SFUSD

Committee recommends eliminating JROTC program

A proposal to phase out San Francisco’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program — due to the military’s ban on gays — was given a positive recommendation at the school board’s budget committee Thursday night. The resolution calls for no new students to be enrolled in JROTC after the current semester. Board of Education President Norman Yee and member Eric Mar voted in favor of eliminating the program; veteran member Jill Wynns voted to keep it. A date has not yet been announced when the proposal will come before the full board for a vote.

DBI

Department creates new division for seismic safety

The City’s Department of Building Inspection has established a division tasked with seismic safety.

DBI’s new arm, the Structural Safety and Emergency Management Division, is an important addition as The City builds more high-rises, Mayor Gavin Newsom said in a prepared statement.

The new division will implement new seismic safety programs, including the proposed automatic gas shut-off valve initiative.

Rent board

Villas Parkmerced tenants receive favorable ruling

Just weeks after tenants of the Villas Parkmerced filed a lawsuit against the building’s landlord alleging that rental coupons allowed the owner to circumvent rent control laws, The City’s rent board has ruled in favor of the tenants.

The San Francisco Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board found that the use of “bonus bucks” as rebate coupons violate rent board laws.