Examiner Under the Dome RSS

$1M deposit into San Francisco loan fund delayed

Joshua Sabatini — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:43:30 +0000

Mayor Ed Lee’s plan to add $1 million into The City’s revolving loan fund for small businesses suffered a setback Wednesday. The Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee unanimously agreed the proposal raised a number of unresolved issues and more time was needed to determine whether it...

Commercial launched to educate workers about health benefits

Joshua Sabatini — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:12:25 +0000

Walking through the busy kitchen of a restaurant, David Chiu says, “Make sure you get the benefit you’re owed.” The Board of Supervisors president is featured in a TV commercial launched this week, in partnership with business advocates such as the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and the Golden...

Ranked-choice voting proposal fails to make June ballot

Joshua Sabatini — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:55:23 +0000

Voters will continue ranking candidates in elections after a proposal to eliminate such a system failed to make the June ballot. Supervisor Mark Farrell had proposed a charter amendment that would eliminate the system. Instead, people would vote in September with a November run-off. But Farrell...

SFPD releases an 'It Gets Better' video featuring officers

Staff report — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:43:07 +0000

San Francisco Police Department Chief Greg Suhr on Friday announced the release of an "It Gets Better" video that features officers from the department. The video, which is part of a nationwide campaign to end the bullying if LGBT youth, was produced by San Francisco filmmaker Shawn Northcutt,...

San Francisco shoppers can add bag fee to bills

Joshua Sabatini — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:48:07 +0000

Shoppers will have to start bringing their own bags if they want to avoid a new fee. San Francisco on Tuesday became the latest California city to impose a fee on bags provided to customers, 10 cents a tote, as part of a growing effort to change consumer habits by hitting them in their...

Planning Commission appointee describes possible conflicts

Joshua Sabatini — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:54:07 +0000

An appointee to the Planning Commission clarified Thursday the conflict of interest she may have when voting on important development issues while also working for an influential Chinatown nonprofit. “One question that many people have been asking me about is if there are potential conflicts due...

Planning Commission appointee describes possible conflicts

Joshua Sabatini — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:54:02 +0000

Mirkarimi petitions judge for visitation rights to family

Joshua Sabatini — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:30:48 +0000

Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi has petitioned a judge to gain visitation rights to his family and is expected to make his argument Friday morning in San Francisco Superior Court. Since Mirkarimi was arrested on Jan. 13, the newly elected sheriff has not been allowed to contact his wife and two-year-old...

David Chiu courts socially responsible corporations

Joshua Sabatini — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:50:37 +0000

Board of Supervisors President David Chiu introduced legislation Tuesday that would give preferences to more socially responsible companies for bids on city contracts. Chiu said it was important to send the message to these types of businesses that “we are open for business.” The City is allowed...

Pier 27 preps for cruise terminal groundbreaking

Dan Schreiber — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:54:31 +0000

A new cruise ship terminal in San Francisco – spurred by investment from the America’s Cup yacht race coming to The City over the next two years -- will be dedicated by Mayor Ed Lee Tuesday at 10 a.m. The new terminal at Pier 27 will be partially remade before the race events and finished...

Embattled SF sheriff interviews 17 for department's No. 2 post

Joshua Sabatini — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:36:04 +0000

Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi wrapped up interviewing 17 applicants from within the Sheriff’s Department last week for the No. 2 position in the office and is expected to make his selection “this week,” according to Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Susan Fahey. Mirkarimi is going about his business...

Mayor hires Bevan Dufty – former campaign opponent – to oversee homeless

Dan Schreiber — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:26:49 +0000

The City’s seemingly endless homeless issue will come closer to an end, Mayor Ed Lee said Friday as he announced the appointment of former Supervisor Bevan Dufty to a new position overseeing poverty in San Francisco. Dufty set himself apart from Lee’s opponents in the 2011 mayoral race by being...

Cindy Wu picked for Planning Commission position

Joshua Sabatini — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:14:43 +0000

Board of Supervisors President David Chiu has picked Cindy Wu, a community planning manager for the nonprofit Chinatown Community Development Center, to serve on the Planning Commission. The commission seat opened up when Mayor Ed Lee appointed chair of the Planning Commission Christina Olague...

Dufty likely pick for homeless outreach post

Staff report — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:22:38 +0000

Former Supervisor Bevan Dufty is expected to be appointed by Mayor Ed Lee to a position that will focus on creating housing opportunities for the homeless and work directly with social service organizations in The City. Dufty ran for mayor against Lee in November, but he set himself apart from the...

BART reports strong financial picture for first quarter of fiscal year

Will Reisman — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:11:28 +0000

Buoyed by strong ridership figures and growing revenue from sales tax figures, BART posted a solid financial report for the first quarter of this fiscal year. The regional rail operator carried an average of 363,539 passengers each day, a total that was 6 percent more than projected for the first...

Law enforcement union supports Paul Miyamoto for undersheriff

Joshua Sabatini — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:16:05 +0000

Captain Paul Miyamoto ran against Ross Mirkarimi for Sheriff and lost but he now wants to serve as the number two in the Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Mirkarimi began this week interviewing applicants for the position of undersheriff -- one of the first positions he needs to fill after...

Supervisor spends night in homeless shelter, finds 'incredible love'

Joshua Sabatini — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:06:29 +0000

Supervisor Jane Kim roughed it with San Francisco’s homeless population last Wednesday by spending the night in a Tenderloin shelter on Polk and Geary streets and found “incredible love.” Kim has made improving San Francisco’s homeless shelter system one of her focuses as the District 6...

Supervisor Wiener wants hearings with Muni to improve taxi industry

Joshua Sabatini — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:05:55 +0000

Anyone trying to catch a cab on a Friday night or during morning commute hours can tell you San Francisco’s taxi industry has its shortcomings – the waits are seemingly endless. And if you want to see a cab driver get angry, just bring up the idea of adding more cabs to improve...