According to the SF Chronicle, we are "down to 280 encampments..." in Golden Gate Park.   Hello?  Shouldn't this be ZERO?  Get out a fire tanker truck and go in and hose out each encampment.  I don't care if they think of themselves as "harmless eccentrics," there is nothing harmless about living in a camper, RV, car, tent or tarp unless you are in a campground and San Francisco's parks are NOT campgrounds.  Maybe it's time to forget the homeless "shelters" and go outside the city and build a "homeless campground."  Get GGNRA to donate some land, add porta potties, install Read This Posty »

If there were a program where homeless people were required to perform some sort task (trash collection in parks, painting over graffiti) for a small stipend I can guarantee you that the city would be cleaner and the majority of the homeless would go elsewhere. Name Withheld Read This Posty »

Dear Mayor,  As you know, a lot of young people in the Bay Area, and particularly in San Francisco love to skateboard!!  Our city attracts lots of skateboarders because of its beauty and terrain.  The current skateboard park at Crocker Amazon is not good because it doesn’t cater to skaters of different proficiency levels.  In addition, the location is incredibly windy!  Please help youth keep out of trouble while practicing a healthy and demanding sport.  On behalf of San Francisco youth, I urge you to allocate money in the budget to build a new skateboard park!  Thanks! Claudia Read This Posty »

The Rec and Park Department has historically favored basketball and volleyball when allocating hours in the City's Rec Center Gyms. However, the huge Asian population in the City overwhelmingly favors badminton. But most City gyms only offer badminton for a few hours per week, while the lion's share goes to \"traditional\" sports which can be played outdoors anyways. So the gyms get packed on badminton night, you have to wait an hour to play 20 minutes, and people get frustrated and turned off. Please have Rec and Park reprioritize itself to reflect the real needs of Read This Posty »

Please find a way to replace any pesticides and toxic commercial fertilizers from our parks where children play, especially on lawns where little ones crawl. Alternative and safe products are available now. Christie Close Read This Posty »

"Dog" parks are actually "people" parks where people recreate and communicate without social division; these inclusive communities enrich our City's spirit and deserve a healthy share of space. The vast majority of responsible dog people are routinely criticized for the mistakes of a few.  I'll keep encouraging dog people to "pick one up for the pack" as well as cleaning up after their own.  There's much more human trash out there but good dog people may pick some of that up, too.  Every little bit helps.  The City's cleaner than ever and it's getting better all the time -- it's Read This Posty »

Santa Clara County was forced to cease pumping fresh water, from it's treatment plant, into the bay.  So, instead, they pipe this water to the greenry alongside the freeways and into the parks.  Saves water. David Nolley, Ph.D. Read This Posty »

Having been to many European cities like Barcelona, Florence, and Vienna, I have had the opportunity to enjoy a very European experience.  The idea of a street without cars, or very limited cars.  I know that we are a much more car oriented society, but I would like to think that we could create some really great small areas (one or two blocks long each) of the city where we could promote outdoor cafes, small walking parks, kiosks for various things, small markets, etc.  I know the city retailers would freak out, but so did all those European store owners Read This Posty »

Why not have the ugly freeways that cut through neighborhoods covered? On top of the freeways we could gain room for additional housing, linear parks and reconnect the cut off hoods with each other. Name Withheld 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 »

I would like to suggest that you consider expanding the Southern boundary of the proposed new Community Court System beyond Harrison Street and to encompass all streets between Harrison and AT&T Park. I will list for you the reasons why this new court system should encompass AT&T Park and the surrounding East SoMa neighborhood. 1. We are faced with several law breaking corner liquor stores selling to already inebriated patrons. We have repeatedly relayed our displeasure to them and the consequences to the neighborhood they make their living in, but our complaints fall on deaf ears. 2. The above mentioned inebriates use our 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 »

There are far too many dogs in this city and they have ruined many aspects of it.  It is impossible to walk down the street in most neighborhoods without seeing dog feces, which also dominates our parks, including our natural areas.  I run on Bernal Hill every day, and it smells like dog feces on warm and hot days due to the proliferation of dogs on the hill.  Hardly a day goes by without my wife and I being disturbed by dogs barking.  Dogs have also ruined our natural areas: on Bernal Hill I see them digging into the hill, Read This Posty »

Rec and Park staff need to be more reliable in the maintenance of the park, including the dumping ground at the top of the hill. I would like to see the Mayor tour the park with me as soon as possible. Steven Currier Read This Posty »

Get the Homeless / Panhandlers off the streets!  Sleeping on streets is unhealthy and scary to look at.  Sleeping on streets should be made punishable.  (Compare to wrong parking).  Give "tickets" - after 3 tickets, enact some kind of remedy, i.e. sending them back to where they came from.    Give them community jobs in turn for housing and food.  Provide job advancements opportunities.  There's plenty of community work to be done, i.e. gardening for offices, churches, schools, businesses, residences and parks.  I'm sure residences will even be willing to provide for "tips" for this service.  Create swat teams of homeless Read This Posty »

Mayor Newsom, We so appreciate the attention the Parks and Recreation Department attention to the badly needed attention South Park needs.  The signs prohibiting alcohol are a start.  It's my understanding that Steven Cismowski has communicated the lack of funds in the budget for this fiscal year to do the necessary restoration that would bring the park up to code--as it relates to sand/children's outdoor apparatus--etc. It is my hope that monies can be found in this year--or will be put clearly on the budget for 2008. We've had such an influx of new SF taxpayers buying homes in the area--It would Read This Posty »