The process of renaming a lake in Golden Gate Park reached a crucial juncture this week as San Francisco officials conducted community outreach and released a list of the proposed names.
San Francisco, CA
Here Are the New Naming Options for a Golden Gate Park Lake
Stow Lake, a recreation spot in one of the most famous urban parks in America, was named after former California Assembly Speaker William W. Stow in the 19th century. However, Stow held antisemitic views and spoke favorably of laws enshrining discrimination against Jewish people.
Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who is Jewish and whose district encompasses the area of the park where the lake is located, initiated the renaming process earlier this year. Her office confirmed to The Standard that the public submitted 10 potential names, including those of some historical figures. Melgar’s office will continue accepting submissions as well.
At the final community meeting on Monday night, supporters of “Pleasant Lake” and “Patrick Quigley Lake” showed up to speak. Pleasant nods to the prominent 19th century Black entrepreneur Mary Ellen Pleasant, and Patrick Quigley was considered the “foreman” of Golden Gate Park’s construction.
Other names include William Hammond Hall, the designer of the park, and Joan Davenny, a Jewish school teacher killed in a suicide bomb incident in 1995.
The proposal to name the lake after the late Ho Feng Shan, also known as Feng-Shan Ho and Ho Fengshan, refers to the Chinese diplomat hailed as the “Chinese Schindler.” During World II, Ho, who is primarily known by his surname according to Chinese custom, issued thousands of visas to Austrian Jews to help them flee Nazi-occupied territory. Some Asian American groups, including the San Francisco chapter of the Taiwanese American Professionals, are promoting an online campaign for Ho’s name.
Some San Francisco supervisors, including Melgar, have expressed interest in renaming the lake after Ho. Ho’s family prefers the spellings Ho Feng Shan or Feng Shan Ho.
However, the final decision-making power belongs to the city’s seven-member Recreation and Park Commission, not the supervisors. And the commission can pick names that are not on Melgar’s list, too.
Commissioner Vanita Louie said in a statement to The Standard that she supports the renaming but would not support renaming the lake after any individuals.
“Instead, a place name should tell something about the location,” Louie said. “I like the name Blue Heron Lake, but the community should vote.”
Louie added there are many blue herons throughout Golden Gate Park and Stow Lake, and the birds “love the park as much as people do.”
The commission is expected to discuss this issue early next year.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco coffee shop broken into before opening doors
A new coffee show in San Francisco has yet to open its doors, but it is already dealing with crime concerns.
The owners of Silicon Valley Company said someone broke into the property twice in a matter of days.
“The property has been neglected for the last five years, so we knew we were going to have challenges renovating it,” said Matt Baker, co-founder of Silicon Valley Coffee. “On Sunday, we got here and realized that our back gate had been smashed open and that there were people possibly on-site in one of the back condos.’
Baker and co-founder Vance Bjorn said they knew they would take on a big project revitalizing the space but didn’t expect the business to be broken into twice.
Christie Smith has the full report in the video above.
San Francisco, CA
Suspect Arrested For San Francisco Homicide
HAYWARD, CA — A Hayward man was arrested by police in San Francisco on suspicion of a fatal shooting in the Tenderloin in October, the department said.
On Oct. 30 just after 6 p.m., a man was shot in the area of Ellis and Jones streets and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Investigators identified 22-year-old Michael Javius as the suspect and arrested him on Dec. 12. Search warrants were issued for residences in San Francisco, Hayward and Antioch, police said, and evidence related to the shooting was seized.
Find out what’s happening in San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Javius was booked into jail on suspicion of homicide, conspiracy and being an accessory after the fact.
Although an arrest has been made, this is an open and active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
Find out what’s happening in San Franciscowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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San Francisco, CA
San Francisco West Portal hardware store closing after nearly 9 decades
A hardware store in San Francisco’s West Portal is closing up shop after being in business for 88 years.
Papenhausen Hardware made the announcement, saying it no longer could afford to stay open.
Karl Aguilar walked into this hardware store 29 years ago as a San Francisco State University student looking for a job. But in 2018, Aguilar became a co-owner and thought he would retire there.
Aguilar said it wasn’t just one thing prompting the closure, but two fires and the pandemic took a big hit on his business. He estimates sales dropped about 30% in the first year of the pandemic.
“By the second year, we realized it was time to sell and all of the emotional side of it,” said Aguilar. “What can we do, all the questioning, the sleepless nights happened then.”
On Saturday, Papenhausen Hardware started its going out of business sale. Many of the shelves are now empty as customers come by to make their final trip to their local hardware store.
“We thought there would be an increase in business but it’s just been this crushing avalanche of nonstop business for four days now,” said Matt Rogers the co-owner Papenhausen Hardware. “So, it’s impressive. Touching too really.”
“It’s been overwhelming in a good way?” Aguilar added. “The community is deeply upset. They wish it wasn’t the case and people have come out of the woodwork trying to come up with ideas and find ways to keep us here but the financial reality is that we just can’t stay.”
After 88 years in the West Portal neighborhood, generations of families have relied on this store for basic hardware supplies.
Customers like Lee Bradley said the closing is a huge loss to the community.
“Terrible news really,” Bradley said. “Devastation. The convenience is the whole thing. It’s nice having a store, just down the block that you could little bits and bobs. Whatever you wanted.”
But as customers shopping habits have changed after the pandemic, Papenhausen isn’t the only one struggling to keep its doors open.
Aguilar hopes people realize how important community support is to keep small businesses open.
“The one thing people should take from this is whether it be a bookstore, or a coffee shop or maybe a fabric store that you love,” he said. “I guarantee you that they’re struggling. If you want to see them there, you can support them and every dollar makes a difference.”
Papenhausen Hardware is scheduled to close on December 31st but if they run out of inventory, the store could be closed earlier.
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