San Francisco, CA

San Francisco to move popular farmers market out of U.N. Plaza

Published

1 year ago

August 13, 2023

San Francisco to move popular farmers market out of U.N. Plaza

SAN FRANCISCO — With all the talk about homelessness, drug addiction and “doom loops” in San Francisco, there is at least one very popular bright spot — the weekly farmers’ market at UN Plaza. Now, even that is facing unwelcome changes.

The elegant, brick-lined beauty of United Nations Plaza has changed in recent years. Now, most days, it has become a gathering place for the homeless and drug-addicted. Yet one day each week, the atmosphere changes, thanks to the Sunday farmers’ market.

“I mean, this market was founded on the principal that this was a food desert. There was no full-service grocery store and, from day one, we had a line of people in this neighborhood waiting to purchase fresh produce,” said Steve Pulliam, executive director of Heart of the City Farmers’ Market.

The presence of so many people discourages the troubled element from congregating and officials have taken notice. They asked if the market could operate seven days a week but, when that wasn’t possible, the city quietly developed a plan to move the farmers out. Instead, the plaza will soon contain a public recreation area for skateboarding and pickleball with Teqball courts and ping-pong and chess tables.

“What we’ve been told is that it is an experimental pilot project to try to improve conditions on U.N. Plaza,” Pulliam said. “We’ve been told if it does not work, if it proves to be unsuccessful, they’ll put the bricks back and we can come back on the plaza. We have our doubts about that but that’s what we’ve been told.”

As for the farmers? They will be moved to the parking lot on Folsom, across the street from U.N. Plaza but they’re not happy about it. They say the space, which market customers currently use for parking, is smaller and will not allow the same size vendor tents or space for their work trucks.

That would make a difference for Morgan Hill farmer Tony Mellow. He’s been offering a variety of produce ever since the first day the market opened in 1981. He doesn’t see the equity in displacing the farmers because of the actions of others.

“Isn’t it normal to leave something that’s there, there?” Mellow asked. “And do it where they want us to go. Put their little park for skateboards and things over there.”

Customer Ramon Zaniba agrees. He thinks the city is looking for an easy way out, rather than dealing with the real problem.

“Why bring in a different element — a skatepark and so forth? Why not allow this to be as it is and help those that need the help instead of trying to move them to — nowhere?” Zaniba said.

The farmers are asking the public to speak out but they realize it’s probably a done deal. Demolition of a statue in the Folsom Street parking lot has already begun and farmer Ken Phan is trying to keep an open mind about the move.

“More customers? Maybe? Maybe we might be more busy, who knows?” he said. “So, this could be pro and con. We’ll see. I don’t know yet. For now, we’ll just have to go along and work together.”

Pulliam said that, even if the current farmers can squeeze into the new space, it will eliminate the possibility of growth, preventing the market from ever fully recovering from the pandemic. He said that, when they decided not to fight the plan, the city portrayed them as being supportive of it. So, Pulliam said, he will not be attending a public meeting on Monday because he doesn’t want to be seen as endorsing a plan that is being forced on them.

John Ramos

John Ramos accidentally launched a lifelong career in journalism when he began drawing editorial cartoons and writing smart-alecky satire pieces for the Bakersfield High School newspaper.

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San Francisco, CA

Watch: Every Splash Hit By Recent San Francisco Giants Legends

Published

5 minutes ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

Watch: Every Splash Hit By Recent San Francisco Giants Legends

Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are among the most recognized and well-liked players in recent San Francisco Giants history.

The pair combined to help San Francisco win world titles in 2012 and 2014.

Crawford recently announced his retirement in November and will be honored in April. Belt remains a free agent but didn’t play last season. He hasn’t officially announced his retirement.

At Oracle Park, one of the best moments is when a Giants player hits a “splash hit,” which is a home run into McCovey Cove, which is behind the right-field seats. Typically, left-handed hitters slam balls into McCovey Cove — but it’s not easy.

Crawford and Belt played more than a decade for the Giants and combined, they only hit 14 of them.

Recently, the Giants put together a super clip of all 14 of their splash hits during their Giants careers.

Crawford played 14 seasons, 13 of which were with the Giants. The 37-year-old California native was a three-time All-Star selection, won four Gold Gloves and was the Silver Slugger at his position in 2015. He also played for the U.S. in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where the U.S, won the gold medal.

The Mountain View, Calif., product finished his career with a slash line of .249/.318/.395/.713 with 147 home runs and 748 RBI. His best single season was in 2021, when he slashed .298/.373/.522/.895 with 24 home runs and 90 RBI. He was selected an All-Star for the last time, won his last Gold Glove and finished fourth in National League MVP voting.

Belt was primarily a first baseman throughout his career and played in 2023 with Toronto, where he batted .254 with 19 home runs and 43 RBI.

Belt was a National League All-Star in 2016 and finished in the Top 20 in MVP voting in 2020.

He has a career .261 batting average with 194 home runs and 697 RBI.

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San Francisco, CA

City Improvement Project Funds Improvements To Local Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

City Improvement Project Funds Improvements To Local Businesses

Locally owned and loved San Francisco establishments like tapas restaurant Cha Cha Cha and the Hong Kong Bakery are getting a hand from the SF Shines Improvement Project, the city announced.

A total of $350,000 in funding will be distributed between more than 50 businesses to support storefront improvements and equipment purchases from the project, which is administered by the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

Both new and existing small businesses can receive up to $10,000 apiece to make building improvements to reduce vulnerability to crime, attract foot traffic, ensure compliance with City requirements and stimulate economic growth.

Since it launched in 2022, the program has been vital to the City’s economic revitalization strategy, awarding more than $3.7 million to approximately 960 businesses, city officials said.

“San Francisco’s small businesses are at the center of what drives our economy and what makes our city so special,” said Mayor London Breed.

Onur Ozkaynak, owner of Cha Cha Cha, said he plans to redesign the bar at Cha Cha Cha and purchase a new pizza oven for his other establishment, Oz Pizza, with the grant funding.

“This investment has not only enabled much-needed improvements to my businesses but has also brought renewed hope for future growth,” Ozkaynak said.

Hong Kong Bakery owner David Huang said, “In previous years, our old freezer would stop working randomly, requiring constant repairs and careful maintenance.

“With the funds from SF Shines Grant, we will be able to purchase a brand new commercial-use freezer for our bakery,” Huang said.

The new unit will make it possible for Huang to more accurately control and maintain the desired temperature and deliver fresher food to his customers, the bakery owner said.

The program will begin accepting new applications in January 2025. Information on how to apply for an SF Shines grant is available on the Office of Small Business webpage: sf.gov/SmallBusinessGrants.

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San Francisco, CA

Warriors dance squad presents special Christmas show

Published

17 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Warriors dance squad presents special Christmas show – CBS San Francisco

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Loureen Ayyoub reports on the Golden State Warriors Gold Squad collaborating with dancers from the San Francisco Ballet for a special Christmas performance.