Broccoli Burglar Supes for Approval Has Another $2.8 Million to Disburse, Whenever It Decides the Time Is Right

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no. 102 PUBLISHED CENTRAL CITY City awards BY THE SAN FRANCISCO $1.8 million STUDY CENTER JULY high-rise fees 2010 to aid SoMa Lion’s share goes FROM to 18 nonprofits PORN TO CABARET BY T OM C ARTER Old Gayety SAN FRANCISCO HE fees that Supervisor Daly negotiated from luxury condo Theater may T developers five years ago to EOPLES ARDEN mitigate the impact of their buildings go live, legit P G on the working-class SoMa neighborhood are finally being put to use PAGE 2 this month. But the $50 million largesse tout- ed when the deals were signed has slipped to $6.6 million, thanks to the tanked economy that has stalled much high-rise building here and most everywhere. OBITUARIES: Only the One Rincon Hill tower has been completed, and only the TL RESIDENT first $1.8 million paid to the SoMa Community Stabilization Fund is DEAD AT 24 being distributed in the fund’s initial round of financing for projects that roll out this month. Skateboarder’s Eighteen nonprofits split $1.25 million and three city agencies han- body found dle another $550,000 that came from the developer who at 4 a.m. said last year he wasn’t going to PAGE 3 pay the fees. “We consider But pay he did. it a pilot Last year, the developer ponied round.” up $6 million in three payments, the P HOTOS BY T OM C ARTER Claudine last one, $3.1 mil- Garden caretaker Siu Cheung shows the broccoli plant that was stripped of its bountiful del Rosario lion on Nov. 24, ac- florets by someone who broke the lock on the gate. MAYOR’S STABILIZATION cording to Spencer COMMITTEE LIAISON Moore, the spokes- man for builder Urban West Associates. The advisory committee that rec- ommends SoMa projects to the Broccoli burglar supes for approval has another $2.8 million to disburse, whenever it decides the time is right. The fees THE EXTRA neighborhood’s only community vegetable are subject to administrative costs. Miscreant steals garden. Urban West CEO Mike Kriozere WINS 5 Two sections of the little white picket said in a Chronicle story April 19, fence surrounding the 20- by 20-foot garden 2009, he wouldn’t pay the impact AWARDS veggies that are plot had been pulled open and the irrigation fees for erecting the 641-foot South hoses recklessly flung to one side. She tried Tower on First Street that nuzzles up the gate but the lock was jammed. to Interstate 80. And he seemed to Peninsula Press free for asking What more damage? Cheung wondered have a point. on her way to the second gate. It opened Club honors easily with her key and she entered. Daly’s legislation requiring fees BY T OM C ARTER was imprecise about when they Her log, a laminated sheet with her were due. So the committee, also ‘09 stories phone number on it that tracked all the gar- created in 2005, had waited anxious- IU Cheung’s heart sank the first den’s activities, was missing. ly month after month for the money. PAGE 5 Wednesday morning in June when TNDC employees and neighborhood But Kriozere did a quick about- she peered through the dark-blue volunteers planted the garden on the corner face in a press release the next day, bars of the 6-foot-high metal fence lawn at the Civic Center Power House April 20. “We are not in default nor protecting the Tenderloin Peoples March 23, through an agreement with the do we intend to be,” he said, claim- SGarden at McAllister and Larkin streets, the Department of Public Works. ing his remarks had been taken out Vegetable and flower gardens are all the of context. He said the payment was- rage now, but this community garden is a n’t due until the South Tower got its one-of-a-kind for the Tenderloin. San final Certificate of Occupancy. Francisco Garden Resource Organization The San Diego-based developer lists 51 gardens in the city, 40 of them on was true to his word and later did Rec and Park land. Every supervisorial dis- the city one better: He paid ahead of trict has at least one. But these consist of time. In three payments, the last assigned, individual plots where urban coming Nov. 30, Kriozere paid all he farmers grow their own vegetables or flow- owed three months early. The South ers. YMCA’s flower garden at 387 Golden Tower didn’t get its final Certificate Gate Ave. is in this group. of Occupancy — when the last unit The Power House garden was resplen- is sold — until Feb. 24, 2010. dent with onions, carrots, cabbage, beets, “He paid his commitment,” said three kinds of lettuce, green beans, bok Claudine del Rosario, the Mayor’s choy, garlic, basil and tomatoes. Purple and Office of Housing liaison to the white turnip tops the size of softballs Stabilization Fund. peeked through the dark soil and more than The Mayor’s Office of Economic 70 broccoli plants in verdant double rows and Workforce Development will from 14 inches to 24 inches high foretold a receive $200,000 to loan out to small lush harvest. The emerald oasis is some- SoMa businesses. The San Francisco times a field trip destination for youth The garden was quickly reassembled and groups from the Chinese Youth Center and ➤ CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 volunteers resumed work. ➤ CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 FUTURES COLLABORATIVE GOOD NEWSfor... TL AUDIO PROJECT Last fall’s monthlong Wonder land exhibition brought 40 artists and 10 multimedia installations and events to the Tenderloin. Now, one exhibit project, Tender Transmissions, is up on the Web for the world to see and hear. Originally a temporary audio installation, radio station and phone line hosted at Luggage Store Gallery’s Tenderloin National Forest (Cohen Alley off PHOTO: S.F. PUBLIC LIBRARY HISTORY CENTER P HOTO: MARJORIE B EGGS P HOTO: GAIETY P ROJECT R ENDERING Ellis Street), audiences could tune in to re- 80 Turk St., as it was starting in 1963, left, as it is now and as proposed — “a sanctuary for the lost arts.” cordings of neighbors singing, reciting poetry, conversing, telling stories, and TL sound- scapes, guided walks, interviews, even a screenplay. Tendertransmissions.com launched Old porn house Gayety in mid-June with 97 recordings literally at your fingertips. “The site operates like radio when opened, playing tracks randomly,” said Ranu Mukherjee, one of the project’s eight may be new live theater producers. “If you want to hear something specific, you can click on names in the par- BY M ARJORIE B EGGS just one of the resident compa- always seen our neighborhood as ticipants’ menu to hear their tracks.” Sample nies.” Their hope is to draw other the downtown entertainment dis- Ed Bowers reading “Poetry2,” student companies and new writers to the trict, and the Gaiety Project would Anthony Hom rapping on “The Fresh Prince RTS projects keep on roll- venture — what their prospectus be a great addition.” of De Marillac,” Rachelle Brooks singing John ing into the Tenderloin, calls “untapped media like the The Gaiety’s premiere is still a Lennon’s “Imagine,” Kay of Tenderloin A raising hopes that they’ll burgeoning burlesque and vaude- ways off. Owens and Eng are Children’s Playground talking about kids and help turn grit into cultural gold. ville revival that San Francisco has negotiating the lease with 80 love, and much, much more. — M.B. The latest is a proposal to fostered.” Turk’s owner, Carlos Jimenez. He launch a live performance venue From the start, the Doll House has agreed to upgrade the electri- HUNGRY KIDS As part of its free summer at 80 Turk St., currently the Doll site seemed a perfect fit for their cal and ventilation systems, Eng lunch program, the Department of Children, House, showing adult movies. project, Eng said, with its location says. They have $50,000 commit- Youth & Their Families is serving free lunch- According to TL historian Peter just off Taylor Street along the ted for ground-floor buildout but Field, it was built in 1922 as a es and afternoon snacks to 18-year-olds and city’s nascent arts corridor. “It will need another $100,000. The new storefront with lofts, not a theater, younger each weekday through Aug. 6 at 100 be part of the inviting gateway to nonprofit is applying for a grant and also had stints as a gambling the Tenderloin,” he said. from the city’s Cultural District sites citywide, 10 of them in the central city. joint in the 1930s, a cafe in the At most locations, kids need only show up at Owens and Eng also seem to Loan fund and will approach pri- ‘40s and a tavern, The Buccaneer, be the right people to get the proj- vate foundations, too. posted times to get the free food that is in the ‘50s. It became the Gayety served on a first-come, first-served basis — ect off the ground. Owens, author Meantime, Foul Play is in pre- Theatre in 1963, and in 2001 of 35 plays ranging from musicals production for “Left-Hand Darling,” they don’t have to be enrolled in a program changed its name to the Gaiety. or show proof of need. The focus is on to noir mysteries, has worked in described in promos as “a theatri- Sean Owens and Cameron San Francisco theater for 20 years cal adventure.” A staged reading healthy, soda-free snacks and meals; moni- Eng, principals of the 2-year-old tors will check the sites regularly for food and is heavyweight EXIT Theatre’s of the comedy at EXIT Theatre on Foul Play Productions, an - playwright in residence. Eng, a July 16, 17, 23 and 24 will be a safety. The program expects to feed 200,000 nounced their plans for the performer in underground theater, prep for a full performance next free meals to 6,000 kids. Neighborhood sites: Gaiety Project at the June has produced events and shows in year, perhaps at the new Gaiety Boys & Girls Club, 115 Jones St.; Glide Tenderloin Futures Collaborative. the Bay Area for 12 years. He was Theatre, if it’s ready. Afterschool Program, 434 Ellis St.; “We want this be a sanctuary key in turning The Dark Room This was the Future Colla- Indochinese Housing Development Corp. 375 for the lost arts, like cabaret and theater in the Mission into a year- borative’s second meeting after Eddy St.; Shi Yu Lang YMCA, 387 Golden circus arts,” said Eng. The 99-seat round venue for live shows and being “dark” for four months. It Gate Ave.; Tenderloin Children’s Playground theater will present “family- film. And he has the blessing of wasn’t quite standing room only, Rec Center, 570 Ellis St.; Vietnamese Youth friendly performances with chic, the Tenderloin’s diva of divas: but 24 people came to hear about Develop ment Center, 166 Eddy St.; Bessie classic, state-of-the-art technolo- “Sean has been a part of EXIT the Gaiety and four other proj- Carmichael School, 375 Seventh St.; Homies gy”: a holographic sound system Theatre since our beginning,” said ects, all important to the central Organizing the Mission to Empower Youth, (3-D, spatial sound), programma- Christina Augello, EXIT’s artistic city — the new mid-Market PAC, 1337 Mission St.; Resource Center for ble lighting, trapdoors, puppet director. ”He’s a talented, creative, proposed Grant Building renova- Children, Youth and Families, 953 Mission St.; stages and projection for films. generous artist and a good friend. tions, an update on housing plans It will even have circus and United Playaz, 1038 Howard St. More And I’ve followed his collabora- for 220 Golden Gate Ave. (the old weight points — structural points info: SFkids.org; lunch service hours at 3-1-1 tion with Cameron and enjoyed YMCA), and the new community in the ceiling and walls strong many Foul Play productions. I’ve garden at Larkin and Hyde. ■ or the United Way Helplink line, 2-1-1 (both enough to hold performers doing lines have multilingual staff). — M.B. aerial, strap, hanging, and ring work. Eng says few small halls CENTRAL CITY THE HOOD Boeddeker Summer Music have the ceiling height to accom- NEWS IS A returns to the park, thanks to a $2,000 grant modate such weight. COMMUNITY SERVICE from the Tenderloin CBD, up $500 from last A storefront cafe, lobby art year. Betty Traynor, Friends of Boeddeker gallery, basement and second- SAN FRANCISCO Park chair, said the grant will bankroll floor offices and workshops also CENTRAL CITY EXTRA is published monthly by San Francisco Study Center Inc., a appearances of at least four bands, starting are part of the plan. private nonprofit serving the com munity since 1972. The Extra was initiated through grants from the S.F. Hotel Tax Fund and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman this month. Dates for the midweek, outdoor, “We’ve been working on the Fund. The contents are copyrighted by the San Francisco Study Center, 1095 noontime concerts, and the band selections, Gaiety Project since January,” Eng Market Street, Suite 601, San Francisco, CA 94103. hadn’t been determined by press-time. At the said. “The project will be the PHONE: (415) 626-1650 Friends’ June meeting, Traynor also scotched managing nonprofit for the the- FAX: (415) 626-7276 rumors that Boeddeker would be among the ater space, with Foul Play being EMAIL: [email protected] EDITOR AND PUBLISHER: Geoffrey Link 40 parks that will close because of budget ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Heidi Swillinger cuts. She said Rec & Park General Manager SENIOR WRITER/EDITOR: Marjorie Beggs Phil Ginsburg assured her at a June 4 meet- CORRECTIONS COMMUNITY REPORTER: Tom Carter EPORTERS Ed Bowers, Jonathan Newman, Mark Hedin, Anne Marie Jordan N the June issue, the story on R : ing that Boeddeker would stay open. DESIGNER: Lenny Limjoco Meantime, the park will be open 10 a.m. to 1 Iproposed housing at 121 PHOTOGRAPHER: Lenny Limjoco p.m., weekdays and closed on weekends. Golden Gate Ave. misstated the CONTRIBUTORS: John Burks, Diamond Dave volume the 192-seat St. Anthony DESIGN CONSULTANT: Don McCartney Senior bingo continues on Tuesdays and DISTRIBUTION: Mark Hedin Thursdays. — T.C. Dining Room handles; an average EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE: David Baker, Michael Nulty, Debbie Larkin, 2,600 meals are served every day. Nicholas Rosenberg, Brad Paul, Tariq Alazraie In the new building, the dining room will seat 300. Only Mercy Central City Extra is a member of the Housing, developer of the build- S AN F RANCISCO N EIGHBORHOOD N EWSPAPER A SSOCIATION, ing’s senior housing, will contract S OCIETY OF P ROFESSIONAL J OURNALISTS, NORTHERN C ALIFORNIA C HAPTER, AND S AN F RANCISCO P ENINSULA P RESS C LUB with HUD.

2 CENTRAL CITY EXTRA / JULY 2010 OBITUARIES

EMILE LLEWELLYN he had real nice manners and was really good. I ation. She was 53 and had stomach problems. Skateboarder could tell he was raised right.” May 20, the day before the graduation, two Stunned mourners filled the community room of Others who spoke during the memorial seemed dozen mourners including Ms. Cronin’s two children the Coast Hotel to pay final respects to the hotel’s to feel a personal attachment to Mr. Llewellyn. — son Francisco Cronin, 31, of Corona in Southern youngest adult resident, and one of its most like- One young woman said she skateboarded with California, and Moore of Sunnyvale — plus other able, Emile Llewellyn, found dead May 27 at 4 a.m. him down Mission Street and he was “like a broth- family members, Lyric residents and staff, bade on the Octavia median strip near Market Street. His er to me and a good friend of my husband’s.” farewell in a memorial to a woman they said was trusty skateboard lay nearby. Another young woman said she and a girlfriend had strong, loving and helpful despite her weakness for Mr. Llewellyn had turned 24 just 11 days before. met him at a Dolores Park concert. He was so drugs. Her nickname was Bobbi. A police spokeswoman said the department’s hit engaging they talked for five hours. “I couldn’t believe her strength and energy,” her and run unit was investigating, but cause of death “He had a wonderful smile and was considerate case worker said. “She was one of the most kind, wasn’t known yet. and kind,” said a woman. “He always asked how I open and happy persons.” At the memorial, Mr. Llewellyn’s backup skate- was and offered to help me with groceries.” “She loved her children and talked about them all board, a battered wooden piece with its color “He was like my son,” said an older black the time,” said another woman near a table laden with images nicked, marred and faded beyond recogni- woman who kept her head bowed as she talked. six bouquets and three color photos of Ms. Cronin. tion, lay on a table in front next to a floral spray and “He knocked on my door every day. He called me The woman read aloud a poem, “Miss Me, But Let Me a one-foot-square, handmade sympathy card. ‘Mom.’ We watched movies together and we ate Go,” by an anonymous author, that was printed in the Scott Caswell, 23, a tall, lanky skateboard buddy, together. He’s my loved one. I miss him every day.” program with Ms. Cronin’s likeness on it. told the 25 mourners he took the loss of his friend Mr. Llewellyn’s neighbor, Roman Sanchez, told “Life wasn’t easy for her, but she brought so hard and indirectly felt responsible for his death. how he accepted his Saturday night invitations to go much joy to things,” one man said. Another man They had skateboarded together for three months out, have a beer and “meet some girls.” recalled Ms. Cronin in the lobby every morning until Caswell got a job, ending their adventures. “We’d take the F-car to I dunno where, and he wearing a different bright outfit. Others nodded “There wasn’t a road in the city we didn’t touch was funny. If I said, ‘You’re retarded,’ he’d say, agreement: She always looked nice. — that’s the sport. It’s also very dangerous,” Caswell ‘You’re retarded,’ you know, say it back. ‘You’re a Geraldine Williams sang “Jesus Promise Me a said, eyes red and bleary. “Then I got a job. And I just Republican.’ ‘No, you’re a Republican.’ ” Home Over There,” and a man played a guitar and wasn’t there with him.” Sanchez created the card that was on the table. sang a song he wrote. The year before, Mr. Llewellyn, who insisted on AYE HOMES was in big, slanted blue letters in one “She was so excited to come to my graduation,” being called Stanley for reasons no one knew, had top corner and two checkered cards in the other. said Moore, beautiful and smart in a black suit and finished the Episcopal Community Services’ free The checkered pattern resembled a city seen from white blouse. “We talked all the time. And I forgave CHEFS (Conquering Homelessness through Employ- very high in the sky. The rest of the card was filled her for everything. I’m glad you guys loved her as ment in Food Service) program. Sandra Marilyn, with a blue and black drawing of a dog with red much as I did.” Moore sat down and family mem- employment and training manager, said he had spots on a skateboard, ears flying as he soared along bers held her and stroked her hair. overcome several obstacles to “conquer” the cook- his way. Sanchez gave the card to the family. ■ Ms. Cronin was born and raised in the Mission ing lessons and complete the six-month course. — TOM CARTER with seven brothers and sisters. She didn’t attend “I was proud of him,” Marilyn said. “It takes a lot high school and just recently started to learn to read, of concentration and it’s physically demanding.” ROBERTA CRONIN her daughter said after the memorial. Mr. Llewellyn was born in Jamaica and came to A graduation too far Moore, married with a daughter, said she “cried San Francisco in 2006. Homeless, he moved into the Roberta Cronin had a date she was sure to keep all weekend” after getting the devastating news just hotel more than three years ago and became a this time: her daughter’s graduation from nursing when things seemed to be going so well. The last favorite of many residents. The rail-thin, 5-foot-5 school May 21 at the Hilton Hotel in San Jose. time she saw her mother was six months ago, she young man was unfailingly polite and congenial. “She wanted to buy me a present, but I said no,” said, and Ms. Cronin weighed 80 pounds. In May, His mother, Eslyn Smith, and his older brother, said her daughter, Terri Moore, 32. “I said just her she was back up to 120. Orlando Bell, 32, attended the service but left the being there was enough. She had missed a lot of “She liked it here a lot, too,” Moore said. “And speaking to others. stuff in the past because of drugs.” this time when she said she’d stay clean, I believed “He was cool,” a middle-aged man told them. “I Ms. Cronin died March 6 in her Lyric Hotel room her. I just thought she was getting tired.” ■ mean really cool. I’m a good judge of character and of unknown causes, 13 days before Moore’s gradu- — TOM CARTER Downtown remodeled efficiency studios $650 and up. Beautifully maintained efficiency studios with private bathrooms, in a clean, friendly, downtown building.

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JULY 2010 / CENTRAL CITY EXTRA 3 Daly’s, Newsom’s laws let developers off easy

➤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ing all agencies might suggest different criteria. The committee will look at whether to scrape off Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the funds to help ailing agencies. Department of Public Works get $350,000 for a mid- “We haven’t had that discussion yet,” said block crossing signal across from Victoria Manalo Collins. “But we do need to tweak the strategic Draves Park at Folsom and Russ streets, a safety plan.” measure for youngsters and others who use the park In an effort to kick-start construction, Mayor and Gene Friend Rec Center at Sixth and Folsom. Newsom recently announced a plan to ease the The response to requests for proposals was dis- developers’ fee burden. appointing to the Stabilization Fund advisory com- And an Oct. 27 ordinance by Daly that clarifies mittee. when the $14 per square foot stabilization fee is due “Thirty nonprofits applied,” del Rosario said. (“before” issuance of the final Certificate of “They weren’t as strong as we wanted. They didn’t Occupancy) also enables developers to escape a address stabilization as expressed in the strategic major cost. Developers can apply for a waiver from all plan. But it was a good process and we consider it a or part of the Community Improvements Impact fee if pilot round. The committee made some difficult deci- a Community Facilities District is formed. The fee, $11 sions — it was hard to say no sometimes — but they per square foot, pays for infrastructure such as roads, stuck to the criteria and were pretty conservative.” sidewalks and open space within the district. Most of the nonprofits that didn’t get funded (Proposition 13 in 1978 cut property taxes and didn’t satisfy the strategic plan’s aims to serve SoMa local governments’ ability to pay for needed public residents only, or didn’t estimate enough people the facilities and services. To offset the diminished rev- The developer of One Rincon Hill’s South Tower paid project would serve, according to Jazzy Collins, the enue, the state passed a law [Mello Roos] in 1982 his fees in full; the North Tower construction is on hold. five-year committee chair who stepped down at the that allows communities to tax themselves by creat- May 30 meeting when Ada Chan was elected. ing special districts. A majority of property owners two years through the Homeless Advocacy Project; “How many people are served in SoMa was very within a district must okay its formation. The upshot individuals with legal problems contact lawyers who important to the committee,” Collins said. “But we is that in such a district all owners are taxed, as assist them for free. did not put a specific number in the plan — that opposed to just the developer paying the impact fee • Catholic Charities/CYO, $75,000, for no-cost would blow up in our face.” for improvements.) child care for 5- to 18-year-olds from low-income Legislation the mayor backed in May allows a families living at 10th and Mission streets and nearby. FUNDING ON HOLD developer to defer 80% of the impact fees that go to • Filipino-American Development Foundation, The seven-member committee has $2.8 million the Stabilization Fund for up to three years. It $100,000, to prepare Filipino immigrant youth for left, according to the Mayor’s Office of Housing, and passed 10-1, Daly dissenting. financial independence, and an additional, $40,000 there’s no indication when Rincon Hill area con- to designate a Filipino Cultural Social Heritage struction will resume, which would trigger addition- GRANTS TO NONPROFITS District in West SoMa. al fees. Even so, the committee is holding off on The grants to nonprofits ranged from $10,000 to • Nihonmachi Legal Outreach, $75,000, for hous- funding more projects because it wants to rewrite $120,000; most (11) were $75,000. ing services ranging from legal advice to eviction the strategic plan that the supes approved in 2008. The largest grant to a nonprofit was $119,879 to prevention for low-income SoMa residents. “The committee wants to take the next two the San Francisco Community Land Trust to find a • Northeast Community Federal Credit Union, months to revisit the strategic plan, taking into SoMa site for a co-op to create permanently afford- $75,000, to fund a new SoMa branch for financial account the current economic climate, before releas- able, resident-owned housing for low- and moder- services for low-income residents. ing new RFPs,” del Rosario said. Coming cuts affect- ate-income people. • Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, $75,000, “We’ll do an analysis of SoMa’s to train low-income ex-offenders — men and housing stock and market conditions,” women — in SoMa to become self-employed and says Amy Beinart, the trust’s organiza- self-sufficient. tional director. “We want to ID resi- • United Playaz, $75,000, for job skills training dential buildings of a size that would and employment referrals for at-risk SoMa young lend themselves to conversion in the adults, 18-25. long run as a cooperative.” • Chinatown Community Development Center, The goal is to find a good building $94,394, for outreach to low-income SoMa families with renters who want to buy and live to improve access to affordable housing through its in a cooperative. The land trust would SRO Family Collaborative. secure the financing, conduct work- • Bindlestiff Studio, $35,000, for needs assess- shops with residents, and create a lim- ment and organizational planning, fundraising and ited-equity housing cooperative with public relations strategy. residents buying shares. • GP/TODCO Inc., $75,000, to renovate Alice “In the model we’ve used,” Beinart Street Gardens, a community garden. said, “the land trust would own the • Oasis for Girls, $35,000, strategic planning for land and the co-op would own the youth development and a financial literacy program residential building.” for girls in SoMa. The project has two years from the • San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center, $75,000, contract date to come to fruition. If no to hire staff to develop a new cultural center space, building is found or financing is not including a job-readiness program for SoMa youth. forthcoming, the land trust would con- • Senior Action Network, $75,000, for technolog- tinue working with the committee ical upgrade and staff training. until conditions improve. • South of Market Business Association, $10,000, The other nonprofits and their to host quarterly community exchanges at which grants: SoMa businesses and residents share neighborhood • Asian Neighborhood Design, concerns. $75,000, for one year green construc- • South of Market Child Care Inc., $35,000, to P HOTOS BY T OM C ARTER tion training for SoMa residents. develop and implement a strategic plan with an Kids at the Judith Baker Child Development Center, run by South • Bar Association of San Francisco, emphasis on fundraising and board development. of Market Child Care Inc., enjoy a day in the sun. The nonprofit will Volunteer Legal Services Program, • Veteran’s Equity Center, $75,000, to develop develop a blueprint for fundraising and board development. $75,000, for stabilizing low-income the Bill Sorro Housing Program to help Filipino vet- SoMa families and individuals over erans and their families secure housing. ■ Broccoli burglar steals free food from TL garden ➤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to Cheung. was here.” “The door was wide open Friday,” he told her. “Must’ve been hungry,” one woman said. Ingleside Community Center. Cheung frowned. “I don’t know how they are able There was no other damage. Within 45 minutes As Cheung meticulously circled the square plot, to open it,” he added. the fencing had been reassembled, the hoses bending to examine plants and picking up leaves, Cheung resumed walking around. In the north- realigned and the noisy mowing finished. Another others began to enter through the gate for the east corner she found another picket fence section man had come in too, a friendly senior who gave announced harvest and cleaning day, 10 a.m. to 1 pulled aside. Two women were weeding nearby. Cheung $40 in cash for seeds, he said. He refused a p.m. The garden, though, is open daily for an hour “Look,” Cheung said, pointing at limp beet receipt and left. or two at various times. A half dozen mostly Chinese leaves that had been trampled. Twenty people showed up that day, Cheung’s women seniors from TNDC buildings were expected. “How can they break the fence when they can new log shows. Eight were volunteers who got 3 A man dressed in khaki arrived and began mow- easily step over it?” another gardener asked irritably. pounds of vegetables each. The rest were neighbors ing the long grass outside the plot. A chatty woman Cheung’s fingers were crawling over the hand- who dropped by. Cheung gave them 30 more walked in, saying she wanted her own space to some broccoli leaves — “They look like elephant pounds, a lot more than the broccoli burglar got. grow angelica keiskei (an Asian plant also known as ears,” said one woman. Cheung pointed to the top Word of mouth has spread the news about the ashitaba) and aloe vera. Two more women entered of a plant: the florets had been sheered off, leaving garden largesse, but it’s certainly no secret, Cheung and immediately began pulling weeds. a shiny, 4-inch-diameter stem. says: The first Wednesday of the month is work and Lorenzo Listank, a TNDC staffer who has visited “Why?” Cheung asked no one, looking puzzled. harvest day. the plot Saturdays since April, walked in and went “They could have just asked me. My phone number It’s worth the trip. ■

4 CENTRAL CITY EXTRA / JULY 2010 The Extra wins S.F. Peninsula Press Club honors

ENTRAL City Extra received five awards from the San Francisco Turk Street, making the young man with the knife look like a chump Peninsula Press Club for stories we published last year. The Extra unable to handle an ageless tennis player who also works out daily at C was awarded two first places and three seconds out of 54 Salvation Army. Tom coupled his personal account with a timely story plaques, nearly 10% of the total prizes the press club parceled out in its on a spike in robberies in the neighborhood. Non-Daily Newspaper division. What we savor from winning these five awards is the independent Surprisingly, our main obituary writers, Tom Carter and Marjorie recognition from fellow journalists of the high quality of Central City Beggs, only placed second in the Columns Feature category. Perhaps Extra’s contents. We have been preaching that “news is a community because there was no category specifically for obituaries. But judges service,” and cover stories that offer insight into neighborhood called it “an outstanding effort about a segment of our society that is improvement. ■ often overlooked.” S.F. Business Times’ “Editor’s Notebook” came in first. — GEOFF LINK, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER The obituaries we submitted were among Beggs’ and Carter’s finest, which says a lot considering that The Extra’s most popular feature, our obits, have pioneered a fresh path in journalistic storytelling. Heidi Swillinger, currently The Extra’s advertising manager, won a blue ribbon in the News Story category for her meticulously researched piece on the city’s “Information Gap” caused by city departments’ non- compliance with the charter-mandated requirement to produce an annual report and post it on the Main Library Website. Tom Carter, The Extra’s community reporter, snagged second place for his Business Story on TNDC’s eviction of landmark TL bookstore McDonald’s after the nonprofit developer had bent over backwards on the rent and made other costly accommodations. Marjorie Beggs, senior writer/editor at the Study Center, the Extra’s publisher, who has been turning out high-quality work for us since 1977, took home a first-place plaque June 19 at the Press Club’s 33rd annual awards banquet. She scored top Specialty Story honors with “S.F. vs. Tobacco” her 6,000-word account of the city’s Tobacco Free Project’s impact through its advocacy for anti-tobacco policies and legislation. The Department of Public Health’s health education program is a textbook example of citywide community organizing. Under the leadership of Director Alyonik Hrushow and Mele Lau, the Tobacco Free Project is among DPH Prevention Unit’s finest achievements. Heidi Swillinger, Tom Carter and Marjorie Beggs beam for the camera Tom Carter grabbed his third red ribbon in the Series category with as they display their well-deserved awards against big-time competition. his two-parter on robbery in the Tenderloin. His Page One “Robbery Their award-winning stories are pictured on this page. Roulette” was a first-person account of how he eluded a mugger on

JULY 2010 / CENTRAL CITY EXTRA 5 NOTICE: SECTION 8 VOUCHER HOLDERS One-bedroom apartments now available in Upper San Mateo County Peninsula • Excellent weather • Best neighborhoods • 20 minutes to San Francisco • BART station nearby • Short walk to stores and transportation • Safe, clean, quiet building • New wall-to-wall carpet — all-electric kitchen We pay your moving costs Call (415) 786-1760

6 CENTRAL CITY EXTRA / JULY 2010 COMMUNITY CALENDAR COMMUNITY: REGULAR SCHEDULE 749-2504, [email protected]. Planning to improve Resident unity, leadership training. mid-Market. Tenderloin Futures Collaborative, 3rd Wednesday of the month, ARTS EVENTS North of Market/Tenderloin Community Benefit District. 11 a.m.-noon, Tenderloin Police community room, 301 Eddy. Music in the Park, Boeddeker Park, Wednesday, July 14, noon-1 Full board meets 3rd Monday of every other month, 5:30 p.m., Presentations on issues of interest to neighborhood residents, p.m., Franco Nero, ska and rocksteady music. 134 Golden Gate Ave., 292-4812. nonprofits and businesses. Information: tlfutures.org, 820-3989. NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT SOMA Community Stabilization Fund Community Advisory Tenderloin Neighborhood Association, 2nd Friday of the month Committee meets 3rd Thursday of the month, 5:30 p.m., 1 South beginning in June, 631 O’Farrell St., 4:30 p.m. Nonprofit focuses Alliance for a Better District 6, 2nd Tuesday of the month, 6 Van Ness, 2nd floor atrium. Info: Claudine del Rosario 749-2519. on health and wellness activities to promote neighborly interac- p.m., 230 Eddy St. Contact Michael Nulty, 820-1560 or SoMa Leadership Council, 3rd Wednesday of the month, tions. Info: [email protected]. [email protected], a districtwide improvement association. 6 p.m., The Arc, 1500 Howard St. at 11th. Emphasizes good Tenderloin Police Station Community Meeting, last Tuesday of Central Market Community Benefit District, board meets 2nd planning and good government to maintain a diverse, vibrant, the month, 6 p.m., police station Community Room, 301 Eddy Tuesday of the month, Hotel Whitcomb, 1231 Market St., 3 p.m. complete neighborhood. Contact: Jim Meko, 624-4309 St. Call Susa Black, 345-7300. Neighborhood safety. Information: 882-3088, http://central-market.org. or [email protected]. For space considerations, the calendar is shorter than usual this Community Leadership Alliance. Last Wednesday of the month, South of Market Project Area Committee, 3rd Monday of the month. We hope to restore it to its regular size in August. 6:30 p.m., Infusion Lounge, 124 Ellis St. Information: David Villa- month, 6 p.m., 1035 Folsom St. Lobos, 559-6627, [email protected]. Health, Safety and Human Friends of Boeddeker Park, 2nd Thursday of the month, 3:30 Services Committee meets p.m., Boeddeker Rec Center, 240 Eddy St. Plan park events, monthly on the 1st Tuesday after activities and improvements. Contact Betty Traynor, 931-1126. the 1st Monday, 1035 Folsom Authentic Burmese Food St., noon. Information: 487-2166 Gene Friend Recreation Center Advisory Board, 3rd Thursday “A texturally exciting dining of the month, 5 p.m. Board works to protect SoMa resources for or www.sompac.com. children, youth, families and adults. Gene Friend Recreation Tenant Associations Coalition of experience.” — San Francisco Examiner, September 2009 Center, 270 Sixth St. Information: 538-8100 x202. San Francisco, 1st Wednesday Mid-Market Project Area Committee, next meeting June 9, of the month, noon, 201 Turk St., “Dishes are interesting and 5:30-7:30 p.m., Art Institute of California , 10 United Nations Community Room. Contact Michael Nulty, 339-8327. unique…the number of ingredients Plaza (1130 Market St.), Room 410. Info: Lisa Zayas-Chien, and the amount of prep work that goes into these dishes are awe-inspiring.” — SF Weekly, September 2009 SENIOR COFFEE CHATS 452 Larkin Street “Whoever has the wherewithal DO YOU LIVE IN THE CITY? (Between Golden Gate & Turk St.) to hunt it down will be rewarded San Francisco, CA 94102 ARE YOU 60 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER? with food not easily found 415.474.5569 in San Francisco.” FREE DELIVERY I am a graduate student interviewing older residents about what it's like living — 7 x 7, April 2010 and aging in San Francisco. Mon 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tue – Sat 10:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. “For the most flavors on a plate, If you are interested in meeting up and talking over coffee/tea (my treat), See menu at order a lunch special ($5.95-$8.95).” contact Jason Alley at (415) 260-4597 or [email protected]. www.burmesekitchen.com — San Francisco Chronicle, May 2010

Affordable Health Care

JULY 2010 / CENTRAL CITY EXTRA 7 URGENT UPDATE SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FIREHOUSE

he San Francisco Board of Supervisors will be voting this month on a new city budget. While T there are many important priorities that must be balanced, one of the most important should be our neighborhood ﬁ rehouses.

As San Francisco fi refi ghters, our priority is to protect our community. That’s why we are working so hard to keep open our fi rst line of defense during fi res, medical emergencies or any major disaster. We know money is tight, so we are improving effi ciency and even taking less pay so there is enough to keep our neighborhood fi rehouses open.

As the budget vote nears, we need your support to let the San Francisco Help save our neighborhood ﬁ rehouse, Board of Supervisors know: Station #36 on Oak Street.

Act Now to Protect Your Neighborhood Firehouse by NEIGHBORHOOD 1. Joining online at www.SaveOurFirehouses.com 2. Joining the Save Our Firehouses page on Facebook FIREHOUSES are a www.facebook.com/SaveOurFirehouses cut and mail cut and COMMUNITY PRIORITY 3. Filling out and sending this card to: 1139 MISSION STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103

NAME PHONE EMAIL

ADDRESS

CITY STATE ZIP

Paid for by your San Francisco Fireﬁ ghters Local 798.

Join the Thousands of San Franciscans United to Save Our Neighborhood Firehouses! www.SaveOurFirehouses.com

8 CENTRAL CITY EXTRA / JULY 2010