Supervisor Fiona Ma: Update on Community Affairs

I will be using my monthly column space to report on events over the past month, news items, refund and rebate opportunities, city agencies and neighborhood happenings. If you have issues or questions, e-mail me at fiona.ma@sfgov.org or call me at (415) 554-7460.

Committees: I have been appointed to the following SF Board of Supervisors' (BOS) committees: budget, city services, and the supervisors' School Board Select Committee. The board of supervisors' weekly meeting was moved in February to Tuesdays at 2 p.m. The weekly board agenda can be found at www.sfgov.org. The city services and budget committee meetings meet weekly at City Hall on Thursdays, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. The School Board Select Committee meets every other month at 555 Franklin Street, at 3 p.m.

Transportation: I will be also be serving as Finance Chair at the SF Transportation Authority, a sub-regional transportation planning and programming agency for San Francisco County created in 1989 to administer the proceeds of Proposition B, a local sales tax for transportation. The ballot measure authorized the collection of a local half-cent sales tax for 20 years, with the proceeds dedicated to transportation improvements according to a detailed expenditure plan. For more information, go to www.sfcta.org.

No to Antennae: Due to the leadership of Ruby Chung and 400-plus neighborhood supporters, on Jan. 13 the board of supervisors found that a proposed antennae site at 32nd Avenue and Noriega Street was not "desirable, compatible and necessary."

Tax Time: Tax-Aid, a 16-year-old nonprofit, is providing free income tax return preparation to families whose income is $34,000 or less. Tax-Aid will host sessions in 13 Bay Area locations this year. Call us at 554-7460 for locations, times and multi-lingual fliers.

Thanks to DPT: Street parking lines were re-painted on Noriega Street between 19th and 22nd avenues and from 30th to 33rd avenues.

New Stop Signs: Stops signs will be coming to the neighborhood, making the following intersections all-way stops: 34th Avenue and Rivera Street; 28th Avenue and Ulloa Street; 23rd Avenue and Kirkham Street and Ortega Street at 46th, 44th, 43rd and 42nd avenues.

Looking for Love? San Francisco's Animal Care and Control has lost, stray, abandoned and neglected animals looking for new homes. For more information, visit them at 1200 15th St. or call 554-9414 or www.animalshelter.sfgov.org.

Potholes: The SF Department of Public Works is one of the agencies that fixes potholes. They will respond and repair any pothole that is under their jurisdiction within 48 hours during weekdays. To report a pothole, no matter how significant, call the DPW Pothole Hotline at (415) 695-2100 (or 695-2020 after hours) or e-mail: potholes@ci.sf.ca.us. Please report the street address and the nearest cross-street.

2003 College Scholarship Program: The Asian Employees Association (AEA) of Pacific Gas and Election Co. (PG&E) will be awarding at least six $1,000 scholarships to college-bound high school seniors graduating in the spring of 2003. Application deadline is March 7. For application or more information, go to www.pge.com/scholarships.

Fiona Ma is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.