Reset San Francisco | Phil Ting for Assembly 2012

Why Housing Matters

By: Phil Ting

Over the past 4 years, we've seen just how important a healthy housing market is to our overall economy.

When foreclosures spiked and housing prices dropped, family assets were decimated. Communities across the state saw drops in local revenue so severe that it pushed some cities into bankruptcy and left many others on the precipice of insolvency.

The lesson we learned – housing matters. And it is particularly important, now that we are on the slow road to recovery, to remember this vital point. Read More

Save Our Schools- Vote Yes on Props 30 and 38

By: Guest Blogger Miriam E. Marks

Vote Yes on Props 30 and 38 The state budget crisis has put an enormous strain on public education. In 2011, CA colleges saw average tuition for in-state students increase 98.3 percent from five years before. Financial burdens worsen general poor education trends – California is nearly last in statewide rankings of per-pupil spending and the number of counselors per student, while also boasting the highest student to teacher ratio in the country.

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“Bye Bye Bullying” Fights Back Against Abuse

By: Evan Brown

October is National Bullying Prevention and Awareness Month, part of the growing recognition of what has been labeled an epidemic by education and psychology professionals. From the success of the film “Bully” to the It Gets Better campaign to random acts of speaking out, the country is waking up to the damage caused when people become the targets of unchecked harassment and abuse. Read More

Reset the Vote

By: Danielle Winterhalter

For young people in San Francisco, political discussions and activist opinions aren’t rare. They can be so prevalent in fact that we easily forget we live in a little bubble of cultural exposure, tech and booming industry.

But a recent study from the PEW Research Center bursts our preconceived political bubble. Read More

CCSF Opens New Campus Amidst Financial Uncertainty

By: Dwight Smith

After years of construction, City College of San Francisco finally opened the doors of its newest campus a few weeks back. Located in Chinatown at Kearny and Washington streets this state of the art building will serve 7,500 students previously studying at smaller sites leased from churches and SFUSD. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “Residents of Chinatown have been requesting better facilities since 1994.”

A Valuable Community Resource

The opening of this Chinatown/North Beach Campus is a gesture of CCSF’s mission to provide San Francisco’s diverse pool of residents of all ages and backgrounds with a gateway to higher education opportunities. Read More

A Standing O for SF Gov 2.0!

By: Dwight Smith

The SF Planning Department’s Property Information Map has recently been identified by Harvard’s Ash Center as one of 111 Bright ideas in Government.

Property Information Map

The Property Information Map provides real-time data regarding any address in the city, including everything from planning information for a specific site, to recent sales prices and permit data. And it gets better. Read More

That’s Not My Bag, Baby

The city of San Francisco wants to make plastic bags a thing of the past

That’s Not My Bag, Baby

By: Evan Brown

The day has arrived: Plastic bags in SF are a thing of the past… mostly.

If you somehow hadn’t heard, just plain forgot, or were understandably confused by the only-just-concluded wrangling in court and thought it was already here, be advised that San Francisco’s ban on plastic bags for all but a few types of businesses takes effect today. All petroleum-based disposable bags are getting the sack by 2013.

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As Election Day Approaches, Let’s Reset #GOTV!

With the November election fast approaching, we’re keeping our eyes open for ways that San Franciscans can get involved. And although civic participation in California is becoming easier than ever, it’s important to reach voters in swing states and those still undecided. So whether you want to remind constituents of their choices in November or help citizens exercise their right to vote, it’s a great time to get the word out! Read more.

Numbers Show High Turnout for Online Voter Registration

By: Miriam E. Marks

Last week, in a move that that is a true poster child of Government 2.0, California residents were officially able to complete their voter registration forms online. Californians are quickly taking advantage of the new system and the tremendous convenience it offers. Read More

DIY Dollhouses Empower Young Girls With STEM Creativity

By: Hayley Solarz

In the San Francisco Bay Area, we’re proud of our technological ingenuity and growing tech industry. Yet unfortunately, we’re all too aware of the gender gap that still pervades the science and tech fields.

Three young entrepreneurs experienced firsthand how women were systematically underrepresented compared to their male counterparts – and they decided to do something about it. Enter Roominate, a toy that channels basic math, science, and engineering skills towards a fun and creative design project for young girls. Read More