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Visitacion Valley Grapevine - Features - March 1998

Two Nations in Contrast In this second report of his travels, Grapevine reporter Gerry L. Galvan visited both Australia and the Philippines, his native country where he admits of his critical findings, "Truth has to be exposed, no matter how painful." by Gerry L. Galvan Although still a relatively untouched continent, Australia has demonstrated, in recent months, a determination to change from decades of commonwealth rule to an independent republic. Political leaders, including Prime Minister John Howard, had debated the issue for some time. An Australian shift from commonwealth to a republic means the collapse of Great Britain's political and economic control over the "continent way down below the equator." In direct contrast, the Republic of the Philippines appears to have seriously deteriorated from a first class Asian country. Such was the impression of your reporter who visited and stayed 120 hours in Sydney and 408 hours in the Philippines this year from Jan. 21 to Feb. 12. The 22-day trip provided my wife and I with a considerable comparison of how exemplary Australia has grown compared to a rapid backslide the Philippines have experienced in recent years. While Australia, one of the U.S. allies in the Western World, had thrown her timid and cautious support to President Bill Clinton's quarrel with Iraq's Saddam Hussein (We were in Sydney when we read of Clinton's "urgent" telephone call to Mr. Howard), the Philippines, a longtime U.S. sidekick in the Far East, has all but shied away from this volatile issue save for puns and jokes by Manila newspapermen, where columnists instead found the recent Clinton sex scandal a much bigger story. Violet and I had made this memorable and experience-laden trip primarily to attend the 50th anniversary of her class (1948) graduation from high school. Aging '48ers celebrated the occasion in Balankas, Santo Tomas, Pamapanga, a town some 45 miles north of metropolitan Manila. Side trips to Surigao del Sur, in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, and to Sydney, Australia were extras that swelled our travel budget considerably. It was costly to our meager resources as well as our health, with both my wife and I very sick upon returning to the U.S. even though we had taken precautionary health measures before our initial departure. Our experience in Metro Manila, followed by Surigao and later Australia proved to be educational and traumatic at the same time. We witnessed a seemingly rapid deterioration in the Filipino people's economic condition along with ethical and moral values. By the same token, Australia demonstrated a tremendous economic potential maturity. Our trip also left indelible memories on geographical beauty and contrast. Compared to the Philippines, a group of 7,021 small islands, Australia is a huge and awesome piece of real estate. But the former is as beautiful, if not far superior, in terms of scenic splendor. As a nation, Australia has barely a century of meaningful existence, while the Philippines can boast nearly 600 years of contact with the outside world. Australia, where almost everyone has some form of profitable employment, is not a haven for beggars as few, if any, are tolerated there. This land of kangaroos and koalas, wallabies and quails is prosperous and on her way to compete with the best in the Western World. Meanwhile the Philippines, can only boast of citizens who vied among themselves in making politics and public office a silly game. Violet and I were traveling as "Balikbayans" on Philippine Airlines in all the trips that took us to and from Manila, Surigao del Surigao and Sydney. Again visiting my country of birth could have been described in such glowing terms as "truly wonderful," and "heavenly," with other high sounding platitudes such as "incomparably exciting features of a progressive country," but we never saw it that way. During a visit we made in Jan. 1995, I had become disappointed by Phillippine customs bureau personnel, airport gate hustlers, and ever-present beggars. Traffic there in 1998, however, was better than 1995, with the volume on main thoroughfares and side streets reduced through color coding, a newly adopted system banning all motor vehicles carrying certain plate numbers on certain days. Although the U.S. dollar has for some time commanded $1 to 40 pesos in the Philippines, we found ourselves trying very hard to stretch travel money. It seemed that everything, including doleouts to street urchins, was atrociously expensive. One day as my wife and I were getting ready to travel, a young boy of maybe seven or eight years approached me for money. When I handed him a peso, he looked at the coin demurely. When asked if he realized how much was given him he shot back with, "Piso?" He obviously was unhappy with the amount I had given him. Now during the late 1960s when my family and I were still living in the country, a Philippine peso was more than enough for three quality haircuts. But in 1998, its quite apparent that such an amount means almost nothing. And now it also seems that just about everybody has become politically inclined. It was disheartening to hear a report that more than 240 presidential candidates had filed their certificates of candidacy for President of the Philippines. Weeks later when we returned to the U.S. in mid-February, the number had been reduced to 83 serious candidates. Jose L. Guevarra of the Manila Daily Bulletin, writing in his paper's Feb. 12 issue, punned, "...There are many presidential candidates; 8 are classified as serious and the rest delirious..." Guevarra also referred to the upcoming May 11 Philippine polls as "the wackiest election in history." Jetting into Sydney midday on Feb. 5, my wife and I already knew we wouldn't have the convenience of having someone who could direct us around town, perhaps like Willen Janz from the Netherlands, who had originally explored Australia along the eastern shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1606. Rediscovered by the Dutch in 1642, James Cook of Great Britain set foot on the continent in 1770 before the kingdom finally claimed it her colony in 1788. Although I have a niece living in Australia and teaching chemical engineering in one of the country's universities, we failed to get her address from her sisters in the Philippines. We had earlier declined an offer from relatives of a fellow Church member to pick us up from our hotel and be their house guests. Relying heavily on an Australian magazine which I borrowed from my daughter-in-law, one interesting piece led to other pertinent aspects of Sydney. One example was the name and phone number of a Sydney hotel where we stayed. An overseas phone call from San Francisco to the hotel led to such information as the availability of buses that charge six Australian dollars for an airport-to-hotel trip. Settling at the hotel later, we received valuable information on where to go, what form of transportation to take, where to catch buses, and the like. One of the things I really wanted to see and be near was a kangaroo, which we experienced in the wildlife section of our tour. This pouched creature was one of the many unique animals we saw. For a balanced tour of the area, we took the Sydney Explorer, an economical and highly efficient tour bus system charging 32 Australian dollars each for a 12-hour excursion to 22 local attractions. Arrival and departure at the designated spots was almost always on precision clock time. During the tour, we encountered a Filipino-Australian who was a driver on one of six Explorer buses. In our trip to the Blue Mountains, we boarded a chartered bus a few blocks from our hotel. Our driver, who identified himself as "Frederick or Fred," guided us during our Blue Mountain tour which we staired-down 1.70 kilometers from sea level, returning to ground level on board a train that ascended a 58 degree rail. Some of the passengers of Fred's bus elected to stair-up back instead. We later boarded a ferryboat that navigated the Sydney River. Monetary exchange in Australia is fair and equitable. During our stay, the U.S. dollar commanded 1.38 Australian dollars. Hotel rates ranged from 13 to 1,300 Australian dollars per guest for a 24-hour stay. Australian restaurants and businesses charge no tax on purchases as the government derives its revenues from amusement and entertainment establishments. Cattle and sheep are the chief industry in Australia, with beef, its by-products, and wool the principal exports. Australian media is more liberal than the U.S. and other countries in its freedom, with newsmen writing stories on government officials in a no holds barred fashion. Predominantly a Christian nation, my wife and I attended St. John Evangelist Church right across from our hotel on Darlinghurst Boulevard, later joining Church members for conversation in the garden. Most friendly was one Paul Eagan. While in the Philippines, we had noticed an enthusiasm towards a revival of Church involvement. In Catillan, Surigao del Sur, a small town where we spent a few days, one church group related that at least 13 theological denominations were in force. Meanwhile in Metro Manila, Carlos Abaya and his wife Monina have played a big role in "opening the eyes" of fellow persons to truth via the Bible. A certified public accountant working for a large business corporation, Rev. Mr. Abaya, was receiving no compensation pay from his church, the Jesus Lives Christian Ministry. Unclogging the City's Streets by Mayor Willie L. Brown Improving traffic flow for Muni and creating a safe environment for pedestrians is not a one-time issue--these are things we must accomplish on an on-going basis. To that end, I have directed those city departments involved with improving traffic circulation on City streets to build into their day-to-day operations a major, comprehensive traffic control program. The goal of this "Unclog the Streets" program is to ease street congestion in San Francisco. This will enable Muni to get riders to their destinations in a timely manner, and will improve the quality of life for everyone in the City--pedestrians, bicyclists, and those drivers who adhere to sensible traffic rules. The program identifies six areas that will improve Muni's efficiency. These include: 1. Keep Intersections Clear The San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT), and the Public Transportation Department (Muni) have identified key intersections to be controlled by fixed post traffic personnel during the critical afternoon commute times (3-7 p.m.). During these hours, Muni gets backed up because private automobiles regularly block intersections, preventing busses from moving through their routes. Parking Control Officers (PCOs) will be assigned to these intersections, particularly along Market Street, keeping "the box" clear to help Muni keep its schedule. The "Don't Block the Box" program began February 23 with the deployment of 20 PCOs at the intersection of First through Eighth Streets on Market during the afternoon commute. The penalty for "blocking the box" ranges from $50 to $136. The DPT will hire 60 new Parking Control Officers and five senior PCOs to expand this program, and will place signs at intersections to remind drivers not to "block the box." Additionally, senior PCOs will rove up and down Market Street during the afternoon commute to discourage double parking and monitor the fixed post traffic control at the key intersections. Street supervision will allow for immediate response to changing traffic conditions and will ensure the program is working. 2. Double Parking For the first time in DPT's history, PCOs will be assigned to ride Muni buses. A PCO will jump off a bus to cite a double-parked vehicle, then catch the next bus and move down the line. The City will target lines that go through neighborhood commercial areas, such as the Mission, Chinatown, the Marina, Irving Street, the Haight, and others. The advantage of having PCOs ride a Muni line is that the potential double-parker will not know when a PCO is on board--which could mean that when a Muni vehicle appears behind you, a PCO will exit the bus and cite your vehicle. DPT will also create "Community Service" squads of PCOs to travel neighborhood commercial areas where Muni lines exist to enforce commercial loading (yellow) zones, meter feeding violations, and double parking. DPT forwarded legislation to the Board of Supervisors to expand their commercial loading zone towing program into the neighborhood commercial districts. The DPT Commission is also looking to raise fines. Currently, the fine for double parking is $50 and could be raised as high as $100. Illegal parking in commercial loading zones could be raised from $25 to $100. The Commission will also be considering the introduction of 15-minute parking meters in certain neighborhood commercial areas to encourage parking turnover. 3. Bus Zones and Diamond Lanes While DPT expands its general enforcement effort to turn over commercial loading zones, they will continue to cite ($250) and/or tow from bus zones. The San Francisco Police Department, working with Parking and Traffic, will keep diamond transit lanes clear. 4. Coordinate Street Construction The Department of Public Works recently established a Utility Coordination Center designed to coordinate all street construction work. All future work will be coordinated by DPW, and reviewed by DPW and Muni, with an emphasis on keeping traffic moving. DPW will also change its policy regarding the amount of time a contractor has to complete road work on any given project. Right now, the contractor has a window of six months to begin work once they have obtained their permit. DPW will require start and end dates for all construction activity. Contractors with multiple job sites will be required to complete each job in a timely manner. 5. Red Light Enforcement and Other Police Activities The SFPD will immediately increase enforcement of red light running throughout the City. The Police Department will also back up DPT's enforcement of "blocking the box" violations. The SFPD will integrate into its existing Bus Inspection Program (BIP) the ability to step off the Muni vehicle and cite double parked cars and trucks as well as vehicles parked in bus zones.Police will be active in enforcing diamond lanes for transit vehicles only. 6. Pedestrian Safety and Driver Cooperation Enforcement will be key for auto traffic in order to make these programs work. However, education is important for pedestrian safety. Pedestrians should feel safe when crossing with the light, but they need to do their part and not cross against the crosswalk signal. A public awareness campaign will begin to inform citizens of these programs with a major emphasis on pedestrian and driver cooperation, crosswalk rules, red light jumping, diamond transit lanes, and commercial loading (yellow) zones. It's important that San Franciscans work together on this "Unclog the Streets" program. Together we can create a safer, less congested city--one where our public transportation vehicles have the opportunity to run on time. We can all do our part to help Muni meet its schedule. You Can Do Something About the Weather: How Recycling Reduces Global Warming by David Assmann, Public Outreach Coordinator, San Francisco Recycling Program As the memory of El Nino gradually fades into spring and summer, it may be tempting to think that the bad weather is behind us and that we can't do anything about the weather anyway. However, that's not entirely true. The record world temperatures over the last 12 years, the unprecedented weather events like the severe tornadoes in Florida in February and the increasing number of hurricanes and other severe weather events are actually part of a pattern--that of global warming. And most scientists agree that global warming is mainly caused by human activities, through the production of greenhouse gases. What does this have to do with recycling? Even though the primary source of greenhouse gases is the burning of fossil fuels for activities such as generating electricity and driving cars, garbage production also produces these gases. There are three ways that garbage is connected with the production of greenhouse gases. The first is through energy consumption associated with making, transporting, and using the material or product that ends up in the garbage. This involves the burning of fossil fuels, which creates greenhouse gases. The second is through non-energy related manufacturing emissions, such as the carbon dioxide released when limestone is converted to lime for aluminum and steel manufacturing. The third is methane emissions from landfills. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is created when garbage decomposes. Since energy consumption, manufacturing emissions and the volume of garbage deposited in landfills can be reduced through recycling and waste prevention, reducing the amount of garbage we produce helps reduce the problem of global warming. The U.S. Climate Change Action Plan, issued by President Clinton after the 1992 International Earth Summit, called for a 108 million metric ton reduction in the production of greenhouse gases. To put this into perspective, this is equivalent to taking 83 million cars off the road. Since that's not likely to happen, the plan calls for 50 different initiatives to reduce the production of greenhouse gases. One of these initiatives calls for accelerated waste prevention and recycling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that nationwide waste prevention and recycling efforts could reduce annual emissions by more than 5.5 million metric tons a year. This is as effective in reducing emissions as taking more than 4 million cars off the road. San Francisco residents can help this nationwide effort through increased recycling and waste prevention efforts. We're already playing an important role. Last year, we kept more than 70 million pounds of greenhouse gases out of the air through our paper recycling efforts alone. However, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by another 55 million pounds if we recycled just 50 percent of the paper we still throw into the trash. Similarly, if we recycled half the aluminum and steel cans and the plastic bottles we still throw away we could reduce greenhouse gases by another 10 million pounds. Every individual effort helps us solve this global environmental problem. For example, for every pound of aluminum cans you recycle, you keep 4 pounds of greenhouse gases out of our atmosphere. Another way you can help is by composting your food scraps. If you have a back yard, or an outdoor area for a compost bin, it's an easy way to help the environment and produce a good soil amendment that can be used as fertilizer for a garden or house plants. On Saturday Apr. 25, from 9 am to 3 pm, the San Francisco Recycling Program, in cooperation with the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG), will be selling $100 compost bins for only $19.50. The sale, which is on a first come, first served basis, will be held at Goodman Lumber at 445 Bayshore Blvd. We'll also be selling worm bins that can be used in small spaces. These will be sold for the same price. Each bin comes with a free composting book, and staff will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate the use of the bins at the sale. In addition, there are free workshops held in various locations throughout the City to show residents how easy it is to compost. We also provide free brochures and other literature on composting. For more information on the sale, the free workshops or to receive free literature, call SLUG at 285-7585. Five Years Ago in the Grapevine APRIL 1973 Special awards, good food and live music were highlights of the 75th Anniversary Visitacion Valley Community Center (VVCC) Potluck Dinner held Mar. 13 in the gymnasium. State Senator Milton Marks and wife Carolene presented VVCC with a plaque honoring the institution's 75th anniversary. Mayor Frank Jordan and his economic team brought financial news to Wilson High School Mar. 18 in the second of eight budget meetings in eight San Francisco neighborhoods. Two assemblies were held Feb. 25 at Visitacion Valley Elementary School to celebrate accomplishments of African Americans and their accomplishments. El Dorado Elementary School's student council began studying Roberts' Rules of Order to sharpen their meeting skills. New Job Club programs began in six S.F. neighborhoods, including Visitacion Valley. Church of the Visitacion sponsored a community meeting Apr. 3 on police presence and safety in Visitacion Valley. Historic Proportions* Match clues to answers. 1973 1. He resigns in shame on Oct. 10. 2. This became the first American commercial product sold in the USSR. 3. Best Drama Series at the Emmy Awards on May 20. 4. A little grid was developed but now it won't go away. 5. After June 30, this is history. 6. Best Picture at the Academy Awards on Mar. 27. 7. But this movie was the top money-maker. 8. They won the World Series. 9. Baseball pennant winners with history's worst regular season record. 10. This is finally signed on Jan. 23. 11. On Jan. 28, Buddy Ebsen is Jed no more. 12. He was singing about Time in a Bottle. 13. They're the Super Bowl champs. 14. On Sept. 23, he's again the top man in Argentina. 15. A new Vice-President for the U.S. on Dec. 6. 16. They're the NBA champs. 17. A $25 million bonanza, this movie was shot in 25 days for $750,000. 18. She won a Grammy as Best New Artist. A. Vietnam Peace Agreement B. Universal product code C. New York Mets D. Vice-President Spiro Agnew E. Barnaby Jones F. Juan Peron G. The Poseidon Adventure H. American Graffiti I. New York Knicks J. Bette Midler K. Miami Dolphins L. The Waltons M. The Godfather N. Pepsi O. Jim Croce P. The Draft Q. Oakland Athletics R. Gerald Ford Answers: 1-D; 2-N; 3-L; 4-B; 5-P; 6-M; 7-G; 8-Q; 9-C; 10-A; 11-E; 12-O; 13-K; 14-F; 15-R; 16-I; 17-H; 18-J. Sez Who? Match quotes to speakers. 1. "It's not that I'm afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens." 2. "I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures." 3. "To apologize is to lay the foundation for a future offense." 4. "For nothing can seem foul to those that win." 5. "Necessity never makes a good bargain." 6. "The other teams could make trouble for us if they win." 7. "Please accept my resignation. I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member." 8. "Wit is educated insolence." 9. "Fools make research and wise men exploit them." A. William Shakespeare B. H.G. Wells C. Benjamin Franklin D. Woody Allen E. Aristotle F. Yogi Berra G. Earl Warren H. Groucho Marx I. Ambrose Bierce Answers: 1-D; 2-G; 3-I; 4-A; 5-C; 6-F; 7-H; 8-E; 9-B.

Two Nations in Contrast

In this second report of his travels, Grapevine reporter Gerry L. Galvan visited both Australia and the Philippines, his native country where he admits of his critical findings, "Truth has to be exposed, no matter how painful."

by Gerry L. Galvan
Although still a relatively untouched continent, Australia has demonstrated, in recent months, a determination to change from decades of commonwealth rule to an independent republic.

Political leaders, including Prime Minister John Howard, had debated the issue for some time. An Australian shift from commonwealth to a republic means the collapse of Great Britain's political and economic control over the "continent way down below the equator."
In direct contrast, the Republic of the Philippines appears to have seriously deteriorated from a first class Asian country.

Such was the impression of your reporter who visited and stayed 120 hours in Sydney and 408 hours in the Philippines this year from Jan. 21 to Feb. 12.

The 22-day trip provided my wife and I with a considerable comparison of how exemplary Australia has grown compared to a rapid backslide the Philippines have experienced in recent years. While Australia, one of the U.S. allies in the Western World, had thrown her timid and cautious support to President Bill Clinton's quarrel with Iraq's Saddam Hussein (We were in Sydney when we read of Clinton's "urgent" telephone call to Mr. Howard), the Philippines, a longtime U.S. sidekick in the Far East, has all but shied away from this volatile issue save for puns and jokes by Manila newspapermen, where columnists instead found the recent Clinton sex scandal a much bigger story.

Violet and I had made this memorable and experience-laden trip primarily to attend the 50th anniversary of her class (1948) graduation from high school. Aging '48ers celebrated the occasion in Balankas, Santo Tomas, Pamapanga, a town some 45 miles north of metropolitan Manila.

Side trips to Surigao del Sur, in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, and to Sydney, Australia were extras that swelled our travel budget considerably. It was costly to our meager resources as well as our health, with both my wife and I very sick upon returning to the U.S. even though we had taken precautionary health measures before our initial departure.

Our experience in Metro Manila, followed by Surigao and later Australia proved to be educational and traumatic at the same time. We witnessed a seemingly rapid deterioration in the Filipino people's economic condition along with ethical and moral values. By the same token, Australia demonstrated a tremendous economic potential maturity.

Our trip also left indelible memories on geographical beauty and contrast. Compared to the Philippines, a group of 7,021 small islands, Australia is a huge and awesome piece of real estate. But the former is as beautiful, if not far superior, in terms of scenic splendor.

As a nation, Australia has barely a century of meaningful existence, while the Philippines can boast nearly 600 years of contact with the outside world. Australia, where almost everyone has some form of profitable employment, is not a haven for beggars as few, if any, are tolerated there. This land of kangaroos and koalas, wallabies and quails is prosperous and on her way to compete with the best in the Western World. Meanwhile the Philippines, can only boast of citizens who vied among themselves in making politics and public office a silly game.

Violet and I were traveling as "Balikbayans" on Philippine Airlines in all the trips that took us to and from Manila, Surigao del Surigao and Sydney.

Again visiting my country of birth could have been described in such glowing terms as "truly wonderful," and "heavenly," with other high sounding platitudes such as "incomparably exciting features of a progressive country," but we never saw it that way. During a visit we made in Jan. 1995, I had become disappointed by Phillippine customs bureau personnel, airport gate hustlers, and ever-present beggars.

Traffic there in 1998, however, was better than 1995, with the volume on main thoroughfares and side streets reduced through color coding, a newly adopted system banning all motor vehicles carrying certain plate numbers on certain days.

Although the U.S. dollar has for some time commanded $1 to 40 pesos in the Philippines, we found ourselves trying very hard to stretch travel money. It seemed that everything, including doleouts to street urchins, was atrociously expensive.

One day as my wife and I were getting ready to travel, a young boy of maybe seven or eight years approached me for money. When I handed him a peso, he looked at the coin demurely. When asked if he realized how much was given him he shot back with, "Piso?" He obviously was unhappy with the amount I had given him. Now during the late 1960s when my family and I were still living in the country, a Philippine peso was more than enough for three quality haircuts. But in 1998, its quite apparent that such an amount means almost nothing.

And now it also seems that just about everybody has become politically inclined. It was disheartening to hear a report that more than 240 presidential candidates had filed their certificates of candidacy for President of the Philippines. Weeks later when we returned to the U.S. in mid-February, the number had been reduced to 83 serious candidates. Jose L. Guevarra of the Manila Daily Bulletin, writing in his paper's Feb. 12 issue, punned, "...There are many presidential candidates; 8 are classified as serious and the rest delirious..." Guevarra also referred to the upcoming May 11 Philippine polls as "the wackiest election in history."

Jetting into Sydney midday on Feb. 5, my wife and I already knew we wouldn't have the convenience of having someone who could direct us around town, perhaps like Willen Janz from the Netherlands, who had originally explored Australia along the eastern shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1606. Rediscovered by the Dutch in 1642, James Cook of Great Britain set foot on the continent in 1770 before the kingdom finally claimed it her colony in 1788.

Although I have a niece living in Australia and teaching chemical engineering in one of the country's universities, we failed to get her address from her sisters in the Philippines. We had earlier declined an offer from relatives of a fellow Church member to pick us up from our hotel and be their house guests.

Relying heavily on an Australian magazine which I borrowed from my daughter-in-law, one interesting piece led to other pertinent aspects of Sydney. One example was the name and phone number of a Sydney hotel where we stayed. An overseas phone call from San Francisco to the hotel led to such information as the availability of buses that charge six Australian dollars for an airport-to-hotel trip. Settling at the hotel later, we received valuable information on where to go, what form of transportation to take, where to catch buses, and the like.

One of the things I really wanted to see and be near was a kangaroo, which we experienced in the wildlife section of our tour. This pouched creature was one of the many unique animals we saw.

For a balanced tour of the area, we took the Sydney Explorer, an economical and highly efficient tour bus system charging 32 Australian dollars each for a 12-hour excursion to 22 local attractions. Arrival and departure at the designated spots was almost always on precision clock time. During the tour, we encountered a Filipino-Australian who was a driver on one of six Explorer buses.

In our trip to the Blue Mountains, we boarded a chartered bus a few blocks from our hotel. Our driver, who identified himself as "Frederick or Fred," guided us during our Blue Mountain tour which we staired-down 1.70 kilometers from sea level, returning to ground level on board a train that ascended a 58 degree rail. Some of the passengers of Fred's bus elected to stair-up back instead. We later boarded a ferryboat that navigated the Sydney River.

Monetary exchange in Australia is fair and equitable. During our stay, the U.S. dollar commanded 1.38 Australian dollars. Hotel rates ranged from 13 to 1,300 Australian dollars per guest for a 24-hour stay.

Australian restaurants and businesses charge no tax on purchases as the government derives its revenues from amusement and entertainment establishments. Cattle and sheep are the chief industry in Australia, with beef, its by-products, and wool the principal exports.

Australian media is more liberal than the U.S. and other countries in its freedom, with newsmen writing stories on government officials in a no holds barred fashion.

Predominantly a Christian nation, my wife and I attended St. John Evangelist Church right across from our hotel on Darlinghurst Boulevard, later joining Church members for conversation in the garden. Most friendly was one Paul Eagan.

While in the Philippines, we had noticed an enthusiasm towards a revival of Church involvement. In Catillan, Surigao del Sur, a small town where we spent a few days, one church group related that at least 13 theological denominations were in force.

Meanwhile in Metro Manila, Carlos Abaya and his wife Monina have played a big role in "opening the eyes" of fellow persons to truth via the Bible. A certified public accountant working for a large business corporation, Rev. Mr. Abaya, was receiving no compensation pay from his church, the Jesus Lives Christian Ministry.

Unclogging the City's Streets

by Mayor Willie L. Brown
Improving traffic flow for Muni and creating a safe environment for pedestrians is not a one-time issue--these are things we must accomplish on an on-going basis. To that end, I have directed those city departments involved with improving traffic circulation on City streets to build into their day-to-day operations a major, comprehensive traffic control program.

The goal of this "Unclog the Streets" program is to ease street congestion in San Francisco. This will enable Muni to get riders to their destinations in a timely manner, and will improve the quality of life for everyone in the City--pedestrians, bicyclists, and those drivers who adhere to sensible traffic rules.

The program identifies six areas that will improve Muni's efficiency. These include:

1. Keep Intersections Clear
The San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT), and the Public Transportation Department (Muni) have identified key intersections to be controlled by fixed post traffic personnel during the critical afternoon commute times (3-7 p.m.).
During these hours, Muni gets backed up because private automobiles regularly block intersections, preventing busses from moving through their routes. Parking Control Officers (PCOs) will be assigned to these intersections, particularly along Market Street, keeping "the box" clear to help Muni keep its schedule.

The "Don't Block the Box" program began February 23 with the deployment of 20 PCOs at the intersection of First through Eighth Streets on Market during the afternoon commute. The penalty for "blocking the box" ranges from $50 to $136. The DPT will hire 60 new Parking Control Officers and five senior PCOs to expand this program, and will place signs at intersections to remind drivers not to "block the box."

Additionally, senior PCOs will rove up and down Market Street during the afternoon commute to discourage double parking and monitor the fixed post traffic control at the key intersections. Street supervision will allow for immediate response to changing traffic conditions and will ensure the program is working.

2. Double Parking
For the first time in DPT's history, PCOs will be assigned to ride Muni buses. A PCO will jump off a bus to cite a double-parked vehicle, then catch the next bus and move down the line. The City will target lines that go through neighborhood commercial areas, such as the Mission, Chinatown, the Marina, Irving Street, the Haight, and others. The advantage of having PCOs ride a Muni line is that the potential double-parker will not know when a PCO is on board--which could mean that when a Muni vehicle appears behind you, a PCO will exit the bus and cite your vehicle.

DPT will also create "Community Service" squads of PCOs to travel neighborhood commercial areas where Muni lines exist to enforce commercial loading (yellow) zones, meter feeding violations, and double parking. DPT forwarded legislation to the Board of Supervisors to expand their commercial loading zone towing program into the neighborhood commercial districts.

The DPT Commission is also looking to raise fines. Currently, the fine for double parking is $50 and could be raised as high as $100. Illegal parking in commercial loading zones could be raised from $25 to $100. The Commission will also be considering the introduction of 15-minute parking meters in certain neighborhood commercial areas to encourage parking turnover.

3. Bus Zones and Diamond Lanes
While DPT expands its general enforcement effort to turn over commercial loading zones, they will continue to cite ($250) and/or tow from bus zones. The San Francisco Police Department, working with Parking and Traffic, will keep diamond transit lanes clear.

4. Coordinate Street Construction
The Department of Public Works recently established a Utility Coordination Center designed to coordinate all street construction work. All future work will be coordinated by DPW, and reviewed by DPW and Muni, with an emphasis on keeping traffic moving.

DPW will also change its policy regarding the amount of time a contractor has to complete road work on any given project. Right now, the contractor has a window of six months to begin work once they have obtained their permit. DPW will require start and end dates for all construction activity. Contractors with multiple job sites will be required to complete each job in a timely manner.

5. Red Light Enforcement and Other Police Activities
The SFPD will immediately increase enforcement of red light running throughout the City. The Police Department will also back up DPT's enforcement of "blocking the box" violations. The SFPD will integrate into its existing Bus Inspection Program (BIP) the ability to step off the Muni vehicle and cite double parked cars and trucks as well as vehicles parked in bus zones.Police will be active in enforcing diamond lanes for transit vehicles only.

6. Pedestrian Safety and Driver Cooperation
Enforcement will be key for auto traffic in order to make these programs work. However, education is important for pedestrian safety. Pedestrians should feel safe when crossing with the light, but they need to do their part and not cross against the crosswalk signal.

A public awareness campaign will begin to inform citizens of these programs with a major emphasis on pedestrian and driver cooperation, crosswalk rules, red light jumping, diamond transit lanes, and commercial loading (yellow) zones.

It's important that San Franciscans work together on this "Unclog the Streets" program. Together we can create a safer, less congested city--one where our public transportation vehicles have the opportunity to run on time. We can all do our part to help Muni meet its schedule.

You Can Do Something About the Weather:
How Recycling Reduces Global Warming

by David Assmann, Public Outreach Coordinator, San Francisco Recycling Program
As the memory of El Nino gradually fades into spring and summer, it may be tempting to think that the bad weather is behind us and that we can't do anything about the weather anyway. However, that's not entirely true. The record world temperatures over the last 12 years, the unprecedented weather events like the severe tornadoes in Florida in February and the increasing number of hurricanes and other severe weather events are actually part of a pattern--that of global warming. And most scientists agree that global warming is mainly caused by human activities, through the production of greenhouse gases.

What does this have to do with recycling? Even though the primary source of greenhouse gases is the burning of fossil fuels for activities such as generating electricity and driving cars, garbage production also produces these gases.

There are three ways that garbage is connected with the production of greenhouse gases. The first is through energy consumption associated with making, transporting, and using the material or product that ends up in the garbage. This involves the burning of fossil fuels, which creates greenhouse gases. The second is through non-energy related manufacturing emissions, such as the carbon dioxide released when limestone is converted to lime for aluminum and steel manufacturing. The third is methane emissions from landfills. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is created when garbage decomposes.

Since energy consumption, manufacturing emissions and the volume of garbage deposited in landfills can be reduced through recycling and waste prevention, reducing the amount of garbage we produce helps reduce the problem of global warming.

The U.S. Climate Change Action Plan, issued by President Clinton after the 1992 International Earth Summit, called for a 108 million metric ton reduction in the production of greenhouse gases. To put this into perspective, this is equivalent to taking 83 million cars off the road. Since that's not likely to happen, the plan calls for 50 different initiatives to reduce the production of greenhouse gases. One of these initiatives calls for accelerated waste prevention and recycling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that nationwide waste prevention and recycling efforts could reduce annual emissions by more than 5.5 million metric tons a year. This is as effective in reducing emissions as taking more than 4 million cars off the road.

San Francisco residents can help this nationwide effort through increased recycling and waste prevention efforts. We're already playing an important role. Last year, we kept more than 70 million pounds of greenhouse gases out of the air through our paper recycling efforts alone. However, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by another 55 million pounds if we recycled just 50 percent of the paper we still throw into the trash.

Similarly, if we recycled half the aluminum and steel cans and the plastic bottles we still throw away we could reduce greenhouse gases by another 10 million pounds.

Every individual effort helps us solve this global environmental problem. For example, for every pound of aluminum cans you recycle, you keep 4 pounds of greenhouse gases out of our atmosphere.

Another way you can help is by composting your food scraps. If you have a back yard, or an outdoor area for a compost bin, it's an easy way to help the environment and produce a good soil amendment that can be used as fertilizer for a garden or house plants.

On Saturday Apr. 25, from 9 am to 3 pm, the San Francisco Recycling Program, in cooperation with the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG), will be selling $100 compost bins for only $19.50. The sale, which is on a first come, first served basis, will be held at Goodman Lumber at 445 Bayshore Blvd. We'll also be selling worm bins that can be used in small spaces. These will be sold for the same price.

Each bin comes with a free composting book, and staff will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate the use of the bins at the sale. In addition, there are free workshops held in various locations throughout the City to show residents how easy it is to compost. We also provide free brochures and other literature on composting. For more information on the sale, the free workshops or to receive free literature, call SLUG at 285-7585.

Five Years Ago in the Grapevine

APRIL 1973

*Special awards, good food and live music were highlights of the 75th Anniversary Visitacion Valley Community Center (VVCC) Potluck Dinner held Mar. 13 in the gymnasium.

*State Senator Milton Marks and wife Carolene presented VVCC with a plaque honoring the institution's 75th anniversary.

*Mayor Frank Jordan and his economic team brought financial news to Wilson High School Mar. 18 in the second of eight budget meetings in eight San Francisco neighborhoods.

*Two assemblies were held Feb. 25 at Visitacion Valley Elementary School to celebrate accomplishments of African Americans and their accomplishments.

*El Dorado Elementary School's student council began studying Roberts' Rules of Order to sharpen their meeting skills.

*New Job Club programs began in six S.F. neighborhoods, including Visitacion Valley.

*Church of the Visitacion sponsored a community meeting Apr. 3 on police presence and safety in Visitacion Valley.

Historic Proportions

Match clues to answers.

1973

1. He resigns in shame on Oct. 10.
2. This became the first American commercial product sold in the USSR.
3. Best Drama Series at the Emmy Awards on May 20.
4. A little grid was developed but now it won't go away.
5. After June 30, this is history.
6. Best Picture at the Academy Awards on Mar. 27.
7. But this movie was the top money-maker.
8. They won the World Series.
9. Baseball pennant winners with history's worst regular season record.
10. This is finally signed on Jan. 23.
11. On Jan. 28, Buddy Ebsen is Jed no more.
12. He was singing about Time in a Bottle.
13. They're the Super Bowl champs.
14. On Sept. 23, he's again the top man in Argentina.
15. A new Vice-President for the U.S. on Dec. 6.
16. They're the NBA champs.
17. A $25 million bonanza, this movie was shot in 25 days for $750,000.
18. She won a Grammy as Best New Artist.

A. Vietnam Peace Agreement
B. Universal product code
C. New York Mets
D. Vice-President Spiro Agnew
E. Barnaby Jones
F. Juan Peron
G. The Poseidon Adventure
H. American Graffiti
I. New York Knicks
J. Bette Midler
K. Miami Dolphins
L. The Waltons
M. The Godfather
N. Pepsi
O. Jim Croce
P. The Draft
Q. Oakland Athletics
R. Gerald Ford

Answers: 1-D; 2-N; 3-L; 4-B; 5-P; 6-M; 7-G; 8-Q; 9-C; 10-A; 11-E; 12-O; 13-K; 14-F; 15-R; 16-I; 17-H; 18-J.

Sez Who?

Match quotes to speakers.

1. "It's not that I'm afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens."
2. "I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures."
3. "To apologize is to lay the foundation for a future offense."
4. "For nothing can seem foul to those that win."
5. "Necessity never makes a good bargain."
6. "The other teams could make trouble for us if they win."
7. "Please accept my resignation. I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member."
8. "Wit is educated insolence."
9. "Fools make research and wise men exploit them."

A. William Shakespeare
B. H.G. Wells
C. Benjamin Franklin
D. Woody Allen
E. Aristotle
F. Yogi Berra
G. Earl Warren
H. Groucho Marx
I. Ambrose Bierce

Answers: 1-D; 2-G; 3-I; 4-A; 5-C; 6-F; 7-H; 8-E; 9-B.