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Potrero View 2018: March

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INSIDE

San Diego Houses Homeless Faster, Cheaper Pg. 2

MARCH 2018

City Finalizes Waterfront Plan Pg. 3

No Self-Serve Laundry on Hill Pg. 5

NABE Foundation Scholarships Pg. 9

Community Garden Pg. 19

Kids’ Photo Contest Winner! Pg. 20

FREE

Serving the Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, Mission Bay and SOMA Neighborhoods Since 1970

View Hopes to Make it to 50 — and Beyond Leno Says BY STEVEN J. MOSS

Forty-eight years ago, a group of Potrero Hill residents – artists, labor union activists, peaceniks – published Hills and Dales, a fledgling newsletter to inform neighbors about goings-on, and possibly even influence local politics. The mimeographed missive soon morphed into The Potrero View, the newspaper you’re holding in your hand or reading on a screen. The View fulfilled its mission, and more. It helped elect Nancy Pelosi to the U.S. House of Representatives and Sophie Maxwell to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, was integral to toppling the Hunters Point and Potrero power plants, and contributed to better transportation and land use outcomes. Meanwhile, it celebrated births, mourned deaths, illuminated stories about the community’s artists and merchants, and gossiped about new restaurants and bars. Is it now “mission accomplished?” Newspapers across the land are busy dying. Earlier this year, more than a half-dozen East Bay Times reporters, photographers, and editors accepted buyouts ahead of a round of layoffs, reducing the editorial staff by

one-quarter. People’s attention is now focused on social media, and ample access to on demand infotainment. Nextdoor feeds the need for neighborhood gossip; SocketSite tracks new building activities. Do we really need a monthly newspaper? Chances are, having read this far, you’ll answer “yes!” The View continues to fill a niche that no other source occupies: substantive news and information about the people, places, and events influencing our community. No other media regularly covers what’s going on in our schools, with local merchants, and residents’ lives and deaths, among other neighborhood concerns. For many, the View provides an essential contribution to what makes Dogpatch and Potrero Hill special. That the View is principally a print publication adds to its cache, but both attracts and repeals readers and advertisers. Some people don’t want to get their fingers dirty handling ink-stained copies; others cherish the ability to pass on published photographs of their loved ones to faraway relatives, and like the feel of print in their hands as they sip their coffee. Many advertisers see a value in the relationship a monthly print paper that’s directly delivered to

In the wake of Mayor Ed Lee’s unexpected passing in December, a special mayoral election will be held on June 5, with the winner occupying the post until 2020. One of the frontrunners, Mark Leno, served two terms in the State Senate, from 2008 until 2016, representing the 3rd and 11th Districts, was a State Assemblymember from the 13th District, and, from 1998 to 2002, worked as District 8 Supervisor. “I intend to shake things up,” Leno

VIEW continues on page 17

LENO continues on page 16

BY JACOB BOURNE

Green Benefit District Holds Election for Board of Directors Seats BY JACOB BOURNE

Christy Coté teaches Argentine Tango in her Minnesota Street home studio. Foreground, from left: Christine Cheng, Mark Christiansen, Tom Chasseur, and Christy. Background: Elena Vega and Douglas Davan. Photo: Suzanne Berger. Story, more photos, on page 14.

He’ll Follow a Collaborative Approach to a Better San Francisco

doorsteps has with its readers; others are focused on social media’s popularity and potential for laser-sharp targeting. In any event, there’s no Internet-based business model to sustain a geographicspecific publication that attracts well less than 50,000 readers a month. For now, anyway, the only way to survive is in print. The paper isn’t in any immediate danger of folding, in part because of a willingness of its staff to work pro bono. But there’s been a sharp decline in advertising over the past couple of years, including by longtime merchants in the community who have been lured away, hopefully temporarily, by more sparkly marketing options. Reduced revenues has translated into fewer pages and less ambitious articles. In excellent months the View balloons to 40 pages. Lately we’ve regularly been half that. A 16-page paper would signal that finances have entered a stage that threatens long-term viability. If you want the View to make it to its 50th birthday and beyond, considering doing the following:

Green Benefit District is a quasigovernment organization directed by a board of elected Dogpatch and Northwest Potrero Hill residents to help maintain and expand the area’s parks and greenery. The organization was formed in 2015, after securing 76 percent of property owner votes in the district. GBD’s 15 directors – including a president, vice president, treasurer and secretary – oversee its programs and investments. Occupants of the four officer positions are selected by the board. Each spring, an election is held for five seats. This year’s poll is open until March 26. According to Jean Bogiages, GBD president, ballots were sent to 1,157 property owners in the district based on their address on file with the City Assessors Office. “This is a neighborhood board, so I think folks are interested in selecting

neighbors who they can communicate with, who are capable, and who will do a good job carrying out the mission of the GBD,” Bogiages commented. The five seats are open to two Dogpatch property owners, one Dogpatch tenant or property owner, one Northwest Potrero Hill property owner and one Northwest Potrero Hill tenant. Registration for candidacy ended midFebruary. Each position is for a threeyear term, with a two-consecutive term limit; a person may run again after a year break. Seven candidates are seeking board seats, including three incumbents: Robert Broucaret, James Naylor and Kate Eppler, who currently serves as secretary. Broucaret is a Northwest Potrero Hill property owner who has professional horticulture experience. Naylor is a Dogpatch property owner who works in management at the GBD continues on page 16


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