Know the story of this photo? Contact us. Permission to use this image from OpenSFHistory.org, and outsidelands.org
May 2020
West Portal: Twin Peaks Tunnel with Christmas Decorations | Nov. 18, 1958
Permission to use this image from the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Committee
November 2019
Cow in pasture by Sagamore Street and Capitol Avenue | 1915
Donor description: View from Capitol and Sagamore. Circa 1915. Looking south. View of cow out to pasture. Permission to use this image was obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
November 2019
Midtown Terrace | May 26, 1958
Newscopy: “LATEST BIG S.F. HOME DEVELOPMENT—Scene of San Francisco’s latest major home development now under construction on the western slopes of Twin Peaks and Sutro Forest. First of the new Sunstream Homes in the Midtown Terrace project will be opened to the public June 4. Mayor Christopher will officiate at the opening ceremonies.” Permission from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
October 2019
Sloat Boulevard, May 25, 1917
Shifting track on Sloat Blvd., west of 19th Avenue. By Permission from the San Francisco Public Utilities Photo Center
September 2019
West Portal Avenue shopping district | Mar. 4, 1944
Printed by permission: SF History Center, SF Public Library.
June 2019
Ocean Avenue Between Faxon Avenue and Jules Avenue, Looking West | June 7, 1919 |
Printed by permission: SF Metropolitan Transportation Agency.
June 2019
Celebrating the L-Line’s 100th Birthday!
L Line Streetcar 170 and White Brand Motor Coach Possibly From 2 Ocean Bus Line at 48th Avenue and Taraval Street | May 15, 1925
The L Taraval is one of the SF Municipal Railway’s original “letter” lines. The L line began as a streetcar and was converted to light rail as a part of the Muni Metro subway project, with Muni Metro opening for full operation in 1982. Prior to the Muni Metro subway, the J-K-L-M-N (and many other Muni streetcar routes) traveled on the surface of Market Street to the Ferry Building.
Today’s L Taraval travels from the Muni Metro Embarcadero station through the Twin Peaks Tunnel, and then to the San Francisco Zoo in the Outer Sunset via Taraval Street.
Beginning operation in 1919, the L started as a streetcar that ran just from West Portal to Taraval at 33rd Avenue. In 1923, the line was extended through the Twin Peaks Tunnel to the Ferry Building and out into the Outer Sunset to Taraval at 48th Avenue. By 1937 the line had been extended all the way to the zoo and the popular Fleishhacker Pool.
Along with the other Muni Metro lines, the route was converted to light rail in a several-phase process that took from the 1970s until 1982.
More information on the origins of Muni routes can be found in the book “Inside Muni” by John McKane and Anthony Perles.
Printed by permission: SF Metropolitan Transportation Agency.
May 2019
WPA’s West Portal Branch Celebrates 80 Years
May 5, 1939 | Published by permission of SF Public Library Historical Photo Center
The first West Portal Branch Library was built on a parcel of land which had been transferred from the Board of Education to the San Francisco Public Library in February of 1936. The Branch was opened to the public on May 2, 1936. Just three years later, on May 8, 1939, the Branch was re-opened in a new building designed by architect Frederick H. Meyer and constructed by the Works Progress Administration for a cost of $109,090.
West Portal Branch was designed in a Mediterranean style with colorful red, ceramic roof tiles. Inside, delicate paintings grace the ceiling beams. (sfpl.org)
A WPA-Federal Arts Project stencil from 1939 decorates the children’s and main reading rooms
“Please join us for our Annual Open House and celebrate the 80th Birthday of the grand opening of our WPA building! We will have coffee, snacks, plenty of surprises, a variety of activities throughout the day, and, of course, birthday cake!”
11am Children’s Book Author/Illustrator Lisa Brown (Children’s Room)
12pmWoody LaBounty History Talk (Main Reading Room)
1pm Open Mic~Share library love, anecdotes, and local history (Main Reading Room)
12pm Birthday Hat Making (Children’s Room)
2pm Performance (Main Reading Room) Conservatory of Music
3pm Flying Angels Chinese Dance Company Performance (Children’s Room)
April 2019
Golden Gate Park/Monterey Line
1 Monterey Park Line, Motor Coach 06 with Body Built by Meister Brothers in Sacramento | August 19, 1919 | Published by permission of SFMTA Photo Center..
March 2019
Ocean Beach Looking South | 1961
Looking Towards Ocean Beach from Sutro Heights | October 13, 1961 | Published by permission of SFMTA Photo Center.
Where Is It Now?
In the Westside Observer July-August 2010 edition, this photo was identified as "Westwood Park Grocery Company’s building under construction (not before 1917). Anyone knowing the address or date of this building please contact editor@westsideobserver.com. Photo: Gabriel Moulin,"
In the June 2013 edition, reader Grant Wright asked if it could be Ocean and Granada? He sent us this recent photo of the view at Ocean and Granada.
But long-time Westsider, Trak Trennoche, writes to express a different point of view:
I believe this may be the corner of Ocean Ave. and Faxon Ave. I grew up 1 block up, left onto Wildwood Way…1955 to 1961…Crossing Ocean Ave. here to St. Emydius Grammar School gradded 1959. To the right not in photo was Littleman’s (big for then) Grocery Store…with butcher Dept. (lamb chops…25 cents each).
My buddy was eventually a barber in the left side of this corner Bldg, if not it was the next bldg…further left or west was Homewood Terrace on Ocean Ave., …an orphanage…our back yard on Wildwood bordered the huge grounds and many days was the short cut down to Ocean Ave. to school much of the time. I recall the blackbirds doing violent diving attacks on me…reminding me today of the Bolinas movie The Birds with Tipi Hedron…I was a rock attacker with little luck hitting them.
I had sadness for these kids living in these big old bldgs and no famil. I had it good relatively with a basket ball hoop in our yard…
I was a 50’s Inglesider, we were older before our time and gang members already in mid grammar school…daily alcohol, tobacco, and 2nd story jobs, and much…well…anyway we had many Ingleside hideout alleys...The “K” Ingleside (Fireside) was our wheels, riding on the back where the rope to the trolly was our access to stop the street car where we wanted…door to door…irritated the drivers having to get out andd reset the trolly when we pulled it off the overhead wire with the rope…clutching the rear of the streetcar…just enough room for our toes to clutch the back of the street car. It took several “K” cars to get our gang over to West Portal or even down town to Chinatown to buy and resell firecrackers and cherry bombs from the “Mole”; down in the underground alleys of Chinatown. Intrigue for sure. So much to say…stories of the 1950’s. Westwood started and ended on Miramar like a left or west wnf…Eastwood ws its right side or East counterpart street.
Dudley Perkins Jr. (son of Sr. and owner of the1st Harley Davidson dealer in the USA)…lived at corner of Miramar and Wildwood Way. I eventually rode same, different gang.
—Trak Trennoche
February 2019
Exterior of San Francisco Fire Department Engine 39 at 1091 Portola Drive • Apr. 17, 1941
Reproduced by permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library. Curbed San Francisco (sfcurbed.com) features this firehouse :
The San Francisco Fire Department dates back to earliest days of the city, founded in 1849 after a massive Christmas Eve fire destroyed 50 buildings in fledgling San Francisco. Originally all volunteer, the official city fire department was founded in 1866 and has grown to include 44 stations throughout the city. One of those stations, Engine 39 on Portola Drive, used to boast a pretty darn impressive garden behind the station house.
Engine Company No. 39 was formed in 1908 at a station on Geary Street, but was relocated to Portola Avenue in Miraloma Park in 1923. The original station was made of brick and featured a massive tower, made even more imposing since there weren't many other buildings nearby. Houses were soon built up around it, but the fire station maintained a larger lot on the block. Behind the firehouse was a massive garden, planted and maintained by the firemen. Complete with terraces, radiating planting beds, and a cool hedge spelling out 'SFFD', the station's garden was really something to behold.
In 1955, the station was heavily remodeled - the tower was removed and the whole building was covered in stucco. It's been changed again since, with different window openings and a sign ledge added above the garage doors. Somewhere along the line the garden was planted with big trees, so the terraced plots are no more.
December 2018
Ocean Avenue at Junipero Serra Blvd | April 10,1953
Ocean Avenue. Newscopy: "HOW'S THAT AGAIN?—This little gem of traffic planning is to be found at the corner of Ocean-av and Junipero Serra-blvd, and if you occasionally see motorists driving away from that corner, eyes crossed and mumbling to themselves, here's why. In the left foreground, a sign directs drivers to stay away from the rails. In the right foreground, a sign invites them onto the rails, designating the area as a 'Left Turn Lane.' And to make it complete, at the corner is a sign (arrow) saying, 'No Left Turn'—in history's first example of a street with a split personality." (News Call Bulletin) Reproduced by permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
November 2018
Reconstruction of Twin Peaks Tunnel | 1976
Reconstruction of West Portal Station to Expand Passenger Waiting Area and Raise Platforms for New Muni Metro System and New Light Rail Vehicles in 1976 and 1977.| November 16, 1976 Reproduction by permission of SFMTA Photo Gallery
October 2018
Sutro Car House & Sutro Bath Depot | August 10,1942
Terminus of 2 Clement Line and Louis’ Restaurant near Sutro Bath House. The Sutro Car House was built in 1896 on California Street between 32nd Avenue and 33rd Avenue. This structure was originally built to store streetcars for the Clement Street Line. In 1902, United Railroads formed in part by incorporated the Sutro Railway. This included the Sutro Car House and the Clement Line. The car house structure stood until 1951, although the 1 California / Ferries and Cliff Line had been cut back after a landslide in 1925. Reproduction by permission of SFMTA Photo Gallery
Sept 2018
Railway Streetcar Tracks on Junipero Serra
Improvement to Shared Municipal and Market Street Railway Streetcar Tracks at Sloat and Junipero Serra Boulevards | December 4, 1929 • Reproduction by permission of SFMTA Photo Gallery
July 2018
Railway Streetcar Tracks on Junipero Serra
Improvement to Shared Municipal and Market Street Railway Streetcar Tracks View North on Junipero Serra with Commodore Sloat Elementary on Right
December 4, 1929. Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library
June 2018
Construction of the West Portal Tunnel
WEST PORTAL TUNNEL | July 14, 1916 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library
May 2018
THE FUNERAL CAR | March 1903
THE FUNERAL CAR March 1903 Funeral Streetcar 2 at Geneva Car House Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library
In 1902, after the City prohibited burials within the City limits, funeral streetcars were instituted to carry mourners and coffins out to the cemeteries in Colma. They were at the peak of service between about 1900 and the 1920s. There were two lines, roughly following the 14 Mission route, a variation took San Jose Avenue in the Glen Park vicinity for a portion of the trip.
There were some funeral homes and mortuaries near the intersection of Valencia and Mission as there are today, and the streetcars stopped there to pick up the deceased in the coffin directly from the funeral home. Mourners could get on the car from funeral homes and ride with it out to Colma
Remember When Histoic Photo Identified
Scrolling through the subject page on your website, I noted the April 2014 photo taken in St. Francis Wood. You asked for information, though I'm sure by now you already have answers. This is the information I can offer, if it will help:
The visible houses are on San Leandro Way, between Portola and St. Francis Blvd. The observation perspective is through back-to-back vacant lots on San Fernando Way and San Leandro Way.
The large white house seen from the back (on the right hand of your photo) is definitely 50 San Leandro Way, built circa 1925.
The two houses visible from the front are (on the left) 45 San Leandro Way, built circa 1915 and 51 San Leandro Way, built circa 1917.
The vacant lot on San Fernando Way is now occupied by 35 San Fernando, built circa 1926, and 36 San Leandro Way, questionably built in 1923. I do not believe that is the correct building date, because if it were built in 1923, the lot wouldn't be vacant in this photo.
So my best guess is that this photo was taken between 1918 and 1925.
Linda Feldman, 14th & Vicente in West Portal
Editor's Note: Thank you Linda, we will pass this first-hand historical information on to the San Francisco History Center where the San Francisco Historical Photo Collection at the SF Public Library granted our permission to publish the photo.
April 2018
Lincoln & Funston 1944
THE FUNSTON BONEYARD | March 20, 1944 A United Railroads / Market Street Railway facility for storing old streetcars on Lincoln Way between Funston Avenue and 14th Avenue. Also known as the "Lincoln Bone Yard," and the "H Street Car House," although a car house was never built here. | February 3, 1918 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library
March 2018
Portola & West Portal 1918
Opening Day Celebration for the K Ingleside Line with Large Crowd at Portola Drive and West Portal Avenue Half of Panorama | February 3, 1918 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library
February 2018
West Portal | 1962
Streetcar 1 Restored for Muni Golden 50th Anniversary Exiting West Portal of Twin Peaks Tunnel and Signed for the 'A Geary' Line | October 4, 1962 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library
December 2017
Balboa Park 1928
Company House and Restaurant Near Elkton Shops | October 1928 | Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library
November 2017
West Portal | 1949
West Portal of Twin Peaks Tunnel View From Lenox Way and Ulloa Street | April 29, 1949 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library
October 2017
Sunnyside Powerhouse, 1904
Sunnyside Powerhouse with Turrets and Chimney on Monterey Boulevard View Towards Baden | Circa January 1904 Published by permission of the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency Photo Library
September 2017
West Portal 1917
Men standing in a field, West Portal Avenue. Dated 1917 Published by permission of the San Francisco History Center of the SF Public Library
July/August 2017
Laguna Honda Station | 1927
Laguna Honda Station with Municipal Bus 019 Parked in Front | March 17, 1927 | 1 Monterey Park busline. Photo Courtesy of the SFMTA
June 2017
Sutro Baths 1897
Sutro Baths (Looking South) 1897 Photo: W. C. Billington. Published courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org)
On March 14, 1896, the Sutro Baths were opened to the public as the world's largest indoor swimming pool establishment. The baths were built on the western side of San Francisco by wealthy entrepreneur and former mayor of San Francisco (1894–1896) Adolph Sutro.
The structure was situated in a small beach inlet below the Cliff House, also owned by Adolph Sutro at the time. Both the Cliff House and the former baths site are now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, operated by the United States National Park Service.
The baths struggled for years, mostly due to the very high operating and maintenance costs. Shortly after closing, a fire in 1966 destroyed the building while it was in the process of being demolished. All that remains of the site are concrete walls, blocked off stairs and passageways, and a tunnel with a deep crevice in the middle. The cause of the fire was determined to be arson. Shortly afterwards, the developers left San Francisco and claimed insurance money.
May 2017
Wreck of the SS Ohioan
The SS Ohioan was a cargo ship built in 1914 for the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company. During World War I, she was taken over by the United States Navy and commissioned as USS Ohioan.
Ohioan was built by the Maryland Steel Company as one of eight sister ships ordered by the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company for inter-coastal service cargo via the Panama Canal. When the canal was temporarily closed by landslides in late 1915, Ohioan sailed via the Straits of Magellan until the canal reopened in mid 1916. During World War I, USS Ohioan carried cargo, animals, and a limited number of passengers to France, and returned over 8,000 American troops after the Armistice, including the highly decorated American soldier Alvin York. After Ohioan's naval service ended in 1919, she was returned to her original owners.
Ohioan's post-war career was relatively uneventful until 8 October 1936, when she ran aground near Seal Rock at the Golden Gate, the entrance to San Francisco Bay. Attempts to free the ship were unsuccessful and, because of the close proximity of the wreck to San Francisco, the grounded Ohioan drew large crowds to watch salvage operations. Angelo J. Rossi, the mayor of San Francisco, toured the wreck on 19 October. Ohioan's hulk caught fire in March 1937, and the wreck broke into two pieces in a storm in December. As late as 1939, some of Ohioan's rusty steel beams were still visible on the rocks. (wikipedia)
April 2017
The Twin Peaks Tunnel Opens 99 Years Ago
Opening Day of Twin Peaks Tunnel Showing Mayor Rolph at Controls of Streetcar 11 Emerging From West Portal of Twin Peaks Tunnel • February 3, 1918 Published by permission of the SFMTA Photo Archives • SFMTA.com/photo • Amazing video of the construction and opening.
Twin Peaks Tunnel Opens
The Twin Peaks Tunnel is a 2.27-mile (3.65 km)-long light rail/streetcar tunnel runs under the Twin Peaks and is used by the K Ingleside, L Taraval, M Ocean View, and T Third Street Muni Metro lines. The S Castro Shuttle also uses the tunnel for game day runs.
The tunnel was opened on February 3, 1918. The eastern entrance to the tunnel is located near the intersection of Market and Castro streets in the Castro neighborhood, and the western entrance is located at West Portal Avenue and Ulloa Street.
The service through the tunnel has evolved from streetcars into light rail, and while there are longer light-rail tunnels elsewhere (such as Portland's Robertson Tunnel), the Twin Peaks Tunnel remains one of the world's longest streetcar or light-rail tunnels.There are two stations along the tunnel, Forest Hill Station, near the western end, and the now disused Eureka Station, near the eastern end.
When the Muni Metro system and Market Street Subway were built, they were connected to the Twin Peaks Tunnel to be used by the K Ingleside, L Taraval and M Ocean View lines. The Eureka Station was closed, and the Metro lines stop at the nearby Castro Street Station instead.
The original eastern entrance to the tunnel in the middle of Market Street at Castro was removed and new entrances were placed on the sides of the street further up the block, though no Metro or streetcar lines use them in regular service (they were used during construction of the Market Street subway and are occasionally used in non-revenue service such as rerouting trains around construction projects). Instead, trains continue directly from the Market Street Subway into the tunnel without going above ground. West Portal Station, which was originally a surface stop outside of the tunnel's western entrance, was rebuilt as a high-platform station located just inside of the entrance.
Info courtesy wikipedia.com
Dec. 4, 1942
Photo published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
February 2017
The El Rey Theater
Click Here for front page story on the El Rey's current status
Dec. 4, 1942
Photo published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
February 2017
Fox Theater
Fox theater on Market Street advertising a sale before being demolished in 1963. The Fox Theatre was the largest movie palace in San Francisco from its opening in 1929 until its demolition in 1963. On the 50th anniversary of this sad event, some extremely rare footage was unearthed in the Oddball archive of the interior of the theater as well as the Fox's closing night party featuring Hedda Hopper.
Photo published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
December 2016 / January 2017
Irving Theater
Irving Theater | December 10, 1942. Opened: June 10, 1926
First film: “Madam Behave!” starring Julian Eltinge (a famous drag queen) Location: Irving Street, on the north side between 14th and 15th Avenues. Sunset District. Closed: July 8, 1962. The Irving, with its stunning sign that lit up the Inner Sunset at night, was torn down in 1962. An apartment building now occupies the lot. (Info courtesy outsidelands.org) Published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
October 2016
Parkside Theater
Exterior of Parkside Theater | Dec. 28, 1928
Notes Written on back: "Taraval near 19th St."
Published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
October 2016
St. Francis Wood
St. Francis Wood district | 1912 Source: Greg Gaar. Published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
September 2016
Lake Merced Boulevard
C.W.A. Workers at Lake Merced Boulevard | San Francisco Call | Jan. 24, 1934 San Francisco Department of Public Works. Photograph published by permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
19th Avenue and Ortega • April 10, 1934 Infant shelter on east side of 19th Avenue, south of Ortega. Published by permission San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
June 2016
Glen Park
Elise Beneke Tietz with cow in Glen Canyon
Date: 1909 Elise Beneke Tietz with cow in Glen Canyon 1909. (Note with photo) Valborg C. Tietz, owner of picture (above). The lady pictured was my mother-in-law: Elise Beneke, who later married Alexander William Tietz in 1910. Her husband Alexander Tietz was crushed by 2 railroad cars at the Santa Fe yards in 1920, where he worked. He was taken out beyond the ‘Three-mile Limit’ where he was found. There never was anyone charged with throwing the wrong switch. The family was paid $9000 for his death by the Santa Fe R. R. She never re-married, and lived with her son Wilhelm or ‘Bill,’ who was my husband. We married in 1955. She lived with us for 25 years, and died at age 86 in 1976. This picture was taken of her in the Glen Canyon, where there was a dairy for years. The cows were quite tame, as you can see. The Good Brothers owned the dairy.”
Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
May 2016
West Peaks Tunnel Construction
Construction along West Portal Avenue
Date: Undated.
Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
April 2016
West Peaks Tunnel ('50s)
Twin Peaks tunnel from the West Portal access
Date: 195-.
Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
March 2016
Lake Merced Blvd. Construction
Construction of a road around Lake Merced.
Date: Sept. 12, 1934.
Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
February 2016
Gold Mine Hill
View from Twin Peaks.
Date 1953, Mar. 26 THE VACANT HEIGHTS--Big, empty hill in center of this picture is Gold Mine Hill, one of three vacant heights on which Redevelopment Agency proposes to build 2300 dwellings. In foreground is Miraloma Park, just beyond that is O'Shaughnessy-blvd and dropping off from the boulevard is Glen Canyon, part of Diamond Heights development which will become big park under present plan. To the left are Twin Peaks, with Midtown Terrace at far left. Photo was taken from Mt. Davidson. Reproduced by permission of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
Corrected Error Please be advised that you have the wrong date on your Gold Mine Hill photo.You have it, "View from Twin Peaks. Date 1924 Mar. 26" when, in fact, the date was most likely 1953 due to the fact that the homes at the time on Midcrest Way were not built until around 1953. Also, those homes pictured in the distance on Glenview Drive and Dawnview Way were built in 1951. (I know because we moved into our new home on Dawnview Way in 1951 right after it was built.) Marc Paulsen, La Honda, California
December 2015
View from Twin Peaks | Mar. 26, 1924.
Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
November 2015
Eureka Valley
From Twin Peaks: Eureka Valley 1884 Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
October 2015
West Portal
Completion of the West Portal Tunnel • Apr 4, 1920 Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Written on the back: “Apr. 4, 1920. West Portal of Twin Peaks Tunnel”
September 2015
Stonestown Apartments
Construction of Stonestown Apartment Buildings • July 2, 1949 Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Newscopy: “A small city is rapidly springing up west of 19th-av, on the shores of Lake Merced. It’s ‘Stonestown,’ 23-million-dollar project of Ellis and Henry Stoneson, and this photo shows the rapid progress being made on the four 10-story apartment houses (in the rear) and the smaller two- and three-story buildings in the foreground. Company spokesmen say the smaller buildings will be ready for occupancy about Aug. 1, while it will be another six months before the apartment houses are completed. Work on a complete shopping and recreational area will begin soon.
“The project will consist of 28 smaller apartment houses, the four large ones, each with 90 apartments, and an extensive shopping center. Between 3000 and 3500 persons will live in ‘Stonestown’ in the 783 rental units. The project covers 67 choice acres. The picture was taken from Vernon and Shields-sts, a hill just east of the project.”
July 2015
Sunset District 1945
View of the Sunset District from the Sunset Reservoir at 26th Avenue and Quintara Street • Nov. 24, 1945 Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Newscopy:
“Out we go to the Sunset District for today’s picture, which was taken, looking sort of southwesterly, from beside the Sunset Reservoir, at 26th-av and Quintara-st. In foreground are some of the Sunset’s famous sand dunes and brush, and a bit of 27th-av.”
Newscopy:
“UNPROTECTED Swollen with the increase of wartime population, the Sunset District of San Francisco is scattered with new homes - but the war which increased the population didn’t provide a like increase in fire protection. Actually the growing district has less men and equipment protecting it now than before the war, due to diversion to the waterfront and industrial areas. Plans for a new firehouse to serve it and the Parkside District are still waiting.”
June 2015
Parkmerced Lake Merced 1948
Parkmerced - Lake Merced 1948 • SFUSD Publications-San Francisco Social Studies Series
Notes: Written on back: “West of Twin Peaks (Lake Merced), Book 4, pp. 16-17 Published by permission from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
May 2015
Sunset District
Mound of sand at 32nd Avenue and Quintara Street in the Sunset District. Date: 1942 July 2.
Newscopy: “This is the problem no one is doing anything about: You are looking down 32nd-av from the corner of Quintara-st, the way Mr. Fixit saw it. The mound of sand is Quintara-st, and it gets bigger as it goes along. The barrier along the edge of the Anderson home on the corner is all that keeps Quintara-st out of their front yard. The houses here and on the other streets in this afflicted district, have to be painted sometimes twice a year because of their constant sand blasting. But so far the city hasn’t found a legal way to do anything about it.” by permission, SF History Collection, SF Public Library
April 2015
Location Identified!
Top: Undated Photo in the West Portal Collection. Titled “Homebuilding following completion of Twin Peaks Tunnel, by permission, SF History Collection, SF Public Library.
An Astute Reader Responds:
I was browsing the web site of the Westside Observer, looking at old photos and I can identify the location of a photo captioned West Portal, it is also listed under Mysterious Photo of West Portal.
This I believe is not West Portal but the view north-east from the hillside above Grafton, around where Orizaba and Ashton Sts. are now, looking over Ingleside to Mt Davidson. Ocean Ave runs from side to side at the bottom of the picture. The large building in the photo at the bottom right is the old Farragut Elementary School on Holloway between Faxon and Capital. The street with the dark edges running diagonally is Miramar Ave in Westwood Park. The large empty fields in the right hand side of the photo is where the reservoirs used to be.
I hope this helps.
Andrew Mihailovsky, General Contractor AMGCB - Building, Remodeling, & Repairing
Thanks Andrew! We think you are right, and we will share your evidence with the SF History Collection.
February 2015
From the Cliff House
View from the Cliff House 1865. Printed with permission, SF History Collection, SF Public Library
February 2015
Ocean Beach
Balloon Ascension, Ocean Beach San Francisco, 1886. Printed with permission, SF History Collection, SF Public Library
December 2014
Golden Gate Heights
View of the Sunset District from Golden Gate Heights • January 16, 1928. Written on front: “View from Funston Ave. & Pacheco St.” Printed with permission, SF History Collection, SF Public Library
November 2014
Sutro Forest
Group of men putting out a fire in Sutro Forest • Sept 15, 1934. Printed with permission, SF History Collection, SF Public Library
October 2014
Parkmerced
Construction of Parkmerced apartment buildings Oct. 21, 1950
Printed on back: METROPOLITAN HOUSING PROJECT--There are 11 separate 13-story apartment buildings in this general view of the $30,000,000 Metropolitan Life Housing project now nearing completion in the southwest corner of San Francisco between Junipero Serra Boulevard (in center of picture) and Lake Merced. With 2,000 apartment units to house over 5,000 persons they will be ready for occupancy by fall. Three two-deck garages will shelter 1,600 autos for residents. One garage is shown in left center just beyond boulevard.
September 2014
Golden Gate Heights • November 1 1927 By Permission San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Send your observations about the date or perspective of this and shoot a corresponding photo of the present of any of our published old photos . We'll choose the most useful entry and share the info with the SF History Center — AND YOU'LL WIN A PRIZE!
Send to editor@westsideobserver.com
July/August 2014
Parkmerced February 28, 1945 By Permission San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Send your observations about the date or perspective of this and shoot a corresponding photo of the present of any of our published old photos . We'll choose the most useful entry and share the info with the SF History Center — AND YOU'LL WIN A PRIZE!
Send to editor@westsideobserver.com
June 2014
REMEMBER This old photo published in March 2013? Its location was identified by Alena Klompus (see Letters)
Send your observations about the date or perspective and a corresponding photo of the present of any of our published old photos (www.westsideobserver.com/remember.html). We'll choose the most useful entry and share the info with the SF History Center — AND YOU'LL WIN A PRIZE!
Send to editor@westsideobserver.com
Permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
May 2014
St. Francis Woods
St. Francis Woods [Undated] If you have any information about the date or location from which this picture was taken please share it with us (editor@westsideobserver.com). We will share it with the SF History Center. Permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
April 2014
Sunset District from Golden Gate Heights
Parkside District • Jan 16, 1940
View of the Sunset District from Golden Gate Heights Jan 16, 1940 “Here is a section of the rapidly growing Parkside District, which, like other areas, has its civic problems. Picture taken from Golden Gate Heights looking toward Pacific Ocean. Arrow marks Abraham Lincoln High School, prompt completion of which is a problem which Mr. Fixit plans to discuss in detail.” Permission of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
March 2014
Diamond Heights
Diamond Heights • Undated
Written on back: “San Francisco--Diamond Heights Redevelopment Project. Unbuilt hilly area as not been developed because of poor street design unsuited to topography. Purchase of property and redesigning of the 325 acres will make this land available for building under the provisions of the California Redevelopment Act and with federal government assistance.”. By permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
February 2014
Golden Gate Heights
Golden Gate Heights • May 10, 1927
Pacheco Street wall at 15th Avenue - pouring concrete. By permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
December 2013
Forest Hill
Forest Hill • March 3, 1945
Forest Hill Newscopy: “Cameraman Eddie Murphy, who took this picture, describes it in the following poetic words: ‘A bit of Forest Hill from the grounds of Laguna Honda Home, with Dewey Blvd angling off to the left and the top of Forest Hill Station hiding shyly in the trees at the bottom, lower right.’ (Gosh, you’d never think Eddie had such fancy thoughts in him!)”. By permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
November 2013
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks • December 27, 1923
View from Twin Peaks, looking northwest
Permission obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
October 2013
Stonestown
Sunset District • May 20, 1953
Notes “NEW SHOWROOM--The beautiful new showroom of the San Francisco Stonestown Branch, Cadillac Motor Car Division, opened last week at 20th-Avenue and Buckingham-Way. The 1953 El Dorado sports convertible is now on display along with other standard production Cadillacs, according to Lou Meara, Stonestown manager.” Date 1953 May 20. By permission of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Permission obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
September 2013
Sunset District
Sunset District Date 1886 Notes: Written on back: “Inner Sunset for sale.” Source: Greg Gaar • Permission obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
July 2013
Inner Sunset
Is It?...
Could this be the same building?
Isn’t this at Ocean and Granada? Reader Grant Wright asks, and he sent us this photo from the view at Ocean and Granada in response to a previous Remember When featuring Westwood Park Grocery Company’s building under construction that was taken sometime before 1920.
If this is the same building there has been some extensive work on the facade, the side and the roof.
Because the San Francisco History Center does not have a date or location for this photo, we asked anyone who knew the address or date of the photo to contact editor@westsideobserver.com. Mr Wright did. Anyone else have an opinion? Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
The photo above is the one that was published in a previous Observer. Our thanks to reader Grant Wright.
June 2013
Inner Sunset
Aerial view of inner Sunset District Date Sept. 6, 1927 . Got info? editor@westsideobserver, we’ll pass it on to the SF History Center. Published by permission of the SF History Center, SF Public Library
May 2013
Ingleside Terraces
Ingleside Terraces. This photo is in the Ingleside Terraces collection, there is no date or observation as to its location or circumstances. Got info? editor@westsideobserver, we’ll pass it on to the SF History Center. Published by permission of the SF History Center, SF Public Library
April 2013
Old Photo Identified
I believe I have identified the location in this photo from your site page: westsideobserver.com/remember.html Photo with the caption "Ingleside Terraces." This is from South side of Urbano St looking North up Victoria toward Ocean Ave.
House on the leftHouse on the right
Christian Mancinetti
April 2016
Sutro Forest
Sutro Forest. This undated photo simply noted as Sutro Forest is in the SF History Center collection, any observations about the date or perspective or a corresponding photo of the present would be welcomed by the Center. Send comments, etc to editor@westsideobserver.com. Courtesy of the
San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
March 2013
Midtown Terrace
1000 ‘MARINE VIEW’ HOMES SET FOR MIDTOWN TERRACE Here’s an aerial view of the Midtown Terrace subdivision at Twin Peaks. Some 1000 modern detached homes with panoramic marine views and full-sized basements will be built by the Standard Building Co. Date Apr. 27, 1957. Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
February 2013
Mt. Davidson Construction
Written on back: “New housing on slopey Mt. Davidson” Photo by Eddie Murphy | Courtesy of the
San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
December 2012
View from Twin Peaks
View of San
Francisco from Twin Peaks: Sept. 1, 1928.
Written on back: S.F. Real Estate; Mediterranean Village | Courtesy of the
San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
November 2012
Buena Vista Hill
Buena Vista Hill -No date- M. Behrman Collection. Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
October 2012
Diamond Heights
Large earthmoving machinery is hard at work bringing ‘progress’ to Diamond Heights, but there are some in the area who have complained of the dust raised. What used to be such clean nice fog coming over the hill is now full of grime. Construction site in the Diamond Heights district. Date 1960 June 25. Permission: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
September 2012
Sunset Heights
Sunset district homes, looking from 16th ave to golden gate Park. dated as ca. 1950? this would appear to be an error, have a better date? Contact editor@westsideobserver.com. Permission: SF History Center.
July-August 2012
Golden Gate Bridge
Partly constructed Golden Gate Bridge deck hung from steel cables. Not dated. Permission: San Francisco History Center.
June 2012
Sunset District
Abandoned cable cars on sand dunes in the Sunset. Not dated. Notes Written on back: “The beach sand dunes at the foot of the Sunset District was the dumping ground for outmoded horse and cable cars at the turn of the century. They were much in demand by enterprising citizens who converted the old cars into both beach houses and permanent homes [Carville]. A few exist even to this day.” Permission: San Francisco History Center.
May 2012
Ingleside Terraces Homes
Ingleside Terraces Homes ( circa 1911?). From other images that the Ingleside Terraces Home Archives have identified, it’s possibly a view of construction looking south with Merced Ridge in the background. Know more? Contact editor@westsideobserver.com. We will pass the information on to the SF Historical Photo Collection. Printed by permission, SF History Center, SF Public Library.
April 2012
West Portal 1945
View of the West Portal district from Claremont Avenue and Taraval Street. Aug. 4, 1945. By permission SF History Center: Caption “Here’s a shot of the West Portal District taken from Claremont-Av. and Taraval-St. The West Portal School is in the center of the picture.”
March 2012
Glen Park
Admission Day at Glen Park. Sept 17, 1898. Written on front: With S.F. News Letter. September 17, 1898. "The Big Picnic at the Mission Park and Zoo on Sept. 9, 1898." • By permission SF History Center, SF Public Library.
February 2012
Twin Peaks
Market Street from Twin Peaks (Note Bay Bridge construction) • Oct. 12, 1934 • By permission SF History Center, SF Public Library.
December 2011
Lakeshore
Lakeshore (Aeriel view) January 27, 1951. By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
November 2011
Golden Gate Heights
Golden Gate Heights - rubble wall on 14th Avenue, northerly to 15th Avenue and Aloha Avenue • Mar. 7, 1927. By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
October 2011
Sunset From 26th & Quintara
Sunset Dist. from 26th & Quintara St. to ocean 1945. By permission of SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
September 2011
Forest Hill
The San Francisco Commercial Club visits Forest Hill, April 18, 1913. Source: Greg Gaar Collection; Dewey/Pacheco Reprint permission was be obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
July-August 2011
Mt. Davidson
Mt. Davidson S.F. Calif. Date Unknown. Reprint permission was be obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
June 2011
Ocean Beach
OCEAN BEACH, Car & Bus At End of “B” Line. Date Mar. 20, 1927. Folder: S.F. Districts-Ocean Beach-1920’s. Reprint permission was be obtained from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
May 2011
Ingleside Terraces
INGLESIDE TERRACES, Ocean Avenue at Cerritos. From the Willard E. Worden Glass Plate circa 1912, by permission of the SF Historical Collection of the SF Public Library. Were the iron Ingleside Terrace signs scrapped for WWII metal? editor@westsideobserver.com
April 2011
Sunset District Development
Sunset District Homes. Date [190-?]. Sunset-1900's. If you have more information about the date and location of this photo, contact: editor@westsideobserver.com. By permission from the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
March 2011
Twin Peaks
View From Twin Peaks — (190?) Permission
from the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
February 2011
Midtown Terrace
Midtown Terrace May 26, 1958. LATEST BIG S.F. HOME DEVELOPMENT—Scene of San Francisco’s latest major home development now under construction on the western slopes of Twin Peaks and Sutro Forest. First of the new Sunstream Homes in the Midtown Terrace project will be opened to the public June 4. Mayor Christopher will officiate at the opening ceremonies. Permission from the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library.
December 2010
7th Avenue and Lawton Street
View of the Sunset District from 7th Avenue and Lawton Street. Date 1921. Location Folder: S.F. Districts-Sunset. Reproduction permission from San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
November 2010
Diamond Heights
Clipper Street freeway extension Date 1947 June 20. S.F.
Districts-Diamond Heights-1940’s. Newscopy: “DEBUT FOR FREEWAY DUE—Pictured above is another link in San Francisco’s program of freeway traffic arteries, the Clipper-St extension, scheduled for completion by July 15. Its course traced by arrows, it will be the main east-west arterial to the contemplated second Bay crossing and connect with all north-south arterials between Twin Peaks and the Bay. Meantime, it will provide motorists easier access from Portola-Dr, at point shown in right foreground, to the industrial areas. The new $182,000 road joins Clipper-St near Douglass Playground and is part of the so-called Army-Guerrero-San Jose-Clipper-Sts Project.”
Permission: SF Public Library Historical Photograph Collection.
October 2010
Golden Gate Heights
Golden Gate Heights - 15th Avenue at Noriega Street - steam shovel grading for wall May 10, 1927. Permission: SF Public Library Historical Photograph Collection.
Westwood Park
Westwood Park Grocery Company’s building under construction (not before 1917). Anyone
knowing the address or date of this building please contact editor@westsideobserver.com.
Photo: Gabriel Moulin, Permission: Moulin Studios. 1460 Grand Ave, San Rafael,
94901 and the SF Public Library Historical Photograph Collection.
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Pine Lake Park
Houses in the Pine Lake Park District, Aug. 27, 1927
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library Note the motercycle in the center.
West Portal
West Portal
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library Written underneath: “Home Building following completion of Twin Peaks tunnel.”
Diamond Heights
Gold Mine Hill and the surrounding area in
the Diamond Heights district, June 26,1953
Notes Newscopy: “THE VACANT HEIGHTS—Big,
empty hill in center of this picture is Gold Mine Hill, one of three vacant
heights on which Redevelopment Agency proposes to build 2300 dwellings.
In foreground is Miraloma Park, just beyond that is O'Shaughnessy-blvd and
dropping off from the boulevard is Glen Canyon, part of Diamond Heights
development which will become big park under present plan. To the left are
Twin Peaks, with Midtown Terrace at far left. Photo was taken from Mt. Davidson.”
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Building Parkmerced
Housing construction in the Parkmerced district. Date
Jan. 30, 1943. Newscopy: “Concrete foundations are in and a framework
of homes already rising in the midst of scattered debris on the Metropolitan
Housing project, Lake Merced. Vast areas of ground are covered by heaped
up bathtubs, ready to be moved into completed homes.”
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Golden Gate Heights
Golden Gate Heights • May 10, 1927• From Pacheco
and Funston North along 14th & 15th Aves.
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Ingleside Terraces 1911-12
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Mysterious Photo
of Houses and Sandunes in the Sunset District
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library Homes and Sandunes in the Sunset
Mysterious Photo of West Portal
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library Written underneath: “Home Building following completion of Twin Peaks tunnel.”
View of Mount Davidson from Twin Peaks, 1915–1925
Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library Written on back: “late 1910s early 1920s; Mt. Davidson in 192?; note windmill + farm - houses near French Man’s Creek.”
Forest Hill
March 3, 1945 Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Cameraman Eddie Murphy, who took this picture, describes it in the following
poetic words: ‘A bit of Forest Hill from the grounds of Laguna Honda Home,
with Dewey-blvd angling off to the left and the top of Forest Hill Station hiding shyly in the trees at the bottom, lower right.’ (Gosh, you’d never think Eddie
had such fancy thoughts in him!)”.
Construction of Stonestown apartment buildings Date 1949 July 2. Photo courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
“A small city is rapidly springing up west of 19th-ave, on the shores of Lake Merced. It’s ‘Stonestown,’ 23-million-dollar project of Ellis and Henry Stoneson, and this photo shows the rapid progress being made on the four 10-story apartment houses (in the rear) and the smaller two- and three-story buildings in the foreground. Company spokesmen say the smaller buildings will be ready for occupancy about Aug. 1, while it will be another six months before the apartment houses are completed. Work on a complete shopping and recreational area will begin soon. The project will consist of 28 smaller apartment houses, the four large ones, each with 90 apartments, and an extensive shopping center. Between 3000 and 3500 persons will live in ‘Stonestown’ in the 783 rental units. The project covers 67 choice acres. The picture was taken from Vernon and Shields-Sts, a hill just east of the project.”
St. Francis Wood 1912 Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
West Portal Tunnel 1920 Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
View of San Francisco from Twin Peaks: Sept. 1, 1928.
Written on back: S.F. Real Estate; Mediterranean Village | Courtesy of the
San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
Tumlin resigned from his $400,725 annual salary + benefits
Jeffrey Tumlin: The Real Story
by George Wooding
SFMTA reports inflation and the end of emergency funding will leave a $260-million to $322-million deficit beginning in 2026...
For decades, Strybing served as a gathering place for one and all, hosting people from all walks of life and every economic strata. What could possibly go wrong?
The common belief is that homes are too close to woodlands, where fires catch on easily. However, one home in Pacific Palisades contradicts that notion..
People unable to afford rent come to San Francisco and wait until a city-funded outreach worker offers them an unlimited stay in a tourist hotel with a private bathroom. Plus two meals a day.
For decades, Strybing served as a gathering place for one and all, hosting people from all walks of life and every economic strata. What could possibly go wrong?
The common belief is that homes are too close to woodlands, where fires catch on easily. However, one home in Pacific Palisades contradicts that notion..
People unable to afford rent come to San Francisco and wait until a city-funded outreach worker offers them an unlimited stay in a tourist hotel with a private bathroom. Plus two meals a day.
DPH’s Preparedness Plan Ingores climate change and sea-level rise
by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai
Its policy and directives need to be updated to incorporate climate change, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and chemical and radiological exposures
Under Breed’s direction, Redistricting removed progressive Inner Sunset from Preston’s D5. At the same time, the Tenderloin was grafted onto District 5.
Yearly, as much as 1.2 billion gallons of combined stormwater runoff and sewage containing feces, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and trash are dumped into the Bay.
The City’s sunshine laws are in need of updating, but most mayoral and supervisorial candidates are mum on how to increase city government transparency.
The Navy’s Parcel F Radiological Impaction map was excluded from the Record of Decision of September 2024. Raw data was also excluded from environmental testing for radionuclides.
Over the next two months, each mayoral candidate will have an evening to greet attendees and answer questions in a laid-back “meet the candidate” event.
5 supervisors put Prop K on the Ballot, unannounced and at the last minute. No community input, no questions answered, no concerns addressed, no discussion by the Supervisors.
They originally consisted of fifteen residents and UCSF workers, located within six blocks of the western fence line of the NRDL campus and industrial landfill”
Ruling that “cruel and unusual punishment” does not apply to fining, ticketing, or even arresting homeless (even when there are no public shelters available),overturning the 9th Circuit Court.
On the last day the Supervisors could put an initiative on ballot, Engardio and Melgar pounced and forwarded the legislation to the Department of Elections.
Once just a border of California native plants around the garden’s perimeter, providing habitat and nourishment for local fauna it’s now a beautiful neighborhood gem.
City hase long minimized the root cause of LHH’s dysfunction and decertification. Just look at the self-congratulatory Press Release announcing its re-opening.
SFMTA’s Plan for West Portal Station Pushes Buttons
by Maura Corkery
West Portal merchants, residents, and long-time frequenters have weighed in for months on the City’s plan to institute significant new traffic regulations and barriers primarily at the mouth of the MUNI station.
Newsom—Declare a Public Health Emergency at Hunters Point
by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai
The Precautionary Principle affirms SF’s leaders duty to prevent harm through anticipatory action. ‘There is a duty to take anticipatory action to prevent harm.”
Since the Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility closed, the City began relocating mentally troubled and drug addicted patients to LHH, mixing them with frail senior and disabled populations.
It’s not only how schools are funded but how important topics are taught. At stake is what our children learn about democracy as well as about their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
West Portal accounts for 6% of the City’s accidents; after the implementation of Project Zero in 2014, accidents of every kind in the West Portal area have dropped from 20% - 48%.
Right now, there’s no timeline or budget for this project. The SFMTA admitted it had not conducted a preliminary cost/benefit analysis despite the multi-million-dollar deficit they’re facing this year.
The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.” Thus spoke H. L. Mencken
There is a dire shortage of nursing home beds in SF—especially for those on Medi-Cal—which pays for chronic long-term care when a resident cannot afford $15,000 a month.
Mayor Breed has proposed an unprecedented rollback of San Francisco’s height and density limitations that would allow six story buildings in areas previously zoned for one and two-story construction
The format made it difficult for candidates to evade tough questions—all four seasoned politicians are skilled in. Even non-politician Lurie was not exempt.
A confluence of major legal actions has moved forward to pretrial deposition testimony in BVHP Residents v Tetra Tech brought by SFPD and whistleblowers under the False Claims Act.
Removal of the weedy species is necessary. All plants have natural predators in their native ranges, but landscape plants imported from, say, across the ocean, left their predators there.
While gasoline tax-paying automobile owners finance the streets of San Francisco San Francisco’s Budget finances the SF Bicycle Coalition, a private entity?
SFMTA still has no quantifiable road safety data other than right turns are bad, left turns are bad, fast-moving cars are dangerous, slow-moving cars are dangerous, cars are bad, and bikes are good.
Local school board elections used to be sleepy affairs. No more. Political activists now pay close attention to these local contests — for good reasons.
Despite a surplus of water in our reservoirs sufficient to withstand a drought for four years, the SFPUC has imposed a drought surcharge on San Francisco ratepayers.
With housing and commercial vacancies like Park Merced and businesses still closing downtown, on Market Street, and in most neighborhoods, it’s dogging the Mayor’s election.
The devastating effect of drug addiction is evident from the human wreckage ...Yes, it’s a nationwide plague. But SF overdose rates are twice the national average.
“It is a significant reconfiguration of the street. A two-way bikeway would replace existing parking. Bus stops would relocate from the curb to new transit boarding islands in traffic lanes.
If you do get into a shelter — they’ll take away your belongings, you can’t have a pet, you can’t have visitors and after a few days or a week, you’ll likely be turned out on the street again with nothing.
Two surprises. Republican Steve Garvey, and Democrat Adam Schiff were the top two finishers. Schiff concentrated on making Garvey his opponent rather than Barbara Lee and Katie Porter.
Unfortunately,it also has many disadvantages. The gas is explosive. It needs to be compressed or converted into other chemicals, such as liquid ammonia...
Every five years, the EPA determines the success of superfund cleanups
New Shipyard Report Confirms: Unsafe for Habitation
by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai
Take-home message: Cleanup efforts in 15 parcels and sites do not protect residents from hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants emanating from the dirty base
Unlike Flint, we don’t use salt to deice roads. However, if we over-tax our ground aquifers, we could draw salt from the Pacific into our drinking water.
Just when Laguna Honda seemed to be turning the corner on its struggle toward reform, three law firms have teamed up to expand their Class Action lawsuit.
“Tamales are such a delicate process... things like the balance of masa to filling, or how long you steam them for, or how tightly they’re wrapped in their husks And time... timing is crucial to ensure they do not become dry and tough.
New proposed location for Ocean View Library is ideal
by Glenn Rogers
Few were surprised when Supervisor Safai learned the library was not to be built in the Greenbelt — he feared the worst. No library at all.Since 2023, the Library Commission has been considering 466 Randolph Street, where the I.T. Bookman Community Center and the Pilgrim Community Church are located.
When the runways for the Alameda Naval Air Station were extended out into the bay—using dredged bay fill, the same way Treasure Island was created — they crossed over the city line. The federal government apparently didn't know or care.
The March 5 election is fast approaching. The San Francisco Department of Elections will start mailing all registered voters automatic vote-by-mail ballots in early February.
Your local self-appointed sage hopes Trump is barred from his presidential candidacy by high courts such as the Supremes. (And I don't mean the singing group!).
UCSF proposes settlement for Joseph Miranda and his radioactive truck
ONE BIG MAN — ONE HOT TRUCK!
by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai
Two UCSF workers with respiratory disease, cancer and lung disease were not evacuated during shipyard landfill fire that erupted in “green, yellow, and orange” flames.
Assessing Judge Bergert’s use of mental health diversions
by Lou Barberini
Fortunately for Mendez, he appeared in ultra-liberal Judge Michael Begert’s court. Despite Mendez’s failure to comply with diversion, Begert nevertheless granted Mendez “mental health diversion’ (again).
Newsom, Breed, and SF’s Supervisors may all have taken a hands-off waiting game approach I knew Nancy and her good government advocacy for years, sometimes crossing her path when we both attended meetings at City Hall.
The unreliability of American and San Francisco media today is not new to our country. Neither is the people's right to discard biased, unsound judges.
To families parked along Winston Drive the dreaded December 19 date is less than a month away. Four-hour parking restrictions approved by SFMTA will certainly upend their lives and dampen their holiday spirits.
Neighbors apprehend a thief in the act, but will he be back on the street?
A Man Walks Into a Walgreens ...
by Michael Antonini
Aware that his escape was implausible, or perhaps it was the ear-splitting sound of approaching police cars, the thief turned and ran back into the Walgreens
The Judge denied a motion to detain an alleged drug dealer despite the defendant had over half a kilo of drugs, including 170.8 grams of fentanyl, enough to kill 85,400 people.
Delayed Inspections Mean Dumping More Seniors Out-of-County
Laguna Honda Hospital’s Endless Waiting Game
by Patrick Monette-Shaw
Newsom, Breed, and SF’s Supervisors may all have taken a hands-off waiting game approach to LHH’s Medicare recertification inspection process that will take four months to complete.
Falling advertisements, digital transitions and major lay-offs plague journalists
by Dr. Derek Kerr
Emilio Garcia-Ruiz worried about the New York Times becoming a “huge competitor” in the Bay Area by “undercutting the market on subscription costs to $1/week.
At last! SFUSD has identified why students aren’t learning. Ready? The real cause is White Supremacy. That’s right. White Supremacy Culture is preventing our students from learning.
It effectively punishes hundreds, if not thousands, who want to participate in our local government. Even worse, it will force those who have disabilities to disclose their special needs. Or face the burden of traveling to City Hall.
District Elections, London Breed & the Housing Exageration
by Quentin Kopp
Construction of new housing? I’ve concluded from present vacancies and dispirited new home construction the matter is extravagantly exaggerated by City Hall politicians and local media.
Owner Diana Zogaric has little time to bemoan setbacks. She notes that the original owner, Douglas Shaw, opened the business during the Great Depression in 1931.
SF has lost 1,381 Skilled Nursing Facility beds. If LHH loses 120 more beds it will leave only 2,161 meanwhile 4,186 patients were discharged to other counties in 2022.
Laguna Honda’s battle to keep 120 skilled nursing beds is unnecessary.
Patrick Monette-Shaw
LHH’s bedrooms exceed the minimum square-foot restrictions. They have sliding doors between each bedroom — essentially making them all private, single-person rooms.
It’s time to assess Prop 47’s havoc on the safety of San Franciscans
by Lou Barberini
Before Prop 47 eliminated California Penal Code section 666, a police officer could charge a thief with a criminal history with “felony theft with-priors” and take him to county jail.
Pretend you're an alien (E.T.) come to earth in human form to live and learn and even to rationally guide humans who have lost their way. You land in San Francisco.
Some say a little bit of corruption greases the wheels. Just don't kid yourself ... each of these words, Social Impact Partnering, are buzzwords. There's a reason for that.
The neighborhood was much different then. Yellow and white margaritas were everywhere in wild areas on the south and north side of Alemany Blvd. There was no Highway 280.
City Family’s coziness with contractors sustains a “Homeless-Industrial-Complex." Politically-connected entrepreneurs are awarded City contracts and return the favor.
Giving a complaint to the “Ethics” Commission is like giving a complaint to a black hole. Your complaint goes in and the chance that anything comes out is slim.
Laguna Honda Finally Hires a Nursing Home Administrator
Patrick Monette-Shaw
After 20 years without a licensed Nursing Home Administrator at the helm, that will change. At last someone knowledgeable about Federal nursing home regulations will be in charge.
The Health Department burned down a village of Chinese fishermen dependent on the lucrative shrimping industry when the Navy purchased the 934-acre property using eminent domain for the Naval Shipyard.
It Could lead to more arrests of protestors, minorities, or anyone the State considers a threat if artificial intelligence is designed and executed improperly.
It took courage for the Public Guardian to file suit. Hopefully, the public will learn the full extent of the scandal. The timing couldn’t be worse for LHHs struggle to survive.
April 14th is the anniversary of Laguna Honda's decertification
Just Released—Laguna Honda Hospital's Revised Closure Plan
Patrick Monette-Shaw
LHH mostly serves low-income, medically indigent patients, likely to face discharges, exile, and displacement to out-of-county facilities, away from their families, and support networks.
Fentanyl overdoses have killed more San Franciscans than COVID. Yet, SF fails to prosecute dealers; no convictions for fentanyl sales in 2021. Most dealers are granted diversion.
The history of liberty is the history of the limitations on the power of government. And the provenance of government usually expands on federal, state and local levels
Xylazine is infiltrating North American fentanyl and heroin supplies. It is causing more fatal overdoses, zombie-like intoxication— addictions that are harder to treat than simple fentanyl dependency.
Controller's estimated $290 million deficit — $90.1 million more than projected in January. For the next two fiscal years, the shortfall is projected at $779.8 million.
Billions and Billions Later, California's High-speed Rail Future Is Still Illusive
by Quentin Kopp
The project cost for the non-high speed rail portion in the Central Valley increased last month to $35.3 billion from $25.2 billion. It obtains money from a cap-and-trade program which adds 23 cents to every gasoline gallon besides the state’s 53.9 cents tax per gallon
For decades, the City has allowed weaker standards for buildings shorter than 240 feet — no signs of seriously considering these structural deficiencies.
This mural is currently on loan from City College to the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) —The agreement includes the return of the mural to City College which has been its owner and guardian since 1940.
In third grade...nearly 60% of students are not yet proficient in reading — students can't “read to learn” until they have successfully learned to read.
Did 20 years of mismanagement prompt the Feds to intervene?
The Bungled Management of Laguna Honda
Patrick Monette-Shaw
Kanaley had no experience running a skilled nursing facility whatsoever and certainly no experience or training to run a 1,200-bed nursing home with approximately 1,500 employees
Newsom violated ethics laws by signing into law Shipyard redevelopment measures he sponsored before the Board of Supervisors and accepted the transfer of Parcel A at the cost of one dollar
Poor people seldom end up on the street.But, addicted and mentally ill people become “disaffiliated” from supporters – a key determinant of street homelessness
30% of Parkmerced's 3,221 units are vacant. If the Prop M Vacant Unit Tax does not encourage lower rents, the City might purchase them at a bargain, making thousands of new units available...
Madam Mayor parties down as City is deluged in “atmospheric river”
Mayor's Clueless New Years Fumble Signels Trouble
by Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai
Adorned in a feather boa and accompanied by City Attorney David Chiu, Breed's City Officials were oblivious to the massive flooding NASA satellite images predicted December 16, 2022.
A huge number of students who enter high school are not proficient in English and math — almost 45 percent of SFUSD 8th graders are not proficient in English. More than half are not proficient in math
...the mission of a nursing home is to promote resident autonomy. This is not compatible with the treatment of persons with unstable behavioral issues, which requires structure and agreement to "house rules." If LHH continues admitting persons with active substance use or unstable mental illness, we will lose Laguna Honda.
Willie Brown predicted the Central Subway would reduce (can you imagine?) Muni’s operating costs by $23.9 million annually. Muni’s operating costs will now increase by more than $25 million per year.
Renne sought to take credit for the Tobacco Settlement Revenue lawsuit. It was used, in part, to pay for the LHH rebuild project. Renne had done no such thing.
Climate reparations dominated Egypt's UN Climate Change Summit this month — overburdened communities demand help cutting emissions, adapting to climate change…and compensation for damages!
Since its inception, the SOTF has been a thorn in City Hall’s backside. Why? ... Engaged citizens and journalists seek more information than officialdom likes to share.
Audit non-profit agencies and City contracts to ensure that services are provided ... especially those providing homeless services. ...revenue-generating departments need to ensure all revenue sources are addressed
You won't see from downtown what you can see from Mt. Tam. Out here at Ocean Beach the nighttime fog makes viewing an occasional event. Happy skywatching!
Despite these commitments to ensure safe and minimally-stressful transfers ... it did not fully grasp the number and complexity of LHH patients. So, LHH was “pigeon-holed into rules applying to standard nursing homes.
City Leaders Value Saving Money Over Saving Lives and Property
by Frank T. Blackburn and Nancy Wuerfel
Mayor Breed remains blissfully silent on the need to extend adequate fire protection to approximately half the City, even though she has knowledge of Fire Department needs having been a fire commissioner in 2010.
D5 gets $50,000 for tree planting. D8, $246,000 for sidewalk gardens and street trees. And that's it for the entire City. If there is a climate emergency you wouldn't know it from San Francisco.”
There is a need for a routine and consistent review of this facility. Programs that exist here are rarely audited, and when they are, the list of improvements required is long and important.
Time to Shine a Brighter Light on SFUSD Chronic Absences
by Carol Kocivar
Children living in poverty are two to three times more likely to be chronically absent—and face the most harm because their community lacks the resources to make up for the lost learning in school.
As of July 11, just 623 patients remain at LHH, compared to 681 in May. Most have been transferred to San Mateo nursing homes. Three went to homeless shelters.
Power plant emissions formed black soot on windows and doorways in their homes and triggered asthma attacks, headaches and nosebleeds in their children. Residents led the successful fight that ultimately closed the PG&E Hunters Point power plant in 2006
Farmers Market and St. Ignatious in Tug-of-war over parking spaces
by Jonathan Farrell
...the farmers market gets: 2000-6000 visitors per weekend. Whereas if the area were ceded back for Saint Ignatius’s parking needs they would serve about 60 cars...
LHH was given 6 months to correct its deficiencies. A follow-up inspection found persistent - and seemingly worse - drug and contraband use, despite LHH’s Plan of Correction.
Will Laguna Honda Solve Its Problems By Abandoning 120 More Patient Beds?
Patrick Monette-Shaw
Both consultants provided “preliminary assessment reports” of their initial recommendations. Only HMA’s “preliminary assessment report” has been made public.
Everybody involved knew that adding “unstable” adults brought disarray and danger to Laguna Honda's seniors. Most folks just went along. Now they’re surprised?
The report concludes groundwater “may” become contaminated as sea level rises. In fact, Shipyard groundwater was documented as“contaminated” where thousands of homes are being constructed.
“It seems preposterous to put a library on a congested thoroughfare when there are better places that are safer for pedestrians to use,” one community member said.
People are frustrated and spurt out the word “segregated”
That's because SFUSD has failed to prepare all ethnicities for a rigorous academic high school.
41% of companies allow employees to relocate permanently to any state freely, while companies that do not allow the employees to relocate elsewhere represent only 5%.
The moderates only need to flip one district from the progressive side of the aisle to preclude the veto power of the Board of Supervisors, since the mayor appointed moderate Supervisor Matt Dorsey ... the Redistricting Task Force handed moderates a perfect set up to do just that.
If a mandatory reduction is ordered, there will be a “floor” or minimum allocation per person so that those who have conserved, and now conserve, will not be penalized.
...competence erodes as conscientious employees get marginalized and lackeys are promoted. This consolidation promotes impunity. Betraying the public trust is normalized.
Violent Thug Attacks, Robs Asian Visitor—Goes Free
Boudin's famed "puppy killer" strikes again
by Lou Barberini
Boudin and the judge circumvented diversion rules because violent criminals are “not eligible” for diversion programs. Why did Boudin send someone to drug diversion if they weren’t arrested for drugs?”
Despite the fact that discharge is not legally required (yet) at Laguna Honda, all patients and their families are being interviewed for discharge and this is causing a lot of stress.
Too bad no one saw this coming......oh, a group of doctors from Laguna Honda did.
Over time, those special interests have proven adept at using the same “peoples protections” to further their own interests. Recalls are expensive, and a few of San Francisco’s bitterest billionaires buy low-turnout elections when they disagree with the voters...
41% of companies allow employees to relocate permanently to any state freely, while companies that do not allow the employees to relocate elsewhere represent only 5%.
...there are issues that can unite us.. We all want to support our educators who have been doing the hard work every day despite a pandemic and political feud.
Could the motivation behind all of this be to create such a god-awful divisive plan and create so much anger that the voters would just throw up their hands and get rid of it altogether?
Taylor minced no words … the results of her 1995 investigation displeased health officials and influenced her decision not to publish significant findings, “I was convinced there was something there
Each student is tutored three times a week primarily outside of school time via an online, collaborative learning platform that offers intervention through guided reading lessons, gamification, and assessments.
Chair Townsend's Solution to African-American Population Decline Will Likely Result in a Lawsuit Redistricting's latest map has everyone on edge, scrambling to find out who their new Supervisor will be.
District 7 reclaims Forest Knolls, Twin Peaks, Midtown Terrace, the Woods and Miraloma Park from District 8 as well as all of Lakeshore and Merced Manor from District 4, but loses ground entirely in the Inner Sunset.
Lowell high school's merit-based admission policy is perfectly legal. We’ve looked at the language of the law, the history of the law and the intent of the law. We've done our homework.
Labor Union Sues City for Corruption and Retaliation
Union Lawsuit Reveals "City Family" Backroom Maneuvers
by Dr. Derek Kerr
Why does the FBI manage to unearth City Hall corruption, while our watchdog agencies; the Controller’s Whistleblower Program, Ethics Commission and City Attorney’s Office cry “What happened?
… instead of looking seriously into what could be done to solve the coupling problem … henceforth the trains operating in the subway would be only one and two cars long.
... SFPUC says 50% rationing could be required. Environmental groups contest that judgment. But if anything like that threatens imminently, you can bet costs will rise and fast. Rates follow.
Limit plastic used in wrapping done by on-line shopping? Since the pandemic, online shopping has created 29% more waste in landfills which can end up in our oceans
... infant mortality rates in BVHP (were) twice as high as the rest of San Francisco and one of the highest in the state, a cluster of infant deaths were detected in the shipyard region.
SFPUC: Controllers Audit Reveals Compromised Bid Process
by Dr. Derek Kerr
Most contractors lagged in delivering community benefits and submitting required progress reports. And, once a contract ended, undelivered benefits were not recoverable. SFPUC had no policies to monitor compliance.
Ideally, police can stop “sideshows” before they happen with intel from undercover officers and by monitoring social media accounts that announce where sideshows will be. That was not evident in West Portal & 30th/Lawton incidents
Ginsburg, working with the SF Bicycle Coalition and Walk SF, have banned cars on JFK Drive and the Upper Great Highway during the pandemic. Plans are being made make the bans permanent ...
Persistent Corruption, Incompetence & Some Good News
by Quentin Kopp
Despite City Hall corruption, Supervisors ignore Recology’s garbage monopoly...a year has passed with a minor refund of rate overcharges thanks to Controller Ben Rosenfield...
There are procedures for closing a major highway, and that includes an Environmental Impact Report — how much more pollution would be caused by rerouting up to 20,000 vehicles a day through stop and go traffic ...?
Drivers ... good news for you: the vast majority of streets are dominated by cars! You can drive on all the roads, which is why a radical change is necessary.
CEQA Protects Us From Special Interests’ “Big Lie”
by Roger Lin and Douglas Carstens
A sustained campaign, led by polluting industries, real estate developers, etc, has repeatedly and falsely claimed California’s environmental law is fueling the housing crisis.
We have one coastline; we should prioritize this safe place to recreate and be with neighbors—not a redundant roadway separating the neighborhood from the coast to save drivers a couple minutes.
Moving physically - or mentally-challenged patients is clearly detrimental to their health...leaving fragile patients stranded, miles away from their families and friends
..income disclosures serve to identify and deter potential conflicts of interest, pay-to-play deals and bribes ... But something was omitted – the lavish cost of the banquet at the Old Skool Café.
Their plan—use the earthquake bond money to upgrade antiquated and fragile drinking water mains, is the reason expansion of the high-pressure hydrants cannot be completed before mid-century.
Does the City care what your rates are? The Commission recently passed a resolution to guide Herrera. It lacks anything about keeping rates as low as possible.
Homelessness is so grueling that getting high brings welcome relief. When the high wears off, a dysphoric “crash” ensues along with a craving for more meth.
With less water in the rivers, the temperature increases, killing salmon and allowing the green scum called algae bloom that can make water toxic to humans and fish.
You already know what you want to do. And you have already been told, loudly, that riders want — and need — all their old routes back in operation. Soon. Not months from now. Therefore, the phoney survey.