Building bonds in the Bayview — one person, one community at a time

Image via parks.sfgov.org

The Bayview-Hunter’s Point District is not ashamed it is forgotten. No, it relishes in this fact. As industrial spires climb their way to the tops of San Francisco, it seems as if this area of town is proud of itself. It humbles itself so outsiders must search for the beauty here. Terraces don’t rise and grocery stores don’t buzz about with upper-middle class sensualities. Toyota Priuses don’t glide about leisurely, rather cars from America’s industrial apex grind the pavement. Cadillac DeVilles and Pontiac Firebirds puff CO into the air. A lot of Bayview-Hunter’s Point is a relic of America (and San Francisco’s) age of industry and community.

The former Naval shipyard rusts against the bay and local shops are boarded up, creating a ghost-town feel. This is not the San Francisco of brochures. Golden bridges and green parks are replaced with grey edifices and burnt tarmac, the only shade of color being the faces of people who stroll Third Street. And though this all seems fitting for a forgotten town in the southeast part of San Francisco, a new bud is blooming. Bayview-Hunter’s Point, despite its reputation, is a hotbed for community actions and involvement. But again, these developments aren’t explicit. Bayview-Hunter’s Point rewards seekers, and for some, they only had to look as far as their backyards. Others go door-to-door, and see the problems in the area and offer help, hoping to spur movements that’ll move beyond the community. Nonetheless the community thrives, and whether it’s a fifth grade student or a district supervisor, we can all learn who we are from our communities.

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Your Education

What’s it feel like to blow a hundred-thou in a recession, with no second guessin” – Pusha T of The Clipse.

Good question Pusha, because most of us only know how to blow a couple $1’s.School is really hard to stay in these days (in Cali anyway).With $5.3 billion cut education in alone (roughly $600 million from the CSU and $813 million from the UC)  you can see how the recession is really kicking students’ asses. As result, systems like the CSU are dumping cost onto students. From tuition increases, furlough days (that is less days to actually be in school) and less classes, it seems like we’re paying more for less!
So what does the college student do in such a situation? With your degree in limbo and your checking account slowly bleeding money, how does one stay cheerful and smart in this climate? Here’s some tips