Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Center and Recycling - an institution to be proud of in SF.

The current San Francisco Recreation and Park are doing themselves a disservice by picking on an institution such as the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Center - that really started Recycling when it was not know universally. Helped with the the first Earth Day celebrations and worked with thousands of groups over the years - to meet their Recycling needs.

I have been associated with HANC directly and indirectly. I remember in the early 1980s the Army at the Presidio of San Francisco had a well run and maintained Recycling Program. This is when most other did not have full Recycling operations in place. I was part of that important process and continue to favor all aspects of meaningful recycling - with full accountability and transparency.

At the Presidio of San Francisco we recycled palates of wood, silver from our thousands of microfiche files, glass, aluminum, white paper, card board, wood, concrete and so on.

We also donated used furniture, computers, books that could be used, note books, pencils, rulers, and the like to the many needy schools. We did this until Sixth U.S. Army and Presidio of San Francisco and the Garrison side a the Presidio - was deactivated around 1992.

Then came a period of time when the Presidio was turned over to the National Park Service and this federal entity did not have a well organized Recycling Program. Since, I had worked for the Army and was well versed - I started one with the blessing of a former Corps of Engineers senior manager, now working for the National Park Service and with whom I worked for - at building 1243.

It soon began apparent that I could not get rid of the huge tonnage of Recycled material. For example the National Park Service would print thousands of books - on some project - the Draft, General Management Plant comes to mind. Then they found out that parts of the material did not accurately project their vested interest. So, we had to get rid of these books - that occupied space in the basement of Building 102 on the Main Post one of the Brick Buildings - that form part of the 100 Series - Landmark Historical Buildings.

So, here we had thousands of books that cost the Tax Payer thousands of dollars and I was told to get rid of them all. These books were stacked in Building 102 in the basement - and I had to contact HANC recycling to come and do me a favor and save these books from going into the landfill. An issue was liability as the HANC workers had to go down and up some steep stairs - and if anyone got injured - we did not want this to happen. I used my good offices and took care of this situation - as soon I could.

There was a period of time when the Army was present on the Presidio of San Francisco - even though most of the Departments had gone away. I was now working for the National Park Service having left the Army, Sixth U.S. Army and Presidio of San Francisco.

The issue at hand was liability. So, having worked for the Army I went to the Judge Advocates Office and they kindly issued me a $1 million liability insurance. I showed that to HANC and they not only picked up recycling from Building 102, the few offices that the Army had in operation at the Main Post at the Presidio of San Francisco - but even volunteered to pick Recycling from the various offices linked to the National Park Service.

Around 1993 there was some debate about recycling material going to the landfill instead of being recycled. It thought this was ridiculous - but, not some fanatics that thought it was fine for government property to go the landfill - instead of being recycled.

Some folks spelled out in detail - that Government Property meaning white paper and so on; documents that contained some information but not important information - should all be shredded. Some of us said NO - we could keep it as it was and recycle it. That we could assure that that all sensitive material - would NOT be included in our recycled material.

Better judgment prevailed and we could salvage thousands of tons of such material a year and for years after that and get the stuff recycled. HANC played an important part during those years collecting thousands of pounds of recycled material.

Latter, I started a well organized Recycling Center in the Fort Scott area in building 1243 and we did sound Recycling. We made the Center available to all those that lived at the Presidio of San Francisco - this was before the Presidio Trust came to be.

HANC was interested in forming a unit and conducting their operations at the Presidio of San Francisco - we had some discussion - but, it was decided to permit the Youth Conservation Corps to operate a Recycling Site at Building 1243 - with HANC doing the collection.

The Conservation Corps trained their youth and eventually took over my office that I had in Building 1243 from the early days. I continued keeping touch with the youth - and working with the Presidio Nursery that was situated in Building 1244 - just below.

For years HANC exhibited a sincere sense for the community, the Earth (sending less to the landfills), and even coming to help some community folks, when there was a special occasion to pick up a large load of recycled material that could be salvaged.

Much latter the Presidio Trust took over Building 1243 and today continues to use it for Recycling all material. Large pieces of wood, furniture, at one time all the stainless steel equipment they salvaged from the Letterman Army Institute of Research (LAIR) and Letterman Army Medical Center (LAMC) and sold for thousands of dollars. Now, on the above sites sits the Letterman Digital Center that is operated and owned by George Lucas.

At the latest hearing at City Hall held February 14, 2011 for over four hours on the HANC topic - initiated by Ross Mirkarimi - no one spoke about the above aspects - that I have explained above. HANC has gone out of its way - for many years to help foster recycling and created history in San Francisco, California and the Nation.

Another important MILE STONE that was not mentioned - was when we did what is now known as DECONSTRUCTION. HANC was instrumental in deconstructing or tearing down - hundreds of wooden barracks - later used as office that were situated at Crissy Field. My office then - the Infrastructure and Maintenance Office - signed a contract with HANC and they did a good job.

As a result HANC - created the RESOURCE CENTER by Cargo Way, off Third Street very close to Pier 92. Much of the wood was recycled, windows, doors and on on.

Later when City Hall had its totally renovation a lot of the doors and other material not needed - were taken to the RESOURCE CENTER - connected with HANC.

The yellow cedar recycled wood from the Crissy Field Barracks - helped an artist created the horses that are part of the carousel at the Yerba Buena Center - part of Moscone Center. Well, if HANC did not save this precious wood - when polished brings the shine that is golden in color. We would not have come to have this wonderful CAROUSEL at Yerba Buena - that has given pleasure to thousands of children and I suppose some - adults too.

The issue before the The City and Neighborhood Committee was whether to keep HANC at their present site or let them go. My position is clear - KEEP THEM.

I represent the First People - and I say they have my blessing and the blessings of the First People. Do not need any other better endorsement.

The San Francisco Coalition of Neighborhoods should be ashamed of themselves for saying 46 other Neighborhood Councils have signed their fake Resolution. I doubt if any of those so called organizations took a vote. Typical of the SFCN that has failed to serve San Franciscans and the many Neighborhoods that do not respect their members and their many ploys and machinations.

There are too many of the ilk of Bernie Madoff - the heads of these so called fake groups. One at Visitation Valley who has signed their sordid Resolution. I could go into details - these so called organizations are paper pushers and beholden to Mr. Dipstick aka Gavin Newsom and his side kick - Phil Gingsberg. Gavin bought a mansion in the Haight Ashbury - he should have had one at Pacific Heights and lived with the Pacific Heights Mafia.

The Golden Gate Park has a General Plan and all sorts of dubious projects are permitted by the Recreation and Park Department and related City Departments.

The Recreation and Park cannot operate the many Recreational Centers and adversely impact our youth. We have gone for meeting and brought this matter before them - they simply do not care.

HANC is an institution and has given thousands of dollars to Recreation and Park.

HANC has donated thousands of dollars over the years to various organizations - linked to composting training, donating native plants, and so on. There is no doubt that HANC has done a good job and will continue to do a good job.

As I said much before recycling was KOSHER - HANC made it famous. I have been following HANC directly and indirectly all these many years over 30 years for sure - if not more.

I have played and continue to play my role linked to recycling, deconstruction, use of asphalt and used concrete material for our roads, using recycled woods, and so on and so forth.

I monitor the Carbon Footprint - it is not what the SF Department of Environment says. It is not what the SF City and County says. It is completely different - and I will address that and other pertinent topics at a later time.

It is a shame that SF Recreation and Park wants HANC to go away and replace it by some drab nursery and garden run by the Recreation and Park - and spend millions of tax payers money.

The time has come to fire those in charge of SF Recreation and Park.

The head of the present SF Department of Environment who is pushing for HANC moving away - while wheeling and dealing with other BILLION DOLLAR contracts that I am fully aware of - linked with landfills and so on.

Again HANC must stay and to hell with SF Recreation and Park, Phil Gingsberg and his minions.

It is time for the Budget Analyst and the SF Board of Supervisors to fast track and have Recreation and Park audited. Those working in that Department are some of the most sleezy characters I have seen East or West of the Rio Grande.

DO NOT MESS WITH HAIGHT ASHBURY NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER - EVER! LET THEM STAY WHERE THEY ARE AS THEY DOING A VERY GOOD JOB.



Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy