Sponsored link
Saturday, May 23, 2026

Sponsored link

City Beat: $1 billion fine for Google?

 

I’ve always thought San Francisco could use a Displacement and Neighborhood Impact Agency. I’ve argued that every major development, tax break, etc. should require not just an Environmental Impact Report but a Displacement Impact Report: How many San Franciscans will lose their homes, and how many nonprofits and small businesses will be forced out by the project? That way we could look at the tradeoffs: Is the Twitter tax break worth a few hundred evictions and commercial displacements?

So now, at least on the web, we have one. And the folks who have created it estimate that the fines Google and the other companies with private buses don’t pay for stopping in Muni bus stops (at $271 a pop for ordinary folks) are equal to $1 billon: There are more than 200 Muni stops that get used a total of 7,100 times a day. Add that up over two years (2011-2013) and you get a lot of cash. (more after the jump)

Marke B.
Marke B.
Marke Bieschke is the publisher and arts and culture editor of 48 Hills. He co-owns the Stud bar in SoMa. Reach him at marke (at) 48hills.org, follow @supermarke on Twitter.

48 Hills welcomes comments in the form of letters to the editor, which you can submit here. We also invite you to join the conversation on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Sponsored link

Sponsored link
Sponsored link

Latest

Screen Grabs: Soapy ‘Diamonds’ may just be the Italian ‘Steel Magnolias’

Plus: Hitchcock Fest hits the Balboa, while Alamo Drafthouse celebrates Brian De Palma's Hitchcockian breakthroughs.

Drama Masks: Taking an inch… and finishing the hat

'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' at NCTC cranks things up and down. Plus: The colorful drama of SFMOMA's 'Woman in a hat'

Under the Stars: Sweet summer sounds heat up, from Yerba Buena to SFJAZZ

Dub Mission, Dirtybird Campout, Total Accord Fest, more roll in with the fog. But why is DJ Shadow dissing SF?

BIG WEEK: Carnaval, World Goth Night, American Football, secret Hologram burger…

Primitive Ring, Foodieland, Laraaji, Hitchcock Fest, 'Songs from a Sinking Ship,' Terry Riley at 90, more to do!

You might also likeRELATED