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Let’s not sugarcoat it: this has been one of the most challenging years of the modern era, and we’ve got a lot of work to do to ensure that we have a chance at a full recovery from this global pandemic. COVID-19 has shone a light on the inequities in our society. Minority groups have suffered immensely and disproportionately. From Chinatown to the Mission, the cultural fabric of communities is frayed and on the brink, despite our City’s efforts to allocate resources and testing capacity to mitigate the impact. Children and their families have struggled with school closures. As the long, snaking lines at food banks have shown, many have struggled to keep food on the table.
And yet, in a year marked in part by the cultural divide between people who live in dense urban cities and those who do not, cities have led. In San Francisco, we passed a landmark commercial vacancy tax to incentivize the highest and best use of retail space and to ensure the vibrancy of our neighborhoods. We adopted a housing inventory that will put us on a path to better understanding how to utilize one of our most precious resources: our housing stock. We’ve focused intensely on keeping COVID-19 transmission rates low in sensitive communities like Chinatown, and are implementing the highest safety standards for our neighbors living in Single Room Occupancy homes. We’ve found shelter for thousands of our neighbors experiencing homelessness and are working aggressively to transition them into permanent supportive housing. We’ve implemented best-in-the-state eviction protections for struggling residential tenants and small businesses. We’ve right-sized our local tax structure to alleviate burdens on small businesses while passing a bond that will revitalize public space for decades to come. Together, we are transforming the public realm to allow small businesses to recover from the pandemic. And with a vaccine on the way, there is a new light at the end of the tunnel.
Still, our greatest work lies ahead. We’re still coming to terms with our losses, and we have a long road ahead on the path to a full recovery. I want to assure you that your patience is well spent as we work tirelessly to bounce back from this challenging, historic moment. My resolve to serve you in that capacity has never been greater.
Over the coming weeks, my hope is that we are all able to find peace and togetherness over the holiday, even if only virtually. Let’s look forward to brighter days, to leaving this year behind us, and to an ascendant year ahead.
See you around the neighborhood,
Aaron Peskin
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