Potrero View 2023: July

Potrero Annex-Terrace Mismanaged by Private Firm

BY REBEKAH MOAN

Eugene Burger Management Corporation (EBMC) is mismanaging the Potrero Annex-Terrace and Sunnydale housing complexes, according to a San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) report.

Located around 26th and Connecticut streets, the Annex-Terrace complex encompasses roughly 600 housing units with nearly 1,300 residents, 43 percent of whom are Black. Mostly consisting of standalone three-story rectangular structures stacked on hillsides, buildings are beset with broken elevators, plagued by cockroaches and rodents, with poorly maintained plumbing.

In January, EBMC failed all SFHA’s requirements, including reducing threats to residents’ life or safety within 24 hours, delivering monthly performance reports, collecting rents and managing delinquencies, and charging leases with no more than five percent errors. Similarly, EBMC didn’t meet Section 8 Housing Quality Standards, which consist of such metrics as functioning windows and working appliances, though it achieved the criteria in February.

According to SFHA, EBMC failed to classify work orders related to “lifethreatening conditions,” such as plumbing and sanitation defects that expose occupants to risks of illness or injury. By not categorizing conditions as lifethreatening and thus emergencies, EBMC circumvented the 24-hour response time required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

It took an average of 39.5 days for EBMC to respond to nonemergency work orders. That reflects residents’ experiences, according to Mission Local. One tenant, who has lived in Annex-Terrace for 11 years and asked to remain nameless, said that it took two months for her broken toilet to be fixed.

EBMC failed to remove abandoned vehicles or cut back overgrown vegetation, exacerbating poor conditions at Potrero Annex-Terrace and Sunnydale.

Maria, an Annex-Terrace resident since 1999, told Mission Local that when she complained about mice to EBMC she was told not to worry, as mice weren’t dangerous.

“Mice don’t bite,” she said an EBMC employee told her.

Potrero Hill Parklets, Here to Stay?

BY ODIN THIEN-AN MARIN

Amidst the pandemic numerous curbside parklets appeared along 18th Street, providing restaurants with a vital lifeline and customers the ability to dine al fresco. The emergency Shared Spaces program enabled eateries to occupy sidewalks and parking spaces, allowing them to remain open.

Last April, Shared Spaces became a permanent municipal program. Under new guidelines, some Potrero Hill parklets require major rebuilds, while others need only modest modifications to meet Fire Code or American Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

The City has three Shared Spaces classifications: “public parklet,” “commercial parklet,” and “moveable commercial parklet.” A “public parklet” provides space for community use from sunrise until 10 p.m., similar to structures

erected before the pandemic. “Commercial” and “moveable commercial” parklets are used by a company during business hours, with seating available to the public during non-business hours.

Establishments with curbside parklets constructed during the pandemic face charges which were previously waived. One parking space occupied by a parklet is assessed a one-time $3,000 fee, with each additional parking space $1,500, along with an annual $2,000 license payment. Businesses with less than $2 million in annual revenues are eligible for discounts.

Alimentari Aurora

The parklet outside Alimentari Aurora and Ruby Wine, 18th Street between

Missouri and Connecticut streets will remain. It’s the only public parklet on the Hill.

“We definitely plan to keep the parklet,” Dario Barbone, Alimentari Aurora owner, said. “We built the public parklet to give people a place to sit, relax and enjoy. During the pandemic, a lot of extension of tables and chairs allowed restaurants to create more seating for

PARKLETS continues on page 8

Vermont Cleaners Struggles During Retrofit

BY REBEKAH MOAN

Vermont Cleaners, located at 600 Vermont Street, has been in Benson Xu’s family since 1986. The business has survived an earthquake, recessions, and multiple robberies. Now as the building in which it’s housed is being seismically retrofitted, the venture faces an uncertain future.

Built in 1917, the almost 10,000 square feet multi-family building is being renovated to bring it up to code. The structure is being fortified with steel, shear walls, and extra concrete footings.

“I wish the City was more practical,” said the landlord, Roque Fernandes. “Potrero Hill is on a rock, it’s solid, but the building still needs to be brought up to today’s code.”

The retrofit includes installing a handicapped toilet in Vermont Cleaners, which’ll reduce the usable space from 650 square feet to 450 square feet to create a widened aisle that can accommodate a wheelchair, a requirement for com-

mercial spaces. After the alteration, Xu worries his rent will increase, though Fernandes said he’ll be reasonable.

“I’ve always been more than fair to Benson, and I want to see him stay there,” he said. “[Vermont Cleaners] is his livelihood and I’m conscientious about that.”

The retrofit is slated to take a few months, but it could be longer as the construction workers juggle other jobs. Add to that the step-by-step process involved in the renovation, such as the need for inspections before concrete is poured, and time adds up. In the meantime, Vermont Cleaners isn’t generating any income.

“We’re completely shut down,” Xu said. “The water, gas, electricity, everything has to be cut and all the clothes were moved to the storage room.”

Even though the business is closed, Xu is at the shop every day at 7 a.m. to open the doors for construction workers. He’s even pitching in; moving dirt to the dumpster, distributing tools, and lifting

materials. He hopes that by helping the work will go faster.

“I provide them coffee and lunch every day, which is around $1,500 to $2,000 out of my pocket every month,” he said. “I saw them working hard and some of them get really tired. They drink Red Bull for energy, so I went to Costco to buy them a case. It’s not easy. Whatever they need, I get it for them. If their fingers are bleeding, I find them Band-Aids. If I don’t, they use napkins and wrap them around with a rubber band.”

Xu, who lives in a four-bedroom townhouse in Daly City, said he’s not sleeping well because he’s so anxious. He and his family are living off savings. He has four children; two of them in college, one about to enter 11th grade, the other going into third grade. In addition, new immigrants from China with whom his wife is related depend on Xu to help them get jobs and settle into San Francisco.

“They only pay a little utility money

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

A woman and child pass by the parklet outside Alimentari Aurora.

PHOTO: Odin Thien-An Marin

A dog lounges in the doorway of Blooms Saloon while customers talk outside.

PHOTO: Odin Thien-An Marin

PUBLISHER’S VIEW

GO FISH

Phishing texts – smishing – regularly pop up on our cellphones. These obscure messages are purportedly from people who know us, or sent by innocent mistake, but their real purpose is to wheedle into a conversation that results in the provision of personal information. Below are smishes I received, and responses I wanted to, but didn’t, send.

Hi! Dr. Nan, this is Anqi, and this is my new cell phone number! Please save it, thanks!

Thank you, Anqi! I’ve been trying to contact you about your test results, which are quite alarming. Please make sure to NOT drink water, eat food, or evacuate your bowels. Doing any of these things could result in severe pain and death.

Do you have time to have dinner together in the evening? I know there is a Michelin-starred restaurant nearby that has good Italian food.

I’m totally starving! Can you go ahead and make a reservation? They require a non-refundable deposit, but it’ll be credited towards our meal. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back my share!

SHORT CUTS

Anchor Away

Hi.

That’s pretty insensitive, given you know my beloved dog, Scottie, just died. I’m blocking you!

Hi.

Mommy says I should tell her if a stranger winks at me, and she’ll notify the FBI. Stranger danger!

Hey how’s your life going these days? Is it going well at work?

The person to whom you sent this text was killed in a tragic workplace accident. We’re looking for witnesses to the incident. If you have any information please pass it on.

Hello. This is Annie, is this Eunice’s number?

It’s not, but if you manage to find Eunice you tell that btch that if she ever even glances at my boyfriend again they’ll be hell to pay!

Julie Christensen, executive director of the Dogpatch & NW Potrero Hill Green Benefit District , who turns 70 this month, will be leaving that position in November to “rewire.” Christensen served as ED for the organization’s first seven years, during which tons of concrete and asphalt were swapped for plants and pedestrian-friendly amenities. The search is on for a replacement… Potrero Hill-based Anchor Brewing Company, which has roots in the California Gold Rush era, is halting sales of its portfolio of beers outside the state. Instead, the company will focus on the California market, which accounts for 70 percent of its transactions. In addition, Anchor Brewing will no longer make its iconic holiday beer,  Christmas Ale, a brewing tradition since 1975. Anchor, founded in 1896, was saved from bankruptcy in 1965 by longtime owner Fritz Maytag, and sold to Sapporo in 2017.

Don’t Read All About It

After more than a decade being a

vendor in the City and County of San Francisco’s (CCSF) Outreach Advertising program the View was summarily rejected from consideration this year because it didn’t respond to a request for additional supporting documents within two hours, instead replying within five hours, having missed the initial email. No matter, the paper no longer qualifies for the contract in any event. El Reportero, which was originally recommended to advertise to the Hispanic community, was dismissed because it doesn’t print in San Francisco, a municipal requirement. Neither does the View, despite its best efforts. The paper’s original printer went out of business years ago. The printer the View relied on for almost two decades refused to continue to work with the paper after it complained, on behalf of its advertisers, about quality problems too often. It’s hard enough being a print paper these days without additional rocks thrown by CCSF… To fill the financial hole created by CCSF’s snub the View is looking to raise $7,500. Readers, can you spare a whole bunch of dimes?

PUBLISHER'S VIEW continues on page 10

Tell

Steven J. Moss

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Catie Magee

MANAGER Richard Romero

MANAGER Helena Chiu

our local merchants you saw their ad in $68 Subscription $132 Subscription-Benefactor Other contribution amount $ Please send my one-year subscription to: FULL NAME EMAIL ADDRESS STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP CODE Enclosed is my check. Please send, along with this form, to: The Potrero View, 1459 18th St., #214, S.F., CA 94107 I am sending my payment via PayPal to office@potreroview.net. I love the View and would be delighted to support it by being a subscriber. YES! www.potreroview.net/product/subscribe or complete the form below SUBSCRIBE RealTrends America’s Best Real Estate Professionals I’M HONORED TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR’S Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Claudia Siegel, Realtor® 415.816.2811 | ClaudiaSiegel.com | DRE 01440745 Check out more testimonails on Claudia’s Website

PUBLISHER

MARKETING

Neighborhood Leaders Nurture Civic Engagement

BY JESSICA ZIMMER

The View canvassed its readers to identify residents who volunteer to improve their community. Below we describe the efforts of some of these individuals; the paper welcomes nominations of others.

Sue Bushnell, South Beach District 6 Democratic Club president, has been a San Franciscan for 54 years. Presently a Bryant Street resident, she’s previously lived in the Mission, Bernal Heights, and on Telegraph Hill.

Now retired, Bushnell coordinated student affirmative action programs at San Francisco State University (SFSU) for roughly 30 years.

Bushnell chartered the South Beach District 6 Democratic Club (SBD6DC) in 2015 to give a political voice to the neighborhood and the district. According to Bushnell, the 2020-mandated redistricting of supervisorial district boundaries changed the political landscape.

“The Tenderloin was moved out of

HANDY NUMBERS

District 6, creating a much more residential profile,” said Bushnell.

District 6 now includes South-ofMarket, Mission Bay, and Treasure Island.

SBD6DC, which has 52 dues paying members, endorses and promotes candidates and ballot measures. This summer, it’ll hold informal meetings with elected officials, including District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. At last year’s holiday event guests and members met with Dorsey, District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, California State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and City Attorney David Chiu. “SBD6DC does not take donations from corporations or developers. We are and hope to remain a true voice of the residents of District 6,” said Bushnell.

Najuawanda “Naj” Daniels is on her second term serving as co-president of the Starr King Elementary School Parent Teachers Association (PTA). She’s

inspired and motivated by her niece, Rain, a fourth grader at the school.

“She is my reason for pushing forward,” said Daniels.

Daniels grew up on Arkansas Street, across from the Potrero Hill Recreation Center. Recently, her family home was sold, prompting her to move to Hunters Point. She works as a union representative for the Service Employees International Union Local 1021, which represents City and County of San Francisco staff.

“I also provide professional music entertainment. I am one of the District 10 community DJs,” said Daniels.

In 2022 Daniels performed on the kid’s stage at the Potrero Hill Festival, Potrero Hill Black History event at the Potrero Hill Recreation Center, Potrero Hill Family Day, and District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton’s reelection party.

Daniels’ volunteerism is motivated by the changes she wants to see, including creating connections across cultures and ethnicities, bridging the gap between legacy – long-term – Hill families and new neighbors, and nurturing spaces for Black residents.

“How to better effect change than to jump right in?” said Daniels.

Daniels is concerned about ongoing gentrification and its adverse effects on Black children. She said there’s always

been an unspoken divide between Potrero Terrace and Annex residents and homeowners living elsewhere on the Hill. Daniels wants to connect all District 10 neighborhoods, including the Hill, and Bayview Hunters Point.

According to Daniels, the Starr King PTA has a committee of parent volunteers dedicated to communications and messaging. The PTA has created an equity group, which supports leadership development of parents across cultures and ethnicities as a means to increase engagement. One of the group’s goals is to more equitably serve Black families to improve their experiences and outcomes at Starr King Elementary.

The Starr King PTA provides money, volunteers, equipment, and supplies for special initiatives, such as the school’s gardening program, coding, mindfulness activities, and Kingmakers and Queenmakers, which focuses on uplifting Black students. This fall, the PTA will hold an ice cream social to welcome new and returning families.

The school will also participate in the Potrero Hill “Day on the Green” Family Day, a community celebration featuring field games, music, food, and raffles to be held in August at the Potrero Hill Recreation Center .

Daniels said new leaders are emerging in the southeastern neighborhoods. “These leaders are from the neigh-

Green Benefit District | GreenBenefit.org

The Dogpatch Music Series starts up again on Saturday afternoon, August 26, at Woods Yard Park, with following dates on September 9th and 23rd and October 7. More information on performers and vendors will be posted at GreenBenefit.org as available.

The Potrero Boosters Neighborhood Association | potreroboosters.org

The Potrero Boosters Neighborhood Association informs, empowers and represents the residents of the Potrero on issues impacting our community, in order to develop and maintain complete, vibrant neighborhoods. We’re continuing to meet via Zoom on the last Tuesday of each month. Go to www. potreroboosters.org to learn more about how to join us!

The Potrero Dogpatch Merchants Association | potrerodogpatch.com

The Potrero Dogpatch Merchants Association promotes and advocates for independent, locally owned businesses while actively supporting our neighborhood and our wonderful communities.

PREFund | prefund.org

Potrero Residents Education Fund (PREFund) brings families together to support education and build community. Learn more prefund.org

Starr King Open Space | StarrKingOpenSpace.org

Please join our monthly volunteer days on the second Saturday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This month it is July 8th.

If you can, please donate to help keep Starr King Open Space open, accessible, and well-maintained for our neighbors. StarrKingOpenSpace.org

For a $200 annual fee your organization can be listed in Getting Involved. Contact

LEADERS continues on page 4

Sue Bushnell, South Beach District 6 Democratic Club president. PHOTO: Courtesy of Sue Bushnell

Najuawanda Daniels, co-president of the Starr King Elementary School Parent Teachers Association. PHOTO: Courtesy of Najuawanda Daniels

borhood, went to local schools, and have ideas about what will work. They went out and earned degrees and came back. They have frequent contact with the community because they knock on doors and go to local events. They’re here to break the barriers and represent members of the community who are underserved. They may not fit the status quo. But they are armed with passion and have a community behind them. Their goal is to be heard, to be recognized, and to be supported as stakeholders of the Potrero Hill community,” said Daniels.

Daniels pointed to Shervon Hunter, founder of Stand In Peace International, a Hill-based nonprofit that focuses on holistic and community centered healing practices, and her older brother, Dr. Reggie Daniels, an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, team leader at San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, and founder of Hill-based nonprofit Transformational Miracles, Inc., which seeks to mitigate impacts on families affected by the criminal justice system.

Since 2013, J.R. Eppler has served as president of The Potrero Boosters, a neighborhood association that represents Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, and Showplace Square residents. Eppler lives on Connecticut near 19th Street. He first came to the City in 2007, initially landing on Folsom Street, moving to Utah near 17th Street in 2010. Eppler works as a corporate transactional attorney for small and mediumsized businesses and individuals.

The Potrero Boosters has about 100 active members. Eppler said the group flyers, cross-markets and cohosts events with other neighborhood groups, holding candidate debates and forums.

“We have a booth at the Potrero Festival in October and participate in neighborhood events throughout the year,” said Eppler.

Boosters’ meetings are held the last Tuesday of the month, presently over

Zoom, with an in-person social event scheduled for this fall.

Eppler said change has been the sole constant during his tenure as president. The group has effectively advocated for new and renovated parks and open spaces, safer roadways, and better transportation connections to the rest of the City. Recent successes include keeping Potrero Hill and Dogpatch in the same supervisorial district during the 2020 redistricting process, working with neighborhood groups to lobby for construction of the Mission Bay Elementary School, sharing input with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) on a new 55 Dogpatch Muni route, and advocating that SFMTA study 17th Street to identify ways to heighten safety. The Potrero Boosters also collaborated with the Dogpatch Neighborhood Association to lobby for SFMTA to make Minnesota Street a permanent slow street.

“Much of our work is to inform the community about what’s happening in the neighborhood and amplify the efforts of groups of neighbors attempting to effect positive change. So, a lot of what we do is in partnership with other groups,” said Eppler.

According to Eppler, over the past few years more parents of school-aged children and young professionals have attended meetings.

“This cohort has always led the PTAs, PREFund, and the other preschool boards… they’ve been much more involved in general neighborhood matters. Prior generations of leadership worked hard to develop a Potrero that would support families and long-term residents. (Parents) are paying that effort back by having an active voice in our community’s future,” said Eppler. “We’re a neighborhood association and neighbors don’t always agree. But we leverage areas of consensus for the community’s good, learn from each other’s points of view, and keep each other apprised of the many changes in our dynamic neighborhood. I hope you’ll come and check us out.”

J.R. Eppler, president of The Potrero Boosters.

PHOTO: Courtesy of J.R. Eppler

Bird management at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church.

PHOTO: Potrero View Staff

Community: Thrive City Block Party

Featuring carnival-style attractions, local food and beverage vendors, roaming entertainers, a pet costume contest, live entertainment, Golden State Warriors shop sidewalk sale, and more! 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Thrive City, 1 Warriors Way. For more information and to reserve your space: https://bit. ly/thrivecity-block-party

Art: Pay What You Can

Every Wednesday, visitors can pay what they wish for admission. “Fight and Flight: Crafting a Bay Area Life” examines the San Francisco Bay Area’s arts ecosystem. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museum of Craft and Design (MCD), 2569 Third Street. For more information: https://sfmcd.org

Art: MakeArt with Museum of Craft and Design

Drop in to create artwork with MCD’s Mobile MakeArt inspired by Museum exhibitionsand local artists. Pickup a free take-home art kit to continue creating at home. 3 to 5 p.m. Free. Potrero Hill Branch, 1616 20th Street. For more information: https:// bit.ly/make-art-potrero

Comedy: Speakeasy Stand Up

Comedy Night

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers has been brewing small batches of beer in Bayview since 1997. Celebrate this legacy with amonth-long pop-up comedy festivalevery Friday night. Live comedy inside the taproom when it’s cold, outdoors when it’s awesome. Enjoy a70-to-90-minute show with four or five comicson the bill with credits likeCobbs, Punchline, SF Sketchfest, Clusterfest and Outside Lands. 21+ Only. $2 off tap list; regular priced at $7/$8; $5/$6 for Comedy Night. Event is dog-friendly. Seating is first come first served. 6 p.m. Free (donations accepted). Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, 1195 Evans Avenue. For more information: https://bit.ly/speakeasycomedy

Art: One Color Screenprinting Workshop

Learn to make a one color screen print using an original drawing. The workshop will introduce the basics of exposing a screen and printing screen prints. Participants will draw a design; digital plans can’t be accommodated. Prints will be on provided poster paper; participants can bring fabric items such as t-shirts to print on.6 to 9 p.m. $75.

Graphic Arts Workshop, 2565 Third Street, #305. For more information, contact instructor, Cass Macgowan at maemacgowan@gmail.com.

7/11 Tuesday and 7/18 Tuesday Bookbinding: Long and Link Stitch Bindings Online Workshop

Long and link stitch bindings were common from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Book sections are connected directly to the covering material, showing off the structure of the sewing. Students will make one of each structure. The workshop fee includes a mailed materials kit containing paper and thread needed to make two bindings. 4 to 7 p.m. To register and to see the list other tools and materials to be supplied students visit San Francisco Center for the Book at https://bit.ly/long-and-link

7/15 Saturday

Education: The Potrero Hill STEM Festival

An open-air, outdoor neighborhood festival committed to providing fun and hands on STE(A)M activities, inspiring young people to become tomorrow’s STEM leaders. Food and drink available for purchase. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro Street. For more information: https://bit.ly/stemfest2023

Dance: KOHAKU at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Founded in 2018 by Rieko Kotoku, who grew up in Japan’s southwestern Tottori prefecture, and Sawako Ama, born and raised in a Buddhist temple in southern Japan, KOHAKU is a singular collaboration steeped in traditional Japanese performing arts such as taiko drumming, kagura (a

ritual dance associated with Shinto shrines) and other sacred performance practices. While these traditions date back many centuries, KOHAKU is deeply engaged with contemporary Japanese dance and world fusion. The creative offerings reveal the comical, poignant and spiritual aspects of Japanese culture and Shinto traditions with performances designed to leave audiences with new experiences of joy and happiness. For more information: https://bit.ly/kohaku2023

7/20 Thursday through 8/6 Sunday

Film: San Francisco Jewish Film Festival

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (SFJFF), presented by the Jewish Film Institute (JFI), is the largest and longest-running of its kind and a leader in the curation and presentation of new film and media exploring the complexity of Jewish life and identity around the world. SFJFF43 will return to the historic Castro Theatre, while expanding its San Francisco footprint to the Vogue Theater, before a final week at Landmark’s Piedmont Theatre in Oakland. Opening night is Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 6:30pm with Remembering Gene Wilder, a new documentary directed by Ron Frank (MLK: The Assassination Tapes), which profiles the life and career of one of America’s most beloved actors. Tickets: from $15.For more information: https:// bit.ly/SFJFF2023

28 fri

Ecology: A Walk Through

Glen Canyon Park

Learn about native habitats and explore the ecological effects of nonnative species, as well as the ecology and restoration of Islais Creek, which

CALENDAR continues on next page

KOHAKU performs at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival on July 20th. PHOTO: Courtesy of Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

runs through Glen Canyon, and larger efforts to conserve native habitats and the challenges of doing so. The walk involves unpaved, uneven trails with some steps and steeper trail portions. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $35. Presented by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University, celebrating its 25th year!

For more information about OLLI’s classes, free lectures, interest groups and how to register: https://olli.sfsu.edu/

Art: Graphic Arts Workshop Print Sale Purchase from a wide selection of fine art prints, including lithographs, etchings, letterpress prints, monoprints, and more. See artists in action demonstrating printmaking techniques. Learn more about this Dogpatch printmaking cooperative. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m Entry is free of charge. 2565 Third Street, #305. For more information: https://graphicartsworkshop.org/

Shipwrecked in San Francisco

held by this community, and also calling upon this majestic self through drag,” commented Kat Cole, who acted in the show.

Bert Hsu Academy to Offer Kindergarten to Eighth Grade Classes in Potrero Hill

BY VIVIEN WANG

BY CHAITANYA TONDEPU

Sirens and castaways, drag and modern dance, a shipwreck in a nightclub. We Build Houses Here, performed last May at Oasis, showcased each of these elements intermingling like tidal forces.

“This hits so hard for me,” said Eric Garcia, who directed the immersive theatrical experience. “There is this thing that most (queer) artists go through when you first start, the work comes from oppression, and you speak from a place of minority status. We’ve done our fair share of that, and we have been making a really clear shift with our work to center it on queer imagination, joy, and expansiveness, to show what else is possible with our story. So, this project feels like a beautiful example of that, with shipwrecks disguised as a drag show. It’s glittery and sexy with pop songs, but the show is literally about a shipwreck,”

The play colorfully depicts different experiences of queer community oppression, with the central theme of struggle conveyed through vibrant characters and scenes.

“As a performer, it feels like personal purgatory in some ways too, in the midst of feeling wrecked and being

Garcia and Cole came up with the play’s initial concept three years ago as they were fundraising for Detour, their dance-theatre company that creates work for and relevant to the stories of queer, transgender, Black, indigenous people of color (QTBIPOC). They founded the troupe in 2009 after meeting the previous year as fellow University of San Francisco (USF) students. Garcia, a sociology major, was taking dance as an elective. Cole was majoring in poetry, minoring in dance. When Garcia wanted to make a piece for the student cabaret, Amie Dowling, USF’s dance program director, suggested he meet Cole. Garcia brought a composition book filled with images from his dreams to the assignation, sparking their collaboration.

In Detour’s almost 15-year tenure Garcia and Cole have synthesized drag, contemporary art, social justice commentary, and immersive theater, taking inspiration from their personal experiences.

“That’s the growth too, the company grew as we grew as people,” said Cole. “At first, we were very much influenced by what contemporary dance was, like we were making duets where we were sipping tea. As we slowly figured out who we are as people, we started asking larger questions. We went from focusing on what our relationship was in this duet form to how we can speak to the larger community we want to be a part of. The perspective shifted and grew as our awareness as people grew.”

Over the years, Detour’s work evolved in terms of content, artistry, and size. In 2010 they directed or acted in Drift, a film about the journey of two hitchhikers. Up On High, their latest

SHIPWRECKED continues on page 10

Opening this fall, the Bertrand D. Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy will offer “quality, rigorous, affordable and bicultural education” to kindergarten to eighth grade students. The school will be located at 450 Connecticut Street, a space first used as Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Church’s elementary school that’s been home to the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s acupuncture and herbal clinic for the past 27 years.

Founder and Head of School Ann Hsu worked with a broker to find a space that had an education permit, and which wouldn’t require renovation. While ACTCM is closing it’ll remain open to students who can complete their degree by Summer 2024. The Academy is negotiating with ACTCM on the possibility of retaining access to part of the space.

According to Hsu, the Academy will provide a much-needed option for parents living on the City’s east side to access quality education for their children. Many immigrant families from China move from Chinatown to neighborhoods like Visitacion Valley and Bayview once they can afford to, but children often commute to schools on the City’s west side due to a lack of local options.

Nearby elementary schools include Starr King and Daniel Webster in Potrero Hill; and Dr. Charles R. Drew College Preparatory Academy, Malcolm X Academy, and Bret Harte in Bayview.

Middle schools comprise Visitacion Valley Middle School, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic in Portola, and Willie L. Brown Jr. in Bayview. None of these schools cover K-8 grade levels, which is available at Bessie Carmichael Southof-Market and the independent Live Oak School in the Hill.

The idea for the Academy came to Hsu last January during a strength conditioning class at the YMCA. Over the previous two years, she’d become intimately involved with her twin sons’ schooling during the pandemic. Both at Galileo Academy — one of 11 San Francisco Unified School District high schools — one boy “did fine on Zoom school” while the other was the polar opposite.

“I asked myself how many of the BERT HSU ACADEMY continues on page 9

When BUILD SF developed 450 Rhode Island Street, one public amenity it promised to deliver was a pocket park at Mariposa and Kansas streets. It never amounted to much; here it is today. Amenity?

More like an eyesore. PHOTO: Debbie Findling, Ed.D.

Founder and Head of School Ann Hsu in front of the Bert Hsu Academy, opening this fall in Potrero Hill. PHOTO: Courtesy of Ann Hsu

Kat Cole (Left) and Eric Garcia (Right) at Delah Coffee Shop South-of-Market.

PHOTO: Chaitanya Tondepu

the places, but those spaces are not usable. You sit down and a menu shows up,” Barbone pointed out. “Here, you can read your magazine, book, or work if you want.”

Barbone mentioned that the parklet will be “gently” modified to meet regulatory requirements.

“The structure is going to stay the same; open space with the little cubbies. It’s here for the long run,” he concluded.

Blooms Saloon

Blooms Saloon intends to replace the parklet on 18th Street.

“We’re completely rebuilding it,” Barbi Tice, Blooms Saloon co-owner, said. “We’re waiting for (the City) to tell us exactly what they want us to do and not want to do. This was never built to

be permanent, so it’s not to the standard that we want it to be.”

Tice added that the bar welcomes people to the parklet.

“We get the sunny side of the street. People from Farley’s come over sometimes because their side is cold. So, we’re together to keep it for the neighborhood.”

Papito

Papito’s commercial parklet, built as part of the pandemic-era Shared Spaces program, faces complications under the new regulations, though the restaurant hopes to continue using it.

“The City said that we have to take it out, probably in a couple of months. So, we don’t know yet about that,” Luis Barrera Papito manager said. “We want to keep it open outside forever.”

Chez Maman

The parklet and seating outside Chez Maman will require modifications to meet the new regulations, but the restaurant plans to keep it open.

“We’re going to redesign it because

we need to get it up to code. We’re just waiting for the approval process,” Brandon Petry, a restaurant manager, PARKLETS continues on next page

Customers dine in the parklet outside Papito.

PHOTO: Odin Thien-An Marin

The parklet outside Chez Maman at lunchtime on a Wednesday.

PHOTO: Odin Thien-An Marin

Looking through the entrance to Mochica towards the restaurant’s parklet.

PHOTO: Odin Thien-An Marin

PARKLETS from front page

said. “We’re going to (make) it a little bit smaller, and a little bit more ADA friendly. It gives people an opportunity to enjoy outside. Previously we only have six seats outside. We’ve been able to expand, and people can take in the great view.”

Mochica

Mochica plans to continue operating the restaurant’s parklet on the corner of 18th and Connecticut streets.

“I believe we’re going to update some parts of it,” Kathleen Ramirez, a restaurant hostess, said.

Similar to other 18th Street establishments, the parklet has allowed the eatery to provide diners with more seating options.

“It brings in more customers, especially during the sunny days. People just want to spend more time outside,” Ramirez said.

schools is a marriage of Chinese and American education, beyond language skills.

“Today what’s happening is creativity and critical thinking in a vacuum, without a core base of knowledge. Too much feeling, not enough thinking. The Chinese approach focuses on knowledge acquisition and skills mastery, memorization and repetition. While good, it’s not an approach you want for the rest of your life. The American approach focuses on critical thinking and creativity; but, if you don’t have a core base of knowledge, it’s hard to think critically,” said Hsu.

Hsu attended middle and high school in Erie, Pennsylvania after finishing elementary school in Beijing. She brought her sons to Shanghai for elementary school, reproducing her own academic experience.

50,000 students in SFUSD are like this? I Zoomed into school board meetings, and saw lots of parents wanting to open schools, but the school board was not discussing that, or any other solution to address the Zoom school issue. Instead, they were discussing renaming schools, removing Lowell’s merit-based admissions criteria, and painting over the George Washington mural,” she said.

Hsu got involved with school board issues. She served as the Parent-Teacher Student Association (PTSA) president at Galileo Academy, and chaired the District’s Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, which is charged with review and oversight of public-school bonds. She played a prominent role in last year’s successful recall of three San Francisco Unified School District board members who were accused of neglecting priorities and budgets, amidst a delayed return to in-person school, leading outreach efforts to Chinese and other Asian voters for the pro-recall side.

Post-recall, she was appointed to the Board by Mayor London Breed, but lost her seat in last November’s general election by a margin of 0.6 percent, about 4,100 votes.

“After November, I took a few months to fill in my background knowledge of education and politics,” said Hsu. “And what we’re doing is not working in the public schools. The environment for students, administrators and teachers has been going downhill. SFUSD is like the Titanic; huge and sinking. Adults like me are advocating for students, trying to get the water off. The kids are in the cabins, and the lifeboats are $40,000 to $60,000 a ticket. We’re left with parents who don’t know better or who can’t afford it.”

According to Hsu, of 120 SFUSD schools only two—Alice Fong Yoo and Starr King—cater to Chinese students, who she considers have “historically been ignored. About 25 percent of the 48,000 students in the SFUSD are Chinese, and that’s not counting biracial kids. Around half are recent immigrants whose parents don’t speak English well; the other half are American-born Chinese, who want their kids to learn Chinese.”

Two private schools in San Francisco offer Mandarin immersion: Presidio Knolls School and Chinese American International School. Tuition at each approaches $40,000.

For Hsu, what’s missing from these

The Academy is named after Hsu’s father, Bertrand D. Hsu, a bilingual and bicultural Chinese American who designed the first car in modern China in 1958, was awarded General Electric Engineer of the Year in 1984 and was a Fellow at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The Academy touts three distinguishing features: integration of traditional direct instruction with creative inquiry-based approaches; American and Chinese bilingual and bicultural education, including Chinese and American history; and a community hub to engage students, parents, grandparents and other community members.

“We want to go broader and deeper,” said Hsu. “We’ll bring the broader culture into the school, so parents don’t need to pay extra for that exposition.”

Chinese martial arts, folk dances and sports will count as physical education; Chinese classical books, Chinese arts, such as calligraphy, and traditional Chinese medicine, will also be studied. By incorporating these classes into the curriculum Hsu aims to alleviate the transportation hassle and cost associated with typical after-school programs. She plans to invite service providers on site, to offer enrichment activities that aren’t included in school programming.

Hsu believes that students should gain proficiency not only with Western attitudes, but with Chinese philosophies like Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, along with Chinese and American history.

“Given US-China tensions, we need to teach our young people about Asian American and Chinese history, and their place in the world. After you drop off the kids, you can stay; either volunteer in the classroom to help with reading in Chinese, chaperone field trips, teach tai chi, or work in the garden,” said Hsu.

The garden was part of ACTCM’s campus and will remain in place at the Academy.

A key partnership will be with the Chinese Hospital, located at in Chinatown.

“Starting in middle school, we’ll bring students to the hospital to visit with seniors, while exposing them to various roles in the healthcare system. In addition to internships and volunteering, we’ll invite the hospital community to come to school to give classes on heart health and other topics, to benefit our school community’s parents and grandparents.”

Bert Hsu Academy’s tuition is $18,000 a year, which includes lunches and summer programming. The nonprofit, K-8 private school can accom-

BERT HSU ACADEMY from page 7

The San Francisco Gurdjieff Society departed from their longtime home at 312 Connecticut Street last month. PHOTO: Potrero View Staff

BERT HSU ACADEMY continues on page 10

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VERMONT CLEANERS from front page

to me,” he said. “All of the money I give to them is out of my pocket and sometimes I have 16 people living with my family. It’s a lot of pressure and life is tough.”

Despite the challenges, Xu wants to stay at Vermont Street. If he moved the business to another location his customers might not follow. He’d have to start from scratch, which’d be worse than the significant loss of customers he expects when he reopens.

“It’s only the lawyers I’ll have left,” he said, because they’re the most loyal and need dry cleaning regularly.

Xu also wants to stay on Vermont Street because he likes the neighborhood.

“In this neighborhood, we know everyone, and they know us. We’re just like a family, and we like that,” he said. “I hope neighbors will support us when we get our business back and I hope for the best."

ANNEX-TERRACE from front page

Other dangerous events have occurred this year at Annex-Terrace. In late January, a fire broke out at 706 Missouri Number Three Turner Terrace that ended with one adult dying after succumbing to injuries, according to SFist. Less than a week later, on the same block, a 44-year-old Dublin man was killed by gunfire and a barrage of bullets hit nearby homes and vehicles. The San Francisco Police Department said a shootout occurred with multiple guns.

“Officers arrived to find casings, blood, multiple vehicles and residences hit,” Tweeted Deputy Chief of Investigations Raj Vaswani.

SFHA was previously responsible for the public housing complex. However, in September 2022 it relinquished all management to EBMC, which collects at least $200,000 annually in fees, and likely additional revenues associated with repairs and maintenance. The Housing Authority touts itself as a

At last month's "InsectPalooza: The Art and Magical Science of Arthropods" more than 400 people visited the Minnesota Street Project for an immersive, hands-on event that merged art, nature, and science. Featured insects including the Giant African Millipede, Australian Walking Stick and Hissing Cockroach, with homemade mealworm chocolate chip cookies

“high-performing contract management and performance monitoring organization,” according to its website.

While declining to comment on EBMC’s scorecard, the Housing Authority told Mission Local , “The management, inclusive of maintenance, is the responsibility of [Eugene Burger]. The Authority is no longer the employer; as a result, no information about credentials of their employees are available to us.”

SFHA and EBMC declined multiple requests from the View for comment.

PUBLISHER'S VIEW from page 2

Hello, I’m curious how you appeared in my address book. Have we met somewhere?

Were you with me at San Quentin?

I was mostly on death row, so didn’t mix much with the other inmates…

Hi Jenny, we agreed that tomorrow we would play golf, why havent you replied to me, please do when you get this message.

Sorry, I’ve been soooo busy, what with winning that huge lottery. I’m moving to the Bahamas!!!! If you ever get there let me know. Golf is on me

SHIPWRECKED from page 7

flick, focused on queer expansiveness, featuring more than 60 QTBIPOC artists. As they grew as people and as a company, Garcia and Cole sought to support other artists, spearheading the Tiny Dance Film Festival between 2012 and 2021 to showcase local and international dance films.

One of the biggest pivots they made was transitioning into immersive theatre, an artform that encourages audiences to actively participate in the show, oftentimes with spectators directly interacting with actors. Im -

6

12

mersive theatre is increasingly popular around the country. San Francisco has its own unique scene with venues that host regular collaborative experiences. Speakeasy, in North Beach, takes the audience back in time to the 1920s in a three-hour event where participants can engage with characters as if they’re part of the show. Another venue, 13th Floor, employs elements of dance and acrobatics to create immersive stories. Antenna Theatre plays with sound and sculpture to engender a collaboration with audience members.

In 2017, Detour had its big foray into site-specific work with Fugue Audience members were led through the Mission District as part of an hour-long immersive walking tour en route to an imaginary, utopian city that embodied a pre-gentrification San Francisco; unique, artistic, happy, and affordable. A few years later, Garcia and Cole began ideating a new immersive piece, We Build Houses Here, with a directive to lean into queer joy and further explore immersive theatre.

Brian Thorstenson wrote We Build Houses Here, in which multiple stories follow the theme of rebuilding after wreckage. According to Garcia, the tale reflects the queer communities’ struggle to overcome societal adversities while moving towards a brighter future through the vibrant lens of drag and dance. “Queer Maximalism” showcases actors cognizant of their journeys as queer people, who can express their sentiments through drag melded with traditional modern dance. Sirens serve as godlike figures as they observe each of the seven castaways travel through intricate voyages of struggle and survival. The makeup, costumes, and mix of drag and dance provide a sense of grandiosity.

The performance space was an important component of the production. Oasis is a sanctuary for San Francisco’s LGBTQ community and drag artists. Garcia and Cole wanted to support the venue by providing work there and drawing audiences to it. There was also a deliberate focus on immersive theatre, creating a safe space for the audience to connect with the show’s underlying themes by engaging with each character’s story in a deeper way than typically available in a traditional

stage performance.

We Build Houses Here sold out almost every night it played before it closed at the end of May. It may be reprised next year, and there’s talk of touring. Meanwhile, Garcia and Cole are involved with other Bay Area projects and groups. They’ve collaborated with the 13th Floor Dance Theatre, The Anata Project, and number 9 dance, among others.

Garcia’s primary interests have been in dance and drag, regularly appearing as Churro Nomi in Clutch The Pearls and Drag Spectacular Spectacular. He’s also the managing director of queer and transgender-based productions and dance companies, as well as a founding member of the Latinx/Hispanic Dancers United.

Cole’s passion for film has led her to act in, direct, and produce movies that have been showcased in festivals around the country. Recently, she served as an associate producer for I’m a Virgo, an Oakland-based Amazon series that premiered last spring. She also co-founded and produced the Black X Film Festival.

According to Garcia, the co-founders want to “keep going down a pathway of creating experiences rooted with expansive queerness, activism, storytelling, and entertainment, where the second someone walks in, to the minute they leave, they feel like they are part of something, while also continuing to explore and depict gender-bending artforms. I feel perpetually new, even though I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and I’m excited to see if there are people in the Bay Area, that are interested to join forces with us to lift up queer artists, and to see how weird we can keep San Francisco.”

modate 20 students per grade. The only admission criteria are that students sign a contract to learn, and parents commit to support the student and the school.

The deadline for formal applications was June 16, followed by evaluations and interviews. Students will be accepted on a rolling basis. Open houses and tours will take place in August.

on offer. PHOTO: Potrero View Staff

BERT HSU ACADEMY from page 9