San Francisco Chronicle, August 18, 2000: "Bogus building inspection notices with the forged signature of city Building Inspection Director Frank Chiu have appeared on buildings in San Francisco's South of Market area, prompting an investigation by exasperated city officials."
Project LOFT, as posted in July 2000:
"In San Francisco, a law passed years ago to legalize artists living in
work spaces is being used by wealthy dot-commers to build thousands of
residential 'live/work' lofts in areas not zoned for residential use.
These new lofts and their owners have driven up prices in
previously low-income neighborhoods, driven out previous residents, and
squelched previously tolerated behavior (through complaints to the police).
Announce (with 'official' notices) invasive
'art inspections' whose aim will be to assure that, in accordance with the
letter and spirit of the law, art is being produced in these new live/work
lofts. A group of artists and curators should actually conduct such
inspection(s), with the media in tow.
Possible slants: shining lights into windows of lofts whose residents
don't answer the door ('Just hold the art up to
the window!'), distributing underground pamphlets on how to prepare
your loft for an inspection, claiming to be a group of curators desperately seeking
work by San Francisco artists (since so many have left due to skyrocketing rent), etc. Aim of
project is to help save San Francisco."