One year ago:  Our September, 2016 meeting focused on Panhandle Improvements and on local ballot measures for the November, 2016 elections.  The pedestrian path still had not yet been re-paved.  Ann Baskerville has since been replaced as project manager for the Panhandle Improvement Project by Melinda Stockman.  Although in many ways the election was a disaster, the Haight-Ashbury voted with HANC’s recommendations.  September, 2016 also saw the beginning of construction on Masonic Avenue.

Five years ago:  Once again, in September, 2012, we were preparing for an election.  HANC was a co-sponsor of the District 5 Supervisor candidate debate.  HANC advocated for Proposition C (Housing Trust Fund) and for Proposition E (Gross Receipts Business Tax), which both passed.  We reported on the failure of 2010’s Sit-Lie law.  We were still operating our recycling center, native plant nursery, and community garden.

By Bruce Wolfe, HANC President

Maybe third time’s the charm.  Fiber optics is an old technology that will outlive many of us as a stable and sustainable medium.  In the ‘80s, I personally explored it in car audio installations in one of my first of many businesses. You’ve heard me over the years reporting about it at membership meetings.

This month we heard and testified in support of a launch to once again attempt to bring San Francisco into the 21st century as a Gigabit City.  It was introduced by D2 Supervisor Mark Farrell.

In 2004, HANC joined with other community and environmental groups to form SF Clean Energy Advocates in what started the statewide struggle to implement Community Choice Energy with then Supervisor Tom Ammiano and other SF Supervisors.  This bold effort to overcome the big utility giant, PG&E, brought us to where we are today—in full embrace of the program CleanPowerSF.  Now more than ever, Community Choice Energy programs in every corner of California are bringing cleaner, cheaper and new renewable energy generation in a much needed time of climate and economic change.

By Rupert Clayton, HANC Board

At our member meeting on Thursday, July 12, HANC members had many questions for the people working on two major projects in our neighborhood parks. Staff from the city’s Rec and Parks Department presented and answered questions on the Panhandle Playground Project and the Stanyan Street Edge Project.

The Panhandle Playground Project aims to rebuild the children’s playground at Oak and Ashbury, at a cost of $3.2 million. This site is one of 13 playgrounds that will be renovated under the Let’sPlaySF! joint venture between RPD and the Parks Alliance, with the bulk of the funding from the 2012 Parks Bond. The meeting heard from Lisa Bransten, RPD’s director of partnerships, and Parks Alliance CEO Drew Becher.

By James Sword, HANC Board

San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (RPD) has banned sand. After following this policy secretly for an unknown amount of time, it has finally become public. The ban of sand was not stated during either of two public meetings held about the Panhandle Playground (PP), and was only brought to light when specifically asked about by members of HANC.  Through various email conversations with RPD, the reason for a sand ban has changed from accessibility, to maintenance, and finally RPD settled on safety.

Through media outlets, a RPD spokesperson clarified “safety” concerns why  sand is banned as cat feces, needles, and glass (maintenance).  According to Lenore Skenazy, author, blogger and star of TV show “World’s Worst Mom,” the fear that cats are using America’s playgrounds as litter boxes is an urban myth.  As a regular PP visitor over the last 3 years, I have found broken glass once, and never a needle or poop.

By Richard Ivanhoe, HANC Board

When we announced our June meeting in the HANC Voice, we said there might be some surprises.  There were.

Each of our panel members contributed.  Stan Flouride shared neighborhood newspapers from the era.  Holly Harman told us that the original Merry Pranksters’ bus, Furthur, was buried at the Happy Holidays commune.  Diamond Dave Whitaker reminded us that the spirit of the 60’s – cooperation, awareness, caring – is still important and still with us.  Arthur Round spoke of his apprenticeship and abrupt promotion at the Oracle , the colored ink and scents poured from ketchup bottles, and the time he counted 350 (weeknight) / 500 (weekend) sleeping in one house.

By Tes Welborn, HANC Board

“San Francisco wound up with a sweeping new affordable housing policy . . . one that will encourage the demolition of some existing low-rise commercial buildings housing neighborhood businesses, increase density in many parts of town, and set affordability levels lower than what the voters approved last year but higher than what some supervisors wanted. It’s a compromise that is going to shape housing policy for the immediate future – and is aimed overall at encouraging somewhere around 30,000 new housing units without any discussion of how the city will pay for the infrastructure to support them,” said Tim Redmond.

  1. Remembering Wayne Chan - Born March 16, 1961 - Died June 14, 2017
  2. Haight Ashbury Street Fair June 11
  3. May HANC Meeting Recap: Healthcare at a Crossroads
  4. Recology and Muni Rate Increases Coming
  5. Proposal for New Neighborhood Parklet
  6. April 2017 HANC Membership Meeting Report

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