Important Phone Numbers

In the Park Precinct newsletter this week there is a story about two guys arrested for warrents when a neighbor called in to report illegal behavior. This is a reminder that you can make a difference by calling in problems to the Police non-emergency line (553-0123) or the Department of Public Works (28-CLEAN). If you haven't already, we recommend that you program these handy numbers into your cellular phone for easy access.

This is a comment that is worth bringing to the front here:

I've had good responses for non-emergency issues using the park police station general email address, too.
SFPDParkStation@ci.sf.ca.us

Foot Patrols Legislation

Folks who attended our August 21st community meeting probably recall hearing some discussion about creating more foot patrols in the Western Addition, North Panhandle, and Upper Haight. This is the focus of legislation brought by Supervisor Mirkarimi which will come for a vote by the SF Board of Supervisors on September 19th. The latest Bay Guardian has a good editorial about the idea -

The idea of beat cops and community policing isn't new at all; in fact, it's the modern approach of highly mobile officers in cars, dispatched by a central computer and radio system in response to emergency calls, that's a relatively recent trend....

But cops walking the beat are a proven deterrent to crime — and that's not merely because of their visible presence. Properly trained and motivated community police officers can forge ties with merchants, residents, and neighborhood leaders. They can figure out where problems are likely to happen. They can become an asset to the community — not an outside occupying force that residents neither trust nor respect.

SFBG editorial

Map of Foot Patrols

Text of Legislation (PDF)

Community Meeting Turnout

Dear Neighbors,

Thanks to everyone who turned out last night for our Community Meeting at Cafe Neon to discuss the recent shooting. We had a standing room only crowd and good representation from the SFPD, Mayor's Office, and District Attorney. We are working to write up our notes from the meeting to provide everyone with all the information we learned last night, and we will post them here as soon as possible.

Remember, you can report graffiti and street trash to 28-CLEAN, and anything suspicious to the police at 553-0123 (non-emergency) - good phone numbers to have programmed into your cell phone.

See you in the streets,
Kevin Rafter
NOPNA Board Member

Candlelight Vigil & Walk Tonight, 6pm

A group of ~25 teens and staff from the Boys & Girls Club near Haight St. (Earnest Ingold Clubhouse) will conduct a candlelight walk from the clubhouse to Baker and Grove this evening. The walk will start at the clubhouse, 1950 Page St. near Stanyan.

Aubrey Abrakasa, the boy who was shot on Monday, was a member of the Boys & Girls Club and many teens who knew him well and grew up with him will attend.

We encourage everyone to join either at the start of the walk or as they pass by.

Community Meeting, MONDAY, August 21st, 7p, Cafe Neon

The police department have announced that they will host a community forum regarding the shooting at Baker and Grove. The forum will be at Cafe Neon (corner of Baker & McAllister) on Tuesday, August 22nd, 7p.

Please note that this meeting has been changed to Monday, August 21st, 7p.

We hope to also have Sup. Mirkarimi and someone from the District Attorney's office attend. We will update this information when we learn more.

Shooting at Grove and Baker on 8/14

As many residents know, there was a fatal shooting on Monday afternoon at the intersection of Grove & Baker in the North Panhandle. This is the second shooting in our neighborhood the past 18 months. The first was at the corner of Lyon & Golden Gate and happened at night.

News Coverage Update - Aug. 16: The Chronicle has a story on the shooting this morning.

Details about this case are slowly coming out - the boy who died was named Aubrey Abrakasa and was a good kid who lived nearby Pacific Primary on Grove Street. Police have obtained video from a surveillance camera on a nearby nursing home and hope that will offer some clues in the case. So far, no witnesses have come forward to identify the assailants, as far as we know.

This occurred directly in front of Pacific Primary Preschool. Luckily no one there was hurt.

NOPNA is in touch with many neighbors, Sup. Mirkarimi's office, and the police department. We will post more information here as we receive it. In the meantime, the Park Precinct is hosting a "Captain's Walk" on Divisadero this Thursday at 10am. The walk will start at Divisadero and Haight streets, and will be a good opportunity to talk to the police and Mirkarimi. We encourage our neighbors to come out.

Update from Capt. Jimenez of Park Precinct re: Captain's walk on 8/17-

Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 10 A.M., Lt. Tim Foley and I will conduct a Captain's Walk on Divisadero Street between Haight and McAllister Streets. We intend to address many issues concerning the Merchants and residents along this corridor. We will be bringing out our beat Officers and the Department of Public Works. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi has expressed his intent to be there to hear the concerns of those attending. The Mayor's Office and the District Attorney's Office are also sending representatives to answer any questions the community may have. We have contacted many of the diverse members that live, work and frequent this area and they have agreed to meet at around 11:00 A.M. (when the walk is over) at Ziryab restaurant located at 528 Divisadero Street. Come listen, vent, complain or offer a solution. It should if anything be quite interesting.

High school boy with full life shot dead in Northern Panhandle neighborhood [SFGate]

Zygmundt Arendt House update

We have posted meeting minutes from a July 12th neighborhood meeting hosted by WRT/Solomon E.T.C., the architects working on the project at 850 Broderick, otherwise known as the Zygmundt Arendt House.

Click here for the PDF file.

And click here for a previous post (with reader comments) on the project from July 24th.

Zygmunt Arendt House, 850 Broderick [NOPNA blog]

Falletti's update (and walkthrough)

Kevin Rafter did a walkthrough at Falletti's today and had some thoughts and comments...

I got to meet Tick Falletti today and get a walkthru of the store. It's going to be great. They've been working on this alone for several years as they had to close all their other stores after losing their lease at Plaza (now Albertsons). Their manager, Alan, started working for them at the Plaza location when he was 17 years old. Tick's two sons are also involved, and they have rehired some of their old-school butchers so there will be some real experienced folks behind the counter. The rendering on the Falletti's site shows the butcher/fish counter. There will also be produce, wine, a couple refrigerated aisles, and about 4 aisles for other foods and necessities. Modest scale.

Falletti's is also handling all the leasing for the other spaces. They've lined up Delessio's for a delux NY style deli on the SW corner (Broderick & Oak). I ran into Mr. Delissio on my way out (not his real name) and he claimed that they will be preparing over 100 different food items there including cakes and pastries, and perhaps eventually their own ice cream (Elsa will be excited to hear that!).

Peets is confirmed for a small cafe space facing the BofA. There is another retail food space w/ seating facing Broderick that they have yet to lease, and three small store fronts on Fell, also unleased at the moment. Sounds like they will get one or two restaurants/take out (burritos, sushi?), possibly a cleaners. I suggested a florist... if you have other's, let me know. They seem really interested in finding tenants who will be a good fit for the area. Given that this project is 2 years behind schedule and has been their central focus for 4-5 years, they are deeply invested in making the project work.

They are expected to open around the first week of October 2006.

Thanks for the update, Kevin!

Falletti Foods [official site]

NOPNA Tree Planting ONLY $75 per Tree!

NOPNA

You are invited to plant a tree in front of your house or building. The cost for this service is normally over $300 if done on your own, but San Francisco Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) and a City Neighborhood Block Grant is allowing us to offer trees at a greatly subsidized rate, for only $75 . This price also includes two post-planting tree care visits. ACT NOW while funding is still available! In order for NOPNA to qualify, we need a minimum of 25 neighborhood residences participating. To sign up or for more information, please contact Alex Waterbury at (415) 810-1496, or email him at alexwaterbury@gmail.com. And don't forget to tell your neighbors!

Park Precinct Captain's Walk, Divisadero, 8/17, 10am

This is from the most recent Park Station newsletter:

Lt Foley and Captain Gary Jimenez are planning a Captain's Walk on Divisadero St between Haight St and Fulton St on Thursday, August 17th at 10am. Any party interested contact me via e-mail at Park Station. We will have more information on this event next week.

The Park Station email address is SFPDParkStation@ci.sf.ca.us.

NOPNA Community Clean Up Day this Saturday, 8/5

Just a reminder that the NOPNA Parent's group is sponsoring a Community Clean Up Day in our area this Saturday, Aug.5th 10am at Cafe Neon!

Please join us in as we help educate our kids on the importance of respecting our environment and keeping it clean. We have a small surprise for every child and young adult that participates in the clean up. We hope you will participate- meet your neighbors, have some fun, and reinforce the message that we respect our neighborhood!

Saturday, Aug. 5th
Meet at Cafe Neon, 10am (2 hours max)

The DPW is providing brooms, dust pans, garbage bags, and gloves for 30 adults plus kids that show up.