Supervisor Ed Jew: City Hall Updates, Sunset is Home

District 4 Open House
Many thanks to Noriega Teriyaki House at 1755 Noriega St. for hosting our June 21 Open House.

I heard about a range of District 4 concerns, from raccoons to poor Muni service to planning issues. I thank those of you who took time out of your busy schedules to come by and talk to me, and I promise that I will be following up on all of your items brought to my attention. Thanks, also, to my good friends who took time to come by and wish me well.

Our next Open House will take place at Irving Pizza, 1825 Irving St. at 19th Avenue, on Thursday, July 19, from 2 to 5 p.m. Our host will be owner Awadalla Awadalla, president of the Outer Sunset Merchants Association.

Scheduled Street Repaving
Three street repaving projects have been noticed for the last part of June and beginning of July: 22nd Avenue from Taraval to Vicente Street; 34th Avenue from Lincoln Way to Irving Street; and 47th Avenue from Moraga Street to Noriega Street.

These jobs are short in duration, but if you have any questions, contact Alex Murillo at the SF Department of Public Works' Public Affairs Office at 437-7009, or e-mail him at alex.m.murillo@sfdpw.org.

Muni
The N-Judah line has been restored, and once again goes all the way to the Caltrain station. It was wrong to change it in the first place, but the mistake has been quickly corrected.

My office has been getting an increased number of calls about the light rail lines. Trains are bunched up, or are stopped and passengers forced to disembark, or they're too full, too late or don't come at all. Complaints are made, but no one from Muni responds and service seems to be getting worse. It already takes quite a while to get downtown from the Sunset - without reliable Muni, the roundtrip each day becomes a nightmare.

I urge you to contact Muni through normal channels. If you get no response, contact my office by e-mail (Barbara.Meskunas@sfgov.org) with the details and we would be happy to follow up for you. By tracking your complaints, I am hopeful we can help make Muni more accountable.

Unlike some of my colleagues on the board, I don't blame the drivers for Muni problems - I blame management.

Politicians who would rather scapegoat drivers who work hard and often take a lot of public abuse are taking the easy route, and I think the riding public deserves better. Drivers didn't decide to re-route the N-Judah - managers and certain supervisors did.

Our Muni managers are paid six-figure salaries to solve problems - I do not believe the Board of Supervisors should go to the ballot box with quick fix ideas that do little more than delay real organizational reform.

Water Rates Update
You will recall that last month the SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) approved a three-tiered water rate structure that applied only to single-family homes, and amounted to a tax on families. Single people living apart would have paid less for water than would a family living together, if calculated per person.

I joined Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier in calling for a rejection of those rates. The SFPUC reacted by rescinding the three-tier rate increase - eliminating the punitive third tier altogether. I still am not completely satisfied that the SFPUC's water rate increase is justified, and I am not happy that the tiered wastewater rates will remain the same.

I must tell you that further Board of Supervisors' action to reject the revised rate structure is unlikely. I am hopeful, however, that community groups leading the opposition to the rate increases will find other means to stop them, either in court or at the ballot box.

I do not trust the SFPUC to spend our bond money, or rate revenues, wisely.

Business as Usual
I will not pretend that the last month has not been a challenge for me, and for my family. The worst part has been my inability to talk about it to my many friends and supporters, and to answer questions prompted by less than accurate media accounts and comments from colleagues who I've since learned are not my friends.

I believe my first legal response, being prepared as I am writing this column, will clearly answer questions about my residency for those who have been persuaded or inclined to ask them.

I have been heartened by the many calls, e-mails and letters of support I've received from voters in District 4 and across the City.

During the coming weeks, despite the media coverage I anticipate, I want to assure you that my office will continue to be open every day to address your concerns and respond to your questions. I will continue to do the job I was elected to do, to the best of my abilities.

My votes on the board as your supervisor will always reflect the independence and values of the Sunset District, which I am very proud to represent, and which is my home.

Ed Jew is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.