precita.org

There have been a couple interesting comments from local residents posted on SFGate in relation to their 2 sentence article about Friday (8/22/08 at 12:05am) morning's shooting at 26th and Folsom.

captian_maxxx posted a message on SFGate.com:

Last night at about 12:05 am I almost had a heart attack. The shooting was unbelievably loud and resounding followed by a calm and eerie silence. I thought at first it was more fireworks. I carefully peeked out the window scared to see and not see what was happening. The cops were there before anyone could call them. They were trying in vain to help the guy who was shot three times.

sf_mission_res posted a message on SFGate.com:

I live at 26th and Folsom and ran outside with my neighbor to speak with the police to find out what happened after hearing the gunshots. While pleasantly surprised that they showed up, they wouldn't even let us know that a shooting took place and yelled at us to leave the area. I politely pleaded that they provide us information since we were not only scared, our kids were freaking out. Refusing to leave until we got an answer, one of the officers started to push me and threatened to arrest me for standing on the street. So funny because there are no less than 100 undocumented "day laborers" and drunks on this corner every morning. And straight from the mouth of the Mission District captain at the police meetings I diligently attend "We can't arrest someone just for standing on the street or corner". I and the neighborhood groups I'm involved with, have been begging the city and police department to do something on this block, as it is out of control. So pathetic - so sad.

If you were an eyewitness to this event, or close by and have more to add, please leave a comment and let us know more!

Labels: crime

Cbs5.com is reporting a shooting at Folsom and 26th, 12:05am Friday morning: "When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to San Francisco General Hospital where he died"

UPDATE: SFgate is reporting that the victim was 47-year-old Samuel Mitchell of San Francisco, and that there have been no reports of an arrest.

26th Street is turning out to be a pretty unsafe street in the Mission. According the the SF Crime Blog, there have been five previous homicides on or near 26th in the last 18 months:

1. 26th and Mission Streets, 11:35 p.m., January 7, 2008


2. South Van Ness Ave. between 25th and 26th Streets, 6:45 p.m., February 8, 2008


3. 3000 block of Harrison Street (at 26th), 9:30 p.m., April 30th, 2008


4. Folsom and 25th Streets, October 11, 2007


5. 26th and Harrison Streets, May 2, 2007

Labels: crime

[Thanks to MMC for this report!]

I attended the Oakes Children's Center Community meeting on August 15th, and I left with a very good impression of the program and the staff.

I was worried about what it would be like to have another school here again. The high school that was here last created some problems, specifically, crazy gridlock on Treat Avenue in the morning and afternoon when parents dropped off and picked up their kids and couldn't turn around on the street, and also a problem of trash and graffiti. The people that ran the school were very unresponsive.

The Oakes people seemed really nice and professional, and assured all the neighbors that attended that their door was always open to us for any questions or comments. They are very happy to be moving to an area with such nice weather after being in the Sunset. There were a couple of parents there and they were really happy with the school and the staff and told some touching stories about how Oakes has helped their kids.

Here are some more notes I took... but keep in mind these may not totally be accurate due to me trying to type and listen, so feel free to contact the school if you have any questions!

• 15 students total at present, up to 25 kids maybe in the future
  


• aprox. 31 staff members
  


• Kids always supervised.
  


• Pick up/drop off: 4 buses a day, (2 morning, 2 evening) all kids ride buses, buses will offload on Folsom or drive through. Aides on the bus. Some small number of kids might come in the afternoon for counseling sessions.
  


• Ages of kids: 5-14
  


• Hours: Morning till around 6pm. No weekends, 11 months school.
  


• Funding: by SF Deptartment of Public Health and SFUSD
  


• They got a long lease
  


• 3 classes k-2, 3-4, 5-8
  


• Referrals come from school district
  


• Education and mental health services
  


• They have after school groups (from other schools) "outpatient" therapy, group sessions, autistic or developmentally delayed, in a small van. 5 groups with 5 kids each.
  


• They are happy to have people serve on their Board of Directors, and you do not need any special qualifications to serve.
  

Labels: News, precita valley neighboars, pvn

The second installment of the Cesar Chavez Community Design Workshop happens this Tuesday, August 26, 6-7:30pm at Leonard Flynn Elementary School, 3125 Cesar Chavez Street.

Next week, please join us for the 2nd Cesar Chavez Street Design workshop. Staff will present two design alternatives for Cesar Chavez Street based on feedback from the first community workshop in May.

The project's goals are to:

Make Cesar Chavez Street a safer place for people by improving crossings, widening sidewalks, and enhancing lighting;

Redesign Cesar Chavez Street with high quality landscaping, gracious trees, pedestrian lighting, and other design treatments;

Reconnect the neighborhood by making Cesar Chavez Street a destination, rather than a divide;

Improve the area’s natural ecology by integrating stormwater design elements into the street;

Improve bicycle connections and safety in both directions;

Ensure that traffic doesn’t spill over into surrounding neighborhoods.

Labels: parking, Precita Park, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn, traffic calming, trees

From the Police Blotter:

August 11, 2008 Precita Ave. & Harrison St. Attempted Armed Robbery: Gun

A 21 year old Oakland man found himself surrounded by four men as he walked to his car [update: which was parked just west of the Leonard Flynn School on the north side of Precita -in the dark area under the trees]. One of the men demanded his cell phone and the man refused to surrender it. The victim was knocked to the ground and struck over the head with a handgun. The four fled without taking anything from the victim. The victim heard a shot fired as the perpetrators ran away.

It sounds like there is far more story to this "event" than is being posted in the police blotter. Anyone know more about what's going on here? It's also unclear of which side of the park this was on. If you noticed a group of four men loitering around the park, can you describe them? Please post a comment if you can.

Labels: crime, gangs, Neighborhood Watch, police blotter, Precita Park

Flyers have been distributed in on Treat about the Oakes Children's Center, which is moving into 1550 Treat, the old Immaculate Conception School (which was formerly housing Metro Arts High School).

Some information on Oakes:

The mission of Oakes Children's Center is to help developmentally delayed and emotionally disturbed children develop the independence and self-awareness necessary to live and continue learning in the least restrictive setting possible within their local community.

Oakes will move into the new location on August 20th.

Their website has more information on services provided by Oakes Children's Center.

There will be a community meeting on Friday, August 15, from 4 to 5:30 PM at the school (1550 Treat) with representatives from San Francisco Department of Public Health and Oakes School staff to introduce the school and answer questions neighbors may have.

Unfortunately, this meeting happens during the time that many people are at work.

If you need more information, you can call 415 564-2310.

Labels: News, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn

If you see the park sprinklers malfunctioning, that is, if they're going off in the middle of the day, or they're spraying out into the street, etc; please call 311 and report it.

We have found that 311 will act faster on issues reported by more than one person. It only takes a minute to call 311, and you can do so anonymously if you wish.

Labels: Precita Park

Once again, Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema will have a free screening in Precita Park on Sunday, August 31. Music in the Park begins at 5pm, and you'll have a chance to meet the filmmakers starting at 6pm.
The screening by Youth Filmworks begins at 7:30pm

A few more details:

Picnics are encouraged. No alcohol (or drugs). No barbecues please. Concessions including hot and cold beverages, snacks, desserts will be for sale at screening sites by our community partners.

Please help keep the screening areas and our neighborhood clean — we ask that you remove your own trash and utilize recycling containers located throughout the parks.

Labels: Precita Park

Bernal Heights Pipeline - (Putnam, Nebraska, Powhattan, Alabama, Ripley Streets) Construction Update from

SFWATER.ORG:

Crews are currently are pressure testing the pipeline at Putnam, Nebraska and Powhattan.  Upon passing all pressure tests crews will begin restoring the roadway.  Crew are awaiting the arrival of the last pipe segment to complete the work at Alabama & Ripley. Some parking has been temporarily removed at Alabama & Ripley and traffic patterns have slightly changed. The storing of some materials and equipment is located at Powhattan & Nebraska and also at Bernal Heights Boulevard near Bradford Street.

Work Hours : Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The target completion date for this project is August 2008.

Construction on Nebraska street above Cortland:





Pipes waiting for installation on Ripley at Alabama:

Labels: bernal hills pipeline

July 31st, 10:20 pm 3300 block of Mission St. Armed Robbery - Gun

A grocery store clerk found a 20 to 35 year old black male standing behind him with a gun in his hand demanding money from the clerk's register. The clerk complied and the robber fled on foot from the store. Inspector Boes from the Robbery Detail took over the case.

Labels: crime, Neighborhood Watch