Richmond District Democratic Club

After discussing a proposed gift from our sister city, Shanghai, of a walled Chinese garden to be constructed on a five-acre site in Golden Gate Park, the Richmond District Democratic Club passed a resolution (see below) urging a full public review and debate of this proposal before there is any further planning or financing for it at the Golden Gate Park site.

At the RDDC meeting on September 27, members discussed what little was known at the time about the proposal and were concerned that there had been no public review. While members agreed that the proposed garden would be a beautiful and generous gift, as it would be modeled on a garden in Shanghai and would have a pavilion, waterfalls, lakes, and other structures, they raised a number of issues. Foremost among these were the lack of public process, preservation of open space, and contravention of the master plan for Golden Gate Park, which states that “new cultural buildings should be located outside existing parks… additional structures would disrupt the balance that is present between open space and special uses requiring buildings.”

Since the September 27 meeting, the Richmond Review has featured this issue in its November edition (go to www.sfrichmondreview.com to read the article once it is posted). In the article, James Fang, Chair of the Shanghai Sister City Committee, laments the fact that the proposed gift is being discussed prematurely, as it is in the early planning phase, and that the public response has been based on inaccurate information. For example, he is quoted as saying that the proposed size of the project is less than two acres, not the five acres stated in earlier media reports. This would appear to be an argument in favor of a more open public process.

My personal opinion is that the Mayor should take the lead on this project and hold public meetings at which the size and scope of the garden, its financing and on-going maintenance costs, and, most importantly, its location are discussed before we are presented with a fait accompli and the usual public wrangle that would follow and would embarrass both sister cities, when in fact Shanghai has proposed a beautiful and very generous gift.

Susan Hall

RDDC Board Member

Richmond District Democratic Club Resolution Regarding Proposed Gift of Chinese Walled Garden in Golden Gate Park

WHEREAS, the gift of a walled Chinese garden with a pavilion, waterfalls, lakes, and other structures is being proposed by the SF-Shanghai Sister City Committee to be located in San Francisco, and the five acres selected for this project are to be in Golden Gate Park adjacent to Spreckels Lake between 31^st and 33^rd Avenues; and

WHEREAS, the choice of the location for this gift has not had the benefit of a public process, nor has there been open discussion of other possible sites, and there is concern that preserving the open space in our parks has not been observed, as is clearly defined in the City’s General Plan; and

WHEREAS, there is also concern regarding the precedent-setting nature of using park lands to accommodate possible gifts from our other 13 sister cities in San Francisco*;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that, while we are excited by the prospect of having such a garden in San Francisco, the Richmond District Democratic Club urges a full public review and debate of this proposal before there is any further planning or financing for it at the Golden Gate Park site.

*Other Sister Cities:

Abijan, Ivory Coast

Assissi, Italy

Cork, Ireland

Haifa, Israel

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Manila, Philippines

Osaka, Japan

Paris, France

Seoul, Korea

Sydney, Australia

Taipei, Taiwan

Thessaloniki, Greece

Zurich, Switzerland

Resolution Adopted by the Richmond District Democratic Club at its General Membership Meeting on September 27, 2007.

The San Francisco Democratic Party’s “Onward To Victory” Fall Gala, which took place on November 2 at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, was a well-run, upbeat affair, with a full crowd and warm speeches honoring trailblazers and legends of San Francisco’s Democratic Party tradition. RDDC members in attendance were proud to cheer fellow member Jane Morrison who was awarded the Sue Bierman Memorial Award for her enormous contributions to the Democratic cause here and throughout the country. Jane, in her typically inclusive manner, mentioned RDDC member Shirley Hansen and RDDC president Richard Hansen as among those whose tireless efforts deserved to share in the honor. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was busy in Washington, provided a superb speech by video to end the evening on an uplifting and optimistic note. Onward!

Speaker Pelosi thanks San Francisco Democrats.

Jane Morrison accepts the Sue Bierman Memorial Award.

RDDC Board Member and former president, Hene Kelly.

RDDC board members, seated (from left): Shirley Hansen, Kimberly Knox, and Sascha Ielmorini.  Standing: RDDC  President Richard Hansen.

Candidates

Mayor–(tie) Gavin Newsom, Quintin Mecke

District Attorney–Kamala Harris

Sheriff–Michael Hennessey

Ballot Measures

A (Transit Reforms)–Yes

B (Limiting Hold-overs/Boards & Commissions)–No

C (Public Hearings on Proposed Ordinances)–Yes

D (Library Preservation Fund)–Yes

E (Mayor to Appear Monthly at Board of Supervisors Meetings)–No position

F (Retirement Benefits for SFPD Employees)–Yes

G (Golden Gate Park Stables Matching Fund)–Yes

H (Regulating Parking Spaces)–No

I (Small Business Assistance Center)–Yes

J (City-wide High-speed Internet Network)–No

K (No Increase in Advertising on Street Furniture & City Buildings)–Yes