Voice of San Francisco
From Fisherman's Wharf to the SFUSD: tough decisions are about to be made with John Rothmann.
This is John Rothman, and you are listening to The Voice of San Francisco. There are two major stories to talk about today. One has to do with Fisherman's Wharf. The San Francisco Port Commission has voted to endorse a preliminary $550 million development plan for Pier 45. That is the site of, well, one of the last places where you can really deal with fishing at Fisherman's Wharf. I know development is critical and I know the growth and development of Fisherman's Wharf is something we are very anxious about, particularly with the closing of the Wax Museum. But let me point out to you, the Wax Museum is an exhibit, it's a tourist trap. What really made Fisherman's Wharf, Fisherman's Wharf, is the fact that Fisher men and women could use the Wharf for fishing purposes. Well, you and I now know that if the development takes place at Fisherman's Wharf, and this is a critical moment, that it could affect the fishing industry itself. Let me explain to you that there is a real division by people at the Wharf dealing with this whole question. We have one family, Lou Girardo, the former owner of the neighborhood's Bodine Bakery, who is firmly in favor of this development and his son, Dan, who absolutely opposes it, he's the current owner of Bodine, and he says the city should focus on supporting existing businesses and finding tenants for empty storefronts and encouraging the fishing industry. This is something we need to understand because those of us who grew up in San Francisco, who live in San Francisco, understand the importance of the fishing industry. That was the point of going down there except to enjoy the fish. I know, I know, times change, things change, I understand that. But before the San Francisco Port Commission goes ahead with this plan for Pier 45, site of one of the last places where the city's historic fishing industry flourishes, we better really debate it, and I want to know where the candidates for a mayor stand. I want to know where the candidates for the Board of Supervisors stand. I want to know where the people of San Francisco stand because, frankly, the development of our port, the development of our fishing industry, well, that's what we ought to be doing. Do you want to eat frozen fish? I don't. I want that fresh fish, which is so much a part of San Francisco. Now, there's a second issue, which we talked about yesterday, and that has to do with the decision by the Board of Education, which is coming up about closing 11 schools. Now, I have to tell you, I've known the SUTRO school for years and years and years. It's a part of the Richmond District, and one of the things that has happened is that the SUTRO school, they're now talking about closing it. And the family's there, and again, I rely on the Chronicle story and calls from friends who go to SUTRO were astonished to see their school on the list. It's one of the best schools in San Francisco for elementary education. Now, I know, I know. Let's be practical. You have to close some schools because of the fiscal problems that the school district now faces. But I want you to know that as we debate the question of closing schools, we better consider the following. There will be a new school board in place in January. Maybe we ought to wait and let the new school board determine this rather than the old school board. Number two, maybe we ought to be posing questions to those candidates for the Board of Education now about how they feel about closing schools. Number three, maybe we need to talk about fiscal responsibility. Is there something that we are doing wrong within the district? Clearly there is. Number four, Matt Wayne, the superintendent of schools, well, he's the guy who is really on the spot. He's the one making the recommendations. So the question I'm asking is, Matt, what is going on? And look, let's be blunt, the school district has severe problems. But I believe that public education is the backbone of our democracy. I believe in public schools in San Francisco. As I've told you in previous podcasts, I've been part of the public education system since I was in kindergarten, that's right, whether it was elementary school, junior high school, now middle school or high school. To me, what happens in our public schools is critical. I am a product of those schools. So let's consider this carefully. Let's think about this and let's debate it. And by the way, let's have the next school board make the closing decisions, not the old one, because the old school board, well, three of their members are retiring and maybe a fourth, who knows, depending on the election. I want there to be accountability, whether it's with our schools or with a port commission. And because we are in the midst of an election, because this is a time for choosing, we need to be in the forefront of this debate. Now, let's be clear, you're going to hear it debated in the chronicle. You're going to hear it debated in the standard. You're going to hear it debated in the examiner. You're going to hear people up in arms. And the question becomes, well, where do you debate it? Well, one of the things we're trying to do with the voice of San Francisco is offer that forum. So participate in what we are doing as well, because together, we need to help this city move forward. We promise here at the voice of San Francisco, you will get both from the podcasts and from the written materials, which are provided on our website. You will get a sense of what the debate is, and we need to participate in that debate. Whether it's Fisherman's Wharf, or the public schools, or so many other issues facing San Francisco, those of us who love our city, this is the time when we need to be engaged. And all the candidates for mayor, all the candidates for the board of supervisors, all the candidates for the board of education, their feet need to be held to the fire so that we make the right decision for San Francisco. This is John Rothman, and you are listening to the voice of San Francisco.