Mayor Gavin Newsom Quits Race for Governor

The surprise news to hit San Franciscans yesterday afternoon was the announcement that Mayor Gavin Newsom is no longer to run for governor of California.

He cited family reasons and the need to concentrate on running the city.

NBC11 quoted from the press release issued by his campaign:

'"I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to - and should be - done," Newsom said. He said he regretted being unable to continue, but the decision was in the best interests of his wife, young daughter and the city of San Francisco,' reported NBC11 on their website.

Journalist Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle wrote:

'Plagued by low poll numbers and anemic fundraising, and with a newborn daughter at home, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom dropped out of the governor's race on Friday.'

Mayor Newsom had only recently been endorsed by former President Bill Clinton and had been campaigning with him in Los Angeles.

For reports:

NBC11: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Newsom-Drops-Out-of-Governor-Race-AP-67772172.html

San Fran Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/10/31/MN7S1AD82T.DTL

pic shows Mayor Newsom last September at the opening of the Mission Creek Park

Mayor Newsom at Groundbreaking Ceremony for San Francisco General Hospital

Mayor Gavin Newsom led a groundbreaking ceremony at the San Francisco General Hospital today to launch the building of a new, earthquake-proofed hospital.

The hospital, to be built alongside the current one, is expected to cost $887.4 million and be completed in 2015 - pictured above in a computer-generated image

Other officials there today on the main lawn of the campus on Potrero Avenue included city Supervisors, Dr Mitch Katz, Director of the Department of Public Health, Sue Currin, CEO of SFGH, Sue Carlisle, Associate Dean, and representatives of the Department of Public Works, contractors, and the non-profit SFGH Foundation.

The General Hospital is the city's only trauma center and without a new building to meet seismic codes would have to close in 2013. In an earthquake, the base of the new build will be able to move 30 inches in any direction.

The hospital will have nine stories, seven above ground and two below, 284 beds, 32 more than it currently has, and will cover 448,000 sq ft.

It is also hoping to be a 'green' hospital and achieve the Gold level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Current inpatient, outpatient and emergency services will not be affected by the build, say the Department of Public Health.

Within San Francisco, the hospital takes almost 30 per cent of ambulances, provides 20 per cent of inpatient care, serves 100,000 patients every year, has the only Psychiatric Emergency Room and the largest psychiatric inpatient care facility.

San Franciscans voted for the rebuild with a record 84 per cent approval for Proposition A in last November's elections. Financing is through general obligation bonds. The San Francisco Foundation will raise charitable funding for hospital furniture, supplies and equipment, and art work will be selected by the San Francisco Arts Commission.

For more info and to keep up-to-date on the rebuild:

http://www.sfdph.org/dph/RebuildSFGH/

Long-awaited 7th Street Caltrain Crossing Opens at Mission Bay

It's only a few short yards, but it's a giant's leap for residents of Mission Bay in their travels around the foot of Potrero Hill and the new UCSF Mission Bay campus.

Tomorrow, the long-awaited crossing of 7th Street over Caltrain's tracks is opening.

'I am excited to announce that the 7th Street railroad crossing at the end of Berry Street is scheduled to open early tomorrow morning - barring any unforeseen technical issues that would create safety hazards,' said Catherine Reilly, Acting Project Manager for the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, in a press release sent to residents this afternoon.

Workmen putting the finishing touches to the crossing late this afternoon said everything should be ready for a 4 am opening. The crossing is next to the end of Mission Creek and alongside the pillars of the Expressway.

Rumours were flying among the workmen that Mayor Gavin Newsom would be on the tracks at 4 am for an official opening. They weren't sure if they were having their leg pulled.

'There's going to be a lot of activity here at 1 am,' said one of the guys. 'Maybe they're just trying to chivvy us along!'

I rang Catherine Reilly who said she hadn't heard anything about it and thought it was a

joke. Earlier in the day she'd been in a meeting, she said, and someone had joked about the Mayor, who is settling into life with a new baby daughter, being there! However, she checked with a couple of people, just to be sure.

And the answer: 'We think someone's had their leg pulled! But it would have made for a bit of excitement!' she said.

One of the many local residents looking forward to the opening of the crossing said, 'It opens up access to Potrero Hill and the developing Mission Bay community.'

The new crossing is wider than most because it runs across three tracks instead of two. Safety tips on its use are included in the press release, among them a note that Caltrain operates in a “push-pull” mode.

This means that southbound trains are pulled by the engine, but northbound on their way back into the city, the engine pushes the train from the rear. 'Despite their size, trains can be difficult to hear, especially in the “push” mode,' says Catherine Reilly.

Residents are also advised that the crossing will be noisy. Train horns will sound ¼ mile before the crossing, and crossing gate bells will ring.

$6 Million Crouching Spider Moved to Houston

The giant spider that dominated the Bay's sidewalk at the Embarcadero has gone.

Removed from its waterside spot south of the Ferry Building last week, it has been transported to Houston, Texas, where, according to a report in the Examiner, it has been bought for $6 million by a private collector.

'Crouching Spider' is one of a series of immense spider sculptures created by Louise Bourgeois who is considered to be one of the greatest living artists of today. Made of bronze and stainless steel, it is about nine-feet tall, 27 feet across and weighs two-and-a-half tons.

Louise Bourgeois' spiders, the largest of which is 'Maman' at 30 ft tall, are in honour of her mother who was a weaver and spinner. Born in Paris and living in New York, the artist celebrates her 98th birthday on Christmas Day.

She loaned her spider to San Francisco two years ago through the San Francisco Arts Commission. It was installed with a ceremonial welcome that included members of the city's art world and mayor Gavin Newsom.

The sculpture 'set a new precedent for public art in San Francisco,' said Luis R Cancel, Director of Cultural Affairs. 'It has been truly wonderful to have such a magnificent sculpture by a world-class artist placed at the entrance of the city where it was viewed and enjoyed by thousands of people.'

'We thank Mayor Newsom for his enthusiasm and support for the public art program.'

Luis Cancel was quoted in a press release on an art blog, Les Cahiers - notebooks - d'Alain Truong - http://alaintruong.canalblog.com/archives/art_moderne___contemporain_modern___contempory_art/p70-0.html

Alain Truong also reported: 'The sculpture, which was originally cast in 2003 from the artist’s famous Spider series, was made specifically for display in San Francisco. Initially lent for eight months by the artist, courtesy of Gallery Paule Anglim, San Francisco and Cheim & Read, New York, the sculpture’s stay was extended due to popular support.'

The spiders are probably Louise Bourgeois' most well-known pieces of art. When the Tate museum in London purchased the giant Maman 1999 sculpture, they wrote in their press release:

'Bourgeois has said, “The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know that mosquitoes spread diseases and are therefore unwanted. So, spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother. “'
http://www.tate.org.uk/about/pressoffice/pressreleases/2008/13904.htm

Alain Truong also adds, 'The immense scale of the spider sculptures corresponds to the monumental importance of the artist's mother to her daughter.'

Six bronze casts of Maman have been made and are on display at renowned museums around the world.

A fascinating interview with Louise Bourgeois was posted on YouTube in May 2008. In it, the artist speaks of her work in a trailer for a documentary titled The Spider, The Mistress and The Tangerine.

'The purpose of the pieces is to express emotions. My emotions are inappropriate to my size. My emotions are my demons,' she says.

'It is not the emotions themselves. It is the intensity of the emotions are much too much for me to handle. And that is why I transfer the energy into sculpture.'

'This applies to everything I do. It has nothing to do with the craft. It has nothing to do with how to manage materials. Materials are not the subject of the artist.

'The subject of the artist is emotions and ideas. Both.'

British contemporary artist, Stella Vine, interviewed in the Observer Newspaper and quoted in Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Bourgeois - says of Louise Bourgeoise that she is one of the 'greatest ever artists' and that 'few female artists have been recognised as truly important.'

There is a 'juxtaposition of sinister, controlling elements and full-on macho materials with a warm, nurturing and cocoon-like feminine side,' she says.

Bourgeois, she concluded, is 'incredible: she's known all these great men and outlived them all.'

Crouching Spider was displayed by permission of the San Francisco Port Commission and was insured by the Arts Commission for $6 million.

Film Shoot of TV Pilot 'Trauma' 4

Before 8 am this morning, a large crowd of people involved in the filming of a TV pilot called Trauma had gathered around the tanker that will be the scene of a gigantic explosion this afternoon. (see previous blogs)

Action will include a fireball, billowing smoke, and helicopters overhead.

The tanker was moved into place yesterday evening at the end of the day's filming and is seen sitting over the houseboats at the end of Mission Creek, not far from the off-ramp at King Street.

Trauma is a drama about paramedics who rush heroically to save lives. It is being made by NBC Universal Media Studios in association with Film 44 and filming will continue in the city for about four weeks.

The pilot alone is expected to bring in about $7 million in revenue for the city. Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Film Commission who have welcomed the filming are desperately hoping that the main production will take place in the city not just for the direct financial income but also for the creation of about 340 jobs and the wider boost to tourism that a popular TV series would bring. (see http://lizinsanfrancisco.blogspot.com/2009/03/film-shoot.html for more details)

Film Shoot of TV Pilot 'Trauma' 1

Filming began early this morning on a TV drama pilot, 'Trauma', featuring emergency services dealing with a crashed tanker truck.

The 'accident' is taking place on the expressway by the King Street off-ramp at Sixth Street. By 5.00 am members of the California Highway Patrol were blocking off the street and by 10 am a small crowd had gathered.

However, members of the public who were on foot were kept well away from the action, only the tips of which could be seen over the creek at Mission Bay.

For motorists, several lanes of the highway remained open so they had a fleeting glance of the filming.

The most dramatic scenes occur tomorrow when there will be a fireball and billowing smoke, and helicopters will be overhead throughout the day.

Residents in the area received notification during the week.

Trauma, which is a working title, is described in a *press release from Mayor Gavin Newsom's office as 'an action-packed, high-octane medical drama.' It is based around a group of paramedics who risk their lives and perform great feats of heroism to save others.

Cast who will be displaying heroism as they rush towards an exploding tanker truck include Derek Luke of Notorious, Cliff Curtis of 10,000 BC, Anastasia Griffith of Damages, Aimee Garcia of George Lopez, Kevin Rankin of Friday Night Lights and Jamey Sheridan of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

The writer and executive producer is Dario Scardapane and director and executive producer is Jeffrey Reiner of Friday Night Lights.

The film is being made by NBC Universal Media Studios in association with Film 44
and is being run from Treasure Island at the end of the Bay Bridge.

Filming around the city will last for four weeks. Not only is it a fillip to see the city once more being used as a film backdrop but the pilot is expected to generate about $7 million.

'This production is a great opportunity to create several hundred jobs and stimulate the local economy with as much as $7 million in revenue,' said Mayor Newsom.

'It demonstrates that despite the economic downturn, San Francisco continues to stand out as a beautiful and welcoming city, and we are extremely pleased that NBC has chosen San Francisco as the location for its new show.'

Revenue is expected in the form of payments to local crew, taxes, city services and patronage of businesses.

If full production goes ahead, it will provide about 340 jobs.

'Getting the pilot for a high profile series to film in San Francisco is a great start. Next, we are anxious to have the production base here for the run of the show,' said Stefanie Coyote, Executive Director, San Francisco Film Commission.

'Not only does this represent major dollars and jobs for the city through production expenditures, but also it is proven that TV series stimulate tourism, revenues the city depends on annually.'

Equally pleased with the opportunity to film here is Jerry DiCanio, Executive Vice President, Production Operations, Universal Media Studios and NBC Universal Television Distribution.

'San Francisco is the perfect setting for this exciting project to film its pilot. We're thankful for the tremendous help that's been extended to us by the Mayor and film office, and we can't wait to turn Trauma into our next hit show for NBC,' he is quoted as saying.

Previous TV series filmed here include Streets of San Francisco and Midnight Caller, and the last being Nash Bridges in 2000.

***The Mayor's press relaese can be seen: http://www.sfgov.org/site/mayor_index.asp?id=99991

pics show: a waiting crowd and the California Highway Patrol on King Street just before Caltrain; filming on the expressway with a camera van rolling ready for action

Traffic restrictions are as follows:

MEDIA ALERT -- I-280 N/B KING STREET EXIT TO BE CLOSED SATURDAY MARCH 28 -
WEDNESDAY APRIL 1ST (WEEKDAY MORNING COMMUTE HOURS EXCEPTED) and I-280 S/B
KING STREET ENTRANCE TO BE CLOSED SUNDAY MARCH 29 from 1 PM - 4 PM FOR
FILMING OF TV PILOT IN SAN FRANCISCO

NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON I-280 WILL BE DIVERTED TO 6TH STREET due to the
closure of the King Street off-ramp at Sixth Street in San Francisco on
Saturday, March 28 at 5:00 AM through Sunday, March 29 until 10 p.m. and on
Monday, March 30, Tuesday March 31st and Wednesday, April 1 from 10 AM - 9
PM each day leaving the exit ramp available after 9 PM - 10 AM to
accommodate the weekday commute hours. Northbound traffic will be diverted
onto the Sixth Street exit with detours set up to Embarcadero.

KING STREET ENTRANCE RAMP FOR SOUTHBOUND I-280 will be closed on Sunday
March 29th from 1 PM - 4 PM. Southbound traffic will be detoured from King
Street to MARIPOSA STREET OR SIXTH STREET AT BRANNAN.

California Supreme Court on Marriage Definition

Supporters of the traditional definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman are confident of success in their historic legal battle that takes place tomorrow in San Francisco at the California Supreme Court.

On the eve of the debate over the legality of 'Prop 8' in the November elections, when Californians voted to uphold the traditional definition of marriage, Protect Marriage said in a statement, 'We have confidence that the Court will uphold Proposition 8. Why do we believe this? Because the law is clearly on our side....'

At issue is whether Prop 8 that allowed people to vote on the definition of marriage is legal. The November vote overturned a Supreme Court ruling in May when justices ruled by 4-3 to allow same-sex marriage.

'...we are very confident that the Court will respect the right of the people to have decided this issue. The people have reserved to themselves the sovereign right to define their constitution. By a 600,000 vote margin, they voted to enshrine the traditional definition of marriage in the constitution,' said Protect Marriage.

Their Lead Counsel is Kenneth W. Starr, the former US Solicitor General who attempted to have Bill Clinton impeached over the Monica Lewinsky affair. He also served as a Judge for the Court of Appeals, DC Circuit.

Protect Marriage's statement continued, 'As Dean Kenneth W. Starr has told the court in his brilliantly written briefs, “The constitution has now been amended by the sovereign people who are its creators. That is the beginning and end of this case.”'

A total of 52.5% of Californians voted for traditional marriage in November while 47.5% voted against.

Supporters of same-sex marriage argue that Prop 8 was a 'revision' of the Constitution rather than an 'amendment', so that it could only be placed on the ballot by a legislative vote or a new statewide Constitutional Convention. The last time such a convention took place was in 1879.

Tomorrow's hearing before seven justices has weighty supporters of same-sex marriage. In favour are Mayor Gavin Newsom and the city of San Francisco, California's Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and both houses of the Legislature, and the state's Attorney General, Jerry Brown, the city of Los Angeles and the county of Santa Clara.

A detailed article giving legal background and analysis can be found in the San Francisco Chronicle - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/03/04/MN6I16807P.DTL

Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer, reports that the Supreme Court's senior justice, Joyce Kennard, who originally voted for same-sex marriage, 'seemed to signal shortly after Prop. 8 passed that she was inclined to uphold it.

When the court voted to take up the lawsuits challenging Prop. 8 two weeks after the election, Kennard cast the lone dissenting vote. She said the only issue that the court needed to review was whether the 18,000 same-sex marriages conducted before the election were valid.'

Opponents, say the Chronicle, argue that dissolving pre-election marriages would amount to a state-compelled divorce, trampling on 18,000 couples' family and property rights.

They also argue that it interferes with judges' authority to shield minorities - racial, religious, political or sexual - from discrimination.

Protect Marriage counter, 'On the Attorney General’s novel contention that even though 'Proposition 8 was a validly enacted amendment, it should still be invalidated as violating the right to liberty of same-sex couples, “[This position is] utterly without foundation in this Court’s case law. His theory fails at every level. The Attorney General is inviting this Court to declare a constitutional revolution that would fundamentally alter the role of the judiciary, putting judges in the role of supreme overseer of the people’s constitution-making power, a result patently contrary to popular sovereignty.”

Tomorrow's hearing begins at 9 am and can be viewed live on television: 9:00am pacific time on the California Channel and online at www.calchannel.com.

pic shows supporters and opposers of same-sex marriage when the first of the marriages were held at the Civic Center after the ruling came into effect in June last year

Mayor Wages Juicy Bet!

The mayors of San Fran and Miami have taken out a juicy and edible wager on a college football tournament taking place in the city!

San Fran's Gavin Newsom is putting up a case of California's Napa Valley wine and the city's signature sourdough bread against bags of Florida oranges from Miami's Manny Diaz, according to a breaking news item by the Associated Press.

The Miami Hurricanes are in the city for the Emerald Bowl game with the California Golden Bears, which will take place on Saturday at the AT and T ballpark.

And their cheerleaders and band were seen this morning walking among the thronging shoppers outside Macy's Christmas Adoption Windows for pets.

For the Associated Press story see:

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/breaking-news/story/827297.html

Opening Ceremony of California Academy of Sciences

'When I came here, I said "Mamma Mia! I really need this job!" said Renzo Piano, one of the world's greatest architects.

He not only got his dream job, but today was standing outside of the California Academy of Sciences in the Golden Gate Park for the opening of what is being acclaimed as one of this year's finest new buildings in the world. And the greenest.

The project began nearly ten years ago.

'I spent a lot of time on this bench,' he said, indicating one, 'trying to feel out what (the) building should be.

'This picture came out of the blue.'

And what a picture.


Out of his imagination that absorbed the natural beauty of the park and surrounding hills, there arose a building of glass that connects to the park from within and without, and a living roof like no other: one that has green gently-curving knolls like the hills of San Francisco that are planted as habitat for wildlife.

Running through the centre of the building you can see the park from one end of a piazza to the other.

'Normally a science museum is dark and intimidating', Renzo said, 'but this is transparent, the opposite of opacity, enjoying the place, enjoying all this nature.'

Beside him on the platform were Mayor Gavin Newsom, Executive Director of the CAS, Dr Greg Farrington, Board Chair, Bill Patterson, and Nancy McFadden, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, lead corporate sponsors who are also sponsoring the weekend's celebrations including free entry to the museum today.

The ceremony opened with the presentation of flags by the San Francisco Police Department followed by a performance of the national anthem by soprano Heidi Melton, Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera.

There was then a Native American blessing, at the end of which the audience were asked to give a traditional response of 'Oooh!' rather than applaud.

'Have a beautiful day,' said Martin Martinez as he ended the blessing.

Next, Dr Farrington introduced Renzo Piano as a Pritzker Prize-winning architect - the equivalent, he said to the amusement of the audience, of winning a Nobel prize or American Idol competition.

In the early days Renzo, he said, had climbed on the roof of the old museum and looked down, and stood on the nearby hills.

'He came to understand the soul of this institution,' he said, calling the museum a 'kingdom of light, a celebration of nature.'

The museum, he said referring to Renzo's original sketch, had evolved from 'that one little imaginative curve nearly ten years ago.'

Renzo, who is Genoan-born and celebrated his 71st birthday this month, responded to the compliments. 'I am very, very touched. At a certain age,' he went on, 'you become more romantic.

'What can I say? I should say, "I love San Francisco!"'

He turned to Gavin Newsom, 'Lord Mayor, you have the most beautiful city in the world to run,' he said, meaning also natural attributes of sun and sea.

And he said of the Golden Gate Park, 'This place is loved...I hope it's going to be loved more and more.'

The museum has been designed with enormous emphasis on the environment, a subject that motivates him deeply.

We have a great duty to care for the earth because it is fragile and it made sense, therefore, he said, for the institution to have an important role to 'tell the story' of how fragile the earth is and that it needs our help.

'I can see millions of young people coming here and seeing the need to know and to love nature.'

Concluding with lightheartedness, he said of the handover of the building to the city, 'This is a very important day. Up until yesterday, this building was mine!

The audience gave him a deserved, enthusiastic standing ovation and the Executive Director again thanked him.

'Renzo Piano has given our city and our world one of the greatest buildings anywhere, he said. And the city, he added, were fortunate that a small group of people had had the vision to push the project through.

Nancy McFadden spoke next. She said they were committed to 'stewarding our fragile earth' and would continue to support the museum with other free days.

She praised Mayor Newsom for his care of the environment and said that with the Academy he was setting standards higher than ever.

'Today the Academy is wowing the world,' she said of it's magnificence.

Mayor Newsom spoke with pride of the city's new museums, of the de Young facing him across the park, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Conservatory of Flowers and Arboretum, and the Japanese Tea Garden, also in the park.

'What an outstanding compilation,' he said.

He gave credit to Senator Dianne Feinstein and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, for their support for the museum and to say that they were unable to be present due to their need to be in Washington over the current financial crisis.

Then he quoted from Plato, that 'if there is any hope for the future, those with lanterns will pass them on to others.'

He looked down from the dias at former mayor Willie Brown - sitting with Mayor Newsom's wife - and said that the institute 'would not have been possible without his faith and consistency.'

A few thousand people had already made their way into the park and were queuing to take advantage of the free open day. Overall, the museum capacity would be about 30,000, said Mayor Newsom, and he paid tribute to a mother with three children who had put herself and her family at the front of the queue by being there at 5.30 am!

Mindful of the $488 million cost that has meant the largest-ever cultural fundraising effort in the city, he said, 'I want to thank the taxpayers of San Francisco for their support of this institution as well.'

In a final tribute to Renzo Piano, he quoted first from an interview Renzo had given to Vanity Fair magazine, in which the architect had said he lifted up the Golden Gate Park, slid the building underneath and put the park back down on top of it!

'This is the greenest building of it's kind anywhere in the world. This is the best of the best!'

Dr Farrington then introduced Rock Kids, the museum's link with students. He held up black logo-ed teeshirts for sale and said that anyone wearing one would have free entry to the museum.

And then the Rock Kids performed the finale to the ceremony. Carrying boxes that contained butterflies - symbols of transformation and metamorphosis of the new Academy, said Dr Farrington - they stood at the front of the stage and released the butterflies into the park.

As butterflies flew up into the air the sun sparkled through their wings - although many, to the merriment of the audience at first perched overhead on the entrance to the museum, perhaps for shelter.

All that was left was for Dr Farrington 'to declare this Academy of Sciences open!'

And with that hundreds of excited people, press and members first, streamed in through the doors. Outside in the park, a programme of entertainment, which runs over today and tomorrow, was starting.

Pics show: Architect Renzo Piano; Dr Greg Farrington; Rock Kids releasing butterflies; Mayor Gavin Newsom with Renzo Piano

http://chrisflowers.shutterbugstorefront.com/g/california_academy_of_science

Opening of Mission Creek Sports Park

'Volleyball under a freeway! exclaimed San Fran's mayor, Gavin Newsom this afternoon. 'This is an example for the nation!'

His statement heralded the opening of a visionary sports park at Mission Creek, a park he defined as not just iconic for San Francisco but for the nation.

Several hundred people today were celebrating the Grand Opening of the Mission Creek Sports Park in downtown San Fran as part of the 2008 Mission Bay Parks Festival. They also saw the festival inaugurated as an annual event in the city's calendar.

The sports park, sited literally under the expressway, is a triumphant reclamation of 4.5 acres of neglected, partly shady land.

The former disused land lies at the end of the creek running down from the Giants' ballpark. It's sporty and recreational makeover includes a designer kayak house, beach volleyball, basket ball and tennis courts, garden and grassy areas, a children's playground and dog park, in part artistically designed around enormous concrete pillars that support the freeway. Restroom facilities are soon to be added.

To mark the occasion a great number of activities took place from early morning to mid-afternoon, including sports and face-painting for children, a charity event, and informative displays on conservation and development of the Mission Bay area. There was also a band that played throughout the day, a couple of local artists, and stalls promoting Mercy Housing and rental or purchase of newly-built condos and apartments.

'Candidly, I saw the vision of this project a few years ago but you never know how well things are going to turn out,' said Mayor Newsom. The outcome, he said, had exceeded his expectations.

Standing alongside the translucent blue Kayak House, he recounted taking a kayaking trip from Sausalito.

'I got out under the Golden Gate Bridge! I ain't never going to do it again! he said. With a glance at the far gentler waters of the creek, he smiled, 'This is more my style!'

Thrilled at the benefits that the park will bring to the community, he said that the city had also redone 70 parks and playgrounds in every community.

Two Proclamations were presented to formally establish the park and also the Mission Bay Parks Festival as an annual event.

One, signed by the mayor on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, was read out by compere Corinne Woods, Chair of the Mission Bay Citizens Advisory Committee.

The second, a brief one from the California Legislature, was read by Francee Covington, Commission President of the SF Redevelopment Agency, and is as follows:

"Congratulations on celebrating the Grand Opening of the Mission Creek Sports Park. I commend your efforts in providing recreational facilities for the benefit of the community. Your dedication and commitment continue to contribute to the public wellbeing. Congratulations and thank you for all that you do!' It was signed by Assemblyman Mark Leno.

Commenting on the park, the Commission President said, 'This is a gorgeous park and I'm happy to be here,' adding that it is the fifth one in Mission Bay.

The Director of the Redevelopment Agency, Mr Fred Blackwell, also spoke. He called the park a 'wonderful' achievement.

'I'm new at the job,' he said, 'I get the opportunity to get the credit for a lot of things that have gone on here!'

He described the urban development project as a 'mixed use area' that is transit-oriented and includes retail and commercial units, and housing.

The area is a showcase for some of the latest expensive apartments and condos, but Mr Blackwell said 30 per cent was affordable housing to reflect the entire city of San Francisco.

At the end of the main speeches, a long turquoise ribbon attached to kayak paddles was unfurled. Mayor Newsom, waving a large pair of scissors, cheerfully invited all those who wanted to join him to stand behind it!

A small number of people eagerly clustered with Maxwell the beagle in centre spot.

And then with the whole crowd giving a hearty countdown followed by a few - wrist-wrenching! -snips...San Francisco had one of the most innovative parks in the country and a new festival.

***other interviews to follow***

Click here for an album of pics

Same-Sex Marriage June 08

It was a crowd celebration laced with cyanide as vehement proponents on both sides of the same-sex marriage divide gathered outside the Civic Centre yesterday evening. Inside, Mayor Gavin Newsom performed the first symbolic wedding and oversaw the issuing of licenses to over 160 other same-sex couples who will marry later.

As the California Supreme Court's controversial ruling to allow same-sex marriage came into effect after 5 pm yesterday, hundreds of supporters and demonstrators gathered to mark the proceedings.

It was a noisy, contentious event as the crowd stood outside waiting for couples to emerge, waving their licenses. It was at times abusive with placards and posters, some with graphic words and illustrations, being waved around.

The crowd reflected all shades of opinion. 'I'm 'straight',' said Rebecca, 'but I'm really excited about this because I've always felt this is the way things should be.' Her friend, Anna, enthused, 'I second that. And I'm 'straight' too!'

Opposition appeared to come from churches and organizations from outside of the city with no sign of local church involvement. Clinging to a long white pole beneath a banner opposing homosexuality was 17-year-old Mike. He belonged to a group under the internet name of savebiblicalmarriage.org.

With the legal battle of same-sex marriage not yet over - there will be a popular vote in November that may overturn the Supreme Court ruling - I asked him if he thought they would win.

'It's kind of hard to tell if we're going to win or not but we have to do our duty. The result's are God's,' he said.

'F...you! F... you!' almost spat a guy as he walked past us.

From the front of the Civic Centre the song, 'We're going to the chapel, and we're going to get married!' could be heard over the plaza.

A group of young girls from the extreme, independent Kansas church, Westboro Baptist, accused of hatred against homosexuals, waved the most graphic placards, some of which had drawings and said, 'God hates fag enablers' and 'Dykes wed.' The girls were coralled by the kerbside in a pen made of metal barriers, probably for their own safety as their placards attracted intermittent shouts.

The group also had a vehicle covered in posters touring the streets.

Do you think your posters are a little graphic? I asked one girl.

But she replied, referring to homosexuality, 'It's an abomination to the Lord.'

'Ignorance and stupidity,' cut in a man beside me.

Discovering that her name was Victoria and she was only 15-years-old, I asked how she felt about being there. 'I feel very honoured that my Lord my God has given me this chance to be here,' she said.

In front of the group a woman walked past carrying a placard...'Eating Lobster is an abomination too.' Behind them men dressed in priests' attire taunted, 'We're getting married!'

'I think it's about time that all religious laws are distinct from State laws and I'm really happy to see it,' said Tim, the 'it' referring to the evening's event. A lady standing with him agreed. 'The signs are horrendous,' she said, pointing particularly at one by the steps of the Civic Centre that read, 'Homo sex is a threat to national security.'

Anonymously, another man said, 'I think it's a wonderful day.'

By this stage, a slow steady stream of people were exiting the Civic Centre and waving or giving a 'thumbs up' sign. They were couples, accompanied by family and friends, who had been granted licenses in readiness for marriage ceremonies, some of which were held today. Each time a small group emerged, many in the crowd clapped and cheered, some also waving red roses.

I crossed the road and stood in the melee near the steps of the Civic Centre. In front of me two young men kissed affectionately, arms around each other.

A broadcast journalist with a microphone came down the steps to interview people. 'Love! Love! Love! shouted the crowd.

'I know who the 'abomination' is!' said one woman behind me in derision at a poster.

It was then that a small surge of protest occurred around Bill, from Fremont across the Bay. Bill held aloft another of the large white posters that said, 'Homo sex is sin,' and wore a hard hat inscribed with 'sexual pervert.' He looked ready to battle with a mob.

To chants of 'Christian fascists go away!' Bill shouted back, 'Jesus Christ is God and you will all bow before Him,' and arguments broke out, Ruth, an older lady, said to me, ' As a 'straight' San Franciscan I am absolutely delighted that lesbians and gays will have similar rights to me and I hope the rest of America will catch up.'

Someone shouted at Bill, 'How would you feel if someone said being 'straight' is a sin...here you are defiling this place with your bigotry.'

'All homophobes are secretly gay,' shouted Michael.

''The bible is a book of fiction,' Lisa called out.

The sight of Bill's poster enraged George. 'I love ....sex! I don't care who I do it with!' he yelled at Bill. 'God loves me! I am gay!' he asserted. And then sung an old childrens' chorus...'Jesus loves me this I know, For the bible tell me so.....'

'You're just completely full of crap!' Ruth added to Bill.

Meanwhile the chants continued. 'We don't want your hypocrisy! We don't want your theocracy! Christians, go home!'

But Bill, dressed in his hard hat was undaunted and ready to battle. 'Blah! Blah! Blah! Blah! That's what Jesus is going to say to you,' he yelled back.

'Blah! Blah! Blah!' echoed the noisy crowd.

Two other men shouted, 'God says "never to judge",' and 'Christian fascists go back to your patriarchal cave.'

I retreated, and found myself standing with Lisa. What did I think?' she asked. I was honest and said that I did not support gay marriage, but that I also thought the posters and opposition were too strident. And suddenly, with Lisa, a self-confessed agnostic with a Jewish background, I was in an oasis of civility. She raised the fundamental issues that underline this debate and we discussed them. Whilst she profoundly disagreed with me, we enjoyed our conversation and shook hands as we parted.

Across the plaza, as the crowds were thinning - it was about 7 pm by now - there was another contretemps.

'Homophobia is totalitarian,' boomed a guy with a megaphone.

'Jesus is Lord. He's the Saviour of the world,' a guy holding a pole with a large placard loudly responded.

'There is no dictator in the sky telling us what to do with our .....!'

'Homosexuality is still sin!'

And at that point I left, only to suddenly bump into two young guys at the end of the plaza who had got their license to marry and had just finished an interview with a TV journalist.

Beautifully dressed, with one carrying a bunch of lilies, they radiated happiness. 'We're nesters not roamers,' said one as they walked down the pavement with another lady and me.

It turned out they were married four years ago in a brief legal opportunity that was rescinded shortly after. So today will be their second wedding.

Whatever one's view, they didn't deserve the humiliation and haranguing meted out by some of the protestors.

As thousands of gay couples are expected to tie the knot over the summer, Christian and Conservative opposers have acted legally. They have caused the issue to be included in the November 4, 2008, General Election ballot when votes for the next president of the USA will be cast, and each state votes on a range of it's own issues.

Should the popular vote overturn the Supreme Court's ruling, same-sex couples will once again only be able to register for a domestic partnership.

Pictures of the event are available on my Web Gallery

Olympic Torch 2008

It was the decoy of the decade. The day the Olympic Torch came to San Francisco - without being seen!

Even the media were fooled. The Opening Ceremony was held and then, under the eyes of thousands including news helicopters, the Torch disappeared! It emerged unseen inside the city having been spirited away either in a motorcade or by boat across the Bay.

The 80 Torchbearers ran along unlined streets inside the city and near the Golden Gate Bridge, driven to the various running spots. Police and Chinese para-militaries, in the blue and white jogger suits seen in London and Paris, ran alongside them. Then the Closing Ceremony was held in a terminal at San Francisco airport miles away on the outskirts of the city.

Meanwhile, thousands of demonstrators spent the day lining and filling the official route from the Giants ball park and up to the Embarcadero where the Torch was due to be received. Campaigners opposing China's human rights record waved placards and banners and engaged in a shouting match with pro-China supporters. Busloads of pro-Chinese people were bussed into the city early this morning and a sea of red flags outnumbered the yellow, red and blue Tibetan flags that have become familiar in the city over the last week. Chinese-costumed dancers also were there. An NBC11 report early this evening put the number of imported Chinese at possibly 11,000.

Mayor Gavin Newsom gave a lengthy interview at the end of the afternoon to a reporter who had been one of the Torchbearers. He hailed the day a success on two counts: 'We protected people's safety and we protected people's rights of free expression. These are San Francisco values,' he said. He also praised the 'courage and candour' of the Torchbearers.

Overall, he felt that the city had 'distinguished itself' as against the fiascos of the Torch run in London and Paris.

A city Supervisor, Aaron Peskin, however, is attacking Mayor Newsom for 'secrecy, lies and misinformation.'

So what happened?

After the Opening Ceremony the first Torchbearer left the platform and ran into a nearby warehouse, away from crowds lining the start of the route! As people waited and waited, eventually a motorcade left the warehouse. But whether the Torch was in it or was ferried by boat across the Bay is uncertain in the immediate aftermath.

But police deserve an Oscar! Standing further down the start of the route, by a narrow bridge at the Giants ballpark, we were in the midst of the charade.

A large contingent of police officers had gathered during the morning near where slanging matches between pro-and-anti demonstrators stood facing each other on opposite sides of the road. And as the Opening Ceremony was due, at 1 pm, police formed several lines across one lane and moved us back off the centre of the bridge. Alongside on the water, police zoomed around on jet skis, a fireboat shot a water salute into the air and police boats sailed on the edge of the cove.

Overhead, at one point we counted six choppers and three planes. And on rooftops police could be seen, although on one pics were being taken in secret as we could only catch an intermittent glimpse of a camera lens poking over a parapet.

Then about half an hour after the Torch was due, a police truck turned up and a small group of police jumped out and donned riot gear. This caused a good distraction as the crowd surged around.

With music drifting across from the loudspeakers at the ceremony platform a few hundred yards away, it all looked and sounded as if Something Was Going to Happen!

It took almost three-quarters of an hour before people began to twig that we had been fooled!
As the crowd began to disperse and wander off peacefully, news organizations began to catch up and cell phones rang. Some idea of the Torch having been in the city percolated through but it took a little longer, mostly I suspect from the early evening broadcasts at 5 pm, for the full extent of the ruse to be rumbled.

But if safety and freedom to protest without arrest were priorities, it was a resounding success. There was plenty of protest action all the way along the route up to the Embarcadero, including a re-enactment of the brutality exercised against the Tibetan monks.

Click for pics. Click to enlarge.

For a more detailed report see later blog, and for more pics.

San Fran Divided over Olympic Torch

When it comes to the Olympic Torch, San Francisco is a city divided against itself.

A city official, known as a 'supervisor', successfully carried a resolution yesterday that called on Mayor Gavin Newsom to accept the Olympic Torch with 'alarm and protest.'

The report, in the San Fran Chronicle, quotes Supervisor Chris Daly as saying, 'The eyes of the world will be on San Francisco, and, let's be honest, if there is not alarm and there is not protest in San Francisco when the torch arrives here, that too would be news, and that would be San Francisco complicit in the human rights violations that are happening in China and around the world.'

His resolution before the Board of Supervisors also called for an international investigation into China's treatment of Tibetan dissenters and was passed by a vote of 8-3.

The television channel NBC11 showed a round of cheers erupting from protesters as the result was announced in the Civic Center.

However, a spokesman for Mayor Newsom was afterwards quoted as saying, 'It is highly unlikely the mayor is going to let Chris Daly put words in his mouth.' He also said that the mayor had discussed the situation with Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the Dalai Lama.

In other words, it is a short term political victory but will not carry through to Wednesday's event.

Mayor Newsom who regardless of his views on human rights is also the figurehead of the only North American city to have the Torch, was seen on televison and quoted in the Chronicle pleading with protesters to not disrupt the Torch procession but to remember that the Olympics are about athletics and not politics.

'Don't protest the torch bearers,' he said. 'Please separate your condemnation from the person who's running or in a wheelchair carrying the torch.'

The Chronicle also reported on a letter from the Chinese American Association of Commerce signed by 105 city-based Chinese organizations.

The letter called on officials to 'prevent the city from being kidnapped by a few political extremists who want to make use of the Olympic Games to advance their own political gain.'

The Chinese Consulate, too, opposed any official city protest.

Olympic Torch Protests

The hot news in San Fran this week is about the Olympic Torch and protests against the Chinese government for human rights abuses especially against the Tibetans.

With San Fran being an Olympic showcase for North America on April 9, protesters are amassing. Outside the Civic Hall today are Tibetans and others supporting the Free Tibet campaign. On NBC 11's evening news broadcast tonight one of the protest leaders said that their computers have been infected with viruses. They suspect the Chinese government but NBC 11 were not able to draw any comment from the FBI.

Protests are also going to be against China's support for the government of Sudan against the people of Dafur and, according to the San Fran Chronicle, perhaps even on behalf of the Burmese monks.

Darfur Coalition spokeswoman, Martina Knee, is quoted as saying they expect to have at least 1,000 protesters on the streets from all over the country. They have also bought signs on 80 Muni buses: 'Tell China to stop sponsoring genocide in Darfur.'

The Chronicle reports, too, that China has requested the eight-mile route be shortened to six miles. Controversy has raged over the route. Mayor Gavin Newsom has confirmed that the protests will be allowed but has only today released some details of the route.

The starting point is at McCovey Cove, an area of the Bay waterfront south of the city that is near the baseball park, home of the San Francisco Giants. The finishing point will be further north along the Bay at the Justin Herman Plaza opposite the Ferry Building at the Embarcadero.

Exactly which streets the route will take is still unknown. Mayor Newsom is reported in another Chronicle article as saying that details are being held back because of worries about possible attempts to stop or disrupt the procession.

'But no one will be denied the ability to protest all along the parade route if, indeed, they find that it is a great idea because they want to disrupt what should be a unifying event and try to make it more divisive,' he said.

Chinatown Will Not See Olympic Torch

The Olympic Torch is on it's way to San Fran giving the city the honour of being the only North American city to host the legendary flame. But it is unlikely to go through Chinatown Mayor Gavin Newsom was reported to have said in the San Fran Chronicle.

This, he said, is due to the narrow streets and congestion and nothing to do with the prevailing political unease against China. Or the arson attack on the Chinese Consulate last week or the request that during the ceremony a city official publicly records a protest at China's human rights record.

Certainly Chinatown's streets are smaller and the pavements are a crush of people and stalls. And when the flame came to San Fran in 2004 it did not go through Chinatown.

But how do the Chinese community feel about this as the Games are in their homeland?

I wandered through and spoke to traders and shoppers. Their responses surprised me especially as this is the oldest Chinatown outside of Asia. Call me naive but I am new to San Fran and have not browsed in Chinatowns around the world.

I had great difficulty in getting my question understood. My first encounter set the scene for what was to follow. Two older, smartly dressed ladies who had been chatting on the pavement struggled to interpret my words. Finally, between them they smiled encouragingly at me:

'I've no idea at all.... you go ask the police!'

After that other people gave me blank looks and stares, the occasional shake of the head mixed in with such phrases as 'No speak English,' 'I speak Chin-eesey,' 'I'm sorry, no English.'

In one shop a customer joined in with staff to try to help. As we stood there, fat white dumplings steaming behind the counter, the three women made an effort but gave up with apologetic glances. Even a girl handing out leaflets for a new Chinese health centre wasn't able to converse in English.

Some said blankly, 'I don't know about it.' One said, 'I don't care,' while another lady's offering was that the previous procession had been in another street. Did she mind? She didn't seem to know. All of which conversations were conducted with linguistic difficulties and gesticulations.

Finally, I met a friendly couple in a healthfood store who easily understood my question. What do the people of Chinatown think about not having the Olympic Torch in their streets?

'Some people would like it but some don't know about it,' said the woman. The man smiled broadly. 'I would like to stand outside the door and see it!' he said.

Did I ask anyone in Chinatown what they thought of Tibet? There was no point. They wouldn't have spoken in Chinese either!

The Olympic Torch processes through the streets on Wednesday, 9 April.