The Battle on The
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14 Business 28 Travel 20 Calendar Wild Wild Web: Weekend Traveler: July Events: Head to the Stern Partying like it’s Two relaxing days in Grove Festival for a variety of top 1999 10 Laguna Beach 28 acts, or stay in the Marina to catch the band Future Bible Heroes, Food & Wine Pets head downtown to hear David Dishing: Kelsey Skylar Grey: Gergen, or catch the Cliff House’s Nixon Q&A 14 School time 30 150th anniversary 20 WWW.MARINATIMES.COM CELEBRATING OUR 27TH YEAR VOLUME 29 ISSUE 7 JULY 2013 Reynolds Rap The usual suspects Hypocrisy and questionable ethics mar Small Business Commission in pet store debate by susan dyer reynolds efore the June 10 meeting of the San Francisco Small Business Commission (SBC), I overheard Commissioner William Ortiz- Cartagena say he was recusing himself from an Bagenda item due to a past relationship with the landlord’s parking lot. I knew immediately he was talking about Pet Food Express (PFE) seeking a conditional use permit to move into the long-empty Blockbuster building at 2460 Ballet on the bay as Oracle Team USA practices PHOTO: © ACEA / PHOTO GILLES MARTIN-RAGET Lombard Street, but when I grabbed a copy of the agenda, PFE wasn’t listed. Then I got to number 8: “Presentation and possible action to support Pet Store merchants regard- ing their efforts to maintain their businesses.” The verbiage The battle on the bay stated that two pet stores on Chestnut Street were “work- ing to prevent their businesses from possible closure,” and by jim maxwell Racing’s AC72 boat capsized during become a real sticking point, with included five-minute presentations by Pam Hable of Catnip a training run on May 9. Since then, the Italian challengers threatening to and Bones and Susan Landry of Animal Connection II. he “Summer of Racing” the organizing committee released a go to court over the proposed rule Despite the fact PFE was not listed on the agenda, both is scheduled to kick-off on report with 37 safety recommenda- change. Any legal action would be presentations were nonstop barrages of anti-PFE rhetoric. July 5, now with a time tions to be implemented with the heard before the New York Supreme Afterward, Commissioner Mark Dwight announced he’d trial featuring at least three goal of providing safer sailing for the Court, which has jurisdiction over already made up his mind and the commission should Tof the teams instead of the originally crews. Though the four participat- the America’s Cup, and could delay vote against PFE — even though PFE hadn’t presented scheduled Fleet Race; but the future ing teams – Defender Oracle Team the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup their side of the story. Michael Levy, PFE’s founder and of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger USA, Challenger of Record Artemis Challenger Series scheduled for July 7. co-owner, told Dwight that he just heard about the meet- series may yet turn into a legal battle Racing (Sweden), Luna Rossa (Italy), The elevator rudder in question ing three days earlier, and that Secretary Chris Schulman over the new rules. and Emirates Team New Zealand – provides stability as the boats rise had promised him five minutes during the “public com- This continues to be part of the fall- have agreed on the majority of those out of the water on their foil. The ment time.” As Levy spoke, the three-minute buzzer went out from the tragic death of Andrew safety measures, the adoption of a rule original rules allowed for the rud- off (the limit for public comment), and he reminded “Bart” Simpson when Artemis change regarding elevator rudders has AMERICA’s cup, continued on 13 PET STORE DEBATE, continued on 3 The Coastal Commuter The Back Story If you’re going to San Francisco by michael snyder ver since I began working in Los Angeles for months at a time, I’ve been noticing profound changes in San Francisco whenever I’ve returned Enorth and settled in at my apartment for a breather. Sometimes it’s a closed restaurant, bar, or retail store in my neighborhood with a new joint in its place. Sometimes it’s new tenants in my building. Sometimes when I’ve been in Southern California for a particularly PHOTO: COURTESY CLIFFHOUSEPROJECT.COM long time, I’ll return to the Bay Area and even observe a ripple or two in the local demographic — like more dog- owners or more Wednesday night drunks or more law The Cliff House celebrates 150 years students in my favorite cafe. But I was particularly weirded out by a recent change I encountered quite unexpectedly. I’d been away for by ernest beyl founded in 1861; the Cliff oldest restaurants — not 1912; No. 9 Fishermen’s almost two months and was invited by a friend to have House, 1863; Sam’s Grill, only in San Francisco but Grotto, 1935; and Original dinner at her place in Marin. A home-cooked meal pre- sn’t it exciting to live 1867; Fior d’Italia, 1886; also in the entire coun- Joe’s, 1937. pared by a superb chef? Count me in. in a city that has such the Tadich Grill, 1887; and try. And not that far into Think of it for a moment. So it was off to the Golden Gate Bridge early on a wonderful old restaurants? Shroeder’s, 1893. Those San Francisco’s future were San Francisco has clas- Sunday evening. I got to her place, and dinner was, as II’m thinking of places six, all founded in the 19th others that are still with sic, old-school restaurants COMMUTER, continued on 6 like the Old Clam House, century, are among the us: Swan Oyster Depot, CLIFF HOUSE, continued on 4 WWW.MARINATIMES.COM THE MARINA TIMES JULY 2013 1 Contents Editor’s Note Pet Store Debate Conduct of Governmental ness were actually expanding continued from page 1 Officers Code, for which she (one of the most vocal oppo- In This Issue should be brought up on eth- nents, Animal Connection Office of Small Business ics charges. Further, if Ortiz- II, opened a store right next 18 24 Executive Director Regina Cartagena recused himself to an established PFE in Dick-Endrizzi that he was for a past relationship with Burlingame earlier this year). promised five minutes, at the landlord’s parking lot, As for the Coalition’s which point she cut him off, Dooley absolutely should claims of declining business, saying while he was asking recuse herself from any fur- they can’t back it up with for his additional two min- ther discussions about PFE. facts because the facts don’t utes he hit the 30-second It gets worse. On at least support them: According mark so his time was up. four occasions between to tax records, the six 30 When Rebecca Katz, 2009 and 2013, various pet stores closest to 2460 executive director of San members of the Coalition Lombard Street have seen Francisco Animal Care and were invited to speak before their total sales increase by Control (ACC), stood up the full SBC or subcommit- 142% to the tune of $8.11 to speak on PFE’s behalf, tees Dooley sat on while million since 2006, with a Commissioner Kathleen PFE was not. At a June 28, growth rate of more than 20 Dooley called her an unethi- 2010 Legislation and Policy percent per year. Clearly, the cal lobbyist for PFE. “They Committee meeting — reason Hable and Landry use their rescue work as a attended by Dick-Endrizzi, don’t want PFE on Lombard ploy,” Dooley said sarcas- Dooley, and Commissioner is they don’t want compe- tically. Katz told Dooley Irene Yee Riley — the owner tition; they want to keep she was not a lobbyist, of George pet stores in San their duopoly so they can News Arts & Entertainment but was there to state the Francisco and Berkeley, continue charging inflated Happenings and controversies Life and Nightlife facts: Without PFE pay- Bobby Wise, spoke for prices to little old ladies who News Briefs reports on biking, di Suvero Film critic Michael Snyder reviews Deceptive ing for all the can’t get out of sculpture sparks heat, the return of con- Practice and I’m So Excited; Sharon Anderson food at ACC, the neighbor- gestion pricing, more Central Subway reports on the latest museum controversy; the severely hood to shop news, a bid to bury utilities, Michelle Maryann LoRusso heads to the beer gar- underfunded The six pet stores nearby anywhere else. Shocked almost returns, and more. 4 dens; Evalyn Baron puts on a show; plus the city shelter Several com- Marina’s bestsellers. 18 couldn’t save have seen their sales increase missioners Community the thousands by 142% since 2006. said they had Calendar of animals they driven down The right Perfecting the City take in each L o m b a r d Supervisor Mark Farrell reports on July events year. Having a location on the Coalition. Wise asked recently and “were shocked” the effort to preserve the Francisco Did you know actress Molly Ringwald heads Lombard would provide that PFE not be allowed to to see nearly two dozen Reservoir land for green space; plus the up a jazz group? Or would you rather spend a cat adoption center for open a store on California empty storefronts, graf- mortgage Police Blotter. 6 your time with Bernadette Peters? Maybe the Pets Unlimited and allow Street, after which Dooley fiti, and homeless encamp- young ones would like to see Disney in con- ACC and other groups to and Riley directed staff to ments.