Mission District News
Lines are growing at local food banks, a look at the transition for a newly merged middle and elementary school, the safety of the Mission is called into question and city officials look to save a free food stand.
These are some of the headlines courtesy of the Mission Local blog this week.
Lines long at Mission District food pantries… As the recession continues, lines at food banks continue to grow in San Francisco. According to U.S. Census figures, more than 46 million people, or one in six, lived in poverty in 2010. The San Francisco Food Bank is serving 70 percent more people this year than at the beginning of the recession in 2008. Officials with the food bank said they serve an average of 4,380 low-income households each week at 37 pantries in the Mission.
Buena Vista Horace Mann school faces growing pains… There have been some initial growing pains at the newly merged elementary and middle schools that form the Mission’s only K-8 program. The San Francisco Unified School District announced earlier this year that the schools would merge. Last year, Horace Mann was designated as a high-need school and qualified for a federal grant. Some of the more immediate concerns: a playground that is too small and different start times for middle and elementary school students.
Mission District Police Captain faces tough questions… At a community meeting earlier this week, Police Captain Greg Corrales tried to calm the nerves of worried residents concerned about five recent shootings, three of which were fatal. Corrales said extra officers are already in place. He also encouraged residents to call him and come see him if there are recurring problems in the neighborhood.
Free farm stand could remain open… Last week, we told you about the Free Farm Stand possibly closing at Parque Niños Unidos. Now, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department officials are meeting with Dennis “Tree” Rubenstein, who runs the stand, to keep it open at the site. The stand has operated since 2008 and offers free produce to those in the neighborhood.
Photo Credit: Mission Local blog
