Residents Divided Over Plans for Mt. Sutro Reserve
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WESTSIDE BSERVER Volume 27 • Number 2 March 2014 An Appeal to Mayor Ed Lee? Residents ODivided Over Plans for Mt. Sutro Reserve By John Farrell By Keith Burbank uni needs $10 billion, the hether to thin the trees in the UCSF Homeless program is medio- Mt. Sutro Open Space Reserve is still Mcre, the City is in dire need Wdividing residents of the local area, of affordable housing and we lost the 49ers despite changes in the university’s plans. On one to Santa Clara to name a few. On the other side are residents who want to maintain the forest hand, unemployment is low and the City as it is. Other residents agree with the university – will receive a healthy increase in property tax revenue due to that thinning needs to occur. new construction going on all over the City. “It’s really quite simple,” said Jake Sigg, a I appeal to the Mayor to put a moratorium on any new retired gardener who lives on Ortega Street. He proposals to increase taxes or fees until all revenue-generat- added that there are many more trees now than ing City departments audit and report on potential revenues. when Sutro first planted them, and many areas Over the past year I have written articles identifying close are so dense with trees it’s not healthy for the trees to $200 million in revenue to the City that is not currently themselves. “Any gardener can tell you that.” Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Management Plan was developed with substantial involvement from members of the community, but many outspoken opponants are strongly opposed to the plan being addressed. Is this the tip of the iceberg? You decide. Doing the most damage is the dense understory, smaller trees and shrubs, to reduce the Reserve’s fire hazard. The Mayor Lee before any monies are which is keeping the trees from regen- Sigg wonders if the university was exploring different ways requested from taxpayers … Are all erating, Sigg said. The dense understory university is creat- of doing that until the community raised also blocks the light that seeds need to its opposition to the plans. City department lands that are rent- germinate. ing a smoke screen The new plan calls for thinning able leased out, and if not, why not? He says residents who want to to its real plans, which to occur in 25 of the Reserve’s 61 acres, Have studies been done to insure maintain the present condition of the he said may be selling according to a fact sheet published by the forest are taking an emotional approach. the land to developers … university. rental rates, permits, licenses, boat And he’s upset the university has backed Besides the Reserve, thinning is berths, etc...are at fair market and off its original plans. an attorney said there is planned for roadside areas along Medi- taxed accordingly? I can tell you as a Those plans appear to never have no legal impediment to a cal Center Way, from Johnstone Drive fact they are not.” fully developed. The idea to thin the sale.” to the Environmental Health and Safety Reserve has been dictated by a desire Cont. p. 2 In February, I reported that PG&E is getting a $5.2 mil- lion annual tax break. PG&E’s franchise fee is subject to property tax but is not reflected in the annual appraisal, by Behind the Trustees’ Struggle for City College the State Board of Equalization (SBE). The Assessor’s Office By Dr. Anita Grier, Trustee should work closely with SBE staff to insure a fair market I love City College. City College changed my life and granted me my first degree, franchise fee assessment is accounted for in the SBE’s annual I’ve served on its Board of Trustees 15 years. appraisal resulting in property tax revenue to the City of approximately $5.2 million annually (based on a market fran- s an African- College’s job-and our only job-is to fully meet the standards chise fee of 3%). A m e r i c a n that are being followed by the other 111 community colleges in Keep in mind we were just reviewing the property tax Awoman, I know California.” [His emphasis.] revenue from the franchise fee of PG&E. There are numer- how much an outstanding I feel deep institutional grief to see City College in its pres- ous companies with franchise fees that should also be community college that is ent state. The college is more polarized and destabilized than assessed, resulting in additional millions to the City annu- affordable and accessible it’s ever been. Even though enrollments are plummeting, the ally. There is also a potential increase in the existing PG&E can help people. City Col- administration is making further cuts in classes for the spring franchise fee, set in 1939 to fair market, resulting in from $27 lege of San Francisco has semester; the Board of Trustees has been exiled from all of the to $45 million annually to the City (reflects a 3% to 5% fair the educational mission decision-making responsibilities the people invested in us; and market franchise fee) compared to the existing payment to and moral responsibility to continue serving the people as it on a daily basis, people point out the sad irony that a great, the City of $5.5 million (based on the existing franchise fee has for 78 years, and I’m convinced that we will. democratic college that serves up to 100,000 students in a pro- of ½% electrical and 1% of gas from PG&E’s gross receipts). Contrary to simplistic reports by education “leaders” who gressive city like San Francisco is being run by one individual, In December, I reported that the City is losing at least should know better, many reasonable, informed people at City a special trustee with absolute power who is paid more than $10 million a year in property tax revenue and well over College not only have recognized that we’ve had some prob- $1,000 a day. $100 million from the Presidio Trust since inception due to lems, but that we’ve worked hard on many fronts to rectify Since our elected Board of Trustees has been dissolved, an unconstitutional loophole in the Presidio Trust Act that them. the responsibility of meeting our allows that tenants are exempt from all taxes. This includes The college has always I want to acknowledge my enrollment goals to avoid a mas- transfer tax. Further, if the Lucas Plan for a Presidio Museum been recognized for having profound respect for the integ- sive loss of state funding rests is approved, the City will lose at least $8.1 million annually enlightened personnel poli- with recently selected Chancel- in property tax. cies and practices and high- rity, intellect, courage and lor Arthur Tyler and Special In 1989, the federal government closed the Presidio as quality instruction, even during perseverance of Marty Hittelman, a Trustee Robert Agrella. Now a military base. Since the Presidio is no longer for military the recent financial crisis and community college math teacher… that City College has the finan- Cont. p. 11 the destabilizing imposi- cial resources to restore the cuts tion of harsh, and in my view, When many of us at CCSF cautiously in classes and personnel as we unwarranted, sanctions by the regarded the ACCJC as a responsible promised the voters in our Prop Good Government? Waterfront Wars Accreditation Commission of and respected institution with the A Parcel Tax campaign litera- Quentin Kopp – 3 P. M. Shaw – 3 Community and Junior Colleges ture, will the two policymakers (ACCJC). Respected educators credibility and integrity of a blue- be able and willing to keep that ribbon grand jury, Hittelman was Tunnel Taxes Green Dreams have observed that CCSF has promise, or will they continue done the best job in the state leading a lonely struggle to expose cutting classes and part-time Steve Lawrence – 4 Will Durst – 4 of improving Student Learn- the ACCJC as a “rogue organization” faculty? ing Outcomes (SLOs). Not only As a member of the CCSF Laguna Honda Mission Hidden Gem have the faculty and classified that was abusing its power and caus- Board of Trustees before the Rivero/Kerr – 5 Paula Tejeda – 6 staff unions and the Depart- ing great harm to City College … and takeover, I won’t say that we ment Chair Council made major numerous other community colleges are brilliant people; however, I concessions at the bargaining believe we are competent poli- MUNI Time Around the Town table that have saved millions of in California.” cymakers, and we have learned Howard Strassner – 7 Mitch Bull – 9 dollars, those groups also worked with other constituencies at from hard economic times and institutional missteps. We also CCSF, organized labor, various community and religious orga- know the college well and, most important of all, the people Editorials .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Open Late .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 nizations, and traditional allies to pass the Prop A Parcel Tax elected us to provide, as effectively as possible, the comprehen- Letters .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .5 Sudoku / Brain Füd . 12 and State Prop 30. sive educational services that our students need. CCSF has improved in many areas, not just in terms of The harsh ACCJC sanctions have brought responses rang- Money Matters .. .. .. .. .. .5 Real Estate Q & A. 13 fiscal stability. Our extensive efforts to accommodate the rec- ing from massive demonstrations to three lawsuits. On Janu- Central Council .. .. .. .. .. .7 Jack Kaye .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 ommendations and demands of the ACCJC fell short, however, ary 2, 2014, Superior Court Judge Stanley Karnow granted a of the ACCJC’s shifting standards.