It’s been quite a busy year, as we return to the new normal.
In July, we adopted the City Budget, with significant investments to address homelessness with affordable housing and increased public health staffing, especially in District 3. We also made investments in supporting more equitable access to resources for our small businesses, especially for our Legacy, Women-owned and BIPOC small businesses, who struggled more than most during the pandemic. Finally, we increased academy classes for SFPD while also investing more in community ambassadors and victim support services. Read the final Board of Supervisors spending plan here.
We also welcomed a new team member to our office, who you will read about below. Please feel free to visit us at City Hall or invite us to a community event!
See you in the neighborhood,
Aaron
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Upcoming Hearings- Make Your Voice Heard
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We have some public hearings at the Land Use & Transportation Committee coming up on Monday, October 3rd and Monday, October 17th, so mark your calendars because we hope to hear from you! (While the meetings start at 1:30pm, hearings usually come up around 2:30pm in the meeting.) You can offer public testimony in person in Room 250 at City Hall, or call in to the live meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT CALL-IN - 1 (415) 655-0001 / Meeting ID: 2495 796 7354 # #
If you’re able to write in a formal letter of support for inclusion in the file, please send to Committee Clerk Erica Major and copy our office.
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10/3/2022 - Earlier this month, I received yet another call from emergency responders letting me know that a senior had been hit by a reckless scooter rider and hospitalized. The Vision Zero Fatality Reporting Map shows the number of e-scooter fatalities has more than tripled since last year, and we continue to respond to constituent concerns that SFMTA and SFPD are not enforcing illegal e-scooter behavior. Worse, the geofencing technology exists to stop some forms of illegal behavior, but the e-scooter companies continue to drag their feet implementing what other cities have managed to make them install. I have introduced a Resolution calling on the SFMTA to terminate e-scooter company permits unless this potentially life-saving technology is installed on all active devices. Read the full legislation here and call in next Monday to make your voice heard!
“Is the Era of the Badly Behaved Scooter Rider Coming to an End?” - SF Examiner
“Here’s How SF Could Keep Powered Scooters Off Sidewalks” - KRON4 News
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Parks & Open Space for Tenderloin/ Lower Nob Hill/ Polk Gulch
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10/17/2022 - For those who have followed our push for accessible and green open space in the Tenderloin and Polk Gulch/Lower Nob Hill neighborhoods, you already know that equity has long been an issue for residents demanding more investment from Rec & Park, dating back to 2014 when then-Supervisor Jane Kim expressed concerns that the equity criteria of Rec & Park’s Open Space Acquisition Fund was being ignored. Since that time, this area has seen an increase in homeless housing, behavioral health services, an adult homeless shelter, and a TAY Navigation Center, while developers have also brought more units online in the dense Polk Gulch neighborhood.
Our office has been working with the Lower Polk Community Benefit District and the Lower Nob Hill Neighborhood Alliance to ensure that agencies like the Department of Public Works are being responsive to the needs of this dense and growing neighborhood that has historically lacked public infrastructure and services like trash cans and power washing. DPW has responded with increased staffing through its CleanCorridorsSF Team and is regularly attending meetings in the neighborhood. Now we need to create safe, activated and accessible open space opportunities, which this neighborhood absolutely deserves.
The Board of Supervisors recently approved a budget with operational funding for Rec & Park to maintain and staff park space in Lower Nob Hill specifically, so we hope we can move forward with acquiring a park site this year! The hearing on October 17th will focus on Rec & Park presentations and priorities for this neighborhood.
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Protecting our SF Bay Against the Threat of Climate Change & Nitrogen Loads
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10/17/2022 - After algae blooms contributed to the mass deaths of fish and wildlife in the SF Bay and as far up as Vallejo, along with toxic conditions for humans, experts highlighted several factors as to the cause- and what steps San Francisco could take to address what will likely be a continuing crisis in coming years. I’ve called a hearing on the causes and potential mitigations, including capital infrastructure upgrades, that San Francisco must invest in now to address this threat to the SF Bay.
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Meet the Newest Legislative Aide On Our Team- Melody Hsu!
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A warm welcome to our newest legislative aide, Melody Hsu!
Melody is a mom, former small business owner, and a District 3 resident who believes that we can solve our deepest challenges through community building.
Growing up, Melody never thought she would work in politics. As the daughter of immigrants, she understood from a young age how her family (and so many others) feel when faced with adversity: that the only way to survive is to keep your head down and never voice your complaints.
9/11 was a defining moment that changed her life, clarifying what she wanted to do with her life: create community and connection. She left her job in Manhattan, and returned to her native Bay Area to open a neighborhood cafe in Russian Hill. It ultimately became a beloved neighborhood hub, where community came to connect and share.
Through building a small business of her own, Melody has seen firsthand how much government matters – and also how confusing it can be to understand the process of opening a small business. Whether negotiating a lease, getting her licenses and permits, or adhering to construction guidelines, she met barriers from city agencies that were supposed to provide support. Coping with housing insecurity and raising kids, all while trying to open a new business was daunting, and since then Melody has heard these same frustrations from others who have struggled in a system that wasn’t designed to work for everyone.
Melody studied politics to learn how to navigate and change these systems. From working in Senator Barbara Boxer's office in San Francisco, and interning at former Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau’s office in the Witness Aid Services Unit, Melody saw how government and public service can help solve problems, remove barriers, and empower people. That’s why she works every day to build community and push for the future that our kids deserve.
This work is deeply personal for Melody. As a mom to Reese and Owen, she feels the urgency of families like hers to build communities that are healthy, safe, and resilient. Melody feels honored to be able to give back to District 3 which has given her so much.
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We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our stellar intern, Henry Lei, who is going back to UC Santa Barbara to conclude his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. To learn more about our District 3 intern program, visit our website.
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Happy Latinx Heritage Month
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This year’s theme is “Corazón de la Comunidad” and it was my privilege to honor Santiago, Irene and Lupe Lopez, who we recently worked with to open another outpost of their beloved family business, El Farolito Taqueria, in North Beach. Their father, Salvador “Don Chavo” Lopez, recently passed and they are keeping his proud legacy of quesadilla suizas and premiere league futbol alive. Their steadfast commitment to opening a new business in the midst of the pandemic exemplifies the resilience and community building of San Francisco’s Latinx community. We often have staff meetings there, so please stop by their location on Grant Avenue and say hello!
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Other ways to celebrate:
Check out City Lights Bookstore featured list of books for Latinx Heritage month.
Watch SF MOMA’s Diego Rivera: Moving a Masterpiece, every first Thursday.
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Celebrate District 3 Icon and Activist Juanita MORE! at her upcoming SFAC art expose!
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Opening Reception
Friday, September 30, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
SF Arts Commission Main Gallery, 401 Van Ness Ave, Suite 126
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Housing & Social Service Resources
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- San Francisco Landlord Incentive Program: The San Francisco Landlord Incentive Program (SFLIP)incentivizes landlords to lease housing to households exiting homelessness. People interested in learning more can email HSHLandlords@sfgov.org.The Landlord Rental Bonus program is a pilot program until November 30th, 2022.
- Homeownership SF: Online Housing Workshops for Below Market Rate (BMR) Rental and Homeownership
- Emergency Rental Assistance Program: Apply to get help with your rent
- DAHLIA Lottery Listings: DAHLIA is San Francisco’s affordable housing portal, which lists current housing options that are available for both rental and purchase. (For example, there is a 1 bedroom unit available for purchase in Lower Nob Hill, located at 1030 Bush Street. Click here for more information on the unit and for the eligibility requirements and application process. The application deadline is Oct 4, 2022 at 5:00 PM.)
- When to call 9-8-8: 988 is a federal initiative that’s created a new, easy-to-remember number to call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. San Francisco’s local lifeline is operated by the Felton Institute’s San Francisco Suicide Prevention program. The Department of Public Health, the Department of Emergency Management and other City partners have worked with SF Suicide Prevention to develop consistent and appropriate protocols for responding to behavioral health crisis calls, with the goal of ensuring that every crisis call gets to the right place.
- Accessible Business Entrance Program: Help make sure San Francisco is welcoming to all! Commercial property owners of public-serving businesses are legally required to confirm that their primary entrances are accessible to people with disabilities. Learn more about the Department of Building Inspection’s Accessible Business Entrance program at sfdbi.org/abe. More information on additional resources to make your business accessible and meet San Francisco’s ADA guidelines can be found here.
- Small Business Commission Survey: The Small Business Commission is conducting a survey to measure economic recovery of our small businesses in an attempt to better advise the Office of Small Business on investment and policy strategies. Take the survey here.
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| Feel free to contact my office in case you need assistance or have any questions pertaining to housing, small business, tenant or other constituent issues at 415-554-7450 or PeskinStaff@sfgov.org. |
Can’t Pay Your Traffic Ticket?
Did you know that you have the right to ask the court to consider your financial circumstances when given a traffic ticket or fine? If eligible, your fines may be reduced by 80% or more! There are three ways to qualify for the reduction based on your income. First, you can indicate that you receive public benefits, including Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income, etc. Another option is to show that your income is less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. Visit the Federal Poverty Line guidelines here to find out if your household fits this qualification. Finally, you can include a description of your financial hardship as part of your application. Click here for more information on how to apply and for frequently asked questions.
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Upcoming Community Events
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SFUSD Enrollment Fair - Have questions about the 2023-2024 school year? Attend one of the San Francisco Public School District’s enrollment fairs, held in October. These fairs are intended to help you learn more about the schools and enrollment. The fair will be in person for pre-kindergarten and elementary schools. This gives you an opportunity to see the school, meet faculty, and participate in enrollment workshops. The workshops will be provided in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Middle and high school the enrollment fairs will be held virtually via Zoom and will be recorded. Please visit SFUSD.EDU/FAIR for more information and detailed schedules of the events.
In-person Pre-kindergarten and elementary school enrollment fair will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 10 AM to 2 PM at John O' Connell High School, 2355 Folsom Street San Francisco, CA 94110.
Virtual middle and high school enrollment fairs will take place via Zoom from Monday, October 24 to Thursday, October 27.
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Board of Supervisors | District 3 | Aaron Peskin
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