precita.org

Mission Local has a good piece on the Cesar Chavez Redesign:

The first phase, which is likely to start this summer, involves redoing the sewage system to reduce flooding.

Above ground, the second phase will involve planting more trees, using energy-efficient street lights and converting the three lanes of traffic in each direction to two lanes. With concerns over safety, a 14-foot tree-lined median and widened curbs will be paved to decrease the time needed for pedestrians to cross the intersection. Bicyclists will also be able to enjoy the additional street space through permanent bike lanes.

More at Mission Local. It's all part of the Mission Streetscape Plan.

Labels: Cesar Chavez, News, Planning, traffic calming

Beautiful day in Precita Park right after the rains, and after the park was mowed.

Labels: Dog park, Precita Park

After a long renovation, the Bernal Heights branch library (500 Cortland at Andover) is reopening on Saturday, January 30 with a big party. Ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. The Friends of the SFPL are organizing refreshments, music, and giveaways, and you can check out books and other materials from 2 p.m. [More details]

Bernal History Project members will be in attendance to answer questions about the neighborhood, show pictures and maps, and gather research for our archives. (Have photos or stories to share? Come on by!)

Labels: News

Last night's storm dumped 1.8 inches of rain on San Francisco. That's about the equivalent of 70,000 gallons of water landing just on Precita Park.


Sunday, we also received about an inch of rain in SF, which is about 47,000 gallons hitting Precita Park.


That's a lot of water!


So if the grass is mushy, now you know why.

(Each inch of rain falling on one square foot is 0.63 gallons.)

Labels: Precita Park

Captain’s Message:

Outstanding Auto Burglar Arrest! At 2:40 a.m., Thursday (14-Jan-10) morning, Officers Dudley and Almaguer responded to an Auto Burglary in progress in the Precita Park area on the 1300 block of Shotwell. Once obtaining the suspect’s description, they traveled into the Mission District and captured the suspect!

Here's the details:

Officers Almaguer and Dudley were sent to investigate a car break in progress. The officers arrived and were met by a reportee who told the officer’s that he witnessed a theft. The reportee gave the officers the description and direction of the suspect. The suspect was carrying a car stereo that he had removed from the car with wires still hanging from it.

The reportee went as far as to cautiously follow the suspect and continued to report to dispatch. The officers began to search for the suspect with the information provided by the witness. Two blocks away the officers located a possible suspect that was wearing the same clothing and carrying a car stereo with wires hanging. The officers decided to detain this suspect. The suspect was arrested! Because of the willingness of this courageous member of the community, this suspect is in custody and will no long be loose in our community.

These kinds of crimes only get solved with input from community members. If you see a crime in progress, CALL 911.

Labels: Car Break-ins, crime, Precita Park

At the last Precita Valley Neighbors meeting, issues about aggressive off-leash dogs in Precita Park has come up. Officer John Denny will talk about this in our February 13th PVN Meeting.

Here's some excerpts from a discussion with Officer J. Denny:

First and foremost, anyone who encounters a dog that exhibits "menacing and/or aggressive behavior" (Article 1, Section 42 of the San Francisco Health Code) should immediately summon the police who should then respond and take control of the situation as well as document the incident with a police report.   If the incident  is in progress or if all parties are on scene then I would urge a 911 call.  (The direct cell phone number to a SF 911 dispatcher is 553-8090)

What many people (and, alas, police officers) are unaware of is that a police report should be made ANY time a dog exhibits menacing and/or aggressive behavior.  While a bite is obviously an example of menacing and/or aggressive behavior, such behavior ALSO includes lunging, snapping, charging and near-miss bites or bites that occur without leaving any marks.

For example, if a dog owner is walking his/her dog down a sidewalk and the dog is on its hind legs pulling at its leash while snapping and snarling (hopefully it is on a leash) while trying to get at people or other dogs, it only takes the snap of a chain or the drop of the leash and the dog is free and, as such, creates a danger to  the public.  I suggest calling the police via 911.

ALL reports of dog aggression should find their way to my desk where an investigation shall be initiated.  Many times the result of  the investigation require that a Vicious and Dangerous Dog Hearing be held to determine remedies that would prevent future incidents involving the dog in question.  As I am the scheduling officer for the hearings and my supervisor is the hearing officer (Sgt. Herndon) the process usually runs smoothly (now I've jinxed it).

So , in short, and we will expand on this topic at our meeting, nobody should be in fear of being attacked or having their dog attacked by while in public.  There is a mechanism in place that deals with specific dogs. But the mechanism is engaged only once we know about the aggressive dog and its actions (via police reports).

Labels: Dog park, Precita Valley Neighbors

Notes from the Precita Valley Neighbors meeting on 9-Jan-10:

1. Sergeant Lynn O’Brien is our new SFPD group liaison.  She will cover our February 13th Meeting.

2. There have been more aggressive dog incidents in Precita Park.  Officer John Denny will talk about this in our February 13th Meeting.

3. Park Improvement Grant ideas for better Precita Park maintenance and use: discussion concerning a legal fenced dog run in Precita Park.  The group discussed whether an enclosed dog run area may be safer to contain (illegal) off leash dogs than the current undivided space between (illegal) off leash dogs and people.

4. Precita Park area Caesar Chavez and Bernal Traffic Calming updates will be presented by DPW and MTA.

5. Neighbors are working with 500 Precita owner to encourage organic food store.  Prior tenant’s liquor license is suspended and will not be renewed there.

6. Neighbors are working with an environmental consultant addressing antenna installation near Alabama/Mullen, which is very noisy and was put up without notification. (more info)

7. DPW has been notified about the Alabama stop sign obscured by large tree: request for tree pruning and moving sign closer to street curb.

8. PVN is in the process of working on permitting and maintaining plants inside the new pavers adjacent to Charlie’s Café.

Labels: Dog park, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn

Tmobile has installed a microcell on a PG&E utility poll at Mullen and Peralta. Most people notice it not so much because of the antenna at the top of the pole, but because of all the equipment that was mounted on the pole. And as the neighbors near it say, the noise from the cooling system for the electronics is really, really loud, and it's mounted on a pole less than 8 feet from the adjacent home's front door.

The neighbors also say that there was no advanced notice that this equipment would be installed, nor any information on who was installing it.

At least Tmobile did try to address appearance issues- the equipment is all painted the same color as the telephone pole and isn't a glaring grey box. But they should be required to make something that operates almost silently. We could understand if it was a very hot day that perhaps the fans might run more loudly; but after dark when it is 50 degrees out and the fans in it are blowing away loudly. And it's making this sound 24 hours a day.

From a design perspective, this is not called for.

Hopefully, Tmobile will deal with the issues of this installation.

Tmobile Microcell Noise Issues from Team Precita on Vimeo.

Labels: Planning, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn, Zoning

Precita Valley Neighbors Meeting
Saturday, January 9th, 9:30am – 10:30am
Charlie’s Café Folsom/Precita

AGENDA:
1. Our new SFPD representative will discuss the uptick in crimes and how to watch for casing activities and prevent future crimes.

2. There have been more aggressive dog incidents in Precita Park. Discussion will include a SFPD officer familiar these interactions and how to prevent them in advance.

3. Park Improvement Grant ideas for better Precita Park maintenance and use.

4. Precita Park area Ceasar Chavez Traffic Calming updates.

Labels: Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn

Big pothole on 24th near Bryant. So big a delivery truck got stuck in it!

Not only is it deep, but it has undermined the street near it. 24th is currently closed. You can't tell so much from these pictures because we couldn't get close enough, but the hole is actually much bigger than the break in the pavement above it. It goes down about 3 feet, and the pavement is only a couple inches thick.

Labels: construction

Officers Hurwitz and Daggett were on patrol at 07:45 pm when they heard two separate calls in the span of a half an hour in regards to cars being burglarized.
The officers suspected these calls were related, and responded to the area. They located a suspect who matched the description inside a car which did
not belong to him. The officers took the suspect into custody and he later admitted to entering three vehicles which did not belong to him with the intention of stealing items.

Great work Officers Hurwitz and Daggett catching the criminal!

Labels: Car Break-ins

Did you know it's actually against the law for a solicitor to knock on your door or ring your bell if you have a "No Peddlers" or "No Solicitors" sign in public view?

SEC. 870. - PEDDLING WHERE SIGN "NO PEDDLERS" DISPLAYED PROHIBITED.

It shall be unlawful for any peddler, or any person pretending to be a peddler, for the purpose of selling or pretending to sell, goods, wares or merchandise, or any article, material or substance of whatsoever kind, to ring the bell or knock at the door of any residence or dwelling whereon a sign bearing the words "No Peddlers" or words of similar import, is painted or affixed so as to be exposed to public view, or to peddle or pretend to peddle goods, wares or merchandise, or any article, material or substance, of whatsoever kind, in any building, whereon, or wherein a sign bearing the words "No Peddlers," or words of similar import, is painted or affixed so as to be exposed to public view.

Labels: Neighborhood Watch

Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors made changes to the existing SF laws prohibiting parking of vehicles on the street for more than 72 hours. The new rule allows people to park cars for 7 days before they have to move them.

So before you get upset for not moving their car for several days, remember that the law has been changed and now vehicles only have to be moved weekly.

Labels: parking

From the Police Blotter:

There was a robbery in Bernal Heights on Wednesday the 25th around 5:45 p.m. A person was sitting in Martha Brothers coffee on Cortland when the suspect came in and forcible took the victims laptop. The heroic citizen chased after the suspect and retrieved his laptop. I am glad the victim was not injured during this incident. Please be aware that these incidents do occur in coffee shops. Safeguard your property!

Labels: crime, Neighborhood Watch

Tuesday, Oct 27th, 2:20 pm, Precita @ Folsom
Aggravated Assault Arrest

Officers Thompson and Altamirano were sent to investigate an aggravated assault case. There were several witnesses at the scene. The witnesses told the officers that they observed two men in a verbal argument and that one of the men struck the other several times with an object. The witnesses called the police and stayed in the area and or followed the suspect until the police arrived. All of the witnesses positively identified the suspect. This was important because the victim’s injuries did not allow him to do so. Thanks to the courageous acts of these socially responsible community members, a violent criminal has been taken off our streets. This illustrates how our Community and Police partnership can work at its best.

[Anyone have more details on this? Was it a neighbor who was involved or a park user or? We too thank the witnesses for reporting this and making sure the violent criminal was apprehended. - Editor]

Labels: crime, police blotter