Here is a gift to the Sunset from Assemblymember Haney who does not represent the district. After wreaking havoc of the East side of SF he is now aiming at the sedate West side.

AB 1114 – Planning and zoning: housing development projects: postentitlement phase permits.

…This bill would modify the definition of “postentitlement phase permit” to also include all building permits and other permits issued under the California Building Standards Code or any applicable local building code for the construction, demolition, or alteration of buildings, whether discretionary or nondiscretionary.

Existing law establishes time limits for completing reviews regarding whether an application for a postentitlement phase permit is complete and compliant, and whether to approve or deny an application, as specified, and makes any failure to meet these time limits a disapproval of the housing development project and a violation of the Housing Accountability Act…

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason... (more)

Comments:

Anybody care to explain this one that appears to be attacking cities and local communities and bankrupting them for some reason. As the developers fees are lifted and the state is no longer required to reimburse local communities for the infrastructure required to build the densely populated constructs, it will be up to the local communities and taxpayers to foot the bill.

Already the CPUC under Newsom’s approval has unleashed a new round of rate paying hikes to protect big energy from any loses due to their creased grid production.

If I got any of this wrong let me know. Otherwise we should seriously stop the state from any increased overreach and start with stopping this bill, which has taken on enormous powers and influence by what we thought was a fairly democratic state government. We are beginning to questions the purpose of these state mandates that are cutting away at our individual freedoms at an alarming pace.

Is this what they have in mind for our future? Skyscraper Proposed for 2700 Sloat Boulevard in Outer Sunset, San Francisco

BART Inspector General Resigns, Accuses Top Leaders of Repeatedly Impeding Watchdog Role

BART Inspector General Resigns, Accuses Top Leaders of Repeatedly Impeding Watchdog Role

NBC via Youtube

BART appears to have a leadership problem. Like many other government entities, BART wants to expand their scope and areas of influence. They are turning into Jack of all trades and Masters of none. Instead of concentrating on perfecting BART, the board involves itself in capital improvement projects, policing, and homeless abatement.

RELATED:
Opinion in Mercury News: in “Independent inspector general has endured undermining behavior by transit district board members and the governor.”…(more behind a firewall) Stay tuned for more.

Pandemic casts a shadow on future of San Francisco’s would-be high-rise Hub

By John King : sfchronicle – excerpt (includes audio track and map)

Uncertainty has always clouded the urbane visions of an emerging high-rise residential district at Market Street and Van Ness Avenue, so it seems weirdly appropriate that the plan has now been approved in the midst of a global pandemic.

That’s what San Francisco’s Planning Commission did last week — clearing the way for a cluster of apartment and condominium towers that on paper has the potential to be a dynamic crossroads. A place where downtown workers live above bustling pedestrian-filled sidewalks and plazas.

It’s also the type of idealized 21st century setting thrown into doubt by the pervasive impact of the coronavirus on everything from the global economy to how we behave in public — if we choose to venture out at all…

Some commissioners questioned whether the plan takes sufficient note of how the coronavirus might alter urban life. Will Muni be able to handle an influx of new passengers at a key transit crossroads if buses and trains can’t handle as many people? Will extra shadows on existing parks erode the quality of outdoor spaces should strict shelter-in-place requirements be imposed in response to viruses yet unknown?…(more)

On the audio track, SF Controller Ben Rosenfield describes the future potential economic downturn he anticipates and the effects it may have on the city for a years. His concerns raise more questions about the wisdom of approving any large projects at this time of future uncertainty. Voters in November may want to request the candidates weigh in on how they intend to support or deny these kinds of projects before deciding who to support.

The Coronavirus Is Changing the Future of Home, Work, and Life

By Joel Kotkin : thedailybeast – excerpt

COVID-19 is hitting dense urban areas the hardest, and accelerating the dispersion of Americans that had already been underway

The COVID-19 pandemic will be shaping how we live, work and learn about the world long after the last lockdown ends and toilet paper hoarding is done, accelerating shifts that were already underway including the dispersion of population out of the nation’s densest urban areas and the long-standing trend away from mass transit and office concentration towards flatter and often home-based employment.

Amid 20 years of fanfare about how big, dense cities are the future, the country had kept spreading out with nearly all population growth since 2010 occurring in the urban periphery and smaller cities. As a new study from Heartland Forward, where I am a senior fellow, demonstrates, both immigrants and millennials—the key groups behind urban growth—are increasingly moving to interior cities and even small towns…(more) 

Press Release from Supervisor Mar’s Office

Supervisor Gordon Mar Pushes for Fixes to SB 50 and Resources for Equitable Local Community Planning

Amendments to legislation support local planning for more affordable housing, protections against displacement and gentrification

San Francisco — At Thursday’s Government Audit and Oversight committee meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Gordon Mar reaffirmed San Francisco’s objections to Senate Bill 50 and advocated for significant changes to the bill should it move forward, including exemptions for local community planning, increased affordability requirements, and more robust protections against displacement. SB 50, authored by State Senator Scott Wiener, would upzone large parts of San Francisco without community input or increased affordable housing requirements. It was put on hold in the state legislature earlier this year following the passage of Mar’s resolution opposing the measure, but is expected to return in January…

Please read the entire press release below. We anticipate resolutions regarding SB50 will by sent to the Full Board in the near future. Stay tuned for further actions on this bill.

Open letter to Board of Supervisors to Oppose SB50

December 5, 2019

Supervisor Mar,

re: Please oppose SB50 and its successors.

Thank you for your hard work to attempt to amend the impossible SB50 bill that so many San Francisco  residents oppose. Scott Wiener has managed to do the impossible and unite a wide range of political rivals in opposing his newest anti local government bill that seeks to override local jurisdiction over zoning and development decisions.

I am sorry I could not attend in person, but, I would like to voice my opinion and concern and those of most of my Mission neighbors in opposing SB50.

Listening to one of the supporters of SB50 list all the various professions that support the bill was most informative. He listed all the development and construction related jobs that are on overdrive since the state started dictating zoning and development overreach in the local communities. These jobs are not at risk. These are the jobs that are creating the largest wealth divide in the national and killing the jobs we need to keep our diversified population employed and housed.

Please continue to fight for local jurisdiction over development and zoning in our communities and do not give up to the wealthy outside investments who are buying our cities and taking over control of our lives in ways that were until recently unfathomable. Please demand a robust community involvement in all new construction projects. We must stop the push to gentrify and increase the value of property without limits in order to close the wealth gap. The voters for you because they trust you to protect them and their interest in their city. Please don’t disappoint them. Stand up to the developers the way your supporters did when they voted for you.

Carve outs are not the answer. Please oppose SB50 and all similar bills that decrease local public voices in the planning process.

Sincerely,

Mari Eliza, concerned citizen

cc: the Board of Supervisors and Clerk of the Board

ACTION ALERT From Livable California for people concerned about the State Overreach bills

ACTION ALERT From Livable California!

Help Stop SB 330 & SB 592, Scott Wiener’s New Attack on Your Neighborhood.
Twitter & Facebook Campaign to Stop SB330 & SB590. See the Action Page for details.

Massive new development would transform Dogpatch area

By Tim Redmond : 48hills – excerpt

Lots of office space, hotel rooms, housing — but how’s it going to work without massive new investments in transit?… (more)

Not to speak about the massive amounts of water and power and sewer and trash support this new “city in a city” will require. When exactly is enough enough?

 

Who needs cars? Aggressive transit plan for Chase Arena discourages driving

By Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez : sfexaminer – excerpt

When Metallica plays at ear-splitting decibels in the soon-to-open Chase Center in September — the arena’s first-ever event — the thousands of concert goers won’t be humming “Enter Sandman” as they drive home to far-flung points across the Bay Area.

Instead, most will be head-banging on Muni, Caltrain, BART and ferries. At least, that’s according to The City’s plan…

Long-time San Francisco Giants fans may remember Muni shuttles that served Candlestick Park. Well, SFMTA is instituting two similar shuttles for Chase Center, one running down Van Ness Avenue from the waterfront and the other running directly from 16th Street BART

… (more)

Head-banging takes on new meaning when applied to the new Muni side facing seats. Asses may stay firmly in place, but, heads and shoulders may indeed lunge forward, or sideways, as the vehicle brakes are applied, meaning heads may be jerked into the adjoining seat or head. I am surprised no one thought of this when they designed the seats. The laws of perpetual motion do apply.

After a couple of ventures out, many will take the easiest method to avoid traffic, crowds, and potential head-banging. They will watch the action from their couch. It will be interesting to see how many people take that route, or go the nearest sports bar to drink and cheer or jeer with the fans.

One more thing that concerns everyone is the plan to dig up 16th Street at the time when it is most needed to assure completion of all the other construction projects that are ongoing, and to keep the constant flow of traffic, including the buses and shuttles moving between the Bay and the rest of the city. What will it take to stop work on 16th Street before a reasonable plan is devised to use an alternate route. Only 16th Street and Cesar Chavez cross both 101 and 280. Large numbers of the public are at risk of being cut off if either of those streets are not passable at all times.

Random Access – 3 Mayors Discuss Affordable Housing and Traffic Concerns

Video and comments By Sunnyvale City Council Member, Michael S. Goldman

A 15 minute round-table with: Mayor Lynette Lee Eng of Los Altos, Mayor Eric Filseth of Palo Alto, and Mayor Steven Scharf of Cupertino.

“City bankruptcies, deteriorating public services as funds are drained from cities trying to cope with increased demands by new construction. That will be CASA’s main impacts. See a transcript on Michael’s site: https://meetingthetwain.blogspot.com/2019/03/three-mayors-on-silicon-valley-housing.html

Thanks to these Mayors for their frank discussion on what many consider to be overlooked considerations that were not addressed adequately by the SF Bay Area regional planners who concocted the CASA Compact. Forcing more up-zoning on landfill that is sinking under the tall towers already built, is a losing proposition. How many people want to throw more money at the Joint Powers Authority that designed and built the closed, failing Transbay Terminal?