“The Voice of the Waterfront” April 2019 Vol.20, No.4 Libations of Distinction SF Bay Trail Turns 30 New Distillery on Mare Island New Sections Opening Soon WETA Welcomes Pyxis Ferry Questions Answered New Ferry on Vallejo Route Bike Policy, Group Discounts COMPLETE FERRY SCHEDULES FOR ALL SF LINES PHOTO CREDIT Sonoma Land Trust Great food to celebrate life in the City! Enjoy a ten minute walk from the Ferry Building or a short hop on the F-Line Crab House at Pier 39 Voted “Best Crab in San Francisco” Sizzling Skillet-roasted Mussels, Shrimp & Crab Romantic Cozy Fireplace Stunning Golden Gate Bridge View Open Daily 11:30 am - 10 pm 2nd Floor, West Side of Pier 39 Validated Parking crabhouse39.com 415.434.2722 Franciscan Crab Restaurant Open Daily 11:30 am - 11 pm Pier 43 1/2 Validated Parking Whole Roasted Dungeness Crab Breathtaking Views 415.362.7733 Bay Side of Historic Fisherman’s Wharf franciscancrabrestaurant.com THE ORIGINAL SAN FRANCISCO BAY CRUISE PIER 43 1/2 FISHERMAN’S WHARF REDANDWHITE.COM (415) 673-2900 www.baycrossings.com April 2019 3 columns features 07 WHO’S ANALYZING? 12 COVER STORY Mary Jbeily Savage & Cooke Distillery 14 by Matt Larson Brings Fine Spirits to Vallejo’s Mare Island by Joel Williams guides 16 BAYKEEPER Changing the Fate of the BAY AREA FERRY SCHEDULES GREEN PAGES San Francisco Bay 14 20 Be on time for last call by Sejal Choksi-Chugh San Francisco Bay Trail Celebrates 30 Years 22 AROUND THE BAY by Bill Picture To see, be, do, know 17 CULTURAL CURRENTS Spring Reading; Book Club of CA; Ferlinghetti news by Paul Duclos ON OUR COVER 06 WATERFRONT NEWS Niche Bay Ports Bullish on Cargo; Oakland Numbers Slide in New Year March 2019 Volume 20, Number 3 by Patrick Burnson Bobby Winston, Proprietor Joel Williams, Publisher Patrick Runkle, Editor 08 FERRY NEWS ADVERTISING & MARKETING What Role Do Tideline’s Joel Williams, Advertising & Marketing Director Private Ferries Have to Play? GRAPHICS & PRODUCTION Francisco Arreola, Designer / Web Producer by Dan Rosenheim ART DIRECTION Francisco Arreola; Patrick Runkle; Joel Williams FERRY Q&A COLUMNISTS 11 Paul Duclos; Patrick Burnson; What Is the Bicycle Sejal Choksi-Chugh; Matt Larson; Policy?; What About WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Bill Picture; Joel Williams; Group Discounts? The Savage & Cooke Distillery consists of two large buildings Dan Rosenheim that were an important part of the United States Naval Shipyard ACCOUNTING Cindy Henderson on Vallejo’s Mare Island that closed in 1996. The brainchild of Opening Day on the Bay Dave Phinney, Savage & Cooke makes remarkable spirits in an Advertising Inquiries: 18 (707) 556-3323, [email protected] Festivities, Including Boat unexpected location. Phinney’s vision is poised to help revitalize Mare Island and Vallejo. Bay Crossings SF Ferry Building Store Parade, Return on April 28 (415) 362-0717 Clipper customer service center (877) 878-8883 Photo by Joel Williams For Transit Information – Dial 511 WETA Welcomes the New Bay Crossings 19 Ferry Building, #22 445-Passenger Ferry Pyxis to Corrections & Letters San Francisco, CA 94111 www.baycrossings.com Its Vallejo Route We appreciate the opportunity to publish our readers’ comments, letters or A Division of Nematode Media, LLC requests for corrections, which can be sent to [email protected]. 4 April 2019 www.baycrossings.com BAY CRUISES • FERRY SERVICE BAY CRUISE ADVENTURE 60-minute cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz Island NOW BOARDING: THE FLYER –SAN FRANCISCO WHERE THE CITY MEETS FREE AUDIO TOUR AVAILABLE IN NINE LANGUAGES THE BAY BRING YOUR SMARTPHONE, TABLET OR OTHER WI-FI ENABLED DEVICE to Play ENGLISH | DEUTSCH | ESPAÑOL | FRANÇAIS | ITALIANO | 日本 | | 中国大陆 | ESCAPE FROM THE ROCK 90-minute cruise around the bay and Alcatraz that reveals the untold stories of life on The Rock Get your tickets at the PIER 39 Box Office and blueandgoldfleet.com THE EMBARCADERO @ BEACH STREET | 415.981.PIER | PIER39.COM www.baycrossings.com April 2019 5 WORKING WATERFRONT NEWS Niche Bay Ports Bullish on Cargo, While Oakland Takes a Rest BY PATRICK BURNSON when it announced its mid-year results in million dollars better than our best year Oakland Cargo Surge Slows January, reinforcing continued maritime in operational history is quite an accom- and foreign trade growth plishment and furthers As with California’s other major he Port of Stockton, which is the and operational success our maritime and eco- container ports, Oakland announced fourth largest port in California, serving the Silicon Valley “These positive nomic development goals that its six-month-long cargo surge came reports that cargo volume hit an region. maritime trade serving Silicon Valley,” to a halt. This came as no surprise, said Tall-time high in 2018. Although up just For the period said Lorianna Kastrop, Port of Oakland spokespeople, adding results allow us slightly compared with 2017, overall ending December 31, chair of the port com- that cargo volume was down 1.3 percent cargo volume grew for the third straight 2018, the port’s cargo to support the mission. “Construction from a year ago. year and reached a record-setting 4.7 results were 1.36 million local Redwood industry trends indicate February import cargo decreased five million metric tons. metric tons, an increase City community continued growth over percent, year-over-year, the port reported. The port handles dry bulk,of 150,000 metric tons through an the next five years and It was the first decline in import volume breakbulk, liquid bulk, warehousing and from the same period as a result, the port an- since July 2018. February exports were project cargoes, and its services include last year, generating annual payment ticipates strong results for down 8.2 percent. The shipment of empty stevedoring, warehousing, inventory $4.78 million in revenue to support city the remainder of 2019 containers back to origin destinations management and transloading. to the port, an increase services and due to construction ma- increased nearly seven percent. Cargo growth wasn’t the only story of $470,000 from the activate recreational terials continuing to be The port attributed decreased volume here, said port authorities, as the niche same period last year. top ranking port imports. mostly to a pause by shippers following gateway also saw its tenant base hit a new The mid-year results waterfront uses.” These positive maritime a 2018 global trade “frenzy.” Shipments record for the second straight year. are ahead of last year’s — Redwood Port trade results allow us to spiked last year as importers rushed cargo “In the current climate of historic levels, setting Commission Chair support the local Red- to the United States ahead of anticipated challenging international trade, these new record levels in wood City community tariff increases. Analysts have since accomplishments are precedent setting both cargo tonnage and Lorianna Kastrop through an annual pay- predicted an import slowdown due to and once again highlight the unique revenue to Redwood ment (or subvention) to jammed warehouses and delays in tariff strengths of the Port of Stockton’s staff City. Last year’s fiscal support city services and hikes. and facilities,” said Port of Stockton year cargo and revenue results were the activate recreational waterfront uses.” The port said export volume has been Director Richard Aschieris in a statement. best in operational history, generating a The port’s mid-year cargo and held down by a strong U.S. dollar. When 49 percent percent increase in cargo over revenue activity highlights its focus the dollar is strong, American goods are Port of Redwood City Reports the prior year. The port’s fiscal year runs on construction materials to the area costlier for overseas purchasers. Strong Growth from July 1 to June 30. with top ranking materials imported Shipping lines have responded to lower “The port’s mid-year results contin- including sand, aggregates, gypsum, volumes by canceling some Asia-U.S. Stockton’s report mirrors the good news ue to lay a strong foundation for both slag and bauxite, with scrap metal as the voyages, the port said. Asia is the port’s offered by the Port of Redwood City cargo and revenue growth. Nearly half a primary export. Forty-two cargo vessels primary trading partner. Oakland and seventeen barges called to the port reported a 9.7 percent drop in February from July to December 2018 generating vessel calls compared to last year. the maritime cargo tonnage announced. Oakland’s communications director, Cargo originates from countries Mike Zampa, said in an interview that including Australia, Canada and Mexico, the moderation of volume has enabled while exports travel to Korea, Vietnam, terminals to regain operating equilibrium. Malaysia, India and Bangladesh. “Turn times are down in previous trouble The Port of Redwood City is the spots,” he said. only deep-water port in the South San Francisco Bay, with a channel depth of 30 feet mean lower low water, offering three deep-water berths and five wharves to support international foreign trade Patrick Burnson is the executive and maritime activities of the Silicon editor of Logistics Management. Valley region and west coast of the www.logisticsmgmt.com United States. 6 April 2019 www.baycrossings.com WHO’S ANALYZING? Mary Jbeily BY MATT LARSON of Health Care Services, specifically dealing with the Medi-Cal eligibility budget, and then as a special projects t the end of May, Golden manager with the California Department Gate Ferry Operations of General Services. Jbeily’s degree is in Analyst Mary Jbeily will organizational communications from be celebrating her first year Cal State Sacramento. working in the maritime “I’m always open to new opportunity industry. Although Jbeily doesn’t work because I see it as a way for growth, onA the ferry boats themselves, her role expanding my knowledge and skill set,” is still a critical one.