Potrero View 2023: March

Mission Bay Branch Issues Most Library Cards in San Francisco

BY VIVIEN WANG

Located near the corner of Fourth and Berry streets, Mission Bay library— which opened on July 8, 2006—is the San Francisco Public Library’s (SFPL) youngest branch. With almost 36,000 visits last year, it issues the most new library cards in the system, averaging about 300 passes a month, compared to roughly 50 at other branches.

Patrons are attracted by convenient access to the K, T and N Muni lines, and an airy interior that features large windows with views of Mission Creek. In addition, the branch offers a solid programming suitable for an array of ages.

Jana De Brauwere joined the library as branch manager last July. A 10-year SFPL veteran, she was the Russianspeaking adult services librarian at the Richmond branch previously. She’s proud of Mission Bay’s diverse offerings, which include popular Storytime on Tuesday mornings; yoga classes on Wednesday evenings; and book and knitting clubs for adults. Activities are held in the library’s large programming room, adjacent to an outdoor patio that’s often

used when the weather is nice.

“The Mission Bay branch is back in business with in-person programs for all ages,” she said. “In the age of A.I., I feel that the role of the community library is

High Rates of Student Absenteeism on Potrero Hill

BY JESSICA ZIMMER

Last year, three public schools located on Potrero Hill grappled with distressing levels of chronic student absenteeism. In 2022, 39 percent of students at Daniel Webster Elementary School, 29 percent of Starr King Elementary School students, and 32 percent of San Francisco International High School students missed at least 18 days of school. Starr King was the only school that didn’t have higher than average chronic absenteeism compared to the San Francisco Unified School District as a whole, 29 percent, according to California Department of Education data.

to build community by connecting people with information.”

De Brauwere is particularly excited

Dogpatch and Potrero Hill Green Benefit District to Hold Elections

BY SARA POWELL

The Dogpatch and Northwest Potrero Hill Green Benefit District (GBD) holds board elections this month. There are five open seats, all for three-year terms. Three are set aside for Dogpatch property owners, one for a Dogpatch tenant, one for a green space advocate. None of the seats are in the GBD’s NW Potrero Hill section.

Five candidates are competing for the three Dogpatch property owner spots: Sean Harris, Donovan Lacy, Patrice Martin, Michael Spain, and Shawn Troedson. Richard Romero, the View’s marketing director, is running unopposed for the Dogpatch tenant seat; Susan Eslick is unchallenged for the green space advocate spot.

Polls will be open March 6 to 28. Dogpatch and NW Potrero Hill property owners who pay the GBD assessment will receive a ballot in the mail, which’ll include a code to vote online. Results will be announced April 3; the new board will convene on April 19. If past elections are any indication, voter turnout will likely be low.

The board comprises 15 people, with five up for election annually, in rotating three-year terms. To stagger terms, in

early elections candidates with the most votes secured three-year tenures, those in the middle, two-years, and those with the least votes, a single-year. According to GBD Executive Director Julie Christensen, due to the exigencies of COVID some board members left the area, resulting in an election for nine seats in 2022. All terms are now three-years.

Though there are no open seats available this year to NW Potrero Hill residents, Christensen explained that Potrero Hill has a slightly larger board representation than the numbers would dictate. The Hill represents 13 percent of GBD assessments – which vary by land use, ranging from roughly $125 to $200 annually – so should only have two seats, but the Board changed the organization’s bylaws to allocate the area three. According to Christensen, having three Hill seats instead of two provides a balance, and a tie-breaking vote if Hill board members are divided over an issue.

Among the projects requiring board oversight is greening the 400 block of Vermont Street. In 2018, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) proposed changes to the roadway to slow traffic entering the freeway, including removal of one lane, as well as adding bike lanes and park-

ing. Along with San Francisco Friends of the Urban Forest, the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill GBD received a $149,987 community challenge grant, and $10,000 from Spear Capital, the developers of 300 Kansas Street. The Dogpatch and NW Potrero GBD also added funds to support transforming the removed Vermont Street lane into a greenway.

According to Christensen, the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill GBD will develop a native plant garden, turning a dangerous and desolate area into a welcoming and environmentally sustainable green space.

Work is continuing at the 22nd St. Caltrain station to develop secure bike, scooter and motorcycle parking, expanded pickup and drop off areas, better lighting, and a closer and covered bus stop, along with landscaping and code-compliant fencing. The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) funded the project, in collaboration with Caltrain, SFMTA, and the San Francisco Department of Public Works.

The Dogpatch and NW Potrero Hill GBD board will convene on March 15, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. More information can be found at https://www.greenbenefit. org/boardcandidates23.

Data for Downtown High School, located on Vermont Street, wasn’t available.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent of instructional days, or 18 days, whether excused or unexcused. Typical reasons for students to miss school include illness, mental health concerns, and personal matters that prompt a student to stay away from the classroom.

Chronic absenteeism is much higher than in previous years. SFUSD reported a 14 percent systemwide rate in 2021 and 2020. In 2019, chronic absenteeism rates were 18 percent for Daniel Webster, 11 percent for Starr King, roughly 10 percent for San Francisco International High School, and 12 percent districtwide.

In accordance with post-pandemic practices, SFUSD attempts to contact the student or their family after the first and second unexcused absences. An initial declaration of legal truant notice is sent to the student’s parent or caregiver after a third unexcused absence.

According to Siva Raj, cofounder of SF Guardians, a coalition of parents, teachers, and concerned residents that led a successful recall of SFUSD School Board members, the increase in absences is a legacy of the pandemic and extended school closures.

“Students who are struggling are the ones who are not showing up and that puts them even further behind. There’s a lot of research that tells us what interventions are promising. We urgently need to get those interventions in place and then double down on the ones that work,” said Raj.

San Francisco Public Library, Mission Bay branch.

PHOTO: Sharon Risedorph

LIBRARY continues on page 9

PUBLISHER’S VIEW

SHORT CUTS

Infrastructure Privatized

status quo relationship isn’t sustainable, even setting aside the bankruptcies and murders. PG&E no longer serves its primary function of reliably, affordably, and universally providing electricity. Nor does it meet the economic criteria to be gifted political protection as a monopoly, which requires downward sloping marginal costs. And it’s only going to get worse.

This somebody is Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which has done all the above, plus sparked wildfires that obliterated more than 23,000 homes. Why, a captive electricity user might ask, are we still exclusively relying on this 100-plus year old monopoly to provide us with one of our most essential commodities, electricity, while harnessing our hopes for a climate friendly future almost entirely to this for-profit’s ability to perform?

The simple answer is, because it’s difficult, and would require an awful lot of political courage, to do otherwise.

Breaking up is hard to do, especially when there’s a chance that the resulting divorce will make everyone worse off for a time. One almost might forgive a typically chin-thrusting governor for being timid. But, as with a toxic marriage, the

PG&E customers pay roughly 80 percent more per kilowatt-hour than the national average. Historically the utility’s high rates have been moderated by California’s temperate climate, resulting in lower overall energy bills than, for instance, the Northeast or Southwest. That’s no longer the case. In many parts of Northern California this winter has been freezing, with recent summers extremely hot. PG&E’s expensive power is coupled with unpredictable reliability. Even aside from weather-related outages, to manage wildfire risks last year the utility intermittently shut off electric service to more than five million people.

Those who can are fleeing the system, a trend that’s likely to accelerate

ENERGY continues on page 10

Mayor London Breed and District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton are pushing legislation to create an “infrastructure financing district” at the Potrero Power Station, a 2,600-unit waterfront project located just south of Pier 70. The district, known as an IFD, would allow the developer, Associate Capital, to raise $150 million to finish building streets, sidewalks, seawalls and underground utilities for the new waterfront neighborhood, which’ll include 800 affordable homes, seven acres of parks and a mix of commercial buildings. If the IFD legislation is approved, Associate Capital will be able to borrow against future tax revenues to help pay for public infrastructure. Site preparation for redevelopment of the former, notoriously dirty power plant — which closed in 2011, thanks to the efforts of citizen-activists Philip De Andrade and John Borg, among others, as well as then City Attorney Dennis Herrera — has been underway for several years. Associate Capital has already invested $70 million in prep work. While San Francisco has used IFDs for redevelopment projects taking place on public land — Treasure Island and Mission Rock are examples — the Potrero Power Station would be the first time the mechanism is applied to a private scheme.

Needle Drops

The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) Community Clinic will cease providing patient services this summer. The clinic closure stems from a California Institute of Integral Studies decision to shutter ACTCM. Currently enrolled students are completing their degrees

under a “teach-out” plan, with no new students admitted. The Clinic is an integral part of the College; the College’s end resulted in the Clinic’s termination…The City isn’t happy with Indiana Street benches built around street trees during COVID. The outdoor seating was constructed by Hire-Ability Vocational Services , a nonprofit that helps people with a mental health diagnosis find a job. But the San Francisco Department of Public Works believes they obstruct the sidewalk, traffic flows, and need two by fours that’re spaced apart to allow for more water to reach tree roots. DPW also wants a $1,400 encroachment application fee. The Good Life Grocery has faced similar travails associated with benches it built decades ago on 20th Street. Doesn’t the City have more pressing things to attend to?

Biomedicine Expands

Steven J. Moss ACCOUNTING MANAGER Catie Magee

Romero

$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 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.

Hear it directly from Claudia’s clients! Check out more testimonails on Claudia’s Website! -Daniel S. Claudia Siegel, Realtor 415.816.2811 | ClaudiaSiegel.com | DRE 01440745 Potereo View Ad_CS_5x7.75_0123.indd 2 1/17/23 2:47 PM

PUBLISHER

MARKETING MANAGER Richard

PRODUCTION MANAGER Helena Chiu

A Stitch in Time Reweaves Esprit Park

unleashing their dogs.

An online search for ‘Esprit Park’ reinforces the common misconception that the commons is a dog park. “ This park is an amazing dog park and great exercise park for people!,” reports Google reviews.

“ Pretty cute dog park,” reads a Yelp review.

Though the southern meadow has been designated a dog-free “family meadow,” that doesn’t mean that it’ll actually be free of dogs, a point highlighted by Irma Lewis, president of Friends of Esprit Park, a park advocacy group.

cases…[on] a leash.”

Lewis, accompanied by her dog, which stood calmly amongst a crowd of roughly 90 people at the groundbreaking ceremony, noted key differences between dog owners. She drew a distinction between a hypothetical senior that brings a canine to the park on a daily walk for personal exercise as compared with a dog owner that uses Esprit to exercise their animal. The senior, Lewis observed, “doesn’t need to be around running dogs,” indicating the importance of having a place for an owner and their dog to enjoy without being subject to more energetic animal behavior, as is the case in an off-leash dog area.

Lewis hoped that signage clearly demarcating off-leash from non-offleash areas will lead to an improved park experience.

BY DANIEL IDZIAK

Earlier this year the long-awaited renovation of the 80,000 square foot – 1.84 acre – Esprit Park in Dogpatch commenced. Ceremonial shovels were wielded by local dignitaries, residents, and park users, including District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton and students at Red Bridge, a kindergarten to eighth grade independent school located on Third Street.

“Finally. It’s been a bumpy, bumpy road,” remarked David Fletcher, of Fletcher Studio, a Dogpatch-based design firm that helped craft the renovation, noting the six-year span between initial conception, community engagement, and groundbreaking. “There are so many hurdles to a public project. It takes years and years to get to this point.”

The park, now entirely fenced-off, will be closed during construction, estimated to take “about a year,” according to San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department’s (RPD) Alexis Ward, as reported in a January 2021 View article.

When it reopens Esprit will boast an

array of upgrades. As now, it’ll be ringed with trees, some replacements for those excised due to poor health. Instead of the previous single large meadow there’ll be two smaller fields, the northern of which’ll be designated an off-leash dog area with about half the natural grass replaced with synthetic turf, an effort to ensure it remains useable in the face of the ravages of paws. The earthen pathway surrounding the park will be paved, making it American Disability Act-compliant. Exercise stations will be placed around the perimeter; seating areas expanded.

The southern meadow has been designated dog-free. Canines will be allowed on paths bisecting the park and ringing its border.

Throughout the public input stage, the conflict between the park as a place for dogs or for people – particularly children, the parents of which worry about the often too close and unwelcome interaction between child and canine and frequently present errant dog droppings – has figured prominently. Off-leash dogs were prohibited at Esprit, though that didn’t stop people from

Under municipal guidelines, licensed service animals – such as seeing-eye dogs – and “support animals” are allowed in public buildings and spaces, including Esprit Park’s dog-free zone. While a service animal is defined as a dog – or miniature horse – that’s been rigorously trained to perform a specific task, a support animal can be any species and requires no training. San Francisco stopped registering emotional support animals in 2022; however, there’s no distinction between service and support animals in terms of their right to access public spaces. In all cases, service and support animals must be “under control,” meaning “house-trained” and “in most

“It’s really important to make it a place for neighbors who want to share the space,” Lewis said.

“From friction comes diamonds,” said Phil Ginsburg, RPD General Manager, at the groundbreaking, acknowledging varied park needs and perspectives. “You are engaged and that is a sign about how important this space is to this community. If every neighborhood had the kind of civic engagement, and passion, and caring about our public spaces that this community models, I think our City would be a better place.”

“It was a long road to get here,” Walton said. “People power is how we get things done in this community…we are going to see this space become more amazing than it already is.”

MERCH

ESPRIT PARK continues on page 8

Community leaders and park enthusiasts symbolically break ground on an extensive Esprit Park renovation on January 20, 2023.

PHOTO: Daniel Idziak

Memoirs, Old Titles Top Must-Read Books for Potrero Hill Residents

BY REBEKAH MOAN

The most checked-out physical books at the Potrero Hill library for adults and teenagers are memoirs and older titles, according to Rachel Bradshaw, the branch’s manager. Top of the list for adults this year is Prince Harry’s memoir Spare

“I can’t tell you how many copies San Francisco Public Library has purchased for all of our branches, but it’s astronomical,” Bradshaw said.

The two most popular titles for 2022 were Michelle Zauner’s memoir Crying in H Mart, and Michelle Obama’s The Light We Carry. Obama’s first book also circulates well, according to Bradshaw.

Teenagers are checking out older titles, surprising given that materials tend to lose relevancy much quicker for younger populations, Bradshaw said. A book consistently demanded is Dashka Slater’s The 57 Bus, a nonfiction title published in 2017 about race, class, gender, crime, and punishment that tells the true story of an agender teen who is set on fire by another teen while riding a bus in Oakland.

The most common fiction teens are reading is Demon Slayer, a 23-volume manga series that became a television show on Adult Swim.

“There are some people who want to read the book after they see the TV show and some who want to read the book first,” Bradshaw said as a potential explanation for Demon Slayer ’s popularity.

Grownups also like to read books with a movie or TV show tie-in, which could be why Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, published in 2017, is circulating well among adults. The book has been adapted into a drama series on AppleTV.

While some reading choices are unsurprising, others threw Bradshaw for a loop, including the second-most circulated book for younger readers: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

“That was surprising to me, especially given the controversy surrounding the author,” Bradshaw said, “But I think Millennial and Gen X parents want to introduce their kids to a world that was important for them. And kids want to read long fantasy books and get lost in fiction.”

Potrero Hill Library has averaged 125 new card members a month over the last six months. Many of the branch’s

12,750 active cardholders – people who have used their library card in the last four years – pop in, grab items placed on hold, and checkout. They tend to come in on their lunch break or before going home from work. Some arrive with children in tow.

“Once or twice a week as part of a routine, we see toddlers come in with their caregivers,” Bradshaw said. “We watch them grow up. We see them get their first library card, no longer ask for board books but the easy readers, and the library becomes a cornerstone for some of them.”

Prior to the pandemic, many young library users attended Daniel Webster, Starr King, or an independent elementary school in the neighborhood. Branch staff are unaware as to whether this trend continues.

Adults regularly browse the shelves. Starting in August 2022, the library received 5,300 visits a month, an increase from June 2022 when the branch had roughly 4,800 callers. In contrast, in June 2021 there were only 1,500 visitors.

The rise in library visitation could be because people are more comfortable attending events, such as weekly story time for babies every Tuesday and movie screenings for teens. For adults, at the end of February the branch held a beginner’s line dancing program, no cowboy boots required.

Despite the jump in guests, a core group of cardholders prefers eresources; e- and audiobooks, movies, and the like. The popularity of those materials has increased by 33 percent since 2019, which could be due to the pandemic, a return to commuting, or patrons moving from the Hill and thus only being able to use digital resources.

The branch offers a Seed Library. Staff put together edible seed packets containing kernels – carrots and tomatoes – a poem, playlists, and information about how to take care of oneself and the planet.

“It’s a tiny experience all in one,” Bradshaw said. “You don’t need a library card. We just ask that if you pick up packets you bring seeds back to restock the supply after harvesting.”

For more information on library programs, visit https://sfpl.org/locations/ potrero.

Green Benefit District | GreenBenefit.org

Are you a property owner within the Green Benefit District? 2023 GBD Board elections run from March 6 through March 28. Property owners within the district should receive voting instructions by mail. Details on candidates, voter eligibility, and the election process are online at GreenBenefit.org.

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

Why I Choose to Raise My Family in San Francisco

Jim was running story time at the Main Library. We had a strategy for the San Francisco Unified School District lottery. We found our people.

Heike learned to walk on the Mission Creek promenade to a backdrop of houseboats. When that got too limited, we ventured farther to the Embarcadero. We used carshare when we wanted to explore the greater Bay Area.

In 2014 we welcomed our second daughter, Saskia, and moved to Potrero Hill. Our world now revolved around Recess, Jackson and the Arkansas Rec Center playgrounds, and the Potrero Hill library. All within a two-block radius of our home. Muni routes connected us to everything. A jaunt down the hill

takes us to Crane Cove Park. A beach! Half a mile away!

Now, both kids attend Daniel Webster Elementary. We’re fully ensconced in the community. Growing up in the City, the children are exposed to the realities of humanity that push us as parents to model empathy and teach street safety.

Parenting is never easy but parenting in San Francisco is both a special kind of challenge and joy. As I think back on those newborn days to where we are now, I know we made the right decision to stay. Ten years after becoming parents, we wouldn’t trade any of it for a third bedroom in the suburbs.

BY JANICE TAM

We’ve all been there. A well-meaning friend/family member/colleague knows what’s best for you, for your future kids, for your life. They have advice, and you want to take them seriously because they have kids! What do you know?

That’s where I found myself in 2008. I’d just landed the job that made it possible for us — me and my thenboyfriend-now-husband Markus — to move from San Jose to the City.

“We are going to stay in the City forever,” I asserted over my microwaved lunch.

“But you’re going to want a room for each kid, and a backyard. You’ll need space for an au pair and storage space for all the kids’ stuff,” my coworker countered. “You’re going to want to move back to the suburbs as soon as you have children.”

I looked at my colleague; a mom of two elementary-age kids, former Noe Valley resident currently residing in San Mateo.

“You’ll change your mind once you have kids,” she said. “Just you see.”

“No, I don’t think so,” I replied, this time a little less sure.

Markus and I packed our things and moved into a one-bedroom in Mission Bay. We ditched the car and started taking Caltrain to jobs on the Peninsula. We’d finally made it to The City.

In 2012 we welcomed a baby girl, Heike, and were determined not to go back to the suburbs. In a city rumored to have more dogs than kids, we expected San Francisco to have little to offer our growing family.

We traded event calendars for the Golden Gate Mother’s Group. We became immersed in a world of play spaces, museums, and preschool spreadsheets. We knew when Teacher

A Princess Cruise ship approaches the submerged dock around

3/1 Wednesday

History: GLBT History Museum Free

Admission Day

Located in the Castro District, the GLBT Historical Society Museum is the first full-scale, stand-alone institution of its kind in the United States. The museum celebrates 100 years of the City’s vast queer past through dynamic exhibitions and programming. Admission is free on thefirst Wednesday of every month thanks to a grant from the Bob Ross Foundation. GLBT Historical Society Museum, 4127 18th Street. For more information and to reserve your space: https://bit.ly/3jqOaS4

3/1 Wed through 4/17 Mon

Art: Two Artists at the Goodman 2 Live/Work Studios

Visit the Goodman2 arts building to view art created by Anahida Aslanyan and Sofia Carmi. Anahid’s Mystical Landscapes and Sofia’s Reinvented

Abstract Landscapes are inspired by nature. Free by appointment, between

March 1 and April 17. Artist websites: Anahida Aslanyan - http://anahidacreations.weebly.comandhttp:// facebook.com/modernmysticalart; Sofia Carmi -https://www.artspan. org/artist/Sofia%20Carmi. Goodman

2 Live/Work Studios, 1695 18th Street (above the Potrero Stage Theater). For available appointments, email Anahida at: anaheeda10@gmail.comor Sofia at: zc1art@gmail.com.

3/4 Saturday

Community: Free Tulips in Union Square

A colorful display of more than 80,000 tulips will cover Union Square. Visit and pick your own bunch. 1 to 4:30 p.m. Free. Union Square, 333 Post Street. For more information: http://bit. ly/3XuJd99

3/5 Sunday Meditation: Mystical Meditation

Journey

Experience a meditative journey with optional plant medicine. Tap into

your inner magic by going beyond mindfulness. Mystical meditation will take you through a journey of emotions. We’ll work with breath, visualizations, light physical movement, and grounding. As you’re guided, you’ll experience beautiful sound healing directed to your chakras with crystal bowls, chimes, gong. Optional micro plant ceremony tea available for those who’re pre-approved and screened. Bring a yoga mat and eye covering. 12 to 1:30 p.m. $15 - $35. Mukunda Studio, 1250 Folsom Street, Second Floor. For more information and to purchase tickets: http://bit.ly/3jShT6Z

3/5 Sunday Art: Castro Art Mart Mini Block Party

Featuring LGBTQ artists, live music, and drag performances. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free to attend. Market and Noe streets. For more information: http:// bit.ly/3K5qqOp

3/7 Tuesday

Career: San Francisco Women in Tech Networking

Connect with other powerful women tech leaders and allies. Attendees will walk away with new skills, mindset hacks, and hands-on experience that’ll support them in creating even more fruitful connections. Featuring facilitator Zynara Ng, TEDx speaker, who’ll share the importance of selfgrowth and living with integrity and authenticity. 5:45 to 8 p.m. Tickets: $45 to $100. Industrious, 1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 108. For more information: http://bit.ly/3Xum4Du

3/7 Tuesday Art: “Fresh Beginnings” - Art-inNeighborhoods Reception Fresh Beginningsexplores the unknown, renewal and alternative futures through new perspectives. This show exemplifies reinvigoration just in

time for spring, and Mission Bowling Club’s venue renovation. Featuring ArtSpan ArtistsShawn Cook, Eli Kind, Elaine Pratt and Clint Frederic Wiater. 6 to 9 p.m. Free. Mission Bowling Club, 3176 17th Street. For more information and to reserve your place: http://bit.ly/3YMBMuZ

3/10 Friday

Nature: Amateur Birding Hour

With binoculars and bird guides provided by EcoCenter staff, check out the more than 100 species of birds that visit the park. 2 to 3 p.m. Friday afternoons from February to May 2022. Free. Heron’s Head Park, 32 Jennings Street. For more information: 415.676.1394 or emailecocenterhhp@ sfgov.org

3/10 Friday

Food: Pay-What-You-Can Taco Day

Every Friday customers can order from the “Taco Love” menu andpay from $0 to $10. Open to all, but especially for fellow restaurant and bar industry workers who were hit hard during the pandemic. The menu may change from week to week, but often includes Beef Quesabirria, Mushroom Quesabirria, and Chicken Tacos. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $0 to $10. When a patron pays $10, TATO will provide a free meal to someone in need. TATO, 4608 Third Street. For more information: https://bit. ly/3xmgsk8

3/18 Saturday

Children’s Theater: The Day You Begin

There are times when it’s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody knows you…but somehow, you do it. This West Coast premiere musical is based onJacqueline Woodson’spopular picture books, a New York Times bestseller illustrated

CALENDAR continues on next page

(left) Sofia Carmi, “Cosmic Orange” abstract, acrylic on canvas, 20”x20”. (right) Anahida Aslanyan, Park Life, mixed media, 24”x18”.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Sofia Carmi and Anahida Aslanyan

by Rafael Lópezand featured in the Netflix original show“Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices.” Performance runs 60 minutes with no intermission. Recommended for all ages. 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $30-$40. The Cowell Theater, 2 Marina Boulevard. For more information: http://bit.ly/3YRZ9Dz

3/19 Sunday

Family: PREFund Spring Festival

Join PREFund and local groups for stories, music, gardening, and fun! Daniel Webster Elementary School, 465 Missouri Street. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Register at https://prefund-spring-fest. eventbrite.com

3/26 Sunday

Art: “The Spirit is Alive!”

Founded in 1871, the San Francisco Arts Institute (SFAI) was one of the oldest art schools in the United States; the oldest west of the Mississippi River. To honor this history, The Spirit is Alive Celebration showcases SFAI’s archives and rejoices in the recent National Endowment for the Humanities award to facilitate archive organization, preservation and promotion, making them accessible to future researchers and scholars. Anticipated events include music, films, performance, photography, paintings, sculpture, dance, a silent auction, SFAI historical displays and more. 2 to 6 p.m. Tickets $5 to $150. Minnesota Street Project,1275 Minnesota Street. For more information and to purchase tickets: http://bit.ly/3K4BhIH

Potrero Hill History Night 2022 on YouTube!

Daylight

The 23rd annual History Night, held last fall, focused on St. Teresa’s Church's 142 year history. The event can be seen on Youtube by searching for ‘Potrero Hill History Night 2022’. This photograph captures St. Teresa’s congregation,1932, assembled for a saint’s day procession through the neighborhood. PHOTO: Courtesy of Peter Linenthal

“This has not been an easy road,” said Francesca Vega, Vice Chancellor of the University of California, San Francisco. “I want to thank you for your engagement, for your brutal honesty.”

“One of my mother’s favorite expressions was: ‘the difference between involvement and commitment [is], if you look at a plate of bacon and eggs,

the chicken is involved, but the pig was committed.’ I look around here, and all I see are committed people,” Julie Christensen, Executive Director of the Dogpatch and NW Potrero Hill Green Benefit District, said.

Melissa, Bonnie, and Kristin had their dogs laying leisurely by their feet during the ceremony. Melissa said she’d been coming to the park daily for more than five years, led by her pet, Lola. The

three friends said Esprit has created a community of dog owners, with both people and animals making friends.

“Lola loves the park,” said Kristin.

Nikita Khetan of Red Bridge school, whose students assisted in the groundbreaking, was asked whether the presence of dogs in Esprit Park had ever prompted concerns. Khetan declined to characterize dogs as threatening, instead remarking that “we are always

alert to aspects of a public area,” while noting that Crane Cove Park is used by the school more frequently since it’s closer to campus.

Departing the groundbreaking, the sense optimism in the air was tempered, only slightly from your correspondent’s perspective, by a shoe bearing the unmistakable imprint, and smell, of something that shouldn’t have been left on the grass.

about the February launch of the Mission Bay Library Garden Club, which over the next several months will convene to discuss such topics as container gardening and growing micro greens, along with plant and seed exchanges.

Mission Bay is one of only five SFPL branches that has a vinyl collection with records available to borrow; the others are located in the Marina, Eureka Valley, Park Branch, and Western Addition.

“We have a nice collection that we rotate in our window display,” De Brauwere said.

Knitting club members select an LP to play before they get down to business in the programming room.

The branch is located in a building owned by Mercy Housing, the nation’s largest nonprofit affordable residential developer; many regulars are lowincome seniors. With 70 percent of the residents native Chinese speakers, De Brauwere partnered with a colleague at the Main Library to host classes that teach how to access SFPL’s vast digital collection of Chinese newspapers, books, magazines, and audio books.

“Our Chinese-speaking seniors can drop in, ask for help, do printing, play with computers,” said De Brauwere.

In addition to Chinese, she noted that the Russian and Spanish adult collections are consistently used.

On the other end of the patron spectrum are the branch’s pint-sized visitors. De Brauwere noted that Mission Bay experiences constant turnover, with families in particular often only staying in the neighborhood for short spells. In line with San Francisco’s demographics, many young parents decide to relocate to be closer to the elementary school they select for their child, a phenomenon that could change after the Mission Bay school opens in 2025.

“We see a lot of babies to preschoolers, but usually nothing after that,” said De Brauwere.

The branch wants to hire a full-time children services librarian.

“The job is a demanding position, especially for this community. Today, we do one Storytime a week—Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m.—and can only let 54 people in. At a minimum, we have 80 people show up; they line up half an hour before we open to get tickets,” she said. “While Storytime is geared towards toddlers, we see all ages, and would like to split the event to accommodate different ages. If we had five story times a week, people would show up for that. And we want to let everyone in.”

The library holds a monthly Storytime in partnership with local preschools, such as Mission Bay Head Start, and Kai Ming Head Start. As a carryover from the pandemic, the library also offers craft kits for all ages, containing pre-cut pieces that can be assembled at home into a pinecone birdfeeder, rain cloud, or a melting snowman.

The branch is located near South-ofMarket, with the City’s highest concentration of unhoused people. It’s been subject to disruptive and inappropriate behavior. While library staff have been trained on how to handle safety situations, De Brauwere feels fortunate to have a security guard present five days a week and hopes to extend that to daily coverage.

“Everyone is welcome to use the library as intended,” she noted.

As at all SFPL branches, anyone who can show a picture identification and proof of California residence is issued a card. Living in San Francisco isn’t a requirement.

Another draw for readers is the

Timothy C. Benetti

May 8, 1964 - January 11, 2023

On January 11, 2023, Timothy C. Benetti, 58, passed away in his sleep with his cat Joey at his side, an enormous loss for all those fortunate enough to know him.

Tim was born in San Francisco on May 8, 1964, to Irene and Ernie Benetti. In 1974, Irene remarried, and Raymond DeVita became a devoted father to Tim and his brother David.

When he was three years old, Tim began his lifelong love affair with baseball. His childhood was spent playing ball and watching heroes like Willie Mays and McCovey chase glory at Candlestick Park. Tim was himself a great baseball player, also excelling at other sports. Tim loved his San Francisco teams: the Giants, 49ers, and Warriors.

Tim grew up in the Portola District, with McLaren Park as his backyard playground. He attended Corpus Christi Grammar School, Riordan High School, and Santa Clara University. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in the same class as Vice President Kamala Harris. Tim practiced law briefly at McCutchen.

After his first year of law school, Tim was in an automobile accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. In the face of what’d be insurmountable adversity for most, Tim met the ensuing lifelong challenges with grace and strength that were inspiring to witness. His resilience and unwillingness to yield to limitations made him outlast all predictions for his life’s scope and length.

Tim and his brother Dave created and became owners of the Bottom of the Hill, a world-renowned music venue in Potrero Hill, in 1991. Tim remained a partner with Kathleen Owen, Ramona Downey, and Lynn Schwarz, until his death.

Tim was a dedicated public servant. He was a San Francisco Deputy City Attorney from 2004 to 2006. He was a legal advisor for the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System from 2006 to 2019. He served on the San Francisco

“Lucky Day Collection.”

“The principle is to have a browsable collection of bestsellers; those that are just appearing on New York Times lists, books that have hundreds of holds on them,” De Brauwere explained. “We incentivize patrons to come to the library and browse the collection. If it’s your lucky day, you get to check one of these popular books out.”

Volumes are identified by a light green “Lucky Day” paper band around the cover.

The branch also has an expansive Blu-ray and DVD collection.

“We have a lot of DVDs from the Criterion Collection being published to Blu-ray,” said De Brauwere. “These movies are normally not available on streaming services. Our collection is vast, and we keep ordering.”

De Brauwere shared a unique patron benefit; the ability to check out a California State Park pass, which provides free vehicle day-use entry to more than 200 state parks.

“We have about 20 of those available at Mission Bay library. People can check them out for three weeks—just like a book—and go to visit state parks.”

Entertainment Commission from 2010 to 2014, where he fiercely advocated for protection of the City’s live music scene, a job that combined his loves: the law, his venue, and San Francisco’s wider music ecosystem.

Tim was different things to different people, with an easy, good-natured charm. He was equally at home with old-school Italians, tough bikers, PC indie rockers, City Hall elites, and the working-class people that he crossed paths with daily. He had an understated confidence; there was always a hint of a laugh in his voice when he spoke. He was a gifted communicator, both in verbal storytelling and the written word. Tim was a dedicated and generous friend to

many, offering guidance and support, not asking anything in return. He was a good son and a pillar of strength to his mother.

Tim will be missed by many, in San Francisco and in the Sacramento region, where he later moved. He’s predeceased by his father Ernie and stepdad Ray –both of whom he adored – and survived by his mother Irene, sister Anna Lisa, beloved cat Joey, and countless friends.

A funeral mass will take place at 10 a.m. on March 7, 2023, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 459 Somerset Street, San Francisco. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on April 16, 2023, at the Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th Street. All are welcome to attend both events.

Laura Dudnick, SFUSD interim communications director, said when students are chronically absent SFUSD deploys a “care coordination strategy… intentionally organizing student and family services and sharing information with all of the people connected to a student to achieve more effective care and better outcomes. The Student and Family Services Division has a dynamic role in the District’s approach to coordinated care. We have staff assigned to various school sites who hold this work; school social workers, wellness staff, and school nurses. We have central teams of staff who support consultation, direct work with students and families, and tiered supports such as compliance work.”

SFUSD implemented group tracing for COVID-19 in March 2022. The method allows students who are close contacts to stay in school unless they have or develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Despite this approach, according to Dudnick, SFUSD saw the greatest attendance dips during the September and January 2022 COVID-19 surges.

Rebecca Kee, Daniel Webster Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) president, said the school’s administration is “really excellent” at targeting issues rather than having a “one size fits all” approach.

“They invest in getting to know our families so that they have a sense of who’s out due to illness and who’s missing school for other reasons they can help address. Fortunately, I don’t think most absenteeism is due to things other than these relentless germs!” said Kee. Scholars and their families can seek help through the Student Family and School Resource Link, which provides a way to navigate SFUSD resources. The District’s Coordinated Care Team follows up on truancy cases, partnering with schools to find ways to support the family, such as assisting with transportation if that’s an issue.

“The effort includes…school attendance review boards, suspension, expulsion, focus population work such as LGTBQ, Refugee and Immigrant Solidarity in Education, a SFUSD program to increase access to education for refugee and immigrant students,

ABSENTEEISM continues on page 10

ABSENTEEISM from front page

CLASSIFIED ADS

Freelance Writers Wanted

Modest pay, interesting assignments. Contact: editor@potreroview.net

Legal Notices

The View accepts legal notices. Please contact: production@potreroview.net; 415.643.9578. potreroview.net/advertise/

Muir Beach Studio and House

Walking distance to the beach, with the crashing waves visible and audible.

Studio: Cozy studio comfortable for two-people. Includes kitchenette and private patio. $200/night plus cleaning fee, two-night minimum. Editor@ potreroview.net or 415.643.9578.

House: Three bedrooms, two full baths, with two decks. $400/night, two-night minimum. Editor@potreroview.net or 415.643.9578.

Prepaid in full. Not eligible for additional discounts.

as prices continue to rise, and reliability falter.

Well-off families are installing battery-supported photovoltaics. Industrial, commercial and agricultural energy users are doing the same, at larger scales, adding wind and other resources.

Where they can’t entirely flee, captive customers add expensive redundancies. As of last year there were 9,121 backup generators (BUGs) in the Bay

Area, with a collective capacity of more than five gigawatts, ninety percent diesel powered. This excludes smaller gensets located at residences. In San Francisco alone there are 1,208 non-residential BUGs, with a combined power producing capacity of 736 megawatts, enough to energize all the City’s homes and businesses on a mild spring day. PG&E’s performance is so untrustworthy that a redundant fossil fuel “shadow grid” has emerged, at the cost of billions of dollars, to safeguard reliability.

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO Community Outreach Public Notice

San Francisco Board of Supervisors Board or Commission Vacancies:

Participate on a Board or Commission!

The Assessment Appeals Board (AAB)

The AAB resolves legal and value assessment issues between the Assessor’s office and property owners. Board vacancies are as follows: Board 1 – one; Board 2 - four; and Board 3 – five. Hearings are quasi-judicial, conducted in a manner similar to a court setting, with evidence and testimony presented by the parties. The Board then evaluates the evidence and testimony and renders its decision.

To be eligible for seat appointment, you must have a minimum of five years professional experience in California as either a: (1) public accountant; (2) real estate broker; (3) attorney; or (4) property appraiser accredited by a nationally recognized organization, or certified by either the Office of Real Estate Appraiser or the State Board of Equalization.

For a full list of current or upcoming Boards, Commissions and Task Forces, please visit https://sfbos.org/ vacancy-boards-commissions-task-forces

LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO Community Outreach Public Notice Potrero View English 5"x7.75"

Potrero View English 5"x7.75"

Like many a bad long-term relationship, it’s hard not to fill stuck with PG&E. A clean break isn’t possible, at least not everywhere all at once. Instead, an orderly retreat is required, one that’s place-based and sensitive to those left behind. Local governments that can should municipalize their portion of PG&E’s system, buying the monopoly out, supported by state legislation that makes the process quick and fair, with a big, ugly, stick poised over the monopoly’s head if it doesn’t cooperate. Communities vulnerable to wildfire risks should be encouraged to replace PG&E’s poles and wires with their own microgrid, islanded, where possible; if not connected at the transmission level to a substation they own. In areas in which utility distribution is best mixed with autonomous household, business, and campus-level energy systems, an open access approach should be imposed, enabling anyone to convey energy through utility wires at a reasonable price. Afterall, we paid for this infrastructure. The retreat must be managed carefully, lest those who have no choice but to continue to pay PG&E rates are stuck with an extra burden. But hard isn’t impossible. A status quo that’s already unacceptable will become intolerable if left unmolested. Present state policy would have the state’s investor-owned utilities electrifying transportation within a few decades; upwards of $40 billion-plus in additional revenues in California alone. Do we want PG&E to take on even more responsibility, with the political power that comes with a supersized piece of the economic pie, and a full-speed ahead mandate to proceed as a for-profit monopoly? No, we do not.

“We are experiencing higher volumes than usual of pediatric respiratory illnesses for this time of year, driven by RSV and the flu. We are also seeing an uptick in flu and COVID hospitalizations. We encourage everyone to get their flu shot this year and bivalent COVID-19 booster when eligible,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said that although Kaiser is now seeing a decline in flu cases, it anticipates new surges of influenza and COVID-19 over the next few months.

“Parents should keep kids home from school if they are sick. Parents and teachers should also remind children to wash their hands frequently at home and at school. Properly worn masks remain an effective option to reduce the risk of respiratory viral infections,” said Gonzalez.

According to Gonzalez, flu testing isn’t recommended for everyone but is important for high-risk groups. RSV testing isn’t required for most people.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SFUSD has worked closely with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH).

“We have shared information from DPH with families and staff this year as it relates to RSV and the flu, including how families can access vaccines and other general health messaging such as to stay home if you are sick,” said Dudnick. “We have also partnered with DPH to create informational videos about COVID updates in multiple languages, with subtitles. In addition, we have provided testing resources and hosted vaccine clinics at schools,”

Department Announcements Notice of Public Hearing and Availability for Public Review and Comment

Draft 2023-2024 Action Plan

The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) invite you to join us for a public hearing. We would like your input on the Draft 2023-2024 Action Plan, which include funding recommendations for fiscal year 20232024. This public hearing is part of the annual process to receive community input on funding recommendations and in accordance with the City’s Citizen Participation Plan for federal funding.

Date and Time of Public Hearing

Thursday, March 21, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

You may attend this public hearing online or in-person. Four (4) hybrid meetings, one in English, one in Filipino, one in Cantonese, and one in Spanish, will be held simultaneously. To attend virtually, please register below for the meeting that meets your needs.

Virtual (Zoom) Registration Links

Englishmeeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rgz_vokwTdWYtsGPlQFpBw

Filipino meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYldO-pqTMoEtbHiq63V-Sc9ZLx1KHYeJOm

Cantonese meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vANmtdDCQSulYRAbLnqmKw

Spanish meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Fmoq8ybUT0SV6kkiWCmzCQ

PLEASE NOTE: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom containing information about joining the online meeting.

To attend in-person, the meetings will take place at the MOHCD office located at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 5th Floor in San Francisco. Please register for in-person attendance by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 20, 2023, by emailing Gloria Woo at gloria.woo@sfgov.org

The Draft 2023-2024 Action Plan will be available for public review and comment from March 13, 2023 to April 11, 2023. The draft document will be available electronically on the MOHCD website at https://sfmohcd.org, OEWD website at https://oewd.org, and HSH website at http://hsh.sfgov.org on the dates listed above.

Members of the public who wish to provide feedback on the draft document, including funding recommendations, may do so at the March 21st public hearing or by submitting written comments to gloria.woo@sfgov.org. The deadline for receiving written comments on the draft Action Plan and preliminary funding recommendations is 5:00 p.m. on April 11, 2023. For more information, please visit https://sfmohcd.org. If you have questions, please email Gloria Woo at gloria.woo@ sfgov.org

ABSENTEEISM from page 9

Foster Youth Services, and Students and Families Experiencing Homelessness… The past two years have been among the most exceptionally challenging for school, which means we must be, and are, committed to exploring new opportunities to engage with families,” said Dudnick.

Kee said what matters most is having a strong sense of community.

“We feel so lucky to have such a tight, connected group of people at Daniel Webster. (We) care enough about each other to not send kids to school sick or keep info hidden. We worked closely with the admin team to strategize every event or mitigation together…parents helped set up a new outdoor patio for safer meals. We have our community events outside most of the time,” said Kee.

Tyrone S. Hillman, III, one of two Mayor-appointed commissioners on the 17-member Youth Commission, which advises the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the Mayor on policies related to young people, believes effectively addressing absences requires working with parents, having COVID-19 tests available at schools, and encouraging teachers and administrators to reach out to students.

“If teachers are more involved, absence rates will be lower. Teachers can improve communication with students by checking in with them outside of school. They can show students they are people students can talk to,” said Hillman, who is 16 and a junior at Rise University Preparatory, an independent high school in Bayview.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages public outreach. Articles are translated into several languages to provide better public access. The newspaper makes every effort to translate the articles of general interest correctly. No liability is assumed by the City and County of San Francisco or the newspapers for errors and omissions.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages public outreach. Articles are translated into several languages to provide better public access. The newspaper makes every effort to translate the articles of general interest correctly. No liability is assumed by the City and County of San Francisco or the newspapers for errors and omissions.

Dr. M. Cecilia Gonzalez, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente’s Mission Bay campus, said this winter the health care provider has seen a significant number of viral illness cases, mainly COVID-19, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and influenza.

CNSB#3674250

Vermont Street resident, Athena Raade, age six, a first grader at Sunnyside Elementary, wrote and illustrated this story for the View

It was winter, and Octopus and her friend Jelly needed mittens. A boat came by, and there were people who had extra mittens! They were trying to give them to the sea animals. Octopus and Jelly asked "May we please have some mittens?"

And the people said, "Of course!"

Octopus and Jelly had a great, warm, winter holiday!

(Sadly, Fish was jealous.)

Kids 12 years and younger can submit a short story, cartoon, or picture, twice a year, before the 20th of the month, with the winning item receiving $20. Teenagers from 13 to 17 years old are eligible for a $40 prize. Please send submissions to editor@potreroview.net.

More room to stretch out.

More time to relax.

More space to be you.

Our driverless rides give you more freedom, time, and peace of mind. Join the waitlist and be one of the first to experience the magic of a driverless ride.

getcruise.com