SF sewers and emergency infrastructure could get an upgrade

It’s no secret: San Francisco’s infrastructure is aging. A pair of proposals in the news this week might fix problems with how the city deals with one piece of that puzzle: water.

On Wednesday, the Associated Press reported on a “green” landscaping law that would force developers to make at least half of front yards rainwater permeable with either in-ground plantings, interlocking pavers or other porous material. The ordinance, which the Board of Supervisors passed unanimously Tuesday, is designed to reduce the strain of excess rainwater on the city’s sewer system. Mayor Gavin Newsom, who proposed the ordinance, is expected to sign it into law.
 
On Tuesday SF Appeal elaborated on a $412 million earthquake safety measure on the June 8 San Francisco ballot. The money from the proposed measure would go into retrofitting aging neighborhood public safety facilities, such as fire stations, and upgrade the emergency water system.
 
Proposition B (See: “election quick guide”), the Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond, funds a variety of projects. An Associated Press article on SF Gate Tuesday reported that $104 million of the bond would go to improving deteriorating pipes, hydrants, reservoirs and water cisterns built after the 1906 earthquake. The remaining $308 million would go to building new seismically safe police and fire buildings.
 
Links:
 
 

sfappeal.com – 4/13/10

 

Other big stories this week:

Civics

Gay marriage ban repeal falls short
insidebayarea.com – 4/12/10

Prop 14 ‘fake open primary’: the destruction of California’s independent political parties
indybay.org – 4/12/10

Calif. smoking ban at state parks on gov’s desk
cbs5.com – 4/15/10

Dogs becoming concern on Haight
sfexaminer.com – 4/14/10

 

BART police suspends use of tasers
cbs5.com – 4/15/10

Streetscape

San Francisco home price median jumps 7%
thestreet.com – 4/15/10

Muni would like to ask you to tax yourself
sfappeal.com – 4/15/10

California sell-off plan has high cost
cbs5.com – 4/14/10

The lure of creeks beneath San Francisco’s streets
sf.streetsblog.org – 4/14/10

Schools

SF school district, teachers at impasse
SFgate.com – 4/14/10

UC campuses report record low admission rates
cbs5.com – 4/14/10

Green

California’s climate law could help poor
cbs5.com – 4/14/10

Santa Clara supes bring county closer to ban on single-use carryout bags
ktvu.com – 4/13/10

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