Photo by Maureen McGettigan

ART AND SOUL: Sunset District artist Cynthia Tom stands in front of some of her artistic creations. Tom's artwork was recently displayed at California Pacific Hospital. She uses her art to view important social issues, including Chinese immigration to Angel Island.

Police Blotter

Rec. and Park takes Another Look at Improvement Plan
Three years into a $400 million project to revitalize the city's aging recreational facilities, Richmond and Sunset district residents learned that the SF Recreation and Park Department is undertaking a long-range planning effort that could affect which parks and recreation facilities in their districts receive funding for improvements.

Plan to Remodel Ortega Library
A meeting in late September offered Sunset residents the first opportunity to give input on a plan to rebuild the Ortega Branch Library and bring them up to speed on the project. The current library, located at 3223 Ortega St., was built in 1956 and has about 4,057 square feet of interior space. The plan for the new library seeks to double the size of the facility to about 8,500 square feet.

Garage EIR Gets OK, Traffic Plan Opposed
A last ditch effort to block the building of a controversial 800-space parking garage under the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park failed when the SF Board of Supervisors rejected the appeal of an environmental impact report.

PUC Considers Giving Laguna Honda Land to City
Still smarting from a public relations nightmare when a plan to use goats to control vegetation on the hillside above the Laguna Honda Reservoir ignited a public protest in April, the SF Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is undertaking a comprehensive assessment that could turn the property over to the SF Recreation and Park Department for use as a park.

Neighborhood Newspaper Editors Grill Mayoral Candidates
The major candidates vying for Mayor Willie Brown's job faced members of the city's neighborhood press at City Hall Sept. 15 to explain their positions on quality-of-life issues facing San Francisco's neighborhoods. Publishers and editors of the city's neighborhood newspapers grilled candidates about homelessness, affordable housing, the economic vitality of San Francisco and what they intend to do about job creation and predicted budget deficits next year.

Artist Views City Through Eyes of Chinese Immigrants
Using surrealism and symbolism as a means of healing through art, Cynthia Tom seeks to nurture individuals and the community. "My work has a healing/psychological aspect to it that encourages thought and discussion," said Tom from her Sunset District home.

Candidate Sticks with Principles in Mayor's Race
It is a warm summer night on Commonwealth Avenue in Jordan Heights. Dressed in a short-sleeve plaid shirt and blazer, mayoral candidate Tony Ribera stands at the podium seeking an endorsement from the Armenian National Committee. He speaks boldly about his vision for the City, never missing an opportunity to criticize the current mayor. His presence is not like a polished, eloquent downtown politician but more of a plain-speaking, genial, PTA-president.

Crime Rate Down; Locals Recognized
The overall crime rate in the Sunset District is down three percent since August, 2002, according to Capt. Keith Sanford, the commanding officer at the Taraval Police Station.

Sunset Library Nominated for Landmark Status

Sunset Community Festival

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