Third Street Stroll …

by Rochelle Metcalfe

As I go about my travels up and down Third Street, especially frustrated over the Black corridor scene – lack of thriving Black businesses, people hanging on the streets, while other areas of the strip of avenues – Dogpatch, etc., are thriving! WHEN will change happen??? Where are Black investors?

So much building going on in Bayview Hunters Point – the NEW FRONTIER AND LAST BASTION FOR BLACK FOLKS! New homes, business opportunities in Candlestick rebuilding – We’ve got to get a BIG CHUNK of the pie! Rochelle, KEEP HOPE ALIVE!

GOOD NEWS! This month SCHOOL BELLS will be ringing and the much anticipated, state-of-the-art WILLIE L. BROWN JR. MIDDLE SCHOOL, located on Silver Avenue, will be OPENING in the heart of the BAYVIEW. Look for the former Mayor himself and other VIPS to be on the scene.

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School Board Commissioner Shamann Walton – Photo: Rochelle Metcalfe

Recently, happened to run into San Francisco Board of Education Commissioner SHAMANN WALTON, strikingly dressed in blue suit, white shirt and sparkling tie, on his way to the Young Community Developers office (YCD), a short stroll off Third on Yosemite, where he has served as Executive Director, for the past five years.

Elected to the School Board in 2014, taking office Jan. 7, he has a lot on his plate. Originally from Bayview Hunters Point, lived in public housing. A young man of 40, family man, finds himself in a good spot.

Suggested we calendar a conversation, which, as it turned out, a day filled with several meetings for him, but on his second floor front office talking about the school board and neighborhood.

So much to talk about, especially reference our youth and jobs, and education. Recall him saying, “I just want every kid to be successful!” Well, one can’t be successful WITHOUT education and a job!

YCD offers academic support and work experience to San Francisco youth. NOW, serving on the Board of Education, he’s in an excellent position to ensure career pathways and job opportunities, for not only Black students, but others.

Under Shamann’s leadership, YCD has worked directly with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), providing tutorial, credit recovery and job training programs in several SFUSD high schools.

YCD offers academic support and work experience to San Francisco youth. NOW, serving on the Board of Education, he’s in an excellent position to ensure career pathways and job opportunities, for not only Black students, but others.

Bright smile flashed across his face when mentioning the Willie Brown Middle School – WORLD CLASS. He’s excited: It will “bring more vibrancy back to Bayview Hunters Point to build a brand new state of the art world class facility right in Bayview Hunters Point that will FOCUS on science, technology, engineering, math and of course the arts. Lots of people give up on this community and think that we don’t have the resolve.”

Walton is in an excellent position – hands on the pulse of the community and the youth! YCD, a workforce development agency, which manages, develops and implements job readiness training, job placement and case management services for participants. STOP IN!

Walton is in an excellent position – hands on the pulse of the community and the youth!

Asked his thoughts reference Mendell Plaza (I call it the PEOPLE’S PLAZA) – mentioned my frustration seeing those lost souls standing around. He expressed, “We have to do a better job of providing more opportunities within schools. Provide training. OUTREACH – put people to work from those corners, provide programming they’re interested in.” He’s seen the shifts and changes on Third Street. “Have to get Blacks to invest in this influx of new community housing – figure out a way to bring new vibrancy to Third Street.”

CDXX-co-owners-and-chefs-Fletcher-Starkey-and-Roshani-Patel-by-Rochelle-Metcalfe-300x225, Third Street Stroll ..., Culture Currents
CDXX co-owners and chefs Fletcher Starkey and Roshani Patel – Photo: Rochelle Metcalfe

BACK ON THIRD – 5800 at Carroll. THE HOTTEST WEEKEND BRUNCH happening can be enjoyed at CDXX – roman numerals for April 20, 2012, the day the co-owners and chefs, FLETCHER STARKEY and ROSHANI PATEL first met! A real sweet couple and staff! The food and ambiance is great! CDXX open six days a week – closed on Mondays.

MOVING ON – HOT! HOT! over at Dr. George W. Davis Senior Center, on Yosemite, a hop, skip and jump from my residence! The Sixth Annual Monday Night Jam kicks off the summer series of Monday Night LIVE entertainment – an evening of socializing and SWEEEET music!

Last Monday in July, the group “No Doubt About It,” led by BAAAD blowing saxophonist ANTHONY DILLARD and groovy musicians, BLEEEEW the roof off the two story building, literally! Dillard has that Gerald Albright-Grover Washington flavored voice and sax sound – HE’S THE REEEAL DEAL! Line dance instructor INEZ BRADSTREET FOUND IT HARD TO CONTAIN HERSELF – the MUSIC SOOOO GOOD!

Aug. 17, the baaaad guitarist-vocalist MS. PAT WILDER will showcase! Entertaining ANGELA ARMSTRONG – Aug. 31 – BOY, the lady will PUT ON A SHOW! Those Monday night jams SAVE me from complete boredom, as far as live music performance goes!

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Legendary Fillmore stars Fillmore Slim and Bobbie Webb, on stage at Juneteenth Festival – Photo: Rochelle Metcalfe

OK, GOTTA’ MOVE OFF 3-street – MAKING THE ROUNDS – FILLMORE STREET JAZZ FESTIVAL had it going on. BOBBY WEBB drew an audience as always, folks dancin’ in the street in front of 1300 and defunct ADDITION/YOSHI’S – seen having a good time, classy MISS ALPHA J. BUIE, doing line dancing steps; SOULFUL couple – BARBARA STEWART and “Dancing DAN” DANIELS.

Sorry, didn’t get a chance to mention FILLMORE JUNETEENTH Festival, where I saw folks seldom seen – BOB BENTON, former owner Corn ‘n’ Company, now The PAGE Bar, there on Diviz and Page; iconic Fillmore photographer JOHN MORRIS; FRANCES LUSTER; TWO LIVING FILLMORE LEGENDS – entertainers FILLMORE SLIM AND BOBBIE WEBB, STILL DOING THEIR THING!

HEY, IT’S NICE TO BE NICE AND TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE … LOOK FOR ME … I’LL BE THERE …

Email Rochelle at iheard@earthlink.net.