Michela Alioto-Pier

Taxi Cabs Hauling Trans-Fats to Budget Hearings; That's Right, the Board of Supervisors Are Back! It's ...

Trans-Fats, Chain Menus on SF Government's Tongue This Week

City misplaces prostitutes while Chris Daly sets your fonts for you! It's ...

SF Gov InAction: Supes find New Ways to Threaten Newsom. Plus: Can You Feel the Ground Shaking? That's this Week's BIG Meeting!

Sf Government InAction: Sauron up for Public Utilities Commission, Voldemort to select Chief of Police, Gandalf will bring a budget to save us all! Or something like that

SF Gov InAction Fire Sale: Supes Sell Their Legacies Off for Pennies on the Dollar

By Benjamin Wachs Come on down to San Francisco, boys and girls, where the deals are hot, hot, HOT! That's right, I'm Crraaaaaaazy Gavin Newsom, and this week everything must go! We have an ENORMOUS deficit looming up after the holidays and our entire inventory must be cleared out! No deal t ... More >>

The 25 Worst/Least Likely Names For the Newsom Baby

The French delegation humbly suggests "Marcel" for a boy or "Germaine" for a girlWhat the hell is going on there at City Hall? Sean Elsbernd, Ross Mirkarimi, Michela Alioto-Pier's staff, random statues -- everyone is cranking a kid these days. Can we tie this in to the Sean Penn scenes filmed on loc ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: Supes Huddle in Closed Session to Gossip About Catholic Church and Landmark Trees

I wish I were a supervisor. Then I could have only three meetings this week. I kid, of course: It's hard work pretending to take this stuff seriously. Monday, Feb. 22 10:30 a.m. -- City Operations & Neighborhood Services Committee If I had to pick one word to describe this meeting, it wou ... More >>

SF Weekly Contest: Name That Harlequin Object!

Pablo PicassoPicasso, unlike Michela Alioto-Pier, thinks that a child can indeed be a 'harlequin object' This week Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier made a proposal that San Francisco "adopt the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and supporting its inalienable freedoms for children an ... More >>

We Asked 'What the Hell Is a Harlequin Object?' You Answered.

According to you the readers, a 'harlequin object' would involve placing something on a motorcycle such as thisYou wouldn't think it'd be too difficult to urge the Board of Supervisors to adopt the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child -- producing children seems to be what San Franci ... More >>

Terms of Endearment: Alioto-Pier Says She May File Suit if City Doesn't Reverse Stance That She's Termed Out in 2010

Is that Alioto-Pier's 'happy' smile or her 'I'm gonna sue you' smile?Earlier this month, Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier sat down for a cup of coffee with City Attorney Dennis Herrera. She was hoping to get him to reconsider a ruling from his office stating Alioto-Pier will be termed out of office ne ... More >>

Ammiano Says There Was No 'Wink-Wink, Nod-Nod' Behind Ruling Giving Him 14 Years as Supe

Tom Ammiano says neither winking, nodding, nor a combination of both benefitted his political careerEarlier this week, SF Weekly reported on how Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier is prepared to take the city to court if City Attorney Dennis Herrera doesn't reverse a 2008 ruling that deems her termed ou ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: Meet the Guardian's Imaginary Friend and Congratulate the Department of Technology on Its Fictitous $750,000 Tech Center

When your whole government shuts down so that it can go to Washington D.C. and lobby for handouts, you know you've reached a point of no return. Economically it's a sign of total defeat, an acknowledgment that we are a zombie municipality that needs fresh infusions of federal blood just to go thr ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: Another Battle in the War on Fun, Children, and Food Made with Real Organic Cruelty

Monday, March 23, 10:30 a.m. - City Operations & Neighborhood Services Committee It's hard to figure out what Sophie Maxwell and Gavin Newsom have in common. Sophie, after all, is a black woman who doesn't like technology but will answer her land line to talk to friends and critics alike, ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier for Lt. Governor?

Michela Alioto-PierWe got a tip earlier this week from a usually reliable political insider that Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier is considering a run for lieutenant governor. According to the source, Alioto-Pier has been putting out feelers to test the idea of making a bid for the most useless job in ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: What Kind of MONSTER Wouldn't Get a Candle Permit? Plus: Save the Budget Analyst!

Monday, April 6 11 a.m. - Public Safety Committee Who watches the watchers? Why, the Public Safety Committee does. Every other week. Its recent agendas haven't actually involved DOING much -- there's not much legislation coming out of these meetings -- but they've been crammed with hearings ... More >>

So, What's the Status of that $1.1 Million Ramp Michela Alioto-Pier Was So Fired Up About?

Heck, for $1.1 million, we'll sell you a ramp and a car to jump off it, tooAfter the shit hits the fan, it's mordantly entertaining to look back at the issues that used to occupy us: Monica Lewinsky, President Bush actually mentioning Brave New World -- which he almost certainly never read -- during ... More >>

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier says she's not termed out

Heck, for $1.1 million, we'll sell you a ramp and a car to jump off it, tooAfter the shit hits the fan, it's mordantly entertaining to look back at the issues that used to occupy us: Monica Lewinsky, President Bush actually mentioning Brave New World -- which he almost certainly never read -- during ... More >>

Plastic bags still in SF stores despite ban

Heck, for $1.1 million, we'll sell you a ramp and a car to jump off it, tooAfter the shit hits the fan, it's mordantly entertaining to look back at the issues that used to occupy us: Monica Lewinsky, President Bush actually mentioning Brave New World -- which he almost certainly never read -- during ... More >>

City Source: Making Supes' Presidential Dais Handicapped Accessible Would Cost a Fortune

This is how much paperwork it would take to renovate the Board of Supervisors' chamber (and they're not near finished)Yesterday, we checked up on the status of the so-called Million-Dollar Ramp that sparked rancorous debates and threats of lawsuits among our elected officials -- and, inadvertently t ... More >>

Kid Code

This is how much paperwork it would take to renovate the Board of Supervisors' chamber (and they're not near finished)Yesterday, we checked up on the status of the so-called Million-Dollar Ramp that sparked rancorous debates and threats of lawsuits among our elected officials -- and, inadvertently t ... More >>

Up Theirs, Please

As a favor to a columnizing colleague, Social Grace gives San Francisco's swearing-obsessed politicians some damn good advice on cleaning up their whiny fucking acts

Follow the Bouncing Bill: Alioto-Pier's New Aide Says Job Was Spur-of-the-Moment Offer

FacebookNewly minted Alioto-Pier legislative aide Bill Barnes displays decor he no longer needsWhen former Chris Daly legislative aide Bill Barnes quit his post as Assemblywoman Fiona Ma's chief of staff last year, we asked him if the rumors were true -- was he going to work for Supervisor Michela A ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: Big money! Big money! Oh God, Make It Stop!

What an exciting week! Your Host Gaaaaaaavin Newson! will be giving away big money prizes! And how much would you pay for this PUC headquarters? Find out in our Showcase Showdown! That's not actually a joke. In fact, there is an awful lot of government happening this week, squeezing big money ... More >>

Supervisor Says Her Measure Would *Not* Lead to S.F. Loons Droning On, Endlessly, During Committee Meetings

Your rantings about the world at large are not welcome during Rules Committee, Mr. Beale...​Earlier this week, we reported on how the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force chided Supervisor Chris Daly for forbidding a man to speak at a Rules Committee meeting. Not long thereafter, Supervisor Michela Aliot ... More >>

Public Comment -- and Ranting -- May Yet Come to City Committee Meetings

You may yet get your say at a committee meeting, Mr. Beale...​Last month, SF Weekly wrote about a measure we feared would lead to, how shall we put it, "loons droning on, endlessly, during committee meetings." Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, the measure's author, assured us that wouldn't happen, h ... More >>

SF Gov InAction: City Brings Hammer Down on Anti-Prostitution Program, Then Forms a Glee Club to Sing Social Services to Sleep

  I've had a really busy few weeks, and I haven't been able to catch up on any of the new fall shows yet. So I tried to cram a lot of television in this weekend while writing SF Gov InAction. Just so you know. Monday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. - Public Safety Committee Somebody has to sa ... More >>

List: City meetings open up to mo' comments

  I've had a really busy few weeks, and I haven't been able to catch up on any of the new fall shows yet. So I tried to cram a lot of television in this weekend while writing SF Gov InAction. Just so you know. Monday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. - Public Safety Committee Somebody has to sa ... More >>

Breaking: Supes Override Newsom's Veto on Sanctuary Policy

Lauren SmileySupervisor David Campos meets the press after initial passage of his ordinance in October​As anticipated, the Board of Supervisors this afternoon beat back Mayor Gavin Newsom's veto of Supervisor David Campos' sanctuary policy legislation. With a vote of 8-3 (Carmen Chu, Michela Aliot ... More >>

Alioto-Pier Out of Insurance Commissioner Race

Michela Alioto-Pier​Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier's husband, Tom Pier, moments ago confirmed to SF Weekly that his wife has dropped out of the race for state insurance commissioner. The District 2 supervisor has not made it to City Hall since last month due to a leg injury. Pier said this injury ... More >>

Nob Hill Condo Owners Set to Pull Plug on Masonic Concert Hall

Wanna bet?​With a pending zoning lawsuit, and a hearing next week before a nay-saying Board of Supervisor, the NIMBY condo owners of of Nob Hill seem poised to kill plans to expand the number of concerts held at the Masons of California event hall on California Street.Representatives for the Mason ... More >>

The environmental cost of keeping golf courses green

Wanna bet?​With a pending zoning lawsuit, and a hearing next week before a nay-saying Board of Supervisor, the NIMBY condo owners of of Nob Hill seem poised to kill plans to expand the number of concerts held at the Masons of California event hall on California Street.Representatives for the Mason ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Files to Run for Supe Again. Will Suit Against City Be Next?

Are Michela Alioto-Pier and the city on a collision course?​City's Department of Elections does not consider District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier eligible to defend her seatTwo years after City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed an opinion stating Michela Alioto-Pier was ineligible to run for re-e ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Will Take City to Court, if Necessary, to Run for Supe Again

Michela Alioto-Pier is running until the judge says she can't​Yesterday, we reported on how Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier took out papers with the Department of Elections to run again, even though a 2008 opinion from City Attorney Dennis Herrera claimed she was ineligible to do so. John Arntz, th ... More >>

Alioto-Pier: Not Progressive, Thus Termed Out?

Can't Stop, Won't Stop​Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier just doesn't understand. Tom Ammiano served fourteen years on the Board of Supervisors, Chris Daly ten. So why, then, is City Attorney Dennis Herrera insisting that Alioto-Pier -- who's been on the Board since 2004, when she was appointed to fi ... More >>

Marijuana Growhouses Burn Up Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier

Look! A Growhouse! Let's bust 'em...​Finding a marijuana growhouse in the Sunset is like bumping into a celebrity on Los Angeles' Sunset Boulevard: It happens all the time, and they invariably stink of pot. But a growhouse in Laurel Heights? It's just not done! And yet, police earlier this week ha ... More >>

A New Strategy for Combatting Growhouses?

Puff, puff, pass indeed...​Last week, we reported on how Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, in the wake of a rare massive pot bust in her district, wrote a terse letter to the Department of Building Inspection. The crux of the letter: Can't you folks do more to catch pot growers illegally "jumping th ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Wins Term Limits Suit, Will Run Again for District 2 Supervisor

Michela beat the city -- but can she beat her District 2 rivals? ​Staffers for Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier tell SF Weekly that the District 2 supe has won her suit vs. the city and will be allowed to run again. Judge Peter Busch this morning ordered her name be placed on the ballot. A 2 ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier's $50,000 Legal Bill May Be Paid By City

Luke Thomas, Fog City Journal Michela Alioto-Pier: This won't be cheap, Mr. Herrera...​After beating the city in court yesterday to win the right to run again as District 2 supervisor, Michela Alioto-Pier treated her staff and supporters to a nice lunch. The city isn't on the hook&nbs ... More >>

Is Janet Reilly Quitting District 2 Supervisor Race?

So long, Janet? ​After a judge yesterday ruled Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier is not termed out and can run again for District 2 supervisor, calls flooded in to challenger Janet Reilly's office. Her campaign manager, Patrick Collum, said Reilly felt the need to "get the word out" about her plans. ... More >>

City Attorney Dennis Herrera Appeals Ruling, Fights to Keep Michela Alioto-Pier off Ballot

Luke Thomas, Fog City JournalIt's not over yet, Michela...​City Attorney Dennis Herrera will this morning file an appeal of Judge Peter Busch's ruling that Michela Alioto-Pier is eligible to run again for District 2 supervisor. Herrera told KTVU-TV he was compelled to make this move on behalf of " ... More >>

Was Dennis Herrera's Op-Ed on Alioto-Pier Term Limits Case Ethical?

Can Dennis do what he did? ​It's not every day Dennis Herrera will launch a media onslaught to publicize his appeal of a long-running case in which he was legally licked -- but that's just what San Francisco's city attorney did yesterday. Herrera was on TV, his 42-page appeal in the Michela Alioto ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Ruled Ineligible By Court of Appeal

Luke ThomasThe city has shaken its Alioto-Pier Magic Eight Ball once more...​The city's Brett Favre-like quandary over whether Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier is eligible to run for another term swerved once again today. The state court of appeal this afternoon overruled superior court Judge Pe ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier to Petition Supreme Court Tomorrow

Can she run or not? Depends on when you ask...​Yesterday, we compared the ever-shifting legal status of whether Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier can or cannot run again to the indecision of Brett Favre. After further review, it's not a terrible analogy --  but here's a key difference: Favre's d ... More >>

Supreme Court Kills Michela Alioto-Pier's Campaign to Run for Supe Again

Luke ThomasThe wheels of justice have not turned in Michela Alioto-Pier's favor​The California Supreme Court denied to hear a petition from Michela Alioto-Pier, killing her chances to run once more for District 2 supervisor. While Superior Court Judge Peter Busch ruled that Alioto-Pier was eligibl ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Picks a Successor. Do Voters Care?

Michela Alioto-Pier's a Mark Farrell fan. Will voters follow?​The Chronicle is reporting that termed-out Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier will throw her support to would-be successor Mark Farrell. This confirms what we'd heard, too. The question is -- do voters give a damn? It's a legitimate questio ... More >>

Will City Hall Ramp Really Cost 'Just' $450K?

Joe EskenaziThis is the actual file for the proposed construction of the so-called 'million-dollar ramp.' The hefty cost incurred in amassing this file is not included in the ramp's price tag.​Sunk costs of $230,000 not included in ramp's estimated pricePerhaps it's indicative of how things roll i ... More >>

New Bill Seeks to Curb Use of Environmental Review to Delay Worthy Projects

Matt SmithThe bike lane injunction is in the rearview mirror, thankfully​Proposed Legislation by Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier aims to diminish the role of state environmental law in delaying local projects posing little threat to Mother Nature.And -- don't you know it -- Mary Miles, the attorney ... More >>

Which Pol Will Forgo a Pay Raise?

Or don't take the money and run​Yesterday, SF Weekly told you about the amazing news that your elected officials were looking forward to getting pay raises -- despite the city's $300 million budget deficit. We wondered whether this would upset voters, who will experience yet another round of unfor ... More >>

Michela Alioto-Pier Flyers: Wheelchair-Using Candidate Will "Stand Up and Fight For Us"

​The adorable, sullen, and notably diverse kiddies on mayoral candidate Michela Alioto-Pier's flyers are nothing if not eye-catching. Also eye-catching, however, is the text alongside them: "Who will stand up and fight for us?" The term "stand up" is awkward. You don't exactly have to be a politic ... More >>