Alert Neighbor Catches Amazon Package Prowler on Camera

by Marc Levinson

I caught the package thief who has been dumping empty parcels in my planter. When I saw him I asked him to put them down, took a photo and took off since he had a knife in hand to open the packages. He claimed they were his but he was opening them in the bushes far from any stoop, odds seemed very low that this was the case.

I returned later to find the empty packages addressed to different places along the block. (1400 of Golden Gate Ave.) The police didn't seem very interested so just keep an eye out and stay safe. Confronting him was a bad idea on my part, I would recommend against this.

Hair: Dark Hat Under Hood

Top: Grey Hoodie, Black Shirt

Bottom: Black Pants

I have reported this information to the police.

Editor's Note: Thanks to Marc for allowing reproduction of this photo, but it should be noted that there may be more than one Amazon package prowler.

The Westside Observer has reported several times about the presence of package thieves, and we continue to request that readers share any information they might have about them with us. Marc originally shared this photo on Nextdoor, and others commented that this man looks like the one who was seen in their neighborhood doing the same crime.

Since package mail theft is increasing, and you might try posting an instructive sign to the mail carrier DO NOT LEAVE PARCEL MAIL ON THIS STOOP, PORCH OR LANDING sign on your mailbox or front porch. They will leave instead the pink colored 3849 Delivery notice in your mail box. One can use that pink 3849 to claim the parcel from the neighborhood Post Office.

Marc Levenson is a concerned neighbor in San Francisco

October 2018

Proposed Medical Cannabis Dispensaries in the Sunset District

2505 Noriega Street Update

On July 13, 2017 the Planning Commission approved a Conditional Use authorization to allow a Medical Cannabis Dispensary (MCD), the Apothecarium, to open at 2505 Noriega Street at 32nd Avenue. Two appeals have been filed in objection to the approved project. The Board of Supervisors held a hearing regarding the two appeals on Tuesday, October 3, 2017. (As we go to press). In the meantime, send your comments to Katy.Tang@sfgov.org, who has promised to take all comments into consideration.

October 2017

Art Proposals for the Westside Pump
Station Public Art Project

April 28, 2017 to May 12, 2017

Aileen Barr

Jovi Schnell

Jet Martinez

Proposal Viewing Location

Ortega Branch Library

3223 Ortega Street

The San Francisco Arts Commission is working with the Public Utilities Commission to commission a signature public artwork for the Westside Pump Station, located at the corner of Sloat Boulevard and the Great Highway. The newly commissioned artwork is intended to beautify and complement the architecture of the building, and will be part of the improvement project at the Westside Pump Station. Three artists were chosen as finalists by a Public Art Selection Panel to create site-specific proposals for this opportunity: Aileen Barr, Jet Martinez, and Jovi Schnell.

May 2017

Public Works crews work to stabilize the hillside along O'Shaughnessy Boulevard between Malta Drive and Del Vale Avenue

Recent storms forced the closure of O'Shaughnessy to traffic, including the 44-O'Shaughnessy Muni bus line, that was temporarily detoured while Public Works crews stabilize a cliff that has been eroding in recent rain storm. There have been no reports of injury or property damage.

The rocky slope in danger of sliding is situated on the west side of O'Shaughnessy across from Glen Canyon Park. Geologists assessed the hillside for potential rockslides, and recommended that loose rocks near the top be knocked away Work crews began knocking loose rock off of the hillside beginning on January 19.

Geologists will conduct a thorough study of the area after the O'Shaughnessy area is stabilized, though more rains and winds could cause closures in the area again, until the department to develops a long term solution.

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After Sea Levels Rise

Sea-level rise is coming. Even if we keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above historic norms—the benchmark for avoiding catastrophic climate warming—we may still see oceans creep four feet farther inland by 2100 and rise 20 feet by as soon as 2200. That's according to a new study published in the July issue of Science.

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Dog Management Rule on Hold at Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The National Park Service is putting on hold the signing of the Record of Decision and the publication of the Final Rule for Dog Management at Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The decision comes in response to requests from members of Congress to extend the waiting period for the Final Environmental Impact Statement. This pause will also allow the National Park Service to conduct a review of certain records being released in response to an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request related to the park's Dog Management plan and rule.

To date, the National Park Service has released more than 260,000 pages of documents dating as far back as 1999 in response to the FOIA request. As part of its ongoing release of records under FOIA, in late-December 2016, the Park Service learned that a former park employee had used personal email for official communications related to the Dog Management Plan planning process. Upon learning this, the Park Service contacted the former employee and obtained his cooperation to conduct a search of his personal email accounts for agency records related to the Dog Management Plan planning process. As a result of that search, the Park Service recovered approximately 137 pages of emails that were responsive to the FOIA request. Those FOIA records will be released and posted today at https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/management/dog-management-records.htm, "Records Released January, 2017".

The Park Service will conduct an independent inquiry into whether personal email was used in a manner that is not consistent with applicable laws and policies, and if so, whether its use affected the planning and rulemaking processes. The Park Service will report the results of the internal review to the public. To help ensure an independent and impartial review, the inquiry will be conducted by National Park Service personnel who were not involved in the dog management planning process.

Further action under the National Environmental Policy Act and the rulemaking process for the Dog Management Plan will await the findings and conclusions of the independent review.

February 2017

SFPD Rolls Out October Speed Limit Enforcement Plan

Citywide Effort Part of New Campaign to Reduce Unsafe Speeds on High-Crash Streets

The San Francisco Safe Speeds Campaign will begin this October and will continue through the fall of 2017.

SFPD will be enforcing the speed limits on targeted areas that have high speeding and collision rates that were identified by the SFMTA, Department of Public Health, and SFPD.

The goal of the Safe Speeds Campaign is to protect pedestrians who walk or bike, as they account for over half of the traffic deaths in San Francisco. A citywide map of the areas being enforced will be shared with the public in hope of spreading awareness to change dangerous driving habits.

When the Safe Speeds SF campaign ends in fall 2017, city agencies will have new data and analysis about the role of enforcement in citywide speed deterrence. The map below portrays the corridors for High Visibility Enforcement for Safe Speed Campaign. Visit the Safe Speeds SF Campaign website for more information:

www.sfmta.com/about-sfmta/blog/safe-speed-ads-hit-airwaves

October 2016

Settlement Reached — Forest Knolls Gets New Neighbors

After a lengthy dispute with Mount Sutro Wood Owners Association which lead to a battle in Superior Court that kept the project from proceeding as approved, “Outlook Project” settlement has been reached. Approved for development in early 2013 with a total 34-units (24 duplexes and 10 townhomes), at the end of Crestmont Drive on the western slope of Mount Sutro.

The settlement,reduces the units from 34 to 29, with five (5) duplexes will be reduced in height by a story as single-family homes.

May 2015

Renewed Controls On Massage Parlors?

All massage establishments will have to have a Department of Public Health establishment permit and all new massage establishments will have to receive Conditional Use approval with certain exceptions if Supervisor Tang’s legislation returning land use and regulatory controls over massage establishments to the city’s jurisdiction. This will allow neighborhood notification and input of their opening.

If you would like to send letters or emails of support for the legislation, please send them to the members of the Land Use & Transportation Committee noting your support of Files 141302 and 141303.

Supervisor Scott Wiener
Supervisor Malia Cohen
Supervisor Jane Kim
Supervisor Katy Tang

Andrea Ausberry (Clerk)

May 2015

Parkmerced Terminates 32 Janitors and Handymen

SEIU USWW janitors and handymen went on the picket line on Tuesday April 14, at Parkmerced management brought in a new contractor who refused to allow them to continue their jobs. Thirty two workers were terminated — many have worked for over 20 years at the large housing project. Replacement workers are being brought into the complex to take their jobs. Many residents of Parkmerced have voiced their support for the workers.

May 2015

Likely Ballot Challenge to Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb) Filed

April 29th, Share Better San Francisco filed an initiative ordinance for the November 2015 ballot to tighten regulations on short-term residential rentals to tourists, such as those offered by HomeAway, VRBO and Airbnb, and provide the tools City Planning staff say are needed to provide effective enforcement of the law.

· Imposes fines on hosting platforms that list illegal or unregistered short-term rental (STR) units

· Requires quarterly reports of rental nights from hosts and hosting platforms

· Caps the number of allowable rental nights at 75 per year, hosted or unhosted, to discourage conversion of units to full-time STR use

· Allows ‘regular folks’ who may be directly impacted by illegal short-term rentals access to an effective enforcement alternative only if the City elects not to act on valid complaints

· Provides notification to neighbors and HOAs when STR registration is issued

The City Attorney has two weeks to prepare an official summary of the initiative. “We expect to begin gathering signatures in mid-May and will submit more than the 9,700 valid signatures required by July 6th,” said Dale Carlson, from the public relations firm, Carlson Advisors.

May 2015