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San Francisco sets parking limit on RVs to clear vehicle dwellers off streets

San Francisco sets parking limit on RVs to clear vehicle dwellers off streets

People living in RVs in San Francisco will soon be barred from parking longer than two hours on all city streets unless they get a permit, a move that critics say has caused significant distress among the hundreds of RV dwellers who live in the city.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors this week gave initial approval to a law from Mayor Daniel Lurie that would impose strict two-hour parking limits for oversized vehicles to deal with the hundreds of people living in vehicles on city streets. The board voted to approve the plan in a 9-2 vote, with Supervisors Jackie Fielder and Shamann Walton voting no.
Lurie introduced the legislation in June as a way to tackle the proliferation of vehicle dwellers in San Francisco with a combination of increased funding, enforcement and outreach. For years, San Franciscans have seen people sleeping in vehicles and in RVs amid a dire housing affordability crisis.
The mayor's plan will impose a two-hour parking limit for oversized vehicles on all city streets, with the exception of commercial vehicles parked in industrial areas. Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who sponsored the legislation on behalf of the mayor, said the legislation also includes several additions made during negotiations with other supervisors and the mayor.
The law will include a refuge permit system, which will allow people living in vehicles to apply for a renewable 6-month permit, contingent on compliance with community rules around such things as waste disposal and neighborly behavior, as well as ongoing work with housing support services.
People living in RVs will also have access to a buyback program that will provide financial support for those willing to relinquish their vehicles in exchange for aid toward securing permanent housing. Both programs will allow the city to track RV dwellers in order to better provide them with services, Melgar said.
'In a city as wealthy as ours, I think it's on us to build a system to support people to success, and not pretend that by leaving them to be out on the streets, we are doing the progressive thing,' Melgar said.
The board's approval on Tuesday highlights how the alliance between a moderate majority on the Board of Supervisors and the mayor's office has significantly changed City Hall politics.
Just last year, Mayor London Breed was blocked from making minor changes to the city's parking rules by a progressive board of supervisors that often clashed with her. Now, a year later, Lurie has a moderate board working with him to push his agenda, having already passed laws to address the city's fentanyl crisis and permitting issues.
Melgar said Lurie's legislation is 'great progress' over what was proposed by Breed. The new policy is expected to go into effect this fall.
Despite her reservations about the plan, supervisor Connie Chan said she ultimately supported it because the mayor showed he is working in good faith to get RV dwellers housed and not just taking punitive action against them.
'San Francisco voters want us to deliver solutions with public dollars, and our city's most vulnerable cannot wait for the perfect policy,' Chan said. 'Mayor Lurie and his team and especially Supervisor Melgar have demonstrated in good faith that they have a thoughtful approach and compassionate solutions.'
But supervisor Walton was sharp in his criticism of the mayor's legislation.
'More RVs than shelter builds equals an ineffective and impossible plan… a plan to fail,' Walton said. ' T his would be an attack on people trying to have a shelter in this expensive city, and they would lose their only homes.'
For those living in RVs, the prospect of having nowhere to park legally has been stressful. During a walk near Lake Merced on Tuesday, San Francisco native Bill Russo told the Chronicle he lives in an RV because he wanted to be completely 'self-sufficient.'
Because he has secured a disabled person license plate, Russo only has to move his RV for street cleaning every two weeks, as opposed to the every four hours as required of other RVs in the area. But Russo said he will be subject to the new restriction and will likely receive a temporary special permit allowing him to park in the city for only six more months.
'I'm counting on the delays and the fact that this won't be executed,' Russo said
Meanwhile Devin Plant, a nearby RV dweller who said he has been parked in the city for just over a month, is mainly worried about what will happen to community members who don't have a way out.
RV dwellers are 'going to deal with harsher conditions,' Plant said, and will 'end up under a bridge."
"People don't understand this is what happens,' he said.
Plant plans to leave the city this week for a guest services job he has lined up in Yosemite National Park.
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S.F. may soon ban natural gas in homes and businesses undergoing major renovations
S.F. may soon ban natural gas in homes and businesses undergoing major renovations

San Francisco Chronicle​

time38 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

S.F. may soon ban natural gas in homes and businesses undergoing major renovations

San Francisco may soon ban natural gas in residential and commercial buildings undergoing major renovations, a move that supporters say will help combat greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health. The proposed ordinance, which could take effect next year, would require 'major renovation' projects to include plans for replacing gas utilities with all-electric ones to get a permit. There are numerous exceptions, however. The proposal is sponsored by Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman and builds on the city's existing ban on natural gas in new buildings, first passed in 2020. 'The climate imperatives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions are certainly no less urgent than they were in 2020,' Mandelman said. The bill defines major renovations as projects that involve altering walls or ceilings on over two-thirds of the building, or renovating load-bearing elements that support over 30% of the building's floors or ceilings. 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San Francisco's current all-electric requirement for new buildings was first passed in 2020, mirroring a 2019 ordinance adopted in Berkeley — the first city in the nation to pass a measure of this kind. But Berkeley repealed its natural gas ban in 2024 after a federal court said the legislation, which was challenged by the California Restaurant Association, conflicted with a 1975 U.S. law that gave federal officials the sole power to set energy regulations for certain appliances, raising legal uncertainty about similar policies passed in more than 70 California cities. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that by prohibiting project developers from installing natural gas in new buildings, Berkeley was indirectly regulating gas-powered appliances that fell under federal jurisdiction under the Energy Policy and Conversion Act, or EPCA. The law has allowed federal officials to set standards for most gas appliances, including furnaces, water heaters, stoves and clothes dryers. Though the ruling only impacted Berkeley's ordinance, it led San Francisco to amend its gas ban on new buildings to include an exception for all EPCA appliances. The newly proposed ordinance on major renovations outlines a similar exception. By creating a carve-out for EPCA appliances, the proposed legislation seems to 'protect against a lot of the litigation risks that could arise,' said environment and energy lawyer Ted Lamm, the associate director of UC Berkeley's Center for Law, Energy and the Environment. Because EPCA has set standards for most gas-powered appliances, the exemption would legally allow many property owners to evade the potential ban by claiming that their gas installations would solely serve one of the many EPCA-covered appliances. However, property owners are unlikely to take this route, Lamm said. The exception still requires renovated buildings to be 'electric-ready' — prepared to transition away from gas appliances. 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New Mayor Matthew Stroia ready for North Canton leadership role
New Mayor Matthew Stroia ready for North Canton leadership role

Yahoo

time13 hours ago

  • Yahoo

New Mayor Matthew Stroia ready for North Canton leadership role

NORTH CANTON ‒ Matthew Stroia is now the 25th person to lead the city as mayor. "I'm really excited to get started," he said after a swearing-in ceremony on July 25 at City Hall. "It's very emotional because I love this place. This is my hometown and when I gave my first stump speech six years ago, I said I bleed orange and black. And I do." Stroia, 49, who was council president since December 2021 and at large council member since December 2019, succeeds Stephan Wilder, who announced July 22 he was stepping down. Related: North Canton Mayor Stephan Wilder to retire after long career with the city Wilder attended the ceremony. The city charter says the council president becomes mayor if the mayor resigns. Stroia took the oath by a wall with the portraits of his 24 predecessors. Stroia's wife, Jessica Stroia who is the president of the North Canton City School Board, and their 14-year-old son, Aiden, sat in the front row. The room at the North Main Street entrance of City Hall was filled with city employees, nearly all of City Council and well-wishers. They applauded loudly and Wilder embraced Stroia. "Thank you Mayor Wilder," Stroia said. "Over 40 years of public service, and the best thing is you have a big heart and you're a great man." Talking about the city staff and community, Stroia said, "but we're a team. I mean we're all together. So let's always have each other's backs. Go forward and let's always try to improve for all the people. For our community. .... To be the 25th mayor, I wasn't expecting it on this timeline. But I'm very happy to serve." Stephan Wilder issues support Wilder addressed the crowd and thanked the community and city staff. "We have come across so many things in these last few years. We've made major decisions. We've had obstacles. We've had challenges. But we also with working with council, administration and our whole (city) staff all of our decisions are made (for) the welfare of our city," he said. Wilder said he is not moving out of the city. He plans to serve on local boards for nonprofits like North Canton Cares Pantry and the North Canton Heritage Society. Stroia said he will file by the Aug. 6 deadline petition signatures seeking to run for the two-year term starting Dec. 1. Wilder has endorsed Stroia's election. "I think he's going to give all his best. ... He's rounded. He's a hometown young man. He comes from a great family. I think he has good working knowledge of city government in his time on city council," Wilder said. The mayor is a part-time position, according to the city charter. The mayor hires with approval of council the director of administration who serves at the pleasure of the mayor. The mayor has the power to veto legislation approved by council. By state law, Stroia will earn $19,418 a year, a pay increase from $8,809 a year that he earned as council president. North Canton mayoral history Wilder was the eighth mayor of North Canton to resign before the end of his term. This last happened in 1998 when William Hines resigned to become the city's law director. Then-Council President Darryl Revoldt became the mayor. Council member Stephanie Werren, At Large, becomes the council president. Council will appoint a resident of the city to the vacant at-large council member position to serve the remainder of the two-year term until Nov. 30. Stroia owns and operates the tax filing firm Buckeye Tax, the investment advisory firm Investment Network and two businesses at Oakwood Square in Plain Township, the cigar bar OSI and the brewery Spider Monkey. Stroia has not announced any plans as mayor, other then talking with staff and learning more about city departments. Twenty-four others have served as mayor of North Canton. The first mayor was William H. "Boss" Hoover, from 1906 to 1909, when the community was a village known as New Berlin. Three of the 25 served as mayor in two non-consecutive periods. Reach Robert at This article originally appeared on The Repository: Matthew Stroia becomes 25th mayor of North Canton Solve the daily Crossword

Trouble-packed NYC animal shelters land another $1M in taxpayer funds — GOP's Sliwa slams as ‘drop in the bucket'
Trouble-packed NYC animal shelters land another $1M in taxpayer funds — GOP's Sliwa slams as ‘drop in the bucket'

New York Post

time15 hours ago

  • New York Post

Trouble-packed NYC animal shelters land another $1M in taxpayer funds — GOP's Sliwa slams as ‘drop in the bucket'

The city is dumping another $1 million into its troubled jam-packed animal-shelter system to hire and train 14 new staffers, City Hall said Friday. The Animal Care Centers of New York City — a nonprofit with a $1.4 billion contract to run the Big Apple's animal-shelter system for 34 years — recently announced it was suspending its intake of dogs and cats because of 'critical' overcrowding. The move came days after a Post expose revealed ongoing sickening conditions at ACC's new $75 million city-funded shelter in Queens. Advertisement 5 Anna Garguilo, an adoptions counselor with Charmy, 4, an Akita mix. Stephen Yang 'ACC's work to ensure no animal is left behind is essential to protecting animals across New York City, and our administration is proud to invest $1 million in additional funding to support the work ACC does and boost their capacity to better care for animals,' Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. 'I also urge New Yorkers looking for a pet addition to their families to adopt, so we can ensure that every animal can find a loving home.' Advertisement But GOP mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa slammed the funding announcement as a piecemeal solution to the larger problem of animal welfare in Gotham. 'The city has completely ignored animal welfare,' Sliwa wrote on X. 'Today's $1M for ACC is a drop in the bucket. ACC has a 34-year contract worth over $1B—and yet our shelters are overcrowded, surrenders are paused, and animals are suffering.' 5 New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa holds a campaign event outside of an Animal Care Center on 110th street in East Harlem in Manhattan. Stephen Yang 5 'ACC has a 34-year contract worth over $1B—and yet our shelters are overcrowded, surrenders are paused, and animals are suffering,' Sliwa said. Stephen Yang Advertisement The red-beret-wearing Republican, who shares an apartment with six rescue cats, earlier this week called for the city to end its contract with ACC and replace it with a city-run overhaul that would include a 'quasi-private public partnership' to shift the cost away from taxpayers. A new animal welfare agency would be created in the 'basement' of City Hall and all shelters would be kill-free and offer free spay and neuter programs under a Sliwa administration. The ACC has three active sites across the five boroughs with more than 1,000 animals in its care. 5 New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks at a press conference to announce that 200 rescues have been made through the NYPD's drone and enforcement operations targeting subway surfing on July 21, 2025 in New York City. Andrew Schwartz / Advertisement 5 A new animal welfare agency would be created in the 'basement' of City Hall and all shelters would be kill-free and offer free spay and neuter programs under a Sliwa administration. Stephen Yang While the ACC is mandated to have a location in each of the five boroughs, the Brooklyn location is currently closed till 2026 for renovations, and the Bronx resource center has been 'temporarily' closed since May. Another $92 million facility in The Bronx is still under construction even though it was slated to open in the spring. The ACC did not respond to a Post request for comment. Adams' campaign did not respond to a request for comment, either.

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