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‘Photos of the Month’: December 2024
‘Dear Lady of La Playa’ Advice Column #2
“How do you tell your friend that she shouldn’t try to buy a guy’s love? And how can I help her see her own worth? Poor girl.”
Commentary: Harry Pariser
This year, it finally happened. The “at Strybing Arboretum” was removed from all “San Francisco Botanical Garden” signage. With this move, acknowledgement of Helene Strybing’s legacy vanished from public view. The current acreage bears less and less resemblance to what it was during its glory.
Letter to the Editor: Please Support the Recall
The great majority of the residents of the Sunset and Richmond districts who are behind the recall are not “petulant” nor are we seeking revenge. What we would like to see is politicians held accountable to their constituents for their conduct.
Commentary: Jen Nossokoff
Democracy doesn’t just work when we show up to vote. It works when we step forward to lead. So, take the leap. Speak up. Run for something. You might just discover that the act of trying is a win all its own.
Wreath-Laying Ceremony Honors Fallen Military Heroes and Their Families
America’s fallen military heroes and their families who are laid to rest at the Presidio National Cemetery were remembered on Dec. 14 for their duty to country Approximately 250 volunteers placed fresh wreaths on every tombstone on the hallowed grounds.
Real Estate: John M. Lee
Looking back, as 2024 comes to an end, we have had another interesting year in the real estate market. The question being asked at the end of the year is always: “Where is the real estate market headed?”
Papers Filed to Start Recall Process of District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio
Richard Corriea, retired SFPD commander and former captain at the Richmond Station, turns a petition signed by 80 Sunset District residents over to the SF Department of Elections to start a recall process against District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio. Those calling for the ouster of the supervisor are upset over the recent passage of Proposition K, the measure Engardio introduced to close the Upper Great Highway to vehicle traffic. The supervisor has seven days to respond. If the language of the petition is approved, a signature-gathering drive would begin. Close to 10,000 valid signatures will have to be garnered from District 4 residents over the course of three months for a special election to be called. Right: Corriea addresses members of the press on Dec. 3 after handing over the recall petition.
Open Mic Night at the Riptide Offers Entertainment Along With Encouragement
The creaky door to the Riptide bar, on Taraval Street between 46th and 47th avenues, swings open revealing the hum of light conversations, clinking glasses and the occasional burst of laughter. Stained-glass lamps hang above tables and red LED lights under the double-sided bar create a dim ethereal ambiance.
Artship at Outer Sunset Farmers Market a Holdover From Playland on 43rd Avenue
Since 2020, a quiet stretch of 37th Avenue in the Sunset District has been a hub of connection and creativity. Nestled between A.P. Giannini Middle School and Sunset Boulevard, and free from residential homes or driveways, this street has transformed into a vibrant space for markets, cultural events and community collaborations.
‘Then and Now’: Frederick Street at Arguello Boulevard
Comparison photos of Frederick Street at Arguello Boulevard 116 years apart.
City Hall: Joel Engardio
I respect the views of Sunset voters who opposed Proposition K. Many have told me they didn’t feel heard in their objection to it being on the ballot. I take this feedback to heart because it’s important to me that everyone is heard.
Garden for the Environment Cultivating Community in the Sunset
Walking along Seventh Avenue at Lawton Street in the Inner Sunset, Garden for the Environment’s yellow banner appears as a beacon of the natural world among the city streets, inviting San Franciscans to “come on in” to its green space. The teaching garden is home to a “reservoir of community,” as garden staff like to call it.
Sunset District Neighbors Share a Wide Range of Opinions on Traffic Safety
When the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) asked Sunset District residents for ideas to improve traffic safety in the Inner Sunset, the resulting post-it notes lining the walls of the SF County Fair Building on Nov. 18 provided a diverse collection of opinions.
Letter to the Editor: The Downsides of Autonomous Vehicles
The deployment of robocars in San Francisco reveals a troubling trend of technological “innovation” that prioritizes corporate profits over community well-being. While proponents claim autonomous vehicles will improve street safety, the reality is far more complex and problematic.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 