The San Francisco Examiner Newspaper
2008-08-02 10:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

SAN FRANCISCO -

Your trash could soon be other people’s business, China tries to keep the media from surfing the Web ahead of the Olympics, and tobacco sales in pharmacies could come to an end.

Trash talk

1| Unintended consequences could rule over recycling law’s good intentions.

The details: A plan to fine San Francisco residents who don’t recycle $500 and up may have noble goals, but some troubling questions remain. We don’t want garbage collectors going through our trash, and property owners should not have to pay for the recycling sins of their tenants. Besides, what happens if someone else dumps nonrecyclables in your bin?

Parking penalty

2| Most parking ticket fines jump by $10.

The details: The agency that runs Muni — which still runs far below a voter-mandated 85 percent on-time rate — is pushing some of its budget problems on drivers who get parking tickets with increases that started this week. While we’re pleased that another revenue-­generating plan to bump up the price of the Fast Pass was shelved, we think Muni should be working harder to boost its coffers by shaking money out of fare evaders.

Chinese censorship

3|China keeps international media away from some Internet sites.

The details: Journalists covering the Beijing Olympics revealed that they had been blocked out of some Internet sites, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Chinese officials are learning that the worldwide attention that comes with the Olympics is a double-edged sword that will cut away at their efforts to maintain total control.

Political fire

4| San Francisco fire official feeling the heat for using uniform to court votes.

The details: Lorrie Kalos-Gunn, a San Francisco battalion chief who ran for Millbrae City Council, posted photographs of herself in her fire uniform and listed her department-issued cell phone on her campaign fliers. Fire Chief Joanne Hayes White rightfully has filed a complaint for the actions. Kalos-Gunn, who did not win office, should have known better.

Smoking gun

5| A $70 million fire was started by smokers.

The details: Navy officials investigating a fire on an aircraft carrier that left $70 million of damage in its wake concluded that the incident was likely sparked by crew members sneaking a smoke. The USS George Washington was en route from Chile to San Diego when the fire began May 22. Clearly, the stuff is not just bad for your health.

School with no students

6| San Francisco Unified School District considers reopening Treasure Island Elementary.

The details: The school closed two and a half years ago because of a lack of students. Now, with the redevelopment of the island on the horizon, the school district wants to start planning for a school. There is, however, no certainty that the students will materialize, and the cash-strapped district might want to focus more on the schools (and students) that already exist.

State to raid city coffers?

7| Budget deficit solution may fall on the shoulders of smaller cities.

The details: In an effort to offset a $15.2 billion deficit, the state has proposed borrowing billions from cities and transportation agencies throughout the state. While many larger cities may be able to deal with a shortfall of funds, smaller cities on the Peninsula could be hit hard. San Carlos even tried to declare a fiscal emergency this week.

Can’t buy smokes here

8| Tobacco sales to end in city pharmacies.

The details: The Board of Supervisors voted to approve a law that would ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies. Although most people would agree that smoking is bad for your health, critics of the ban point out that smokers will still be able to buy tobacco products in many other places. The equality of the ban, which could hurt Walgreens and Rite Aid the most, has also been called into question.

Wrong ticket, cowboy

9| The Naked Cowboy has ticket invalidated.

The details: He may be the most famous for playing his guitar in Times Square in just underwear, his hat and boots. Robert Buckley, however, caused a small stir when he was arrested for a permit violation in Union Square. In the end, the Naked Cowboy found out that the arresting officer had written the wrong violation and that he was a free man. He left for New York the same day. Who knows, however, how many other scofflaws are let off the hook because of police errors?

Belmont Bill

10| City official has been arrested three times in past six years.

The details: Belmont’s vice mayor, Bill Dickenson, accused of battering and falsely imprisoning an ex-girlfriend earlier this month, was also arrested for sexual assault in May and pleaded no contest to drunken-driving charges in 2002, The Examiner discovered. Although the 41-year-old politician has said the most recent arrest will not affect his role as a council member in Belmont, his constituents and city colleagues might think differently in light of the information that’s been uncovered.