evolving question, particularly in do with mayoral approval scores, that he actually
Art advocates have tried to move the San Francisco — thanks to its prevalence of ten- misses the entire thrust of the study — that voters On Jan. 9, the newly appoint-
Ruth Asawa School of the Arts high ants and technology — and even more particular- in San Francisco are deeply ambivalent about the ed chair of the Federal
school to its new home on Van Ness ly when it concerns the approval rating of Mayor current environment, concerned about the afford- Communications Commission,
Avenue since 1987. On Jan. 7, the Ed Lee. ability crisis, and not trusting of local government Tom Wheeler, visited Oakland’s
dream moved one step closer, the Traditionally, the central requirements for to come up with a solution,” Cook wrote in a rebut- Preservation Park for a town
only barrier is cost. public opinion polls to be considered valid is that tal we published Jan. 13 on the Politics blog. hall meeting.
At a packed San Francisco Board respondents need to be representative of the larger Cook told us the survey’s methods are It was the first time in more
of Education meeting, planners population and they need to be selected at ran- endorsed by the National Science Foundation than five years that the head of
revealed the move’s sticker price, dom. Polls are often skewed when people need to and peer-reviewed academic papers, including the FCC engaged in this kind
and it’s a big one: $240 million. opt-in, as is the case in most online polls. a Harvard University study called “Does Survey of face-to-face community dia-
Board of Education President Rachel So the Guardian took issue with claims that Mode Still Matter?” that concludes “a carefully logue in Oakland, Chancellar
Norton’s face sunk into one hand as 73 percent of voters approve of the job that Mayor executed opt-in Internet panel produces estimates Williams of Free Press said at
she heard the news. Lee is doing, a figure derived from an opt-in online that are as accurate as a telephone survey.” the start of the meeting. The
“There’s a big challenge going poll focused on “Affordability and Tech” that was That study went to great lengths to create a event was hosted by the Free
forward,” said David Goldin, chief conducted by University of San Francisco professors sample group that was representative of the larger Press, the Center for Media
facilities officer of the San Francisco Corey Cook and David Latterman and released to population, while Cook and Latterman both admit Justice, the National Hispanic
Unified School District. “I don’t the San Francisco Chronicle on Dec. 9. That figure that their survey’s respondents had a dispropor- Media Coalition, and the Voices
want to minimize that challenge for quickly wallpapered the comment section of the tionate number of homeowners. But they say the for Internet Freedom Coalition.
one minute. But for the first time in Guardian’s website as the answer to any criticism results were then weighted to compensate for that Social justice advocates
a long time, we’re close to having an of Mayor Lee, his policies, or the city’s eviction and and they stand by the accuracy of their work. from Oakland and San
architectural reality.” gentrification crises. Yet Cook also notes that the mayoral approval Francisco greeted Wheeler with
“Any survey that relies on the ability and/or rating number wasn’t even part of the package they a wide variety of concerns, ask-
availability of respondents to access the Web and developed from this survey, it was just a finding ing him to help close the dig-
sh!t choose whether to participate is not representative that they decided to give the Chronicle. “I don’t ital divide and improve access
and therefore not reliable,” is how The New York think the 73 percent means anything,” Cook told to basic phone and Internet ser-
Times Style Guide explains that newspaper’s refus- us, noting that snapshot in time doesn’t reflect vice for low-income people.
al to run such polls, a quote we used in our Jan. 10 Lee’s actual popularity going forward, despite how Some spoke out about
Politics blog post on the subject, and we quoted an Lee supporters focused on it. “The number they use media consolidation, which
academic making a similar point. politically is not a meaningful number.” Williams said has given rise to
We also interviewed and quoted Latterman What Cook found more significant is the “tepid cost barriers resulting in abys-
h@#peNed discussing the challenges of doing accurate and support” for Lee indicated by the poll, including mally low representation of
economical polling in a city with so the 86 percent that expressed concern about broadcast station ownership by
many renters (64 percent of city affordability in the city, a concern that people of color. Others asked
residents) and so few telephone cuts across all demographic groups. Most Wheeler to address the high
1.8-1.14.2014
landlines. “San Francisco is a more respondents had little faith in City Hall cost of telephone calls in immi-
difficult model,” Latterman told to address the problem and many felt the gration detention.
us. “So Internet polling has to get tech industry should be doing more to Before people started lining
The school is named for one of better, because phone polling has help, particularly companies that have up to share their thoughts with
its founders, artist Ruth Asawa, with gotten really expensive.” received tax breaks. (Steven T. Jones and Wheeler, Malkia Cyril, founder
deep roots in San Francisco history as So we ran our story dubbing Reed Nelson) and executive director of the
an arts and education activist. It has the poll “bogus” — and the next Center for Media Justice, cap-
a unique education model: Students day got angry messages from Cook tured everyone’s attention by
attend academic classes in the morn- and Latterman defending aN opt-iN oNliNe poll FouNd that delivering an impassioned speech
ing, but spend two hours every after- the poll and educating 73 perceNt oF respoNdeNts on issues of media ownership,
noon learning a specific art discipline. us on efforts within approve oF the job mayor ed democracy, and racial inequality.
SotA is currently housed at the old academia to craft lee is doiNg. sf examiner photo “Just as our physical bodies
McAteer campus on Twin Peaks, with opt-in online polls by mike koozmin serve to preserve our nervous
its sister school, the Academy of Arts that are as credi- systems,” she began, “the peo-
and Sciences (disclosure: I taught stu- ble as traditional ple right here stand beautifully
dents video editing at SotA as a con- telephone polls. strong in defense of an afford-
tractor until last summer). Collectively “The author able, accountable, and accessi-
they have 1,000 students enrolled. is so quick to dis- ble media.” (Rebecca Bowe)
The cost of moving the school
to the site on Van Ness is steep
for a number of reasons, SFUSD Most importantly, though, the cost ing will be crafted for dance studios, $55 million, Blythe told us. But the Symphony Orchestra, Michael
spokesperson Gentle Blythe told is so high because the new site would orchestra rooms, multimedia facil- chief facilities officer said the price to Tilson Thomas.
us. SotA’s new home was formerly be crafted with the arts in mind. ities and more. It’s also not just a move SotA was comparable to the cost “I’m 10,000 percent behind this
the High School of Commerce, and “It’s a high school for the per- school: The district would also build of newer public arts schools in the US. idea,” he told the board. “My dream
was granted historic landmark status forming arts with non-standard an on-site auditorium that could San Francisco artists came out in is to do a Big Brothers Big Sisters
— meaning the facade, at the very design considerations, including seat 47,000 attendees. force to advocate for the move. First program with all the grades, to share
least, must be preserved. The build- height of ceiling, and sophisticated By comparison, the new Willie up to the podium to speak was the that vision with younger people.”
ing needs a seismic retrofit as well. electronics,” Blythe said. The build- Brown Middle School is budgeted at music director of the San Francisco (Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez)
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opinion news food + drink the selector music arts + culture film classifieds January 15 - 21, 2014 / SFBG.com 9
newS Sup. DaviD CampoS, left, waS the firSt to Sign Campaign manager Jon golinger’S initiative petition.
guardian photo by tim daw
By Steven t. JoneS meeting on Jan. 13. Slaughter did tell
[email protected] us that “right now, the majority of
the site doesn’t have an established
NEWS Who should decide what gets height limit,” a reference to the fact
built on San Francisco’s waterfront: that most of the site is zoned for open
the people or the Mayor’s Office and space with no buildings allowed.
its political appointees? That’s the Diane Oshima, associate director
question that has been raised by a of waterfront planning at the Port,
series of high-profile development told us that during the adoption of
proposals that exceed current zon- the WLUP, “We did not broach the
ing restrictions, as well as by a new subject of changing any height lim-
initiative campaign that has just its.” But the plan itself says that was
begun gathering signatures. because tall buildings weren’t appro-
Officially known as the Voter priate for the waterfront.
Approval to Waterfront Development “Maintain existing building
Height Increases initiative, the pro- height and bulk limitations and
posal grew out of the No Wall on the encourage building designs that step
Waterfront campaign that defeated down to the shoreline,” is the plan’s
Propositions B and C in November, first design objective. Others include
stopping the controversial 8 “Improve views of the working
Washington luxury condo tower in on the waterfront waterfront from all perspectives” and
the process. “Remove certain piers between Pier 35
“The idea was to have a public and China Basin to create Open Water
process around what we’re going to do Basins and to improve Bay views.”
with the waterfront,” campaign con- The plan also specifies accept-
sultant Jim Stearns told the Guardian. able uses for its various waterfront
San Franciscans have been here Initiative would give voters a say on big waterfront projects that violate zoning standards properties. Residential isn’t listed as
before. When developers and the an acceptable use for either Pier 48
Mayor’s Office proposed big hotel Warriors Arena, hotel, and condos at tion to ensure the waterfront gets Environment, and she believes the or Seawall Lot 337, both of which
projects on the city’s waterfront, Piers 30-32/Seawall Lot 330; a large the protection it needs,” he told us. shoreline is a critical intersection are slated mostly for open space
voters in 1990 reacted by approving housing and retail project proposed As for getting the necessary signa- between the city’s natural and built and maritime uses. Office space and
Proposition H. It created a tempo- by the San Francisco Giants at Pier tures, Golinger said he isn’t worried, environments, one where the citi- entertainment venues are also not
rary moratorium on new hotels 48/Seawall Lot 337; and a sprawling noting that almost two years ago, he zens have an active interest. deemed allowable uses on either
and required the city to create a office, residential, and retail project and other activists collected twice “I think the 8 Washington property, although it does list retail
Waterfront Land Use Plan to regu- that Forest City wants to build at that many signatures — referendums process — including the petition as an allowable use on Pier 48.
late new development, which was Pier 70. Each project violates parts of require 10 percent of those voting in gathering and the vote — awoke a By contrast, Piers 30-32 and
approved in 1997 and hasn’t been the WLUP. the last mayor’s race, but initiatives bunch of people to making a differ- the adjacent Seawall Lot 330 were
updated since. “We need to let the people pro- need only 5 percent — to challenge ence in what happens to the city,” envisioned by the plan to allow all
It was an important transition tect the waterfront and current height just the 8 Washington project. Evans told us, calling the waterfront the uses proposed for it: “Assembly
point for the city’s iconic waterfront, limits,” Agnos said, “because clearly Here, the stakes are much high- a defining feature of San Francisco. and Entertainment” and retail on
which was still dominated by indus- there is no protection at City Hall.” er, spanning the entire seven-mile “For many people, our skyline is the the piers and residential, hotels, and
trial and maritime uses when the waterfront. bay, not the buildings.” retail on the property across the
Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 led CampaigN lauNCh “We want the voters to have a say street — but not at the heights that
to the removal of the Embarcadero On a drizzly Saturday, Jan. 11, a few when a project goes beyond the rules BEyoNd thE plaN are being proposed.
Freeway and opening up of shore- dozen activists crowded into the that are in place,” said Sup. David The initiative has few overt critics The plan calls Pier 70 a “mixed
line property controlled by the Port office at 15 Columbus Ave., prepar- Campos, the first elected official to at this point. Both city and Port use opportunity area” that allows
of San Francisco. ing to go collect signatures for the endorse the measure and the first per- officials refused to comment on the most uses, but not hotels or resi-
Ironically, then-Mayor Art Agnos new waterfront initiative. It was a son to sign Golinger’s petition. measure, citing a City Attorney’s dential, despite current plans that
supported a luxury hotel project at space that was already familiar to Campos also connected the Office memo advising against such call for construction of about 1,000
Seawall Lot 330 (which is now part many of them from their fall cam- campaign to the eviction crises and electioneering. “I’m incredibly lim- homes at the site to help fund his-
of the proposed Warriors Arena proj- paign against height increases on tenant organizing now underway, ited as to what I can say,” the Port’s toric preservation efforts.
ect at Piers 30-32) that helped trig- the 8 Washington project. including the first in a series of Brad Benson told us. Slaughter answered questions
ger Prop. H. Agnos stayed neutral on “What we’re doing today is Neighborhood Tenants Conventions And none of the spokespeople about her project’s lack of compli-
that measure and says he was sup- launching the next phase of that taking place that day, culminating in for the affected development projects ance with the WLUP by saying,
portive of setting clear development campaign,” campaign manager Jon a Feb. 8 event adopting a platform. wanted to say much. “We’re taking a “The whole project is going through
standards for the waterfront. Golinger told the assembled volun- “That struggle is part of this strug- wait and see attitude,” PJ Johnston, a a community planning process.”
Today, Agnos is one of the more teers, calling this space “the center of gle,” Campos said. “We have to make spokesperson for the Warriors Arena, Yet Agnos said that neither that
vocal critics of the Warriors Arena the fight for San Francisco’s future.” sure we’re working collectively.” said when he finally responded to process nor the current makeup of
and how the city is managing its The campaign must collect at The official proponent of the several Guardian inquiries. the Port or Mayor’s Office can get
waterfront. least 9,702 valid signatures by Feb. 3 initiative is Becky Evans, who has “Right now, we’re trying to the best deal for the public against
“What’s happened in the last to qualify for the June election, but been working on issues related to understand it,” said Staci Slaughter, rich, sophisticated teams of devel-
three to four years is all those height Golinger said those involved in the San Francisco’s waterfront for more the senior vice president of com- opers, investors, and professional
limits have been abrogated,” Agnos campaign actually have six months than 40 years. “I remember walk- munications for the San Francisco sports franchises.
said of the standards set by the to gather signatures if they want to ing along the waterfront with Herb Giants, whose proposal for Pier 48 “They don’t have the expertise
WLUP. “With the sudden availabili- wait for the November election. Caen back in the ’70s,” she said of and Seawall Lot 337 includes 3.7 mil- for the multi-billion-dollar deals that
ty of big money for investment pur- Golinger said they would pre- the late San Francisco Chronicle col- lion square feet of residential, com- are in front of them,” Agnos said of
poses, there is now funding for these fer June in order to build off the umnist for whom the promenade on mercial, parking, and retail, includ- the Port of San Francisco. “The new
mega-developments projects.” momentum of the fall campaign the Embarcadero is now named. ing the new Anchor Steam Brewery. identity for San Francisco’s Port is
The trio of high-profile projects and not get caught up in the more Evans is a longtime Sierra Club That project is just launching it has the most valuable land in the
that would be most directly affected crowded November ballot. “There’s a member who also served on the its environmental studies, which country, and maybe the most valu-
by the initiative are the proposed lot of enthusiasm from the last elec- city’s first Commission on the were the subject of a public scoping able land in the world.” 2
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