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Cap-and-trade ‘unpollution’ is nonsensical

Andrew Page, KQED — Mar 10 2010 - 12:53pm

When I first heard about cap-and-trade — the plan where a company can emit greenhouse gasses up to a point (the cap) then offset its emissions by investing in “unpollution” somewhere in the world (the trade) — well I thought, “This sounds like it’s worth a shot.” But after some looking into it, I have my doubts.

Mid-Market: The shape it’s in. Who owns it. What’s next.

Marjorie Beggs, Jonathan Newman and Geoff Link, Central City Extra — Feb 8 2010 - 2:17pm

We call it the plywood parade — the relentless march up Market Street from Fifth to Eighth of boarded-up or erratically open storefronts, emptying offices in the upper stories and crumbling facades. Some 31 percent of the storefronts on this stretch of Market Street are vacant. Both local government and businesses are trying to restore this faded area of Market Street into a vibrant commercial center. The three mid-Market blocks mostly look like hell.

City to carve out more contracts for ‘micro’ businesses

Monica Jensen, SF Public Press — Feb 3 2010 - 5:13pm

In a bid to make it easier for local businesses to grow in a down economy, San Francisco supervisors want to give more small, city-based firms a competitive edge in city contracts.

Death of bilingual newspaper leaves void in Japanese American community

Conor Gallagher, SF Public Press — Dec 14 2009 - 4:05pm

One of the last bilingual Japanese-English newspapers in San Francisco has ceased its print publication and will likely end its Internet edition in the near future, leaving Japantown residents disappointed and searching for new sources of information.

New transit center to displace SoMa neighbors

Angela Hart, SF Public Press — Dec 11 2009 - 12:15pm

South of Market business owners and residents are conflicted over plans for an ambitious new transit-center redevelopment. They say that while the project may be good for the city and the Bay Area, it's bad for their livelihoods. Among those being pressured to relocate are 26 businesses, at least 24 live-work lofts and eight parking lots operators.

Hellman and partners to launch Bay Area newsroom

Steve Jones, San Francisco Bay Guardian — Sep 24 2009 - 2:09pm

San Francisco Bay Guardian
San Francisco financier Warren Hellman – in partnership with KQED, the UC Berkeley School of Journalism and perhaps even the New York Times – is about to launch a nonprofit, locally focused, online news organization with a medium-sized newsroom of full-time journalists, Hellman has confirmed to the Guardian.

While big banks sink, microcredit thrives

Ambika Kandasamy, The Public Press — Apr 7 2009 - 1:52pm

While giant financial service institutions in the nation are shirking under the iron hand of the economy, microcredit organizations are seeing an opposite trend — the number of lenders has been steadily increasing.

Kiva, a Web-based microcredit non-profit in San Francisco, had a record month in February as its total monthly lending soared past $3.8 million.

Stacey’s Bookstore writes final chapter

Sam Chapman, The Public Press — Mar 4 2009 - 6:57pm

After 85 years in business – selling millions of books during that time – a San Francisco landmark soon will close its doors to the public.

Stacey’s Bookstore, located at 581 Market St., held its final lunchtime author event Wednesday as hundreds of faithful supporters, former employees, local authors and more walked the aisles of the shop for what may be their last time. The bookstore will close for good the week of March 16.

“I can remember coming here 20 years ago and my book would always make the best-seller list because of what Stacey’s would do in business bestseller lists,” local author Susan RoAne said. “When I read the news, I gulped … this is just heartbreaking for all of us. Stacey’s has been wonderful to me.”

Brass Tax: Propositions N and Q Levy Businesses, Property

Tim Kingston, www.newsdesk.org / The Public Press — Oct 23 2008 - 10:57am

Propositions N and Q, which would increase and modify San Francisco's property transfer and payroll expense taxes, were the product of intense negotiations between different business groups. Not surprisingly, the winners and losers in those negotiations define the pro and con election advertisements. The laws are simple enough: N would increase the property transfer tax from 0.75 to 1.5 percent on properties worth over $5 million, while Q ensures that partners in law firms have to pay payroll taxes. It also raises the ceiling for payroll tax exemption to $250,000. The city controller states in the voter handbook that the propositions would raise almost $40 million for the city's general fund, but how it does that, and who stands to gain or lose, is not so clearcut.

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