Anyway, SFGov had some events where they’d give away a bunch of bags but I couldn’t figure out when/where on the official website so I didn’t tell you all about it.
And I’ll tell you, I’m already buying less stuff per shopping trip owing to the bag ban, but that’s just me. Pretty soon, I’ll remember to schlep around with more bags more better…
And I’ll tell you, I don’t want to know what neo-corporate logos are on the bags themselves, you know, paid for by the Chubb Group or whatehaveyou.
I think I’m saying no thanks to your worthless freebie shopping bags, SFGov.
I’ll tell you, those canceled protests are oftentimes more interesting than the ones that go forward…
Check it:
“Commercial Office Buildings Missing the Mark in San Francisco’s Efforts to Achieve Zero Waste
Labor, Environmental Leaders to Release Report Outlining How Commercial Office Buildings Can Achieve True Zero Waste by 2020
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – POSTPONED members the BlueGreen Alliance and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 87 will join with local labor, environmental and civic leaders to release and show support for the report
Making Zero Mean Zero: Waste Diversion in San Francisco’s Commercial Office Buildings.
Findings in the report reveal actions at some of the city’s commercial buildings are hampering the city’s efforts to achieve zero waste and the report outlines recommendations to achieving true zero waste by 2020 — a goal of the city.
The report was prepared by the BlueGreen Alliance — a national partnership of unions and environmental organizations representing 14 million members and supporters.
WHAT: Labor, environmental, and civic leaders call for commercial office buildings owners in San Francisco to reduce waste and increase recycling. The event will feature Spanish speakers. WHO: BlueGreen Alliance California Director Lisa Hoyos, SEIU Local 87 President Olga Miranda, SEIU Local 87 Members, Supervisor John Avalos (District 11), Interim Supervisor Christina Olague (District 5) WHEN: POSTPONED WHERE: In front of San Francisco City Hall”
And do I think that 10% of all trips in San Francisco will be made by bicycle by 2010? Oh, wait, we missed that one already – that got pushed back to 2020, when 20% of all trips made in San Francisco will be made by bicycle, for sure, like totally man, like guaranteed. (And then when that doesn’t happen, the new goal will be 30% of all trips made in San Francisco being made by bicycle by the year 2030.) Anyway, nope!
And now, do I think that all the commercial office buildings of San Francisco will produce “true zero waste” by 2020? Nope!
Anyway, don’t go to City Hall at 11:30 AM tomorrow cause nothing’ll be going on…
San Francisco resident Jon Sieker has a beef with AT&T.
See?
“You accidentally gave me a White and Yellow pages this year after I signed up to not receive either of them”
Here’s the proof:
Click to expand – via Jon Sieker
And here’s the note he just sent to Ma Bell, cause you see, Jon has Internet access:
“Dear AT&T,
2 years ago I was so disappointed by the waste that the Yellow and White pages caused, caring about my community and environment, I searched online for what I could do to minimize the waste. I was very happy to find your web site that allowed me to opt out and not receive a White Pages and Yellow pages to save on the waste. Thank you for providing this option as I have The Internet and don’t need a physical phone directory. The Internet gives me all of the information I need including your yellow pages site. I felt great to find and fill out the form that allowed me to NOT RECEIVE both yellow and white pages. I felt I was doing something to save the environment. Imagine my surprise when I was accidentally given both the yellow pages and white pages today.
Please let me know what I should do with the unwanted publications. It would be best if you came and picked them up from me and passed them on to some unfortunate soul with no internet.
As a side not, it would be great if your delivery agents didn’t litter my street and community with these unwanted relics from the past. I have photos of the litter if you are interested or don’t believe me. I would be happy to pass these photos on to you or any of the other organizations copied on this email.
Thank you for your help. I look forward to the solution you provide.”
(I don’t think car dealerships and oil change places will like this one bit.)
Anyway, CalRecycle is coming to town tomorrow to pay for free parking for motorists who pledge to increase their oil change intervals. (But don’t anybody tell StreetsBlog SF about the free parking reward – they won’t like that at all. Srsly.)
So, as he did with the Tom Otterness case, Mayor Lee is taking measures, as this late, late Friday afternoon press release shows:
“MAYOR LEE SUPPORTS SAFEGUARDING OPEN BAY VIEWS ALONG WATERFRONT DURING 34TH AMERICA’S CUP - Port of San Francisco & America’s Cup Event Authority Seek Approval from Bay Conservation & Development Commission for Revised Temporary Berthing Plan During America’s Cup Events
San Francisco, CA— Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced that the City, the Port of San Francisco and the America’s Cup Event Authority (Event Authority) reached an agreement on a revised plan for berthing America’s Cup spectator vessels along the waterfront that will safeguard San Francisco Bay views along the Embarcadero promenade. The Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) will need to approve the plan to temporarily accommodate vessels expected for the 34th America’s Cup events.
“We are working together with BCDC and the Event Authority to refine our plans, so that the America’s Cup special events enhance the waterfront in a way that balances the excitement of the races with the picturesque Bay views that are so important to our residents and visitors,” said Mayor Lee. “This temporary berthing proposal is another step in collaborating with our event partners and the residents of San Francisco to reach a consensus.”
The area is known under the San Francisco Waterfront Special Area Plan (SAP) as the Rincon Point Open Water Basin. The Port of San Francisco and the America’s Cup Event Authority are seeking approval from the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) to amend the SAP.
In discussing the concerns raised by BCDC and the public over the last several months with the Port, the City and the Event Authority, the space sought for the temporary docks for these private vessels has been reduced from the entire Rincon Point basin to an area that begins at the northern boundary of Rincon Park and stretches northward to Pier 14, leaving the area in front of the park unobstructed by vessels. To free up these open water views, the event partners identified additional berthing locations for these vessels along the Port’s waterfront, including at Pier 9, the water area north of Pier 14 and the water area between Piers 32 and 36 where the America’s Cup racing vessels will also be moored.
“Because our goal for the 34th America’s Cup is creating a great experience for those both on land and on the water, we really appreciate the opportunity we’ve had to hear directly from San Franciscans about what is important to them,” said Tom Huston, Chief Operating Officer of the Event Authority. “We are very pleased that our work with the City, the Port and BCDC has resulted in a proposal that will preserve waterfront views while enabling the City to benefit from the economic impact that comes with these vessels.”
These revised proposals reflect the City and the Event Authority’s commitment to listening to the concerns raised through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) comment process and other public meetings about balancing the event activities with the needs of San Francisco residents and the environment.
If the vessel berthing proposals for the Rincon Point Open Water Basin and the Brannan Street Open Water Basin between Piers 32 and 36 are approved and implemented, the terms of the City’s Host and Venue Agreement for the 34th America’s Cup provide the Event Authority with the right to negotiate for a future long-term lease for the development of recreational marinas at these locations.
Any long-term marina proposal of this kind would require further amendments to the SAP before any lease could become effective, and are not directly contemplated under the current proposal. Any further SAP amendments would require a separate public review and planning process for the City, Port and Event Authority working in concert with BCDC.
BCDC will consider the issuance of a brief descriptive notice for the SAP amendments relating to this temporary berthing plan at its public meeting on November 3, 2011.”
O.K. fine.
Larry Ellison giving the finger to the people of the City and County of San Francisco with one hand whilst steering his boat with the other:
Leland Yee Announces Exploratory Committee for Mayor
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, State Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) pulled papers to officially explore a run for mayor of San Francisco.
“I am honored by the support and encouragement I have received from my family and the residents of San Francisco to consider a run for mayor,” said Yee. “Today, we begin the process of asking San Franciscans what they want of their city government and their next mayor.”
“As someone who grew up in San Francisco, attended public schools, raised a family, and has been serving this city for over 20 years, I am excited about starting this new discussion,” said Yee. “I look forward to talking with voters from throughout the city about my record of getting things done and fighting for kids, working families, and greater government transparency.”
“We need experienced leadership that can bring us together as one community,” said Yee. “I want to see the Mayor work with, and not against the Board of Supervisors. The next mayor should partner with the school board, parents and teachers to improve our public schools. It is time we get back to basics, fix Muni, create jobs and continue to lead on important issues like the environment and human rights.”
For the past eight years, Yee has served San Francisco in the State Assembly and State Senate, where he has one of the best legislative track records. Among the 100 laws he has authored, Yee has brought greater transparency and accountability to government and has focused on issues surrounding children and schools, working families, the environment, mental health, domestic violence, civil rights, and consumers. He has also opposed all budget cuts to education and critical health and social services.
Prior to the State Legislature, Yee served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors where he created the largest rainy-day fund in the city’s history and passed the best government transparency and public access ordinance in the country. As a member of the San Francisco Board of Education, Yee reduced class sizes, increased access to school services, streamlined bureaucracy, and brought higher curriculum standards.
Yee immigrated to San Francisco at the age of 3. His father, a veteran, served in the US Army and the Merchant Marine. Yee is a graduate of the University of California – Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and City College of San Francisco, and holds a Ph.D. in Child Psychology. He and his wife, Maxine, have raised four children who all attended San Francisco public schools.
Former California State ControllerSteve Westly will participate in aat Union Square’s Marines Memorial Club and Hotel on Wednesday, March 10th at 4:00 PM.
The joint is going to be called “Where is My Green Job?” Tickets are still available and the price is right – they’re free.
“California Watch, a nonprofit and independent investigative reporting team, exposes injustice, waste, mismanagement, wrongdoing, questionable practices, and corruption so that those responsible can be held to account and so the public can be armed with the information needed to debate solutions and spark change.”
Supervisor Mar Introduces a Green Financing Program
Green Financing Program to help with energy and water retrofits for building owners
Supervisor Mar is working with Mayor Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Controller’s Office of Public Finance and the Department of the Environment to establish a program to allow San Franciscans to finance environmental improvements to the buildings they own. Today, Supervisor Mar introduced the first of a series of legislation to enable the green financing program.
“With almost half of San Francisco’s greenhouse gas emissions being produced by our homes and local buildings, this new green financing program will drastically curb San Francisco’s carbon footprint and reduce the strain on our regional water supply,” said Supervisor Eric Mar. “It will also help put San Franciscans to work through our growing green jobs academies and programs.”
This legislation will set up a Mello-Roos Special Tax District that would be available to finance privately–owned energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation improvements. The repayment obligationis attached to the property, rather than the individual, and is paid back through property taxes over the useful life of the improvements.
Currently, the largest barrier to building owners increasing their energy and water efficiency is the large up-front cost of improvements. Even with various government incentives and rebates, many home owners find it impossible to make energy or water efficiency improvements due to cost.
“It is my hope that many homeowners and building owners will opt into this great program and reap the benefits of lower utility and water bills while also helping our city achieve its ambitious climate action plan goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving water,” said Supervisor Eric Mar. “San Francisco will be the nation’s first large city to implement a program of this type,” said Mar.
This legislation is the first of a series of enabling pieces of legislation and Supervisor Mar will continue to work with community and environmental groups, the Mayor’s Office, Public Utilities Commission and other city departments to develop the green financing program.
