From Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council: SF Mayor Held Hostage by Latte Liberals

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Anything that's good for the environment is bad for Ted Loewenberg and his local neighborhood association.  In addition to levying an appeal against new bike lanes in SF and working to remove benches in Golden Gate Park, Loewenberg now aims to stop people from recylcing and gardening in San Francisco's Haight Ashbury neighborhood.  With the Recreation and Park Department and a handful of Latte Liberals on his side, the group is intent on dismantling California redemption at the expense of Bay Area small businesses and firing vulnerable green workers right before Christmas.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121203/CG22628)

Loewenberg claims only homeless people use what is known as the oldest recycling center in the city of San Francisco.  He believes removing the reycling center will eradicate homelessness in the area.  

The center paints a different picture, entirely.  They say only a small part of their customer base identifies themselves as homeless.  Most of the customers are Chinese and a good portion arrive at the center in cars.  Moreover, the center hosts a San Francisco specific native plant nursery started ten years ago and a 51 plot community garden.  Supporters of the center call it an ecological space and have sent 1000's of postcards, letters and emails to stop the eviction from taking place.

Moreover, San Francisco is notoriously underserved by recycling centers.  This center serves two large grocery stores in the area inlcuding a Whole Foods as well as dozens of small businesses nearby.  If the center is shut down, the grocery markets are required by law to provide in store recycling, this includes every little Ma and Pa shop in the area.  Though the battle for eviction has gone on for years, there have been no provisions made for recycling once this center is shut down.  

On December 10th there will be an emergency hearing to discuss the fates of hundreds of small businesses in SF who will be forced to pay fines if they don't comply with state recycling mandates.  

Once again a handful of Latte Liberals with NIMBY agendas hold effective policies and state law hostage for personal gain.  A clear majority of San Franciscans see the recycling center as an asset to the community and to "zero waste" as pointed out in the attached video.  

SF Mayor Ed Lee now must decide whether to stand up for small businesses and the law or cave in to the Latte Liberals.  

For more information on this issue: www.kezargardens.com

Text and Video by Soumyaa Kapil Behrens

To view this video on YouTube, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5mJYArHuPY&feature=g-upl

Media Contact: Ed Dunn, Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council, 415.760.1066, [email protected]

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SOURCE Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council