Thanks to everyone who attended the fall quarterly meeting and to Ren and his fellows at the library for hosting. Here’s the wrap-up for those who couldn’t make it. Find more information about upcoming events on the blog sidebar.
Announcements:
- Celebrate the first anniversary of the beautiful Burnside Steps Saturday, October 25, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Burnside cul de sac. Potluck, live music, fun for the whole family against the backdrop of this neighborhood gem.
- Haunted Chenery: Chenery Street between Diamond and Elk will be closed to through traffic from 5 to 9:30 p.m. on Halloween. Bring your little ones to trick-or-treat safely. Got tweens who don’t want you around? Keep an eye on them and help out by volunteering to work a 90-minute shift at one of the barricades.
- The San Francisco Planning Department is evaluating the historical significance of the city’s commercial districts and will determine which buildings are protected historical resources. See their findings about Glen Park and give feedback on Thursday, November 13, 5 to 6:30 p.m., at the Glen Park branch library.
- The Glen Park Merchants Association has proposed making the neighborhood’s commercial district an “Entertainment Zone.” This city designation legalizes al fresco drinking during events.
- We’re clarifying GPA bylaw 302B, and members will be asked to approve the change at our winter 2026 meeting. See the old text and proposed replacement text below.
Ingleside Precinct Captain Gerald Newbeck
Our new precinct captain introduced himself as a seasoned SFPD veteran who has held a wide range of roles during his 26 years in the SFPD, from SWAT teammate to patrol officer to paper pusher.
He talked technology, touting the benefits of the city’s 33 new speed cameras, which photograph the license plates of speeding vehicles. The ticket is mailed to the registered owner, but the infraction will not appear on your driving record. (The cameras are run by SFMTA, not SFPD.)
He said the Department does have 400 automated license plate readers that can track vehicles used in crimes like retail theft, car-jacking and assault. Once sighted, a suspect vehicle can then be followed discreetly by an officer remotely operating one of the Department’s 63 drones. When suspects have left a scene and let their guard down, plainclothes officers can swoop in and make arrests, limiting the potential for dangerous high speed chases.
Read more about these cameras here. (Many privacy groups oppose the cameras–read here for a criticism of the dangers of this kind of surveillance.)
The Captain hosts monthly meetings at the precinct the third Tuesday of each month. Learn more and find precinct contact information here.
Emergency Preparedness
Next Brandon Tom, the city’s sole Neighborhood Emergency Response Team coordinator, listed ways residents can prepare for emergencies. Born out of the chaos following the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, NERT hosts a six-week free training program, where residents learn skills like using a fire extinguisher, treating minor burns, stopping bleeding, shutting off utilities and searching damaged buildings safely.
The next nearby training program runs January 8 to February 12 from 6 to 10 p.m. at St. Aidan’s Church, 101 Gold Mine Drive.
Abbreviated 90-minute trainings called SF Ready are also ongoing and open to the public. Find out about upcoming classes here.
Trees on Narrow Sidewalks
Finally we came to the trees. As described in our story last month, many streets in Glen Park fall under Public Works Order 187246, which limits replacing street trees on sidewalks narrower than 90 inches.
Healthy trees can stay, but if they are damaged, dead or cause accidents and must be removed, they can only be replaced by a successful appeal to the order.
Fearing a concrete jungle, SOMA resident Shaun Aukland has campaigned to amend the rule, alleging it violates the city’s commitment to environmental equity and misdirects the use of federal funds. Furthermore, the criteria for exceptions are not documented, he said. He presented his case to the SF Environment Department’s Urban Forestry Council September 26 and has garnered more than 500 signatures requesting the rule be amended. He would like the Glen Park Association to sign on to his efforts.
Chris Heredia from Public Works’ Bureau of Urban Forestry followed, disputing Aukland’s allegations regarding environmental equity and the misuse of grant funds. The criteria for tree replacement include the proximity to utilities both above and below ground, proximity to driveways and the roadway, access to light and adequate space for tree roots and limbs.
Recent successful appeals to the order include 13 new trees to be planted on narrow sidewalks in SOMA. In Glen Park, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman’s office confirmed that the tree uprooting the sidewalk in front of 660 Chenery is slated to be replaced if it is removed.
Rachel Gordon of Public Works said the department is working to find tree species that grow tall and narrow for these locations. Other alternatives include creating tree bulbouts like those on Chenery between Diamond and Elk, sidewalk gardens (so long as they do not impede ADA access), and vertical gardens like growing a vine against the building.
Heredia appealed to the crowd to become tree ambassadors, planting trees appropriate for the given location and maintaining them until they are mature. Recommended street trees for San Francisco can be found here.
Bylaw 302B Clarification
Current wording:
New members whose applications and dues are not received by the Association before the January general meeting must wait for twenty-one days from the receipt of their application and dues to vote.
Proposed wording:
Those who were not members in the previous calendar year must have applications and dues received by the Association at least twenty-one days before the January General Meeting in order to vote.