Noe Valley Voice August 2021
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Vol. XLV, No. 8 August 2021 ™ THE NOE VALLEY VOICE Rising Voices I Was Just Short Fiction, Poetry, Essays Thinking About and Non-Fiction from Local Writing You Writers Something By Jack Tipple Local Writers Put Words to Our he mission statement or manifesto Thoughts While Readers Send Tproclaimed in the first issue of The Voice in May of 1977 declared it to be a Their Images vehicle for creative writing — among other things. But news and feature sto- oe Valley is special. Many who ries — traditional journalism for the Nvisit want to live and shop here. most part crowded out creativity and the And once established within neighbor- occasional poem or op-ed was rarely hood boundaries, few venture far out- seen. side for very long. That was even more true in the year In the summers of 1995 and 1996 that of the the Pandemic’s strongest shock. changed in a big way. Instead of taking We were the poster models for Staycation. And aside from all the Bye Bye Rabat. In August, the venerable store selling women’s clothes to generations of forced closures of restaurants and Noe Valleons from the corner of 24th and Noe Streets closed their doors for good. They’ll restrictions businesses had to deal with, be missed for a long time. Photo by Jack Tipple we were lucky to be in one of the best places possible. but the lure of a summer break took The lines outside of Noe Valley over there was no third attempt at let- Bakery are back to normal now and one ting literature rule. can walk right into Whole Foods. In recent years, the Other Voices col- Writers are sending in their work, and umn edited by Olivia Boler and Sally locals are traveling and letting us know Smith, has presented some fine essays what they’ve found with their emailed and other writing from the neighbor- photos and messages. Take a look hood. With this August 2021 edition, we inside. JT hope to encourage more submissions and participation by giving the standard journalism time off and letting creative writing take over. Rising Voices is Born On page five, you’ll find the begin- ning of a variation on our Other Voices column. We hope it’s viewed favorably Let’s Get Together. The first issue of The and plan to utilize it again next year. Noe Valley Voice was a modest eight pages, We also hope it will encourage other but the invitation to participate was writers whether they’re new to the welcomed by the neighborhood and craft, or seasoned pros, to submit their growth continues to this day. work throughout the year. They’re like- ly to find receptive editors pleased at Summer Reading Now. Mission district their participation. Space will be avail- Summer Reading Then. The August the month off for summer vacation as resident Karen Topakian gets some rays and editions of the Voice in 1995 and 1996 was the standard, Voice editors designed able here along with the return of all words at Dolores Park in July. See page 6 of presented excellent creative writing and sponsored contests for creative our regular columns like Teen Talk and this issue for where more of your illustrated with photos by Pamela Gerard. writing. Those editions were successful Rumors. See you again in September. neighbors have been lately. This is Noe Valley. Be Nice or Leave. Confusion, panic and depression have had their way for too long. Whether you’re vaccinated or not, yield at the four way stop, wave and smile to your neighbor. Maybe make a hot dish to share. And shop local like you mean it. Photo by Jack Tipple 2 The Noe Valley Voice • August 2021 COMING SOON ON HAMPSHIRE Loaded with period details and contemporary $1,195,000 upgrades. Inviting yard and off-street parking. Storybook 2 bedroom, 1 bath Bonus rooms down with expansion potential. Single Family Home in a great Inner Mission location. Call Stefano for more info. Welcome Home. Stefano DeZerega REALTOR® LIC# 01730431 415.987.7833 [email protected] ©2021 Corcoran Global Living. All rights reserved. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. Corcoran Global Living fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. This is not intended as a solicitation if you're working with another broker. Information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed. teamLab: CONTINUITY The Noe Valley Voice • August 2021 3 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! It’s about Crime. ! ! !"#$%%&'()&*#()"+%"$,&-.-#/&)-+012$#1$$3&1(%&2--)&4$5"1-3& 2/&"#+6-7&89&/$5&1(.-):4&-;<-#+-)"-3&(&2#-(=>+),&?+4)-%%-3&(& <1(#6("/&@$$4+)0&$#&-.-)&?$#%-,&/$5&=)$?&%$6-$)-&?1$&1(%7& A$@3+)0&<-#<-4#(4$#%&(""$5)4(2@-&%4(#4%&(4&41-&4$<7&& & !"#$%"&'(%")%$&*+,% ! RecallChesaBoudin.org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he Noe Valley Voice • August 2021 Varied and Needed Housing Editor: As one of the developers of the LETTERS 55¢ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR building referenced in Suzanne Nason’s THE NOE VALLEY VOICE wel- letter to the editor ("Skyscrapers in comes your letters to the editor. Write Noe?,” July 2021, page 5), I take the Noe Valley Voice, P.O. Box offense to the negative tone and dis- 460249, SF, CA 94146. Or email edi- paraging assumptions cast upon our- [email protected]. Please selves and our project. include your name and contact infor- My business partners and I moved to mation. (Anonymous letters will not San Francisco more than 30 years ago, be considered for publication.) Be aware that letters may be edited for and lived at the 24th Street property for brevity or clarity. We look forward to several years before deciding to help hearing from you. address San Francisco’s notorious hous- ing shortage by replacing our single- family residence with a modern build- would say what you want, for example, ing containing a ground-floor commer- eliminate the transfer and continue the cial space and five residential condos of J-Church through the subway to down- various sizes. In developing our plans, town. we abided by all of the city’s detailed Now is the time to make our voices requirements for historical research, heard. neighborhood notifications, planning Noe Valley History. Judith Watson Davis a Noe Valley resident since 1969 sent us the department reviews, etc. We neither above vintage advertisement for “Dan’s Gas” which for 15 years was located on the site of Kathy Setian sought nor received any variances, and the present day Noe Valley Town Square. Sanchez St have built to the height permissible by local ordinances. When Is a Tree Not a Tree? first in the country to stand up against While Suzanne Nason may feel our Editor: aparthied in South Africa. building is “not in the style or esthetic When is a tree removal hearing not Unfortunately at all levels of govern- of Noe,” anyone walking the length of about the tree? When the tree is in San ment our current elected officials have this vibrant commercial corridor will Francisco, in a place that neighbors remained silent against aparthied and see a great variety of sizes, shapes, don’t want developed. Not even for gencocide in Israel/Palestine. Now is heights, and styles. This diversity badly needed housing. the time we, private citizens and poli- makes our city visually appealing. San At a May 24 appeal hearing, neigh- cians alike, need to fully recognize the Francisco architecture is not defined bors massed to oppose the replacement humanity of the Palestinian people. solely by Victorians, and the planning of an ivy-choked, severely damaged And until we end our military and department actually forbids new con- New Zealand Christmas tree. Its mori- moral support to Israel the blood shed struction in that style. bund branches, the consulting arborist by the Palestinians will be on our own Change is always distressing to said, pose a falling hazard. Said tree hands. some, but it’s part of the dynamic Photo by Jack Tipple lies in the public right-of-way, where nature of cities and shouldn’t engender the city wants to extend 23rd Street, Bernie Corace knee-jerk NIMBY objections. When and next to a small parcel where the 25th St, Noe Valley, U.S.A complete later this year, our building They’re On Vacation developer is trying to build three will provide homes for five new Noe affordable and ten market-rate units at Valley families who will enjoy all that 4512 23rd St. Should the J Go All the Way? this wonderful neighborhood has to Most of the regular Noe Valley The private lot and the road exten- offer. Voice features and columns have sion boast stunning views on the east- Editor: ern slope of Twin Peaks. No tree Muni is seeking input on changes to this month off. They’ll return Owen Linzmayer, removal, no viable project. So, neigh- the J-Church line.