The News Links - October 23-26, 2009

The New Yorker: Why banks stay big.



SF Streetsblog: CA poised to reform auto-centric level of service environmental rules.

Commercial Real Estate

• Changing strategies for uncertain times.
• US commercial mortgage delinquency hits 4.7%.
  
• Silicon Valley office vacancies near 20 percent.
• S.F. hotel rates, occupancy keep dropping.
• Storefronting: architect displays for Union Square vacancies.
• Amendment could let struggling retailers claim billions in tax refunds.
• Northern California economic development weapon goes unfired.

San Francisco

• Mayor Newsom announces San Francisco’s H1N1/Swine Flu vaccination plans.
• The life and times of Theresa Sparks.
  
• S.F. to ease up on unlicensed drivers.
  
• Matier & Ross: Feinstein targets insurers' antitrust exemption; Where's Gavin?; former Mayor Art Agnos snubbed?
• Muni envy in Orinda.
• Midnight meter madness must be stopped.
  
• State of the arts: Despite recession, optimism abounds.
  
• Presidio Parkway: Richmond, Marin, and Marina public meetings.
• S.F. gets $1M for electric car charging.
  
• Target's coming to the Metreon
• Produce market preparing to flourish.
  
• Painting eyes on the street: Debut of SF’s art in storefronts program.
• San Francisco hotel workers authorize strike.
• 300 rally to save sharp park golf course.

Marin/San Mateo/Sonoma

• Redwood City council irked by Menlo Park's early meddling in Cargill project.
  
• San Rafael council candidates mix it up in final forum before Nov. 3 election.
• Five Redwood City Council candidates compete for three seats.
  

California

• Part-Time Legislature: It's not dead yet.
• Think of how crowded the freeways will be.
• Threatened with mass demotion, California lawmakers finally focus.
• Just don't call him 'comrade Campbell'.
• S.F. utilities panel now backs water plan.
  
• 10 years ago this month, TIME regurgitated Gray Davis' spin. Now TIME regurgitates Arnold's spin. Groan.
  
• Of farms, folks and fish.
• Lockyer's honesty on unaffordable pensions is welcome. But in 2005, he single-handedly sandbagged reform he now seeks.
  

The Economy

• Bernanke's trillion-dollar decision.
• Experts see rebounding economy shedding jobs.
  
• Reckless strategies doomed WaMu.

Green Issues

• Climate change? Let's get real.
• Obama's energy secretary vs. clueless Calbuzzers who shill for green fantasy of pain-free AB 32.
• Industry shift reduces LEED Costs.
• Are the Freakonomics folks off base on Global Warming?
  
• The View - insider's viewpoint: state of green.
  
• San Francisco Department of the Environment's October newsletter can be found here.
• Nuclear energy becomes pivotal in climate debate.
  
• Obama says winner of clean-energy race will lead global economy.
• EPA commits to set air pollution rules by 2011.
  
• Tallying biofuels' real environmental cost.
• The price of cleanliness.
• California electric-cars push may raise power costs.
  

General

• Join Urban Land Institute and influential business author Tom Peters – Friday, November 6. Click here for more information and here to register.
• With gaping deficits, San Jose manager seeks big union concessions.
  
• This is the end of the newspaper business.
  
• U.S. Chamber vs. Obama.
  
• Proposed ballot measure would eliminate divorce.
• F-35 is the subject of watchdog’s media blitz.
• Postcard from Detroit.
• Doomsday financial journalism at its best (or worst).