This morning, the San Francisco City Attorney’s office began notifying local restaurants that their certification for food safety managers will no longer be recognized as valid as a result of inappropriate testing and certification procedures.

State law requires food facilities to have at least one employee or owner who has successfully passed an approved and accredited Food Safety Certification examination.

The original investigation, initiated by the Dept. of Public Health (DPH) and conducted by City Attorney Dennis Herrera’s office, “uncovered significant irregularities in the administration of the exams by three DPH food inspectors working independently and without the authority of the Department”.

They found that numerous food safety certifications had been issued to individuals who never actually took the exam, while other test takers were given correct answers during the course of their exam. And other times, test materials and correct answers were shared with examinees before the test was administered.

As a result of the investigation, two of the three DPH food inspectors were fired, and an investigation
continues into the conduct of the third employee.

The notices sent to food facilities this morning allege no wrongdoing or immediate food safety problems on the part of restaurants or individual certificate holders. Rather, City public health authorities have determined that affected certificate holders must be recertified.

The affected restaurants will have 60 days to obtain new certifications, or to inform DPH that another validly certified staffer can fulfill the required role.

Among the list of 345 restaurants affected by this enforcement, I identified 38 that reside here in the Richmond District (94118, 94121 zip codes). Again, these restaurants have done nothing wrong and this notice is not an indicator of a health safety violation.

Read the full press release and restaurant list here

More on this story from SF Gate

Sarah B.

SF Weekly highlights a nice review of one of the Richmond District’s best kept secrets: The Shanghai Dumpling King restaurant at 3319 Balboa Street. When I was introduced to it several months ago by my friends Gene and Chad, they jokingly hissed “Don’t tell anyone about this place!”.

The fun, KQED food review show “Check, Please!” provided the original, thorough writeup after reviewer Lysley ate there on Christmas Day in 2008. He just couldn’t get enough of the restaurant’s juicy dumplings and tasty buns:

“While soup dumplings are the superstar on the menu, the others are excellent as well. They offer about a dozen different kinds, and my favorites are the pork and crabmeat, the pork and chive, and the vegetable. All are steamed, and arrive in their own bamboo steamers. I also love the pan-fried pork buns, which are like little pork buns you might find at a fast food dim sum joint along Clement Street, but much better. The quality of the pork filling and the bun itself surpass those by far. For new visitors to Shanghai Dumpling King, I always recommend making an entire meal out of the dumplings. Ranging from five to eight dollars each, they’re an amazing deal.”

Read the full “Check, Please!” review here

They’re also extremely popular on Yelp with 356 reviews and averaging 3.5/5 stars.

Be sure to check out the episode of “Check, Please!” below that includes the review of Shanghai Dumping. It starts at the 1:20 mark.

Sarah B.

[Reprinted from The Richmond Police Station Newsletter of August 14 and 21, 2009. The station was a bit behind in publishing their blotters, so this edition includes the past two weeks. To be added to the station's mailing list, email sfpd.richmond.station@sfgov.org or visit their website.]

AUGUST 14, 2009

CAPTAIN RICHARD CORREIA’S MESSAGE
Experience tells us that a small number of individuals are responsible for a disproportionate amount of criminal activity, and that some areas are more prone to crime than others. As such, effective law enforcement tactics are based trend analysis. The following two arrest cases will no doubt result in a decline in our burglary rates while the individuals are in custody.

On August 12, 2009 plain clothes Officers from Richmond Station were driving near the Cliff House, focusing their attention on an area that experiences a disproportionate number of automobile burglaries. Criminals target this area because of the number of tourists that leave property in vehicles because they are unaware of the risks. The officer noticed a known parolee waling on Point Lobos. The parolee immediately “made” the officers. The officers stopped the parolee and they found a knife and burglar tools in his possession. The subject has a criminal history that included forty-four felonies and thirty-six misdemeanor arrests. Most of the arrests have been for burglary and possession of burglar tools. This individual is likely responsible for several automobile burglaries each day.

On 08/10/09 officers were in the area of Ninth Avenue and Anza Street in connection burglary call. There they spotted the suspect and arrested him for attempted burglary, trespassing and parole violation. The suspect in this incident is a career criminal with thirty-one felony arrests and fourteen misdemeanor arrests. Most of this individual’s contact with law enforcement has been related to burglaries, robberies and illicit drugs.

During the past week, there were 21 traffic accidents, 4 involving injuries, and 3 DUI arrests.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 08/06/09 at 11:11 pm a vehicle was stopped for having an expired registration. A computer check revealed that the driver was driving on a suspended license and had an outstanding arrest warrant. The driver was arrested and booked at Richmond Station.

On 08/07/09 at 8:13 pm officers responded to the area of 17th Avenue and Geary Boulevard regarding a report of a fight. The suspect, according to dispatch, appeared to be intoxicated. The suspect fled in a white SUV. A witness noted the license plate of the vehicle and a computer check revealed the registered owner’s address. Officer’s responded to the address on file and they observed the vehicle matching the license plate being driven by a person that matched the suspect’s description. The officer’s made contact with the driver who appeared intoxicated. There were two child passengers in the back seat of the vehicle. A computer check revealed that the driver had a suspended driver’s license and an outstanding warrant out of Daly City. Further investigation revealed that the victim of the fight had been assaulted by the suspect because the victim tried to prevent the suspect from drivin g drunk with two children in the vehicle. The driver was arrested and the children were placed with child protective services.

On 08/08/09 at 2:36 pm officers responded to the 1000 Block of Great Highway regarding a threats report. The victim said an unknown suspect followed him and said inappropriate things to him and his dog. The victim became fearful for his safety and his life when the suspect threatened to shoot him. Officers detained the suspect which the victim positively identified. A computer check revealed that the suspect was on parole. The suspect was arrested for criminal threats and parole violation.

On 08/08/09 at 4:15 pm officers responded to 850 La Playa regarding a call of a suspicious person possibly casing vehicles in the area. A male subject matching the description given by dispatch was detained. A computer check on the subject revealed that he had a “R 20;no bail” warrant for his arrest. The suspect was placed under arrest and booked at Richmond Station.

On 08/09/09 at 8:05 am an officer was dispatched to the 100 Block of Funston Avenue for a well being check on a male sleeping in a vehicle. The officers woke the subject and asked him if he was alright. The subject said “Yes, I’m just sleeping”. He stated that he found the vehicle unlocked and fell asleep inside. A pat search of the subject revealed filed down keys, normally used by auto burglars to illegally gain entry into vehicles. Other officers arrived on scene and assisted in the investigation. The owner of the vehicle came on scene and stated that he never gave anyone permission to enter his vehicle or to rummage through his property. He also stated that he had locked his vehicle when he parked it. A bicycle was discovered in close proximity of the suspect and the vehicle. Numerous burglary tools were located inside a bag that was secured on the rear of the bicycle. The suspect was arrested for burglary, possession of burglary tools, and parole violation (for burglary).

On 08/10/09 at 2:07pm officers responded to the 400 Block of 9th Avenue regarding a report of an attempted burglary. The victim heard a loud noise coming from the back of his apartment that sounded like someone was trying to force his door and window open. The victim said he saw a male standing outside on his back deck, lifting up his kitchen window. The victim asked the suspect “what are you doing?” and the male said he was looking for someone. The suspect then walked down the fire escape and fled south on 8th Avenue. The victim called 911 as he followed the suspect but lost sight of him. A broadcast of the suspect’s description was made by dispatch. Officers spotted a subject matching the suspect’s description. The subject appeared to be “ducking” and was avoiding detection. The suspect was detained, identified by the victim and a computer check revealed that he was on parole. The suspect was arrested for attempted burglary, trespassing, and parole violation.

On 08/11/09 at 12:20 pm an officer responded to the area of Park Presidio and Fulton regarding a non-injury vehicle accident. Upon conducting an exchange of information, one driver said she did not have her driver’s license on her but had a picture id. The driver was cited for having an expired registration tab, no proof of insurance and failure to present a valid driver’s license.

On 08/12/09 at 4 pm plain clothes officers in the area of Great Highway and John F. Kennedy Drive spotted a known auto burglar that was on parole. A parole search of the subject revealed a pocket knife that had damages that appeared to be consistent with prying vehicle windows and doors, in violation of his parole terms. The suspect was arrested and booked ant Richmond Station.

On 08/12/09 at 11:53 pm an officer responded to 850 La Playa Street regarding a subject in custody for shoplifting. The suspect was caught stealing a bottle of wine, placing it inside his right front pants pocket and failed to pay for it prior to exiting the store. The arrest was taken from the store’s security. A computer check revealed that the suspect had just been released from San Quentin Prison and that he had numerous active traffic warrants. The suspect was booked at Richmond Station for the theft and the warrants.

On 08/13/09 at 12:23 am officers stopped a vehicle in the area of Geary Boulevard and Arguello Boulevard for not having its headlights turned on during darkness. Upon making contact with the driver, the officers smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on the driver’s breath. The driver said he had not consumed any alcoholic beverages. A Field Sobriety Test was conducted and the driver was not able to perform all of the tests satisfactorily. A Preliminary Alcohol Screening test was administered which resulted in a reading of excessive alcohol in the driver’s breath. The driver was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

On 08/13/09 at 2 am an officer stopped a vehicle in the area of Geary Boulevard and Funston Avenue for an illegal left turn. Upon making contact with the driver, the officer smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on the driver’s breath. A Field Sobriety Test was conducted and the driver was not able to perform any of the tests. A Preliminary Alcohol Screening test was administered which resulted in a reading of excessive alcohol in the driver’s breath. The driver was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

On 08/14/09 at 12:11 am officers responded to the 6100 Block of Geary Boulevard regarding a report of a person with a gun. Officer’s detained an intoxicated male suspect that matched the description given by dispatch. According to the victim, the suspect threatened to shoot everyone in the bar. A computer check on the suspect revealed that he had an outstanding warrant from Daly City. The suspect was arrested for criminal threats and for the outstanding warrant. No firearm was seen or located.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
On 08/13/09 at 9:38 pm officers responded to 850 La Playa Street regarding a battery incident. According to the victim, he was sitting in the park at La Playa and Fulton Street with the suspect when the suspect started punching him on his face and body. The suspect fled the area after the beating. The victim was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital where he was treated. A search of the area for the suspect had negative results.

AUGUST 21, 2009

CAPTAIN RICHARD CORREIA’S MESSAGE
On August 18, 2009 a teenager was set upon and seriously assaulted by an individual with whom she had been casually acquainted. The assault occurred in the early evening on the 4700 Block of Geary Boulevard. The suspect fled the scene as the victim’s terrified family members rushed out of their home after hearing sounds of a scuffle. The victim injuries included abrasions and lacerations that required sutures. On the morning of August 19, 2009 Inspector Ken Esposto from the Juvenile Bureau commenced his follow-up investigation and the suspect was in police custody within hours.

During the past week, there were 21 traffic accidents, 10 involving injuries, and 4 DUI arrests. There were 7 citations issued for driving without a license or driving on a suspended license.

NOTEWORTHY ARRESTS
On 08/14/09 at 6:12pm plainclothes officers were patrolling in the area of 21st Avenue and Geary. They saw a suspect approaching several different pedestrians and noticed that the suspect would walk along with them for 30-40 feet. Officers saw the suspect approach a female and try to engage her in conversation. It appeared the female was uncomfortable with the suspect’s attention as she picked up her pace and walked closer to the curb to get away from him. The officers approached the suspect and determined that he was in possession of a dagger, which was concealed in his pocket. The suspect, a 39-year-old male was charged with carrying a concealed weapon.

On 08/15/09 at 9:30pm officers responded to a call of a fight at 47th Avenue and Cabrillo Street. Officers detained a subject who was leaving the area and conducted a warrant check. It was determined that he had outstanding warrants for burglary and grand theft. Further investigation determined that he was not involved in the fight. The male, a 45 year old was charged with the warrants.

On 08/15 at 11:52pm officers responded to a call of a burglary in progress on the 600 block of 32nd Avenue. A caller was watching from his residence and could see the suspects inside the building located there. As officers arrived on scene they saw three suspects running near the football field. One suspect was detained as he attempted to escape via a hole in the fence. The other two attempted to hide in the brush. The three suspects, all juveniles, were charged with trespassing and released to their parents.

On 08/16/09 at 11:38am, an officer had conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at 25th Avenue and Clement. While the officer was speaking to the driver a male approached the officer on foot and began yelling obscenities at him. The officer informed the male that he was interfering with his duties and that he needed to leave the area. The male left but returned a short time later, continuing his tirade. The male was highly agitated and told the officer to “bring it on” and at this point the officer asked for back up. The male was instructed to place his hands on the wall as he was under arrest. The male began to comply but then spun around and told the officer that he wasn’t going to be arrested. The officer discharged his pepper spray but the male took off running. He was detained by the responding back up officers and charged with obstructing an officer, and resisting arrest. The 50-year-old male also had an outstanding warrant from Santa Clara County.

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS
Between 08/07/09 and 08/17/09 on the 600 block of 48th Avenue a suspect entered into an apartment and took game systems, a television, cash and laptops.

Between 08/14/09 at 6:00am and 08/16/09 at 7:30am on the, a suspect entered into an apartment on the 2200 block of Divisadero by prying open the front door. The suspect took two laptops, a desktop computer and jewelry.

On 08/15 /09 at 2:55am a victim was walking to his car on the 100 block of Palm Avenue with his girlfriend and another person when he was suddenly attacked by three males. The victim was punched in the face and then dragged into the street by the suspects where they kicked and punched him all over his body. The girlfriend jumped in and dragged the victim away. The suspects fled in several vehicles. The victim was treated at the scene for his injuries.

Between 08/15/09 at 6:00pm and 08/16/09 at 7:00am a suspect gained entry into a garage on the 700 block of Lake Street and took a set of golf clubs.

On 08/18/09 between 10:25am and 1:00pm a suspect entered an apartment on the 4300 block of Balboa and took cameras, an I-pod and a watch. There were no signs of forced entry.

On 08/18/09 at 4:15pm a suspect lit a piece of newspaper on fire and deposited it into a mailbox at 39th Avenue and Geary. A US Postal inspector and the SFPD Arson unit came to the scene and commenced an investigation, which is ongoing.

On 08/18/09 at 5:10pm two victims were in the playground on the 400 block of 18th Avenue when they saw a teenage male suspect pour a liquid on one of the benches and light the liquid, causing the bench to burst into flames. The teenager then walked over to a garbage can and attempted to light the liner on fire. As the victims approached the suspects, the suspects ran over to the bench and began to stomp out the flames. The suspects then tried to exit via the gate and one of the victims grabbed the suspect in an attempt to detain him. The suspect pushed the victim and spat in her face. The suspect fled south on 18th Ave towards Anza.

On 08/18/09 at 3:14am officers were flagged down regarding a vehicle fire at 21st Avenue and Balboa. Officers arrived at the scene and saw paper burning under the vehicle, which had caused moderate damage to the car. The SFFD responded and extinguished the fire. Arson investigators and Richmond Station undercover officers are investigating the incident.

On 08/20/09 at 5:11am a victim was walking north on Divisadero at Sutter Street. A male suspect approached the victim from behind and grabbed her purse. The victim struggled with the suspect for a short time but finally released the purse and the suspect fled eastbound on Sutter. The male was described as being 20-25 years of age wearing a plaid jacket and baggie pants.

This Thursday, August 27, the Richmond District Democratic Club (RDDC) will hold a meeting to discuss their endorsements for the upcoming November 3, 2009 municipal election. The meeting will be held at the Richmond District Police Station, 461 6th Avenue, at 7pm.

The club will discuss their endorsements for the following measures and offices on November’s municipal ballot:

Candidates for Office:
Treasurer – Jose Cisneros
City Attorney – Dennis Herrera

Ballot Measures:
A: Budget Process (Charter Amendment)
B: Board of Supervisors Aides (Charter Amendment)
C: Candlestick Park Renaming Rights (Ordinance)
D: Mid-Market Special Sign District (Ordinance)
E: Advertisement on City Property (Ordinance)
More info on the ballot measures

Also on hand will be representatives from both sides of the ballot measures as well as the candidates for the two offices to represent and take questions.

I wasn’t familiar with the RDDC so I emailed them to find out more. RDDC member and club Secretary Jonathan Foerster emailed back with this summary of what the RDDC is all about:

The Richmond District Democratic Club, or RDDC, was established in 1987 to provide a forum for discussion and organization for activity in support of the Democratic Party.

Its members, numbering over 100, reside or work in the Richmond District neighborhood of San Francisco, California (essentially encompassing zip codes 94118 and 94121) and share a common desire to educate themselves and others on issues of the day, especially those that directly impact the local community. The RDDC actively participates in the political process through endorsements, resolutions, letters, slate cards, and other means. Its membership includes several members of the San Francisco Democratic Central Committee as well as the current Supervisor of the Richmond District Eric Mar.

The general public is welcome at RDDC meetings, but voting at endorsement meetings is limited to members who are registered Democrats who reside in the Richmond district and have been members for at least a month. Membership is $15 per year.

Their meetings are often attended by elected officials or their representatives, so it can be a great opportunity to get first-hand information about current issues.

Jonathan added that “We even have members from other neighborhoods (and other political parties!)”, so whether you lean Democrat, Republican or somewhere else altogether, the RDDC is one way to get involved in local politics.

Sarah B.

The Richmond District is often referred to as a sleepy neighborhood.

Nothing is more true when you visit the Neighborhood School between 1pm and 3pm on a weekday. You’ll find about a dozen kids napping peacefully in the school’s cozy rooms.

Unlike the calm nirvana that comes over their sleeping children, the parents of the Neighborhood School are fighting a quiet battle to find a new home for their beloved pre-school.

School owner and director, Kieva Keppleman, knows the struggle well. She’s spent the last 3 years looking in vain for a new space to keep her Neighborhood School open.

This isn’t a case of a displeased landlord, as Keppleman tells me “the landlords love that there is a school here”. Rather it’s the “this is life” tale of a school director who has just reached her limit when it comes to living and working in the same place.

Keppleman plans to marry soon, and says the small, shared living quarters and 24/7 immersion with her work probably wouldn’t make for the greatest start. “I share everything” with the school, Keppleman says.

Keppleman opened the Neighborhood School in its current 10th Avenue location in January, 2005. She rents the house where her personal living space is on the small, top floor, while the school occupies the main floor comprised of a dining room, kitchen, school office, and two large living room areas which make up the main rooms of the school. There is also a backyard decked out for playtime.

And while her students’ parents understand Keppleman’s quandry, their attachment to the school and desire to keep it open leaves them conflicted. She paraphrases the parents who tell her: “I love that you’re here. I don’t know how you could live with the school, but could you stay forever?”

The Neighborhood School enrollment is roughly sixteen children, with a class size of twelve on a daily basis. Some are enrolled full-time, 8am to 5:30pm every day, while others are part time. The school’s waiting list numbers between 50 and 75 families; it’s top of the list of many Richmond District families with pre-school age children.

Keppleman owns and directs the school, and employs two part-time teachers, Alyssa and Rachel. One of them speaks fluent Chinese, Spanish and French and Keppleman says parents “appreciate that kind of versatility.”

What makes the school so appealing is its atmosphere and Keppleman’s philosophy on early education. “Our niche is the best of both worlds. They get the pre-school but they also get the family childcare where we have mixed ages, meals, and small groups of twelve,” Keppleman explains. Meals are prepared fresh every day and they are all vegetarian, all organic.

The school also feels like a home to the kids. Keppleman describes how the “rooms look homey, it feels like they’re at home in their living room but there’s only toys, no television, no computers.”

Keppleman’s approach to her tiny clientele is anything but institutional. “We provide high quality care. When [the parents] come here, they know their children are well taken care of. I can tell you anything and everything about each and every child. And I think [the parents] feel very safe and secure with that.”

It’s a desire to preserve this experience for their children that has motivated a group of the school’s parents to pound the pavement, looking for a new home for the school. The organized group of 5-7 parents is out enlisting real estate agents, calling on their city contacts for help, and generally trying to get the word out about the school’s predicament.

“They’re looking for space in every place they could possibly look. Churches, random spaces. There’s a Yahoo! Group they put together, and they pow-wow in front of the school after morning drop-offs,” Keppleman tells me.

For many parents, their child’s first turn at education can be a nerve-wracking experience. Finding the right school for their child is time-consuming and stressful. The quality of care across pre-schools varies greatly, wait-lists throw up barriers to the most popular schools, and costs for enrollment run the gamut.

On top of the practical issues with finding the right pre-school, many first-time parents struggle emotionally with leaving their child for up to 8 hours a day in someone else’s care. “This can be a very neurotic time in parents’ lives,” Keppleman explains.

So when she alerted parents at the end of July about her plans to close the school in May, 2010, there was immediate outcry. Keppleman had looked in secret for a new home for the school over the last few years to avoid alarming parents.

Despite her current resolve to close the school, the decision weighs heavily on Keppleman. While her parents are out looking for new space for the school, she’s making calls to other pre-schools to try and find spots for the soon to be displaced families. Most of these families live right in the Richmond District or in the nearby Sunset.

Keppleman also worries that some of the families, frustrated with a lack of quality schools in the area, may decide to move out of not only the Richmond District, but the city itself.

She also regrets that the school will no longer be contributing to the Richmond District community. When the Richmond Library was undergoing renovations, the school donated $2000 towards the construction of the new playground by matching parents’ funds.

In turn, the community has also been part of the school’s growth. Every year, the school holds two fundraisers, one of which is a silent auction. Local businesses like Green Apple Books, Q, Troya, Sports Basement and various hotels contribute packages to the event.

One family loves the school so much that they still support it even though they live in the East Bay and no longer have children at the school. They returned for a fundraiser and made a $500 donation.

On a good year, the school can raise $6,000 in the auction which goes towards school improvement projects like a new backyard and classroom equipment. Or for unexpected safety expenses like paying to paint the backside of a neighbor’s building to eliminate lead-based paint exposure.

But despite all the fans that the Neighborhood School has, finding the right space to move into hs been like looking for a needle in a haystack.

As its current status of a family childcare center, the school’s municipal and federal requirements are less stringent. In 2005, Keppleman was able to find their current location fairly easily, which also came with a supportive landlord.

In order for the Neighborhood School to continue, she’ll need to open a childcare center, which according to state and city laws, has more stringent facility requirements. But she would no longer be required to live on site.

As a childcare center, the school ideally has to be on a bottom floor and if it’s not, sprinklers are required. The space has to have a kitchen, double exits, at least 75 square feet of outdoor space and earthquake retrofitting if it’s been recently renovated.

When asked if she’ll be able to preserve the character of her school in a commercial space, Keppleman says it all depends on finding the right space.

Jim Morris has two daughters currently enrolled at the Neighborhood School. He is not concerned about the school’s transformation into a larger center, saying “[Keppleman] has good co-teachers. If she were to expand, she would have more kids experiencing this style of learning”.

Morris particularly loves the exercise programs the school offers which includes yoga and powercise classes, as well as ample outdoor time in the attached yard.

Even when Keppleman does find a potential property, the landlord may not be willing to rent to the school. “There’s a space at Clement and 22nd. The landlady doesn’t want to rent to a school because it’s higher liability. It has not had earthquake retrofitting. There was lead paint. [Fixing these issues] is not a project that they would consider.”

Keppleman says that it’s the overlapping and sometime contradictory requirements of various municipal and federal offices that make the search particularly difficult.

“The real problem is when you take the state regulations and you mix them with the city, in terms of the building codes, and then you take the third group, the state fire marshal, which mandates things like sprinkler systems…there’s a real problem.”

At this point, Keppleman is relying on her passionate parents to continue the search. While extremely appreciative of their efforts, she is cautiously optimistic.

“I would love to continue the school, but so far we can’t find property that will meet all three types of regulations.”

Do you know of an available space that the Neighborhood School could move into? Leave a comment here or contact us with more information and we’ll pass it onto them.

Sarah B.

This one’s for all you police blotter fans out there…

When you hear sirens here in the Richmond District, don’t you often wonder, even if just for a moment, “I wonder what’s going on…”

To help answer those types of questions, the SFPD has a crime map website where you can look up what crimes are taking place in your neighborhood. However, their site is old, doesn’t work with many web browsers, and is not very easy to explore.

Enter San Francisco Crimespotting, a website designed and built by Stamen Design, a local design and technology studio. Their site is a fast, easy to use crime map that leaves the original SFPD site in its dust.

So what makes their crime map better than the original? “Our map view is completely explorable – it’s possible to pan and zoom, select date ranges in the past, and view specific kinds of crimes. You can also share links directly to a particular view of the map, which is important for sharing and publishing information.”

Ultimately, their goal is to make public information like crime data more accessible, and present it in a way that is not only easy to use, but useful too. “We’ve found ourselves frustrated by the proprietary systems and long disclaimers that ultimately limit information available to the public. As citizens we have a right to public information. A clear understanding of our environment is essential to an informed citizenry.”

The site has a lot of handy features including a time of day menu where you can view crimes by day, night, commute time, and even when it’s light or dark outside. Alongside the map is an easy to read legend that helps you quickly identify what each crime dot means on the map. Hover your mouse on one type of crime and the map goes dim and lights up the same types of crimes elsewhere across the map.

Click on a dot and you’ll see a synopsis of the incident, including the crime number which when clicked, takes you to a page where you can leave a comment “if you are familiar with the incident, believe we have incorrect information about the crime report, or know of a mention in the local news media such as the San Francisco Chronicle. We also welcome the posting of details obtained directly from San Francisco Police Department crime report requests.”

Looking at the entire city map is interesting too. And as a Richmond District resident, also reassuring. I couldn’t help but be relieved when the densest cluster of dots was not in my own neighborhood.

The best way to see what San Francisco Crimespotting has to offer is try it out for yourself. So if you’re into crime statistics or just want to know what’s happening crime-wise in your neighborhood, be sure to bookmark sanfrancisco.crimespotting.org.

Sarah B.

Sorry for the short notice but just came across this in today’s Examiner:

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy will host a hike titled “Shipwrecks at the Golden Gate.” The tour begins at 11am on Sunday in the USS S.F. Memorial parking lot (the lot above Lands End trail; enter in at 48th Avenue and Point Lobos).

Sarah B.

Check it out; no library card required. In front of the Richmond District Library on 9th Avenue.