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From across San Francisco and the Bay Area, we have seen incredible support of our AAPI and Chinese community in the wake of hateful attacks nationwide, including raising over $1 million to aid two victims of a recent UN Plaza attack here in San Francisco. Hundreds have marched locally to demand an end to racism, xenophobia and anti-immigrant policies, while Asian American community leaders and allies recently came together in Portsmouth Square to collectively mourn those lost to violence and demand change. We stand together in solidarity with AAPI community and in our collective knowledge that we are bigger and stronger than hate.
Last year, my office advocated for funding to create the Community Coalition for Safety & Justice, comprised of established local AAPI community-based organizations, which is currently focused on providing culturally competent support services to victims and their families, including legal, financial, mental health and medical resources. Please consider donating to their effort here: Fund for victims and survivors.
My office will continue to work closely with the AAPI community groups and our Central and Northern Police Captains, Julian Ng and Paul Yep, to ensure public safety is prioritized and resources are available to heal the trauma caused by acts of violence and racism. This includes ensuring seniors have safe escorts to vaccination appointments and increasing Cantonese-speaking foot patrols, augmented with community staffing.
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As San Francisco’s COVID numbers have continued to improve, the State has officially transitioned San Francisco to the orange tier, allowing more small businesses and activities to safely resume. The Department of Public Health has issued the following safety guidelines to guide this next phase of re-opening.
Our top priorities continue to be equitable access to vaccines and related health services, as well as small business support (including our workers!) to ensure a strong economic recovery. We’ve also partnered with trusted community-based organizations to open Distance Learning Hubs at local park sites and youth centers, while our public schools continue to struggle with a lack of concrete re-opening plans — among other disappointing distractions. If your child needs help and support this summer, please reach out to my office to get connected to a free neighborhood program. Time to put our kids first!
As always, please reach out to my office at peskinstaff@sfgov.org if you need assistance or have any questions regarding city resources.
See you in the neighborhood,
Aaron Peskin
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Vaccine Eligibility & Access Updates!
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For weeks, my office has been advocating for expanded eligibility and access to vaccination for residents of Single Room Occupancy (SRO) residential buildings , based on months of established public data that clearly show SROs continue to be at high risk for outbreaks. I am thrilled that those demands have resulted in changes to local eligibility criteria to allow for these vulnerable populations to get the vaccine.
It is mission critical that we reach vulnerable populations and get them vaccinated, both for their own safety and for our broader recovery efforts. As eligibility expands, so will our efforts to continue to reach elders, people living with pre-existing conditions, and people living in congregate living situations.
The Governor has announced all individuals over the age of 50 years are eligible for vaccination. On April 15, that eligibility will expand to all individuals over the age of 16 years. |
| After weeks of preparation with DPH, NICOS and Chinatown CDC, we rolled out our first mobile vaccine event in Chinatown’s Ping Yuen public housing. Community-based health professionals administered 150 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and social workers were on hand to answer questions and address community health concerns. We’re going to continue to meet our most vulnerable community members where they’re at as long as we can get supply. If you need support accessing a vaccine appointment, contact us at peskinstaff@sfgov.org or call 415-554-7450. |
Food Security & Resources
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Feed + Fuel 2.0 - A Model of Mutual Aid
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Thanks to everyone who donated to the Chinatown Feed + Fuel 2.0 program. Your generous contributions helped to match the $2.5 million in City emergency aid we allocated to create a program to address both food insecurity for our most vulnerable and small business recovery.
I recently joined community partner SF New Deal in Chinatown to celebrate their one year anniversary of service and to give an update on the Feed + Fuel 2.0 program. Yuet Lee Seafood Restaurant co-owner, Mr. Zheng and Emily at Broadway Dim Sum both attested to the importance of the emergency funds and how it has kept them afloat while they’ve waited for indoor dining to reopen. They were both able to hire back workers, and some Legacy Businesses like 100 year old Far East Cafe actually reversed their decision to close.
The program has quickly become a national model for emergency COVID response. Join me, SF New Deal, Chinatown CDC, Department of Aging & Adult Services and the SF Chronicle’s Janelle Bitker for a free panel discussion hosted by SPUR on how this form of mutual aid and grassroots partnership is changing how we serve the community in times of crisis.
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Last month was “March for Meals Month” and I sincerely missed seeing folks in person. Every year before the pandemic, I have had the opportunity to deliver meals to seniors participating in the Meals on Wheels (MOW) program in my district, and it’s honestly one of my favorite programs because I’ve been able to break bread and visit with all of them. Residents always have wonderful stories to share — and even some good jokes.
Sadly the pandemic kept us apart this year, but I was able to join a virtual celebration of 50 years of MOW service and hear from seniors directly on their food security needs and how programs like MOW have sustained them through this very trying year. We all agreed there was much to be grateful for, including MOW’s new kitchen and food distribution, which opened up late last year.
Learn how to access Meals on Wheels services here. |
District 3 Vision Zero Updates and AB 550 Support This Tuesday
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It’s been one year since the passing of Rui Xai Chen, a 67 year-old Chinatown senior who was struck by a city street cleaner truck at the intersection of Taylor and Geary - a collision that might have been prevented if the City had acted more aggressively on building out pedestrian safety infrastructure. I’ve always been a strong advocate for improving long- and near-term safety measures along the city’s busiest streets, and there are several upcoming Vision Zero projects for you to weigh in on.
SFMTA is conducting a public survey open now through April 9th on Phase I of the Embarcadero Enhancement Project. And public outreach starts this month on an expansion of our Battery/Sansome Vision Zero safety improvements. |
I also want to congratulate our newest representative on the SFCTA Citizens Advisory Committee, Rosa Chen. Growing up in Chinatown, she has been a tireless advocate for pedestrian safety improvements and a respected leader as the co-director of Chinatown TRIP. She was instrumental in organizing community support for pedestrian scrambles along Kearny Street , as well as helping secure funding for a pedestrian safety overhaul of the Columbus/Stockton/Green intersection, set to begin construction later this year.
While we have worked with community partners like Rosa to pass ballot measures to fund Vision Zero safety improvements and built out infrastructure across the district, speeding still remains a very real threat to street safety. We can add pedestrian scramble systems to allow easier pedestrian crossing and daylighting to improve visibility for drivers, but engineering is only part of Vision Zero. We need enforcement, too, especially of the top five most dangerous driving behaviors. Speeding kills, and it’s time to address it to save lives.
Last week, I had the opportunity to introduce a resolution in support of Assemblymember Chiu’s AB 550 , which would allow San Francisco and San Jose to establish and evaluate an automated speed safety pilot program. This is our second attempt as a community coalition at getting State approval for an automated speed safety program after a similar bill was shot down in 2017. I believe that AB 550 has finally struck the right balance between addressing civil liberty and privacy concerns and the devastating public health crisis of vehicle collisions and pedestrian fatalities on our city streets. I am am committed to continuing to work to get this legislation passed, including seeking support from our law enforcement agencies locally. Read the full Resolution here.
My resolution will be voted on THIS TUESDAY at our Board of Supervisors meeting, and you can call in and offer public comment in support of Item 30 (and safe streets!) here: PUBLIC COMMENT CALL-IN
1 (415) 655-0001/ Meeting ID: 187 347 6894 # #
If you need a reminder why this is so important, hear directly from families who have lost a loved one to dangerous speeding and learn about the cross-city support for automated speed safety at our Safer Streets press conference here. |
Community Resources & Neighborhood Events
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First Fridays in North Beach
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| Come out tonight to celebrate culture, community, and poetry. 65th birthday celebration of beloved North Beach community institution, Caffe Trieste!” You can find more details, here. |
Nob Hill Street Monthly Sweep
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| Join outstanding neighborhood ambassador, Le Beau Market, for a monthly street sweep of Nob Hill. They gather the first Saturday of each month at 9:00AM on the corner of Leavenworth St & Clay St. Materials are provided. Please wear a mask and observe social distancing when participating. The next cleanup is on April 3 at 9:00am. Feel Free to contact our office at peskinstaff@sfgov.org if you are interested in getting more involved - or hosting your own clean-up! |
North Beach Citizens Virtual Spring Event: 20 Years of Service
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North Beach Citizens is celebrating its 20th Anniversary at their annual Spring Event on April 21st at 6:00pm, and I’m proud to serve on their host committee after many years of supporting their work. This year they will be commemorating a year of compassion and service, including highlighting the contributions of North Beach poet, publisher and activist, Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
RSVP at: http://northbeachcitizens.org/events.
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Guaranteed Income for Artists
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This guaranteed income program for artists supports San Francisco’s economic recovery, and is part of the City’s broader efforts to support individual artists and arts and culture organizations, particularly under represented and often under resourced artists and organizations.
Application is available online: https://ybca.org/guaranteed-income-pilot/ |
2021 Rose Pak Memorial Scholarship
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The Rose Pak Memorial Scholarship is a merit-based award offered to students of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) origin, who is from San Francisco Bay Area* and wants to get an education in preparation for a career in public service. All applications must be received by 5:00PM on 6/30/2021 to be eligible — no exceptions.
Find out more about the scholarship here
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Emergency Rental Assistance Information
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The Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development is currently finalizing a multi-lingual online application and guidelines for a community-based program that will target assistance to the most vulnerable tenants. The City is planning to launch this program in late-April.
Catholic Charities of San Francisco – call 415-972-1301 or click here
Compass Family Services (families with children only) – call 415-644-0504 or email info@compass-sf.org
Eviction Defense Collaborative – call 415-470-5211 or email edcradco@evictiondefense.org
Hamilton Families (families with children only) – call 415-321-2612 or email contact-us@hamiltonfamilies.org
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California COVID-19 Rent Relief
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| The CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program is designed to help low-income Californians through the payment of unpaid rent to landlords. Funding for this program comes from the $2.6 billion in federal rental assistance. Due to the ongoing pandemic and the substantial effect it continues to have on the economy, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 91 which extends and expands the protections created by AB 3088. SB 91 extends the moratorium against evictions to June 30, 2021, extends the protections of “no cause” evictions, and makes financial assistance available to financially distressed qualifying landlords and tenants. Click here for more information on the rent relief program and moratorium against evictions.
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SFMTA Steps Up Car-Free Market Street
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| Don’t get ticketed! Take alternate modes of travel if you’re going downtown. If you need to use your personal vehicle, take alternate streets. And keep checking SFMTA.com/CoreService for the latest Muni service. SFMTA is working to expand and restore additional Muni rail routes soon that will improve transit service along Market Street. |
| The San Francisco Police Department has recently created an anonymous tip line for citizens that may have information regarding recent crimes. The tip line is available in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English and your anonymity will be guaranteed. If you believe that you have any information regarding crimes, please call 415-558-5588. |
| The senior escort program provides individuals to accompany seniors to medical and personal appointments, such as going to the bank, grocery store, or doctor’s office. This program provides seniors with the added security of having a companion when walking around or taking transit. This program is currently focused in Chinatown, and the City will work with senior service centers and providers in other communities to assess interest in expanding to other areas of the City. Seniors interested in this program should call the Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) Resource Hub at (415) 355-6700. |
California will provide the Golden Status Stimulus payment to families and people who qualify. This is a one-time $600 or $1,200 payment. You may receive this payment if you receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) or file with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
To find out more about Golden State Stimulus, please visit,
https://www.ftb.ca.gov/about-ftb/newsroom/golden-state-stimulus/index.html |
Propagation Bar Grand Opening
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| We welcomed Propagation Bar, a woman-owned bar (and plant lover’s paradise) to Lower Nob Hill last month. Read more about their unique ambiance and tasty Colombian empanadas here! And please reach out to our office for help with applying for economic recovery grants and small business relief. We are here to offer resources and support to promote small business recovery in these difficult times. |
New Legacy Business Registry Website
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| The Office of Small Business (OSB) has created a new Legacy Business Registry webpage where you can learn all about the beloved small businesses and iconic neighborhood institutions that have defined San Francisco for generations. Legacy Businesses are categorized by business type, and all their locations are shown on a Google map with “Legacy torches” as place markers. When you click a torch, business information pops up, featuring the business name, address(es), phone number(s), established date, and more. You can also select Legacy Businesses from the business directory, so take the site’s search engine for a spin and do some exploring — first online and then go support in person! (Some businesses are still working on submitting their pictures and/or descriptions to the OSB, but they’re still included on the site.) I’m proud that District 3 continues to have such a diversity of Legacy Businesses. If you’re interested in applying, please reach out to my office for support. |
| We're proud to announce #SummerTogether free summer learning programs for San Francisco's public school students. Enrollment begins in April. Each individual family will be offered a range of supports for their children from free summer reading books easily picked up at any San Francisco Public Library to a full day of in-person learning at school sites, Community Hubs, or Recreation and Park Camps. Sign up for updates about enrollment or volunteer opportunities (or both!) at https://summertogether.org/ |
Do you live in SF and have a spare bedroom or private space that can be turned into a bedroom? The San Francisco LGBT Center's Host Homes Program matches San Francisco volunteer hosts with young adults (ages 18 to 24) who need stable housing for a period of three months to one year. During this time, the young adult pursues their education and employment goals alongside support from our case management team, and is then positioned to find their own housing after the program period ends. The young adult participants have previously experienced unstable housing situations like couch surfing, sleeping in cars, and living in non-affirming households.
To learn more about the program and hear participants’ stories, please register here to attend a virtual information session. For more information about hosting or to connect with a current volunteer at hosthomes@sfcenter.org or 415-852-2059. |
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Board of Supervisors | District 3 | Aaron Peskin
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