Sam Spade's San Francisco

Fox is owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. It is a right-wing, conservative broadcasting conglomerate that is dedicated to defending the traditional and historical power of the news media and fighting the growing influence of common bloggers and others who deal with the news outside the control of people like Rupert Murdoch.

In the photo: Rupert Murdoch

Fox has been launching a series of attacks on everything liberal they are interpreted as a threat to them. Bloggers are right at the top of Murdoch's list. Just watch this video made from clips of Fox attacks on bloggers. Then, when you watch TV news this evening (if you do), try MSNBC (I am a fan of Countdown with Keith Olbermann) or perhaps Katie Couric's version of the evening news on CBS. Whatever you do, keep KTVU Channel 2 Fox News out of your home!

Here's the Fox attack on bloggers video:

Check your investment portfolio!

Do you currently invest in biodegradables? If not, you may want to reconsider. Not only has the Board of Supervisors passed a city law aimed at plastic shopping bags and Styrofoam take-out containers, but biodegradable products are becoming the product of choice all across the country. It is the right thing to do and becoming the smart thing in which to invest.

This week the San Francisco International Gift Fair will begin its five-day run at the Moscone Center. The fair is one of the largest in the world and is a great place to see the cutting edge in design and development and maybe even peak into the future. The brightest and best come to this show because California, if it were a separate nation unto itself, would be the seventh largest economy on the planet - and San Francisco and the Bay Area is generating most of the fuel that runs this powerful economy.

Parents looking for toys for their children can now add environmentally friendly toys to their buying options as Green Toys™, Inc. today announced their new line of classic toys. Manufactured in the U.S.A., Green Toys brand toys are made of a new generation of environmentally friendly bioplastic material derived from renewable, sustainable resources like corn.

Green Toys will preview their initial line of toys at the San Francisco International Gift Fair, taking place July 28-August 1, at the Moscone Center in North Hall booth #7123.

“We’ve been involved in creating fun and innovative toys for years, but with Green Toys Inc. we feel that we’re doing more than providing children with entertainment. We’re also offering a real alternative for consumers looking for earth-friendly toys,” said Robert von Goeben, co-founder of Green Toys. “Our products are a blast for kids, important to parents, and good for the earth. What could be more fun than that?”

Green Toys Inc. has brought together some of the most advanced materials and technologies in the bioplastics industry.

The raw material used to make Green Toys brand toys is produced by Cereplast Inc., a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based plastics. In addition, Green Toys is using biodegradable colorants from PolyOne Corporation, a premier global provider of polymer materials, services and solutions.

Green Toys has also extended these environmental efforts into its packaging using all recycled paper products with no traditional plastics.

“As the mother of two young children, I understand parents wanting to do their part to improve and preserve our world for our children,” said Laurie Hyman, co-founder of Green Toys. “Additionally, by offering children toys that send a positive message about protecting our planet helps to educate the younger generation about how to make good choices for our environment. It may even create young ambassadors for Mother Nature.”

This just in from San Francisco Business Times:

San Francisco has expanded its enterprise zone, allowing potentially thousands more businesses to apply for millions of dollars in state tax breaks.

The boundaries of the newly drawn zone, which gives tax breaks to businesses to boost employment, include all of the Van Ness Avenue corridor, the Financial District, North Beach, the Embarcadero, the Transbay Terminal area, Hunters Point/Bay View and Visitacion Valley. There are an estimated 30,500 businesses in the zone, more than double the number from when the perimeter was first drawn in 1992.

SF Hotels Fill Vacancies from Within the Ranks

With local hotel business booming, operators have ramped up their hiring and are now beginning to worry about meeting their labor needs in the future.

Their fears will be on full display at an industry labor event at the Palace Hotel next week, where hoteliers from San Francisco and around the country are expected to discuss how to attract qualified workers as baby boomers begin to retire, leaving hotels with an expected shortfall of talent.

The Bay Area Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society presents:

Chuck Nevius is a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle and he's a very good writer. I read his column regularly and I recommend it. Any writer (or, for that matter - anybody regardless of their occupation) can have a bad day from time to time. I've had many more than most.

In the photo: Golden Gate Park. Photo courtesy of the Chronicle's amazing photographer, Frederic Larson

Chuck had one yesterday. He wrote a column about syringes and other assorted trash in Golden Gate Park. He suggested we forget about the coyotes and focus on the bums (Chuck used the politically correct "homeless" word - the choice of "bums" is entirely mine) who live in and poop in and empty their trash in Golden Gate Park. Chuck said Mayor Newsom has let us down and he suggested the fault lies with the Mayor.

Chuck Nevius was not really in best form with that statement. He's not being independent and objective at all. His column yesterday was a public relations piece for Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi whose criticism of the Mayor and Golden Gate Park was amply covered in today's Chronicle. Read it here.

I like Ross Mirkarimi. He is a superb Supervisor and a fine and decent gentlemen. San Francisco is fortunate to have him, but he's not always right and he has bad days as well. Two people who are mistaken, misled and having bad days do not add up to a truth.

First of all, the Mayor's Back to Basics 2007-2008 budget proposes solid, real and workable solutions. The new budget proposed by Mayor Newsom will create 12 new full-time park patrol officers for Golden Gate Park. That was the Mayor's idea, Chuck.

There are three very solid reasons why Chuck Nevius earned an "F" grade for his column yesterday. Here they are:

1) I'm an old fellow and a character in many ways - I admit that - but my memory is clear and I accurately recall back 40 years ago to the 1960's. Back then Golden Gate Park was FULL of bums (they were called Hippies in those days) and syringes, discarded Zig Zag wrappers and poop were all over Golden Gate Park. It was the same way in the 70's, the 80's, the 90's and has continued through the 21st century. Now listen, Chuck - just how is Gavin Newsom to blame for all this? He wasn't even born when the problem began!

2) When is the last time you walked around by Powell and Market Streets, Chuck? Have you noticed the panhandlers, the crack dealers, the shopping cart pushers, the winos, the shoplifters and the receivers of stolen property who loiter endlessly? If you haven't noticed any of this, Chuck, then you need to get out of the office a little more. This problem has been with us for years - many, many years - but it is finally starting to turn around. We are beginning to reclaim our City. That's the Mayor's efforts starting to show. And, getting back to the Mayor's budget, Chuck, did you notice that he wants to hire 250 new police officers and earmark $500,000 to address street crime and provide rehabilitative services?

3) San Francisco is a beautiful City. It is the top tourist destination in the United States and one of the top five destinations on the planet. Our City not only attracts the beautiful, the healthy, the centered and the rich - San Francisco also attracts the ugly, the sick, the scattered and the poor. The first San Francisco mayor in my memory (scanning over the past 40 years or so) to really address this problem in a substantive way and really begin making a difference is Gavin Newsom.

Listen to me Chuck: Stop throwing rocks at the mayor and spend a little more time out on the streets. Put your shoe leather where your mouth is.

On the other hand, I guess you've already done that in another sort of way.

For many decades San Franciscans have rested assured of their water quality quite regardless of what else happens in California. That is because the City and County of San Francisco own O'Shaughnessy Dam. The dam is on the Tuolumne River in the Hetch Hetchy Valley of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is located inside Yosemite National Park and creates San Francisco's Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

The water from Hetch Hetchy is transported down to us by pipe and fills our other, smaller reservoirs including the Calaveras, Priest, Moccasin, San Antonio, San Andreas, Pilaritos and Crystal Springs reservoirs. Our dam and water system also provide water (for a price) to parts of San Mateo, Alameda and San Joaquin Counties. Additionally, generators at the dam provide electricity (which we sell to the grid) that provides power for 2.4 million people.

The Hetch Hetchy watershed provides close to all of San Francisco's total water needs. Spring snowmelt runs down the Tuolumne River and fills Hetch Hetchy, the largest reservoir in the SFPUC system. This surface water in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is treated, but not filtered because it is of such high quality. Because of all this, San Franciscans have rested comfortably on a gold mine of fresh, clear water (and continuous income from sales of water and electricity) - but not for long! Climate Change is putting us out if business.

The problem

Seven years of drought along the Colorado River basin has changed the view from the top of Hoover Dam. Daniel Terdiman of Cnet noted, "All you have to do is gaze out at Lake Mead from the top of the dam here and view the 108 feet of brightly colored earth below the familiar red walls rising from the water."

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, who has legal control over Hoover Dam, has mandated that the Bureau of Reclamation come up with a plan for how to deal with potential shortages in available water for California, Nevada and Arizona, should continued low rainfall eventually mean that the Colorado River--and thus Hoover Dam--not be able to meet those states' water demands.

Think about this. If a cabinet secretary in the Bush Administration is not only admitting Climate Change exists, but is taking steps (although itty-bitty baby steps) to begin planning how we are going to preserve our species in our fast-approaching Brave New World - then it's time for us all to stop what we are doing and pay attention!

A slap in the face

It won't be long before the most pressing issue before the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (and every citizen of San Francisco with an interest in survival) will be Water Sources and Water Supply Planning.

As of the moment reality has not yet slapped the SFPUC in the face, but it won't be very long before their ears start ringing from the smack.

The Mayor's 20/20 vision

The Mayor is ahead of the curve (as usual for Gavin Newsom) and he has been discussing an ocean wave power generation infrastructure for several years now - very cutting edge technology. Wave generation will solve our energy needs, but not address our water needs. That solution will come through other innovative concepts, such as the construction of a major desalination plant.

Unfortunately the only person in city government who is sufficiently far sighted to see and address these issues is the Mayor.

A jackass and a crook

The Board of Supervisors are bogged down by a jackass (Chris Daly) and an alleged lying, cheating crook (Ed Jew). First we, the voters of San Francisco, have to clean house and get rid of those two juvenile delinquents before we can begin to address serious, adult issues.

As far as the SFPUC is concerned, well, they have always been well behind the curve. They traditionally follow along in the caboose and go wherever our more powerful politicians want the train to go. Don't look for leadership from the SFPUC.

Gavin Newsom is our best hope.

These little spinels may change our future.

Some of my earliest memories as a child were of my grandfather and my father reading the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Francisco Examiner. In those days (the 1950's) it was the expected practice to read both newspapers. One was a morning paper and the other was an evening paper. All the day's news could be read by spending a little time with both.

I also remember the San Francisco News-Call Bulletin that was a major contender from the 1860's through the 1930's. It began in 1856 as the San Francisco Call and eventually merged with the Examiner in 1965. I won't go into more detail because for many of you that is now considered to be Early California History.

In the photo: William Randolph Hearst

It seemed that men folk spent more time in those days reading the papers and they read them in a ritualistic kind of way. For both my grandfather and father that meant sitting in a stuffed easy chair with a cigar and a cup of coffee not very far away. I suppose my absolute earliest recollection of newspaper-reading was the sudden rattle made when the pages were turned.

Back in my early days there were two powerful dailies in San Francisco. One was the Chronicle, which was owned by the deYoung family - yes, the family after whom the museum is named. It was founded in 1865 by two very enterprising teenage bothers, Charlie and Mike deYoung. Not content to sell lemonade on street corners like other kids, these two boys began a newspaper that eventually grew into one of the largest in the United States.

The San Francisco Examiner began publishing as the Daily Democratic Press in 1863. It was the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865 that motivated the paper to kick into high gear, change it's name to the San Francisco Examiner, and expand it's circulation.

The examiner was bought by a mining engineer by the name of George Hearst in 1880. Hearst, having made his fortune in the Gold Rush, gave the Examiner to his son as a 23rd birthday gift. His son's name was William Randolph Hearst. Hearst built the Examiner into the "Monarch of the Dailies" and built a huge newspaper empire that spanned the entire continent. Hearst became the wealthiest and most powerful newspaperman in the country.

The San Francisco Examiner died on November 21, 2000. On that day the desks and chairs and typewriters and the rights to the name were sold to the Fang family, which immediately went about the process of dismantling and destroying the once-proud newspaper.

After their wrecking crew was done, the carcass was sold to cheap pulp rag publisher Phillip Anschutz of Denver, a right-wing conservative who has nothing in common with us in San Francisco, and who continues to publish a cheap throw-away rag that still uses the poor old Examiner name.

But ... back to the Chronicle!

When the Hearst Corporation sold the Examiner, they bought the Chronicle from the deYoung family and put all their considerable energy and talent into making the Chronicle the best newspaper in California - and today we have more evidence that they have succeeded!

Here is the story from today's San Francisco Chronicle:

The Chronicle has won four first-place awards and 12 awards total in the California Newspaper Publishers Association's 2006 Better Newspapers Contest, which includes newspapers from the across the state.

The Chronicle and its online news site, SFGate.com, also won eight first-place awards and 22 total in the East Bay Press Club's 2006 Excellence in Print Journalism Contest, tying the Contra Costa Times for the most awards by any newspaper or magazine in the regional contest.

In the statewide awards, Chronicle staff won both first and second place in the local breaking news category for newspapers with more than 200,000 circulation.

The first-place award was for coverage of a renegade driver who tore through San Francisco's streets Aug. 29 in a Honda Pilot, mowing down pedestrians. The Chronicle won second place for coverage of the saga of James Kim, the San Francisco father who died trying to save his family after their car became stranded on a snowy road in southwestern Oregon.

Staff writers Matthew B. Stannard, Jaxon Van Derbeken, Susan Sward and Steve Rubenstein led a team of more than two dozen reporters who covered the driver's rampage for both the Chronicle and SFGate.

Chronicle columnist Joan Ryan took first place in the writing category for a series of stories titled, "War Without End," in which she followed the treatment and recovery of two soldiers, Sgts. Michael Buyas and Brent Bretz, who were wounded in Iraq.

Chronicle staff won first place in the lifestyle coverage category for the Style section, and former Deputy Managing Editor John Curley, Senior Art Director Frank Mina and Executive News Editor Jay Johnson took first place in the front-page production category.

The Chronicle won second-place honors in the categories of editorial comment, sports story, sports coverage, investigative or enterprise reporting, environmental or agricultural resource reporting, sports photo and photo essay.

The Los Angeles Times won the most awards among big newspapers in the statewide contest. Its 21 prizes included the general excellence award.

In the East Bay Press Club awards, Chronicle photographer Lacy Atkins won three first-place awards for photo essay, feature photo and portrait.

Reporter Meredith May won first place in the in-depth or investigative reporting category for "Diary of a Sex Slave." The stories on the hit-run driver's rampage earned first place for team coverage of spot news.

Top honors in analysis went to reporter Tom Abate for his look into Internet control, "Speed Bumps on the Information Highway." Victoria Colliver took first place in beat reporting by a single reporter for her coverage of the health care industry. Reporter Jason B. Johnson won the multimedia category for "Prison Tour Program Tries to Keep Boys on Right Path."

Herb Caen would be proud.

Google Acquires ImageAmerica

, a company, as they say, building “high resolution cameras for the collection of aerial imagery.” Google hints that they expect this data to be rolled out in Google Earth/ Maps in the future. Already, ImageAmerica provided hi-res New Orleans imagery to Google following Hurricane Katrina. Image-America.com now shows the usual semi-blank “acquired” page, but Archive.org stored an older version I’ve mirrored here.

After Panoramio, PeakStream, Zenter, Feedburner, GrandCentral and Postini, this is the seventh Google acquisition just this and last month. I suppose by now, a typical Google lobby small talk starts with, “So, when were you acquired?”

Thanks Colin Colehour, Jason, and Frank Taylor of the

And there's more!

Watch out Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and Metro PCS - Here comes Google.

Google says it is prepared to bid billions of dollars in an auction of federal wireless frequencies to create a national broadband network that could compete directly with the wired networks of companies like AT&T and Comcast.

A victory would open the door for Google to operate the network itself, vastly increasing its business prospects by selling Internet, telephone and television services. Or it could have other companies do the job, a more likely scenario.

For more on Google's continuing string of acquisitions (and how to cash-in on some of the profits yourself), read Watching the Incubators

President Bush will have a routine colonoscopy Saturday and temporarily hand presidential powers to Vice President Dick Cheney, the White House said.

While I heartily concur that it is a good idea to shove something up George Bush's ... oops ... perhaps I had better change this sentence a bit: While I heartily concur that it is a good idea to provide the President with a colonoscopy, it is a TERRIBLE idea to leave Dick Cheney in charge - even for five minutes!

The procedure will be supervised by Dr. Richard Tubb, the president's doctor. It will be done by a team from the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md.

The colonoscopy will involve inserting a a long, flexible, lighted tube into George's rectum and slowly guiding it into his colon. The tube is called a colonoscope. The scope transmits an image of the inside of the colon onto a video screen so the doctor can carefully examine the lining of the colon. The scope bends so the doctor can move it around the curves of the Presidential colon.

Because the President will be under the effects of anesthesia, Bush has elected to implement Section 3 of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, making Cheney acting president until Bush indicates he is prepared to reassume his authority.

I want to wish the President a very swift and successful procedure and a very quick recovery. The only thing that could possibly be worse than having George Bush in the oval office is to have Dick Cheney there.

Get well soon, Mr. President!

Extreme droughts ...

Endangered Delta Smelt...

Mandatory water rationing...

Shipping water south via a peripheral canal...

Bottled water banned by the City of San Francisco...

"Water Crisis" in California.

Governor Schwarzenegger seems to be right - as evidenced by the recent flurry of water-related headlines across California, it appears that the state is indeed in a "water crisis" right now.

With such a vast array of water-related issues facing our state - from pollution to privatization, shortages to smelt - the Commonwealth Club of California is hosting a month-long series of events in August to better understand the issues surrounding our planet's most essential natural resource.

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to COOL, CLEAR WATER. Beginning on August 1st and running through the entire month, the Commonwealth Club is holding an extraordinary series looking at water from many different perspectives. We are bringing together many of the country's leading experts to discuss an intriguing variety of water-related issues. "Fresh Water in the 21st Century," "13 Ways to Stop Global Warming," "How Essential is Water to Good Health?" "The Future of Seafood" and "Keeping Katrina Out of California" are just a few of the 22 events planned for the Cool, Clear Water series. Speakers range from oceans expert Sylvia Earle to filmmaker Deborah Kauffman.

Nearly all of these programs are FREE for Club members and very low cost for non-members, thanks to generous support from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

The full list of programs in the water series is below. All programs will take place at The Club (595 Market Street, San Francisco) unless otherwise specified.

Please go to www.commonwealthclub.org/water to register for the water programs.

Our diet, lifestyle, health and the well-being of our environment depend on abundant availability of fresh water and the health of the oceans. I truly hope that you will join us for this significant, timely series, to learn more about the state of our water resources.

With best regards,


Dr. Gloria C. Duffy
President and CEO
The Commonwealth Club

It's Not Too Late
to Register
for Plate to Plate!

On August 12, Project Open Hand and the San Francisco Giants will launch the Plate to Plate 5K Run/Walk Across Home Plate at AT&T Park Presented by AT&T. Register today to take part in what is destined to become a signature Bay Area event.

Here's what you can look forward to by participating in Plate to Plate:

• Have a fun outing at AT&T Park with your co-workers, friends and family
• Run/Walk a USATF-certified 5K course along the scenic Embarcadero
• Enjoy the unique opportunity to cross Home Plate at AT&T Park as part of the 5K event
• Listen to live music, eat great food and win prizes and giveaways at our pre-game festival
• Attend the afternoon Giants game (vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates -- game ticket included with your registration for the first 3,000 participants!)
• Fundraise and receive fantastic incentive awards
• Support a great cause with Project Open Hand!

For more information and to register, visit www.platetoplate.org or call .

Did you know that last month, Project Open Hand:

• Served 66 new clients?
• Prepared and delivered 35,687 meals to people living with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses?
• Distributed over 11,500 bags of groceries?
• Served 31,241 hot lunches to seniors?

POH was able to provide all of this thanks to the generous people of San Francisco.

For more information about Project Open Hand's nutrition services, visit click here.

U.S. Geological Survey Report

Note: No damage has been reported in the City and County of San Francisco

In the photo: Click to enlarge this USGS Seismogram of this morning's earthquake from the USGS Pinole Ridge Station

Region: SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIF.

Geographic coordinates: 37.807N, 122.188W

Magnitude: 4.1 Ml

Depth: 5 km

Date & Time (UTC): 20-Jul-2007 at 4:42 AM PDT

Location with respect to nearby cities: 4 km (2 miles) ENE (69 degrees) of Oakland, CA 4 km (3 miles) ESE (113 degrees) of Piedmont, CA 7 km (4 miles) SW (234 degrees) of Moraga, CA 21 km (13 miles) E (80 degrees) of San Francisco City Hall, CA

Event ID # : NC 40199209

Important Earthquake-related Links:
24-Hour Aftershock Forecast Map
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake News
Berkeley (U.C.) Seismological Lab
Northern California Earthquake Data Center
San Francisco Bay Faultlines
Real Time Seismogram Display
California Integrated Seismic Network
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (State OES)
San Francisco Office of Emergency Services (SF OES)
San Francisco Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT)
U. S. Coast Guard Station, Alameda
San Francisco Fire Department Community Services Contact Page
San Francisco Fire Department Fire Station Locator
American Red Cross, San Francisco Chapter

Aids Emergency Fund (AEF) was one of the nation’s earliest responders to AIDS. In the summer of 1982, AEF began providing emergency financial assistance to people who had been fired and evicted by panicked employers and landlords because they showed symptoms of a mysterious and deadly illness.

Since then, AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) has provided nearly $25,000,000 in emergency financial assistance to people facing the challenges of living with debilitating HIV and AIDS. This has been made possible by the overwhelming support from the San Francisco community. AEF's very low overhead is covered by corporate and foundation gifts, which means 100% of all funds from individuals and community events goes directly to clients in need.

Each year approximately 2,500 low-income San Franciscans get help from AEF – enabling them to maintain housing and utility services, make medical co-payments, and meet other critical expenses while they are too sick to work. And, AEF works closely with more than 40 other AIDS service agencies in San Francisco to assure that its emergency assistance is coupled with referrals to other organizations that provide meals, counseling, subsidized housing and other longer-term assistance.

Now, it's our chance to give back to AEF!

San Francisco Marriott
4th & Mission
6:30pm – 10pm

An Evening of Cocktails, Hors D’oeuvres, Dinner and Dancing Marking AEF’s 25 Years and $25 Million of support for people with HIV/AIDS

Tickets: $195 per person
For More Info: 415.558.6999 x3

Click Here For More Info

Volunteer Now!

The Board of Supervisors voted to 6-5 to indefinitely delay a decision on whether to allow recreation and park officials to invite bids from contractors to turn over three of the city's golf courses to private management. While I'm very glad the Board voted as they did, it is obvious there is no consensus of opinion about the future of golf in San Francisco.

Some San Franciscans strongly disapprove of the City operating golf courses. They say the money can more wisely be spent funding other programs, such as programs for the homeless. They point to city-operated golf courses as evidence that gentrification is gaining control of the City; that the City is in danger of becoming a gated society for the "haves" and a dumping ground for the "have-nots".

I disagree.

The role of our City should be to continuously move toward excellence and refinement and culture and sophistication. To do so is to make a commitment to excellence. We should strive to become a better educated and more refined population than we are today. We must always be committed to move in this direction.

The first game of golf for which records survive was played at Bruntsfield Links, in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1456, recorded in the archives of the Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society, now The Royal Burgess Golfing Society. It has always been a game for gentle people, peaceful people, educated people, refined people.

Contrary to the ill-informed ideas of some, golf is not a game for snobs. It is not a game for the rich. It is not a game for white people. Those are the accusations usually made against golf. None of them wash. They are all intellectually and factually empty arguments.

Additionally, the argument is sometimes made that the City would do better to stop spending money on maintaining golf courses when it can spend the money on the homeless. That is a dangerous and pathetic argument. It is dangerous in that it promotes a direction for the City's future that would eventually turn the entire City into one great big Glide Church. We would be world champions at being surrogate parents to dysfunctional crack addicts, petty criminals and those whose lot in life can be best described as "just plain lazy bums". We would become a giant Welfare Department.

If that ever came to pass, what do you think would happen to our tourist business? And if our income began to dry up, how in hell would we continue feeding all the homeless that would be attracted to the City. We would stop being a magnet to paying tourists and increasingly become a magnet to misfits and panhandlers.

Turning the golf courses into soccer fields, barbecue pits and sand boxes (as Sophie Maxwell wants to do) would be a step backwards, a step toward mediocrity and a step toward becoming a big, plain, ugly, poverty-infested and penniless town like so many we see the the Valley.

San Francisco must continue its long-standing vision to be a shining City upon a hill, a true example of one of America's great alabaster cities. We must work very hard to attract the brightest and best the world has to offer. We want people coming to San Francisco who have remarkable educations, who have vision, who have intelligence, who have refinement and gentility and who will help lead this City, this state and this nation into a brighter, better and more peaceful future.

We are at a crossroad. We can become that shining City on a hill ...

or

We can become America's largest welfare dumping ground and suffer a future full of wandering panhandlers and distant memories of the way it used to be. Sad. Very sad.

Keeping the golf courses and continuing to manage the golf courses is a move in the right direction and the best direction.

Preserve our urban style and defend our City's refinement. Don't drive away the producers and the providers in favor of the loafers, the sponges and those unfortunates who need someone to care for them throughout their lives. Don't turn San Francisco into California's State Mental Hospital.

Have you seen the construction site of the new Contemporary Jewish Museum lately?

It is going up on Mission between 3rd and 4th Streets near Yerba Buena Gardens.

The CJM’s new facility has undergone several major transformations in the last few weeks. The signature blue steel ‘skin’ is now installed on about 45% of the exterior, and currently, the construction team in the process of cutting 36 skylights out of the roof of the Special Events Gallery, which overlooks Yerba Buena Lane.

When the building is completed these skylights will cast an ever changing pattern of light throughout the Gallery where visitors will be able to enjoy sound installations, musical performances, and special events.

Designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, the new CJM building is an adaptive reuse of the historic Jesse Street Power Substation, which helped restore energy to San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.

The new 63,000-square-foot facility will enable the CJM to expand its mission of engaging audiences and artists in exploring contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas through innovative exhibitions and educational programs.

Read more about the new CJM building and it's renowned architect, Daniel Libeskind here.

Every morning I review a number of local blogs, emailed newsletters and, of course, the grand old San Francisco Chronicle. I have to admit that I don't read the print edition very much anymore (shame on me), but I do read the Chronicle's online alter-ego, SFGate.com.

In the photo: 891 Post Street. The apartment in which Dashiell Hammett lived (and where he wrote The Maltese Falcon) is circled in red.

Today I came across an interesting comment in San Francisco Gridskipper. It's a well-written comment and here it is:

Noir as we know it was born in San Francisco, in a studio apartment at 891 Post Street. Noir lives on today, and not just because one can still rent that apartment where Dashiell Hammett made his home. Walk the streets where the Tenderloin meets Nob Hill and Union Square (or, "Lower Nob Hill," if you will), and you can't help but encounter a few of these shadowy figures, bumped-off memories, and living nostalgia -- all done up in the best monochrome, with fog on the lens.

Read more about the fictional detective Sam Spade (the original Sam) here and more about The Maltese Falcon here.

On June 27th the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to urge the City College Registered Nursing Program to give San Francisco residents preference in admissions.

The Resolution, introduced by Supervisor Mirkarimi, was grounded on several important factual findings. The Resolution noted that only 38% of the 80 students admitted to the program for fall 2007 were residents of San Francisco and that the high demand for the program is such that all or most of the positions could be filled by San Francisco residents.

It was further found that other community colleges such as the College of San Mateo and the College of Marin consider residency in determining admissions to their registered nursing programs. Under the state Education Code, the Board of Governors of City College may impose restrictions on inter-district attendance pursuant to a finding that resident students are being displaced by students who do not reside in their district.

Pursuant to this authority, the Resolution

1) urges the City College of San Francisco Registered Nursing Program to petition the Board of Governors to allow the adoption of this preferential admission, and

2) urges the City College of San Francisco Registered Nursing Program to adopt a residency requirement giving preferential admission to San Francisco residents.

Vice President of the Community College Board, Julio Ramos, will be convening a hearing on this resolution before the Board of Trustees' Legislative Committee in August. For information on upcoming CCSF Board of Trustee meetings, please see www.ccsf.edu/Board/.

About the CCSF Nursing Program:

The program prepares students to work as registered nurses. Upon completion, the graduate will receive an Associate Degree in Nursing. The graduate is entitled to take the California State Board of Registered Nursing licensing exam.

The program offers a series of courses that combine academic classes on campus, skills practice in the nursing skills laboratory, and patient care experience in various hospitals and facilities in the San Francisco area. The courses are Fundamentals of Nursing, Pharmacology in Nursing, Nursing Skills Laboratory, Basic Medical-Surgical Nursing, Maternal and Newborn Care, Psychosocial Nursing, Nursing of Children, Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing and Trends and Issues in Nursing.

More information from CCSF Nursing Program

Every month Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi publishes one of the best and most informative San Francisco political affairs newsletters available from anybody. It is titled, simply, the District Five Report.

In the photo: Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. Photo courtesy of Luke Thomas, Fog City Journal

I don't live in the 5th supervisorial district, but I asked Ross if I could be subscribed to his District Five Report and I have been faithfully receiving it ever since. I very highly recommend this excellent monthly publication. If you would like to start receiving the District Five Report, send Ross an email:

Here is the list of up-coming San Francisco events published in Ross' July District Five Report. If you don't see activities for your part of the City, send an email to your supervisor and ask him or her to send you their monthly newsletter. If none is published ... well ... next time around elect a better candidate.

Upcoming Events

June 1 until September 30: Lens On Life, From Bamako To San Francisco Time: Wed-Sat 11.00am-6pm, Sunday 12.00pm-5.00pm Location: Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission Street This exhibition is a collection of photographs taken all over the African continent. The exhibition is organized by international curator Simon Njami and features the work of 22 photographers from the 2005 Bamako Biennale. For further information and for future programming check out the MOAD website at www.moadsf.org.

June 14 to July 28: San Francisco Improv Time: All Shows at 8:00 pm Location: African American Arts and Cultural Center, Buriel Clay Theater Performances: Revolving Madness, IMP, Big Yellow Bus, Sting Theory, 4 in 1, Razowsky and Clifford, The Transactors, and Un-Scripted Theater. For ticket and show information contact: , visit www.sfimprovfestival.com

Wednesdays, July 18 to August 22, NERT Training sponsored by The West Bay Conference Center Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, July 18th, July 25th, August 1st, August 8th, August 15th, and August 22nd. Location: The West Bay Conference Center, 1290 Fillmore St. at Eddy St. The West Bay Conference Center and the San Francisco Fire Department are hosting Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) training. The six classes are held on Wednesday evenings. All in the community are invited to attend. RSVP to or call . Are you interested in getting involved in disaster planning at your neighborhood level? If so, contact Regina Dick-Endrizzi at or

Tuesday, July 17: Park District Police Community Forum Time: 6:00 PM Location: Park Branch Library This Community Forum will cover on the recent Haight Street Fair. If you can't attend and want to provide the Captain with feedback. contact Park Police Station: ,

Every Wednesday, Starting July 18: Young Mothers United, support group for Formerly Incarcerated Young Mothers Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Location: Call Cria at the Center for Young Women's Development for location. Learn about your rights a young mother and community resources. Free food and childcare, and earn $25 dollars for every workshop. Contact: Cria,

Thursday, July 19: District Five Children's Art Show – Mo Magic Time: 5:00 to 7:30 pm Location: African American Arts and Cultural Center, 762 Fulton Street. Contact: Sheryl Davis, ,

July 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29: Color Struck – One Man Show, Written and Preformed by Donald Lacey Time: 8:00 pm (Sundays 7:00 pm) Location: African American Arts and Cultural Center, Buriel Clay Theater For ticket and show information call or

Saturday, July 21: Koshland Park Community Workday Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Location: Koshland Park, located at the corner of Page and Buchanan streets. Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group is sponsoring a community workshop that includes planting, watering, composting, and more. The event will be cancelled if it rains. For more information contact Nora Brereton at 424-5770.

July 21st, August 4th and 18th, and September 1st and 15th: Hayes Valley Historic Miniature Golf Extravaganza Time: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Location: Patricia's Green, Hayes Valley (Hayes Street and Octavia Street). Artist group Wowhaus has created a mini-golf installation for the Hayes Valley neighborhood and the city to enjoy. Using handmade clubs, the public is invited to play a nine-hole course in which each hole represents a different stage in the development of Hayes Valley. Admission is free, and the course is open every other Saturday from July 21st to September 15th from 1:00 pm to 5:00pm. For more information about this group of artists and the project, go to www.thewowhouse.com.

Tuesday, July 24, The Bubble Lady at Western Addition Reading Center Time: 1:00 pm Location: 762 Fulton St, 2nd Floor (at Webster) The Bubble Lady entertains and delights children of all ages with bubble sculptures, bubble stories, and her bubble family! All ages welcome. Contact info: 440-0206

Tuesday, July 24: Job Get Hooked Up! Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Location: King-Garvey Communtiy Room, 1680 Eddy Street Looking for a Job? Need to get your driver's License? Thinking about going back to School? Asian Neighborhood Design, Goodwill, Bayview Hope Trucking, MYEEP, Communities Of Opportunity/CityBuild, New Directions, JVS, City College, SFSU and more. There will also be on the spot medical and dental services. Information on how to get your Social Security Card, California DL/ID, Birth Certificate, and Health Insurance provided. For more information call .

Friday, August 3: Youth Showcase at City Hall – Mo Magic Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Location: City Hall Rotunda, 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place Contact: Sheryl Davis, ,

Friday, August 3rd: Job and Health Resource Fair, Sponsored by Assemblymember Mark Leno Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Location: Hiram Johnson State Building at 455 Golden Gate Avenue Assemblymember Mark Leno invites you to a Job and Health Resource Fair. The event will include access to many companies from around the Bay Area and free health screenings. Call 557-3013 for more information or to RSVP.

August 4th through 26th, 14th Annual AfroSolo Arts Festival August 4th: Free Jazz Concert in Yerba Buena Gardens August 11th: Visual Artist Salon at African American Art and Culture Complex August 18th: United in Health Community Health Fair August 23rd: 25th: Black Voices Performances Series August 26th: Concert Featuring Hope Briggs and Paula West For more information contact Thomas Robert Simpson, , or www.afrosolo.org.

Tuesday, August 7th: Sixth Annual Western Addition National Night Out, Catch Me Doing Something Positive Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Location: Hayes Valley Playground at 699 Hayes Street. Join Supervisor Mirkarimi, for the Sixth Annual Western Addition National Night Out. The goals of this event include increasing crime awareness, generating support for anti-crime programs, strengtheninig police-community partnerships, and sending a message that there are many positive acitivies in the community. The Night Out is sponsered by Community Partners United, Supervisor Mirkarimi, the Mayor's Office, Hayes Valley Playground, Northern Station, Mo' Magic, and Safety Network. For more information contact Community Partners United at 252-9644.

Saturday, August 18: United in Health 2: Artist, Healthcare Workers and Community. Presentd by AfroSolo Festival, Supervisor Mirkraimi and Mo' Magic. Time: 10:30 am to 4:00 pm Location: African American Arts and Cultural Center, 762 Fulton. AfroSolo's mission is to nurture, promote and present African American Art and Culture through solo performances and the visual and literary arts. The health fair is a day-long event to include a communtiy forum focusing on the cessation of violence in our neighborhood and panel discussions related to women, men and youth health issuses. Participants: African American Wellness Projects, Bact to Sports, California Pacific Medical Center, CHALK, Koshland Park Community Learning Garden, Huckleberry's Cole Street Clinic, San Francisco Aids Foundation - Black Broghers Esteem Program, San Francisco Health Plan, St. Mary Medical Center, The Women's Community Clinic, UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. To participate or for more information contact Thomas Robert Simpson, , , or www.afrosolo.org.

Sunday, September 2nd: 40th Anniversary Summer of Love Free Concert! Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Location: Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park There will be a free concert to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love. The event will include world-class musical acts and entertainers that will represent the spirit and energy of the 1967 Summer of Love. The concert is sponsored by the 2bl Multimedia. For more information call , email: , Website: www.2blrecords.com/summeroflove40th