Weekend Woof #84: Cruising Castro Cuties
By any standard, this week has been hot and occasionally humid leading many men and boys to shed some of their clothes. I've been out on the campaign trail in the Castro and elsewhere around District 8, and took time out to snap a few photos of guys attractive to my queer eye.
I saw these two mature furry faced duded within ten minutes of each other, while campaigning in front of Harvey's Bar and Restaurant at Castro and 18th Streets.
The cub on top cracked wise about wanting something more solid than a banana to stuff in his mouth, as he begin his barback shift at the Midnight Sun. On the bottom in blue is my friend Seth who was cruising and smoking a cigarette on 18th Street last weekend.
Various young men who don't fall into the cub category but nonetheless have an eye-candy appeal. The guy in the last photo, in the flesh, bore quite a resemblance to Tatum Channing and could pass for his younger brother.
And how was you week for cruising handsome males?
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Saturday, July 26, 2014
Print Your Own Window Sign in Color or B/W
It gives us great pleasure to announce that Mitch Hightower, our fabulous campaign strategist and brilliant graphic designer, has created downloadable black-and-white and color versions of our window sign for you to print at home or work.
We're a serious alternative campaign with no budget for posters, which means we need your assistance in DIY Democracy. Follow this link (http://www.ilikemikesf.org/signs/) to our stand-alone site and print your own signage.
After you place the sign in your window, snap a photo of it or take a selfie holding your sign to post on social media. Remember to tag your photo on social media with @Petrelis4Supe8 or #ILikeMikeSF
We already have our first sign on display in a street-level business and in an extremely visible location.
One of our chiropractors, Dr. Andy Lesko, runs a very popular storefront combination office, alternative healing clinic and gallery featuring his artwork on Valencia Street near Duboce tucked inside the boundaries of District 8. We've received adjustments from him since the 1990s and consider him also as our good neighbor and friend.
Last week, Dr. Andy cheerfully placed our campaign poster in his window, which is seen not only by his many patients but also the hundreds of pedestrians and bicyclists who walk and peddle by his storefront every day. Many thanks, Dr. Andy!
Please follow his example and print out our campaign sign for your own window or selfie today.
It gives us great pleasure to announce that Mitch Hightower, our fabulous campaign strategist and brilliant graphic designer, has created downloadable black-and-white and color versions of our window sign for you to print at home or work.
We're a serious alternative campaign with no budget for posters, which means we need your assistance in DIY Democracy. Follow this link (http://www.ilikemikesf.org/signs/) to our stand-alone site and print your own signage.
After you place the sign in your window, snap a photo of it or take a selfie holding your sign to post on social media. Remember to tag your photo on social media with @Petrelis4Supe8 or #ILikeMikeSF
We already have our first sign on display in a street-level business and in an extremely visible location.
One of our chiropractors, Dr. Andy Lesko, runs a very popular storefront combination office, alternative healing clinic and gallery featuring his artwork on Valencia Street near Duboce tucked inside the boundaries of District 8. We've received adjustments from him since the 1990s and consider him also as our good neighbor and friend.
Last week, Dr. Andy cheerfully placed our campaign poster in his window, which is seen not only by his many patients but also the hundreds of pedestrians and bicyclists who walk and peddle by his storefront every day. Many thanks, Dr. Andy!
Please follow his example and print out our campaign sign for your own window or selfie today.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Weekend Woof #83: Boys, Beefs, Blacks, Beards
Ah, the visual pleasures of being on the campaign trail and pressing the flesh, so to speak and so I wish, of hunky homos and men of unknown sexual identities and erotic interests. What they all have in common is being caught by the lens of my camera.
Check out and like our Facebook campaign page, please, and widely circulate the link that page and our stand-alone ILikeMikeSF.org site, which is where you go to make donation and support my District 8 Supervisor race.
A couple of beefy boys seen strolling through the Castro farmers' market on Wednesday afternoon as the Petrelis for Supervisor campaign held an outreach effort on the street.
Hello, dashing Daddy with the super sexy beard covering up his chinney-chin-chin. Hands down, or all over his fuzz and fur, the Best Beard of the Day winner.
Two beefs riding the BART train back from the Pacific Film Archive and the dude wearing the watch had the best set of tree-trunk thighs and beautifully develop calves I've seen on any young man in these parts all year.
Ah, the visual pleasures of being on the campaign trail and pressing the flesh, so to speak and so I wish, of hunky homos and men of unknown sexual identities and erotic interests. What they all have in common is being caught by the lens of my camera.
Check out and like our Facebook campaign page, please, and widely circulate the link that page and our stand-alone ILikeMikeSF.org site, which is where you go to make donation and support my District 8 Supervisor race.
A couple of beefy boys seen strolling through the Castro farmers' market on Wednesday afternoon as the Petrelis for Supervisor campaign held an outreach effort on the street.
Hello, dashing Daddy with the super sexy beard covering up his chinney-chin-chin. Hands down, or all over his fuzz and fur, the Best Beard of the Day winner.
Two beefs riding the BART train back from the Pacific Film Archive and the dude wearing the watch had the best set of tree-trunk thighs and beautifully develop calves I've seen on any young man in these parts all year.
These two young men were at the Women's Building for different meetings. The one with a kooky declaration on his tee shirt, was there for meeting on the second floor, while the man texting is Roscoe and he was at the Harvey Milk Democratic Club. Roscoe lives in District 8 and I hope to earn his top and only vote.
A reminder to queer guys and their admirers. Next Sunday, July 27 is the Dore Alley street kink fair. I'll be on the prowl snapping pix and hope to see you there!
Saturday, July 19, 2014
9th Anniversary of Iran Hanging Gay Teenagers
On July 19, 2005, in the city of Mashad, Iran, the government hanged two gay teenagers named Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni and the world was justifiably outraged by these barbaric executions.
Within days, we organized LGBT people in San Francisco to come out to Harvey Milk Plaza for a protest over the Iranian gay hangings and to condemn the death penalty around the world, including here in the United States. We were proud to have a solidarity statement from Mayor Gavin Newsom and that Supervisors Bevan Dufty and Ross Mirkarimi wasted no time writing the State Department urging the agency to deplore the executions.
Our report on that small but important July 2005 vigil are posted here.
The following year, we spearheaded a global day of solidarity with LGBT Iranians in dozens of cities around the world, and marked the one-year anniversary of the hangings. Perhaps the most moving photo and report came from frightened gays inside Iran who participated in the day's actions, from the safety inside their homes.
Please view the reports and images from the July 19, 2006, worldwide vigils here.
We have no public action in San Francisco planned for tomorrow's ninth anniversary of this tragic day in global gay history, but we will be lighting candles of hopes in our homes to express our support for LGBT Iranians forced who live in exile and for those remaining in their homeland.
Take a moment to remember Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, and pledge your solidarity with the global struggle for LGBT freedom and acceptance.
On July 19, 2005, in the city of Mashad, Iran, the government hanged two gay teenagers named Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni and the world was justifiably outraged by these barbaric executions.
Within days, we organized LGBT people in San Francisco to come out to Harvey Milk Plaza for a protest over the Iranian gay hangings and to condemn the death penalty around the world, including here in the United States. We were proud to have a solidarity statement from Mayor Gavin Newsom and that Supervisors Bevan Dufty and Ross Mirkarimi wasted no time writing the State Department urging the agency to deplore the executions.
Our report on that small but important July 2005 vigil are posted here.
The following year, we spearheaded a global day of solidarity with LGBT Iranians in dozens of cities around the world, and marked the one-year anniversary of the hangings. Perhaps the most moving photo and report came from frightened gays inside Iran who participated in the day's actions, from the safety inside their homes.
Please view the reports and images from the July 19, 2006, worldwide vigils here.
We have no public action in San Francisco planned for tomorrow's ninth anniversary of this tragic day in global gay history, but we will be lighting candles of hopes in our homes to express our support for LGBT Iranians forced who live in exile and for those remaining in their homeland.
Take a moment to remember Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, and pledge your solidarity with the global struggle for LGBT freedom and acceptance.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Questionnaire from SF Bike Coalition Excites Us
As lifelong bicyclists, we are always eager to promote biking as a daily means of transportation that is fun, healthy for the body and mind, not to mention a benefit to our environment. Just how committed is Michael to a minuscule carbon footprint and biking as an integral part of life? The fact that he's never learned to drive a car, forget about owning a fossil fuel vehicle, tells you how deep his commitment is.
So we were delighted to receive a questionnaire this week from Chema Hernández Gil, the community organizer for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, and a this note:
One aspect of this coalition's endorsement process that we especially approve of is how they post every candidate's answers on their web site, along with our photos and links to our campaign web sites. How cool is that, in terms of building awareness for an alternative candidate like Michael?
Rest assured, we'll respond way in advance of the SFBC's deadline and look forward to engaging with their members as the election season progresses.
As lifelong bicyclists, we are always eager to promote biking as a daily means of transportation that is fun, healthy for the body and mind, not to mention a benefit to our environment. Just how committed is Michael to a minuscule carbon footprint and biking as an integral part of life? The fact that he's never learned to drive a car, forget about owning a fossil fuel vehicle, tells you how deep his commitment is.
So we were delighted to receive a questionnaire this week from Chema Hernández Gil, the community organizer for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, and a this note:
On behalf of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, I congratulate you on your candidacy for Supervisor of San Francisco.
With hundreds of thousands of people bicycling regularly in San Francisco, many of them our members, we are eager for candidates to understand and support our vision for a city that is safe, welcoming and accessible for all to move around by bikes. We hope that you will find the information below helpful as you shape your campaign platform and as you interact during the campaign with San Franciscans — a growing number of whom are already biking.
The attached letter provides useful information about our organization and endorsement process, so please be sure to read through to the end. So, please review the attached document for information on our endorsement process and how you may submit your responses to the Candidate Questionnaire. The deadline is Friday, July 25th, at 4PM.
One aspect of this coalition's endorsement process that we especially approve of is how they post every candidate's answers on their web site, along with our photos and links to our campaign web sites. How cool is that, in terms of building awareness for an alternative candidate like Michael?
Rest assured, we'll respond way in advance of the SFBC's deadline and look forward to engaging with their members as the election season progresses.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Sunshine Panel: SF Mayor Violating Open Govt Ordinance
Our effort to follow the $250,000 in City tax dollars that flow to Charlotte Shultz's nonprofit San Francisco Host Committee eventually led us to file a complaint with the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force.
It was our contention that the Mayor's Office of Protocol, headed by Ms. Shultz, possessed responsive records about the cost of the December gala ball at City Hall and related documents related to the committee, use of City funds and Mayor Ed Lee.
Our complaint was heard at the June 4 SOTF meeting, which we blogged about beforehand, and the task force members found the Mayor and his protocol deputy Matthew Goudeau in violation of the sunshine ordinance, as shown in the above image.
So much for Mayor Lee's public relations commitment in 2012 to open data for citizens wanting City documents.
The compliance and amendments committee of the SOTF today at 4 pm will meet to hear from Goudeau about this violation on the part of the Mayor, and we will of course be in attendance.
We're very happy the task force serves this great service to the citizens and taxpayers, where we can complain when public records are withheld or meetings held in secret or other open government laws are broken, and we again call on the Board of Supervisors to allocate funds to air SOTF meetings on SFGovTV.
Our effort to follow the $250,000 in City tax dollars that flow to Charlotte Shultz's nonprofit San Francisco Host Committee eventually led us to file a complaint with the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force.
It was our contention that the Mayor's Office of Protocol, headed by Ms. Shultz, possessed responsive records about the cost of the December gala ball at City Hall and related documents related to the committee, use of City funds and Mayor Ed Lee.
Our complaint was heard at the June 4 SOTF meeting, which we blogged about beforehand, and the task force members found the Mayor and his protocol deputy Matthew Goudeau in violation of the sunshine ordinance, as shown in the above image.
So much for Mayor Lee's public relations commitment in 2012 to open data for citizens wanting City documents.
The compliance and amendments committee of the SOTF today at 4 pm will meet to hear from Goudeau about this violation on the part of the Mayor, and we will of course be in attendance.
We're very happy the task force serves this great service to the citizens and taxpayers, where we can complain when public records are withheld or meetings held in secret or other open government laws are broken, and we again call on the Board of Supervisors to allocate funds to air SOTF meetings on SFGovTV.
Monday, July 14, 2014
SF Pride Members Must Run Membership Meetings
The board of SF Pride hadn't properly planned this year for the one-day respite between Pride Sunday and their regular monthly meeting on the first Tuesday of the month, so the July 1 board meeting was cancelled. No alert was posted at their site regarding the cancellation, they advanced the board meeting into the next week, which then forced the general membership meeting date to change.
We totally understand that SF Pride board and staff were exhausted after putting on a generally fabulous series of events, but it wasn't as though the July meeting dates were unknown to them.
An email was circulated on July 3, without any surveying of the membership, that the board was changing the membership meeting to July 15, but still at the normal time and place, 7 pm at the SF Pride office. Did the board take into account how the new dates would affect the lives of members?
This all raises troubling questions about how the board controls the membership meetings and decided on its own to make radical changes about when the July meeting would happen. We would have preferred for the membership meeting to take place on its normal date and the board meeting held on July 15, but no one asked us for our opinion.
Compare how the board made the date switches with SF Pride's rules about the burdens of getting an issue on the membership's agenda: "Members can add agenda items to the meeting with two weeks’ notice and signatures from three members on a letter addressed to the board president."
No such advance notice or letter needs to be circulated for the board to cancel a meeting and set a new date for the general membership. Not very respectful or transparent by any stretch of the imagination.
Since we cannot be at the July 15 membership meeting due to a campaign scheduling conflict, we're blogging about all this to put out the call for members to consider taking over setting the agenda and running the membership meetings ourselves. We see no reason for the board to control both their monthly meeting and also the members' meetings, where they take up most of the time.
BTW, there is nothing in the by-laws requiring the board president to run the membership meetings.
Members' meetings should be for members, with input from the board, of course, but we shouldn't have to meet the burdens of two-weeks advance notice for agenda items and a letter from other members, and then have the board president consider the items.
Addressing these issues will be a long term process, one that we expect will engage the membership and strengthen SF Pride.
The board of SF Pride hadn't properly planned this year for the one-day respite between Pride Sunday and their regular monthly meeting on the first Tuesday of the month, so the July 1 board meeting was cancelled. No alert was posted at their site regarding the cancellation, they advanced the board meeting into the next week, which then forced the general membership meeting date to change.
We totally understand that SF Pride board and staff were exhausted after putting on a generally fabulous series of events, but it wasn't as though the July meeting dates were unknown to them.
An email was circulated on July 3, without any surveying of the membership, that the board was changing the membership meeting to July 15, but still at the normal time and place, 7 pm at the SF Pride office. Did the board take into account how the new dates would affect the lives of members?
This all raises troubling questions about how the board controls the membership meetings and decided on its own to make radical changes about when the July meeting would happen. We would have preferred for the membership meeting to take place on its normal date and the board meeting held on July 15, but no one asked us for our opinion.
Compare how the board made the date switches with SF Pride's rules about the burdens of getting an issue on the membership's agenda: "Members can add agenda items to the meeting with two weeks’ notice and signatures from three members on a letter addressed to the board president."
No such advance notice or letter needs to be circulated for the board to cancel a meeting and set a new date for the general membership. Not very respectful or transparent by any stretch of the imagination.
Since we cannot be at the July 15 membership meeting due to a campaign scheduling conflict, we're blogging about all this to put out the call for members to consider taking over setting the agenda and running the membership meetings ourselves. We see no reason for the board to control both their monthly meeting and also the members' meetings, where they take up most of the time.
BTW, there is nothing in the by-laws requiring the board president to run the membership meetings.
Members' meetings should be for members, with input from the board, of course, but we shouldn't have to meet the burdens of two-weeks advance notice for agenda items and a letter from other members, and then have the board president consider the items.
Addressing these issues will be a long term process, one that we expect will engage the membership and strengthen SF Pride.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Weekend Woof #82: Castro Men & Boys
My week of eying attractive men and boys in and around the Castro gayborhood has been a fine one, as you can judge in these photos. It's great to have the area return to normal after all the hype and hoopla of SF Pride has disappeared, not to mention all the drunk and rude folks putting out negative vibes.
Many thanks to all the sexy dudes for gracing the lens of my trusty little camera.
The fine fuzzy faces fellas were out in full force on Friday afternoon, when plenty of sun was shining down and the wind was mild.
I wish this image better showed the great snake tattoo on this shave-headed hunk's left arm, because it was a beautiful sight to behold.
This guy stopped me and my friend Richard as we strolled up Castro Street, asking about parking rules. I've never learned to drive a car and had no answers for this hunk, but Richard did and they chatted, I snapped away.
Let's end this weekend's batch of photo with this handsome guy in his dark pink OBEY tee shirt.
And how was your week for cruising attractive men and boys?
My week of eying attractive men and boys in and around the Castro gayborhood has been a fine one, as you can judge in these photos. It's great to have the area return to normal after all the hype and hoopla of SF Pride has disappeared, not to mention all the drunk and rude folks putting out negative vibes.
Many thanks to all the sexy dudes for gracing the lens of my trusty little camera.
The fine fuzzy faces fellas were out in full force on Friday afternoon, when plenty of sun was shining down and the wind was mild.
I wish this image better showed the great snake tattoo on this shave-headed hunk's left arm, because it was a beautiful sight to behold.
This guy stopped me and my friend Richard as we strolled up Castro Street, asking about parking rules. I've never learned to drive a car and had no answers for this hunk, but Richard did and they chatted, I snapped away.
Let's end this weekend's batch of photo with this handsome guy in his dark pink OBEY tee shirt.
And how was your week for cruising attractive men and boys?
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Arab TV's Goofy Visit to San Francisco's Castro Street
The LGBT Iranian who brought this video to our attention wishes to remain anonymous for their personal safety and we're grateful that they've shined a light on this report.
A correspondent for Aram TV, which is based in Saudi Arabia, filed a nearly half-hour report about sexual tolerance and looked at the global influence of Playboy magazine, the downfall of Pompeii because of debauchery and he paid a visit to District 8's Castro Street.
It's no surprise that he was gawking and passing judgment on the gay men he saw, and we admit to laughing at his obnoxiousness, but over all we are glad he visited San Francisco and show his viewers proud LGBT people.
We're of the belief that when conservatives news outlets, be they domestic or foreign but especially from the Middle East and with a religious bent, broadcast such images of happy homosexuals being affectionate under the LGBT rainbow pride flag in San Francisco, there are out and closeted gay people watching across the Arab world.
That segment of the viewing public receives a hopeful message and may even inspire LGBT people to take pride in themselves and perhaps engage in their own forms of safe activism.
Thanks, Aram TV, for this report beamed into millions of homes and cafes in the Middle East and around the world wide web.
Click here to view the YouTube video with full closed-captioning. Here is a truncated transcript:
The LGBT Iranian who brought this video to our attention wishes to remain anonymous for their personal safety and we're grateful that they've shined a light on this report.
A correspondent for Aram TV, which is based in Saudi Arabia, filed a nearly half-hour report about sexual tolerance and looked at the global influence of Playboy magazine, the downfall of Pompeii because of debauchery and he paid a visit to District 8's Castro Street.
It's no surprise that he was gawking and passing judgment on the gay men he saw, and we admit to laughing at his obnoxiousness, but over all we are glad he visited San Francisco and show his viewers proud LGBT people.
We're of the belief that when conservatives news outlets, be they domestic or foreign but especially from the Middle East and with a religious bent, broadcast such images of happy homosexuals being affectionate under the LGBT rainbow pride flag in San Francisco, there are out and closeted gay people watching across the Arab world.
That segment of the viewing public receives a hopeful message and may even inspire LGBT people to take pride in themselves and perhaps engage in their own forms of safe activism.
Thanks, Aram TV, for this report beamed into millions of homes and cafes in the Middle East and around the world wide web.
Click here to view the YouTube video with full closed-captioning. Here is a truncated transcript:
SF DPH & BART Pigeon Proofing the Plaza But . . .
The health hazards at the BART 16th and Mission Street plaza of concern to our campaign is now in it's second month and we have additional mostly positive news to share today.
This note is from Richard Lee of the San Francisco Department of Public Health and was sent yesterday:
Today, we heard from Jorge Montiel, also of DPH, and while most of his note is good news we are very dismayed he wants to remove the public seating at the plaza:
We replied to Jorge with a written wish to see the seating remain in place:
Thanks for all this information and the assessment of health issues at plaza. However, one issue of serious concern to us and is your belief that the public seating should be removed. Regardless of whether folks are waiting for a Muni bus or using BART or simply enjoying the sunshine and street scene, it is our wish to see the seat remain in place.
The plaza is a public space and the full breadth of the general public should be able to access the limited seating that is currently there. We don't think that removing the seating would do anything to reduce the pigeon poop, which is one of our top concerns. Please rethink your desire to push for removal of the seats.
The photo below shows where the pigeon-proofing is needed on the lighting fixtures.
We'll continue to advocate for a sanitary public space and that the public seating stay as it is now.
Remove pigeon poop, not people or public seating!
The health hazards at the BART 16th and Mission Street plaza of concern to our campaign is now in it's second month and we have additional mostly positive news to share today.
This note is from Richard Lee of the San Francisco Department of Public Health and was sent yesterday:
Our Environmental Health Technician, Jorge Montiel was out at the plaza yesterday. He discussed the issue of pigeon proofing with a BART representative. The representative stated that they will be improving pigeon proofing sometime this week. In addition, he talked with the Walgreen’s representative. They said they are power washing the plaza area daily. Mr. Montiel requested that they increase the frequency of the power washing.
Today, we heard from Jorge Montiel, also of DPH, and while most of his note is good news we are very dismayed he wants to remove the public seating at the plaza:
I called Paula Fraser at BART to verify the pigeon proofing was going as planned. She indicated 'Building is waiting for the lamp pigeon deterrents to come in. Hopefully this week; consequently, BART's crew is scheduled to install them as soon as the materials arrive.'
I also spoke to Walgreens manager Kevin and informed him of Walgreens's responsibility to clean and maintain clean the area adjacent to the BART plaza. Pigeon proofing is a responsibility that BART has, this is not something SF DPH will do for them; nevertheless, I will make sure the necessary repairs/ improvements are conducted in a timely manner.
Regarding 'Do Not Feed the Birds' signs, I will recommend they do it. I do not believe we can mandate they install such signs. I believe the problem with the pigeon feeding is not that people are actually feeding the pigeons but transients leaving food unattended. I also recommended BART to remove the permanent sitting area. I believe this area is not being used by commuter's but transients and others.
We replied to Jorge with a written wish to see the seating remain in place:
Thanks for all this information and the assessment of health issues at plaza. However, one issue of serious concern to us and is your belief that the public seating should be removed. Regardless of whether folks are waiting for a Muni bus or using BART or simply enjoying the sunshine and street scene, it is our wish to see the seat remain in place.
The plaza is a public space and the full breadth of the general public should be able to access the limited seating that is currently there. We don't think that removing the seating would do anything to reduce the pigeon poop, which is one of our top concerns. Please rethink your desire to push for removal of the seats.
The photo below shows where the pigeon-proofing is needed on the lighting fixtures.
We'll continue to advocate for a sanitary public space and that the public seating stay as it is now.
Remove pigeon poop, not people or public seating!
City Hall Uses Fresh Water to Keep Lawns Green
The current record-shattering drought is forcing all of us to conserve
fresh water and not waste this precious resource, so we were dismayed
recently when visiting City Hall and seeing the lush, verdant lawns around the building.
Curious if the water keeping the grassy areas so green was recycled water, we reached out to John Updike who is head of the General Services Administration's Real Estate Division for details. He emailed us this note:
We applaud the use of non-potable water in two instances, but are disappointed any fresh water is utilized for keeping these lawns looking so healthy. We'd like Mayor Ed Lee to direct the GSA to immediately stop using fresh water for City Hall's lawns until the city's study is completed and a non-potable stream of water is made available.
In the short term, better to have the lawns a golden brown and send a clear visual conservation message to the general public, then maintain such robust greenery at City Hall. Further down the road, City Hall leaders who pass the lawns every day should develop a new landscaping design for the grounds and create a garden with plants that don't require much valuable water - fresh or recycled.
Curious if the water keeping the grassy areas so green was recycled water, we reached out to John Updike who is head of the General Services Administration's Real Estate Division for details. He emailed us this note:
Thanks for your note on this important subject.
Working in conjunction with DPW, we’re using non-potable water for sidewalk cleaning, and we use non-potable sources for watering the landscaping around 525 Golden Gate [the SF Public Utilities Commission building].
With regard to the lawns on the Civic Center Plaza and at City Hall, we’re investigating how to bring a non-potable source to those areas as well. That study is underway.
In the meantime, while we’re using fresh water sources, we are reducing the amount & frequency of water used on the lawns, and between that effort and a significant replacement of older water fixtures at both City Hall and at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, have effected water use reductions over the past year.
(Yours truly on the City Hall grass.)
We applaud the use of non-potable water in two instances, but are disappointed any fresh water is utilized for keeping these lawns looking so healthy. We'd like Mayor Ed Lee to direct the GSA to immediately stop using fresh water for City Hall's lawns until the city's study is completed and a non-potable stream of water is made available.
In the short term, better to have the lawns a golden brown and send a clear visual conservation message to the general public, then maintain such robust greenery at City Hall. Further down the road, City Hall leaders who pass the lawns every day should develop a new landscaping design for the grounds and create a garden with plants that don't require much valuable water - fresh or recycled.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Castro's High Retail Vacancy Rate Prompts $87K Study
Have you noticed the many For Rent signs in
the windows of lots of storefronts in the gayborhood of District 8?
Three years back, we conducted a photographic survey of empty business spaces in the Castro and at the time there were 27 empty spaces for rent. Check out our survey here.
We're pleased several of the storefronts in our photos have been leased, but the overall problem of continuing retail vacancies have reached the point that City Hall and area advocacy groups are developing a strategy to deal with the problem, according to this alert from Andrea Aiello of the Castro Benefit District:
"Concerned about the health of the neighborhood’s retail environment, business and neighborhood groups formed a coalition and established a working group tasked with developing a comprehensive 'Retail Strategy' for the Castro/Upper Market corridor.
"Led by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District (CBD), the coalition includes the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association (DTNA),the Castro / Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association (EVNA), and Castro Merchants (CM.)
"The primary aim of the 'Retail Strategy Project' is to address the existing high vacancy rate and develop an actionable plan to fill new ground floor retail in a manner that enables the commercial corridor to thrive while preserving its unique character and draw as a tourist destination. It also aims to ensure high quality of life for area residents.
"A total of $87,200 has been raised through a grant from the City and donations from neighborhood groups and developers alike."
We requested a breakdown of donors and amounts given from Andrea and she provided the info to us this afternoon.
According to the spreadsheet (see below), some of the big donors include the Mayor's Office of Employment and Workplace Development with $35,000 donated, the CBD kicked in $15,000, the Castro Merchants (formerly MUMC) donated $6,000, Prado Development Group gave $5,000, Spier Development chipped in $4,500 and the medical marijuana dispensary Apothocarium contributed $2,500.
Let's be optimistic that the strategy and all stakeholders involved take into account widespread concerns about longtime Castro residents being displaced because of high-end development, and the worries of tenants who are renters in the gayborhood who fear losing their affordable housing.
We'll keep tabs on this strategy as it moves forward.
We're pleased several of the storefronts in our photos have been leased, but the overall problem of continuing retail vacancies have reached the point that City Hall and area advocacy groups are developing a strategy to deal with the problem, according to this alert from Andrea Aiello of the Castro Benefit District:
"Concerned about the health of the neighborhood’s retail environment, business and neighborhood groups formed a coalition and established a working group tasked with developing a comprehensive 'Retail Strategy' for the Castro/Upper Market corridor.
"Led by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District (CBD), the coalition includes the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association (DTNA),the Castro / Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association (EVNA), and Castro Merchants (CM.)
"The primary aim of the 'Retail Strategy Project' is to address the existing high vacancy rate and develop an actionable plan to fill new ground floor retail in a manner that enables the commercial corridor to thrive while preserving its unique character and draw as a tourist destination. It also aims to ensure high quality of life for area residents.
"A total of $87,200 has been raised through a grant from the City and donations from neighborhood groups and developers alike."
We requested a breakdown of donors and amounts given from Andrea and she provided the info to us this afternoon.
According to the spreadsheet (see below), some of the big donors include the Mayor's Office of Employment and Workplace Development with $35,000 donated, the CBD kicked in $15,000, the Castro Merchants (formerly MUMC) donated $6,000, Prado Development Group gave $5,000, Spier Development chipped in $4,500 and the medical marijuana dispensary Apothocarium contributed $2,500.
Let's be optimistic that the strategy and all stakeholders involved take into account widespread concerns about longtime Castro residents being displaced because of high-end development, and the worries of tenants who are renters in the gayborhood who fear losing their affordable housing.
We'll keep tabs on this strategy as it moves forward.
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
We've Exceeded Our Fundraising Goal
In the spring, we set out to raise $700 to make sure we had enough for the Department of Elections filing fee and some funds left in the bank. We asked supporters for donations and today we're quite pleased to announce we not only raised what we set as our goal but we're just above the four-figure mark.
Our total amount raised as of today stands at $1,041.
We're posting the names of donors and amounts given since it will be part of the public record and also because we are committed to transparency. All of this information must be shared with the Ethics Commission when we file our finance report later month.
Please consider joining the ranks of these fine individuals and contributing today to our campaign. Details on how to donate are located on the upper left side of our Facebook opening page.
Thank you, all donors, for your generosity:
Jackson Bowman: $5, Brian Busta: $50, Joey Cain: $10, Gregg Cassin: $1, Patrick Connors: $20, Amanda Lynn Grazier $75, Mitchell Halbetstadt: $50, David Hyman: $20, Mark S. King: $25, Mark Ilvonen: $25, Joe Imbriani: $20, John Iversen: $50, Isak Lindenauer: $20, Ron Merk: $25, Elizabeth Meixell: $20, Michael Merrigan: $100, Greg Milward: $25, John Petrelis: $80, Daniel Ponce: $20, Gabriel Proo: $100. Angela Speziale: $50, Wayne Turner: $100, Marie Weingart: $100, Bill Wilson: $50.
In the spring, we set out to raise $700 to make sure we had enough for the Department of Elections filing fee and some funds left in the bank. We asked supporters for donations and today we're quite pleased to announce we not only raised what we set as our goal but we're just above the four-figure mark.
Our total amount raised as of today stands at $1,041.
We're posting the names of donors and amounts given since it will be part of the public record and also because we are committed to transparency. All of this information must be shared with the Ethics Commission when we file our finance report later month.
Please consider joining the ranks of these fine individuals and contributing today to our campaign. Details on how to donate are located on the upper left side of our Facebook opening page.
Thank you, all donors, for your generosity:
Jackson Bowman: $5, Brian Busta: $50, Joey Cain: $10, Gregg Cassin: $1, Patrick Connors: $20, Amanda Lynn Grazier $75, Mitchell Halbetstadt: $50, David Hyman: $20, Mark S. King: $25, Mark Ilvonen: $25, Joe Imbriani: $20, John Iversen: $50, Isak Lindenauer: $20, Ron Merk: $25, Elizabeth Meixell: $20, Michael Merrigan: $100, Greg Milward: $25, John Petrelis: $80, Daniel Ponce: $20, Gabriel Proo: $100. Angela Speziale: $50, Wayne Turner: $100, Marie Weingart: $100, Bill Wilson: $50.
Sunshine Task Force Needs TV Transparency
If you've requested public records from a San Francisco agency and been denied access to or copies of the records, you can file a complaint with the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force (SOTF) and have them call officials from the agency for a public hearing.
While there have been serious problems with the SOTF since 2012, when the incumbent District 8 Supervisor and his ally Sup. David Chiu purged it of members who were often critical of City agencies, the SOTF still provides an invaluable forum for open government and taxpayers.
In June, with the support of Sup. David Campos at the Rules Committee, several highly qualified new SOTF members were appointed to serve the public and many sunshine advocates hold great hope for improvements at the SOTF with the new blood. We've spoken at SOTF public comment time for airing the monthly hearings on SF Gov TV and made available as videos-on-demand.
Seems a no-brainer that the sunshine panel should be as transparent as possible and that means aired on City social media platforms. Since the SOTF convenes at City Hall, the cost to televise the meetings should not be that high and whatever the expense is, it is would be public money well spent to expand San Francisco's commitment to governmental transparency.
The Education, Outreach and Training Committee of the SOTF meets the second Monday of the month, and is the ideal venue for beginning a concerted push for televising monthly hearings.
We'll be there on July 14 to push TV transparency.
If you've requested public records from a San Francisco agency and been denied access to or copies of the records, you can file a complaint with the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force (SOTF) and have them call officials from the agency for a public hearing.
While there have been serious problems with the SOTF since 2012, when the incumbent District 8 Supervisor and his ally Sup. David Chiu purged it of members who were often critical of City agencies, the SOTF still provides an invaluable forum for open government and taxpayers.
In June, with the support of Sup. David Campos at the Rules Committee, several highly qualified new SOTF members were appointed to serve the public and many sunshine advocates hold great hope for improvements at the SOTF with the new blood. We've spoken at SOTF public comment time for airing the monthly hearings on SF Gov TV and made available as videos-on-demand.
Seems a no-brainer that the sunshine panel should be as transparent as possible and that means aired on City social media platforms. Since the SOTF convenes at City Hall, the cost to televise the meetings should not be that high and whatever the expense is, it is would be public money well spent to expand San Francisco's commitment to governmental transparency.
The Education, Outreach and Training Committee of the SOTF meets the second Monday of the month, and is the ideal venue for beginning a concerted push for televising monthly hearings.
We'll be there on July 14 to push TV transparency.
Sunday, July 06, 2014
Hoodline Covers Looming Safeway Recycling Center Closure
Courtesy of the Hoodline web site and their reporter Rose Garrett, we have new info about the looming closure of a District 8 recycling center located on the Safeway parking lot at Market and Duboce Streets. The current D8 Supervisor enthusiastically backs shutting down the center.
The Hoodline spoke with two individuals who depend on the center and got their views:
The Hoodline notes that a mobile redemption plan is in the early stages of consideration at the Department of the Environment, as one option for people to recycle cans and bottles for a check, but plan won't be a reality in the near future.
Courtesy of the Hoodline web site and their reporter Rose Garrett, we have new info about the looming closure of a District 8 recycling center located on the Safeway parking lot at Market and Duboce Streets. The current D8 Supervisor enthusiastically backs shutting down the center.
The Hoodline spoke with two individuals who depend on the center and got their views:
Troy Perkins, who was using the facility this morning, also questioned the legality of the center's eviction. "It's against the law," Troy said. "There's supposed to be a recycling center within a certain distance, but the law listens to money. Now I'm going to have to push my stuff down to Bayshore."
Christopher Lawson, who told us he was homeless, said he didn't know what he would do if the center were to close. "I don't know. I have no clue. This is guaranteed to get food in your belly. I've been doing this for two years. It's the only way you can survive."
The Hoodline notes that a mobile redemption plan is in the early stages of consideration at the Department of the Environment, as one option for people to recycle cans and bottles for a check, but plan won't be a reality in the near future.
Weekend Woof #81: Drunk Hunk, Berkeley Beef
Last night, after catching a screening of Derek Jarman's low-budget-and-proud-of-it queer erotic "Sebastiane" at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley, I took BART back to the city.
The young beefy inked dude boasted about being drunk and glad he wasn't driving a car. When I gave him up-and-down cruising, while hugging the woman he was with, he nodded a sign of being fine with my queer eye upon his bod. Be sure to mute the vid and avoid the loud train noises.
Once I stopped taping and snapping him, he looked me in the eye, grinned with a toothpick between his teeth and said thanks. Um, he's the one to thank for graciously allowing me to capture him for my blog.
This beefy fella works in customer service at the Berkeley Bowl on Oregon Street and I always find a reason to chat him up. Yesterday was the first time I grabbed a photo of him.
Say hello to the very handsome and friendly Cooper the next time you're in the Castro. He works at the Worn Out West shop on Market Street.
I see London, I see France, I see the color of your underpants and the big meat you've got swinging between your legs! Saw these guys on Pride Sunday as they marched up to the Castro in the early evening.
As I rode my bike past City Hall after the Pride celebration was over, I saw this furry faced sweetie and noticed he was carrying a paperback book in his meaty hand. Who goes to Pride with book? He does!
Thank goodness this young man wasn't troubled with chill as the sun set on Pride and his chest last weekend. Not a goose bump on him.
And how was your week for guy-watching?
Last night, after catching a screening of Derek Jarman's low-budget-and-proud-of-it queer erotic "Sebastiane" at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley, I took BART back to the city.
The young beefy inked dude boasted about being drunk and glad he wasn't driving a car. When I gave him up-and-down cruising, while hugging the woman he was with, he nodded a sign of being fine with my queer eye upon his bod. Be sure to mute the vid and avoid the loud train noises.
Once I stopped taping and snapping him, he looked me in the eye, grinned with a toothpick between his teeth and said thanks. Um, he's the one to thank for graciously allowing me to capture him for my blog.
This beefy fella works in customer service at the Berkeley Bowl on Oregon Street and I always find a reason to chat him up. Yesterday was the first time I grabbed a photo of him.
Say hello to the very handsome and friendly Cooper the next time you're in the Castro. He works at the Worn Out West shop on Market Street.
I see London, I see France, I see the color of your underpants and the big meat you've got swinging between your legs! Saw these guys on Pride Sunday as they marched up to the Castro in the early evening.
As I rode my bike past City Hall after the Pride celebration was over, I saw this furry faced sweetie and noticed he was carrying a paperback book in his meaty hand. Who goes to Pride with book? He does!
Thank goodness this young man wasn't troubled with chill as the sun set on Pride and his chest last weekend. Not a goose bump on him.
And how was your week for guy-watching?
Thursday, July 03, 2014
Save the Castro's Safeway Recycling Center
We've been informed that the incumbent District 8 Supervisor is calling for the closure of the recycling center located on a sliver of the Castro's Safeway property at Market and Duboce Street.
Our campaign fully endorses saving the recycling facility and keeping it open for the many homeless, working poor, LGBT and straight seniors and persons with AIDS who depend on it to bring in a few bucks. The incumbent reports that the center was supposed to shut down on Monday, June 30, pursuant to a court order and that the Sheriff's Department is responsible for executing that order at the direction of Safeway.
We rode by the center this afternoon and were gratified to see it's operating just fine. In this city, with an ever-expanding chasm between the rich and everyone else, every opportunity for the poor and low-income to have a funding stream must be maintained.
Let's save the Safeway recycling center for all users.
We've been informed that the incumbent District 8 Supervisor is calling for the closure of the recycling center located on a sliver of the Castro's Safeway property at Market and Duboce Street.
Our campaign fully endorses saving the recycling facility and keeping it open for the many homeless, working poor, LGBT and straight seniors and persons with AIDS who depend on it to bring in a few bucks. The incumbent reports that the center was supposed to shut down on Monday, June 30, pursuant to a court order and that the Sheriff's Department is responsible for executing that order at the direction of Safeway.
We rode by the center this afternoon and were gratified to see it's operating just fine. In this city, with an ever-expanding chasm between the rich and everyone else, every opportunity for the poor and low-income to have a funding stream must be maintained.
Let's save the Safeway recycling center for all users.
Wednesday, July 02, 2014
Muni, Clear Channel Power-Wash BART Plaza Bus Shelter
My efforts to make the 16th Street BART plazas more sanitary for all users of these public spaces continues to bear fruit.
After lodging a complaint on Monday with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, requesting immediate cleansing of the two bus shelters on 16th Street with disgusting pigeon poop crust on the tops and elsewhere, spokesman Paul Rose shared this info on Tuesday:
On Wednesday morning, I peddled over to the plazas to inspect the work by Clear Channel and found that indeed the north west Muni shelter was cleaned, but saw that the south east one was still in need of washing and I sent a followup note to Rose. He replied:
It will take vigilance on my part to make sure the SF MTA, Clear Channel, the Department of Public Works and the Department of Public Health all work diligently to maintain a high level of good sanitation in as much of the BART plazas as possible.
Let's take a moment to laud these entities for not only taking swift action to solve the public health hazards, but they've also put in writing to me their actions taken and planned.
If I eventually receive written communication from BART authorities or Supervisor David Campos' office about their actions to restore some cleanliness to the plazas, I'll share that info.
In the meantime, please support and donate to my campaign for District 8 Supervisor through my Facebook page and be sure to at minimum like the page.
My efforts to make the 16th Street BART plazas more sanitary for all users of these public spaces continues to bear fruit.
(Top of the NW shelter before I made my request.)
We have received your email. I can confirm the shelters have been power washed and cleaned today by Clear Channel. I will check on the traffic signals and get back to you tomorrow morning on that item. Thanks for the feedback.
(After I my complaint was lodged, the shelter roof was bird poop free.)
Clear Channel is going back out to ensure that those shelters are clean. Also, we plan to replace or clean the traffic signals by the end of next week. Thanks again.I am optimistic Clear Channel will get all of the bus shelters power-washed in another day or so, and it is good to learn that the SF MTA recognizes the street and traffic signs are so terribly streaked with pigeon poop caked on the surfaces that they may be taken down and new ones put up.
It will take vigilance on my part to make sure the SF MTA, Clear Channel, the Department of Public Works and the Department of Public Health all work diligently to maintain a high level of good sanitation in as much of the BART plazas as possible.
Let's take a moment to laud these entities for not only taking swift action to solve the public health hazards, but they've also put in writing to me their actions taken and planned.
If I eventually receive written communication from BART authorities or Supervisor David Campos' office about their actions to restore some cleanliness to the plazas, I'll share that info.
In the meantime, please support and donate to my campaign for District 8 Supervisor through my Facebook page and be sure to at minimum like the page.