Outer Sunset to Lose John's Ocean Beach Cafe
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Volumn 20 No. 5 • 821-9443 • www.tpobserver.com • [email protected] • Ads: [email protected] • June 2008 Pacific Rod & Gun Club Threatened Outer Sunset to Lose John’s Ocean Beach Cafe RUMINATIONS OF A FORMER CITIZEN SUPERVISOR by Quentin Kopp For long-time San Franciscans certain institutions possess historical and cultural values which apparently command no respect, much less even understanding of history, by modern day zealots and architects of revision. One such example involves the storied Cow Palace, which began operation in 1941 and has been the venue of musi- cal, sporting, artistic, social and other entertainment events and conventions for 67 years. Another blazing example relates to ill-disguised efforts to terminate the Pacific Rod and Gun Club use of facili- ties at Lake Merced. As an honorary member of the Pacific Rod and Gun Club and its neighbor since 1973, I believe I can comment upon the benign and useful presence of my neighbor, which has leased from the City and operated for nearly three-quarters of a century a modest portion of (Cont. p. 11) the western side of Lake Merced. Although the scheme to destroy the Cow Palace receives rather constant publicity, as surely befits an institution attracting over 500,000 visitors per year, the sly aspiration of ill-motivated city government After 30 years serving the neighbrhood, John’s Ocean and allied interests to abolish the Pacific Rod and Gun Club Beach Cafe will be demolished. At the Planning Commis- sion hearing, neighbors expressed concerns about the escapes attention. development that will replace it as too large, and adding In early April, The San Francisco Chronicle showed a greater burden to the parking problems that many in good sense in alerting San Franciscans and other Bay Area the area experience, especially on weekends. residents to the ill-disguised attempt to eliminate my neigh- bor, the Rod and Gun Club. That was almost immediately Outer Sunset’s John’s Ocean Beach Cafe, a Appellent: Mark Duffett, President of SPEAK met by protestation from three of the ambitious perpetra- neighborhood landmark across from the Zoo said the appeal was meant to give immedi- tors, who, describing themselves as “long-time advocates of will soon be a thing of the past. The question at ate neighbors a chance to voice their concerns restoring Lake Merced...” professed to work “collaborately the Planning Commission hearing on May 22nd regarding the environmental impacts. Shortcom- with members of the gun club and their affinity groups and was not about the fate of the business, so much ings of the project are, he said, the overwhelming respect their point of view.” Notice the last phrase, to wit, as what would be taking its place. The proposed massing of the Wawona façade, lack of attention “respect their point of view.” While extolling in a self-serving five story project found little encouragement to traffic flow around the site, and the demand fashion their alleged personal efforts to bring “good health” from the neighbors who live around it. for more parking. After several meetings with to Lake Merced, they degrade the use of the Club’s 14-acre Neighbors of the long-time business the project sponsors and planning staff, a 15 foot leasehold and the number of persons using the premises for addressed the Appeal of the Negative Declara- setback on Wawona, and better definition and sport shooting and social events. The purpose, however, of tion for the proposed project at 2800 Sloat Blvd. separation of the three buildings were agreed such self-proclaimed servants of the public at large appears filed by SPEAK, the Sunset-Parkside Education upon as improvements. Meetings with MTA are clear to this long-time neighbor and admirer of the Club. and Action Committee. also needed to make necessary improvements to Here’s a rapid summary of recent history: approximately Planning Staff described the project as a traffic patterns and parking. four years ago the San Francisco Public Utilities Commis- mixed use building, consisting of 56 residential Margaret Lee, a second generation Outer sion began a study of Lake Merced. The professed theme units above ground floor commercial with park- Sunset resident for over 30 years, called the pro- was maintenance and improvement of Lake Merced. A ing underground, and demolition of 3 commer- posal an “excessive overdevelopment.” It should so-called “Lake Merced Task Force” was organized. People cial buildings and a service parking lot. comply with the City’s zoning and planning who rarely visited or used Lake Merced and don’t live in SPEAK’s appeal is based on the assertion that codes, she said, presenting the Commission with our neighborhood comprise “task force” members. More- the development is out of character with exist- a community petition with over 200 signatures over, the task force consultant just happens to work for San ing neighborhood, parking, traffic, open space requesting the developers to scale back the size of Francisco State, an identified potential Club predator. As concerns. the project. She asked that the project meet code authors of the aforementioned expiating article, San Fran- Cont. p. 4 cisco Beautiful’s executive director, a Golden Gate Audubon Society Conservation Committee member and a Califor- The Observer Mourns Passing of Billie Lowe nia Trout Program Director condemn the Club with faint Our Ad Sales Director Led a Fascinating Life praise, but their “open forum” article in The Chronicle gives by Phyllis Sherman them away. They confess to examining such uses to replace the Club’s leasehold as a “launching facility for local high Billie Miner Southern, daughter of Elmer Thomas Southern and school and adult rowing programs; a facility for recreational Agatha Gray Cummings, and sister of John Robert Southern and boat rentals; a nature and environmental center; a children’s Galen Ward was born August 16, 1922. She was raised in San Fran- play area; a restoration site for dune and wetland habitats; cisco, graduated Poly Technical High School Class of 1940 and mar- and a youth fishing program.” They then declare that the ried Harry Shaw Lowe and had one son, Miner Grey Lowe. “suggestion” from unidentified persons of “room for a com- She was an avid dancer and independent woman. In her youth promise where the gun club would share the site with other she traveled to South America and then to Europe with the USO during WW2. She lived in Little Italy-Chinatown New York with Cont. p. 9 INSIDE her stage actor husband during the fifties. One would see the color- ful redhead touring with her husband through Manhattan in the Spiritual Care at Laguna Honda . 2 family’s MG with a boxer dog, Siamese cat and her son in the back WOTP Central Council. 2 of the sports car. In the sixties she spent a short time in Hollywood where her husband was acting in his last play, Flower Drum Song. She returned to San Francisco Gen Hospital Rebuild Questions. 2 in 1963 after her husband’s death, and eventually she moved down the peninsula to Woodside. Changes at Stonestown . 3 Throughout her life Billie held direct sales positions including real estate and life insurance. Prop G and F . 3 Most recently she served as the senior ad sales director for this newspaper. Still working and Police Blotter. 8 driving at 85 Billie’s passion was dancing, and she would take dancing cruise ship-trips Cancer Cooking Course . 8 every year. Billie died of heart failure with her grand children, Jessica, Bonnie, and Julian Lowe at her A Walk Through Chinatown . 9 side May 13 in her son’s Balboa Terrace home. She had recently been hospitalized for breast Personal Water Shortage? . .10 cancer. She leaves her son and his wife, Miner and Hideko and their children Minika, Jessica, And all the columnists and features exclusive to the Observer Bonnie and Julian behind. DYING PATIENTS LOSE SPIRITUAL CARE AT LAGUNA HONDA WOTPCC News and Views by Sister Miriam Walsh, Director, Pastoral Care Services. LHH Over the past 20 years, the Hospice at Laguna disabling illness, poverty Civic Advocacy in Action Honda Hospital has cared for over 2,000 dying persons and broken relationships. The concept of civic advocacy was displayed all and many more bereaved loved ones. About 50% of We try very hard to give evening at the May meeting of the West of Twin Peaks our deaths occur in the home-like Hospice, a 25-bed them spiritual support Central Council. From the nominations of new offi- ward with a lovely garden. Patients come from every at this time of their lives. cers, proposed cancellation of Muni routes, SF PUC San Francisco neighborhood with illnesses that range From experience we fiscal accountability, multi person dwellings, and the from AIDS to Alzheimer’s. Laguna Honda has received have learned that dying development of the Presidio, discussions were lively heart-felt community thanks for its Hospice care. patients need someone with many attendees voicing their opinions and vot- I started Pastoral services on Hospice in 1988. Later, there as they approach ing to initiate neighborhood-based responses to spur interfaith Chaplains were hired as Spiritual Care Coor- the end of life, especially government action. dinators to provide broader and more consistent sup- the elderly. And, that Community outreach between the WOTPCC and port. I was shocked when our valued Hospice Chaplain each death affects the the SFPD was in focus as SAFPD Sgt. Randall Young, who earns a mere $26,000 yearly, got a layoff notice for entire community. the liaison between the Taraval station and the council July 1st! This amounts to 0.01% of the hospital’s budget We have volunteer Chaplains, but the time they reported on local robberies where a young man with for 1500 employees, only 6 of whom were laid off.