City Hall: Supervisor Eric Mar

Fighting child obesity
From "Happy Meal" to "Healthy Meal"

I recently introduced legislation designed to set higher nutritional standards for restaurant food that is accompanied by toys or other incentive items that are marketed towards kids. Known as the Healthy Meal Incentive ordinance, it is intended to promote healthier eating habits in children, as well as help to address and prevent health issues associated with childhood obesity.

Currently, childhood obesity and its related health issues are an increasing problem among our children, due in no small part to unhealthy eating habits, including over consumption of foods high in fat, sugar, cholesterol and sodium and billion dollar marketing campaigns by fast food companies targeting kids.

In the 30 years since the introduction of the so-called "Happy Meal," childhood obesity has tripled for my daughter's age group. Childhood obesity, as well as unhealthy dietary habits, put our children at increased risk for health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. By offering toys and other incentive items, restaurants and fast food chains help encourage unhealthy eating habits for our children.

The Healthy Meal Incentive ordinance requires restaurants and fast food chains to provide healthier meal options if they wish to include toys or other kid-oriented incentive items. Restaurants and fast-food chains would be required to meet stricter and healthier nutritional requirements in their meal offerings to kids in order to offer toys or other items. They would also be required to include fruits or vegetables in any meal that offers toys or other kid-oriented incentives. With the Healthy Meal Incentive legislation, we can provide an incentive for restaurants and fast food chains to offer healthier meal options for children, while also encouraging them to adopt healthier eating habits.

Give Input On Presidio Trust's Changes To The Use Of Battery Caulfield Road

With the completion of the Presidio Landmark apartments (154 apartments and seven townhomes, where the Public Health Hospital was once located) and the Wyman Avenue homes (three single-family dwellings and eight duplexes), there has been some concern over the amount of traffic entering the Presidio and the surrounding areas of the Richmond. This September, the Presidio Trust will reopen the long closed 14th Avenue gate to allow one-way northbound traffic into the Presidio and allow one-way southbound traffic out of the Presidio on 15th Avenue.

The Presidio Trust is looking at two proposals for how Battery Caulfield Road will be used by the public. The Trust's first proposal would limit car use on Battery Caulfield Road during the weekday peak hours of 7 - 9 a.m. and 5 - 7 p.m., and also on weekends. The second proposal would close Battery Caulfield Road completely.

The Presidio Trust will be taking input and feedback on the Battery Caulfield Road proposal until Oct. 15, and I encourage Richmond District residents to weigh in on this issue. To share your voice, e-mail batterycaulfield@presidiotrust.gov or mail a letter to: Planning Department, Presidio Trust, 34 Graham St., P.O. Box 29052, San Francisco, CA 94129-0052.

Safer Streets: Traffic Calming on Masonic Avenue

On Aug. 8, the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) held its second meeting for the Masonic Avenue street design study. This has been a community-based process to look at how to make Masonic function better for all users and make changes that can improve the attractiveness of the street for local residents. The SFMTA presented four options for Masonic traffic calming, expected to provide on-the-street changes in 2-3 years.

Option A: This option removes parking on the west side of Masonic and maintains parking on the east side at all times.Ê It provides two traffic lanes in each direction at all times, and establishes bike lanes in each direction at all times;

Option B: This option removes parking on both sides between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week, and allows night parking. During daytime, it provides two traffic lanes in each direction and establishes bike lanes in both directions. The bike lanes float between curb and parking lanes depending on the time of day. This option provides a landscaped median as well;

Option C: This option removes parking on both sides at all times. It provides two traffic lanes in each direction, a landscaped median and a bicycle path in each direction;

Option D: This option provides parking on both sides at all times, two traffic lanes in each direction at all times, and a cycle track on existing sidewalks.

With the recent, tragic accident at Masonic and Turk Street, resulting in the death of a bicyclist, Target's interest in the old Mervyn's site at Geary and Masonic and the implementation of Geary BRT, this is an important and critical process. I will continue to work with the community and SFMTA to make Masonic safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. The SFMTA will hold its third meeting on Sept. 30, at the San Francisco Day School, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Javad Mirabdal at the SFMTA at 701-4421 or e-mail him at Javad.Mirabdal@sfmta.com.

Muni Service Restoration on Sept. 4

Effective Saturday, Sept. 4, the SFMTA will be restoring 61 percent of the service reductions implemented system-wide on May 8. Immediate customer benefits include: Restoration of the Owl service to every 30 minutes, restoration of night end times for all community routes and many local and rapid routes, and restoration of evening frequency and additional capacity on many routes as well. Richmond District lines, such as the #1 California, #5 Fulton and #31 Balboa, should all see improved service. I will continue to work with the SFMTA to develop a strategy to reinstate the remaining Muni services affected by reductions.

Protecting Our Parks

Many of you are aware of the recent acts of vandalism that have occurred in Golden Gate Park, where trees were destroyed at the Music Concourse and 36 rose plants in the world famous rose garden were cut.

There is a $2,000 reward being offered for any information about the vandals. Anyone with information can contact the SF Police Department at (415) 666-8000. There is also an anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444, or text tips can be sent to TIP411.

Coffee with Eric

Please join me for coffee on Friday, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. I will be at the Zephyr Cafe, 3643 Balboa St. Come meet with me and other Richmond District residents and share what's on your mind.

Bike to Work Day

Each month a growing group of riders have been joining us for a fun and leisurely bike ride from the Richmond District to City Hall. Meet up with us at Velo Rouge Cafe, 798 Arguello Blvd., on Friday, Sept. 24, at 8 a.m. Ride with us!

San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar represents District 1.