The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
presents

The '96 Greater Mission Awards

Friday, September 13, 1996 5:30 to 7:30 pm Bay View Federal Bank 2601 Mission at 22nd

food, drink, music, and local heroes
The Greater Mission Chamber is an umbrella group made up of the leadership of Mission Merchants Assn., 24th Street Merchants, Merchants in the 16th St. Assoc. NEMBA (Northeast Mission Business Assn.) & MEDA (Mission Economic Development Assn.)

Best Business
EXCELLENCE IN DISTRICT IMAGE
ENHANCEMENT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

24^th Street:
The Elves Office Support (3362 24^th St.) Jenny Rodriguez and husband Manuel have contributed more often, over more years than any other merchant on this famous Latin street with the big trees and two mural environments. Besides being Immediate Past President of the 24th Street Merchants, Jenny's family has lived at the celebrated crossroad intersection of Mission and 24th Street for the last ten years and also actively promote Puerto Rican culture here in the Bay Area.

Mission Corridor:
Bruno's Restaurant (2389 Mission) Jon Varnedoe
Being named one of the top 100 restaurants in the Bay Area in their first year by the SF Chronicle is just one of the numerous glowing true stories Jon and partner Wayne Niethold have enjoyed as operator's of their inimitable club/restaurant which beautifully recaptures the glory days of yesterday's Mission. Jon is an active Mission Merchant Assoc. Board Member and Chair of its Business/Liquor License Oversight Committee.

16^th Street:
Chile Lindo (2964 16^th) Paula Tejeda and husband Dennis Maxwell are producing the Chile Festival on September 21, on Capp near 16th Street. While operating one of only two Chilean restaurants in the Bay Area they dream of a Mission promoted by the City as a wonderful attraction for culturally attuned visitors.

NorthEast Mission:
Ace Mailing (2757 16th) Gwen Kaplan has been an active part of the Mission business community since 1978. Founding NEMBA (North East Mission Business Association) in 1990 to fight crime the group represents over 425 business' led by Gwen as President. Gwen has just completed her term as President of the SF Small Business Commission and continues to be active member in numerous civic and charitable organizations.

Mission Miracle Mile Merchant Association
Fifty Year Award:
Robert Kruezberger
Three time past president of Mission Merchants, long-time resident and noted local historian. Bob Kruezberger joined his father's real estate and insurance firm Kruezberger & Sons located on 21st near Mission right after World War 2 in 1946 and has served on its Board for over three decades.

BEST 96' Greater Mission

Non-Profit Service Provider
Mission Area Federal Credit Union: Raquel Castillo-Lewis CEO Founded in 1970 as an alternative for people and business of the Mission community. Having grown 40% to over 7 million in assets in just the last year, this home-grown institution is now seeking to expand. Many business, who have been turned down for loans by conventional lenders have gone on to prosper because this institution was able to make the loan with deposits my fellow Missionites.

#1 Elected Leader
Supervisor Susan Leal initiated and successfully led a campaign to improve on the U.S. Transportation grants for upgrading the busiest bus line in the West, Mission-14 Her efforts to give the Latin and working class metro center known as the Mission Miracle Mile "Boulevard treatment" will soon bear visible fruit. A "Livable Communities" grant for $450,000 is resulting in retrofitting of the new Mission light/Muni poles for pedestrian lighting between 16th & 24th Street plus eighty "Miracle Mile" banners incorporated with attractive new metal decorative pole elements. Among her much appreciated efforts, were seeking much community input including the business position and having Mayor Willie Brown lobby President Bill Clinton and Transportation Secretary Frederico Pena on his very first Washington D.C. calling for this urban city help. Candidate Bill Clinton's first No.California visit in 1992 was to 24th & Mission.

Supervisor Leal also led the difficult fight to defeat the voter initiated ballot measure repeal of the Board of Supervisors renaming of Army to Cesar Chavez Boulevard. This cultural hero's name will serve as a beacon to mark our historic, Latin neighborhood for all who pass through the 101 Freeway. Prior to that Susan acknowledged the merchant preference for keeping the magic 24th Street name where candles glow every November 2, for the country's oldest Dia De Los Muertos Procession and Ritual.

"This street has a proud, rich history as one of the most vibrant in our city. Mission Street will be a jewel in our city once again ." Supervisor Susan Leal
May 10, 1996

The Mission Commercial Corridors
Favorite City of San Francisco Vendor
J.C. DeCaux Francis Nion
The two new self-cleaning BART Plaza toilets at 16th and 24th St. were installed on the exact property line between BART and the City over the objections of BART due to the persistence and resolve of several involved individuals which include Rose Churchwar, John Barbi, Bob Planthold, CM Collins, Vit Troylan Meagan Levitan Supervisor Susan Leal and Francis Nion. Francis Nion is the head of West Coast operations for J.C Decaux, a European firm famous the world over for its elegant and state of art urban street fixtures.

'96 Heart of the City
City & County of San Francisco Department: Parking & Traffic (DPT)
Former SFPD-Mission Station Captain John Newlin has had an active year in the Mission. With the help of staff including director of Parking, Kevin Haggerty DPT opened on schedule the 800 stall parking garage serving SF General Hospital and 24th Street and instituting long sought residential permit parking. Meanwhile 16th Street's Hoff Garage got a face lift and successfully resolved long standing upper deck issues. John also played a critical role in lending early and continuing support to our exciting visitor attraction program called known as the 21st Street Mural Project which hopes to mount more BEST OF THE MISSION muralists work on his jointly operated with MEDA (Mission Economic Development Association) New Mission Bartlett Parking Garage.

Birthplace of the Bay Area Community Contribution:
Enterprise Community (EC)
Represented by Victor Miller (business-New MissionNews), Karen Zapata, (service provider Mission Neighbhorhood Centers Inc.), Frank Morales (resident) this group went through an exhaustive consensus seeking process on a journey to find a better way to allocate scarce government resources. The first five projects have only just been funded but the business community is very thankful that many of their longstanding concerns were both sought and acted upon by this all volunteer group.

Best New Public Art

21^st Street Mural Project
Bethany Senior Center
Jerry Brown (Exec.Dir.) is now constructing Mural #8 by Dan Fonts, the largest mural in the City at 21st and Capp, which will feature vibrant multicultural senior life and be paired with mural #1 by the Queen Mother of SF artists Ruth Asawa who did a mosaic called "Growth" (completed in 1969) which greets visitors at the highly regarded low income retirement facility entry. Dan Fonts also worked a bit on Mural #7 "Dream" for his good friend Daniel Galvez of whom he says, "He's the only artist of the caliber of Diego Rivera of whom I'll have a chance to work with in my career." Dan will be doing most of the mural #8 by himself and expects to finish around Christmas '96.

CLEAN HEALTHY STREETS
Ambrocio Son Montoya
The Clean-up Coordinator for 24th Street Merchants has consistently maintained, over the last year, the environment which shoppers and residents favor.

CULTURAL ENRICHMENT
Blanche Brown has been teaching dance at 24th & Mission's famous 3rd Wave Studio longer than any other instructer. Carnaval-San Francisco is the West Coast's largest multicultural annual unity celebration and Blanche has always been considered one the of unique events guiding lights and annually delights her many fans with a regal presentation each Memorial Weekend. Most recently, she starred in the top '96 Brazilian contingent Mara Reggae. Her students and Afro-Haitian performance company Group Petite La Croix carry the Carnaval spirit forward year round at performances throughout Northern California.

Top of Page
Mission Merchants Association
SFMission Homepage
102096-2300