Suffice to say, landlords aren’t allowed to do those sort of things just to get you to skedaddle. What’s the worst landlord you ever had and how did you deal with them?
Comcast Apologizes For Tech's Van Blocking Driveway
By April 17, 2008
Frank Eliason from Comcast Executive Customer Service provided the following statement regarding the San Fransican whose Comcast cable service mysteriously shut off 10 minutes after asking a tech to move his van from in front of his driveway:
Arbitration Mill Sued By San Francisco
By April 7, 2008
A San Francisco attorney has sued the National Arbitration Forum for being biased towards credit companies and ignoring consumer rights.
In 2004, the suit alleges, California resident Elizabeth Marcotte was hit with a $25,0000 award, plus $10,000 in attorneys’ fees, in a credit-card collection case. But Ms. Marcotte allegedly wasn’t notified about the arbitration, because she was served at an old address, even though she had notified the credit-card company of her new address. The NAF awarded the attorneys’ fees without requiring proof that the debt collector actually incurred the fees, according to the suit. Ms. Marcotte wasn’t reached for comment. [More]
San Francisco Orders Restaurants To Display Calorie Information, Industry Laughs
By March 30, 2008
San Francisco passed a resolution last week requiring chain restaurants to display calorie information on their menus, but the industry couldn’t care less. They will continue fattening us up like gingerbread cash-cows, regardless of whatever regulations pitiful municipalities hurl their way.
By February 6, 2008
What the hell? The Center for Science in the Public Interest and the Corn Refiners Association (representing the producers of high-fructose corn syrup) actually agree on something. Both the CSPI and the CRA have sent a joint letter to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, objecting to a proposed tax that would only apply to soft drinks sweetened with HFCS. The CSPI and the CRA both agree, “the idea that high-fructose corn syrup is more harmful than sugar is an “urban myth.” [CSPI]
Unruly Passenger Forces JetBlue Flight To Make Unscheduled Landing
By December 24, 2007
An unidentified passenger is being questioned by the Denver police department after his unruly behavior forced a JetBlue flight from New York to San Francisco to land at DIA.
The Best Alternate Airports In America
By December 9, 2007
Flying to one of America’s numerous satellite airports can be faster and easier than charging into a congestion clogged airport that suffers delays on the sunniest days. Travel guru Peter Greenberg and his staff compiled a list of unlikely airports that can save you from the long lines and endless waits that plague traveler’s nightmares.
By July 24, 2007
Craigslist, Netflix and several other websites are down following six successive power outages in San Fran’s SOMA ‘hood. [Boing Boing]
Heat Map Of Rental Prices Based On Craiglist Listings
By July 23, 2007
In a project born out of “boredom” and an experience with a landlord that was facing foreclosure due to gambling on an ARM, grad student Ethan Garner created CraigStatsSF, a site that visualizes craiglist San Francisco rental listings. He writes:
As I started looking for places, I noticed everything that used to be for rent was now for sale due to the same foreclosure effect that happened to my landlord.
Shell Station Owner Raises Gas Prices In Protest Against Shell
By June 21, 2007
There’s a much deeper story here, and it begins with Oyster, a respected, self-made businessman who turned a single station into Oyster Petroleum, a profitable firm in Redwood City. Oyster is nobody’s fool. Don’t think he isn’t well aware that the Chevron station across the street is selling regular for 70 cents less.
Cathay Pacific Airlines Lets Passengers Sit For 7 Hours, Then Cancels Flight
By June 21, 2007
“While still on board, our cabin crew worked to ensure the comfort of passengers providing snacks, beverage refreshments and a hot meal. Many passengers were asleep on board as we provided refreshments and updates on the delay,” the airline said in a written statement.
San Francisco Modifies The Age-Old Question: Paper Or Plastic?
By April 1, 2007
San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 to ban the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags; supermarkets across the city will retrain their employees to ask: paper or biodegradable plastic?
The Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance, written by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and Co., sponsored by six other supervisors, gives major supermarket chains with more than $2 million in annual sales six months to make the switch to biodegradable bags. Pharmacies and retailers with at least five locations have one year. Violators face fines of up to $500.
Supermarkets have let economics guide their choice between paper and plastic. Paper bags cost four cents, while plastic bags cost a penny. The largest San Francisco supermarket hands out 125 million plastic bags each year.
Virgin America Cleared For Takeoff
By March 21, 2007
The Department of Transportation has dropped its objections to Richard Branson’s latest venture, Virgin America. The domestic version of Virgin Atlantic was blocked in December over concerns the airline was a tad too British. Federal law requires U.S. ownership and control of domestic airlines. Branson won approval by yielding the CEO slot to an American, former Delta executive Fred Reid, and diluting Virgin Atlantic’s presence on the board.
Virgin America, based in Burlingame, Calif., near San Francisco’s airport, said yesterday that it was pleased by the ruling and hoped to start flights between San Francisco and Kennedy International Airport in New York by midsummer. Within nine months of beginning flights, it said it planned to serve Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas and Washington.
Finally, competition between New York and San Francisco. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
Sprint's New Unlimited Voice, Messaging, Data, Internet Plan: $150
By February 28, 2007
Sprint is trying out two new unlimited bundle plans that one industry analyst is calling, “a grenade,” with the power to disrupt both wireless and landline carriers.
Comcast: Rate Hikes Are Coming
By November 27, 2006
Comcast is raising rates as much as 6.5% in several markets starting January 1st. So far, Washington state, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Richmond, VA have been confirmed as markets that will be affected by the increase. But don’t blame Comcast, blame HDTV.
Sheraton President Blocks Off 30 Rooms For Personal Use, Your Reservation Be Damned
By July 25, 2006
With this type of “No room at the inn” you would think it was the second birth of our Lord and Savior. Though, this unholy reservation, and botched reservation, earns a “Jesus Christ.”
Ads Call Graffiti ‘Pollution’; Grafiiti Says, ‘Likewise’
By July 19, 2006
BBDO launched a pro-bono advertising campaign for the city of San Francisco desgined to curb graffiti.
San Fran Kills SUV Limos With Hills
By June 16, 2006
This is what happens when you take a stretch SUV limo through the hills and dales of San Francisco.
