Dear Mayor Newsom, As a long-time resident of San Francisco, having grown up in this fair city I take great pride in being able to say I am from here, albeit not native as I moved here when I was six-years-old. Now, 31 years later, I'm glad to see my city back on track in terms of tourism. I've noticed many European tourists especially and was even told by an SFPD airport officer that foreign travel is back to pre-9/11.   The unfortunate thing, and the reason for my letter, is I am ashamed to see the condition of Powell Street between Read This Posty »

My pet peeve is that I sent an email regarding Powell Street from Union Sq. to Market and all the aggressive panhandling and the filth of the street to your office on August 29 and received no response. Not even an auto-reply saying you received the letter. Name Withheld Read This Posty »

I would like to know what I can do to help the homeless people that I see in Union square? It is sad and unsightly. Joann Deal Read This Posty »

In my continuing frustration walking to and from the Powell Street MUNI/Bart Station to my place of work near Union Square, a friend let me know about this website.  Frankly, I am doubtful this will help, but will give it a try.  For me, and thousands of others who have to use this station to get to work, this becomes representative of what San Francisco is like to LIVE in.  Unfortunately, I do not have the good fortune of working around the Montgomery Station or Embarcadero.  Every day without fail, I am treated to what is like a human toilet Read This Posty »

I got a letter yesterday from a friend I had written to about the ruination of SF by drunks and those who advocate public drunkenness and its attendant filth (aka "Homeless Advocates"). His response contained a sentence that I think sums it all up: "Living up here in Seattle, I see some of the same creeping consensus to do nothing so as to offend no one but irritate nearly all." Perfect. This is for Jessica below who has the van in front of her house. You ask what rights you have? In the eyes of the people who run this city: Read This Posty »

Why is it that Mayor Newsom spent all this money on trying to figure out the problem with the trash throughout San Francisco? I think it was a complete waste of time. The simple thing he could have done was walk through neighborhoods and counted the trash recepticles on each street. I live in the TenderNob, and from my house to the closest trash can is two blocks. After that it's another four blocks. But the funny thing is that in Union Square, some streets have three or four trash cans on one street (and that's only counting on one side Read This Posty »

I have been using public transportation in SF for a long time.  Bus drivers!  I noticed in recent years, most of them are downright mean and hostile.  If riding a bus is not such a terrible experience and also run on something resembling a schedule, I'm sure more people would use public transportation, thus lessening the traffic problems and pollution.  I really think this is achievable here in a beautiful city like SF.  I know drivers have to deal with adersities but who doesn't?  Sometimes, 3 buses all come at the same time, some of them speeding at a break Read This Posty »

Walking back from the dentist today (no cavities, thank you very much) I saw something that really made me wince. Right there on a crowded downtown union square street corner (Geary and Stockton) at 3pm, some short punky guy is personalizing the public bus with a purple etch-a-sketch marker. I can't figure out what it says of course, but that's the point of graffiti isn't it? The most remarkable fact was that about 10 onlookers were just STANDING there watching him! As I walked past the stopped bus, trying to figure out why no one was saying anything, the vandalist jogs Read This Posty »

In the Union Square area in particular, one of the top two tourist areas in the city, one can't walk half  a block without being approached/harassed by vagrants looking for spare change. On Powell St  this past Tuesday I counted 23 of them between Market St. and the St. Francis Hotel.  It is a disgrace and is at epidemic proportions. The filth they leave in their wake is appalling. I am a democrat and voted for you.  I think you are doing a pretty good job and you seem like a decent guy. Next time out, I am voting for Read This Posty »

I am a San Francisco native. My husband and I subscribe to the Best of Broadway series. Being night workers, we usually do matinees; however, our tickets for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" (Golden Gate Theatre) were for 8 PM. We usually have a pre-show beer at Original Joe's. I have NEVER in my life seen so many theatre-goers actually scurry in fear from the teeming masses of homeless camped all over the sidewalks and even in the street...my husband and I never scurry--like I said, I was born here and I am not afraid to "cross the gauntlet" as Read This Posty »

I am a native San Franciscan.  I love this city.  I find it aggravating that we focus so much on making things more interesting or appealing to tourists and ignore doing the same for natives.  Personally I think it's ridiculous that we are in effect this small provincial city that wants to think of itself as on par with New York, but try to find anything open after 10:00 and good luck.  Unless you want to mire yourself in the way too-LA scene like Union Square or other tourist haunt.  There has got to be a way to encourage a Read This Posty »

This was the best fastest line across downtown we had.  We could get to Union Square or North Beach in minutes.  Now it takes almost an hour with the stupid "T" line.    And the N is even slower now. PLEASE  PLEASE - put the #15 bus line back on route! Name Withheld Read This Posty »

With all the new jobs created w/the new Westfield mall we need express buses to Union Square every day of the week. The 38L is not enough and it doesn't run on weekends. What about a Balboa or Fulton express bus on the hour. It seems co-workers who live in the east bay get home faster than I do and as a new mom I need to get home asap. thank you! T Limon Read This Posty »

Why is this to only clean up Union Square?  It sounds to me like something to impress the "fat cats" that roll through town and only shop/stay at hotels in  that part of San Francisco.  The whole darn city is gosh darn filthy!   Try walking down Townsend Street, then Division Street, and through the Mission  District.  There is trash strewn everywhere, used hypodermic needles are all over, and ( though this would not be considered "trash" ) I have seen people walking Pit Bull Terriers without leashes.  Let me repeat, I have seen people with Pit Bulls that are not Read This Posty »

I have two:  1.  SF Muni connection to CalTrain just plain sucks!!  It is even worse now that the new Third St line is up and running.  I swear Muni times it so that riders miss their trains by 2 minutes everyday!  It is so frustrating to sit on a Muni train with the Cal Train station in sight, yet not be moving.  You can actually watch your train leave the station without you, leaving you stranded at the Cal Train station for at least a half hour.  2.  The  homeless around Union Square are out of control.  I no Read This Posty »

Dear Mayor Newsom,   A pet peeve I have is the condition of our roads. There are so many pot holes and the asphalt is cracked with gapping crevices. I use a roll bag to get to school and the wheels of my bag keep getting caught in the huge crevices. Also I live near unions square and I see tourists all the time with their baby carriages, and once a woman almost tipped the baby carraige over when she hit one of those crevices in the street.   If there is any funding please fix our roads. Thank You for your Read This Posty »

STREET PEOPLE chase away tourist -- a very 'green" industry and the heart of SF funding. We cannot let them own every street corner, Van Ness corridor, Market Street, Golden Gate Park. Only Union Square has done something and that's because they spent their own money. You need to take away what the homeless have stolen -- shopping carts and wheel chairs, you need to make them move on, you need an unarmed "Homeless Squad" that works night and day to get them to clean up. Every encampment must be disbanded and then constantly monitored to keep the homeless away. Read This Posty »

I have a couple of pet peeves.   1.  I work in the Union Square area and think that every light should have a walk only signal, then a drive only signal.  A good example is the corner of O'Farrell and Stockton. As we continue to build up the retail area on Market and Mission streets, we are encouraging more pedestrian traffic ( all good for the economy), but we are creating terrible traffic and unsafe walking/driving conditions.   2.  We have terrible roads in the city, too many potholes to count.  Please fix this!   3.  Speed bumps in residential communities.  I live in Read This Posty »