i am a native san franciscan and have been a resident of district 2 for 27 years. thank you for allowing me the opportunity to express my support for the appointment of carol kingsley to serve on the san francisco police commission. i first met carol kingsley in 1981, where she and my wife were receiving their j.d. degrees. she met and married jack berman, a successful attorney. due to the tragic death of her husband, carol became a single mother when her son was 18 months old. she carefully reorganized her life to balance work with the responsibility of raising her son. in 1999, carol began what continues to be a successful mediation practice. carol and zack have become part of our extended family and i have had the opportunity to observe the way where carol nurtured and molded her son, also participating in civic responsibilities and activities. she has twice served as chairperson of the san francisco ethics commission, and is a founding member of the legal community against violence. zack is a talented musician and avid cyclist who will commence his pre-med care

[speaking spanish] >> the one thing that i would say that we as san franciscans is always a city that has welcomed people from all over the world including the latino community. there is a long history that our community has had with the city and county of san francisco. we have always been at the forefront of protecting the right of all people. now important ever, we need to stand firm so that san francisco remains true to those principals. [applause] >> [speaking spanish] >> so i really hope that this celebration of latino culture is something that inspires us to continue to fight to be a community that embraces a people that is a sanctuary for all people. i hope you can join us in that fight. >> [speaking spanish] >> thank you very much. [applause] >> thank you very much. >> [speaking spanish] >> i think it's time for us to pay respect to our honorees, what do you think? >> i want to invite one more person to come up here and that is katie faric who is from the office of congresswoman jackie spears. >> let's give her a round of applause. >> i promise to be very brief since we do wa

are really celebrating the health-care services that we are going to be able to provide to all san franciscans. as the only trauma center in the city, we will continue to bring life-saving trauma and emergency care. we will also deliver the best geriatric care and award winning maternal child care and so much more. the new building is going to be filled with original art for the entire community to enjoy. we are really trying to create an asset to the neighborhood and be a center for well this and -- wellness and be a healing environment for the patients, staff, and visitors. as we celebrate the beginning of construction, i am really proud to tell you that the building design has been honored with a design award of excellence by the california council of the society of american registered architects, and there is a model in the hospital lobby that i invite you all to come and take a look at that will show you what our new hospital is going to be. thank you all for coming and helping us to celebrate as we embark on this journey together. thank you. [applause] >> we have a saying about staff at

lots and lots of san franciscans, literally thousands, are organize against this. on july 31, we're going to have our third sidewalks are for people action on the sidewalks of the city. if anybody wants to find out more, if you want to join us on the sidewalks, you can visit us at sidewalksareforpeople.org. thank you. chairman campos: thank you very much. colleagues -- actually, is there any member of the public who would like to speak on this snum seeing none, public -- on this? seeing none, public comment is closed. colleagues, comments? [gavel] i would simply make a final comment on this. even chuck said "the chronicle" indicated following the last time that the mayor's office came to a hearing before the board on this item, how unprepared the mayor's office was to address some very basic questions. i guess one of the solutions when you're unprepared is that you have selective memory loss in terms of statements that are made, especially if those statements explicitly and clearly contradict what you're saying. even if the statement is made by, you know, someone w

it helped us to achieve about $17 million in cost savings for services that are meeting san franciscans in the city. i am very proud that we are able to put together for our restoration package colleagues. we were able to closely restored senior services. we were able to make dramatic changes to the cuts for children's and family services. we restored mental health services. hiv aids services in san francisco. that is critical to people in the city. that is based on the work of our collective effort on the committee. i would like to thank my staff and the work of raquel in bringing this to us. i would also like to thank and in turn in my office for the summer. there is an army of in terms that have been helping out as well. thank you so much for all of your great work on this budget. this budget would not be brought to us without the fortuitous and unexpected windfall from the real-estate transfer tax. if there is a real estate transfer tax god that is out there, i want to thank you for helping us close this budget. people buying property has helped us close this budget to make sure tha

will just abbreviate my comments here, but i speak on behalf of my firm -- we are all native san franciscans born and raised here, and personally, we really endorse this plan. i like the analogy to the string of pearls that we have been lucky enough as professionals to have been involved in theory the creation of a number of those pearls, and i think this is definitely the next one in the string. i would like to add the insight to this that specifically, the washington building, a building of that scope and the associated foundations that would, of course, take into account the many engineering constraints of building a large building in this area of the city, but a building of that scope really has the effect to increase what we would term the global stability of the area, which i think is not a trivial asset to public safety in this region, so just again, as a native san franciscan, on behalf of my firm, i really support this measure. i think it has been done fairly, although we really look forward to seeing it progress. thank you very much. >> good afternoon. first of all, i want to say p

i think as these things do slip and start to gain momentum that it's up to san franciscans and people that are doing it to take the time and get involved with these community meetings and see what really is going on. san francisco is a major european and world-wide attraction for people to come to, and if everybody just shuts it down then there is going to be no nightlife or arts community and it's going to be a terrible terrible waste in this city. ben: over the last 10 years, i think that live entertainment south of market... i'd say there's less of it, as far as clubs or as far as live bands. but i think that the clubs and venues, the spaces that remain are stronger. yeah, there's not quite the diversity of spaces that are available in south of market, but i still think there's enough to keep it a vibrant place for nightlife. but yeah there is some nostalgia for... the wild days of 1995. chris: i'm a friend to late night interests and the late-night community and it's political arm- the san francisco late night coalition, but not at any cost. even most folks at the late night coali

we have cut many services and the san franciscans around the city are facing higher and higher fees. we need to have revenue as part of our budget solution. that is what i'm proposing an increase in the real estate transfer tax. this increase is not affecting every day people who own single- family homes. this is an increase for property that is sold at a volume of over $5 million. we also need to know as the city is cutting back on services, we have given back. we have to have revenue as far as the solution. i hope that you will consider this as part of our revenue solutions. this offers of important way to bring revenue to our city. >> thank you. as i stated when a number of this, they take time to study the various proposals. i would like to have support for the transfer tax and i would make a motion to table the business tax proposal that i have put forth. the november ballot is a very crowded but we must make important decisions that garner significant support and consensus. the tax proposal that i put forth came out of many many months of research and frankly out of request tha

course city services in public health, in public safety, and services for it the most memorable san franciscans we have in our midst -- the most vulnerable. we have continuing challenges. we have budget deficits for the years to come. we have decisions that could come down from washington, d.c., from sacramento that would require us in a few short months to be back at the negotiation table, and the thing that i ask is that with the same spirit that brought us here today, we will bring that spirit to ensure we make the right decisions for san francisco for today and for the future. thank you for being part of this process. [applause] >> thank you. i think all of us can take a moment to really appreciate the fact that we have done something that really distinguishes our city from other cities that the mayor has mentioned and counties in california. there really is a tremendous achievement because of the way we all work together because we were created. we listened carefully to each other. i want to point out that city employees ratified every one of these agreements by over 90% voting in favor, s

and san franciscans no longer have to go to alameda to get great antiques and collectibles. a new flea market opens tomorrow in the parking lot at candlestick point. organizers say merchandise will appeal to everyone from serious collectors to everyday treasure hunters. the fair will be held every third sunday of the month from 6 am to 3 pm. the price is 15 dollars from 6 a-m to 8 a-m and five dollars from 8 a-m to 3 p-m. high hope remains, but the testing isn't over yet. b-p's next plan of action in the gulf oil disaster. "i dont think its been worse than this" from coast to coast: search for relief, as temperatures soar. and: the sweet smell of success for one east bay couple. how their business is booming in this recession. built with quality and backed with the best coverage in america including a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. that's 40,000 more miles than ford. chevy silverado half-ton. a consumers digest best buy and the most dependable, longest lasting full-size pickups on the road. now get 0% apr for 72 months on 2010 silverado half-ton models a cap blocking oil

replete the number of personnel that we may be losing, but also benefits in the fact that these are san franciscans who would really like to work for the city and county of san francisco, who know the communities in which they would serve, and i think the long-term employees of the city, where they would be developing relationships that we all could, i think, benefit from. this legislation would also go before the school district, too, like other pieces of law that we have devised that had joint partnerships. there will be weighing in of those entities as well. ideally, what could happen is one example is it we had an academy in the san francisco unified school district or the police, similar to their police activities league, their pals, the debt program, but it would actually be part of the unified school district where it could earn some credit, and as people who have earned credit may want to go on to city college where they have a well-known criminal justice program and burn their -- earn their aa and perhaps after that pursue a career in the police the bombing, that they would have to pass mu

if this is extraordinary to have a street in san franciscans that is only 12 feet 4 inches wide, i do not know what is. we would ask you take the fourth floor office building. when we were working with the neighbors, we pointed out they could follow the guidelines, and perhaps that would give a better sense of how the building should be oriented and arranged. we made an offer to the project sponsor that if they took off the fourth story and only had a penthouse elevator penthouse at that level, we would support a rear yard variants that would allow 3 feet, and by placing a new side walk down at the level, it would open up that alley, gives them an additional square footage to make up for the loss on the fourth story, and make a project that contributes, not simply exploits them for as much square footage as they can pack in. [bell] >> steve williams. i represent the third request. this case is exceptional. it is extraordinary because it involves a project that has now been reviewed by the department twice over six years that is completely inconsistent with aversive results. the depart

contributions in making san francisco a better place for our community and a better place for all san franciscans. thank you. >> and now we have a very important part of this reception, music, food, the opportunity to network, the opportunity to learn about each other and so we invite you to continue celebrating latino heritage month in san francisco. we're going to be in the south light court. you want to tell us a little bit of what is going to be happening? >> sure, most definitely. so during the reception, we're going to be having an exhibit by the hispanic medal of honor. it's a legacy of valor of the 43 latino individuals who have received the highest honor that can be bestowed to military personnel in this country. there are 43 latinos, very little known fact. we have a wonderful organization that is making known to our community. [applause] >> we also have an exhibit in there as well as of the voices of justice, the bicentennial of latino journalism in the u.s. which dated back 200 years ago, right around the time of the independence of most latin american countries which we'll be celebra

. >> my name is damian, and we are speaking as a longtime san francisc andan/-- san franciscan. hello i am not breaking rules in supporting the next measure as well. this is for support across our urban landscape. i heard this recently on in pr. some of you heard regarding the renaissance and getting to know the places they live. so on returning to the home town of oakland to living in paris for several decades, she wrote, the trouble with oakland is that when you get there, there is not any there. she is referring to parks that were sacred to her. not that long afterwards across the bay, josephine randall proposed the city buy 16 acres of rock hill for recreation, and it was 13 years later that happened. it was officially renamed corona highet's, so the fulfil the dream of buying a spot where people could spend all day in the country, and people were spending for almost 70 years. my last one is from barack obama. >> let's hear it. >> too many are becoming fragmented. children especially are spending less time outside running and playing and connected to the out doris. across am

this is a bridge to success, a bridge to a better community, and it will bridge to the rest of san franciscans after decades of political and neglect. it is only fitting that an actual physical bridge be built to connect the new housing to the new job that will be created. we would like to give you community support, and we urge you to move this forward. >> i am of radio residence. please let -- i am of bay view resident. i am a single mother, and i do not want my child to grow up in violence. this point is poverty-ridden. look at this. we deserve that, to very good we do not deserve to see -- we deserve that, too. we do not deserve to see people sleeping on the streets or our buildings to look condemned. i am not a resident, but i see that. yet i have been there a couple times. we do not deserve to live nothing like that. we deserve it. >> i am from the merchant association. a lot of stuff i want to say has been said already. one concern is the bridge. this is necessary for our protection. why don't you multiplied that by 50 companies to be affective. umar you will have as many as 100 people

blue-collar working middle- class neighborhoods to neighborhoods that were impossible for the average san franciscan to afford. >> it does not exceed 33 feet in height. it does not mention floor. we recommend the possibilities of a variance to allow some additional square footage to the building. on that motion? [calling votes] thank you, commissioners. that motion passed unanimously. >> commissioners, you are now on item number 16. >> figuring is still going, so if you could live quietly -- we've quietly, we would appreciate that. -- if you could leave quietly, we would appreciate that. >> it appears to have fallen off. >> i saw something dropped. >> we are at no. 16, and then we will go to the project. >> we are on 16? we are on 16. >> that is fine with me. >> i guess we are ready to begin item number 16. we are ready. >> good evening. this is a request for a mandatory discretion are reviewed to develop medical can of those facilities between first and second streets. they will not allow smoking on site, and they will not alter the exterior of the building. it is not within 1,000 feet of any schoo

the good work of san franciscans are selected and able to serve on the commission, trusting in that level of expertise and participation. from time to time we have noticed a need to upgrade, support, and enhance that level of examination in the parks department that affect us all. whether it be budget, monumentally events where we like to have some level of connection that could be well instituted by as having a diversified commission process. a few weeks ago i had a very pleasant conversation with the president of the commission, approaching him on sidebar, tlling him i would love to talk with him over the next week to try and foster that meeting of the minds for this piece of law. i would like to thank a number of citizen groups and organizations who have come out in enthusiastic support, with a golden gateway tenet association and the like a boat house coalition, as well as the golden gate autoparts society. really, to pick up on the sentiment produced in 1998 that i shared with folks the last time i was before you on this matter, co-authored with the supervisor to show with -- to show

the creation of the chinese community health resource center, which today serves over 30,000 san franciscanshe currently serves on the san francisco health commission, which he has served for over 20 years, where he has been a staunch advocate of our community, requiring culturally competent programs, rebuilding lebanon hospital, san francisco general hospital, and encouraging support for the hepatitis b three program. he was quoted in today's "new york times" for his advocacy to that program. one of the first individuals are asked to come to my office to greet me was none other than this gentleman here, and i also want to remake a quick conversation i had with my mother recently. i told her i was going to present an award to the good doctor, and she asked me -- "i guess it is too late for you to good medical school?" [laughter] without further ado, doctor, thank you so much for everything you have done for us. [applause] [applause] >> thank you. i am almost speechless for this honor, an honor which actually i never sought, and i am humbled receiving. it has been my great privilege to be abl

what i found most gratifying was, first of all, being part of a group of 19 incredibly different san franciscans with a different backgrounds, different amounts of education, all kinds of professions -- stay at home spouses -- it was a great mix. there were people i never would have met unless i had been part of that. the second thing that was incredibly interesting all year long were the investigations we were conducting with different agencies and departments of the city government. pulling together all of our different viewpoints in each of our presentations, and all our information and data -- we put that into a report. it was incredibly gratifying stuff. i guess the third gratifying thing was that in our particular year, 2000-2003, we had a number of reports that really made a difference. >> the court is now accepting applications for the civil grand jury. this watchdog body is comprised of 19 citizens selected by my colleagues on the court. the grand jury is charged with conducting independent, confidential investigations of city departments, to insure these agencies are operating effectiv

. -- san franciscan in its thoughtfulness and nature. in terms of creating a new center and helping the city make this land more valuable for future use, and the ability to advance micro enterprise, which is so very san francisco, as well. so as a small-business owner, i just wanted to say that this is a fantastic path for the future, and we're very excited to contribute. president maxwell: well, good luck. i plan to get some ice cream. >> hi, i am jim, and i am here representing the neighborhood association transportation planning committee. about one year ago, we had a presentation that was brought to was for alternative uses on the parcels, and the hayes valley farm and other projects were represented. all of them were very, very enthusiasticallyr

it helped us to achieve about $17 million in cost savings for services that are meeting san franciscans in the city. i am very proud that we are able to put together for our restoration package colleagues. we were able to closely restored senior services. we were able to make dramatic changes to the cuts for children's and family services. we restored mental health services. hiv aids services in san francisco. that is critical to people in the city. that is based on the work of our collective effort on the committee. i would like to thank my staff and the work of raquel in bringing this to us.

hundreds of san franciscans have made a good-faith effort, spending many hours attending meetings and submitting commons for a transparent study that considers the entire community's point of view. i respectfully request to move forward with that plan. president fong: matt harris? >> good evening. i am in north beach resident. i have been at most of the meetings and assure you that have been throw, productive, and balanced. at the last couple of meetings, nothing new came up. planning has done an excellent job of presenting a study that serves the best interest of the waterfront as well as the city as a whole. upon a recent trip to win as onerous -- a recent trip to buenos aires, i sought new buildings that blended and complemented the longstanding architecture of the city. seeing this all my strength and my feelings for positive growth. san francisco needs to be encouraging development along the waterfront to ensure that the recent successes along the embarcadero can continue. president fong: is there any other public comment on this item? >> good evening, commissioners. thank you fo

also as a native san franciscan, this is concerning to see properties lying fallow for so long. >> thank you. indee>> i believe that languaged action is a very good school. i am very proud of my mom. i have noticed that the kids love the teachers and sometimes they don't even want to go home. i think the most important element that they have is the diversity that they have and that they share. this is a very good school. thank you for your time. >> thank you. >> i actually went up to borrow hills this week to see what it was. this is a great school. this is a playground. i say there are 80 separate values here. this does provide many services to people. on the other hand, i think that this also provides valuable services to people. there of about 40 kids up there with amazing amounts of activity. i talked a couple of the mothers so i said, do you know what is calling on here, what you are involved then? they said, yes, we kind of did not know that this happened. we did not know what was going to happen next. i do want to speak for the one mother who said this. the distinction is that par