SAN FRANCISCO BEAUTIFUL - Civic Initiatives Program

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Civic Initiatives Program

Recognizing and responding to pressing problems throughout the city-from crumbling landmarks to neglected parklands-is the core of our work. San Francisco Beautiful staff and volunteers create, organize, and support partnerships between civic leaders, community-based groups, and other organizations to promote sound and sustainable urban planning policies and programs. We are currently active in several major preservation and restoration projects throughout the city.

Current Activities

Get Involved in Planning the Future of Your Parks!

The San Francisco Planning Department and the Mayor's Open Space Task Force are seeking input to create a vision for the city's parks and open spaces for the next 100 years.The Neighborhood Parks Council is conducting community meetings to generate citizen input. See Calendar for times and locations of March and April metings.

CA Legislators To Determine Moratorium on Digital Billboard Along Roadways: Action Alert (March 2009)
AB10, if passed, will put a two-year moratorium on the installation of any new digital billboards in the state.

Visitors came by the Golden Gate Park South Windmill on Earth Hour March 28 to see restoration process.

AT&T withdraws motion for exception of environmental review of its 850 utility boxes. AT&T plans to submit new proposal.

San Francisco Beautiful Board President Milo Hanke speaks out in support of the appeal of the Determination of Exemption from Environmental Review for 850 AT&T utility boxes.

On July 29, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors heard dozens of people at the microphone stating their disbelief that the Planning Department issued a Determination of Exemption from Environmental Review for 850 AT&T Utility Boxes. They all came out to rally behind the Cole Valley Improvement Association’s appeal to the Board to deny this categorical exemption.

Here’s what happened at the Public Hearing: After those who supported the exemption appeal spoke, the Planning Department gave its reasons for awarding the exemption. Board members grilled the Department staff and when it was clear to AT&T that the Board may approve the CVIA’s appeal, AT&T asked to withdraw its motion for exemption of environmental review and stated that they will come back to the Board with a new proposal.

And so, a victory for the day was achieved. We want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who contacted your supervisors; and we want to especially thank those who came out and spoke at the hearing. Due to this support and the great job by the Cole Valley Improvement Association of rallying all us around the common cause of making San Francisco livable, we acted as a solid unit and won.

PROP J PASSES IN NOVEMBER 2008 ELECTION.

Background on the issue: Vote Yes on Prop J: Preserve Historic SF

Proposition J on this November’s ballot makes improvements to San Francisco's outdated 40 year-old ordinance dealing with landmark buildings and historic districts, moving us closer to basic good practices employed by many other American cities. These changes will bring greater professionalism, lessen inappropriate political influence and reduce unnecessary reviews. This proposal creates no new regulations over historic buildings but rather reallocates authority between already existing bodies for a more effective and efficient process.

San Francisco's rich historical architecture is a unique and important aspect of our city. It is not only a critical aspect of the quality of life of those who live here but through the tourism it engenders, a key to our resilient local economy.

Visit www.preservehistoricsf.com. San Francisco Beautiful Urges You to Vote Yes on Prop J

Illegal Billboard Update (June 2008)
Work to get illegal bllboards down is paying off! The Planning Department has issued over 130 notices of violations for 190 billboards with more than 70 signs removed and 80 more pending removal. The Department has won two reconsideration with $50,000 in penalties awarded each.

2008 Growing Greener School Grounds Conference ~featuring keynote speaker: author Richard Louv~Friday October 10th & Saturday October 11th

SB 1310-Digital Billboards Fails in Sacramento!

SB 1310 - Digital Billboards Fails to Pass State Senate Committee!

Thanks to our collective efforts, SB 1310 - Digital Billboards failed in the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee today!

As you are aware, San Francisco Beautiful strongly opposed SB 1310 which would have allowed the conversion of existing billboards near landscaped portions of our freeways to digital/electronic format.

The Senate Transportation & Housing Committee voted on SB 1310 today and the bill failed to get enough votes to get out of the committee.

This is a major victory against billboard blight and we could not have done it without your calls and support. At the hearing Alan Lowenthal, Committee Chair, mentioned the large number of calls he received opposing SB 1310 and we have you to thank for that!

Click here for info leading up to vote.

Billboard V-P Kept Off Planning Commission

Wonderful news!! Thanks to San Francisco Beautiful’s collective efforts including all of our emails, calls, letters and testimony, the appointment of Ryan Brooks to the Planning Commission was withdrawn!

Ryan Brooks is a Vice President with CBS Outdoor - a large billboard company operating numerous billboards in San Francisco. San Francisco Beautiful raised the issue that his appointment to the Planning Commission would create serious conflicts of interest regarding billboard issues.

San Francisco Beautiful thanks everyone for helping to stop this misguided appointment.

Background Information:

URGENT BILLBOARD ACTION ALERT!

We are urging our members to immediately oppose the nomination of Ryan Brooks to the Planning Commission. Ryan Brooks is a Vice President with CBS Outdoor - a large billboard company operating numerous billboards in San Francisco. His appointment to the Commission would cause serious conflicts of interest regarding billboard issues.

The full Board of Supervisors will hear the Ryan Brooks appointment on Tuesday, March 18th. Please contact members of the Board of Supervisors by email, phone or fax to express your opposition to Ryan Brooks appointment to the Planning Commission. For a sample letter and contact information for the Board of Supervisors click here.

See article in March 14, 2008 Examiner regarding issue. San Francisco Beautiful's Executive Director Dee Dee Workman quoted.

Huge San Francisco Beautiful Victory: Bridge Board Votes Against Corporate Sponsorship for Golden Gate Bridge

Thanks to our collective efforts including all of our emails, letters and testimony the Golden Gate Bridge District members voted unanimously on October 26, 2007 to REJECT the Corporate Partnership Program which would have allowed corporate logos on Golden Gate Bridge property. San Francisco Beautiful testified at the Bridge Board meeting and we are thrilled that the Bridge Board members decided to reject this misguided program.

Background: Corporate Sponsor For Golden Gate Bridge