of the public had the courage to come out and state their concerns for the working people's neighborhood. these are people that work. they have been here. they put their heart and soul into this community and this city. i do not think we can ignore the fears that they have. i think it is important to look at each individual and see and take into consideration each individual that lives there. i look forward to further conversations on this. >> i will reiterate what my fellow commissioners said. thank you all for your time and for being here this evening. i want to pick up on the theme that commissioner sugaya brought

about in local and organize. it is very important. we have our meetings. they are televised. you can send e-mail set any time. you can also come and participate in the process. i know there will be several more hearings on parkmerced. it will be very important that we hear from you and your supervisor hear from you. if a tree falls and no one hears it, does it make a sound? it is the classic phrase. people always ask. we know that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. i am not saying that is the right way that things are. if people are not vocal or out there, people do not know really what is going on. it is important your supervisor knows how you feel about this. it is important that you come to a place -- it is really important to figure out what is acceptable. is there anything that is

acceptable? i think it is really important to think about. we always look for how we can craft the best opportunity for the city and community. we all know that you live here. you are passionate about it. i cannot imagine a by lived somewhere for 50 years and had faced not being in the same place i had been in my whole life. i cannot imagine how that would feel. i think it is really important that we bring all this together to figure out how we create the parkmerced of the future that allows the working class people, the people who have boys lived here and enjoy the community for what it is, to also be able to embrace some degree of newness as well to create a community that is best for everyone. that is what it is all about. we have to figure out how we can together kraft the best opportunity that supports your lives and also supports the city overall. none of us have figured out

where we are on the project. we're learning about it as it is evolving and unfolding. we are answering and asking the same questions that you are about all the different elements of the plan. that is related to housing, rent control, everything. nothing is on or off the table at this point. everybody is listening to everything as it unfolds and try to figure out how we do the best work we can for you to make this city the best place it can be. i want to say that it is really important to be active and vocal. being constructive is another important element of things. sometimes that gets lost in the debate of things. we all know that at some level and at some degree, there will always be change and progress. the thing is to be part of that in a way that is positive for all of us. that is the thing i would add. i hope he will check out our planning web site.

you can see our calendars. it has the items there. you can also download any sort of agenda items. you can also send something to the secretary. all the information is there. i encourage you to be active participants in making your community better. >> before we adjourn, if i may, there was a side remark earlier when the material was submitted about whether we read it. yes, we do. we really do. any emails that you send to the commission go to our secretary. she instantly forwards them to all of us. they get an hour in box immediately. all of that material is taken into consideration. we do not just set it aside. it is our obligation as commissioners for san francisco

and for u.s. citizens to do that. -- and for you, as citizens, to do that. those who send emails and did not show up at public testimony, we hear from everybody. it is not just the developers whose presentation we hear. it is not only the staff and gives us there learned opinion. -- their learned opinions based on the codes and what they do. it all comes into consideration. i do not want anyone to think that we ignore it because we do not. >> mr. president, could i have one last word? following up on that comment, i may be accused of not listening to testimony. but i did go through one document handed to us by pauley marshall. she was the person who identified herself as a commissioner from the rent board

but was not speaking on behalf of the rent board. she did present a fairly lengthy opinion with respect to the development agreement and her viewpoint coming from the rent board. it is quite compelling. i think we need to have city attorneys take a look at this. i would like to especially have the attorneys who staff the report at a hearing where we can ask some questions raised in this document. [applause] i frankly do not have the city attorney's offices staffed the various departments of boards. i do not think our land use staff are the same attorneys that staff the rent board. i just found a compelling. i am sorry i did not listen to everybody. we did read the material. i did read the material.

>> commissioner moore? >> we do not just listen to people in the neighborhood. you are perfectly able to bring in friends and experts and people whose opinions you trust. the sierra club was speaking tonight. several other people who represent other aspects of community planning, even other neighborhoods came. this is what to of like to encourage you to do. ultimately, it is a larger voice than just the people who live here to rally around issues of common concern. >> director? >> thank you, commissioners. to cover some logistics, there is a hearing scheduled next week on this item. it was scheduled for your calendar at the end of the day. the initial -- the purpose of

next week's hearing had been scheduled for initiation of the project. obviously, you have asked for us to cover the topics today that were not presented today that were the specifics of the housing and transportation. i need to redo the staff needs to know to prepare and we need to get an agenda out tomorrow. i need to know if your preference is to cover those items next week along with initiation or if you want to cover just one of the items. i just need some direction on how you want to proceed on that. >> it is hard for me to speak for the entire commission. some may disagree with me. i would think we should attempt to cover those two items next week. we may have to put off initiation. we can put it on the calendar, but it may be continued. >> i believe that is a wise direction. i would strongly support you.

initiation at this moment with a number of unresolved issues -- i think there will be more questions coming from the commission on particular aspects that i feel have not been touched on. i think that is the perfect lead in into working on the project in more depth. >> as long as it has been scheduled, leave it there with the thought that it may be continued. >> we will be prepared to present the two topics that were on tonight and leave the possibility for initiation on there. >> i am agreeable with that. we have had correspondence in regards to and have had presentations on both of the issues in previous hearings. we need to do it in more depth. they will answer many of the questions raised tonight. we sort of got the comments before we have the presentation. i think that would be very good. those of you who have concerns should come next week to hear the presentations with regards to these two issues.

>> thank you, everybody. [gavel pounds] ♪

>> welcome to culture wire. the arabs don't possible has bringing you the best of the arab film to the bay area. this year's festival is no exception.

consider the most important arab film festival outside of the arab world, the festival offers a rare window to the arab world and its diverse community. featuring 24 films from over 18 countries, it is also one of the only four runs that showcases new works by established and emerging arab filmmakers. the possible films in four cities. in addition, the festival organizers a film series for high-school students free of charge. this year's lineup offers something for everyone, including shorts, documentary's, comedies, and dramas. >> [speaking arabic]

the mission of the arab film festival, since it its inception in 1996, and it came about -- members of our community realized there was stereotyping of arabs in the media, and they wanted to change that proactively. they wanted to use the power of film to bring in the stories, to bring in authentic images and narratives of the arab world, here to american audiences, in order to fight the negative stereotyping, and to introduce the positive, authentic images to america, which iraq california, -- throughout california, a teasing

familiarity, establishing harmony between our communities. the selection this year it is really a good selection. it is perverse, comes from more than 18 countries. it has a bit of everything for everyone. -- it is diverse, comes from more than 18 countries. there are shorts, and from us, comedies, you name it. this year, the film festival takes place in the castro. there is a comedy film from nigeria that is pretty hilarious. you can get to know arabs threw their laughing as well.

[speaking in foreign language] >> when you come to see all the diversity, nationality, ethnic, skin color, dialect, anything that you can think of, that world is very rich in diversity. we are trying to represent that diversity so people can see the different parts of the arab world. [speaking in arabic] >> people should participate in the festival because of the benefits they can get. first, the educational benefit of learning about the stories of the arab world. diverse stories. people in the united states sometimes think of the arab

world as a lump sum. what is good about the arab film festival is the also have a festival for the school's program, which we have films where we invite free of charge, i schoolers to come and attend. every year, high schoolers to go out really with a good experience, attending and watching these films. the arab film festival is not only about the festival in october. we also have year-round programs. check out the film festival to run the year, not just in the fall. -- throughout the year, not just in the fall. the best thing that somebody can take away from the arab on festival is the arab cinema is talent. it is beautiful. the stories have that they

represent are good stories, beautiful stories. also, the art form is beautiful and well made. >> for a complete film schedule and to learn more about the arab film festival, visit