Civic Initiatives Program

Recognizing and responding to pressing problems throughout the city-from crumbling landmarks to neglected parklands-is the core of our work. San Francisco Beautiful staff and volunteers create, organize, and support partnerships between civic leaders, community-based groups, and other organizations to promote sound and sustainable urban planning policies and programs. We are currently active in several major preservation and restoration projects throughout the city.

VICTORY!!

SB 1310-Digital Billboards
Fails in Sacramento!

SB 1310 - Digital Billboards Fails to Pass State Senate Committee!

Thanks to our collective efforts, SB 1310 - Digital Billboards failed in the Senate Transportation & Housing Committee today!

As you are aware, San Francisco Beautiful strongly opposed SB 1310 which would have allowed the conversion of existing billboards near landscaped portions of our freeways to digital/electronic format.

The Senate Transportation & Housing Committee voted on SB 1310 today and the bill failed to get enough votes to get out of the committee.

This is a major victory against billboard blight and we could not have done it without your calls and support. At the hearing Alan Lowenthal, Committee Chair, mentioned the large number of calls he received opposing SB 1310 and we have you to thank for that!

Click here for info leading up to vote.

SFB Scores A Victory! Billboard V-P
Kept Off Planning Commission

Wonderful news!! Thanks to San Francisco Beautiful’s collective efforts including all of our emails, calls, letters and testimony, the appointment of Ryan Brooks to the Planning Commission was withdrawn!

Ryan Brooks is a Vice President with CBS Outdoor - a large billboard company operating numerous billboards in San Francisco. San Francisco Beautiful raised the issue that his appointment to the Planning Commission would create serious conflicts of interest regarding billboard issues.

San Francisco Beautiful thanks everyone for helping to stop this misguided appointment.

Background Information:

URGENT BILLBOARD ACTION ALERT!

We are urging our members to immediately oppose the nomination of Ryan Brooks to the Planning Commission. Ryan Brooks is a Vice President with CBS Outdoor - a large billboard company operating numerous billboards in San Francisco. His appointment to the Commission would cause serious conflicts of interest regarding billboard issues.

The full Board of Supervisors will hear the Ryan Brooks appointment on Tuesday, March 18th. Please contact members of the Board of Supervisors by email, phone or fax to express your opposition to Ryan Brooks appointment to the Planning Commission. For a sample letter and contact information for the Board of Supervisors click here.

See article in March 14, 2008 Examiner regarding issue. San Francisco Beautiful's Executive Director Dee Dee Workman quoted.

Huge San Francisco Beautiful Victory: Bridge Board Votes Against Corporate Sponsorship for Golden Gate Bridge: Wonderful news!!

Thanks to our collective efforts including all of our emails, letters and testimony the Golden Gate Bridge District members voted unanimously on October 26, 2007 to REJECT the Corporate Partnership Program which would have allowed corporate logos on Golden Gate Bridge property. San Francisco Beautiful testified at the Bridge Board meeting and we are thrilled that the Bridge Board members decided to reject this misguided program.

Background: Corporate Sponsor For Golden Gate Bridge