S2E26, Part 1: Bob Isaacson and Ginny Stearns on Protecting Mission Creek (Part of our San Francisco Houseboats Series)

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

Before there was the ballpark where the Giants play ... before the elevated I-280 freeway ... before most of the northeastern half of what we call the Mission District ... before the Gold Rush, there was Mission Bay. It was fed by many sources, the biggest of which was Mission Creek, which flowed over waterfalls down from Twin Peaks, by Mission Dolores, and down into the bay. Today, all that's left of that creek is what some call McCovey Cove. But to the residents of a couple dozen houseboats, it's Mission Creek.

In this podcast, houseboat residents Ginny Stearns and Bob Isaacson talk about founding many of the preservation groups that have worked with the government and developers to protect their little corner of the city. Bob and Ginny talk about moving to San Francisco, the various work they did before moving into their houseboat, and how the area around Mission Creek has changed dramatically.

If you missed them, please go back and listen to Sarah Davis's podcasts:

Part 1: Sarah Davis's Childhood on a San Francisco Houseboat
Part 2: Sarah Davis on Building a New Houseboat and a Community

We recorded this podcast in Bob and Ginny's houseboat in April 2019.