Newsflash

The 38th annual Haight Ashbury Street Fair will take place this year on Sunday, June 14, from 11 am to 5:30 pm.  The first Haight Ashbury Street Fair was held in 1978 when neighborhood residents, merchants, and activists, with our Supervisor, Harvey Milk, planned the celebration to recognize the economic and residential rebirth of the neighborhood in the mid-1970s.

The street fair features arts and crafts, food booths, music stages at Masonic and at Stanyan, a family area (Children’s Alley) on Belvedere, and a forum for community groups, non-profits, and government agencies.  Visit HANC at our booth east of Belvedere, on the south side of Haight Street.

This year’s poster was designed by Park Station police officer Elizabeth (Lily) Prelinger, who was a graphic design major in college. 

The closing performers for the Stanyan Street Stage will be Barry “The Fish” Melton and Nick Gravenites.  Full schedules for both the Masonic and Stanyan stages and much more information about the street fair is available at www.haightashburystreetfair.org.

By Rupert Clayton, HANC Board

The Upper Haight Farmers’ Market has returned for the 2015 season, operating on Wednesday afternoons from 3pm to 7pm on the closed portion of Waller Street at Stanyan. Based on an informal survey earlier in the year, the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association is aiming to attract more vendors offering fresh produce and baked goods, and to limit the number of stalls with prepared foods. The other big demand of market-goers – a move to a weekend schedule – isn’t happening yet, but the market staff is happy to hear your ideas at the PCFMA booth.

The Waller and Stanyan site is also the subject of a plan by the San Francisco Skateboarding Association to develop a permanent skate park for western San Francisco. The SFSA is applying for a grant under the City’s Community Opportunity Fund program. The plan would formalize the western half of the site as a dedicated skate park with many new features for skaters. It would also add a stage, seating, and skate board obstacles to the eastern part of the site, with the aim of serving multiple uses such as hosting music for the Off the Grid food-truck evening and allowing the skate park to expand whenever events are not scheduled. The SFSA scheduled a community meeting for April 28 to share its plans, and we hope to have a brief presentation at the June 11 HANC members’ meeting.

By Bruce Wolfe, HANC Vice-President

CleanPower SF (CPSF)) finally made it over the hurdle with Mayor Ed Lee's blessing and the SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) approving the not-to-exceed (NTE) electric rates. 

The Commission’s approval action establishes that CPSF rates will not exceed the standard power rates of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) which – until CPSF launches early next year – is the monopoly provider of energy to San Francisco customers. 

Recently, many San Franciscans, including Haight Ashbury voters, received an automated push-poll asking questions about the performance of President Obama, Mayor Ed Lee, Board of Supervisors and SFPUC. Usually, this would seem ordinary but on this occasion quite odd to many residents who reported the focus was specifically on utilities, rates and clean energy.

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Construction will start in late April on pavement renovations, sewer replacement and water main installation. Work will include new electrical systems as well, and replacement of curb, gutter, sidewalk and curb ramps. Finally, the project includes road base demolition and replacement of the asphalt street. More info: Alex Murillo, DPW, (415) 437-7009.

PUBLIC HEARING ON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT FOR WESTSIDE RECYCLED WATER PROJECT (amongst other things, it affects the Panhandle).   Meeting date: April 23, 2015, City Hall, Room 100. More info: Scott MacPherson/SFPUC, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

GOLDEN GATE PARK, WALLER STREET PHASE 2 SKATEBOARD PARK, COMMUNITY MEETINGS were held on March 5 and March 31. The project of the SF Skateboard Association is being considered for a Community Opportunity Fund grant to create a more permanent and enhanced "skateboard plaza". More info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..