Tim Redmond

1 week ago | 48hills.org | Tim Redmond

The Chron had a forum Wednesday with the directors of BART and Muni and state Sen. Scott Wiener to talk about the future of transit in the Bay Area—and I really wanted to ask Wiener a question. The senator typically doesn’t respond to my calls and texts, so I bought a ticket to the event at Manny’s. (It was the second time I’ve ever been there. The first was to see Jane Fonda, who got sick and had to leave.)The prognosis from the two transit leaders was beyond grim.

1 week ago | 48hills.org | Tim Redmond

The San Francisco supervisors are finally going to have a serious discussion about address both economic inequality and the budget deficit by imposing local income and wealth taxes on the very rich. Sup. Chyanne Chen introduced a resolution Tuesday calling on the city’s state representatives to push for legislation that would allow, not require, counties to enact taxes on wealth and income.

1 week ago | 48hills.org | Tim Redmond

In a move that could set a dangerous precedent, the Planning Department wants to allow a property owner in Potrero Hill wants to build an expanded two-unit building that involves the removal of what opponents say was an existing rent-controlled unit. The matter will go before the Board of Appeals Wednesday/18. At issue is a modest building at 695 Rhode Island Street—but if the board allows it, landlords and developers all over town may see a path to eliminating existing rental housing.

1 week ago | 48hills.org | Tim Redmond

Despite extensive public opposition and data showing the program will cause more homelessness, the SF Municipal Transportation Authority voted 6-1 June 17 in favor of a program that would set a two-hour limit on parking of all RVs in the city. That could lead to hundreds of people, including families, to lose their homes to citations and tows.

1 week ago | 48hills.org | Tim Redmond

When Chesa Boudin was elected as San Francisco’s district attorney, a powerful political and communications operation immediately went into effect to try to undermine his policies. Unrelenting news stories talked about huge increases in crime, about a lawless city, about how a progressive DA was making us all less safe. That conflicted with reality: In most categories, crime, especially violent crime, was declining when Boudin was DA. And yet, like other progressive prosecutors, he lost his job.