in that, we will address the tonga room. committed to trying to find a solution for the tonga that would allow it to thrive in a place where it could thrive. that is not at the fairmont hotel. they have entered into the letter of intent with a nightclub operator, as described by mr. bloch accurately, to take all of the character-defining features of the tonga room and relocate them to another location which will then have a tonga room restaurant. president miguel: thank you. i just wanted to clarify that point because it is in the eir. commissioner antonini: sorry. i think the environmental impact report, which as we know is a combination of the draft eir comments and responses, in my opinion is accurate and objective, but i would like to talk to a few points that were brought up. the first point i guess is that there were a number of speakers who asked for analysis of other alternatives. but my understanding of ceqa law is you do not have to evaluate every alternative, and those which are unfeasible do not need to be analyz

my name is christopher pike, a representative of sos tonga. the fairmont management has signed an agreement to reopen the tonga room of sight. it is to be relocated in its entirety and will include all its distinctive features. it will continue to operate as a nightclub, bar, and restaurant. to wrap this process, we have consistently maintained that it should remain on site in the belmont hotel. this is still our official steps. we are on record for endorsing alternatives b1 and b2, which would retain it on site in the party structure. i still think that with some imagination it could thrive at the fairmont, but clearly my demographic is not what they want up there. the fairmont people are going to get rid of the tonga room, whether we like it or not, if not now the next year. preservationists cannot always let the perfect be the enemy of the good. if there is an alternative to banishing the remains of the tonga room to a warehouse in oakland, we should consider it. the devil is in the details. we should make sure that any attempt to remove it

. >>> the historic tonga room restaurant might not be safe from demolition, but it could be relocated. san francisco's planning commission meets tonight on a $130 renovation plan for the fairmont hotel, which has housed the tiki style restaurant since 1945. the remodeling calls for tearing down a tower and permanently shutting down the famous restaurant. now, a prominent buyer wants to relocate the tonga room. >>> also, people are invited to share their thoughts on the school district's plan. they are considering cutting pay for administrators and shutting down swim facilities. district officials say cuts could be avoided if voters approve a partial tax. but a partial tax measure was on last june's ballot. and that would have allowed funding. however, it fell short of passing. >>> more help for victims of the san bruno pipeline disaster is coming from sacramento.

my name is christopher pike, a representative of sos tonga. the fairmont management has signed an agreement to reopen the tonga room of sight. it is to be relocated in its entirety and will include all its distinctive features.

i did not say the tonga room should be relocated or whatever. my purpose in opposing it is to get more information out to the public. i think one of the purposes of ceqa is as a public disclosure document. there are issues that have been raised in my mind, raised in people who testified. therefore, i think the staff is perfectly equipped to go ahead and provide the answers to those questions. that is the reason why i did not certify the eir. president miguel: finish up. commissioner sugaya, what i am hearing from you is you want the staff to answer the questions you have raised in whatever time they feel they can do it in. is that what you're saying? commissioner sugaya: i do not know procedurally how they're going to approach it, but there are issues on the floor. i would also like to ask whether or not the historic preservation commission has any issues that they would like to direct staff at this time. or you can direct them to me, since it is our hearing, and i can ask them if there is anything that would like to have me enter into the recor

focusing on the tonga room is not appropriate. is the knob hill historic district even a greater cultural district not only to san francisco but to millions of visitors from around the world? the budget sponsor has an opportunity to correct the mistake made with the 1961 tower and restore the neighborhood to its original splendor. instead, we are given a project that does nothing to realize this goal with no substantive alternatives. the sponsor has given no consideration to the people of nob hill, and we therefore request that this eir should not be certified. thank you. >> good afternoon. my name is michael barrett. i have been a resident for 35 years right at california and stockton streets. first thing that happened at our wonderful neighborhood was the ritz carlton. they are not a good neighbor. they are commercially oriented and have no concern for the citizens above san francisco who pay substantial rent in that area. the second disaster was city apartments, which finally hit the papers after 10 years of stealing and creati

. >>> san francisco's famed tonga room restaurant will remain open at least throughout holidays. they have been a mainstay feature since 1945. hotel owners asked the city planning commission to approve a $130 million renovation plan that would include shooting down the tonga room. but it is deadlocked on the matter. >>> lindsey lohan is due back in the los angeles courtroom today in connection with the latest scandal. she is expected to learn if she will be sent back to jail. during her last hearing one month ago lohan was ordered to go to jail. that was overturned and she was released on jail. >>> 5:46 time to go to sal. he's going to talk about the toll plaza that seems to be backing up early. >> it has. this morning's commute is no different. it is a little early even yet to have a big backup at the toll plaza. let's go there. traffic is not too bad here as you can see. it looks pretty good coming into the city. hopefully on this friday it will be friday light. this is look at interstate 880 and that traffic is moving very well. that is northbound 280 right there. traffic move

now, a local restaurant owner wants to buy and relocate the tonga room. details can be released at tonight's commission meeting. >>> also tonight, paramedic -- parents in alameda are sharing their thoughts on plans to cut the budget. the district is considering closing several schools, cutting pay for administrators, and shutting down swimming facilities. district officials say cuts could be avoided if voters approve a parcel tax next march. but a parcel tax measure on last june's budget that would have provided funding fell short of passage. >>> police say a spark by a road rage incident. two drivers pulled into the scotts valley junction center yesterday afternoon. police say one driver chased the other driver with a two- foot long machete. the victim suffered minor cuts. the suspect, identified as 36- year-old cheyenne young, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. >>> it is 8:23. and we want to check in once again with sal cast castaneda. >> that's right. i want to show you the bay bridges first. westbound san mateo bridge is a mess

learn who stepped up to save the tonga room. >>> san francisco's notorious exotic erotic ball and expocancelled just one day before it was supposed to open at richmond's waterfront tomorrow night. this got moved. promoters describe the two-day event as part mardi gras, part burlesque and part rock concert. they're blaming low ticket sales sxan unexpected cost for the cancellation. organizers aren't saying just how many tickets they have sold, but buyers will receive a refund by following their bank card instructions. after 30 years in san francisco the erotic exotic ball was moved just this year to richmond. >>> well, a more family-appropriate event is also going on tomorrow. the oakland museum of california is hosting a day of the dead celebration starting at noon. that's a great museum. the whole family can make masks and tin ornaments. there will also be traditional music and dance for the mexican holiday. the theme is -- to celebrate the living as well as the dead o'by honoring ancestors. >>> given the season, audiences are in for a scare aishe t boxh office this weekend. "paranl 2

view, to say that the only preservation alternative that you need to provide is what happens to the tonga room. there is only a slight change in the baseline. this is nonsensical. there is no preservation alternative. there is no preservation alternative at all. the preservation alternative is going to look at repeating the frequency, and as it has been mentioned, the tower of the podium, and something else besides what has been prevented. thank you. >> commissioner buckley: i am not certain that we should talk about this because there is a difference in the historical planning and preservation commission. i think that this is there and has been taken into account. i would be prepared to approve of this project at this time. when we hear about this, we can look at that. i am not trying to share these concerns. commissioner anthony: -- anthony -- commissioner antonini: i would like to have a report from the city attorney with the staff about what the scope of sequa should be. can i get an opinion about this? >> are you asking with respect to this issue on the project sponsors who have obje