School board makes voter education mandatory

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Board of Education passed a resolution Tuesday requiring voter education curriculum for all seniors.

In the 2004 presidential election, eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 24 were the least likely to vote among all age groups, according to U.S. Census data. The standardized curriculum, called YouthVote, is designed to address the low turnout of young voters.

“If you look at the demographic of young voters, it’s dismally low,” said Jane Kim, Board of Education commissioner who sponsored the resolution. “It’s really important for younger people to vote to represent their needs and issues. Right now they’re ignored by candidates.”

Injunction against gangs raises hopes and concerns

By Kim Geiger and Julie Johnson, October 22, 2007 at 9:00 pm

An injunction granted by a San Francisco judge against three Western Addition gangs has city officials hoping for a drop in gang-related violence but residents feeling disconnected and alienated by the process.

The injunction — a court order issued Thursday forbidding 42 alleged members from the Western Addition Chopper City, Eddy Rock and Knock Out Posse gangs from publicly associating with one another — has been a source of controversy since it was proposed last summer, with community members arguing that locking up more African-American men will not curb violence.

Career criminal attacked the wrong person at the wrong time

By Kim Geiger

Aryn Bergman of San Francisco wasn’t planning to become a hero while strolling through the Mission District on the evening of Aug. 26. But when he heard cries for help from a woman who was being assaulted by a thief, Bergman ran to her aid.

The woman, 52-year-old Diana Cloos, had put up a considerable fight with her mugger. But once he got her purse, Cloos had every reason to believe the attack was over.

Instead, the attacker tossed the purse to the side and went after Cloos again, throwing her to the ground and spraying pepper spray all over her face.

Controversy sparked over Police Commission memo on Bayview-Hunters Point cops

By Kim Geiger

An official memo released last month by the San Francisco Police Commission summarizing an August community meeting on public opinion of the cops who patrol Bayview-Hunters Point struck a nerve with police who say the memo is unfair and one-sided.

The memo, which outlines 13 complaints and suggestions made by about 25 members of the Bayview-Hunters Point community, calls police interaction with the community “abrupt and in some cases rude and disrespectful,” and suggests officers haven’t been adequately trained to treat the community with “dignity and respect.”

But police from the Bayview station stormed City Hall Wednesday night to combat the charges, accusing the commission — the civilian body with oversight over the police department — of blindly accepting the word of a handful of community members and inappropriately publicizing those concerns without first approaching police.

HALOWEEN in the Western Addition

10.25, Thursday 3 pm
Mummy’s Little Monster
Lil’ monsters, ghosts and goblins are invited to this Halloween-themed story time and craft program. Recommended for kids 5 and under. Supplies provided.
LOCATION: Western Addition Reading Center
2nd floor, 762 Fulton St @ Webster

10.31, Wednesday 4:00 – 9:00 pm
Fifth Annual Safe Halloween
In the Lower Haight/Hayes Valley/Western Addition
Safe and fun Events and activities for youth, adults and families will be held at several locations throughout the ‘hood.
CONTACT: Safety@hayesvalleysf.org

Business awards honor mom-and-pop shops

By Julie Johnson

Steve Rapport barely knew the boy who had come to his Tae Kwon Do studio only a few times. But when he found out the boy had died, Rapport dedicated an upcoming martial arts tournament to him and donated proceeds to his family.

That community spirit caused one parent to nominate Rapport’s studio for the annual S.F. Neighborhood Business Awards. Rapport’s studio was honored as the first place winner at the awards ceremony, held Wednesday at Rasselas Jazz Club on Fillmore Street.

City College teacher charged with possession of child pornography

By Kim Geiger and Julie Johnson

SAN FRANCISCO — A City College of San Francisco faculty member faces one federal charge of possession of child pornography after police seized a hard drive last summer containing images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Daniel Hickey, 76, who has had no prior criminal cases in San Francisco, was indicted on the charge by a federal grand jury Wednesday. After spending two days in an Oakland halfway house, Hickey was released on Friday to the custody of his in-laws, Alejandro and Calixta Ho. As part of his release, Hickey cannot have unsupervised contact with any minors, including his granddaughter.

Neighborhood PTA fights for school

By Julie Johnson

When Gail Baugh founded the John Muir Elementary School PTA last year, it had no parents.

Baugh and her husband Jim Warshell moved to Hayes Valley in 2003 as empty-nesters after their son left for college, expecting to start their post-child-rearing years.

But it wasn’t long before Baugh, an active member of the neighborhood association, found herself fighting district plans to close the neighborhood school. A veteran PTA member from her own son’s years in school, she rounded up neighbors to show that the John Muir Elementary School’s community had muscle.

“Having a PTA presence in a school tells the school district and the school board that the community cares about their students’ education,” said Baugh, 60. “The minute you say PTA they say, ‘Oh someone cares.’”

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Castro residents angry over plans for “non-event” on Halloween

By Kim Geiger

City plans to prevent the annual Castro Halloween bash — after a particulary violent and chaotic 2006 celebration — drew fire Wednesday from Castro residents, who said police plans to patrol the area will make the chaos worse.

About 30 people attending a meeting with the San Francisco Police Commission particularly blasted plans to keep streets open and to deny permits for public toilets. Despite the police department’s plan to increase cops on duty that night by 20 percent and patrol the Castro throughout the evening, many said the city’s policy could spell danger if thousands arrive anyway.

“Everything’s backwards. We’re not going to separate cars from pedestrians?” said Ted Strawser of Citizens for Halloween, a neighborhood group that opposes the police department’s plans for shutting down the Castro festivities. “Almost everything we’re doing is exactly the opposite of what I think we would do if we were going for public safety.”

Indigenous Peoples Sunrise Gathering, Oct. 8, 2007

ALCATRAZ- Families gathered at sunrise for a ceremony on Alcatraz Island commemorating the 1969 occupation of the island by Native groups. This year, they also celebrated the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the United Nations on September 13, 2007.

View audio slideshow by Julie Johnson