The News Links - September 29, 2009

SF Chronicle: New Market Street restrictions create a smooth ride.

WSJ: A California Quake - A tax commission releases a ground-breaking plan.

Commercial Real Estate

• S.F. Ritz commercial condos sell for $7.4M.
• Sausalito investment firm buys S.F.’s Chancery Building.
  
• The other shoe.
  
• BOMA preps new standard for ANSI process.
  

San Francisco

• Meet the Bay Area's new media baron.
• Money train skips The City’s November election.
  
• Is the City's Clean-Energy Master Plan imploding?
• The New Market Street: 6th and 8th street turns.
• Muni reaps the benefits of reduced traffic on Market.
  
• Newsom: Not afraid to call Van Jones a friend.
• Newsom lauds ‘Trauma,’ proud of actress wife.
• Mark Leno officially kicks off re-election campaign -- for 2012. Isn't this a bit early? 'I'm actually late,' he says.
  
  

Marin/San Mateo/Sonoma

• Tiburon council race features familiar faces and one newcomer.
• Seven square off in testy Novato Sanitary board battle.
• Marin County seeks to avoid layoffs with early retirement offers, budget juggling.
• Millbrae City Council candidates to square off at forum.
• Fairfax candidates hatch plans to save town's economy.
  
• Fairfax candidates -- at a glance.
  

California

• Meg Whitman: I focused on family instead of voting.
• Is it Carly's or Macy's?.
• Should California's lawmakers be part time?
  
• Hiding the bad news.
• Poizner backer switches his support to Whitman.
• Brown eases into the race.
  
• Brown leads GOP, Newsom trails in new poll.
• Newsom not paying attention to polls.
• Clinton to campaign with Newsom.
  
• California Republicans trying to figure out road back to power.
  

The Economy

• Consumer confidence unexpectedly falls in September.
• Recession may be abating, but restaurants still slammed.
  

Green Issues

• San Francisco tilts toward wind power.
  
• Once upon a time, Democrats and Republicans worked together on the Senate EPW panel.
• Pew Center launches online portal to energy efficiency resources.
• California to fund largest energy efficiency effort in US.
  
  

General

• L.A.'s ban on new digital billboards and supergraphics is upheld.
• Frank Luntz tells Americans what they really want.
• U.S. can learn from California's health insurance experiment, say experts.
• Social networks, blogs grab bigger share of web.
  

The News Links - September 28, 2009

SF Chronicle: Market Street traffic experiment starts Tuesday.

SF Examiner: Down but not out, Newsom readies the cavalry.

Commercial Real Estate and BOMA News

• WSJ's Top Small Workplaces in 2009 includes San Francisco's own Skyline Construction.
• Fed tightens review of commercial real estate risk.
• New CMBS workout rules raise more questions than answers.

San Francisco

• SF Weekly: Supervisors need to atone for canceling meetings at the drop of a hat.
  
• Examiner Editorial: Get cell phones for every officer on a beat.
• NBC's San Francisco based 'Trauma' premiers tonight.

Marin/San Mateo/Sonoma

• Marin Voice: Novato Narrows lanes a green solution.
  

California

• California's budget should hold up until winter, analysts say — but plenty of pain still in store.
• Dan Walters: Will census resolve debate over size of congressional delegation?
• Fiorina, DeVore get ready to challenge Boxer for U.S. Senate.
• Morning Fix: Meg Whitman and a brief history of not voting.
• Marijuana on the mind of public safety officials, Chu.
• SF Police Chief critical of crime cameras.
• Low voter turnout may lead to changes.
• Assemblymember Tom Ammiano's September newsletter can be found, here.

The Economy

• Chicago Fed National Activity Index lower in August.
  
• Social Security strained as jobless retire early.
  

Green Issues

• Solo hybrid drivers may lose carpool lane privileges.
• California recycling measure may mean higher deposits and better returns.
  
• Boxer, Kerry set to introduce climate bill in Senate.

General

• Why business loves Charlie Rose.
  
• Calif. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's good with Guantanamo prisoners going to her state.
• Feinstein: "This is the moment of decision for Iran".
• The most important number in politics today: 36.
• New Recovery.gov goes live, key data to be released later.

The News Links - September 27, 2009

San Francisco Magazine: Danger Ahead

SF Examiner: Halls of art slated for transit terminal.

NYT: U.S. job seekers exceed openings by record ratio.

NYT: In poll, public wary of Obama on war and health.

Commercial Real Estate and BOMA News

• Commercial recycling laws closer to reality.
  
• Luxury hotels at risk – Bloomberg video.
• Dan Tishman on CNBC – CRE second shoe to drop.
  
• New IRS rules may help stave off CMBS defaults and foreclosures.
• Brokers' connections, dealmaking savvy helps LA's Madison Partners weather recession.
• As rents fall on prime streets, retailers seize 'shopportunities'.
• Recession levies hefty punishment on CRE property values.
  

San Francisco

• Willie Brown: Chances are high pot measure will pass.
• Credo: Starlight Room owner Harry Denton.
• Gap Inc. co-founder Donald Fisher dies.
  
• Primary? What primary?
• Newsom faults Meg Whitman for 'backward thinking' in her call to suspend state's climate bill.
  
• Sleepy week for the supes.
  
• Did you know about DataSF, the central clearinghouse for datasets published by the City & County of San Francisco? If not, check it out, here. Also, take a look at the DataSF App Showcase for your mobile phone!
  

California

• Callbuzz: Meg Whitman: California’s No.1 civic scofflaw.
• Tax foundation: California ranks 48th in business climate among 50 states.
  
• Top GOP gubernatorial candidates joust at convention.
  
• California immigrants facing deportation find a friend in Dianne Feinstein.

Marin/San Mateo/Sonoma

• City Council candidates in San Mateo County reveal campaign contributions.
• Marin's property tax revenue grows $30.7 million, but it's not what it used to be.
  
• $88 million public safety bond faces voters in San Rafael.
  
• Congresswoman Jackie Speier's September Journal can be found, here.
  

The Economy

• Risky business: States tax the rich at their peril.
• Strauss-Kahn says crisis consequences will last long time.
• Don't bank on your home as an ATM.
• Leaders of G-20 vow to reshape global economy.
• U.S. chain store sales: week ending 9/19/09.

Green Issues

• Better building energy codes: It's not rocket science.
• The great wall embraces wall street.
  

General

• State and local governments look to lobbyists for an edge in Washington.
• Stocktwits founder Howard Lindzon on the next big thing in social media.
  
• As subprime lending crisis unfolded, watchdog fed didn't bother barking.
• Are Whitman and Fiorina California dreamin'?
  
• Clinton says 2010 elections won't be as bad as '94.
  
• Democrats are jarred by drop in fundraising.
• The reemerging Republican majority?

The News Links - September 24, 2009

The Atlantic: The California Experiment

SF Examiner: Bevan Dufty to run for mayor.

Calculated Risk: Architectural billings index declines in August.

Commercial Real Estate and BOMA News

• Moody's: Commercial real estate prices are falling.
• Retail rent prices falling.
  
• Banking on P-pip: A risky plan?
• Luxury hotels add to commercial real estate's woes.
• Hotel RevPAR off 18.3 percent.
• Oakland cheers for retail development.
  
• 100 Days, 100 Ways is a list of tips and strategies to help property professionals make going green a priority every day.

San Francisco

• SFBG: The mayor's race begins.
  
• Sweet Melissa: How slick was Willie's Newsom nod? & Candlestick naming rights fight.
• Response to emergencies can be slow.
  
• Wells Fargo chairman to retire.
  
• Supes lose time with city attorney.
• GGBHTD deficit grows despite higher toll.
• District 6 Supe candidate says he'll drop out if Theresa Sparks runs -- and support her.
• Taxi medallion plan seeks cash for city coffers.
• Ken Garcia: Plan to add more parking meters is wrongheaded.
• Businesses bound by red tape.
  
• Removing graffiti can be risky.
• Transbay high-speed rail depot spot disputed.
• Growth of San Francisco neighborhoods.
  

California

• So, just how broke is state government?
• Jerry Brown announces exploratory committee for CA-GOV.
  
• Meg Whitman launches ads in campaign for governor.
• Fiorina launches new website, Twitter account.
• Constitutional convention backers delay submitting initiative language.
  

The Economy

• Leading economic indicators rise in August.
• Capital spending and consumer spending.
• Holiday spending to be flat.
• Citigroup to scale back branches and build online banking presence.
• Unemployment insurance weekly claims decline.
  

Green Issues

• Atlanta bests SF for green building.
  

General

• Obama's malpractice on medical lawsuits.
• Independents desert Obama, putting 2010 in play.
  
• Arch rivals: Subway to surpass McDonald's in number of restaurants.
• In a tight market, borrowers turn to peers.

KQED Presents: Saving the Bay on October 8th

Image courtesy of KQED

From the Gold Rush to the Golden Gate Bridge, and through World’s Fairs and World Wars, San Francisco Bay has been central to the identity of one of the world’s leading economic, academic, recreational, and cultural regions. KQED announces an unprecedented look at the storied history of San Francisco Bay with Saving the Bay (www.kqed.org/savingthebay), four one-hour episodes tracing the Bay from its geologic origins following the last Ice Age, through years of catastrophic exploitation, to the restoration efforts of today. Narrated by famed actor and environmentalist Robert Redford, Saving the Bay premieres Thursdays, October 8 and 15, from 8 to 10pm on KQED 9HD.

Narrated by Robert Redford and shot in HDTV, Saving the Bay is a lively and timely public television series about one of America’s greatest natural resources — San Francisco Bay — and how a community rallied to save this once endangered body of water. The series consists of four one-hour episodes focusing on the geological, cultural and developmental history of San Francisco Bay and the larger northern California watershed from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Farallon Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Please click here for more information.

The News Links - September 18, 2009

LA Times: California's unemployment rate rises to 12.2%.

SF Examiner: Mobile connects police, community.

Ken Garcia: Ms. Fong goes to Washington.

Commercial Real Estate

• What commercial real estate threat? The recovery has begun.
  
• U.S. mall pioneer and Simon Property Group founder, Melvin Simon, passes.
• Hotel RevPAR off 25.5%.
• Retail Sales: August 2009 monthly retail sales summary.

San Francisco

• The always colorful Jerry Brown.
• SF police stepping up patrols On Muni routes.
  
• New police chief hits first bump in the road - literally.
  
• Newsom wants to charge stores that sell sodas.
• San Francisco launches first airport carbon kiosks.
• Bay Area unemployment still rising.
• Authorities to close Presidio roads to traffic.
• Remember CityPlace? It's still coming to Market Street.
• Newsom gets ready to rumble (Big Rumble, that is).
• San Francisco is sinking!.
  

Marin/San Mateo/Sonoma

• Marin's jobless rate inches up to 8.3 percent.
• Financial picture dominates Corte Madera council race.
  
• County Supervisor Rich Gordon speaks on his 12 years in office @ Pacifica Democrats, Sept. 19.
  

California

• Poll: Californians want constitutional convention.
  
• Part-Time legislative initiative draws opposition.
• Gubernatorial campaign teams shape up.
  
• Jerry Brown joins the credit rating firm pile-on.
• Brown: 'Tune in' for decision on governor's run.
  
• California reels past point of no return? Maybe.
  
• GOP Gubernatorial candidate Tom Campbell offers health care reform plan.
• A Lt. Governor who could become government reform czar.
• California's big debt sale drawing heavy demand.
• Schwarzenegger to speak to California Republican Party convention.
  

The Economy

• The dollar's in the dumpster, and nobody's worried -- for now.
  
• Rejoice: Fed says you're richer this year.
  
• Early retirement? Economic crisis leads older Americans to say fuggedaboutit.
• Five reasons to be optimistic about the U.S. economy.
• Unemployment Rates: California, Nevada, and Rhode Island set new series highs.
• PewResearchCenter report: Recession Turns a Graying Office Grayer
  

Green Issues

• Corporate America's adoption of green practices doubles, study says.
• Chicago ranks No. 1 in green buildings.
  

General

• The most important number in politics today: 43
  
• Where should Obama's high-speed rail money go?
• Parents sacrifice retirement for kids’ tuition.
• Pelosi: 'Curb our enthusiasm'
  

Geary Boulevard Merchants Association Annual Awards Luncheon

Your BOMA Advocacy Team attended the Geary Boulevard Merchants Association Annual Awards Luncheon on Wednesday. The luncheon honored the small business owners along Geary Boulevard that have contributed back to the community in various ways.

The well-attended event featured the following speakers:

Attorney General Jerry Brown
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma
Superior Court Judge Quentin Kopp
Board of Equalization Chairwoman Betty Yee
Supervisor Eric Mar

BOMA San Francisco congratulates the members of the Geary Boulevard Merchants Association as well as David Heller, President of the association, for his outstanding work in hosting and producing this annual event.

San Francisco Examiner Political Columnist Melissa Griffin Speaks to BOMA San Francisco Members

Margot Crosman, President of BOMA San Francisco, and political columnist Melissa Griffin.

BOMA San Francisco welcomed the ingeniously clever and ever-entertaining San Francisco Examiner political columnist Melissa Griffin to our member luncheon at the City Club today. Melissa covers the political scene in San Francisco with wit and a wry sensibility. If you haven't had a chance to peruse her Thursday column in the Examiner, or her blog, then you're in for a treat!

We thank Melissa for taking to our members today, and look forward to having her speak at future BOMA San Francisco events in the future.

The News Links - September 16, 2009

Sacramento Bee: BOMA California President Rob Cord (behind/right of man with red tie) attends Gov. Schwarzenegger signing ceremony to implement the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

The Globe and Mail: Desperately seeking an exit strategy.

The Fix: Gavin Newsom, Bill Clinton and the endorsement hierarchy.

Commercial Real Estate

• Treasury eases tax rules for commercial real estate.
  
• Blockbuster closing up to 960 stores through 2010.
• Samsonite closing up to 84 U.S. stores in bankruptcy.
• Shopping center execs say holding onto current tenants is top leasing strategy.
• Continued success in capital markets putting REITs in a better light.
• Investors expect bank woes may finally jump-start distressed buying opportunities.
  

San Francisco

• Crystal Cruises back to S.F. home port in 2011.
• Supes OK Market Street condos over union opposition.
• Fun with Daly and Elsbernd ... we missed you guys.
  

California

• Brown 'not yet convinced' about governor's race.
• Constitutional offices eliminate frills.
• UCLA forecast: Calif. economy slow through 2010.
• Poizner and a capital gains tax cut.
• Silicon Valley's uptick eclipses state: As California faces long, slow recovery, local economy poised for quick rebound with tech help.
• Political fundraisers continue to dominate Sacramento.
  
  

The Economy

• Foreign demand for long-term US securities falls.
• Warren Buffett says economy has bottomed out.
• One Year Later: Lessons for business leaders.
• Treasury says it will wind down emergency program.
  

Green Issues

• China growth path could exceed planet's resources.
• The major obstacle to a new, low-carbon economy isn’t money, investors or technology...it’s Congress.
  

General

• Peterson-Pew Commission releases "A Closer Look at the President's FY 2010 Budget Process Reform Proposals".
  
• The most important number in politics today: 0
• Job killing policies could doom Democrat hopes.
• With science journalism in retreat, universities try new strategy for informing the public.
• Schwarzenegger calls for ACORN probe.
  

The News Links - September 10, 2009

SF Chronicle: Pilot program to limit traffic on Market Street. Image from the article.

The Sacramento Bee: Schwarzenegger accepts veto dare. Image from the article.

Commercial Real Estate

• Free Green Building Seminar on 9/23: Constructing Green Building’s Legal Foundation: Regulatory Approaches and Practical Solutions for a Sustainable Future
• Report: Commercial real estate should sit tight--it's gonna be a while.
  
• CRE sales will pick up, but values expected to stay flat through '12.
• Hotels & retail properties make up more than 63% of largest problem loans.
• Consumer shift to value affecting anchor tenant mix.
• Job losses create office space deals.
  
  

San Francisco

• Commission to vote on SFPD Chief Gascón's power.
• Supervisor Campos has busy freshman year.
  
• BART changes off-peak service reductions as of Monday, September 14th.
• S.F. ban on tobacco in drugstores survives.
• SF GOP opposes sanctuary legislation.
• Late steel threatens Bay Bridge construction schedule.
• Doyle Drive ramps to close again this weekend.
• Yet another harbinger of doom for print media: 40 papers have dropped out of City's racks, Many have likely ceased to exist.
• Newsom sitting in prime location, in Pelosi's box with some Kennedy's
• Sweet Melissa: Fate of past projects hangs in limbo.
  

Marin/San Mateo/Sonoma

• SamTrans eliminates seven bus routes, hikes fares by 25 cents.
• Marin County Strawberry design panel has three vacancies.
• Palo Alto developer losing $340 million bet with CalPERS money.
  

California

• California lawmakers pass a raft of bills as session winds down.
  
• Watch out for an increased fee on bottles and cans.
• George Skelton: State help for firefighters 'a heavy lift'.
• California cities, counties wary of bill to limit bankruptcy filings.
  

The Economy

• Inflation: Inflated fears?
  
• A year after Lehman, Wall Street's acting like Wall Street again.
• U.S. recession ends, jobless outlook bleak.
• A comment on the deficit and national debt.
• FED Beige Book: Reports from the 12 Federal Reserve Districts indicate that economic activity continued to stabilize in July and August.
• Geithner sounds more confidence on recovery.
  

Green Issues

• 8 things you need to know about LEED credentialing changes.
• Renewable power: People love it, but devil is in the details.
• Nanomaterials: Why your company should sweat the small stuff.
  
  

General

• The world's first floating wind turbine goes on line in Norway.
• Morning Fix: first (and second) thoughts on Obama address.
  

San Francisco Better Market Street Project - Give YOUR Feedback!

San Francisco Better Market Street project will initiate a 6-to-12-month series of trials starting in September 2009, including an integrated package of landscaping, sidewalk cafes and storefront improvements, transit improvements, street and traffic improvements, and other physical improvements that are iterative and are regularly monitored and refined as needed. The project team will work with community partners, including BOMA San Francisco, to gather on-the-ground data that will inform the desired improvements for Market Street and other streets serving surrounding districts and neighborhoods.

Here is your opportunity to offer your perspective on what works and what needs to be improved or changed during the trial period. As a BOMA San Francisco member and commercial real estate professional, your perspective will inform both immediate operational decisions and the longer-term vision for Market Street and surrounding areas.

Please send your thoughts to:

• Call 311 or log onto http://sfgov.org/311
• Twitter: by typing 'd sf311' first before sending private Twitter message to 311
• Send an email to marketstreet@sfgov.org
• Comment on the Market Street Facebook page (coming soon).

Please click here for more information on the San Francisco Better Market Street Project.

The News Links - September 8, 2009

LA Times: California muni bonds rally as budget fears ebb. Image retrieved from the article.

SF Chronicle: California 8th among world economies. Graph retrieved from the article.

Calculated Risk: Employment Report: 216K jobs lost, 9.7% unemployment rate. Graph retrieved from the article.

Commercial Real Estate

• Commercial real estate threatens financial system.
• Weakened banks undermined by commercial debt.
• Slimmed-down companies rethink office space.
  
• CIC may invest in U.S. real estate.

San Francisco

• Ken Garcia: Have political traditions been lost in digital fray?
  
• Rincon Hill developer fees going back to community.
  
• Streetscast: An interview with San Francisco Police Chief George Gascón.
• City leaders make use of time off.
• 49ers Team President Jed York intercepts a legacy.

Marin/Sonoma/San Mateo

• Burlingame seeking FEMA funds, to adopt new hazard plan.
  

California

• GOP Guv debate is on --- minus Meg Whitman -- for Thursday on KGO.
• California's water reform legislation is all wet.
  
• Dan Walters: Who would replace Garamendi?
  
• 'Mushroom bill' seeks special exemption for NFL stadium.
  
• Former California Gov. Pete Wilson on governance reforms.
• Capitol Notes Podcast: 11th hour frenzy.
• Yellow Cab holds California's last IOU.
• California at risk of new stalemate over prisons.
• Prop 11 proponent files congressional redistricting initiative.
• Garamendi calls state garage sale an ‘abomination’.
  

The Economy

• Job losses erase gains from boom.
• US economy loses top spot in poll to Swiss.

Green Issues

• California kicks off $75M green jobs training program.
  

General

• Without a job, but working the campaign trail.
• Out of work, and too down to search on.
• EBay: Internet sales tax hurts businesses.
• CurbedWire: Monopoly hits all of Google Maps
• Why did the press ignore the Van Jones scandal?
• Obama's speech: Wrong setting for a sales job.
  
• Examiner Editoral: Congress needs to show that it is listening.
  

San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg Speaks at BOMA San Francisco's GAPAC Meeting

From left to right: Phil Ginsburg, General Manager, Department of Recreation and Parks; Susan Court, 2009 BOMA San Francisco GAPAC Chair. In the background, Dee Dee Workman, President of Workman and Associates; Carolyn Diamond, Executive Director of the Market Street Association.

San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg spoke to the members of BOMA San Francisco's Government and Public Affairs Committee (GAPAC) on September 2nd to talk about his new position, and his plans for the Department going forward. The following are the highlights from the meeting:


Phil Ginsburg - General Manager

• Before he was selected as General Manager for the Department of Recreation and Parks, Mr. Ginsburg had served as Deputy City Attorney; the head of the City's Department of Human Resources; and, most recently served as Chief of Staff to Mayor Gavin Newsom.
• His love for open space and sports is unparalleled, and he can be found playing a sport, running or overseeing the management in one of the 230 parks in the City and County of San Francisco almost everyday.
  
• Mr. Ginsburg truly considers this his best job ever, and is honored to have been chosen to lead the Recreation and Parks Department.

The Recreation and Parks Department

• While there has been progress, maintenance continues to be a challenge. Mr. Ginsburg elaborated that there are too few maintenance staff to cover the parks' needs. He said the City had 200 gardeners working in Golden Gate Park 30 years ago, but today that number has been reduced to just 42. He blamed this on years of budget cuts.
  
• In addition, Mr. Ginsburg mentioned that the irrigation systems for the parks are 'under-performing'. Of the 230 parks in the City, 70 of them have irrigation systems that must be turned on and off manually.
  
• Environmental sustainability is also a major focus for the Department as it endeavors to improve the parks, and make them less maintenance intensive.
  
• Mr. Ginsburg stated that he is also focused on making the Department as efficient as possible. In his two months as General Manager, Mr. Ginsburg has cut over $600,000 in overtime from the Department's budget, is now requiring that all maintenance and gardening staff wear uniforms (to be immediately identifiable as a Recreation and Parks staff member to the public), and is in the process of placing GPS systems in all Department vehicles to track their usage.
  
• Another problem that Ginsburg spoke about was the high level of workers compensation claims by Department employees. In fact, 1 out of every 5 staff members have filed a claim. He is aggressively working to reduce this.
• Lastly, Mr. Ginsberg mentioned the unique challenges of managing employees whose families have been part of the Department workforce for generations.
  

Financial Sustainability: Partnership is Necessary

• Mr. Ginsburg mentioned that with the City's continuing budget shortfalls, some funding for the Department would have to come from partnerships from the private sector. The Department does not have a dedicated source of funding from the City and currently operates with a budget of $122 million--$70 million of that from the General Fund.
  
• He voiced his opposition to Proposition E on the November 3, 2009 ballot that would prohibit advertising on city property. Mr. Ginsburg stated that he 'needs to have the [financial] tools to manage [the Department correctly], but some in the City want to take any private sector options away.' Ginsburg wants to 'focus on the quality of the services delivered, not the way we deliver them.'
• According to Mr. Ginsburg, a great example of a public/private partnership to raise revenue for Department was the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival that was held this past weekend. This event alone netted over $1 million in revenue.
  
• Other options include: Food vendors in the park and increased grants and philanthropic activity from individuals and the private sector (e.g., adopt a park).

BOMA San Francisco would like to thank Mr. Ginsburg for addressing the BOMA's Government and Public Affairs Committee. The association looks forward to working with him and the Department to improve the recreation and parks programs in San Francisco.

The News Links - September 3, 2009

AP: Giant national debt needs giant calculator. Image retrieved here.

Commercial Real Estate

• Postal Service looking to cut $6 bil. in costs thru layoffs, property disposals.
• Tranche warfare: Mezzanine lenders stepping into foreclosure fray.
• Hope yet for Rincon Hill's 201 Folsom St.
• S.F. building owner backs out of guilty plea.
  

San Francisco

• Plan to deal with chronic drunks is flawed.
• Sweet Melissa: Proposed sanctuary city ordinance not likely to be enforced.
• Sweet deal for BART riders.
  

Marin/Sonoma/San Mateo

• San Carlos: A taxing problem.
• SamTrans staff recommends Service cuts, fare increases: S.F. express buses big losers.
• Cops clean up Tenderloin.
  

California

• George Skelton: California Legislature on the verge of major achievements.
• Capitol fund raising: politics as fine art.
• Calbuzz: Parsky tax panel - Headed for a box canyon?
• Candidates struggle to make Twitter matter.
  

The Economy

• Wonks see recession ending; U.S. public sees it as less 'serious'.
  
• Foreign companies gobble up U.S. food, drug and beverage makers.
• Just how modest will the recovery be?
• Gordon Brown’s $1 trillion global rescue package unravels.
• U.S. Department of Labor's unemployment insurance weekly claims report can be found here.
• CNN Poll: Americans say country still in recession.
  
  

Green Issues

• The US freezes on climate change.
  

General

• States and municipalities aggressively lobby federal government for scarce aid.
  
• Japan wonders if new leaders have economic vision.
• Paul Krugman: Missing Richard Nixon.
• Federal government needs massive hiring binge, study finds.
  

The News Links - September 2, 2009

SF Examiner: New bus terminal idea on Union Street quashed. Image retrieved from the article.

CNN Money: Bleak outlook for pay raises in 2010.

Commercial Real Estate

• California may lower property taxes for the first time since Prop. 13.
  
• U.S. commercial property boom decades away.
• FDIC's Bair says commercial loans 'looming problem'.
• Hotel: More than half off.
• Banks report troubled CRE loans, REO properties reach $44.4 billion.
• Institutional investors back in play with new funds and REITs.
• Post office facilities facing closure cut to 413 — two dozen in Bay Area.
  

San Francisco

• Carnelian Room calling it quits.
  
• New SFPD Chief to make Tenderloin a priority.
• S.F. airport launches free cell-phone boarding pass system.
• City aims to cut car use in half.
• Muni boosts performance.
• Cleaning up sixth street.
  
  

Marin/Sonoma/San Mateo

• Sonoma County Supervisors face tough decision in water dispute.

California

• Dan Walters: Renewable energy: 'Buy California' fight heats up.
  
• 'The Tonight Show' auctions 'The Fonz' as a fiscal fix.
  
• San Francisco fire crews helped battle Station blaze, but was it enough?
  
• Stop the presses: eMeg speaks, sort of…
• Garamendi, Harmer to face off in CD10 runoff.

The Economy

• Most Bay Area CFOs expect no staff changes in Q4.
• State climbing out of recession, index shows.
  
• Geithner says global economy still needs stimulus.
  
• A tale of two depressions.
• "In the tank forever": U.S. consumers, retailers in a "death spiral," Davidowitz Says.
  
• Report: U.S. has lost 50% more jobs than estimated.
  
• U.S. cities’ woes to worsen as taxes trail pace of recovery.
  
• Jobs market shows modest improvement in August.

Green Issues

• Some buildings not living up to green label.
  

General

• AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka implies he can live without card check.
  
• Price of Kennedy seat: $3 million-plus.
• First candidate steps up for Kennedy seat.