The latest strategy by SF neighborhoods to avoid development? Be ‘historic’

When Donna Howe meets new friends in her cozy Ingleside Terraces neighborhood, she often quizzes them on the age of local Craftsman and revival-style homes.



Howe’s family has lived in the southwestern San Francisco neighborhood — known for its distinctive architecture and single-family homes — for five generations, since the 1940s.



But as the city faces a dire housing shortage and increasing pressure from state officials to build residential units, many locals are increasingly concerned that Ingleside Terraces could be targeted for rampant development.



“I have deep roots and deep love for this neighborhood,” Howe, 72, told The Standard. “I don’t want to see it go.”



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1667" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_012.jpg?w=2500" alt="The image shows a hilly neighborhood with colorful houses and lush greenery. Cars line the street, and a foggy sky hovers above the distant hills." class="wp-image-413908" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_012.jpg 7632w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_012.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_012.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_012.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_012.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_012.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ingleside Terraces homeowners are seeking historic status for their neighborhood.</figcaption></figure>



San Francisco faces a state mandate to add tens of thousands of residential units over the next six years. To address that goal, Mayor Daniel Lurie last week released a zoning plan that would add more than 36,000 units in west-side neighborhoods, including Ingleside Terraces, where opposition to development has historically been strong.



To avoid that, the Ingleside Terraces Homes Association is pushing to designate the neighborhood as a “historic district,” a state-recognized status that critics see as a tool to stall development. The association hired an architectural consulting firm and three months ago submitted an application to the California Office of Historic Preservation.&nbsp;



The pursuit of a “historic” designation is an increasingly popular tactic in San Francisco and other California cities. Residents of St. Francis Wood successfully <a href="https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/housing/st-francis-wood-earns-historic-designation-sparks-backlash/article_bff67cf0-02e0-11ed-87c7-e3d2da717575.html">petitioned the state for historic status</a> in 2022, while a proposal submitted in 2024 by a coalition of North Beach residents is in the final stage of review at the State Historical Resources Commission.&nbsp;



Wealthy neighborhoods in <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/housing-nimby-historic-baywood-18450990.php">San Mateo</a>,<a href="https://padailypost.com/2022/03/21/city-takes-an-historic-approach-to-dealing-with-new-housing-law/"> Palo Alto</a>, and <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-puts-city-pasadena-notice-violating-state-housing-laws">Pasadena</a> have taken similar steps in recent years in attempts at avoiding new development.



The trend has generated criticism from groups that want California cities to build more housing. The North Beach proposal in particular has <a href="https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2024/03/29/a-modest-proposal-its-time-for-north-beach-to-secede-from-the-city/">sparked intense debate.</a>



Ryan Patterson, an attorney for the pro-housing groups YIMBY Law and YIMBY Action, called the movement “a last-ditch, desperate effort” to block development.



“The anti-growth NIMBYs are trying to create new historic districts just to avoid state housing laws,” Patterson said. “It&#8217;s very unfortunate that they&#8217;ve taken this approach, and I hope people recognize what they&#8217;re actually doing and say no to it.”



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1408" height="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_009_a45bfb.jpg?w=1408" alt="A beige stucco house with a tower-like structure and red tiled roof is partially visible, surrounded by lush greenery and tall plants." class="wp-image-413919" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_009_a45bfb.jpg 1408w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_009_a45bfb.jpg?resize=169,300 169w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_009_a45bfb.jpg?resize=768,1364 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_009_a45bfb.jpg?resize=865,1536 865w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_009_a45bfb.jpg?resize=1153,2048 1153w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A Mediterranean Revival-style home in Ingleside Terraces.</figcaption></figure>
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Ingleside Terraces was built in the wake of the 1906 earthquake on the site of a former racetrack. The neighborhood of around 750 single-family homes is known for its architectural diversity and central 28-foot concrete sundial.



Homeowners have for decades contemplated petitioning for historic status, but their efforts recently gained momentum. And they’re not the only ones.



Woody LaBounty, president of the preservation group San Francisco Heritage, said more neighborhoods are exploring the historic designation route as the state intensifies pressure on cities to increase their housing supplies.



LaBounty said that until recently, historic status was largely a symbolic, apolitical achievement. But with a barrage of new state laws that aim to expedite housing production in areas previously immune to more construction, many locals became worried that “the whole decision will be taken out of my hands,” LaBounty said.&nbsp;



“You could see some big changes with unintended consequences that won’t add tons of housing,” LaBounty said. “But they may mess up the way a neighborhood looks and feels.”



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-neighborhoods-be-both-pro-housing-and-historic">Can neighborhoods be both pro-housing and historic?</h2>



Individual properties and neighborhoods can achieve historic status across three levels: local, state, and federal. Local historic status in San Francisco offers protections against development because the designation requires that major remodels or construction be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission and the San Francisco Planning Department.



For example, the Jackson Square Historic District <a href="https://sfplanninggis.org/pim/map/">is under historic protection</a>, and City Hall and Fairmont Hotel are designated local landmarks.



St. Francis Wood Historic District is not recognized on the city level but is listed as historic on state and national lists. State and federal designation come with benefits such as tax credits for property restoration projects and, crucially, potential exemptions from certain state housing laws.



California lawmakers have over the last decade approved a slew of laws to streamline housing production and limit local authority to reject certain projects. Those include Senate Bill 423, which <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-04/california-affordable-housing-red-tape-san-francisco">cut the approval time for housing projects</a>, and Senate Bill 9, which allows homeowners to build up to <a href="https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2021-12-02/facing-housing-crisis-l-a-voters-back-duplexes-in-single-family-neighborhoods">four units on single-family lots</a>.



Both laws provide limited protections for historical buildings and neighborhoods that exempt them from more construction. The state’s density bonus law, which allows developers to build more units in a project as long as they set aside a percentage for low-income residents, similarly carves out some exceptions for historic areas.&nbsp;



Historic status doesn’t necessarily stop housing but often makes it more difficult to construct homes or demolish an old house to replace it with a multi-family building.&nbsp;



Still, neighborhood preservation and new development can both be achieved, said Rachael Tanner, San Francisco’s director of citywide planning.&nbsp;



“Preserving our city’s historic resources doesn’t need to be the enemy of building new homes,” Tanner said. “Development and historic preservation can coexist in harmony.”



San Francisco Planning Commission President Lydia So said it’s possible to achieve a more tailored approach to preservation, such as designating individual buildings, rather than entire neighborhoods, as historic.



“People sometimes misunderstand ‘historic preservation.’ They think it means freezing things in time,” she said.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" height="1406" width="2500" src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_020.jpg?w=2500" alt="Aerial view of a residential neighborhood featuring houses with varied architecture, lush trees, and parked cars lining the curved streets." class="wp-image-413935" srcset="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_020.jpg 3959w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_020.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_020.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_020.jpg?resize=2500,1406 2500w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_020.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/9195468954_homeownersfight_020.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-debate-continues">The debate continues</h2>



While Ingleside Terraces is the latest San Francisco neighborhood to apply for historic status, it’s hardly the most controversial.&nbsp;



The North Beach proposal, which faces a final decision by state regulators, has generated criticism from housing advocates who say exempting an entire neighborhood from development would worsen San Francisco’s housing crunch.&nbsp;



Pro-housing activists in April <a href="https://link.sfstandard.com/view/6436ea099b26044931999510nepz7.1af/34ef191a">hosted a satirical tour</a> in North Beach to highlight how an empty parking lot and burned building site would be listed as historic under the proposal.



Aaron Peskin, a former Board of Supervisors presidents who represented North Beach and is an advocate for preserving neighborhood character over development, said there is widespread support for designating North Beach as a historic district. He cited a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/15iB44nLx_aCGWlT92n4psgLXm00YzEjw/view?usp=sharing">June poll</a> of 600 people that showed 63% of respondents supported the initiative.



“North Beach has been San Francisco’s historic living room for generations. It’s beloved and celebrated all over the city,” Peskin said.



Despite the pushback, interest in historic designation continues to grow. At a recent town hall in the Sunset, residents expressed interest in pursuing historic status as the neighborhood faces more development under Lurie’s zoning plans. A <a href="https://files.sfplanning.org/documents/preservation/sfsurvey-OuterSunsetParksideFindings-MapTable.pdf">city planning survey</a> identified a small portion of the area that could qualify as historic but determined that almost 800 properties were not qualified or ineligible.



Annie Fryman, director of special projects at the think tank SPUR, said westside neighborhoods with more single-family homes and homeowners are more ideal for denser development. 



&#8220;When these neighborhoods try to wiggle out of housing obligations by establishing historic districts,&#8221; Fryman said, &#8220;it pushes development pressure into areas where it could be more disruptive to renters and small businesses.&#8221;



LaBounty disagreed with criticism that preservation efforts are ill-intentioned, arguing that the process is “not something that can be casually abused.”&nbsp;



“People who do it are 99% trying to support and preserve special places,” the SF Heritage leader said.



He also noted that commercial corridors such as Clement Street in the Inner Richmond and Chestnut Street in the Marina, as well as Chinatown and Japantown, have historic value.



But designating large swaths of San Francisco as historic would almost certainly complicate Lurie’s goal of building tens of thousands of units across the city — a plan YIMBY groups have argued is not ambitious enough.



The movement for historic status adds another layer of complexity and sets the stage for a political battle in the months ahead.



“Everybody is in support of preserving the special places,” LaBounty said. “It&#8217;s how. And that&#8217;s where politics usually come in.”

Feud over San Francisco theater endangers housing plans

A feud between a property developer and a city official may squash housing plans for a dilapidated old San Francisco movie theater.



The conflict centers on a local supervisor’s plan to designate the Alexandria Theater as a historic landmark, which the property owner says will cause development costs to skyrocket, making it impossible to complete the project—and leaving the theater in its blighted condition.



Development plans for the theater have fallen through before. Now the city and restoration advocates are seething at the thought of the failure of another project that could transform the theater into <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/2023/01/24/sf-housing-plan-passes-but-faces-tight-timeline-and-tough-road-to-implementation/">much-needed</a> San Francisco housing if completed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-viable-use-for-this-property">&#8216;No Viable Use for This Property&#8216;</h2>



Developer and owner TimeSpace Alexandria plans to build 74 homes inside the former theater with retail space on the ground floor. The owner would also restore the theater’s iconic sign, marquee and entryway. TimeSpace has yet to file an official planning application with the city but sent early-stage plans to Supervisor Connie Chan, who represents the area, in April.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1333" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HACLawsuit_INLINE.jpg?w=2000" alt="" class="wp-image-73515" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HACLawsuit_INLINE.jpg 2000w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HACLawsuit_INLINE.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HACLawsuit_INLINE.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HACLawsuit_INLINE.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Supervisor Connie Chan speaks on McAllister Street in front of the San Francisco Superior Courthouse in 2022.</figcaption></figure>



<a href="https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&amp;ID=11823787&amp;GUID=E10D650A-BC6B-4AAD-BAF0-25DC0BFCBB61">The Board of Supervisors</a> called on the theater owner to keep the building’s “physical structure” and “generally all of its particular exterior features, including the features described as the blade sign, the marquee, the chandelier, and the murals” through a resolution in March; however, it is not legally binding.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1244" height="826" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AlexandraTheaterAuditoriumMura_Feb2004_AdamMartin.png?w=1244" alt="" class="wp-image-193769" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AlexandraTheaterAuditoriumMura_Feb2004_AdamMartin.png 1244w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AlexandraTheaterAuditoriumMura_Feb2004_AdamMartin.png?resize=300,199 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/AlexandraTheaterAuditoriumMura_Feb2004_AdamMartin.png?resize=768,510 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1244px) 100vw, 1244px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This mural in an Alexandria Theater auditorium, pictured in February 2004, is just one example of the building&#8217;s artwork.</figcaption></figure>



Spearheading the historic landmark ruling, Chan also criticized the owner&#8217;s plans for not including enough affordable housing in a letter to the developer’s attorney—the project currently lists nine of the 74 homes as affordable.



Nick Colla, the attorney representing the owner, said landmark status would require the owners to restore much of the theater to its original condition, making it difficult and costly to make the extensive changes needed to build the housing.&nbsp;



“Moving forward with landmarking will ensure no viable use for this property,” Colla said.



The Planning Department has rebuffed Colla’s concerns.&nbsp;



The department’s chief of staff, Dan Sider said the concerns are premature and a final decision to make the building a historic landmark would need to be signed off by the Historic Preservation Commission, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors; this hasn’t happened yet.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-let-s-get-it-done">&#8216;Let’s Get It Done&#8216;</h2>



The shuttered Alexandria Theater has long been an eyesore for the Richmond District. Located at Geary Boulevard and 18th Avenue, it has sat vacant since <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Alexandria-Theater-a-1923-landmark-closes-its-2821087.php">shutting down in 2004</a> and without upkeep, its condition has deteriorated, attracting graffiti, dumping and overall blight.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1322066588.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-193773" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1322066588.jpg 1024w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1322066588.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1322066588.jpg?resize=768,512 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Graffiti mars the closed Alexandria Theater on Geary Boulevard in 2014.</figcaption></figure>



“The Alexandria Theater property owners have not been good neighbors to the Richmond, leaving the theater as a blight to our neighborhood and [having] very little care for the theater&#8217;s treasured history,” Chan said in an email.



The city’s planning department issued a citation to the owners on Feb. 27 for “general negligence of maintaining and upkeeping” of the theater. The citation calls for the developer to provide security and regular maintenance of the parking lot and the theater building to prevent any vandalism of the theater interior until its redevelopment is complete.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1322066589.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-193771" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1322066589.jpg 1024w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1322066589.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1322066589.jpg?resize=768,512 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Boarded-up ticket windows and front entrance are seen at the closed Alexandria Theater on Geary Boulevard in May 2014.</figcaption></figure>



“[The owner] clearly reneged on their basic responsibilities to the neighborhood and to the city to maintain the building in a safe fashion,” Sider said.



Woody LaBounty, head of San Francisco Heritage, a nonprofit that seeks to preserve San Francisco’s unique architecture, said his organization has pushed for the theater&#8217;s redevelopment for at least 15 years. The local historian said he’s tired of seeing the Alexandria Theater in a state of disrepair and wants to see it redeveloped.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2560" height="1703" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-scaled.jpg?w=2500" alt="" class="wp-image-117017" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-2500x1664.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-768x511.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-650x433.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-370x246.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-800x532.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-450x299.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-185x123.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-740x492.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-400x266.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-1600x1065.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-225x150.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-900x599.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AlexandriaTheatreSign01232023-11-72x48.jpg 72w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><figcaption class...

Mayor Breed tries again to nominate a Chinese American to San Francisco’s transit board

The board that governs San Francisco’s public transit agency may soon have a new Chinese American member, nearly a year after the seat was vacated last August.



Mayor London Breed is expected to announce the nomination of Lydia So, a Chinese American immigrant and a licensed architect, to the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which faces a <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/uncategorized/san-francisco-lawmakers-rally-for-transit-funds-putting-assemblymember-phil-ting-in-the-hot-seat/">tremendous budget shortfall</a> due to low ridership and <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/business/westfield-gives-up-downtown-san-francisco-mall/">an emptying Downtown</a>.&nbsp;



“Public transit connects people to their community,” So told The Standard. “I am honored to have Mayor Breed’s trust to take on this position to improve the public transit system in San Francisco, especially during a time this city is recovering from the pandemic.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1667" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-2500x1667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-167428" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-2500x1667.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-650x434.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-800x534.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-450x300.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-185x123.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-740x494.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-400x267.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-225x150.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-900x600.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BreedExcellenceScholarship_06052023_005-72x48.jpg 72w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mayor&nbsp;London Breed | Isaac Ceja/The Standard</figcaption></figure>



So, a Mission District resident who is fluent in Cantonese, said public safety is among her top priorities, as she often takes public transit with her teenage daughter.



“As an Asian American female, I look forward to being the voice for our community as we see the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/community/one-in-10-anti-asian-incidents-happen-on-public-transit-now-agencies-have-to-track-them/">rising public safety concerns</a> and hate incidents,” she said.&nbsp;



So is not new to city politics: She previously served on the Arts Commission and now serves on the Historic Preservation Commission. She said she worked on <a href="https://www.sfmta.com/projects/better-market-street">Better Market Street</a>, an improvement plan for San Francisco’s main thoroughfare, and will focus on Vision Zero, an ambitious effort to eliminate traffic-related deaths in the city.



“Lydia has an extensive experience in public service,” Mayor London Breed said in a statement. “With her knowledge and commitment to serving our communities, I am confident that she will be able to work closely with the SFMTA on addressing transportation issues and advancing transit priorities that are critical to continue to move our City forward.”



The Board of Supervisors will have the final say on approving So’s nomination.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vacant-for-almost-a-year">Vacant for Almost a Year</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="8192" height="5464" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MTA-Board-Lai_FEATURED.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58237" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MTA-Board-Lai_FEATURED.jpg 8192w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MTA-Board-Lai_FEATURED.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MTA-Board-Lai_FEATURED.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MTA-Board-Lai_FEATURED.jpg?resize=2500,1667 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MTA-Board-Lai_FEATURED.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MTA-Board-Lai_FEATURED.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 8192px) 100vw, 8192px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sharon Lai poses for a portrait at the Embarcadero Muni Station in San Francisco on Friday, July 1, 2022. | Juliana Yamada/The Standard</figcaption></figure>



So is expected to assume the new position in the coming weeks, filling a seat that’s been vacant for 10 months on the seven-member panel. But one more seat is currently vacant, too, after a former board member <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/san-francisco-transit-commissioner-resigns-after-admitting-to-illegal-lobbying/">resigned in April amid corruption scandals</a>.



It’s a vacancy the mayor attempted to fill once before. Last September, Breed <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/mayor-appoints-chinese-american-nonprofit-exec-to-transportation-board/">nominated longtime government staffer and nonprofit executive Gloria Li</a>, another bilingual Chinese American female. But the confirmation process was halted for months as <a href="https://windnewspaper.com/article/supervisor-connie-chan-opposes-mayoral-appointee-gloria-li-to-serve-on-san-francisco-s-transportation-board">Supervisor Connie Chan spoke out against Li</a>.



Eventually, the Mayor&#8217;s Office <a href="https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&amp;ID=11490521&amp;GUID=DFFA9249-2785-4B9A-89D8-3F95C2253F4B" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">withdrew Li’s nomination in December</a>, with Li citing personal reasons.



According to <a href="https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/reports-and-documents/2022/03/muni_2021_report_crosstabs_accessible.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the city’s data</a>, Asian Americans comprise about one-third of riders who use Muni more than five times a week. The lack of Asian representation on the board <a href="https://windnewspaper.com/article/asians-share-40-of-the-ridership-with-no-representation-on-the-7-member-sfmta-board-of-directors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">has also caught the media&#8217;s attention</a>.



Last August, the seat opened up after <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/city-hall/how-a-victim-of-violence-on-sf-muni-became-one-of-the-citys-leading-advocates-of-public-transit-safety/">Sharon Lai</a>, a bilingual Chinese American woman, resigned to pursue a master&#8217;s degree at Harvard University. Lai has since finished the program and returned to the city to take a job at the World Economic Forum, focusing on economic development and sustainability.



“I am very glad to see the mayor’s commitment to appoint an API nominee as reflective representation is critical in supporting the diverse needs of the city,” Lai said of her potential successor.&nbsp;

San Francisco Castro Theatre gets OK for booze service, flexible seats

The San Francisco Planning and Historic Preservation Commissions put a bow on future plans for the landmark Castro Theatre on Thursday, approving two major changes to the historic movie palace during a marathon eight-hour session.&nbsp;



The plans include renovating the interior, including replacing fixed cinema-style seating with flexible seating and expanding nighttime entertainment and bar uses, which would allow the venue to host other public performances and private events.



In the end, the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved the renovations and the Planning Commission approved the use expansion by a vote of 4-2. But the saga is likely far from over and appeals of the use expansion are likely.&nbsp;



The vote was the latest development in <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/arts-culture/castro-theatre-debacle-a-timeline-san-francisco/">an epic yearlong legislative fight</a> over proposed changes to the beloved single-screen theater.&nbsp;Opposition to modifications desired by the theater’s new promoter, Another Planet Entertainment, first flared up in January 2022, when an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CastroLGBTQ/photos/pcb.1629743594040496/1629743004040555/">open letter from the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District</a> led to a <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/arts-culture/take-a-seat-the-castro-theatre-is-about-to-become-very-expensive/">raucous town hall at the theater</a> the following August.&nbsp;



Much of that Hollywood drama went down at the Board of Supervisors, where President Aaron Peskin championed opponents’ concerns. But the board finally <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/arts-culture/castro-theatre-vote/">let the modified seating plan go forward</a> on June 6, with Peskin left as the lone dissenting vote, recalling <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBDuvCYplu0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jet Li’s death scene in the film Hero</a>.&nbsp;



The seating changes are part of a package of amendments to the Castro’s landmark status sponsored by the theater’s home supervisor, Rafael Mandelman, and approved by both the Planning and Historic Preservation Commissions in previous votes.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1668" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-2500x1668.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-167329" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-2500x1668.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-650x434.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-800x534.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-450x300.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-185x123.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-740x494.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-400x267.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-225x150.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-900x600.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Castro-05-72x48.jpg 72w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Castro Theatre in San Francisco | Isaac Ceja/The Standard</figcaption></figure>



The meeting featured a four-hour public comment period where supporters of Another Planet’s plans outnumbered opponents by 2 to 1.&nbsp;



Jon Larner, an operating partner in the Swedish American Hall and Cafe du Nord, told commissioners that he felt Another Planet was “perfectly suited to keeping the Castro Theatre as an amazing historic landmark as well as a great venue for all its intended uses.”&nbsp;



Lee Hepner, a former Peskin aide, spoke against Another Planet, calling its treatment of community concerns disappointing.



During deliberations, Historic Preservation Commissioner Lydia So said she was “confident and happy” with community accountability and accessibility provisions in Another Planet’s plans.&nbsp;



Meanwhile, Planning Commissioner Kathrin Moore questioned what she called the “philosophical framework” behind the preservation components of the plans, rhetorically asking “why the Colosseum in Rome had not been converted into a skating rink.”



Commissioners deliberated into the evening over additional conditions for allowing the additional uses; among those approved are mandates that the Castro show films at least 75 days per year; that open-to-the-public events be held at least 90 days per year; that 25% of events be related to the LGBTQIA+ community; and that Another Planet hold ongoing meetings with community groups for guidance in managing the theater and make good faith efforts to use local suppliers for concessions.&nbsp;



Commissioner Sue Diamond praised the agreed-upon conditions for “greatly increasing public access to the theater,” while Moore declared them disappointing. Moore voted to oppose the use expansion, along with Planning Commissioner Theresa Imperial.&nbsp;



Sources inside City Hall on both sides of issues around the Castro Theatre have told The Standard that they “would not be surprised” if the use expansions approved by the Planning Commission Thursday were appealed back to the Board of Supervisors—meaning that there will be sequels to this bureaucratic blockbuster.&nbsp;

San Francisco supervisors to delay controversial Castro Theatre vote

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is planning to delay what is expected to be a close and contentious vote on changes to the landmark status of the legendary Castro Theatre.



The vote was originally scheduled for Tuesday&#8217;s board meeting, but is being postponed due to a board member&#8217;s family obligations. The vote is now expected to take place June 6, according to <a href="https://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=News&amp;sc=Latest%20News&amp;id=325355" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the Bay Area Reporter.</a> 



The vote deals with <a href="https://sfstandard.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=50fb12e8d6fcc1c2439de9265&amp;id=63f70ceea7&amp;e=a68fe5a60e">legislation</a> that would restrict changes to the floor plan of the iconic movie palace. Another Planet Entertainment, the theater&#8217;s operator, is seeking to modify the floor to accommodate uses other than film screenings.



Another Planet&#8217;s proposals were subject to amendments in committee, and the bill was forwarded to the board by the Land Use and Transportation Committee. The vote was expected to be close: Land use committee chair Myrna Melgar opposes it, as does the Castro&#8217;s home supervisor, Rafael Mandelman, who was planning to offer <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=225563X1707456&amp;isjs=1&amp;jv=15.4.1-stackpath&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fsfstandard.com%2Fpolitics%2Fcity-hall%2Fbattle-over-sfs-castro-theatre-comes-to-a-head-in-pivotal-board-vote%2F&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fhoodline.com%2F2023%2F05%2Fsupervisor-mandelman-to-propose-removing-castro-theatre-fixed-seating-language-at-tuesday-s-full-board-meeting%2F&amp;xs=1&amp;xtz=420&amp;xuuid=2f2d905e2c2d0cfa3d143e9d42a1f86d&amp;xjsf=other_click__contextmenu%20%5B2%5D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">an amendment to undo the committee&#8217;s changes</a>.



Another Planet&#8217;s changes to the Castro have been <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/arts-culture/take-a-seat-the-castro-theatre-is-about-to-become-very-expensive/">the subject of controversy</a> since last year. Neighborhood activists and groups allied with the film industry formed a front to oppose the changes to the theater; the nonprofit Castro Theatre Conservancy has offered to take over management. 



Meanwhile, Another Planet Entertainment has planned further changes that are set to be heard before a joint session of the Planning and Historic Preservation Commissions Thursday. Mandelman told the Bay Area Reporter that that meeting is likely to be continued as well. 



The delay at the Board of Supervisors is due to the planned absence of District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani, who is in Merced to be with her father who is ill with Lewy body dementia.

Battle over SF’s Castro Theatre comes to a head in pivotal board vote

This week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will hold a pivotal vote in the ongoing saga over the Castro Theatre. The board will also vote to approve a labor agreement with the city’s firefighters and urge a name change for one of Golden Gate Park’s more charming attractions.&nbsp;



Apart from regular business, supervisors may also address the closely-watched Banko Brown case: Board President Aaron Peskin said Monday that he&#8217;ll be introducing a resolution <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/criminal-justice/push-for-state-federal-investigations-into-banko-browns-killing-after-da-declines-to-charge-shooter/">urging the California Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice</a> to review the evidence after District Attorney Brooke Jenkins reaffirmed her initial decision not to charge Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony, a Walgreens security guard who <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/criminal-justice/walgreens-shooting-guard-who-killed-banko-brown-gives-interview/">fatally shot Brown last month.</a>



Later in the week, the board’s Government Audit and Oversight Committee is scheduled to hold multiple hearings on some of the city’s hot-button topics, ranging from police overtime to the political antics of one of San Francisco’s most influential affordable housing operators.&nbsp;



As always, the wonks can sift thoroughly through the details in this week’s <a href="https://sfbos.org/event/2023/bag051623_agenda" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">agenda</a>.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-castro-drama-premieres-at-the-full-board">Castro Drama Premieres at the Full Board&nbsp;</h2>



On Tuesday, a pivotal vote on the future of the Castro Theatre will likely dominate the board’s regular agenda.&nbsp;



At issue is one in a number of planned changes to the landmark status and zoning uses of the legendary cinema—in this case, what changes the operator Another Planet Entertainment can make to the main level. Another Planet is seeking to modify the floor to accommodate uses other than film screenings.



Preservationists <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/arts-culture/take-a-seat-the-castro-theatre-is-about-to-become-very-expensive/">have other ideas</a>, and the result has been public comment marathons at the <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/arts-culture/massive-crowd-of-angry-cinephiles-show-up-for-public-meeting-on-castro-theatre-plan/">Historic Preservation Commission</a> and the supervisors’ Land Use and Transportation Committee.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1536" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Castro-INLINE-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-67931" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Castro-INLINE-1.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Castro-INLINE-1.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Castro-INLINE-1.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Castro-INLINE-1.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The 100-year-old Castro Theatre was the site of raucous town hall on Aug. 12, 2022, as cinema fans and LGBTQ+ community members voiced opinions about Another Planet Entertainment’s planned changes to the venue. | Peter-Astrid Kane/The Standard</figcaption></figure>



The commission approved the proposed changes. But Board President Aaron Peskin and District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, both members of the land use committee, amended the plan to mandate fixed seating and sent it to the full board. Peskin also has a beef with Another Planet over promised renovations to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium <a href="https://sfstandard.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=50fb12e8d6fcc1c2439de9265&amp;id=923870e582&amp;e=a68fe5a60e">that reportedly haven’t materialized</a>.&nbsp;



Committee chair and District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar opposed the amendment, and the Castro’s home supervisor, Rafael Mandelman, isn’t a fan either. He’s announced that <a href="https://hoodline.com/2023/05/supervisor-mandelman-to-propose-removing-castro-theatre-fixed-seating-language-at-tuesday-s-full-board-meeting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">he will offer amendments to change the legislation back</a>.&nbsp;



“It has been my hope all along to find a resolution that [&#8230;] activates the Theater as much as possible, contributes to the neighborhood economy and allows for much-needed and long-deferred investments in the building,” said Mandelman in a statement.&nbsp;



Given the number of people who have been organized over this issue, the Castro Theatre discussion will likely take up most of the board’s time on Tuesday. The vote on the matter will also be close. Hopefully, there will be an intermission, but you’ll have to bring your own popcorn.&nbsp;



And in case you thought this was the end of the Castro Theatre saga, there’s almost certain to be sequels. The Planning and Historic Preservation Commissions <a href="https://sfplanning.org/sites/default/files/agendas/2023-05/20230518_jnthpc_cal%20%28ID%201368618%29.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">are holding a joint meeting Thursday</a> to discuss more changes to the theater, including zoning changes to allow nighttime entertainment and bar uses on the first and second floors. Stay tuned.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-firefighters-agreements-stow-lake-name-change">Firefighters’ Agreements, Stow Lake Name Change</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2500" height="1668" src="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-2500x1668.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-124601" srcset="https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-2500x1668.jpg 2500w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-300x200.jpg 300w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-768x512.jpg 768w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-650x434.jpg 650w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-370x247.jpg 370w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-800x534.jpg 800w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-450x300.jpg 450w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-20x13.jpg 20w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-185x123.jpg 185w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-740x494.jpg 740w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-400x267.jpg 400w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-225x150.jpg 225w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-900x600.jpg 900w, https://content-develop.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SunsetHouseFire02092023-21-72x48.jpg 72w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Firefighters carry equipment along 22nd Avenue. | Michaela Vatcheva for The Standard</figcaption></figure>



The board is also set to approve new labor agreements <a href="https://sfstandard.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=50fb12e8d6fcc1c2439de9265&amp;id=a140fb9edc&amp;e=a68fe5a60e">for the city’s firefighters</a> Tuesday. The agreement includes wage increases of 10.75% over three years, retention and holiday premiums, and a pilot program for emergency childcare reimbursement for those working mandatory overtime.&nbsp;



The agreements were recommended unanimously by the board’s oversight committee on May 4, despite concerns over yet another major department relying on mandatory overtime to provide full service. During public comment, firefighters testified to retention and staffing issues.



The board approved $65 million for additional overtime for ambulance personnel <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/sf-supervisors-question-shooting-charges-5-day-power-outage/">May 2</a>, and $25 million in additional overtime for police <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/supervisors-pass-police-overtime-bill-hear-qualms-over-shelter-policy/">March 21</a> after <a href="https://develop.sfstandard.com/politics/sf-mayor-supervisors-set-for-showdown-over-police-funding/">a long political fight</a>.&nbsp;



Another notable vote Tuesday is <a href="https://sfstandard.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=50fb12e8d6fcc1c2439de9265&amp;id=2fd079b6ab&amp;e=a68fe5a60e">a long-percolating resolution</a> urging the Recreation and Park Department to come up with a new name for Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park.&nbsp;



The lake’s namesake, 19th century Assemblymember William Stow, was a virulent antisemite who <a href="https://jweekly.com/2022/10/19/s-f-supes-resolution-would-rename-golden-gate-parks-stow-lake-named-for-politician-who-proposed-jew-tax/?utm_source=The+San+Francisco+Stand...

The Historic Preservation Commission advises on historic preservation goals and policies in San Francisco. It recommends significant sites for landmark designation and regulates these resources during permit reviews. The Commission prioritizes racial and social equity in preservation efforts.

Historic Preservation Commission

Dan Baroni

Robert Vergara

Hans Baldauf

Historic Preservation Commission Commissioner 1

Historic Preservation Commission Commissioner 3

Historic Preservation Commission Commissioner 5

Historic Preservation Commission Commissioner 7

Asian Art Museum

Office of the City Administrator

Adult Probation Department

Airport

Arts Commission

Office of the Assessor-Recorder

Board of Appeals

Office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

Office of the City Attorney

Department of Children, Youth and Their Families

Controller's Office

Planning Department

Civil Service Commission

District Attorney's Office

Department of Building Inspection

Department of Early Childhood

Department of Emergency Management

Department of Police Accountability

Department of Public Health

Department of Public Works

Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Environment Department

Ethics Commission

Fine Arts Museums

Fire Department

Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing

Human Rights Commission

Department of Human Resources

Human Services Agency

Health Service System

Juvenile Probation Department

Public Library

Municipal Transportation Agency

Office of the Mayor

Public Defender's Office

Police Department

Port

Public Utilities Commission

Recreation and Park Department

Department of Elections

Retirement System

Rent Board

Sheriff's Department Office of Inspector General

Sheriff's Department

Department of Technology

Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector

War Memorial

Department on the Status of Women

General City Responsibilities

General Administration & Finance

Culture & Recreation

Community Health

Human Welfare & Neighborhood Development

Public Works, Transportation & Commerce

Public Protection

SF Civil Grand Jury

The Abatement Appeals Board provides a final review process for City permitting decisions. It ensures fair and efficient adjudication of permit-related disputes before an impartial panel. The board holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals concerning notices of abatement.

Abatement Appeals Board

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 1

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 2

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 3

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 4

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 5

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 6

Abatement Appeals Board Commissioner 7

The Access Appeals Commission provides final reviews for a wide range of City permitting decisions. It ensures an efficient, fair, and expeditious permit issuance process through an impartial panel. The commission holds authority to make binding decisions on appeals related to City permits.

Access Appeals Commission

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 1

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 2

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 3

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 4

Access Appeals Commission Commissioner 5

The Adult Day Health Care Planning Council advises on the development and improvement of adult day health care services. It provides expertise in healthcare planning, policy recommendations, and program evaluation. Key responsibilities include assessing community needs and advising on service delivery enhancements.

Adult Day Health Care Planning Council

Adult Probation Department supervises individuals on probation and facilitates their reintegration into the community. It provides reentry and rehabilitative services, including victim restitution and financial assistance for crime victims. The department values public safety, offender rehabilitation, and community partnerships.

Cristel Tullock

The Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners evaluates arts and crafts applicants and monitors program compliance. It conducts studio visits and public screenings to ensure adherence to established criteria. Members also revise program criteria and undertake additional tasks as needed.

Advisory Committee of Street Artists and Crafts Examiners

The Advisory Council on Human Rights advises on anti-discrimination laws and racial equity initiatives. It provides expertise on reparations and public policy impacts on Black communities. It guides efforts to establish partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in San Francisco.

Advisory Council on Human Rights

San Francisco Airport manages air traffic operations and ensures safe aircraft movement. It provides parking facilities and maintains airport infrastructure to accommodate travelers and staff. The department oversees ground transportation and coordinates with airlines for efficient passenger services.

Mike Nakornkhet

The Airport Commission oversees policy and strategic planning for San Francisco International Airport. It makes key decisions on airport development projects and financial management. It ensures compliance with regulations and collaborates on initiatives like terminal naming.

Airport Commission

Airport Commission Commissioner 1

Malcolm Yeung

Jose F. Almanza

Mark Buell

Susan Leal

Airport Director

Animal Care and Control Department manages animal sheltering, adoption, and emergency response services. It enforces animal-related laws and regulations, ensuring the humane treatment and safety of animals. The department also provides public education on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Animal Care and Control Department

Virginia Donohue

Animal Care and Control Department, Director

The San Francisco Arts Commission oversees the integration of arts into city life and ensures public access to cultural experiences. It makes decisions on public art programs and allocates grants to support local artists and performances. The commission actively shapes policies affecting the arts ecosystem in San Francisco.

Arts Commission Commissioner 1

Arts Commission Commissioner 2

Arts Commission Commissioner 3

Arts Commission Commissioner 4

Debra Walker

Suzanne Ferras

Jessica Rothschild

Seth Brenzel

JD Beltran

Marcus Shelby

J Riccardo Benavides

Nabiel Musleh

Charles (Chuck) Collins

Lydia So

Arts Commission Commissioner 15

San Francisco Arts Commission invests in a vibrant arts community and shapes cultural policy. It enlivens the urban environment through public art programs and supports diverse artistic expressions. The commission facilitates meetings and discussions to engage the community in cultural development.

Ralph Remington

Arts Commission, Director of Cultural Affairs

The Asian Art Commission determines policy and administers the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. It oversees museum operations and collaborates with the Asian Art Museum Foundation on fundraising efforts. Commissioners ensure the museum's strategic direction and financial sustainability.

Asian Art Commission

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 1

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 2

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 3

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 4

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 5

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 6

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 7

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 8

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 9

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 10

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 11

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 12

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 13

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 14

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 15

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 16

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 17

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 18

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 19

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 20

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 21

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 22

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 23

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 24

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 25

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 26

Asian Art Commission Commissioner 27

Asian Art Museum showcases Asian art and culture through exhibitions and educational programs. It offers diverse collections and hosts special events to engage the community. The museum fosters cultural appreciation and understanding by providing access to its extensive art collections.

Dr. Soyoung Lee

Asian Art Museum, Director

The Assessment Appeals Board #1 hears property tax assessment appeals in San Francisco. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine property values. The Board has the authority to make final decisions on assessments regardless of property type or value.

Assessment Appeals Board #1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #1 Commissioner 2

Richard Lee

Stephen Wasserman

Adena Gilbert

Paul Bellar

Quirina Mitchell

Hilary Winslow

The Assessment Appeals Board #2 adjudicates property tax assessment appeals for San Francisco taxpayers. It evaluates evidence presented by taxpayers and the Assessor to determine accurate property values. The Board exercises authority to render final decisions on residential properties and specific real estate assessments.

Assessment Appeals Board #2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #2 Commissioner 3

Claire Ervin Lee

Louisa Mendoza

Joyce Lewis

Nicholas Goldman

Michelle Domingo

The Assessment Appeals Board #3 provides a platform for San Francisco taxpayers to contest property tax assessments. It conducts hearings where evidence from both taxpayers and the Assessor is evaluated. The Board makes binding decisions on property assessments based on presented evidence.

Assessment Appeals Board #3

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 1

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 2

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 3

Marc Dickow

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 5

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 6

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 7

Assessment Appeals Board #3 Commissioner 8

Assesses property, applies exemptions, collects transfer taxes, and records official documents.

Assessor-Recorder

Joaquín Torres

The Ballot Simplification Committee ensures voter materials are clear and understandable. It reviews and revises ballot language to accurately reflect propositions and measures. The committee advises on simplifying complex legal and technical terms for voter comprehension.

Ballot Simplification Committee