Current Police Blotter
Star Witness Against Tony Hall Pleads the 5th!
Olivia Scanlon, the Ethics Commission’s star witness against Tony Hall in their 3 year long effort against the former District 7 Supervisor, plead the 5th Amendment against self-incrimination as the hearing progressed on October 27. She was a former Aide to Hall.
Scanlon, who also serves as an Aide to Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, appeared at the hearing in response to a subpoena from Hall’s attorney David Waggoner. Read More...
General Hospital Rebuild Bond Debate
by Mitch Katz, San Francisco public health director
San Francisco General Hospital, the city’s only trauma center and heart of our health care system, must be rebuilt to meet state seismic standards or close as early as 2013. The fate of General Hospital is some....
By George Wooding, VP West of Twin Peaks Central Council
The City of San Francisco is rapidly losing the trust of the San Francisco Voters.
Ask yourself, when was the last time San Francisco did a good job on a bond measure?... Read More...
West of Twin Peaks Central Council 
By Mitch Bull
The West of Twin Peaks Central Council (WOTPCC) meeting on Monday, October 27th was a spirited affair that ended up being focused mainly on city planning issues as San Francisco Planning Commissioner Mike Antonini gave an update on projects being considered by the Planning Department, as well as answering questions from the audience of approximately 30. Later, two of the three candidates vying for District 7 Supervisor addressed the group. Read More...
Business Corner
Spotlight on: SUNSET PET SUPPLY
Walking on the 2200 block of Taraval Street, you first see a sidewalk sign with a chalk message advising you to “Have a Great Day”. This cheery welcome is the first sign that Sunset Pet Supply is a different kind of retail store.
Read More...
Around the Town
Comings and Goings West of Twin Peaks
By Mitch Bull
You may have noticed some changes in the Observer last month, such as a change from the West of Twin Peaks Observer to the Westside Observer. That’s not the only thing to change. Read More...
Business Update
Villa D'Este Celebrates 30 years
By Jonathan Farrell
Ramon Oropeza loves his restaurant Villa d’Este which has been a long-standing part of the Lakeside Village area on Ocean Ave. "I never thought I would be in business this many years," he said
This October, Villa d’Este celebrated its 30th Anniversary.
Built in the 1920’s, before Oropeza took over, it had been a pie restaurant. Native San Franciscan Leanna Mossi confirmed. "Yes, it was a pie restaurant, but even then as now it was a place where the neighborhood liked to be," she said. Read More...
November 2008
Are There Flowers in West Portal's Future?
Staff Report
Community Benefits District? Matt Rogers, owner of Papenhausen Hardware, introduced a plan to establish a Community Benefits District along West Portal’s commercial strip at the last meeting of the West of Twin Peaks Central Council. “It’s in the beginning stages.” Rogers said, and he is seeking support from the residents. Read More...
Watch the Debate!
Fiona Ma v. Sean Elsbernd/Prop H
questions from The debate at the West of twin Peaks central council
The Clean Energy Initiative: Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and Julian Davis spoke in favor of the ballot proposition, Supervisor Sean Elsbernd spoke against. The members asked many questions and offered pithy pertinent commentary, no unusual occurrence at this venue. To view the 19 minute blow-by-blow, visit our website: www.westsideobserver.com/propH.. Click Here
Fiona Ma's Opinion piece: Clean Energy Starts Here
A Bond Dressed in Emperor's Clothes
By George Wooding
As November’s election rapidly approaches, San Francisco officials grow increasingly desperate to pass Proposition A to rebuild San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH). The City must convince two-thirds of voters for passage, but support is vanishing by the minute, just like the Emperor’s new clothes. What happened? Read More...
Bring Back Bengal Alley
Westside staff
“Bengal Alley between Miraloma and Lansdale is the main link for many Mt. Davidson and Sherwood Forest residents with the 43 bus which stops right at its gate on Miraloma Drive,” he said. “About two years ago, a cyclone fence, put up by DPW showed up blocking the way on Miraloma .” Read More...
Taraval Street Festival Returns on October 25th
By Mitch Bull
Food, fun and live music takes center stage as the 2nd annual Taraval Street Fair returns this month. The fair, organized by the Taraval Merchants Association, will take place on Taraval Street between 46th and 47th Avenues from 10:30 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 25th. Read More...
The Italian-American Social Club
a restaurant for everyone that makes you feel like you’re in the family dining room
By Mitch Bull
This month we take a trip to ‘old Italia’ at the Italian American Social Club, a place where generous servings of food, friendly staff and a great bar offer patrons an evening of dining the way it used to be…and still is. Read More...
Around the Town
Comings and Goings West of Twin Peaks
By Mitch Bull
You may have noticed some changes in the Observer last month, such as a change from the West of Twin Peaks Observer to the Westside Observer. That’s not the only thing to change. Read More...
Exclusive to the Westside Observer
Inside the Tony Hall Investigation
Who's Really Behind the Ethics Commission Investigation?
ByDavid Waggoner
...a new copy of a check — which Scanlon swore was a loan to Hall — that was different than the first version Scanlon gave to Mo. The new version of the check has the word, “Services,” written in the notation section of the lower left hand corner of the check. The “Services” notation is evidence that Hall was indeed paid by Cudden for consulting services. But the first version of the check that Scanlon gave to Mo three years ago did not have the “Services” notation. Neither Mo nor Scanlon has provided any explanation for why Scanlon provided a check which had apparently been altered to white-out the “Services” notation.. Read More...
Grand Jury Decries Bond Oversight
Special Fiscal Report to the Westside Observer
By Patrick Monette-Shaw
Deeply concerned about November’s San Francisco General Hospital “Proposition A” bond measure, San Francisco’s Civil Grand Jury released its report, “Accountability in San Francisco Government,” on June 26, highly critical of the previous Branch Library Improvement project (BLIP) and Laguna Honda Hospital (LHH) replacement general obligation bonds. Read More...
Boondoggle II: General Hospital Rebuild
Special Fiscal Report to the Westside Observer
By George Wooding
Officially, San Francisco is claiming that the bond will “only” cost $887.4 million. But additional, remaining hidden costs haven’t been considered or discussed publicly: $30 million preparing the bond; $640 million to service the debt repaying interest; and $157 million for furniture, fixtures and equipment — all of which seem to have been forgotten. Read More...
Bike Plan on Portola Draws Criticism
Guest Opinion to the West of Twin Peaks Observer
By Pamela Stone
San Francisco is a “Transit First” city, but due to location and physical impairments, not everyone is able to utilize public transportation for all purposes. It is difficult to find parking in the West Portal area to frequent the merchants in the area. Removal of parking from Portola will only exacerbate the problem. If parking is unavailable, individuals will go to other locales for the purchases and services. Read More...
Permission to speak freely
Tony Hall Bows Out of District Supervisor Race
Guest Opinion to the Westside Observer
By Tony Hall
...By now you know that I will not be a candidate because the City and State retirement systems informed me that after a 30 year career in local Government, as an executive in eight different Departments, the pension benefits that my family currently depends on would be permanently halved if I returned at the level of Supervisor. I even volunteered to return for no pay but was declined via an opinion by the City Attorney. Read More...
JROTC Ballot Proposition Misleads
Guest Opinion to the Westside Observer
By Dr. Dan Kelly
Before phasing out JROTC, the School Board listened to students, parents and community members on both sides. It weighed the arguments and considered what might be lost and what might be gained. It learned that many students seek leadership and community service opportunities, and that they want electives and after school activities which confer skills that translate into careers later. Read More...
Cow Palace: Not Dead Yet
Guest Opinion to the Westside Observer
By Kevin Patterson, Friends of Cow Palace
Mara Kopp said..."When it was threatened with destruction, the outpouring of enthusiasm and creative ideas for the future showed us that the Cow Palace is not only loved for nostalgic reasons, but people feel that it can change with the times and become an ever more valuable resource to the community.” Read More...
Around the Town
Comings and Goings West of Twin Peaks
By Mitch Bull
Festivals Galore…Pull out your calendars. September and October feature two community festivals to highlight the fall season.
On Saturday, September 13, 2008, the Sunset District Autumn Moon Festival Committee will present the 4th annual Autumn Moon Festival in the Sunset. Read More...
Business Corner
Back to Sports Fitness and Therapy
By Mitch Bull
We live in an era where packed waiting rooms are much too common when dealing with most medical practitioners. And when you finally get in, in many cases, you don’t get to see the medical professional, as aides, and assistants do most of the evaluations. Read More...
A Cartoon
By Doug Comstock
More Cartoons by Doug Comstock
A Cartoon
