By Bruce Wolfe, HANC Vice President
Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code (https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_admin/0-0-0-19477) includes the Sunshine Ordinance of 1999 and a description of the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force (SOTF). The purpose of both is to protect the public’s interest in open government.
“Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.” ~Louis Brandeis
Pandemic! How much do you know about what’s being decided while City Hall and nearly every government office is physically closed? And, where are those decisions being made? Public or private or secret meetings? Are you able to obtain public records or easily participate in public meetings? Where are meeting agendas posted? How about access to virtual meetings? Special software? Complicated to install? Won’t work with web browser? Will it work with your computer? Wait! Do you have a computer?! What about Internet access? If so, is it fast enough to watch or listen? Uh-oh! No Internet access?! Is there a place to go to watch or listen to a meeting? And, if the Public Library and branches are closed, then what? Feel your rights are being violated? Is there a place open you can file a complaint? What about getting a response or a hearing? What if you needed to go to court? Are they open?
Read more ...
By Tes Welborn, HANC President
On June 23 and 24, the developer team for 730 Stanyan introduced themselves to the greater neighborhood via video conferencing. The builders are a team of well-known non-profit housing developers, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation and Chinatown Community Development Center, TNDC and CCDC. Both have considerable experience with housing families, seniors, youth, and people formerly homeless. They also manage the properties that they build. Visit their websites(https://www.tndc.org/ and https://www.chinatowncdc.org/ ) to see examples of their work. A site for 730 Stanyan (https://www.730stanyan.org/) has been created, as well, and should be updated soon.
CCDC and TNDC were selected by the Mayor's Office of Housing to jointly develop the site. Both developers have built for people down to the lowest incomes, and with an understanding of racial and social inequities. They plan considerable community involvement, both before design, during construction, and during property management. They introduced two architectural teams working with them, YA Studios and OMA, and showed some photos of their local work. There was some discussion of the site itself, proximity to Golden Gate Park and the Skate Park, and to neighborhood Victorians. They saw the three street fronts of the site as very different, calling for different treatments. The developers want this to be a project that folks can feel good about.
Read more ...