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San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Engardio recall to make S.F. ballot with enough signatures verified, organizers say
San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio, who came to prominence by ousting officials through recall campaigns, now appears all but certain to face his own after recall organizers said Saturday that city election officials verified that more than 99% of signatures they sampled Friday were valid. 'I feel like David beat Goliath,' said Albert Chow, one of the organizers of the recall. 'No one told us we had a chance in hell to pull this off.' Campaign organizers needed 9,911 valid signatures from registered voters in District 4 by May 22 to qualify for a recall election. The recall campaign ultimately collected about 14,000 signatures, and by the end of Thursday had submitted just under 11,000 signatures to the San Francisco Elections Department that it had validated internally. 'This was the definition of grassroots effort,' Chow said. 'We went through a ton of effort to prescreen every signature before turning it over' to the elections department. Jamie Hughes, who is running the recall, said the sample narrowly missed immediate qualification because of a duplicate signature. Now, the Department of Elections will have to verify every one of the submitted signatures, Hughes said, which could take several weeks. 'We were pretty confident in our validation process, and we spent a lot of time on it, especially over the past week,' he said, adding that he was 'pretty confident' that after the counting was complete, the signature petition would meet the necessary bar to be placed on the ballot. Engardio, who had angered many of his constituents by endorsing Proposition K, which closes a stretch of the Great Highway to create the Sunset Dunes park, said in a written statement that he understood community concerns and was working with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to improve traffic and pedestrian safety along with other constituent services. Engardio said he was confident that even if the recall measure qualified for a vote, his constituents would oppose it. 'I supported an open and transparent democratic process where everyone had an equal say at the ballot box. And everyone had ample opportunity to campaign for and against the issue,' he said. 'I invite people to explore Sunset Dunes and our coast in new ways. The coast belongs to everyone and now it's more accessible to people than ever.' Engardio also criticized the recall effort, which he said would not reopen the Great Highway and sets a 'bad precedent' for recalling elected officials over policy disagreements. 'If there's a recall every time we disagree with one issue, we won't have a functioning government,' he said. Engardio, a former journalist, was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022, after capitalizing on his support for the successful 2022 recall of several school board members and District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Engardio won the District 4 seat after three previous unsuccessful campaigns for supervisor. A former journalist, he campaigned on a platform of public safety and transparency. But Engardio infuriated many in his district after sponsoring and voting for the initiative to close a 2-mile stretch of the city's westernmost coastal boulevard, the Upper Great Highway, to cars to create a park. Prop K was opposed by a majority of voters in the Sunset and Richmond districts, the neighborhoods closest to the Great Highway, although it passed with more than 54% of the vote citywide. The measure spurred a lawsuit even before the park opened on April 12, and west side residents called the closure of the highway a 'war on cars' that would harm their quality of life and increase commute times. Engardio previously defended his vote by arguing that voters across the city deserved to weigh in on the proposition to close the Upper Great Highway and make it a park and argued that attempting to recall an elected official over a single vote wasn't 'helpful to us moving forward as a city.' That argument, Chow said, missed the point. 'We're firing Engardio because he messed with the community,' Chow said. 'He went against the community even when he was told not to do so.' Chow and others were particularly angered after seeing Engardio's financial backing, including high-profile support from Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, who donated $125,000 to the supervisor's cause. 'His constituency is tech billionaires, not D4 residents,' Chow said. 'This is about taking out someone not working for the community who voted for him.'
San Francisco Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Letters: If S.F. wants to catch speeding drivers, why aren't more cameras being installed?
Regarding 'Cameras are already catching more than 1,000 S.F. speeders a day. Here's which location has the most' (San Francisco, May 20): Speeding is rampant in San Francisco, and issuing citations for it would be a windfall for the city. Why are there so few speed cameras being installed? I support placing speed cameras all over San Francisco, not just at busy intersections. In the Sunset District, we see drivers speed all the time, sometimes right through a stop sign. I also don't understand how the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency would just want 'citations rising to $500 for drivers who reach neck-snapping speeds of 100 mph?' How about a revoked license, a heftier fine and 500 hours of community service picking up litter or scrubbing graffiti? Sarah Smith, San Francisco Secession makes sense Regarding 'Uncle Patrick's Secessionist Breakfast' (Projects, May 18): David Eggers' story satisfied many of the questions of why and how. I hope secession gets onto the ballot and that we all give it serious thought rather than dismissing the idea as nonsensical. The idea of secession compared to remaining part of the union becomes an easy question for me to answer and becomes increasingly easy with each passing month. Imagine how much our nation will change in the two or four years it takes for secession to get onto the ballot. Imagine what our nation will have morphed into by then. My guess is that by then, what was once regarded as a fringe idea will become our only sane option, and that we will be grateful to have it on the ballot. Francis Salmeri, San Francisco Fund health research I would like to share my story with all the people who cheering President Donald Trump's cuts to our 'bloated,' 'corrupt,' 'inefficient' and 'bureaucratic' federal government. I have a rare form of cancer called T-cell lymphoma. There is a promising drug available for treating it in Phase 2 clinical trials. Unfortunately, because of cuts to the National Institutes of Health, Stanford University, where I am treated, does not have the funds necessary to hire the staff required to administer this clinical trial. So for now, I wait and watch Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 'make America healthy again' and watch Trump spend our taxpayer dollars refurbishing a presidential jet gifted from a state that sponsors terrorist organizations. Stuart Schlitt, Los Altos Hills Influence Trump Regarding 'Trump appointing S.F. archbishop to new Religious Liberty Commission' (San Francisco, May 15). It is good news that President Donald Trump asked Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to be a member of a religious advisory board. It provides an opportunity for Cordileone to express his concern over the treatment of immigrants whose dignity and human rights are being ignored. The archbishop can call for compassion and respect for their humanity as he speaks out on their behalf. The church can also provide moral clarity when it comes to withdrawing funding for programs that feed the poor, both here and abroad. As Medicare, Medicaid and food assistance are being diminished, the bishop can advocate for those in need. Hopefully, Cordileone, in his new role, will be a true ambassador of Christ's love and make Catholics proud of who we are in the world. Kate Greene, Berkeley Won't challenge president Regarding 'Trump's a blessing to many ardent S.F. Catholics. But some parishioners are fearful' (Joe Garofoli, May 18): I appreciate Joe Garofoli's profile of the challenges the San Francisco Catholic Church faces with the attacks coming down on its immigrant parishioners. Ironically, President Donald Trump has appointed Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to his advisory Religious Liberty Commission, I suspect largely based on his attacks on a woman's right to choose. I also suspect that the archbishop does not have the Heart of a Lion when it comes to defending his parishioners. He calls for 'blessing our people,' but won't be willing to openly defy the president.
San Francisco Chronicle
18-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay to Breakers 2025 off and running with thousands on S.F. streets
Thousands of competitors hit San Francisco's streets Sunday morning for the 112th running of Bay to Breakers, a world-famous footrace known as much for its colorful costumes as its competitive sprinters. Runners assembled early at Howard and Main streets, with the first wave of the race beginning shortly after 8 a.m. and the last wave at 8:45 a.m. Competitors were assigned 10 starting corrals based on their estimated finish times provided during registration. The course closes at 12:30 p.m. and the finish line at 1 p.m. Organizers expected more than 20,000 registered participants this year, though the race usually attracts thousands of unregistered runners. The 12-kilometer (7.4-mile) run stretches from the bay at the Embarcadero to the breakers at Ocean Beach, just beyond the Great Highway. Runners pass through some of the city's most scenic neighborhoods along the way, including the Financial District, Hayes Valley and the Haight-Ashbury, winding up in Golden Gate Park for the final leg. The race also included a 15K option, with an additional 1.8 miles along the Great Highway. Sunday's race marked Mike Domingo's 50th time across the finish line, a milestone and feat for the 68-year-old Redwood City resident, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer in 2021. The diagnosis came with an estimation that he had 30 months to live, but Domingo, who once took the race seriously as a college track runner and later turned the event into a party, decided not to let cancer 'stand in the way of life,' said his wife, Christine Domingo. Mike Domingo said he hopes to inspire others. 'Anything can be done if you put your mind to it,' he said ahead of the race. His wife, mother and several friends walked the course with him, wearing shirts commemorating the milestone. 'I survived!' the shirts read in part. Street closures started at 7 p.m. Saturday in preparation for the race, with many not reopening until 5 p.m. Sunday. Travelers were urged to plan their routes in advance or adjust their plans while streets were closed. The race route cuts San Francisco in half, leaving only two north/south crossing points for buses and cars, at Crossover Drive and the Embarcadero. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency recommended travelers stay on one side of the route if possible, but those who need to get across could use an underground train such as the Muni Metro subway or BART, or take a bus as close to the route as possible, cross the route on foot, and pick the bus up again on the other side. Participants, who run solo or in groups, often spend weeks concocting their costumes, often modeled on superheroes, newsmakers, historical figures or cartoon characters. Some runners choose to forgo costumes or any other form of clothing beyond shoes and socks, on their feet or elsewhere. The race has featured a centipede division since 1978, with 13- to 15-member teams running the full course joined by a bungee cord or similar connection. Unofficial traditions include spectators tossing tortillas into the crowd at the start of Bay to Breakers and participants in salmon suits 'swimming upstream,' running the race in reverse. The oldest consecutively run annual footrace in the world, the Breakers began in 1912 in an effort to lift the spirits of San Franciscans still reeling from the 1906 earthquake and fire. Since then, it has paused only in 2020 and 2021 as a pandemic precaution.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Speed cameras are coming to Los Angeles: What we know
Los Angeles drivers will soon have new watchful eyes on the road. Speed safety cameras are coming to the City of Angeles in 2026 as part of a statewide pilot program passed by the state legislature and signed into law in 2023. Assembly Bill 645 allows for six California cities: Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Long Beach, and Glendale, to install automated cameras to photograph and ticket drivers who speed. San Francisco was the first to roll out the cameras, installing 33 in February of this year. 'Speeding is the leading cause of serious injuries and fatalities in San Francisco,' Viktoriya Wise, streets director for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, said at the time. 'That's why we've moved swiftly to be the first city in California to introduce this life-saving tool proven to reduce speeding and protect lives.' Are California drivers stuck with high gas prices for good? In L.A., one in five fatal collisions between 2017 and 2021 involved speeding, the city's Department of Transportation states on the project's official website. LADOT said studies show these 'speed safety systems' lead to a 19% decrease in crashes resulting in fatalities or serious injuries, and cities utilizing similar technology have seen a 62% drop in drivers speeding by 10 mph or more. In San Francisco, the cameras were installed near schools, parks, senior centers, and in commercial districts. The L.A. locations have not yet been released. Breaking the speed limit by 11 to 15 mph will result in a $50 fine; 15 to 25 mph incurs a $100 penalty; speeding between 26 to 99 mph carries a $200 fine; and driving 100 mph or more will result in a $500 fine. Once the cameras are installed, a 60-day warning period will be in effect. Also, the first time a driver is caught speeding 11 to 15 mph over the limit will also result in a warning. Low-income households are eligible for payment plans and fine reductions, and qualifying recipients of speeding violations are eligible to perform community service instead of paying fines, LADOT said. Project Timeline: October 2023: AB 645 signed into law 2024: Planning and project approvals Early 2025 – Development of Impact Report and Use Policy Late 2025 Outreach Projected Early 2026 System design and construction Projected Mid 2026: System operations begin Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
First curbside EV chargers installed in San Francisco on Fillmore Street
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco is powering up its electric vehicle presence as it moves to install the city's very first curbside chargers. Thursday, the first curbside chargers were installed on Fillmore Street, with plans to scale the program to hundreds — and potentially thousands — more. Last week, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) approved its first-ever permit to allow for curbside EV charging, and Brooklyn-based company, it's electric, is leading the surge. The company's goal is to address a city's key hurdle to EV adoption: the lack of home charging options for apartment dwellers. Roughly 70% of San Francisco residents live in multi-family housing, where access to private charging is scarce. Under the program, EV drivers register with it's electric, receive their own charging cord, and plug into sidewalk-level Level 2 chargers that draw energy from nearby residential or commercial buildings with spare electrical capacity. According to co-founder Tiya Gordon, the power demand is equivalent to that of a dishwasher — lightweight enough to avoid adding utility costs to the building owner, who also receives a share of the revenue generated. "This is about bringing the same gold standard of EV ownership — coming home, plugging in, and waking up to a full battery — to people who park on the street," Gordon told CBS News Bay Area. "San Francisco has one of the highest EV adoption rates in the country, yet much of the city still lacks the infrastructure to support it," she explained. The curbside units cost nothing to the property owner, said Gordon, and construction is less invasive than traditional utility installations, requiring only a small conduit below the sidewalk surface. The existing units took three days to install, including a survey, installation, and approval. However, enforcement remains an open question. While each spot is marked for EV use only, city officials have yet to detail how the SFMTA will ensure compliance. The pilot is part of San Francisco's broader push to meet ambitious climate goals. The city aims for at least 25% of private vehicles on its streets to be electric by 2030, and 100% by 2040. That will require 1,760 publicly accessible chargers by the end of the decade. Currently, the city has 1,152, including fast chargers and Level 2 units. Joseph Piasecki, policy coordinator for the city's Department of the Environment, called the new curbside chargers "a new frontier" that helps fill a critical gap. "This curbside pilot is going to help supplement that level two charging. It's meant to be able to park charge, whether it's overnight, get a small charge, be able to get on your way," Piasecki said. The first charging stations were installed outside the IBEW Local 6 Electrician's Union building, a fitting spot for a group that has serviced the city's electricity needs for over a century. "We've been involved in electrical transportation in San Francisco for 130 years, so including all of our time at Muni and before Muni," said IBEW Local 6 board member John Doherty. "We believe in the future of electric vehicles, and we're here to make sure that everybody knows that not only do we know how to do it, that we're already prepared and trained." But not all neighbors are enthusiastic. Sustainable transportation advocate Luke Bornheimer said the program prioritizes car infrastructure over the safety and mobility needs of cyclists and pedestrians. "This is an example of how the city continues to invest in cars and car infrastructure in an attempt to address the climate crisis, when in reality, what it should be doing is dedicating time and resources and funding to infrastructure and policies that will actually help people shift trips away from cars altogether," said Bornheimer. Bornheimer also raised concerns that curbside chargers could impede the installation of bike infrastructure in the future: "These chargers and their cords will impede the ability for the city to implement protected bike infrastructure and other improvements around the city once they're installed. So all of a sudden, they won't just be about preserving on-street car storage for people who want to store their cars on the street, but it'll also be that now we have these electric car chargers on the sidewalk as well." The SFMTA recently approved its first permit for curbside EV charging, paving the way for a broader rollout. For now, early users can expect charging to cost between $1 and $5 per hour and take 6 to 8 hours for a full battery. But a full battery, Gordon says, isn't always the point. Healthy charging prioritizes frequent but slower charging that the Level 2 chargers emit. On Friday, city leaders will gather to commemorate the new charging stalls in a ribbon-cutting at 55 Fillmore.
