2005 Snapshot

With the guidance and involvement of District 8 residents, 2005 was a solid year for our office. My legislation passed unanimously establishing spay/neuter and breeding requirements for Pit Bulls - thanks to Sen. Jackie Speier for her enabling State law. Long-time TIC owners helped me reform the guaranteeing participants who have waited the longest will be able to convert to condominiums. While modest, it is believed to be the first pro-homeownership legislation passed at the Board in more than 10 years.

We won commercial property owner approval for Community Benefit Districts in Noe Valley and the Castro. They begin mid-January and would not have happened without the leadership of Carol Yenne and Debra Niemann in Noe Valley and Herb Cohn, Paul Moffett, Gustavo Serina and Richard Magary in the Castro. Kudos to Rich Hillis and Lisa Pagan of the Mayor's Office and Consultant Marco Li Mandri (www.newcityamerica.com) for their contributions to this success.

Congressman Tom Lantos secured $3.4 million for the Glen Park Neighborhood Plan. 2006 will be a big year for the Glen Park Village the Canyon Market opens in May and, later in the year, the new Library. Thanks to Project Sponsor Kieran Buckley for saving this project. It looks more beautiful with each passing day.

Mayor Newsom's named me and Stephen Tierney (the terrific new Deputy Director of the SF AIDS Foundation) co-chairs of the Crystal Meth task force, the first of its kind in the country. We expect to announce several new initiatives early in 2006.

Most of all, I want to thank the thousands of District 8 residents who have e-mailed, written letters, called or talked to me on the street to seek help addressing City issues or problems.

I am fortunate to have two dedicated, effective, fun staff members; Amanda Kahn and Boe Hayward. Over the year more than a dozen volunteers have contributed, but the Saint is our beloved Sean Martinfield. He donates his time and talent; so if you ever need a Singing Coach--he's your guy!
This is the job of a lifetime. The enjoyment comes from connecting with each of you. So keep those ideas and requests coming.

2006 Committee Assignments

I'm excited to report that Board President Aaron Peskin has named me to Vice-Chair the Budget and Finance Committee.
Supervisor Chris Daly will chair the Committee and President Peskin will be the third member. Supervisors Sean Elsbernd and Ross Mirkarimi join the committee for City budget deliberations beginning in March.

Swirl on Castro

"Swirl on Castro" recently opened in the former Friendly Spirits @ 572 Castro near 19th Street. Owner Jerry Cooper features wine, champagne, and spirits spanning the globe, as well as unusual gifts, glassware, books, art and wine accessories. It is warmly stylish with a beautiful tasting bar. 4(415) 864-2262

Jerry is a wine consultant, wine judge, and on the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Panel.

Swearing in Ceremony for Treasurer Jose Cisneros
Please join me for the swearing in of my wonderful friend, Jose Cisneros as City Treasurer this coming Thursday, January 5th @ 4:00 p.m. on the Mayor's Balcony. Reception to follow.

Re-Opening: Eureka Valley Recreation Center
The re-opening of the Eureka Valley Recreation Center (EVRC) will be Saturday, January 28th at noon. Plans are in the works for an opening basketball game between the Gay Basketball League and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. I am seeking donations to put new furniture (stacking chairs, tables, desks, etc.) rather than bringing back beaten up inventory. Please call if you can help or if you'd like to donate to the opening celebration. We will confirm plans in the next week, so look for a formal announcement soon confirming date/time.

Searchthevault.com
The State of California is holding more than $4.8 billion in Unclaimed Property. These assets have been turned over to the State for safekeeping by banks, businesses and other organizations as required by law.

My high school classmate, State Controller Steve Westly has been stellar in getting Californians back their money. Just today I told two people at lunch and they went on-line and found that Family members had a Safety Deposit Box and $1,000 unclaimed.

click here to search for property you may have lost or forgotten. There are 7.6 million accounts, so there is a good chance that you, a friend or family member has unclaimed property.