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Good news is on the horizon for San Franciscans who have been patiently waiting for a potentially life-saving COVID-19 vaccine - or even clear information as to how, where and when to get it. Last week, I joined Chinese Hospital Director, Dr. Jian Zhang, in opening a vaccination site in Chinatown for seniors 65 years and older, and the City has opened up a massive high-volume site at Moscone Center in downtown SoMa that is vaccinating over 4,000 individuals a day. The Board of Supervisors continues to work with the Department of Emergency Management and the Department of Public Health to identify additional high volume sites, but the reality is that our supply of the vaccine continues to be constrained. While we wait for the State to release more doses to counties and give clearer direction and support in administering the vaccine, we at least have set up the infrastructure to vaccinate as many San Franciscans as possible once supply becomes available.
This week, the City has announced it will allow the vaccination of Phase 1b, Tier 1 eligible residents starting February 24, 2021, when the Department of Public Health believes we will have vaccinated the majority of our 65+ aged senior population. This new vaccination tier includes educators, childcare professionals, grocery workers, and emergency responders, such as police and firefighters. Sign up here to get notified with a message when you’re eligible to receive the vaccine, make an appointment here when you’re finally eligible, and get more information in general here on the vaccine and the City’s process.
As we celebrate the Lunar Year, we must continue to take precautionary measures to retain the further spread of COVID-19. We encourage San Francisco residents to continue showing support for Chinatown by ordering online, shopping local, and celebrating safely at home. Check out the SF Chronicle’s write-up of what special foods to order for Lunar New Year and where. While Chinatown won’t be hosting the annual Lunar New Year parade in-person, you can take an outdoor trek to see the public art collection celebrating the Year of the Ox, commissioned by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. You can also help support our local Chinatown restaurants, workers, seniors and SRO families this Lunar New Year by donating to the Chinatown Feed + Fuel 2.0 program, which the City has contributed $2.5 million to fund immediate restaurant relief and food security for our most vulnerable.Â
Finally, it’s also Black History Month, and I’m looking forward to co-hosting a special District 3 event with my friends at SF Black Wallstreet. More details to come, but we’re pulling together a pilot demonstration of what Leidesdorff Alley could and should look like when we close it to car traffic and convert it to a mini-park honoring the work and accomplishments of San Francisco’s first Treasurer and Black founding father William Leidesdorff.Â
See you in the neighborhood,Â
AaronÂ
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Lunar New Year Celebrations
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| The pandemic hasn’t stopped the community from celebrating Lunar New Year and welcoming the Year of the Ox, which officially starts this Friday, February 12th. Two weeks of (COVID-safe) activities will culminate in a special virtual Lunar New Year Parade event on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 at 6:00 pm, which you can watch here . You can also check out other socially distanced activities on www.ChineseParade.com, including the hunt to find 11 life-sized Oxen displayed across San Francisco. |
Lunar New Year Crime Prevention and Public Safety
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| This week, SF Safe’s  annual Lunar New Year public safety event commemorated two complete zodiac cycles (or 24 year’s worth) of public safety PSA’s and public guidance on protecting the AAPI community from extortion and scams, something that seniors are particularly vulnerable to during Lunar New Year celebrations. Special thanks to Central Station Captain Yick, who has put additional patrols out in Chinatown through the holiday season to ensure the safety of families visiting their local bank branches, and to District Attorney Boudin whose fraud unit is working to provide additional resources and support to monolingual immigrants. |
Lower Polk Neighbors Forum
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I’m the featured speaker at Lower Polk Neighbors’ first neighborhood meeting of 2021 TONIGHT, on Wednesday, February 10th from 7:00 - 8:00 PM on Zoom. There's a lot going on in the neighborhood and it looks like a packed agenda! I’m looking forward to giving updates on my office’s work to open up a 75-bed Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Navigation Center, among other things.Â
In addition, Episcopal Community Services, a local San Francisco nonprofit provider, will talk about their acquisition of the Granada Hotel, with my office’s support and help, and the Martin Building Company will have development updates on 1101-1123 Sutter Street.
Click here to register on zoom.
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District 3 Public Safety Forum
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| Join me, SFPD Chief Scott, Central Station Captain Yick, SF SAFE and District Attorney Boudin for a community forum on public safety strategies to address crime trends and break-ins during the pandemic. Come share your concerns and ask questions this Thursday, February 11th at 6:00 PM. |
Lower Nob Hill Community Clean-UpÂ
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| Join me, and Lower Nob Hill community members, for our first monthly neighborhood clean-up effort on Saturday, February 20th from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM .We will meet at the Northwest corner of Sutter Street and Leavenworth Street (across from Cup-A-Joe coffee shop).From that starting point, we will fan out across the neighborhood to clean, green and convene. I am meeting with our new Department of Public Works Director of Operations and Street Cleaning this week, and look forward to updating you on the Department’s plans to improve cleanliness and sanitation throughout District 3, but especially in areas where we don’t yet have a high concentration of Big Belly trash cans. |
At Long Last: Opening the City's First TAY Navigation Center
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After four years of working to identify a potential site for a Navigation Center in District 3, securing the funding and convening a robust community process, this week we are finally opening the Lower Polk TAY Navigation Center, at 888 Post Street in Lower Nob Hill. I toured the recently rehabbed site with Mayor Breed this week, and have been meeting regularly with the Department of Homelessness & Supportive Housing and their selected shelter operator, 3rd Street Youth Center, in the months leading up to this week’s opening.
Due to the safety constraints of COVID, the Navigation Center will be opening at half capacity for social distancing purposes, but the provider is ready to ramp up to the full 75 beds as soon as the Department of Public Health gives the green light. I am proud to have led the effort to realize this important project, which will be a critical step in addressing homelessness by intervening in the cycle of poverty before it starts and navigating young adults into housing and jobs. Please feel free to reach out to Sunny Angulo in my office with questions about how DHSH will be placing shelter residents or about how you can get involved in ensuring the project’s success. |
COVID-19 Vaccinations at Moscone Center
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We now know that vaccination is one of the most important ways to end this pandemic, so we can go back to some form of normalcy and begin the city’s recovery effort. To help you navigate through the rollout, the City launched a new website with all the information you need to get vaccinated. If you are 65 years of age and older, or a healthcare professional, go check the website now! Vaccine supply is still limited, so please be patient if you can’t book an appointment right away.Â
Starting on February 24, people who work in education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture sectors will soon be eligible for the vaccines. Here’s a little tip to help you navigate through the rollout:
- Sign up to get notified when you’re eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.Â
- Check each of the options on the City’s website to maximize your opportunity to find an appointment.
- Different healthcare institutions are offering the vaccine and may utilize a different appointment system. If you don’t see any availability on one website immediately, check the other links.
- Make sure you check the website regularly as new shipments of the vaccine and appointments continue to appear.
Reach out to my staff at peskinstaff@sfgov.org if you have additional questions.
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Culturally Competent, In-language Vaccine Program
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| Given that transportation, language and technological barriers can make healthcare services hard to access for many underserved communities, the City and healthcare providers plan on launching mobile vaccination sites and are partnering with community clinics to ensure no communities are left behind. The Department of Public Health and the COVID Command Center are working with Chinese Hospital and the District 3 Public Health Clinic to ensure high impact communities also receive culturally-competent and in-language healthcare. |
Eviction Moratorium Extended
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The new protections and guidelines for tenants included in AB 3088 have been extended to June 30, 2021. These protections were originally set to expire on February 1, 2021. The Act includes the same eligibility and program rules as before including:
- Pauses all evictions for tenants experiencing COVID hardship.
- Exceptions for just cause and health & safety evictions.
- Available to any tenants who attests under penalty of perjury that he/she has not been able to pay full rent due to COVID circumstances.
- If a tenant pays at least 25 percent of his/her rent owed between September 2020 and June 2021, the balance due of that tenant’s rent converts from rental debt to civil debt.
- This means that, while the debt remains owed, it can never be the basis for an eviction going forward.
For assistance with landlord and tenant COVID-19 resources, call the California Housing is Key COVID-19 Assistance Line 1-833-422-4255.
ALSO: This Thursday, join the Lower Polk Tenant Landlord Clinic (TLC) for a LIVE discussion on residential and commercial tenant protections. The event will be livestreamed on the Lower Polk TLC YouTube channel, and you’ll be able to submit questions and get updates on evolving legislative efforts locally and at the state level.
DETAILS
- Thursday, February 11, 2021 - 6:00 Â PMÂ
- Livestreamed on YouTube
- SUBSCRIBEÂ HEREÂ to get a notification
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Temporary Moratorium on Commercial Evictions
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The City has ordered a moratorium prohibiting commercial evictions because of nonpayment due to COVID-19. This applies to any rent that was due from March 17, 2020 to March 31, 2021 and this may be extended. NOTE: This does not waive the obligation to pay this missed rent.
Eligibility Criteria:
- A commercial tenant and/or subtenant
- Registered to do business in San Francisco
- Â Annual gross receipts at or below $25M
- Month-to-month or holdover tenants are eligible
If you have questions, contact my staff at peskinstaff@sfgov.org. |
San Francisco's Annual Housing Resource FairÂ
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This 3 Day Virtual Event starting on March 3 will help you connect with free and low-cost housing resources. Attend online workshops and panels presented by housing experts. Connect with housing service providers in the virtual exhibit hall.Â
- March 4th, Thursday- Workshops and Resources for Current homeowners, 4:00 pm to 8:00pm
- March 5th, Friday- Workshops and Resources on Affordable rental housing and tenant assistance, 4:00 pm to 8:00pm
- March 6th, Saturday- Workshops and Resources for First Time home buyers, 11:00 am to 3:00pm
Register now to receive access to the event!
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Presione aquà para ver el evento en español
Upang magparehistro sa Filipino, mag-click dito
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In 2020, California has expanded the program to people filing taxes with an ITIN (undocumented workers) last year, so you don’t need a Social Security number to qualify. CalEITC4Me provides a range of printable materials to help you understand the Earned Income Tax Credit, so working families can get the most money back in their pockets this tax season. You can find more information here.
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SBA Reconsideration for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans
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SBA's San Francisco Office hosts a series of COVID-19 webinars to answer questions and provide an overview of Disaster Loans and Non-Disaster Loan Programs. If you were denied an EIDL, an Office of Disaster Assistance representative will be on hand to explain the process of reconsideration and how to reapply and will cover frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 disaster services. The next webinar is on March 3, click here to register. Feel free to reach out to my staff at peskinstaff@sfgov.org
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Legal Support for the Immigrant Community
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| The Attorney of the Day Program of the Justice & Diversity Center of the San Francisco Bar Association is offering free attorney consultations to the immigrant community! Monday-Friday call 408-461-9795 and get connected with an immigration screening, info, and more! https://sfbar.org/jdc/ |
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Board of Supervisors | District 3 | Aaron Peskin
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