When we last left new Department of Building Inspectors Amy Lee, she had to put the big freeze on remodeling her house because "somebody" appealed her permit to build. The appeal came after she had already started so a family that was basically living in whatever parts of the house hadn't been worked on, had to continue living that way while the appeal process worked it's way through. As Beyond Chron put it: "There will be no Christmas tree at the Lee’s house this season, as there is no room." Well, Christmas is coming to Amy, her family, and Tiny Tim Lee this year because yesterday, the Board of Appeals rejected the appeal and the renovation can continue. more ›

All this over the protests of Joltin' Joe O'Donoghue and his buddies because of her pregnant condition. With job finally assured, she promptly celebrated by going out on maternity leave where we all thought things would go happily ever after. But no. Now, her entire family is basically living in the living room of their duplex apartment in Upper Haight because she was hit with a late appeal on an already given out permit to re-do her top floor. A re-do that had already been started and now can't be worked on until at least a hearing on Dec. 14th. more ›

So last week the Gavster announced this big, huge plan to build more housing, even low-cost housing. The point being, of course, the more housing the better, especially more low-cost housing, because the more housing you have, the less expensive housing will be. Gavin's idea is that with just the waving of the magic wand of better bureaucracy, the Department of Building Inspectors and the Planning Commission will have easier times allowing for more housing to be built. more ›

Note to Selves: next time we try and get one of our buddies elected to run a commission, don't attack an entire sex. Two weeks after the infamous meeting of the Building Inspector Commission in which Gavin's candidate Amy Lee was attacked for being female and pregnant, the Commission voted 4-3 to install Lee as the Head of the Department of Building Inspectors. The 3 ½ hour hearing was as fun as the previous one as it included members of the commission attacking each other, women's rights groups testifying in defense of Lee, and a whole parade of women testifying that the RBA really does love their women. The whole thing moved Monique Moyer, the head of the Port Department, to say that the hearing "has made a farce of our great city and of our departments." Made a farce? This city has passed farce years ago. We’re post-farce. Anyhoo, at the end of the hearing, defeated head of the Residential Building Association, Joe O'Donoghue, told the Commission "you're all just a bunch of political hacks, but not very bright ones at that." O'Donoghue also vowed to continue the fight by filing lawsuits against the Commission. more ›

There's an interesting little battle going on over who is going to run the Department of Building Inspectors. No wait! Don’t go! We swear this will be interesting! Trust us! Anyhoo, earlier in the week the Building Inspection Commission decided to hold off on voting in Gavin's appointment to run the Department, Assistant Director Amy Lee. Gavin wants Lee to replace the acting Director, James Hutchinson, who recently replaced outgoing Director Frank Chiu (and no, not that Frank Chu). Hutchinson, however, has friends in high places, including the powerful head of the Residential Building Association, Joe O'Donoghue, who are all fighting to save him. Gavin wants to replace Hutchinson because he says the DBI has had a reputation for favoritism and being in O'Donoghue’s pockets while O'Donoghue and his allies are claiming that Gavin is meddling in things he shouldn't and that Lee is unqualified for the job. Because she's pregnant. See, we said it was interesting. more ›