The BCNA Record's Fall issue attempted to portray the strictures of the Public Trust Doctrine—that ancient legal precept especially significant to people who live near the water.

It may have seemed to readers to be an unassailable concept—protecting the public interest.

On September 16th the BCNA Board voted to join the lawsuit against the San Francisco Planning Commission and the Port of San Francisco regarding the recently completed Northeast Embarcadero Study. A key feature of the study would allow the construction of twelve-story buildings at Drumm and Washington Streets.

Further, the Board has voted to join this lawsuit with the Coalition of San Francisco Neighborhoods. The CSFN represents many local neighborhood groups. BCNA is a member of CSFN. Should a majority of the member groups join the lawsuit, then CSFN would also join.

Are you lying in your bed at 3 a.m. gritting your teeth as another motorcycle comes roaring down The Embarcadero waking you out of a sound sleep…again? Do you wish something could be done about it? Well, something is being done about motorcycle noise—and a lot of other things, too.

In case you wondered where your BCNA (Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association) dues go, they help represent YOU at many City government and institutional meetings.

Take last Thursday evening, for example, when I attended, on behalf of BCNA, the newly organized Police Department “Central District Community Advisory Group.”

Below are the results of the BCNA Board of Directors' election, as tabulated independently by non-board members, Jan and Maurice Holloway. (Thanks, Jan and Maurice, for your efforts!)

Would you be interested in getting involved with the Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association and helping me at the Membership booth at two upcoming events:

• Sunday Streets, August 31


• Candidates Forum, September 10

Here’s a reminder to all Barbary Coast residents and businesses: Many crimes can often involve some degree of opportunity for thieves, so redouble your personal awareness during this season. The general safety tips listed below are provided to us from SAFE (Safety Awareness for Everyone). Read the tips below for a safe and joyous holiday season.

Tragically, in early June another pedestrian lost her life while in one of San Francisco’s busy crosswalks. The untimely death of Alice Wallace, who was traversing 19th Avenue, was one of three persons on average who loses his life each year while crossing the busy 19th Avenue.

At a modestly attended meeting on Tuesday afternoon, June 12, the San Francisco Port Commission voted to forward a proposed bill lifting the Public Trust restrictions from nine seawall lots, including those north of Broadway.

AGENDA ITEM 6A: Informational presentation regarding proposed revisions to the Development Plan for Piers 27-31 Mixed-Use Recreation Project.

THE PROBLEM: San Francisco’s Embarcadero Corridor—from Fisherman’s Wharf to the ballpark—has insufficient capacity for current transportation modes (bicycles, cars, buses, trucks, trolleys, etc). Unfortunately, people traveling along the Embarcadero simply have to endure this congestion. Absent a major City effort to address the problem, the situation will only worsen as the Port Commission seeks higher intensity uses on the waterfront to finance the renovation of its historic piers.

You complained. We took action!

Recently your Safety Committee and Board President wrote the San Francisco PUC (Public Utilities Commission) on behalf of the people of the Barbary Coast.

We’re mighty proud of ourselves. The first event to be sponsored by the Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association came off without a hitch—thanks to help from many people.

This is an alert from the SF Safety Network, which may be of interest to our neighborhood:
Safety Network: Building Safe Communities
Community Alert: June 5, 2006

Recently, Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association sent a letter (see below) to the Planning Commission regarding our concerns over the Commission’s support for the developer of the 55 Francisco project. Currently the Commission supports the developer’s request to go ahead with his development without a full environment impact review (EIR) in spite of the Commission’s own “Better Neighborhood” program.

Recently the Barbary Coast Association's Safety Committee asked us to take the pulse of people in the neighborhood. They wanted to find out the major concerns Barbary Coasters have should a disaster strike us. So last week our poll question was:

What causes people to come out after dark, after a long day’s work, when there are other things to do? It’s so easy to talk yourself out of going to meetings, isn’t it? “Well, what can I do? I’m just one person. Somebody else will take care of it. I’m too busy. And too tired.”

Three buildings in the Barbary Coast that together comprise Golden Gateway Commons are becoming guinea pigs. They’re learning how to set up a Building Watch Program under the auspices of San Francisco’s SAFE (Safety Awareness for Everyone)* program.