The current bail out of the sub-prime mortgages is unfair to the rest of the population, who are having to suffer because of the ignorance of a few.  Instead, we should allow all individuals to write off all financial losses on our taxes.  This would be fair to everyone.  Today, we can only write off losses against gains.  But allowing all losses to be written off even without gains, would allow the sub-prime mortgages losses to be written off by individuals but not the mortgage companies.  Mortgage companies took the risks and approved the sub-prime losses.  Hence, the mortgage companies Read This Posty »

Why not build "affordable" housing for low-income and working-class people, like me? Modest little condos that don't cost $1 Million dollars!  You tore down all those low-income welfare hotels, and now we have this seemingly endless homeless problem. WHY ? Peter White Read This Posty »

San Francisco touts itself as a green city. But if green success means using -- and reusing available resources = then the city policies fail the test. Nowhere is this more true than housing. Everyone agrees that SF needs more middle class housing. Yet there are hundreds -- if not thousands -- of vacant units owned by senior landlords. Most of these landlords live in these buildings and keep units vacant out of fear. They know that city rent control policies  -- and all buildings constructed before 1978 are under rent control -- has eroded their rights to the point Read This Posty »

Construction of the Bay Bridge approach has been ongoing for years.  I own an SRO building adjacent to the construction.  Very little attempt is made to mitigate the huge amount of dust generated by construction.  Much of which flows in our doors and windows.  If I ran a construction project like that, I would be redtagged in a heartbeat.  CalTrans is being given a free pass at the expense of everybody in this neighborhood.  Enforce the rules! Luis Belmonte Read This Posty »

Because we have an affordable housing shortage, you should make all IN-Law apartments Legal in San Francisco.  Mayor Brown tried to do this, but did not finish.  People who have In-Law apartments can afford to rent them at a reasonable price.  I have several friends who have them, but are afraid to say anything. Name Withheld Read This Posty »

The elevators at the Alexander Residence are constantly broken, and TNDC in they're usual fashion are always not telling their tenant residence the truth about anything they are suppose to do for their tenant clientele. At the Alexander Residence, which is under terms of SRO HUD Contracts, the elevators are constantly breaking down, and the business integrity of TNDC is in question. The Federal Government has already had TNDC under investigation for their business ethics and so this corporation already has a record of rather diabolical business ethics. The elevators at the Alexander Residence have been  broken since May 8, 2007 Read This Posty »

Mayor Newsom;  I'd like to see you champion a return to city-wide elections, as the district elections produce such a poor crop of supervisors who embarrass us with their demogogic proposals.  We especially should cease to treat housing as a socialist sector.  People who own property should not have burdens placed on its use that are tantamount to a "taking,"   We should do more to keep business operations in the city, rather than have them move to the suburbs, which causes middle class and professional class people to leave, too.  And we should build no more low income housing--that's the Read This Posty »

I can't take credit for this; it's just something I saw on the internet that an NYU student has come up with.  Basically, it is a DIY plan to making affordable & collapsible cardboard tents with an integrated radio network for the homeless. http://www.shellhouse.org/ Chris Derry Read This Posty »

Dear Gavin, I think one solution for the Tenderloin would be to make it hard for people to deal/do drugs on the street.  Start busting people, start a police presence in the area, use undercover cops.  Don't make a huge deal out of it, just do it.  The cops can work in teams of 2-4 and systematically jail people.  Make it hard for people to smoke crack on the street.  Make them scared of jail again.  Might I remind you that plenty of children are in the area.  Another idea for improving the TL is to paint the street lines again.  Read This Posty »

Mr. Mayor- San Francisco needs more affordable housing. PLEASE APPROVE THE NEW TRINITY PLAZA DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED BY MR. SANGIACOMO!! Name Withheld Read This Posty »

 The following are my recommendations: 1. Vending Machines in every underground station w/monthly passes and tokens 2. Stop Bus Stacking -- I have often waiting 20+ minutes for the 6 or the 71 bus.  When one final arrives it is followed by one to two other 6s or 71s buses.  This is common complaint of the F line as well. 3. No school rides during peak hours.  It's great that SF kids are using transit for school trips, but do they need to go during the peak rush hour?  It is impossible to get on the N and breath the mornings that they Read This Posty »

Newly hired police need inexpensive housing, especially in the city.  SF is landlord to a vast criminal element in the Projects. Without law and order in these areas, nothing else matters.  Give police officers free apartments in the projects and: 1. They will enhance community policing.  2.  They live in the city.  3. Crime will be prevented.  In Atlanta, landlords give law enforcement officers free apartments which keeps criminals at bay.  Try it! Name Withheld Read This Posty »

Just an idea and I am sure one that has been tossed about already.... Have Delancey Street partner with city and convert some of the empty buildings that dot the city to housing units. Owners of the buildings could be offered a write-off for converting and could be given monthly rent. Tenants could be employed or given discounts if they assist in maintaining building via certain chores. Partner with senior groups to convert some units for senior/low-income and consider a buddy system with younger tenants. As we all know, each of us is connected to each other and the world around Read This Posty »

I've always loved the houseboats in Sausalito. Sure there's some in Mission Bay, but they seem almost extinct. Why not build more barges, have the city create (and lease) the infrastructure underneath, and citizens buy the living quarters - this would make the housing much more reasonable. Have it be 50% populated by teachers, police, firefighters, nurses and civil servants, 25% low income, 25% artsy SOMA types. Recycle human waste into community vegetable gardens ala Findhorn. Have solar power and wifi. Have community spaces for childcare and playground, larger gatherings than fit in a condo space, built in and around Read This Posty »