For only the second time, San Francisco has flagged a contractor for repeatedly violating building codes meant to preserve safe conditions for residents and neighbors, according to records.
San Francisco, CA
Scofflaw Contractor Flagged by San Francisco Officials
Until Dec. 26, 2023, there was only one name on the city’s list of repeat offenders—Rodrigo Santos, a permit expediter and structural engineer who pleaded guilty to federal charges in January 2023 in relation to a scheme he was involved in that helped his clients receive lenient inspections on their projects.
Tad Van Nguyen is the newest name on the Department of Building Inspection’s expanded compliance list due to four serious violations within a year. Those violations occurred on four projects his construction company worked on in 2022 and 2023.
“The addition of Mr. Nguyen demonstrates that we are applying the Expanded Compliance control criteria as set forth in the building code, and we believe the extra level of scrutiny applied to these individuals is helpful in maintaining a safe built environment,” Department of Building Inspection spokesman Patrick Hannan said.
In 2021, San Francisco passed legislation to track and flag significant violations by developers, contractors and engineers who repeatedly break city permitting rules.
The law, which directs the city building inspection department to notify state regulators of violations and tasks senior inspectors to review complaints, was a reaction to a corruption scandal that involved the scheme by Santos, who had his clients donate to specific entities in exchange for favorable inspections by a city inspector.
Santos pleaded guilty to bank fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion charges in three separate cases stemming from the checks he misappropriated and the donations he asked his clients to make to a youth sports charity favored by Bernie Curran, who was at the time a senior building inspector.
Curran was one of three inspectors allegedly bribed by prominent San Francisco developer Sia Tahbazof, who was charged by federal authorities in November.
Building inspection spokesperson Hannan said that the fact that only two names have appeared on the list is a testament to the vast number of building projects in the city are aboveboard.
But even without citing other troubling issues with city inspections, such as a recently fired and charged department inspector who reviewed construction on his own home, Nguyen’s case may indicate the system is not catching all construction scofflaws the way it is supposed to.
Nguyen’s track record is littered with incomplete construction projects, unsafe working conditions and numerous lawsuits, according to court records and former colleagues.
For his part, Nguyen denied that he had done work without permits.
“I don’t know why they put me on the list,” he said. “We filed a permit and got everything approved. This is nonsense stuff.”
Nguyen did not respond to questions about a number of other issues his company has been involved with in the past.
The recent projects that Nguyen was flagged for are related to work his company did at four addresses in 2022 and 2023.
At 1237 Shafter Ave. in Hunters Point, his company did demolition beyond the scope of the approved plans in 2022, according to city inspection department records. Next door at 1239 Shafter, his company also did soil excavation beyond the allowed permits, which resulted in undermining the neighbor’s footing.
The two properties are owned by Amanda Reid, who did not respond to a request for comment. But early last year, Nguyen filed a mechanic lien on Reid’s property for failure to pay his company for the work it did, according to court documents.
Another nearby project flagged in 2022 was 1600 Thomas Ave., where Nguyen demolished a deck and stairway and rebuilt another one far beyond the allowed permitting. He also built a new and higher fence along a public right of way that exceeded the permitted project.
Thomas and Anna Jordan, who own the 1600 Thomas Ave. property, could not be reached for comment.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Nguyen in 2022 at 1600 Thomas Ave. for health and safety violations related to unsafe scaffolding, failure to provide protection for overheating and Covid prevention, among other violations.
He was fined more than $14,000 for 11 violations, all of which he has contested.
At 352 Head St. in Ingleside Heights, Nguyen completed internal walling without inspection or permitting in 2023, city records state.
The LLC that owns the property has a registered address that is the same as Nguyen’s San Francisco home address.
The recent violations are only the latest controversies Nguyen has faced as a contractor in San Francisco.
In 2014, the Department of Industrial Relations sued him for nearly $12,000 in fines related to unsafe ladders and scaffolding on a Geary Boulevard project.
That same year, the state’s Contractors State License Board also cited Nguyen for work done at his 1440 Clement St. property without workers compensation insurance, according to court documents. Nguyen was fined $3,500, and his license was briefly suspended for the violation.
Numerous complaints arose from the work being done on the property, some of which were also without permits, according to city records.
Chris Tuong, who is also in litigation with Nguyen, said in 2009 the contractor did work at 127 Milton St. that was substandard and did not meet engineering rules. According to city records, the work was being done without a permit, and a stop order was issued.
Tuong said that when the engineer, Stephen Chan, refused to sign off on the work, Nguyen threatened him.
“Tad took off his jacket and [got] in position to attack Steve,” Tuong said. “I was there because I’m thinking to protect Stephen, because Tad is too violent.”
Nguyen never completed the work, Tuong said. He had to hire another contractor.
More recently, Nguyen sued Chan for not doing engineering work on one of the projects Nguyen was cited for: 352 Head St.
“I didn’t do any work for him,” Chan said, adding that Nguyen was trying to get him to do engineering work for free.
According to court records, Nguyen lost the lawsuit.
San Francisco, CA
Dolphins keep playoff hopes alive with 29-17 win over 49ers, who were eliminated Sunday afternoon
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — – Tua Tagovailoa threw for 215 yards and a touchdown, Jason Sanders nailed five field goals, and the Miami Dolphins kept their playoff chances alive by beating the San Francisco 49ers 29-17 on Sunday.
The 49ers were eliminated from the playoffs before the game because of wins by the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders earlier Sunday. The loss ensured that last year’s NFC champions will have a losing season for the first time since 2020.
The Dolphins (7-8) helped their chances of making the playoffs for a third straight season, but will need to win their final two games and get help from losses by the Broncos, Chargers and Colts for that to happen.
Trailing by nine early in the fourth, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy found tight end Eric Saubert for a 2-yard score that cut the lead to 19-17, but the Niners couldn’t get past self-inflicted wounds.
After punting the ball back to Miami with 6:45 left, San Francisco was hit with consecutive penalties for illegal substitution, unnecessary roughness and offsides to give Miami 25 yards, helping set up Sanders’ 48-yard field goal that stretched the Dolphins’ lead to five.
The 49ers were penalized 11 times for 90 yards.
Cornerback Kader Kohou then intercepted Purdy on the next drive, after the quarterback was pressured by defensive tackle Calais Campbell. Dolphins running back De’Von Achane sealed it with a 50-yard touchdown run.
Tagovailoa finished 22 of 34. Purdy was 26 of 40 for 313 yards and two touchdowns.
Tyreek Hill’s inconsistent season continued. He caught just 3 of 7 targets for 29 yards and a touchdown, with drops on the first two drives of the game and another on a potential touchdown in the third.
Jonnu Smith caught six passes for 62 yards to set the Dolphins’ single-season franchise record for receptions (76) and receiving yards (802) by a tight end.
Sanders was 5 of 5, including a 54-yarder, which made him 11 of 13 on field goals of 50-plus yards this year. San Francisco’s Jake Moody missed a 41-yarder in the third.
Deebo Samuel caught his first touchdown since Week 6 on a 16-yard score in which he muscled through several defenders on his way into the end zone.
Miami moved into 49ers territory three times in the first half but settled for field goals before Hill’s 3-yard touchdown catch from Tagovailoa that put the Dolphins ahead with 3:20 left in the second.
Purdy then drove San Francisco 67 yards down the field to set up Moody’s 21-yard field goal to cut Miami’s lead to 13-10 at halftime.
Injuries
49ers: LB Dre Greenlaw (right calf), LG Aaron banks (knee) and LT Jaylon Moore (quad) left with injuries. … DE Leonard Floyd played through a shoulder injury suffered in the first quarter.
Dolphins: WR Jaylen Waddle did not play because of a knee injury suffered last week. … CB Kendall Fuller (knee) and LB Jordyn Brookes (quad/knee) left in the second half.
Up next
49ers: Host Detroit on Monday Dec. 30.
Dolphins: At Cleveland next Sunday.
——
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflbr/]
Copyright © 2024 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.
San Francisco, CA
SF is the only city where it's cheaper to buy a home now than in 2019
San Francisco is the only major U.S. city where it’s cheaper to buy a home now than it was five years ago, according to data from real estate listing site Zillow.
Of the 100 largest U.S. cities by population, San Francisco is the single example that saw home values fall between November 2019 and November 2024, based on what the company calls the “Zillow price index.”
The city saw the typical home price decline by 3.7% during that period. All other cities saw prices increase. Across the Bay, Oakland had the smallest increase, with the average home value rising 2.1%. Among other major U.S. cities, prices rose 37.58% in Los Angeles; 38.34% in Austin, and 69.26% in Miami.
Cheaper is one thing. But cheap? That’s a different story.
According to Zillow, the typical home value in San Francisco in November 2024 was $1.26 million, versus $1.31 million five years ago. In 2019, San Francisco had by far the highest typical home price across all major cities, coming in more than 30% over second-place San Jose.
In 2024, San Francisco was one of four cities, all in California, with typical home prices over $1 million.
Kara Ng, a senior economist at Zillow, said San Francisco was an outlier in the first place.
“Five years ago, San Francisco was far and away the most expensive city to buy a home in the U.S.,” Ng said, adding that the pandemic fueled the ability for a highly paid but price-constrained workforce to flock to more affordable areas.
San Francisco, CA
Drive-thru turkey drive in San Francisco collects holiday meals families in need
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Holiday help was there for a community in need.
A drive-thru turkey donation drive was held in San Francisco on Saturday, benefitting the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. It brought a big donation response from the community, coming at a time when the need for food has never been greater.
Holiday turkeys and hams were arriving by the minute at a donation site near St. Emydius Church in San Francisco.
“Makes you feel good. That’s what you’re supposed to do,” said Ron Isola from Daly City.
The rainy weather didn’t stop anyone from showing up and helping out, especially Linda Peppars.
MORE: North Bay food bank issues holiday SOS for donations
“I live in the neighborhood and I just like helping people. God has blessed me. Why not bless other people? That’s the whole thing about life, especially today,” Peppars said.
It’s the 13th year for this turkey drive, started by volunteer Pierre Smit.
“I’m here from a different country. I came with nothing. If I had some some money, I would bring a few turkeys to St. Anthony’s,” Smit said.
It’s now a community-wide effort, benefitting the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
Hundreds of turkeys were donated, including lots of hams.
MORE: How Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign helps others achieve ‘2nd chance at a 1st-class life’
“We’re currently serving 50,000 households every week. These turkeys and hams will go to some of our agency partners who are putting on Christmas lunches and dinners,” Abbott said.
It comes at a critical time for most Bay Area food banks that responding to food insecurity.
One in six people in Santa Clara and San Mateo are getting help from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.
That agency is feeding a half million people every month.
In Napa, demand for food assistance has tripled compared to this time last year, and the North Bay’s Redwood Empire Food Bank is serving thousands more families, just in the past five months.
MORE: Toys for Tots aiming to reach 70,000 gift goal in Alameda Co.
“Our number one concern is inflation. We purchase some of the food we distribute. It’s costing us two times what it did pre-pandemic,” Abbott said.
It’s why this food drive is so important.
“It’s hard. Everybody doesn’t have what you have and visa versa,” Peppers said.
As a show of thanks, everyone who donated got a round of applause from volunteers.
Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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