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Marty’s Place Set To Reopen Under New Model
As San Francisco’s housing crisis continues, support is mounting for one of the city’s most vulnerable demographics — the homeless.
For nearly 20 years Marty’s Place was a home for once homeless San Franciscans living with HIV and AIDS before closing its doors in 2010. Now, with new community support, the home is slated to re-open this spring.
Romeo and Juliet in the Castro Theatre
Marc Huestis Presents is bringing Franco Zeffirelli’s ultra-romantic 1968 film Romeo and Juliet to the Castro Theatre on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. As if the film itself weren’t enough reason to head to the theater on Valentine’s, the original Romeo, Leonard Whiting, will be appearing in person that evening. There’s a VIP option on the night which will feature an opportunity to meet Leonard Whiting prior to screen time, and be sure to bring your memorabilia for an autograph as well! Marc Huestis characteristically has all sorts of extravagant plans for the event including dancers, a documentary, and an open invitation to all those who attend to wear masks, in keeping with the masked ball theme that night, and to come in costume if they so desire. This grand occasion also marks the 20th anniversary of Marc Huestis Presents.
Shops Affected Differently by Area Street Widening
In response to the grumbling undertone of some conversations while last fall’s widening and reconstruction of Castro Street was underway, the Courier decided to do an informal survey of businesses on the street to get a sense of reactions to the disruption.
In general, businesses adjacent to the epicenter of construction — i.e. Cliff’s Variety, A.G. Ferrari, Cove on Castro, the Levi’s store and some others — seemed to experience the biggest impact on their business. At the other end of Castro, near 19th Street, the reaction was much more muted.
MCC Leaves Castro after 35 Years
Iconic church finds new home on Polk
Thirty-five years after the Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco found its home in a purple-trimmed sanctuary in the city’s Castro district, the faith group is moving out of the neighborhood..
Walking the Castro Neighborhood...
Prosperity and Greed
Talk about a busy news agenda affecting the Castro. The start of 2015 has been replete with prosperity, greed, community compassion, awards and the deadening hand of a clerical past that just won’t quit.
As ripped from the pages of a variety of sources, the annual Silicon Valley Index put out by Joint Venture Silicon Valley reported that the region’s tech economy generated 58,000 new jobs and 42,000 new residents last year. No word on how many Castro residents were participating via the luxe commuter buses, but the report found some of the highest income gains and housing prices in the country here. Tell us something we didn’t know, you say.
Then a San Francisco Bay Times graphic shows “the highest priced median rents for a typical one-bedroom apartment across the United States” start at Palo Alto ($3,645), with San Francisco second highest ($3,488), then Bay Area laggards Cupertino, San Mateo, Redwood City and Mountain View.
Castro Neighborhood Business Summit
On January 14 the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce sponsored a neighborhood business summit focused on business concerns and economic issues in District 8 with a presentation by Supervisor Scott Wiener. Attendees circled the large Rainbow Room in the LGBT Center to speak with representatives from a variety of city business resource providers.
Wiener recounted how, as a 21-year old in 1997, he first came to San Francisco and got involved in what was then a dilapidated LGBT Center. Admiring the advancements made by the institution since then, the supervisor stated that he's proud that one of the core goals for the Center then as now was and is economic development — helping individuals and small neighborhood businesses succeed. He also mentioned upcoming improvements in Noe Valley and Glen Park, but also noted the current climate of financial strain..
This Nun’s Life
Robbie Nothstine journeyed though life to find his new identity as Sister Rose Mary Chicken with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, battling through a broken home as a child, drug addiction in early adulthood and a diagnosis with HIV 10 years ago. A full-fledged member of the iconic nunnery since 2013, Sister Rose Mary Chicken continues to inspire kindness and laughter in the community, and this nun now looks back on life with courage, strength and serenity.
Watch the video by Chloe Shi and Jieqian Zhang:
Affordability crisis continues into 2015
The housing crisis brought on by the tech boom in San Francisco caught the world’s attention this last year. Rents skyrocketed to the highest in the nation, squeezing out the middle and working classes who cannot afford the market rate of $3,100 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. San Francisco is a prime example of the changing U.S. economy, where the gap between rich and poor is stretching bigger than ever. Nearly every inch of the city is under construction, yet only the rich can afford to buy the luxury condos that seem to be popping up overnight. As long as that luxury demand dominates, developers won’t prioritize affordable housing.
New Year’s Resolutions
for the Young Gay Man
With good reason, those who dispense advice are always suspect.
Nonetheless, from time to time friends and others have come up against common and not-so-common life situations that bring back experiences which seemed to illustrate a lesson or two.a.m. to noon.
Neighborhood’s Welcomes First Arcade/Beer Hall
Every dreamy American kid has a memory with an arcade game. The neon-space glow, the elating sounds of leveling up, the whimper of “game over” and the anticipation of slotting a finger-pinched quarter all form the obsession.
Maybe it was in a pizza joint, a roller rink or just that solo game at the Quiky Mart that captured days and weeks of what would have otherwise been time spent on homework or some other completely futile endeavor.
Top 10 Comedic News of 2014
Hey guys, Will Durst here with your eagerly awaited Top Ten Comedic News Stories of 2014. Now, here’s the deal: please do not confuse these amusing accounts with the Top Ten Legitimate News Stories of 2014. No. No. No. They are as different as silky and spiky. Banjos and bullfrogs. Strawberry daiquiris and Chinese made assault rifles. Earrings and peas.
Managing Your Taxes in 2015
There’s one thing you can count on as we kick off a new year – changes to the tax code. While there are few major new laws affecting taxpayers in 2015, it is important to understand how any adjustments to tax rules or your income might affect your tax liability. It is a critical aspect of your overall financial plan and can help you avoid any surprises when you file your 2015 tax return next year.
Be aware that new laws can be implemented during the year. Congress has the ability to adjust tax laws and even do so retroactively. The tax code in place at the start of 2015 could be altered before year’s end, with those changes being made effective for the whole year.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••• JANUARY Report ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Officer-involved shooting
January 4, 2015 5:20 p.m. 630 Valencia St.
A 32-year-old man was shot and killed by Mission Station SFPD sergeants in the parking lot of the Mission police station. He had allegedly asked police about their weapons and ammunition earlier in the day, police said, and left a suicide note behind. "Dear Officer(s), you did nothing wrong," began the note that Matthew Hoffman, 32, wrote to the San Francisco police officers. Hoffman reportedly had confronted three San Francisco police sergeants outside the station. He displayed a pellet gun, authorities said, and was shot dead. According to a suicide note, Hoffman had no intention of firing the weapon. "I threatened your life as well as the lives of those around me," Hoffman wrote. "You were completely within your legal rights to do what you did." The note was one of several Hoffman left behind, including letters to family. In his note to police, Hoffman described himself as "hopeless" and "lonely."
Strong-arm robbery
December 21, 2014 1:50 a.m. Area of 19th and Hartford streets
The victim was walking down the street when he encountered two suspects. One suspect asked for a dollar while the other suspect walked up behind him and pulled his property from his pocket. The victim tried to stop the suspect, but the suspect struck him in the head with an unknown object causing the victim to lose consciousness. The victim came to and responded to the police station and received medical treatment. The victim was in stable condition. The police department in investigating this incident.
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