Bevan Dufty will be the
guest speaker at the next
DTNA neighborhood
meeting, at Davies
Hospital Auditorium,
March 13th 7:30 pm,
Lower Level B.
We encourage you to
attend to hear more and
ask questions.
I've always loved Dear Abby. I'm a pushover for almost any advice column. So it's not surprising how much I enjoy responding to your e-mails, thereby learning about -- and hopefully solving -- problems, explaining stances on issues and in the process making our city more enjoyable and responsive. E-mail can be democracy in an instant.
Your messages have alerted me to graffiti problems, police issues or stop signs needed in and around Duboce Triangle.
For example, Donna Hood alerted me via e-mail about persistent flare-ups of camping and drug use on Hermann Street.
That very evening I got DPW Deputy Director Mohammed Nuru by phone and spoke with Donna and SFPD. Working together, we responded with a thorough cleaning of the sidewalk and removal of mattresses, shopping carts and bags of trash. In cooperation with SFPD Park Station, the great DPW crew has kept up and Robert Donna reported, "I walked the dogs to Duboce Park this morning at 5 and there was nobody sleeping on the sidewalk for the first time in weeks. DPW did a great job of cleaning the sidewalk last night. It was as nice as it has been in a long time."
So this Dear Abby wannabee under the dome welcomes your e-mails, calls and letters to get city government in gear for a better Duboce Triangle neighborhood.a
I'm also proud to highlight some new resources and developments:
District 8 homeless outreach/case management team
The District 8 homeless outreach/case management
team I secured began its training in 2006 under the
leadership of Ben Amyes
from the Department of Human Services. Ben is one
of the architects and heroes behind the mayor's Project
Homeless Connect. This neighborhood-based outreach
effort will link (chronic and transitional) homeless
individuals with drug rehabilitation, supportive housing,
employment and mental health services.
Castro/Upper Market Community Benefits District
January was also the kickoff for the Castro Upper Market
Community Benefit District (CBD). Commercial property
owners along Market Street, Church Street and Castro
Street voted to self-assess to fund sidewalk steam
cleaning, graffiti removal and greening projects. Work
has begun, and Church Street (Duboce to 15th Street)
is understandably a particular focus of MJM
Management (the cleaning contractor). Let me know if
you notice a difference as I welcome your ongoing
feedback to ensure the CBD's success.
New newsstands and newsracks
Also at Church and Market, check out the brand new
JCDecaux newsstand outside of Home restaurant.
News vendor Bernard Tresco has been a familiar
neighborhood presence and I'm happy he has a spiffier
workplace (and with SF PUC's help, hopefully electricity
soon!).
I begged DPW and JCDecaux for this newsstand and the one at 18th/Castro. By May we will replace the clutter and chaos of newsracks with the attractive, green pedestal newsracks seen downtown and around City Hall. Kudos to City Administrator Ed Lee for helping me expand the Market Street district to include Upper Market (from Church to Castro on Market and up Castro to 18th Street). Once established, it will be illegal to place the old, ugly individual newsracks in the area. The contractor Ad Shell is vital to this major improvement.
Have ideas to make Duboce Triangle even better? E-mail, call our office at 554-6968, or talk with either of my great aides, Amanda Kahn and Boe Hayward.
If you'd like to be added to my monthly e-mail newsletter,
please send us an email.
Webpage by Ben Gardiner
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Last modified Mar 4 2006