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Where There's Smoke

Hosed

The Fire Department is a bloated fiscal mess that, thanks to union politics, won't face the budget cuts it should

Navel Maneuvers

If Adam and Eve moved to Northern California, they'd probably note on the first day that the balmy weather, inspiring vistas, and mellow vibesreminded them of Eden. On the second day, they'd pick up a copy of "Common Ground" and enroll in a self-help cour

Supes Fan Flames of Labor Blaze With Survey Stating S.F. Firefighters Work Least, Earn Most Per Hour Among Bay Area Cities

The ongoing pissing contest between the firefighters union and the progressive wing of the Board of Supervisors escalated to the point that they could put out a fire on their own today. The supes released a survey of Bay Area fire departments stating that San Francisco's firefighters work the fewest ... More >>

Firefighters Union Fires Back After Supes Release Survey Implying SFFD Is Overpaid, Underworked

Firefighters union head John Hanley dropped SF Weekly a line this morning, and shot us a quick one-page rebuttal to the Board of Supervisors-commissioned survey we reported on last week that claimed San Francisco's firefighters work the least and earn near the most among 14 Bay Area fire departments ... More >>

Burned: San Francisco Spurns State's Plea to Send Fire Strike Team to Battle SoCal Blaze

​While much of Southern California is currently blazing away like an old Christmas tree, we've got a little bit of a fire going on up here in San Francisco, too. It's a four-alarm blaze under John Hanley's collar. The head of the San Francisco firefighter's union is incensed that the SFFD has spur ... More >>

S.F. Fire Chief Defends Decision to Not Send Strike Team to SoCal Blaze -- Blames Firefighter Salaries, Benefits for Burning Through Too Much of Her Budget to Afford Equipment

Sorry lads. You're not going to SoCal.​Yesterday we reported that, despite the State Office of Emergency Services' pleas to California counties to send five-engine "strike teams" to battle the ongoing Los Angeles-area conflagration, the San Francisco Fire Department declined to do so. Both Fire Ch ... More >>

Shakedown 20: Remembering the Big Loma Prieta Quake. Today's Edition: Fireman's Caffeinated Memories

​When the earthquake hit, the kids at the playground didn't think much of it. In fact, when you're on the jungle gym, a little bit of rumbling only adds to the fun. But when the parents started shrieking, the toddlers quickly gathered that something was horribly wrong and joined in the cacophony. ... More >>

San Francisco's Proposed Grocery Bag Law Is Intriguing -- But Will It Actually *Do* Anything?

No 10-cent reward for you, Unknown Comic​Lost in the hubbub surrounding yesterday's big-news sanctuary city legislation, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi introduced an ordinance that would mandate city grocery stores and pharmacies to fork over a dime for every reusable bag customers filled. Mirkarimi di ... More >>

Under Fire

No 10-cent reward for you, Unknown Comic​Lost in the hubbub surrounding yesterday's big-news sanctuary city legislation, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi introduced an ordinance that would mandate city grocery stores and pharmacies to fork over a dime for every reusable bag customers filled. Mirkarimi di ... More >>

So, They Cracked Open the Hydrants -- For Hours. How Much Water Came Out?

Joe EskenaziMore than a gallon per second. Impressive. ​We've written a couple of articles about the city flushing the water mains down here in Mission Bay. It's a procedure more graceful in the abstract than the concrete; in fact, all it involves is countless gallons of water swirling over the co ... More >>

S.F. Water Department Pledges Not to Waste So Damn Much Water

Joe EskenaziWe can change! ​Last week, we wrote some stories about how the city was allowing thousands of gallons of "The best water in the world" to roar down the sewer while it flushed the water mains. Water Department employees, in order to combat built-up silt and any staleness in the water su ... More >>

'Tis the Season -- For Bastards to Ignite Discarded Christmas Trees

If San Franciscans were in the habit of stacking boxes of unexploded shells, TNT cartridges, jerrycans of kerosene, and half-full bottles of Everclear outside their homes, it might be something residents saw fit to complain about. It might even force Gavin Newsom to say "I get it" a few times whil ... More >>