46th Annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards on Dec. 13, 2023 at the Elks Lodge.
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
46th Annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards on Dec. 13, 2023 at the Elks Lodge.
The Richmond District’s single-family median home prices took a dip for the second year in a row after rising for 10 years.
Crossword puzzle by Jess Goldstein
On Dec. 18, 2023, SF Supervisor Connie Chan sent an email notifying constituents that SF Mayor London Breed is preparing legislation to up-zone building height limitations in the Richmond District by early 2024.
Comparison photos of Sutro Heights 113 years apart.
When you think of San Francisco’s history of fashion post-1906 earthquake, what might come to mind is the free-spirited hippie era of bell bottoms and psychedelic print mini-dresses or picturing the serious, all-black outfits the Beat generation wore while listening to poetry or experimental jazz in 1950s North Beach nightclubs.
When we humans see a hill, we want to put something on top of it. Maybe it’s an old instinct of war to create a defensive position and a higher viewpoint to spot the invading army. Or maybe as creative animals we are unable to resist “improving” nice things. Ego and avarice play their parts, of course.
After ending last year reflecting on gratitude and thankfulness, looking forward I see a potential sea change ahead. Not only because it’s going to be an election year, but honestly things would just get a little boring if they always stayed the same. So let us examine what lies ahead in 2024.
In last month’s column, I wrote about the power of people in the history and preservation of the Richmond’s beloved eyesore, the Alexandria Theatre. Several of you referenced the piece while either initiating or renewing your memberships with Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP). As it turns out, the power of our local independent press is also very real. I’m not sure how to find the right words to describe how I felt after reading the brief notes you attached to these memberships, but this gets close: It made my heart full.
Cartoon by Paul Kilduff.
Things to do on San Francisco’s west side in January 2024.
As of 2024, more seniors and people with disabilities in California will be eligible for health care under Medi-Cal, the state program administering the federal Medicaid program. In 2021, under my leadership as Assembly budget chair, we approved the elimination of the asset test.
Thomas Jefferson supposedly declared: “Democracy is cumbersome, slow and inefficient, but in due time, the voice of the people will be heard, and their latent wishes will prevail.”
Recent police activity in the Richmond District.
For all you lovely people out there who were following my recent health scare, thank you once again for your concern and good thoughts. Just two months after my heart attack, I’m feeling great! I am so lucky and grateful.