The Glen Park Association

The SFMTA Engineering, Maintenance and Safety Committee meets Wednesday, April 25, 4 p.m., 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 7th floor. See agenda here.

• Nothing GP but they’re talking about scooter permits, which is hot in the news right now. Here’s the presentation.

The Board of Supervisors meets Tuesday, April 24, 2 p.m., in City Hall, room 250. See agenda here.

• More scooters! (Details in SHEEHY LEGISLATION below)

The SF Planning Commission meets Thursday, April 26, 1 p.m., in City Hall, room 400. See agenda here.

• Not GP, but instructive, I think: See item #3. There’s a six-story building going up on Chavez between Mission and South Van Ness (north side). This will be a good test to see what a tall building on a wide street feels like.

(More meetings detailed below, but nothing directly GP-related or Heather-curious. Thanks!)

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SHEEHY LEGISLATION

The BOS Land Use and Transportation Committee meets Monday, April 23, 1:30 p.m., in City Hall, room 250. See agenda here.

• 2. 171019 [Establishment of the LGBTQ and Leather Cultural District] Sponsors: Kim; Sheehy
  Resolution establishing the Leather and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Cultural District with the intent of commemorating historical sites, preserving existing spaces, and planning for thriving and vibrant communities that are Leather and LGBTQ affirming. 9/19/17; RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Land Use and Transportation Committee. 9/26/17; REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT. 4/2/18; REMAIN ACTIVE. 4/3/18; SUBSTITUTED AND ASSIGNED to the Land Use and Transportation Committee. 4/11/18; REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT.

 

The Board of Supervisors meets Tuesday, April 24, 2 p.m., in City Hall, room 250. See agenda here.

• 15. 180214 [Transportation, Public Works Codes – Unauthorized Powered Scooter Violations, Powered Scooter Share Program] Sponsors: Peskin; Kim, Ronen, Fewer, Cohen and Sheehy
  Ordinance amending Division I of the Transportation Code to establish a violation for Powered Scooters that are a part of a Powered Scooter Share Program, to be parked, left standing, or left unattended on a sidewalk, street, or public right-of-way under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) or Department of Public Works (DPW) without an MTA-issued permit authorizing the scooter to be parked, left standing, or left unattended at that location; amending the Public Works Code to authorize DPW to take enforcement action to abate or remove unauthorized Powered Scooters that are not a part of a permitted Powered Scooter Share Program and are parked, left standing, or left unattended on a sidewalk, street, or public right-of-way under the jurisdiction of DPW or the MTA; and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act. 04/17/2018; PASSED ON FIRST READING. Question: Shall this Ordinance be FINALLY PASSED?

 

• 17. 180216 [Administrative Code – Composition and Sunset Date – Family Violence Council] Sponsors: Tang; Sheehy
  Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to change the composition of the Family Violence Council and extend the sunset date for the Council to May 1, 2021. 04/17/2018; PASSED ON FIRST READING. Question: Shall this Ordinance be FINALLY PASSED?

 

• 43. 180368 [Supporting the California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act – Reaffirming Support for a Split-Roll Reform of Proposition 13] Sponsors: Fewer; Peskin, Sheehy, Yee, Ronen and Kim
  Resolution supporting the California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act and reaffirming the Board of Supervisors support for a split-roll reform of Proposition 13 in order to close the commercial property tax loophole and restore billions in revenue. 04/10/2018; REFERRED FOR ADOPTION WITHOUT COMMITTEE REFERENCE AGENDA AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. 04/17/2018; CONTINUED. Question: Shall this Resolution be ADOPTED?

 

• 46. 180393 [Recognizing National Donate Life Month – April] Sponsors: Tang; Sheehy
  Resolution recognizing every April as National Donate Life Month in San Francisco and urging all San Franciscans to register as organ and tissue donors; committing to continuing to provide education to City and County of San Francisco employees about the need for and benefits of organ and tissue donation; supporting the mission of Donor Network West in providing compassionate support and education about organ donation; and commending the San Francisco Unified School District for becoming the first school district in California to comply with California State Assembly Bill 1967, authored by former Speaker of the California Assembly John A. Pérez, to provide education to students and staff about the need for and benefits of organ and tissue donation. 04/17/2018; REFERRED FOR ADOPTION WITHOUT COMMITTEE REFERENCE AGENDA AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. Question: Shall this Resolution be ADOPTED?

 

• 47. 180395 [Supporting Additional Environmental Education and Awareness for San Francisco Youth] Sponsors: Yee; Tang and Sheehy
  Resolution urging the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families to coordinate with the Department of the Environment to offer trainings and workshops for grantee organizations and their youth participants. 04/17/2018; REFERRED FOR ADOPTION WITHOUT COMMITTEE REFERENCE AGENDA AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. Question: Shall this Resolution be ADOPTED?

 

The BOS Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee meets Wednesday, April 25, 10 a.m., in City Hall, room 263. See agenda here.

• 2. 180202 [Hearing – Family Violence Council] Sponsor: Sheehy
  Hearing on domestic violence and child abuse with findings and recommendations; and requesting the Family Violence Council to report. 2/27/18; RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. 3/5/18; REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT

The following legislation is introduced under the “30-Day Rule,” meaning it won’t be heard until 30 days after it was introduced. The 30-Day Rule legislation is reserved for proposals that would “create or revise major city policy.” 

• 180321 [Police Code – Required Agreements Between Cannabis Businesses and Labor Organizations] Sponsor: Sheehy
  Ordinance amending the Police Code to require applicants for Cannabis Business Permits to enter into either a Labor Peace Agreement or a collective bargaining agreement with a Bona Fide Labor Organization. 4/3/18; ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. 4/9/18; REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT.

The BOS Rules Committee meets Wednesday, April 25, 2 p.m., in City Hall, rom 250. See agenda here.

• 2. 180132 [Administrative Code – Criminal Justice System Fees and Penalties] Sponsors: Breed; Cohen, Tang and Sheehy
  Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to abolish fees associated with probation costs, restitution, booking, the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, the automated county warrant system, the Sheriff’s Home Detention Program, and to abolish local penalties associated with alcohol testing and court-ordered penalties for misdemeanor and felony offenses. (Fiscal Impact; No Budget and Legislative Analyst Report) 2/6/18; ASSIGNED to the Rules Committee. 2/13/18; REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT. (Due to the fiscal impact of this Ordinance, the Chair shall entertain a motion to refer this matter to a fiscal committee after the public hearing.)

The following legislation is introduced under the “30-Day Rule,” meaning it won’t be heard until 30 days after it was introduced. The 30-Day Rule legislation is reserved for proposals that would “create or revise major city policy.” 

• 180322 [Administrative Code – Priority Housing Status for Persons Discharged from Residential Behavioral Health Programs] Sponsor: Sheehy
  Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to require the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to give a priority to adults who have been discharged from residential behavioral health programs when making assignments to housing programs, and to coordinate with the Department of Public Health to ensure access to uninterrupted supportive services for such persons. 4/3/18; ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE to the Rules Committee. 4/10/18; REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT.

 

The BOS Budget and Finance Subcommittee meets Thursday, April 25, 10 a.m., in City Hall, room 250. See agenda here.

• 7. 170297 [Administrative Code – Increasing the Minimum Compensation Hourly Rate] Sponsors: Sheehy; Kim and Fewer
  Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to increase the minimum hourly compensation rate for employees of City contractors other than nonprofit corporations or public entities to $15.86 per hour on July 1, 2017, $16.86 per hour on July 1, 2018, and followed thereafter by annual cost-of-living increases; and to require that City contractors pay the minimum hourly compensation rate to employees who perform any work funded under an applicable contract with the City. (Fiscal Impact) 3/21/17; ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE to the Budget and Finance Sub-Committee. 4/3/17; REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT. 4/25/17; TRANSFERRED to the Budget and Finance Committee. 4/25/17; SUBSTITUTED AND ASSIGNED to the Budget and Finance Committee. 5/1/17; REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT. 5/4/17; DUPLICATED AND AMENDED. 5/4/17; RECOMMENDED. 5/16/17; RE-REFERRED to the Budget and Finance Committee. 4/5/18; TRANSFERRED to the Budget and Finance Sub-Committee. 4/12/18; CONTINUED.

 

• 8. 170538 [Administrative Code – Increasing the Minimum Compensation Hourly Rate] Sponsors: Sheehy; Kim
  Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to increase the minimum hourly compensation rate for employees of City contractors to $16.86 per hour on July 1, 2018, and followed thereafter by annual cost-of-living increases; and to require that City contractors pay the minimum hourly compensation rate to employees who perform any work funded under an applicable contract with the City. (Fiscal Impact) 4/28/17; RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Budget and Finance Committee. 5/4/17; AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING NEW TITLE. 5/4/17; CONTINUED AS AMENDED. 5/11/17; CONTINUED TO CALL OF THE CHAIR. 4/3/18; TRANSFERRED to the Budget and Finance Sub-Committee. 4/12/18; AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING NEW TITLE. 4/12/18; CONTINUED AS AMENDED.

 

 

by Eric Whittington

Photo:  Michelle Gachet,  SF  Chronicle

Sales are up!

Five or six weeks ago, we let you know that things were tight once again. Hey, it happens! The news is full of good news about independent bookstores being on an upswing, and it could well be true– but it’s still a tough slog, though one we’re happy to make.

Because of your book buying, sales have been up substantially, and it’s made all the difference! We know you’re all making a concerted effort to support the enterprise in that key way and we want to let you know we appreciate it hugely. Books still exert their considerable charms, and young and old, plenty of you find them irresistible. Yay for that, and thanks!

We also appreciate the many donations to the nonprofit, which makes it possible to keep the music and poetry happening. And happen it does! We may have the liveliest events calendar of any bookstore in the region. That only happens with your support.

And while we’re talking thanks, can we get a round of applause for Lorretta, Jenna, Michael, Angie & Arthur? They first three are the ones keeping the store tuned up and humming six days a week! Sundays it’s up to me, but the rest of the time I rely on them heavily, and they do a fine job for which I’m ever grateful! Angie keeps the publicity going, documents things photographically, has a significant role in booking the music, helps me run the Saturday night jazz club, gives away copies of the constitution, fights the power… Arthur keeps the books straight (the accounting ones, that is) — a daunting task, I’m sure, esp. considering my disorganized nature.

And then there’s Jerry, running the poetry programs for 15 years or more… Walker with his monthly talk… the musicians, the poets, the artists…

And how about the people who show up for the shows, putting their hard earned dough in the donation buckets week after week after week? Some are here every single week with a ten dollar bill…that’s a $500 investment in culture every year. Imagine! But even if you’re here once in a blue moon and feeding that bucket, you’re making a big difference. You understand that we’re here trying to funnel a few shekels to the culture workers who make our lives make sense, and entertain us hugely in the process.

So don’t doubt it– you are a generous lot! You deserve a pat on the back and much more. We show our gratitude as best we can by keeping the culture lively and showcasing it in the best light we know how.

Thanks as well to a clutch of individuals who have consistently lent volunteer support and expertise through the years… Neighborhood folks like Nancy, Susan, Ernie, Dan, Suresh, Evelyn who serve on the board of the nonprofit; Barb, who helps me crank out the thank you letters for donors to the nonprofit and who helps lure in some fine jazz musicians to play here; Heather who helps get prime the website pump; Debbie, who as we speak is pulling together the silent auction aspect of the May 12 benefit…

Who am I forgetting!? Many have done such yeoman’s work for us in the past, and many more will step up in the future.

Special thanks to several people who have recently volunteered to provide significant expertise and talents, some already embarking on needed tasks and some patiently waiting for me to find the moment to call on them… Robin, Amanda, Allison, Brian, Sue, Ellen, Steve, Loren…

Come May, we’ll be embarking on our 20th year of this! Thanks one and all, thanks Glen Park, thanks San Francisco…

Perhaps you’ve seen the news that Amazon is opening a retail bookstore ten times the size of Bird & Beckett over in Berkeley (they’ve already opened stores 4X as big in Walnut Creek and San Jose). If you’ve got any influence over friends and family, let them know that the only way to keep their neighborhoods and downtowns human is to turn their backs on the behemoth and to support the little joints they love and depend on.

There have been perilous times in the book biz before, and this represents the latest wrinkle. Help us tough it out, and the culture will be all the stronger for it.

Thanks, thanks… a million thanks!

(Ed. note –For a  tribute to Bird and Beckett Books by SF Gate, click here.)