Farley’s Mission Art Family Fun Reception School on the Hill INSIDE p.8 p.12 p.17 p.6 p.10 p. 13 p. 19 DECEMBER 2014 Serving the Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, Mission Bay and SOMA Neighborhoods Since 1970 FREE Arkansas Street Malia Cohen Secures Second Board of Supervisors Term Trees Replaced BY RYAN BERGMANN Cohen, who collected 43 percent. “I’m really thrilled that the voters BY RYAN BERGMANN Last month’s San Francisco Board have spoken, and I want to articulate The 200 block of Arkansas Street of Supervisors District 10 race looked how incredibly proud I am of the has had a different look and feel since nothing like the 2010 election, yet strength of my grassroots campaign, nine Ficus trees were removed last it produced the same winner, Malia and also want to take a moment to spring. The row of Ficus microcarpa Cohen, who voters endorsed for a express how honored and grateful I am nitida was in ill-health, threatening second term. In 2010 it took nearly two to be able to serve our neighborhood for passersby and damaging vehicles weeks after Election Day before Cohen with falling limbs. In the fall of 2013, emerged as the winner of a crowded “My job is to after receiving multiple complaints 21-person field after 20 rounds of from the public, the Department of ranked choice voting, despite receiving make sure local Public Works (DPW)— which has only 12 percent of first place votes. This government is oversight authority over public and year Cohen obtained 47 percent of first private street trees—had the trees place votes, and after the elimination working for the inspected by a certified arborist, who of Ed Donaldson and Shawn Richard everyday man confirmed that they were in poor in the second round, she crossed the 51 condition and would likely continue to percent threshold needed to win. and woman.” experience large stem failures. Tony Kelly, the runner up in — MALIA COHEN, Limb failures are a common af- 2010, finished in second place with 24 DISTRICT 10 SUPERVISOR fliction of the urban Ficus; as a result percent of first place votes. Marlene the City stopped planting the species Tran, a retired public school teacher, another four years,” Cohen said. “We in the early-1990s. “The limbs of Ficus community advocate and Visitacion knocked on about 62,000 doors in the Cohen pointed to the “Ban the trees have very narrow points of at- Valley resident, captured 18 percent of last several months across the district Box” ordinance that she co-authored tachment, and if they are not pruned first place votes. and we made about 61,000 phone calls. with District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim as vigilantly at an early age, they have a Even with several important state We’ve had a lot of intimate conversa- one of her proudest legislative achieve- tendency for large stem failure,” said and local referendums on the ballot, tions with voters.” ments. The policy, which took effect Chris Buck, San Francisco’s acting ur- voter turnout was low across the City. Cohen said she spent her first last summer, bars most employers and ban forester. According to Buck, Ficus’ A little more than half — 53 percent term focusing on issues that directly housing providers from asking about large root system can cause significant —of registered San Francisco voters impact people, like rebuilding public a person’s criminal history on their sidewalk damage over time, an issue submitted ballots, significantly down housing. “My job is to make sure local applications. Since 2006 the City has that was visible on Arkansas Street. from 2012 at 73 percent, 2010, 61 per- government is working for the everyday prohibited public employers from ask- A permit is required to remove cent, and 2008, 81 percent. With a 47 man and woman,” she said. “Making ing the question, which was extended even privately-owned street trees, as percent turnout, District 10 was below sure we provide a healthy and safe to the private sector. According to mandated by San Francisco’s Urban the citywide average, and would have environment for people, making sure Cohen, the new ordinance will help Forestry Ordinance. In November been lower if results weren’t propped the shipyard is cleaned up, and making address the bias that exists for people 2013, the Wisconsin Street property up by a 55 percent turnout in Potrero sure the Potrero Hill health center has who were incarcerated but have paid owner submitted a tree removal permit Hill and Dogpatch. Bayview-Hunters the resources it needs to continue to application to DPW. The department Point had the lowest voter turnout of serve the community.” COHEN page 11 typically denies requests to cut-down any San Francisco neighborhood, at 43 healthy, sustainable trees, but given percent; Visitacion Valley was also at residential rental properties to install the Ficus group’s terminal state and the bottom, with a 44 percent turnout. photovoltaic panels. A statewide voter turnout was even Is Sunshine Free? Whether or not Solar Vision 2020 less; just 42 percent. Nationally, voter BY NATHAN ALLEN is ever adopted, increasing amounts participation levels are at the lowest of “distributed energy resources” since World War II. Earlier this year, in the heat of a (DER) — solar, storage, automated energy Much like the 2010 race, last tight race which he ultimately won the management systems, electric vehicles, month’s results tell a story of a divided California State Assembly, David Chiu, among other things —are being added to district, with no candidate able to then San Francisco Board of Supervisors utility distribution systems, the poles and secure enough first place votes to win president, released Solar Vision 2020. wires that carry electricity to homes and without the ranked choice process be- The plan, which is supported by a coali- businesses. Solar is increasingly being ing triggered. Bayview-Hunters Point, tion of solar providers and workers, as adopted, as a means to reduce carbon District 10’s largest neighborhood in well as Debbie Raphael, San Francisco emissions, increase property values, and terms of geographic size and number Department of the Environment direc- lower utility bills. of registered voters, was critical to tor, among others, calls for roughly a Transmission and distribution lines Cohen’s re-election. It was there that doubling of photovoltaic energy produc- were designed to deliver generation 52 percent of voters selected Cohen as tion in San Francisco, from 26 megawatts provided by central power plants to resi- their first choice; the only neighbor- (MW) today to 50 megawatts by 2020. dential and commercial buildings. DERs, hood where she won a majority. Cohen Under the plan, all new residential however, can create a two-way power was also able to win Visitacion Valley and commercial construction in the flow instead of the traditional one-way. with 41 percent of the vote, narrowly City would have to include rooftop gar- Magnolia trees have been planted on Arkansas Energy users who produce more electric- edging out Tran, who gathered 36 per- dens — as a means to cool buildings — so- Street. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF RYAN BERGMAN ity than they need send the power back to cent. Potrero Hill and Dogpatch were lar panels, or both. While the focus is won by Kelly, who received 46 percent mainly on new buildings, incentives TREES page 6 of the votes, roughly 100 more than would be offered to encourage existing SOLAR page 23 2 THE POTRERO VIEW December 2014 SHORT CUTS Muni Munifcence grown-ups get a cup of coffee, take a Pilates class or parenting workshop, The San Francisco Municipal Trans- and connect with other caregivers. Lisa portation Agency is adding a new Nowell, who co-founded Recess seven line in Potrero Hill, and increasing years ago, is committed to providing a the frequency of others. Starting this play space with a reasonable monthly February the 55 16th Street will con- member dues structure. To do so a new nect the 16th Street Bay Area Rapid space in Dogpatch, Potrero Hill, or Transit station to Mission Bay and PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN LOOMIS Showplace Square that offers acces- the new University of California, San sible rent, or is available for purchase, Francisco hospital. In addition, the 33 Sun Could be Setting on Hsin Tung Yang Building is needed. Anyone want to play?...In Stanyan will move from Potrero Avenue BY JOHN LOOMIS the face of rising rents, Potrero Chiro- an endearing detail, both a period and a to Potrero Hill along the 22 Fillmore practors & Acupuncture has managed Dogpatch is about to lose a distinc- comma, “Co.,”, like belt and suspenders, route. The 22 Fillmore service will to negotiate a “reasonable” five year tive historic landmark. The Hsin Tung just to make sure the punctuation was terminate at Kansas Street, and the lease, but that entailed reducing the Yang—New Eastern Sun—building, correct. And in an Andy Warhol moment frequency of the 9/9L San Bruno will size of their offices by 400 square located at 815 to 825 Tennessee Street, below, cheery retro graphics proclaim be increased to provide more service on feet and paying $2,000 more a month. may soon be demolished to make way for “the Sandwich Shop”. Potrero Avenue. Plus the 10 Townsend Fortunately, Frank Gilson, who owns condominiums. The South Bay Roem Corpora- now operates until midnight seven days the business, knows how to be flexible. Built in the late-19th or early-20th tion, BDE Architecture’s proposal to a week. Get your bus ride on! century, the brick structure is a rare tes- replace Hsin Tung Yang may look like Recess Cut Short Generation Gap tament to Chinese culture in Dogpatch.