Speaking from my experience pioneering sustainability in the Southeast, why not harness the creative idealists (burning man type progressives) who have lots of cool ideas and skills particularly at reusing materials, with local community folks with entrepreneurial and marketing skills who like to peddle products? The market for stuff made from local reused materials is right in our backyard. Let's get creative at harnessing it via business! The BBRC/Renaissance can facilitate this (since they need to freshen up and are  looking for a new niche anyway!) Paul Liotsakis Read This Posty »

Yesterday I sat through one of the Mayor's "Meet Locally" meetings. Oddly, I found myself with nothing to say. This isn't because I am terribly shy, mute, or an unconcerned citizen. Rather, it's because I am so utterly impressed with the City of San Francisco and the progress the Mayor has made in our city that I have very little to gripe about. I found it to be a meeting of informed, caring citizens who sincerely want to keep our fair city a wonderful place to live. I do, however, have one idea to contribute and perhaps this blog entry Read This Posty »

There should be an effort to encourage young designers to help improve certain areas of our city. There are many examples of places and things that an investment in good design could really improve, or make work better. The temporary police barriers on the Embarcadero near the ballpark separating the MUNI tracks and Hallidie Plaza are two examples of design opportunities. Just having a well-designed, beautiful solution, however, would be missing the opportunity to encourage young and talented designers in San Francisco to participate in the effort. There should be more design Read This Posty »

I am very concerned about the violence that continues to persist in the Bayshore and Hunter's Point neighborhoods in the city.  The conviction rate is unacceptable and I see firsthand how these families are affected (I manage a men's store in the Bayshore area).  I suggest that we work at a very grassroots level to bring attention to this issue that will not just go away.  I suggest Sophie Maxwell demand that these areas get more attention from the Board in terms of community involvement and resources needed to combat the crime, but also to educate these mostly young individuals Read This Posty »

In response to your letter I would like to submit the following suggestions for improvements to make San Francisco better in the future. First I want to start with the problem the drug addicts and the homeless. According to my knowledge San Francisco have not enough treatment facilities to get people off drugs and for this reason I would suggest that the City of San Francisco and  organizations working with this problem already open up an additional two or three treatment centers for people looking for help.The homeless people who are not addicted to drugs and get welfare money for Read This Posty »

May 21 & 22, 2007, a Rasmussen Poll showed that 76% of voters prefer Attrition through Enforcement and self-deporation of illegal aliens.  When voters had this choice , the choice of rewards, legal status, etc., or the choice mass forced deportation, they overwhelmingly chose Attrition through Enforcement. There are 7 million low skilled illegal aliens with no more than a high-school education that hold paying jobs in the USA. There are 23 million unemployed, low skilled US citizens and other legal residents with no more than a high school education. When illegal aliens begin to pack up their bags and familes Read This Posty »

I am S.F. born and raised and have had many ideas but don't know if they are feasible with all the political machines involved but here it goes. First  --  Could someone, working between different depts. in the city, start a job program as a paid trainee exempt. position at say min. wage- for unemployed to do the work of interest, learn the job for experience, and be paid?  Example a employed City Gardener trains the person on site- the weeds get pulled , grass trimmed, hedges, etc. which does not seem to be the case all the parks and playgrounds Read This Posty »

Apple, cherry, pears, peaches, oranges just to mention a few could line our city street and dot our parks.  Most of the country thinks we San Francisian are fruity anyways so let become fruity.  Certain area could be for certain tree.  This could help beautified our city street.  Help the earth. And when fruit is ready to be harvest, it could be picked my volunteer and donated to St Anthony's or Glide Memorial or many other agency.  Name Withheld Read This Posty »

Solution is a difficult question, however, first may I suggest that you define the problem as it should be defined.  There are "Homeless" and there are "street people". I believe a homeless person is in a situation where they are without a job, income, or the ability to secure housing.  In others words they want to be housed.  What I see on the streets of SF are street people. People who choose to be homeless and would rather spend what money they have on substance abuse.  I know that substance abuse can lead to homelessness but maybe we need to Read This Posty »

There are many homeless people capable of and desirous of employment but  cannot find jobs for various reasons.  Most of them have limited skills, no employment history, or cannot function in the conventional Capitalistic system.  The City needs to design and develop appropriate types of jobs for all these types of people and create an employment agency for placing them into those jobs.  Designing such non-establishment jobs would take some imagination and creativity.  In addition, such jobs would also require an original approach to the current work-ethic, prevailing management philosophy, and the wage-slave nature of the modern American workplace.  I Read This Posty »

1)  Promote home ownership by people who already live in the city.  People who own houses in the community are invested in the community and will help to care for it.  2)  Sharply limit the number of "investment properties" that can be purchased in the city.  3)  Provide funding for long-term mental health care.  I am a mental health professional, and work every day with people who will never be able to support themselves.  These people need our care and compassion.  They do not need *bus tickets out of town* where they will become "someone else's problem".   4)  For homeless Read This Posty »

A city-sanctioned squeegee squad.  A program where homeless attend short 'training', are given nice squeegees, rags, a distinctive t-shirt.  Have a promotion about the idea, you get your windshield cleaned at a gas station, tipping is sanctioned, the guy or girl has had some modest sensitivity training, so as not to scare people, but to get them to 'give along' with the program.  My $0.02 worth. Name Withheld Read This Posty »

Business needs to be attracted to San Francisco.  Presently, the city policies are anti-business and business is leaving San Francisco.  With it go the jobs and the tax revenues.  At the same time more money is spent on social causes. Thus, a situation is created where the private citizens are burdened more and more.  The end will be that there will be no money and no jobs to help the poor and they will be forced out of town.  Only the rich will be able to live in town.  The changing demographics will result in more conservative government.  To avoid Read This Posty »