IN THE NEWS

Two Sunday Streets Closures for the Mission on June 7 and July 19:

 Mission district, from Garfield Square to Dolores Park

“Expanding Sunday Streets to the Mission District by connecting two neighborhood parks through major merchant corridors is exciting,” said Mayor Newsom. “We’re working to ensure these events are something fun and new for residents and also help local merchants during these tough economic
times.”

The planned route for the Mission District events on June 7 and July 19 will travel from Garfield Park to Dolores Park via Harrison, 24th Street, Valencia Street and 19th Street. This route received City approval from departments overseeing street closures. The Mayor’s Office encourages neighborhood groups and Mission district merchants to plan special Mission-district only events for this installment of Sunday Streets.

Aug. 9 and Sept. 6: From Golden Gate Park to San Francisco Zoo, along Ocean Beach on Great Highway

More info at: sundaystreetssf.com

More Metered Parking Being Considered for the Mission

At the last MMA meeting, Terry Robbins of the Parking and Traffic Division of SFMTA spoke of increasing metered parking along certain commercial corridors along Mission and Valencia Streets.  Installation of meters for parallel parking along Hoff Street, between 14^th and 17^th Streets, is just one area being considered.  There was debate between the merchants and Robbins as to whether or not the metered parking should be for 2 hours or 1 hour.  The merchants generally wanted 2-hour meters because that encourages shoppers to browse.

Robbins noted that too many 2-hour parking spots would encourage vagrant solicitors and “meter hogs.”  One-hour meters would turn over the spots and allow for more customers to flow throughout the day.  One suggestion that was debated was to allocate 2-hour parking meters for those spots that are not near a parking garage or lot, and to have 1-hour meters for those spots near garages and lots.  Because this issue is significant to the merchants, and parking issues will also affect residents, there will be a separate MMA meeting to work on this issue.  Robbins agreed to provide the MMA with additional time to prepare a position before a final plan is approved by the SFMTA.  Please submit your suggestions or comments on this parking issue to Pedro Tuyub, MMA President, at missiondispatch@sbcglobal.net.

Construction on the Valencia Streetscape Project To Begin in July 2009

In the works for several years, the Valencia Streetscape Project, consisting of widening sidewalks, installing streetlights, and other street improvements along Valencia Street, between 15^th and 19^th Streets, will finally see construction begin in the summer.  The City is currently obtaining bids for construction work from private firms, and work is scheduled to begin this July.  Construction is estimated to take 8-10 months, and will undoubtedly be disruptive.  The MMA has been requested to provide input on whether or not construction should take place during the busy holiday shopping season between Thanksgiving and January.  Merchants will specific concerns are urged to contact Alex Murillo from the SF Department of Public Works at alex.m.murillo@sfdpw.org. or http://www.sfgov.org/site/sfdpw_page.asp?id=69841

More on Streetscaping in general in the Mission from a Planning Department Presentation in March as reported by missionlocal.org

Water Main Upgrades to Take Place on 20^th Street

Pulgas Water Temple

Starting June 1, 2009, the SF Water Department will be replacing water mains on 20^th Street, between Potrero and Valencia.  The purpose is to improve and upgrade the water supplies in the area.  The target completion date is August 14, 2009.  Construction will take place between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and parking will be prohibited two blocks at a time.  For specific questions on the impact to your business, contact Bill Teahan 415-550-4949 at the SFPUC.

 City Provides Swine Flu Information

After Mayor Newsom declared a local state of emergency, SF’s Health Department recently launched a website to help provide swine flu information.  Go to http://www.sfcdcp.org/H1N1.html to learn more about how to protect yourself and for the most up to date information.

Swine Flu Business Planning Checklist
The very real possibility of a swine flu pandemic should be a wake-up call to the many organizations that have not developed a plan to cope with widespread employee illness.  While this is not a pandemic yet, it is important for all organizations that haven't done so to begin continuity planning now to reduce the impact on operations, employees, customer and the general public if it does get to that point.  Keep in mind that if your employees contract an illness on the job, it can affect your workers' compensation, so it is always a good idea to have a plan in place.  To help, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has developed a check list of things you should do as an employer.  The list includes:
 
1.       Identify a pandemic coordinator and/or team with defined roles and responsibilities for preparedness and response planning.  The planning process should include input from labor representatives.
2.       Implement guidelines to modify the frequency and type of face-to-face contact (e.g. hand-shaking, seating in meetings, office layout, shared workstations) among employees and between employees and customers (refer to CDC recommendations).
3.       Establish policies for preventing influenza spread at the worksite (e.g. promoting respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, and prompt exclusion of people with influenza symptoms).
4.       Enhance communications and information technology infrastructures as needed to support employee telecommuting and remote customer access.
5.       Disseminate information to employees about your pandemic preparedness and response plan.

You may visit http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/businesschecklist.html, for additional information.  Additionally, CAL OSHA has issued swine flu guidance for employers.  Go to http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/SwineFlu/SwineFlu.htm for more information.

Ebbies, Excellence in Business Awards
The Nomination process for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Annual Ebbies, Excellence in Business Awards, is now open, and we need your help to identify businesses deserving of the Small Business Award.  Please note that self-nominations are encouraged.  The Small Business Award is awarded to a small San Francisco business that exemplifies the diversity of products and services that give San Francisco's neighborhoods their special flair, and/or is an example of the entrepreneurial spirit, and that demonstrates an investment in the city's future.  If you have any questions, please contact Alexandria Cribbs at 415-352-8858 or acribbs@sfchamber.com.

Affordable Solar Opportunities Are Here
The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and 1 Block Off the Grid (1BOG) have partnered to make solar affordable and simple for SF businesses and all of their employees.  For more information, visit: http://sfchamber.1bog.org/ 

GRAFFITI VANDAL CONVICTED FOR DOLORES PARK INCIDENT
District Attorney Kamala D. Harris recently announced that Mark Cross, age 26, and CTN 2408033, was convicted of one count of graffiti vandalism by a jury.  On April 13 after deliberating for two days, the jury found defendant Cross guilty of spray painting the Dolores Park clubhouse door.  The guilty verdict followed a one day jury trial before the Honorable BruceChan in Department 514 of San Francisco Superior Court.  According to Court documents, on February 27, 2009 San Francisco Police Officer Michael Shavers was responding to a call near Dolores Park when he came upon the defendant at the Dolores Park clubhouse door. The
Officer smelled paint in the air and saw the defendant spraying paint on the door. In the process of investigation, the Officer confirmed that the paint was wet and identified the moniker that had been spray painted on the door as that of the defendant. Six other individuals were standing at the bottom of a nearby staircase.  None of them were charged. Two of the individuals were known to the defendant and testified on his behalf at trial. Defendant Cross, of San Francisco, was arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count of committing vandalism with damage less than $400 in violation of Penal Code section 594(b)(2)(A).  The maximum statutory penalty for each count in violation of Penal Code section 594 is one year of jail and a fine of $1,000 plus restitution.
Judge Chan sentenced defendant Cross to two years of court probation, 200 hours of Public Work Alternative Program (graffiti cleanup) and barred the defendant from possessing any graffiti tools during the course of his probation as dictated by statute. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution and court fees. [more]

SaveMedjoolsf.com - We thought everybody loved the skydeck. Now a bigger landmark on our undeveloped transit corridor than the one it is intrinsic to saving ---The New Mission Theater !