NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION
The Richmond District is located in the northwest corner of San Francisco, nestled in between Presidio National Park and the city’s Golden Gate Park. The neighborhood, which includes Sea Cliff and Laurel and Presidio Heights, is home to about 80,000 people. About half of Richmond residents are of Asian ancestry, primarily of Chinese and Korean descent. There is also a large Irish population and many recently arrived Russian immigrants.
Several vibrant commercial areas, including California Street, Clement Street and Geary Boulevard, serve the neighborhood. The 1,400 merchants and small offices in the Richmond District offer a wide range of goods and services.
Local landmarks include the Cliff House and the Beach Chalet at Ocean Beach, the V.A. Hospital at Fort Miley, University of San Francisco and numerous holy houses, including Temple Emanuel, St. John’s Orthodox Church and St. John’s Presbyterian Church. There are numerous attractions in Golden Gate Park, including an American Bison pen, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Strybing Arboretum, the oldest children’s playground west of the Mississippi River and a 9-hole golf course.
NEWSPAPER INFORMATION
Distribution by Neighborhood: Presidio and Masonic Avenues to the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Park to the Presidio, Sea Cliff
Distribution by Zip Code: 94118 and 94121
Circulation: 25,000
On Monday, Nov, 14, McCoppin Elementary students participated in the Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day for the very first time. Families were invited to celebrate Ruby Bridges’ legacy, along with the teachers, staff and students.
George Washington High School’s (GWHS) class of spring 1947 celebrated its 75-year reunion on Nov. 4, 2022, at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco. The 1947 class was the first 75-year reunion of any GWHS class.
The November 2022 election is over. Now comes the easy part – analyzing the results. I’ll add my voice to the chorus of those trying to make sense of voter sentiment in the last contest of an election-filled year.
Our campaign has never asked for individual donations, because keeping SF clean doesn’t require more money – what we need is more people to be the change and act.
On Oct. 21, 2022, the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) held its Annual Conference in San Jose. Key take-aways include reevaluating our relationship with the land, Native American engagement, habitat for biodiversity on private and public land, and non-native plants and invasive weeds taking up spaces where native plants used to grow. As a member of CNPS and the Center for Biological Diversity, I have a message of hope to share.
Ever since I wrote about the mortgage interest rates going up from 3% to 4.5% a couple of months ago and how that translates to the amount of real estate a buyer can purchase, I have been getting many questions on how that looks now that the interest rate is around 6.5 to 7%.
Your readers may be interested in a lecture about San Francisco’s Residence Parks on Nov. 30, 2022, 4:30 p.m. in the Department of Art + Architecture, University of San Francisco, Maraschi Room, Fromm Hall, 2130 Fulton St. Free to the public.
I really enjoy talking with readers of the Richmond Review and look forward to meeting new people at the event. Unfortunately, I needed to cancel the October meeting. I caught COVID!
Recent police activity in the Richmond District.
The two homes and the gas station on the corner of Second Avenue and Balboa Street have all been demolished for apartment buildings. In 1951, the basement of 26 Balboa St., center, housed the Helene Hardin Theatrical Talent Agency.
Cartoon by Paul Kilduff.
A lot of issues on the ballot are being driven by political ideologues and organizations that have a narrow point of view. There is betrayal, the violation of ethical and moral standards, public giveaways and poison pills.
With the cost of living increasing month after month, it’s hard to see relief in sight. And for many San Franciscans who rent or even own their homes, the possibility of falling behind on a monthly rent or mortgage payment means they could lose their housing.
America’s participation in World War I spurred the creation of memorials not just honoring a hometown’s fallen soldiers, but a memorial could be dedicated to deceased members of a connected organization.
JFK Promenade and The Great Walkway, less than three miles, are two places where pedestrians, cyclists, runners, people who are blind, people who use wheelchairs, children, and pets can feel safe and breathe in clean air.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 