NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION
The Richmond District is located in the northwest corner of San Francisco, nestled in between Presidio National Park and the city’s Golden Gate Park. The neighborhood, which includes Sea Cliff and Laurel and Presidio Heights, is home to about 80,000 people. About half of Richmond residents are of Asian ancestry, primarily of Chinese and Korean descent. There is also a large Irish population and many recently arrived Russian immigrants.
Several vibrant commercial areas, including California Street, Clement Street and Geary Boulevard, serve the neighborhood. The 1,400 merchants and small offices in the Richmond District offer a wide range of goods and services.
Local landmarks include the Cliff House and the Beach Chalet at Ocean Beach, the V.A. Hospital at Fort Miley, University of San Francisco and numerous holy houses, including Temple Emanuel, St. John’s Orthodox Church and St. John’s Presbyterian Church. There are numerous attractions in Golden Gate Park, including an American Bison pen, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Strybing Arboretum, the oldest children’s playground west of the Mississippi River and a 9-hole golf course.
NEWSPAPER INFORMATION
Distribution by Neighborhood: Presidio and Masonic Avenues to the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Park to the Presidio, Sea Cliff
Distribution by Zip Code: 94118 and 94121
Circulation: 25,000
After months of speculation about the renovations taking place at the fire-damaged Golden Star Laundry and Cleaner at the corner of 23rd Avenue and California Street, neighbors were excited to see the restaurant Pearl 6101 open in May, 2018.
The linchpin of this happy ending is the city’s Small Sites Program (SSP). Launched in 2014 by the late SF Mayor Ed Lee, the program is aimed at helping low- and middle-income renters avoid displacement and eviction.
As an artist, Galante notices the neighborhood’s nuances – architectural designs, brightly colored homes, the blanket of fog and the sunsets.
Richmond Neighborhood Center Toy Drive Open House, Dec. 17, 2019.
But the real reason I write is to suggest it might be a good time to examine with open eyes the governance of this district, SF generally and the state as a whole.
Police activity in the Richmond District, December, 2019.
Our recently concluded 2019 legislative session was the first with our expanded Democratic supermajorities and our new governor, Gavin Newsom. After months of hard work, we passed, and the Governor signed, legislation that makes great strides in our efforts to protect renters, workers and the environment, while we continue to create good jobs and save for the inevitable rainy day. Many of these new laws will take effect on Jan. 1.
I want to take this time to address something that has been weighing heavily on the hearts and minds of District 1 residents; I understand that some of my constituents were offended by the language that I used on election night in reference to the Police Officers Association (POA).
The Richmond District’s Kabuto Restaurant has been serving Japanese food to Bay Area residents since 1982. Current owner Eric Cho, who came to the United States from Korea in 1987 to study, purchased the restaurant in 2005 when the original owners retired.
On a sunny Saturday in October more than 42 community members gathered at the Richmond Senior Center (at Geary Boulevard and 26th Avenue) to volunteer their time to help more than 20 seniors and adults with disabilities living in The Richmond District.
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department commissioners voted unanimously on Nov. 21 to authorize Lifetime Activities to handle day-to-day operations of the tennis center being renovated in Golden Gate Park.
The cause of a fire that shut down five businesses and displaced residents at the intersection of Geary Boulevard and 18th Avenue was unintentional, according to an incident report from the San Francisco Fire Department.
A moment of jubilance for an election victory quickly soured after a video clip of Richmond District Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer cursing the San Francisco Police Officers Association (POA) during the celebration of Chesa Boudin’s upset win in the City’s district attorney race went viral.
I live on Fulton Street in the Outer Richmond. The other day, when I was sweeping the dead leaves in front of the house, I noticed a young man, presumably in his twenties, walking west on Fulton humming loudly to himself.
Photos from the 2019 Greater Geart Boulevard Merchants Association luncheon at the Hotel Kabuki, Nov. 1, 2019. Photos by Phyllis Nabhan.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 