The California Academy of Sciences museum: A curmudgeon’s view

Peter and I never met a museum we didn’t like. We had memberships to all of them in New York City, so, of course, when we moved to San Francisco, we joined as many as we coul... Read More

Supervisor's Report

Proposition A: A solution to San Francisco’s $4.4 billion unfunded retiree health care liability

By Supervisor Mark E. Farrell

We have an opportunity this November to solve one of San Francisco’s last structural financial issues through the passage of Proposition A, a charter amendment I introduced t... Read More

Enter Stage Left

I sing the buses electric!

By Evalyn Baron

I am not an amusement park ride kind of gal. Even the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cup ride at Disney World makes me nauseated. Roller coasters, parachute jumps and Haunted Mansion eleva... Read More

The In-Box

Letters to the Times

Keep The Arboretum Free Recipe for Theft of the Commons. Serves class interests of a few thousand. Hire well-connected lobbyist Sam Lauter. Pay him hundreds of thousands for years.... Read More

Enter Stage Left

One person’s trash is another’s portable dishwasher

By Evalyn Baron

I’ve been strolling the neighborhood lately, humming (to the tune of “June is Bustin’ Out All Over”): Summer’s bustin’ out all over, All over th... Read More

This Just In

At last! Nail polish for your face!

By Fred Gehrung

Good news! You don't have to look that way! If you're growing old waiting for your antiwrinkle cream to kick in, turn back the clock with Dr. Fred's revolutionary anti-aging silver bullet wrinkle corrector, Vaseline.... Read More

Supervisor's Report

Spending $7.9 billion: How San Francisco’s new budget will affect you and your community

By Supervisor Mark E. Farrell

After Mayor Ed Lee presented his proposed balanced budget on May 31 of this year, the Budget and Finance Committee, which I chair, spent the month of June reviewing the mayor’... Read More

Enter Stage Left

Just singin’ and dancin’ in the fog

By Evalyn Baron

We are a musical theater family. With the show biz history filling our Victorian, you’d think that it would be doing the time step on its foundation. I’ve performed in ... Read More

Supervisor's Report

Francisco Reservoir: A once in a lifetime opportunity

By Supervisor Mark E. Farrell

We are fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. According to the latest census, more than 800,000 San Franciscans now call this seven-x-seven square-mile... Read More

Enter Stage Left

My birthday, now and Zen

By Evalyn Baron

I’m not sure how entertaining a TV episode this would make, but to celebrate my recent birthday, our little modern family did do something oddly madcap, very Left Coast, some mig... Read More

This Just In

Underwear, fresh seafood, soon at your hardware store!

By Fred Gehrung

In this uncertain economy, market research analysts like myself recommend innovative revenue-enhancing strategies for our nation’s retailers. Like staying open longer. Also, ... Read More

The In-Box

Letters to the Times (June 2013)

SFMTA parking woes Dear Editor: The currently in-place and out of balance, heavy and excessively loaded parking and meter fees, tickets, fines, penalties etc., is already too much.... Read More

Supervisor's Report

Your money at work: San Francisco’s General Fund (Part 2 of 3)

By Supervisor Mark E. Farrell

This is the second of three parts of our look at how and why San Francisco spends its money as it does. This month, we look at the General Funds portion of the $7.9 billion budget.... Read More

The In-Box

Letters to the Times (May 2013)

The Polk Polka In “Polk Street Latest Site for Parking, Biker Clash” (News, April 2013), I seemed to be one opponent in a boxing ring, so I’d like to restate that... Read More

Enter Stage Left

The good, the bad and the mindful

By Evalyn Baron

Some people lose hearts here, but recently, I found my mind. Can you hear Tony Bennett crooning that as you read? I discovered it in a small room on Divisadero Street. I completed ... Read More

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