Posts Tagged ‘soma’

Heh: Rincon Hill Blogger Jamie Whitaker Pwns RPD Director Phil Ginsburg Using Math – And He Shows His Work

Monday, May 13th, 2013

Comes now the passionate and brusque Jamie Whitaker of Rincon Hill to totally pwn Recreation and Park Department Director and UC Hastings grad and Gavin Newsom lackey Phil Ginsburg.

“One issue that I am hopeful someone will take up is the claim by the Recreation and Parks Department’s Director Phil Ginsburg that “We want as much open space as possible, but we also need to have a way to care for it.” That was his quote in reference to why the City’s Recreation and Parks Department is unwilling to accept the donation of the park built in front of the new Rincon Green Apartments at 333 Harrison Street. Read the article here (hopefully, the shared full article will appear: http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Creating-new-park-no-picnic-for-broke-city-4490422.php?t=27ec6d327d3f99889e

“This is a lie from Phil Ginsburg and it should infuriate everyone who lives in the Rincon neighborhood or nearby.  Why do I say it is a lie?”

Read the rest of this over at Rincon Hilla san francisco neighborhood blog.”

Hey, speaking of Gavin Newsom lackey Phil Ginsburg, a few years back he had a total boner for this nearby project at Justin Herman and yet NOBODY HAS EVER USED IT EXCEPT FOR OCCUPY SF FOR A FEW MONTHS.

Gavin Newsom lackey Phil Ginsburg must be aware, I mean he’s not stupid, that this bocce thing was/is a big fat waste, but he’s afraid to acknowledge this because then he’d have to get a job in the real world.

Oh well…

Golden State Warriors Modify Semi-Publicly-Financed Arena Proposal – Say Hello To My Little Friend!

Sunday, May 5th, 2013

Well the announcement is officially coming this AM, but Messrs. Matier und Ross already have the skivvy on the brand-new, slightly-more-NIMBY-friendly proposal.

And, here, check the latest illustrations.

From the former proposal, a silvery looming UFO with kayak access…

…to the new proposal, a slightly lower silvery looming UFO without kayak access:

So Warriors, take that 13% rate down to 3% and then you might have something, you might have a privately-financed stadium deal.

Now let’s review our waterfront proposals.

The America’s Cup deal was poorly-negotiated on purpose so we could pay for Larry Ellison’s ego trip. It’s an ongoing travesty.

And 8 Washington is corruption.

But this here arena proposal seems OK fine to me, more or less.

I’ll now invite the rich, property-owning NIMBYs of SoMA to move to Fairfield, where 15% of the houses are in foreclosure.

Comparaison du Corps Diplomatique: License Plates – China vs. Taiwan – Can You Spot the Pariah Nation?

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

Up first, spotted skulking about the Western Addition, which certainly would make sense, comes the whip of the Pariah Nation, North Korea’s BFF. Check out the cutesy numbers and letters on the quasi-Fed-issued consul license plate.

Click to expand

(And, ironically, the car is the flagship model of the world-famous Tahara Plant, the finest car factory in the world since the 1980′s. Thomas L. Firedman still has a total boner for it.- he took the tour and got the T-shirt. My ride was made there well, AAMOF. Actually, I passed through there just last month, you know, on bidness. That’s the country that got all invadey starting about a century ago ’til about seven decades ago. Hey, who’s invading Filipino islands these days? I’ll give you just one guess! Ooh, my ride had a cheesy SERRAMONTE license plate holder as well. But I didn’t even buy my car there, so WTF was that for, who told you to put that thing on? Not just plastic bolts, metal. I couldn’t get them off myself so they had to do it for me. But while I was down there one time, I told the extreeeeeemely cute front line sales rep that she ought to sue for harassment if what I saw and heard was routine. Guess what – she got together with her friends and took action by hiring some law firm/lawyer and ended up getting a ton of money from the dealership group. I’ll tell you about it sometime. Oh and that’s the same dealership where bay area favorite son Tom Hanks got a nice SUV, also from Tahara, also the best in the world, about a half-decade back. I’ll tell you about that sometime too. But I digress…)

Up next comes Taiwan. Poor Taiwan! See that, “FOREIGN ORGANIZATION,” like it’s not even a country.

That’s some fucked up shit right there.

Check it:

Foreign Organization Special License Plates

5006.5. (a) The department may issue, for a fee determined by the department to be sufficient to reimburse the department for actual costs incurred pursuant to this section, distinctive license plates for motor vehicles owned or leased by an officer or a designated employee of a foreign organization recognized by the United States pursuant to the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. Sec. 3301 et seq.) when the department is otherwise satisfied that the issuance of the license plates is in order.

(b) The distinctive license plates shall be designed by the department and shall contain the words “Foreign Organization.”

(c) The department shall establish procedures for both of the following:

(1) To verify the eligibility of an applicant for plates issued pursuant to this section.

(2) To authorize a recognized foreign organization to apply on behalf of its officers for plates issued pursuant to this section.

Added Ch. 397, Stats. 1994. Effective January 1, 1995.”

On It Goes.

(more…)

Packt Like Sardines: How Many Cars Can You Put Into Just One San Francisco Parking Lot?

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

Well, at least for this particularly oddly-shaped piece of real estate on Main Street near Folsom, the answer was this many:

img_9020-copy.jpg

“Last in, first out.” Click to expand.

I don’t know if this lot in SoMA is still around. The photo was taken from the office of a billionaire who was quite solicitous owing to a project he wanted to kick off before he himself kicked off.

Here’s what I wrote a half decade back:

It might be a pain to park here, under the shadow of the new Infinity San Francisco towers, but at least you won’t get the boot, or get into a chain reaction accident, or get all messy. Of course, if you work for San Francisco Honda, then just park wherever - the sidewalk, for example.

Lastly, DO NOT PAY THIS MAN!

Hey, Look Who Supports the Golden State Warriors Waterfront Arena Plan: All These People – Today’s Big Rally

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

Well I suppose if the San Francisco Establishment wanted to claim that it had support “across the spectrum” for the arena deal, they’d have Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Aaron Peskin and a whole bunch of San Francisco Giants baseball players up there with them on the steps of City Hall today.

But this group will have to do.

All the deets:

“GROUP OF SAN FRANCISCANS TO LAUNCH NEW ORGANIZATION AND EFFORT TODAY SUPPORTING GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS’ WATERFRONT ARENA PLAN - Group consists of community leaders, Warriors fans, business, labor, entertainment industry representatives, and residents from across the Bay Area - Supporters plan to be out in force supporting the waterfront plan at public meetings, neighborhood events and community festivals

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A group of enthusiastic San Franciscans from across the spectrum plans to launch a new organization today supporting the Golden State Warriors’ proposed waterfront arena plan. The group consists of community leaders, Warriors fans, representatives from the business and labor community, entertainment industry representatives and residents from across the city and the Bay Area.

The group has secured a diverse mix of local leaders to serve as the co-chairs for the effort, including:

Honorary Co-Chairs

Chris Mullin, Former Golden State Warriors player

Jim Wunderman, President & CEO, Bay Area Council*

Carmen Policy, Former NFL executive and San Francisco 49ers Team President

Community Co-Chairs

Jim Lazarus, Senior Vice President, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce*

Katherine Webster, President, South Beach-Mission Bay Merchants Association*

Shamann Walton, Executive Director, Young Community Developers*

Dr. Joseph Marshall, Founder, Omega Boys Club*

Members of the newly formed group plan to be out in force over the next several months supporting the arena project at public meetings and hearings, neighborhood events and community festivals.

The group is also planning to hold playoffs viewing parties across San Francisco to cheer on the team as they make a run for an NBA championship.

Who: More than 100 supporters are expected, including:

Adonal Foyle, Former Golden State Warriors player

Carmen Policy, Former NFL executive and San Francisco 49ers Team President

Jim Lazarus, Senior Vice President, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Joseph Marshall, Founder, Omega Boys Club

Janet Clyde, Owner of Vesuvio’s

Tom O’Connor, President, San Francisco Firefighters Local 798

Bob Graham, Supportive neighbor

Shamann Walton, Executive Director, Young Community Developers

What: Diverse group of San Franciscans to launch new organization and effort supporting the Golden State Warriors’ waterfront arena project

When: Today, Tuesday, April 16, 2013 12:00-1:00pm

Where: City Hall Steps, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk St. steps between Grove and McAllister Streets)”

Mid-Market Skeleton Key: Your 24″ Drop-Forged Bolt Cutter – A Mystery at Little Cafe, 6th and Market in the Twitterloin

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

Little Cafe, 995 Market, heart of the corrupt Twitterloin:

It’s go time:

Click to expand

Learning From Japan, 2013: Homeless People Who _Use_ Bicycles Instead of Homeless People Who Steal Bicycles

Monday, April 8th, 2013

Homeless encampment, major Japanese city, city center, down by the river:

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Note the bicycle parking area.

Cf. San Francisco homeless encampment, under Interstate I-80, Mile Zero:

Note identical blue tarps as in Japan, sourced from, for all I know, the same factory in China.

One group uses bikes to get around, like to work ‘n stuff.

The other will strip your bike of any parts not superglued on in a New York Minute, as soon as your back is turned.

Which group do you prefer?

Photographic Evidence of Official San Francisco Corruption: Free Parking for SFGov Employees Attending Giants Games

Monday, April 8th, 2013

I didn’t take these photos, but I’ll tell you, I’ve seen a lot of corruption regarding free parking for SFGov employees in the SoMA area, so I believe them.

Here’s a photo essay with captions from Jim, who went on a walkabout yesterday.

Take a look:

“There are the People who pay up front to park in a lot, $25-$70. There are the people who feed meters but many of those wind up paying $72 to the City long after the last pitch. And there are those who play the system and possibly cheat and pay nothing for parking in a “red zone” with the help from “winking and nodding” SFMTA Parking Control Officers.

All these photos were taken within a 50 foot circle near 2nd & Townsend at 2:15 P.M. on Sunday April 7, 2013 during the Giants/St. Louis Baseball game.

1) Number 1 shows what the average slug must pay for parking for the Giant’s game at 2 in the afternoon, i.e. $70.

,

2) Number 2 shows a Handicapped placard vehicle getting free Giants game parking in the “red zone” of the SFFD at Second & Townsend. Handicapped placard holders may not park in “red zones.”

3) What appears to be several private vehicles of S.F. firefighters parked in the “red zone” claiming to be working by their Official Papers on the Dash. Is it mere code for “don’t ticket a fellow City employee?”

4) Several motorcycles getting ticketed (TC27, 219) for expired meters by the PCO who just drove by the “red zones” without seeing cause to stop.

5) Photo of SFFD Headquarters at 9:30 A.M., Sunday April 7, 2013 in case you think a lot of people work there on a Sunday.

 

Open-Air Bicycle Chop Shop – In SoMA Between the Interstate and Costco – Your Stolen Bike is Fenced and Parted Out

Friday, March 15th, 2013

They keep their inventory in the four giant tents you can see on this particular block of Division

And their vans, always with the vans.

In fact, these guys are just like the A-Team. You’ve got Mad Dog Murdock on the left there, building away, and there’s B. A. Baracus there on the right with his reverse Mohawk. And Hannibal and Faceman are out cruising in the van looking for more bikes:

Click to expand

Anyway, your bike has been disassembled and its parts have been put on other bikes for sale on Craigslist or at Laney College in OakTown.

Sorry.

The See-Through Skyscrapers of South of Market – Now Our PacBell Building Looks EVEN MORE Like It Belongs in Detroit

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

First, our PacBell Building in SoMA was all like this.

Then is was all like this.

Now it’s all like this, so you can see through entire floors.

Say hello to the higher floors of a totally gutted building:

Click to expand

If only San Francisco were the Innovation Capital of the World or something, then we wouldn’t have a bunch of empty buildings sitting around for years and decades.

On It Goes…