inside the columns is an ideal place to walk around with your loved one. the palace of fine arts is the most popular location in the city arts system. reservations for weddings and other events a >> in january everything changes. all of san francisco's parking meters will now be enforced 7 days a week. feeding the meter 7 days a week reduces parking demand in commercial corridors and for most faster turn over of the parking spaces. the muni system has improved for sunday. learn more about 7 day meters at sfmta.com. take pictures of the view of the city that you soon went forgot. our first look out and at buena vista park san francisco heavily forested hill with couples and doing walkers it's as old as

the near neighbor golden gate park and both have a coast live oak forest and fresh in retreat from urban life and meanders under a canopy of oaks yup lipid u.s. and chill out in this pleasant and quiet environment and you might see butter nice, and dandelion and is squirrels hundred dollaring for their next meal and buena vista park is 88

>> 7 and a half million renovation is part of the clean and safe neighbor's park fund which was on the ballot four years ago and look at how that public investment has transformed our neighborhood. >> the playground is unique in that it serves a number of age groups, unlike many of the other properties, it serves small children with the children's play grounds and clubhouses that has basketball courts, it has an outdoor soccer field and so there were a lot of people that came to the table that had their wish list and we did our best to make sure that we kind of

divided up spaces and made sure that we kept the old features of the playground but we were able to enhance all of those features. >> the playground and the soccer field and the tennis fields and it is such a key part of this neighborhood. >> we want kids to be here. we want families to be here and we want people to have athletic opportunities. >> we are given a real responsibility to insure that the public's money is used appropriately and that something really special comes of these projects.

we generally have about an opportunity every 50 years to redo these spaces. and it is really, really rewarding to see children and families benefit, you know, from the change of culture, at each one of these properties >> and as a result of, what you see behind us, more kids are playing on our soccer fields than ever before. we have more girls playing sports than we have ever had before. [ applause ] fp >> and we are sending a strong message that san francisco families are welcome and we want you to stay. >> this park is open. ♪

>> hey, guys, known a with the weekly. much to do and much to see. here the top activities at the top of my list. this tuesday, january 15th, the sf main library will feature free film night and reception and celebrate 2013. join itbs for viewing soul food junkieses, history and cultural significance of soul food, black cultural identity. across the street from the library at grove street. after movie might, learn about the 21st sea lion anniversary. this thursday through next monday, pier 39 will feature sea lion experts and celebration of 23rd anniversary of their arrival. become sea lion savvy and learn about marine life and state conservation on sea lay i don't know encounter. need to shed holiday pounds or want to bike ride? great. this saturday you're invited to

bicycle with the san francisco midnight mystery ride as they set out to a new mystery location in sf. where to meet, post their locationses on the website and facebook page to answer. only the ride leader knows where they're going so bring your sense of adventure. rides are generally around five miles and all levels of cyclists are welcome. and that's the weekly buzz. for more information about any of these events visit us at sf grouch tv.or >> everyone deserves a bank account. in san francisco, anyone can have a bank account, things to an innovative program, bank on s.f. >> everyone is welcome, even if you are not a citizen or have bad credit to qualify for a bank account is simple. just live or work in san francisco and have a form of id.

>> we started bank on s.f. six years ago to reach out to folks in the city who do not have a bank account. we wanted to make sure they know they have options which should be more low-cost, more successful to them and using chat catchers. >> check cashing stores can be found all over the city, but they're convenient locations come with a hidden price. >> these are big. >> i remember coming in to collect -- charged a fee to collect a monogram. >> people who use check catchers, particularly those who use them to cash their paychecks all year long, they can pay hundreds, even a thousand dollars a year just in fees to get access to their pay. >> i do not have that kind of money. >> i would not have to pay it if i had a bank account.

>> bank accounts are essential. they keep your money saved and that helps save for the future. most banks require information that may limit its pool of qualified applicants. encouraging to turn to costly and unsafe check captures. >> i do not feel safe carrying the money order that i get home. >> without a bank account, you are more vulnerable to loss, robbery, or theft. thankfully, the program was designed to meet the needs of every kind, so qualifying for a bank account is no longer a problem. even if you have had problems with an account in the past, have never had an account, or are not a u.s. citizen, bank on s.f. makes it easy for you to have an account. >> many people do not have a bank account because they might be in the check system, which means they had an account in the

past but had problems managing it and it was closed. that gives them no option but to go to a cash -- check catcher for up to seven years. you want to give these people second chance. >> to find account best for you, follow these three easy steps. first, find a participating bank or credit union. call 211 or call one of our partner banks or credit unions and ask about the bank on s.f. account. both -- most bridges will have a sign in their window. second, ask about opening an account through bank on s.f.. a financial partner will guide you through this process and connect you with the account that is best for you. third, bring some form of identification. the california id, for an id, or your passport is fine. >> now you have open your account. simple? that is exactly why it was designed. you can access your account

online, set up direct deposit, and make transfers. it is a real bank account. >> it is very exciting. we see people opening up second accounts. a lot of these people never had account before. people who have problems with bank accounts, people without two ids, no minimum deposit. we are excited to have these people. >> it has been a great partnership with bank on s.f. because we are able to offer checking, savings, minimarkets, certificates, and loans to people who might not be about to get accounts anywhere else. even if you have had a previous account at another financial institutions, we can still open an account for you, so you do not need to go to a check cashing place, which may turn to two percent of your monthly income. >> you can enroll in free educational services online. just as it -- visit

sfsmartmoney.org. with services like financial education classes and one-on-one meetings with advisers, asset smart money network makes it easy for you to learn all you need to know about managing, saving, investing, and protecting your money. the network offers access to hundreds of financial aid programs. to help their eruptions, fill out the quick questionnaire, and you will be steered to the program you are looking for. >> who want to make sure everyone has the chance to manage their money successfully, keep their money safe, and avoid getting ripped off. >> it sounds very good. i think people should try that one. >> to find out more, visit sfsmartmoney.org or call 211 and ask about the bank on s.f. program. >> now you can have a bank

account. open one today. >> happy holidays to everybody. great. good morning everybody. happy holidays. we are here today to announce the launch of a three-month state wide out woach check 'n go borrower who may be entitled to significant restitution and charge and fees they paid on their loans this program is among the terms of an agreement that my office that this offs nailed in 2000 search.

that lawsuit charges check and do with a represent a bank scheme which skewed the annual interest rate of 36ers and in fact chex and go carry rates as high judge 400%. our cement requires check 'n go requires them to refunder 4.3 also million dollars but it only requires a recent effort to notify borrowers and it requires effort to locate borrowers and some may have moved and may ignore a letter from an claims administrator and that is impr-this outreach is so important and why we intend to work with community partners and leaders to make this three-month thrive drive a success. now i'm very happy to be joined by a

number of our community partners many of who cut short their holds plans to be here and i'll heap heap they are here today and i'll introns them in a moment but first the basic facts of the program and jibtd. all of the details are available on the website cal loan reyou fund.org. the claims period runs for 90 days. beginning tomorrow, the december the 28, through march the 28. completed forms must be post marked by the final date march 28 for the restitution this a place to california resident consumers only. and those that obtained installation loans from check 'n go between 2006 and june 2008. sites include f d b e l.com and

command loans.com. refunds are expect today range from a minimum of $20 to friction hundred dollars per valid claim. the claim form and all of the information that you would wanted in this program is available online at cal loan refund.organize. which hope the out roach efforts we are launching today for check 'n go matches the success we saw earlier this year with loan marred we settle and they are the same in partnership with many of the leaders today. we helped secure five-point pieive million dollars in refund for money mart barrowers reis city institution in that case averaged $500 per claim and are more than 800 claims were filed and it was a tremendous success

and we hope hope i check 'n go effort is just as successful. to maximize rest city tiges for every borrower who is involved. i would like to introduce a partner in our effort in the money mart case is michael the executive director of the san francisco interface counsel and michael treive vairian who's representing from the office fnltd empowerment and kristinee the california reinvestment corporation and laurel pew ma'am mack from californiafirst five and the mission economic development agency and finally, johnathan sagaa chose were the commission economic development agency i can't tell you how important it is that this be a

coordinated effort as many of you may be familiar in the money mart settlement we traveled you will and upand down the sate press confrontation in sacramento and reached ow to bars throughout the state of california to achieve an unprecedented level of success for a predatory lending effort and we would not have been able do that without the corporation of elected throughout the state and community leaders as well and we are hopeful that this will be a template for what wedo in this case and that we get a similar level of success to make sure had a money goes back to the people who are victim iressed and that they get the restitution that they deserve and i would like to introduce michael papist from the enter face-to-face 98 counsel because he was a big part in making sure we got our effort out to the 98 community and to make sure that

borrowers who were vimsed got the restitution they deserved and we are happy he is cooperating in our effort for the next 90 days. >> p oop pennsylvania a s.-the san francisco enter fate counsel is absolutely indebted if you will forgive the pun to his city treasure her heira in this suspicious when this program started. we believe that the victims of predatory lending are sill the in in our pews and we work with faith-based organization to provide the safety yet and net and we are here today to commit ourselves again to the good work that dennis is doing and in the past, we have used our technology

network to reach out to the congregations and in turn, they are letting their congregg gant know, we are here, we are concerned and we are committed partners. >> thank you and once again that you to all of the community representatives here and treasurer jose sises narrows [spelling?] has been a wonderful partner and the bank on san francisco program is a great gram and gives some of our most vulnerable another place to go it a responsible lending program which helps folks get the assistance they need and deserve so so thank you very much for being here and i'm happy to take any questions that you may have.

[inaudible] >> instructor: in general, let me just -- in you find that pay day lending operations, oftentimes focus in some of our economically vulnerable communities to take advantage of those individuals who might not think they have any alternative but go to a pay day lending operation that to a have lending needs met. san francisco is actually has some of the highest density of pay day lenders in the country and two largest operation are monday mart loan mart and check 'n go and they are the two largest pay day lending operation in the country and they have locations up and down the west coast, seattle is a very densely populated with pay day lending populations san francisco is as well but there are hot spots throughout the

state of california where pay day lenders trying los angeles, valley. the fresno. and unfortunately, many times pay day lending operations take advantage of those economically vulnerable who think that they don't have another alternative evaporation sable it them and in these very tough economic times we know that some families are living pay check to pay check and oftentimes they are working poor and they are individuals who are under employed or under employed pa they depend on that pay check every week to nurse their families and so in very difficult economic times mayday lending operations thrive and they take advantage dispawnts now there are some that play by the rules but in this circumstances we found that check 'n go was not playing by the rules and adhering to california's interest rates limits and we are partnering with a bank to get around those

limit and is so san francisco is a hot spot, central valley and we are going to work with focuses throughout the state to make sure that folks get the restitutions that they deserve and that is why it's so important that we partner with focus up and down the state and now by example.ion hundred. there ended up beingion hundred valid claims that were paid in terms of people that were vimsed in the thousand and is so it's very important that we debate the word ow to make sure we get as many people to respond as much as possible to get the rest restitution that they deserve. >> so can you explain what check 'n go did wrong that was a violation of the rules or law or what are they doing now that will be different, well they partnered with an outof state bank to seasonally say that we are no longer subject to the

limits and 36 apr that is set in article california law and they partnered with an out-of-state bank and said, we are subject to federal segregation gleyings and is think charged an apr of four 100% and so they have agreed to abide by california's limits they have discontinued that relationship with the out-of-state bank and as they also have established this settlement fund to repay eligible bars to get restitution until the amounts that i described. so if you go door loan do you have a comparison to give us an idea. average income or middle income do you have a concrete example of something like that to put dollars and cents of how much