Medjool in the News and Blogs (Excerpts)

Just How Many Favors Can S.F. Grant to City's Favorite Politically Connected Barkeep?
(SF Weekly blog)

[Christina Olague] queried whether the rooftop bar at Medjool -- also owned by New Mission Theater developer [Gus] Murad -- was legal under the city's zoning laws. It took until Saturday for the Chronicle to report and expand upon what zoning administrator Larry Badiner said at the time: It's not. (read whole post)

Campaign to 'Save' Medjool's Rooftop Bar...But Is it Grassroots or Astroturf?
(SF Weekly blog)

"This is just crazy to me," Planning Commission President Christina Olague told SF Weekly at the time. "Every politician in town has been up on that roof deck. Dennis Herrera had his fund-raisers up there, even Mark Sanchez, a progressive Green. And, since 2004 [when the rooftop bar opened], it was illegal and no one knew? No one held [Murad] accountable?" (read whole post)

They Say “Save Medjool”… We Say “Save the Progressive/Historic Latino/a Mission District
(Mission Antidisplacement blog)

Here is some historical background that may help clarify the situation...

• When the New Mission Theater was put on the market by City College, Gus Murad out bid local nonprofits...
• He was anti-union in selecting contractors for developing Medjool and the accompanying Elements Hostel;
• He chose to provide “community benefits” by selecting Mission Neighborhood Centers as the recipient of space on the ground floor of his New Mission Theater project...For a project of this scale and impact, simply giving up some community space is not enough...
• Murad, notoriously, has given money and gifts to politicians and community leaders to gain their support, thereby compromising their principles and corrupting democratic processes;
• He bypassed the proper permitting process for his roof-top bar by using the political capital he has accumulated through political donations and favors. (read whole post)

Goof Gives Newsom Donor 20 More Feet
(SF Chronicle)

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom used a clerical error to ensure that one of his major political donors would get a chance to build a taller condominium project than is otherwise allowed, members of the Board of Supervisors alleged Tuesday..."And here we are with four votes, a clerical error, and a mayor who has gained politically from the property owner," [Supervisor Chris] Daly said. "And that's how it's going to go down. This is disgusting." (read whole article)

Murad Leaves Small Business Commission
(SF Examiner)(read full article)

Mission Watering Hole Still Connected
(SF Examiner) (read full article)