SF Weekly’s the Snitch is reporting that Sam Ruiz, the executive director for the Mission Neighborhood Centers, received threatening emails by a Department of Children Youth and their Families staffer. The DCYF staffer has been put on indefinite leave according to the Snitch.
Earlier Today by Mark Rabine
For those who persistently argue that the glass is half-empty, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank has released a new report showing that while the recession officially ended in July 2009, as of Februrary 2010, over half the country was still, technically, in a recession. More encouraging for the doom-and-gloom squad was that Michigan, of all places, led the country in economic growth over the past three months. X-Missionaries exiled to Michigan must be feeling pretty good.
The Slanted Door Rakes in $$s
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Slanted Door ranks 21 in the country’s top grossing restaurants. Here in the Mission where the Slanted Door got its start, Valencia Street is left with three empty buildings and only the promise of a return.
Even Earlier
In the Mission Today
6 A.M. 46° and overcast; cool but no rain expected.
OK, we all know it’s April Fool’s Day and Maundy Thursday. But did you know it was also National Fun at Work Day? It’s also St. Stupid’s Day which makes sense if you intend to have fun at work.
A Curious Summer
City College shut down? No jobs? Check this out: Acurious.org has announced it’s upcoming program: A Curious Summer, aimed at “inducing wonder and sparking enthusiasm for the world around us.” Said to be a program for “your child”, but the course descriptions look better than most university offerings. If a workshop is designed for ages 4 and up — how high up?
A Curious Bolivian
Jamie Escalante, the math teacher immortalized by the film “Stand and Deliver,” and satirized in “Stand and Deliver Pizza”, has died of cancer. A colorful and controversial character, Escalante’s death has resonated through the blogosphere. Surprisingly there is little mention of the past decade he spent teaching at the Universidad del Valle en Cochabamba in Bolivia.
Although the Morales government noted Escalante’s death and conferred an honorary title posthumously, we would have expected to see more about his attitude toward the changes in Bolivia and the success or lack thereof of his teaching methods in a revolutionary context. Any info along those lines would be much appreciated.
Alternative Interests
Looking for an alternative to predatory or non-existent lending practices of BofA and Chase? We noted yesterday SF Appeal’s report on bike loans available from the Mission SF Federal Credit Union. But, the Credit Union also offers payday loans at rates 20 to 40 percent below our local usurers and 15 ATM withdrawals a month without charge. 20 to 40 times less expensive than traditional payday lenders)
What a Long Strange Trip (Volume 4)
For more archival pix (like the one above) of Cesar Chavez, without the funny looking dude on his left, our right, go here.
