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As we continue to struggle with the challenges of COVID-19, my office is working on initiatives to protect tenants, families, small businesses, and our most vulnerable community members. Despite our successes and remarkable health outcomes, due to a surge, the State recently placed San Francisco on the “watch list” for COVID-19, causing the City to delay planned relaxation of the Shelter in Place order.
Every Saturday morning, I join a call with the Mayor’s Office and Department heads on our City’s emergency response and the policy decisions shaping the coming weeks and months during this uncertain time. This past Saturday, our Chief Health Officer revealed that if our current rate of transmission remains at 1.3 R0 we can expect anywhere from 800 to 2,000 deaths by October 2020.
While our federal government continues to fail us at every step, the burden for protecting San Francisco residents falls squarely on California counties - and we can only do it if we’re working together. The recent story in the San Francisco Chronicle of the wedding party that spurned local health laws is an unfortunate example of what prolongs the impacts of this pandemic and endangers neighbors.
We must all do our part. That means vigilant masking, regular cleaning and sanitation, sheltering in place as much as possible, and social distancing.
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The City has responsibilities, too, and I am pushing the Department of Public Health to increase testing capacity and contact tracing. My office is also supporting community-led efforts to address the systemic educational barriers that come with distance learning and repurposing public space for our most vulnerable populations - including seniors, immigrants and children. In partnership with SFMTA and community stakeholders, we have implemented Shared Spaces and Slow Streets tailored to the needs of different neighborhoods, and we’re working hard to do more.
The Board of Supervisors is foregoing its annual August recess to work through the summer, grapple with our budget deficit, and adopt a recovery plan by September. We want to hear from you on your values-based budget priorities.
Thank you again for your patience and cooperation during this unprecedented and difficult time. I can’t overstate it: we're all in this together. Hang in there - I’m as stressed out as you are.
Take care of each other,
Aaron
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In partnership with the Office of Community Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA) and community-based groups, my office has launched a District 3 Census Outreach Campaign to promote the importance of completing the 2020 Census. Doing so is fundamental to increasing civic engagement and ensuring our communities get the allocation of resources they deserve. Please contact Sarah Souza in our office to get involved and get the word out!
I also stand with our City Attorney’s Office and our immigrant community in condemning Trump’s recent illegal proposal to exclude immigrants from the Census count. It is a violation of civil liberties and constitutional rights, and San Francisco joins a coalition of cities in filing a second lawsuit against the federal government.
Get Counted: The deadline to self-respond to the Census (online, phone, mail) has been extended to October 31, 2020. You can fill out the Census here. The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private information is never published and that your responses cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. Please contact our office for help accessing a computer or to get connected to organizations like Self-Help for the Elderly, who are working to connect our seniors.
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Last night, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously supported a dedicated Caltrain funding measure for the November ballot. The ⅛ of a cent sales tax measure, sponsored by Supervisors Shamann Walton, Matt Haney and myself, includes long overdue reforms that will ensure accountability of public spending and true shared regional governance,
Previously, I signed on to a letter with San Francisco’s entire State legislative delegation, Mayor London Breed, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and elected officials from across the region in support of a dedicated funding source for Caltrain. Read that statement here.
The best way to keep Caltrain running and serving riders throughout the region is through a dedicated sales tax paired with true governance reform. I’m committed to ensuring the brightest future for this critical regional transit system.
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In case you missed it... the Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association has been hosting critical info sessions on everything from our homeless crisis to the medical public health data behind the COVID-19 pandemic. It was my pleasure to join BCNA for a talk on my work with Dr. Jian Zhang of Chinese Hospital and SF DPH’s Dr. Sunny Pak on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Chinatown, which continues to enjoy some of the lowest case numbers in the entire city. My Chief of Staff also joined a conversation with North Beach Citizens’ Kristie Fairchild and UCSF’s Dr. Josh Bamberger to update neighbors on the City’s efforts to combat homelessness during COVID-19. Watch the archived video presentations and Q&A’s here:
July 13 - Coronavirus in Our Neighborhood
July 20 - Homelessness During COVID-19
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In April, my office heard concerns from teachers, school social workers and SFUSD family liaisons on the inequities of distance learning and the challenges families were having accessing basic services. In July, we co-hosted a virtual Spanish School Opening Town Hall in partnership with United Educators Close the Gap and our Redding Elementary School parents to discuss how we can address distance learning gaps amid this health crisis.
Implementing an equitable hybrid model to re-open San Francisco schools based on needs assessments, especially in low-income areas, is imperative for students with different challenges such as language access, learning disabilities, and lack of computers and reliable WiFi.
While we wait for more clear information on SFUSD’s plans, my office is working with the Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DCYF), Rec & Park, the SF Library and our community-based youth organizations to open up Learning Hubs in District 3. We are currently exploring sites for safe distance learning in Chinatown, North Beach and Lower Nob Hill.
We’ll be working to ensure educators, parents, and students have the resources they need to navigate the challenges of distance learning and the digital divide - and we want to hear from you. If you would like to get involved in our organizing and planning efforts, please reach out to peskinstaff@sfgov.org.
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Last week I joined SFMTA Director Tumlin and our District 3 SFMTA CAC rep, Queena Chen, in announcing planned Muni service updates as well as new parking guidelines and safety efforts. Director Tumlin mentioned critical SFMTA efforts to ensure Muni is accessible to essential workers, students, and seniors in District 3. The Transportation Recovery Workgroup continues to meet weekly to discuss everything from Vision Zero quick-build projects to an equity framework for service changes. I’m happy to announce that SFMTA has agreed to include protected bike lanes along the Embarcadero from Mission Street to Broadway in its next phase of quick-build projects, as well as expanding our Battery/Sansome bike lane project all the way to Market Street.
Do you have an idea for a quick-build project or want to get involved with helping to organize a pedestrian safety, senior accessibility, school or bike safety project in your neighborhood? Email Sunny Angulo in our office to plug in.
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The Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit Community Advisory Committee (the CAC) and the Van Ness Business Advisory Committee (the BAC) currently have open seats we want to fill with new voices.
The CAC meets monthly to provide community guidance and input on the project, and makes the project team aware of community priorities or concerns. People who live, work, visit and travel to Van Ness Avenue are encouraged to apply by August 15. Applications are available here.
The BAC is made up of representatives from a diverse cross-section of businesses along the Van Ness corridor. The BAC meets every other month to provide recommendations and advice on ways the City can support businesses during construction, while providing a forum for businesses to resolve issues related to construction. Applications are available here and due by August 15.
Candidates with questions can submit questions to VanNessBRT@SFMTA.com or 415-646-2310.
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The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to place a $487.5 million Health and Recovery Bond on the November 3, 2020 ballot for consideration by San Francisco voters. While the original proposal neglected Chinatown, I was able to amend the measure to include $54 million in park renovation and sustainability funding for the much-needed Portsmouth Square renovation.
The Committee for Better Parks and Recreation in Chinatown (CBPRC) brought together hundreds of community members to participate in over 100 stakeholder meetings and five official city workshops over the course of a decade of advocacy. In the end, the community was able to advocate for a better Portsmouth Square plan, which will net the community an additional 7,900 square feet of clubhouse space that can also be used as a resiliency center during periods of extreme heat, air quality issues or emergencies like a pandemic.
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I joined a diverse coalition of Chinatown community stakeholders in kicking off the grand opening of the first of weekly Grant Avenue weekend street closures. A combination of Shared Spaces for our small businesses and partial street closures to limit vehicle traffic and encourage pedestrian traffic, Chinatown’s main commercial corridor was filled with old friends and new visitors. Special thanks to the Chinese Merchants Association, Community Youth Center, Chinese Culture Center, the SF Chinatown Visitors Center, Calvin Yan in my office and Livable City for helping to organize volunteers and promote the ongoing event. My office is continuing its work to help merchants and community-based organizations apply for Shared Spaces permits, which support business activities as part of our COVID-19 economic recovery. Email Calvin Yan in our office if you’re a Chinatown business looking to participate.
Apply for a free, temporary Shared Spaces permit to use the sidewalk or parking lane for business operations, like seating, dining or retail pickup. This temporary permit is valid until December 31, 2020, though it may be revoked earlier. Special thanks to Lee Hepner in my office who has helped trouble-shoot small business applications all throughout the district.
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Thanks also to the parents, small business and community leaders who joined us at the July 21st SFMTA Board meeting to advocate for changes to the Slow Streets program that would enable re-purposing of public space for youth and families, in particular. We were able to get SFMTA to amend the program to include the stretch of Lombard Street next to the Joe DiMaggio playground. Thanks to the North Beach Business Association and Telegraph Hill Dwellers for helping us secure DIY signage and donated barrels - and to the Galileo High School freshmen who helped us install the barricades! Other neighborhood-specific sites in the works - do you have an idea or want to help? Email Sunny Angulo in our office to get involved.
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Since the start of Shelter in Place, my office has received dozens of complaints from tenants who are suffering unannounced water and power shut-offs and constant construction impacts while complying with COVID-19 Shelter in Place requirements.
I introduced an Emergency Ordinance which would prescribe new notice rules and the provision of alternate water and power supply for ongoing shut-offs as the result of non-emergency construction projects. District 3 residents like Andrea Carla Michaels, better known to the local community as “the Pizza Lady” for delivering leftover restaurant food to people experiencing hunger and homelessness, deserve to use their restroom, wash their hands, and work from home unencumbered by constant construction disruption.
This is narrowly tailored, common sense legislation that will not prevent any construction as long as impacts to tenants are mitigated. The legislation does say that while tenants are Sheltering in Place, they have a right to Shelter In Peace, as well.
Read More:
SF Public Press
SF Business Journal
48 Hills
Finally, the San Francisco residential eviction moratorium has been extended
to August 31st. We are still working to ensure that these protections remain in place for the duration of the crisis, but this is an important stop gap for the month!
Check out timeline of local protections via the SF Anti-Displacement Coalition.
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As part of a billion dollar renovation of the UCSF Parnassus campus, beautiful Works Progress Administration (WPA) frescoes by Bernard Zakheim have come under threat of demolition. On Tuesday, July 28, the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted my resolution initiating landmark status of those frescoes and creating a path toward their preservation. UCSF has responded and is working closely with my office and historic preservationists to ensure a positive outcome. |
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Zakheim, a significant Jewish artist of the period, immigrated from Poland to San Francisco in 1920 and studied the fresco technique at the feet of Diego Rivera. The “History of Medicine” murals at UCSF’s Toland Hall are jewels of the institution and of San Francisco.
Read more: SF Chronicle “UCSF New Deal murals could be destroyed”
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Waitlist spots will be awarded on a lottery basis and lottery preferences will apply. The lottery will occur on August 19th, at which point you will be able to look up your results online. Contact Open House if you need assistance looking up or results or understanding your outcome.
Apply online via DAHLIA. APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 5th at 5:00 pm
Please note that due to COVID-19, the City will not be accepting paper applications and will not be able to offer viewing at this time. If you need help applying online, contact:
Jose -jsantamaria@openhouse-sf.org, 415-347-8509 or
Jessi - jessi@openhouse-sf.org, 415-231-5870
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The SF African American Revolving Loan Fund (AARLF) application is now OPEN! The loan program was established by the City and the SF African American Chamber of Commerce to give African American owned small businesses impacted by COVID-19 much-needed access to capital and technical assistance.
With an initial investment of $1.5M from Give2SF donations, the AARLF offers loans of up to $50,000 at 0% interest with no fees and no collateral requirements. Payments will be deferred for the first 12 months and up to 20% of the loan may be forgiven.
Click here to learn about the loan program and eligibility requirements. The first step to apply is to fill out the loan inquiry form here.
For other questions, contact admin@sfaacc.org.
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Wearing a face covering when outside of your home is now the law. We will get through this together if we all do our parts. Here’s where to find masks - and support small businesses in District 3, while you’re at it!
Al’s Attire custom-made masks - 1300 Grant Avenue
Caffe Trieste Bandanas by Jeremy Fish - 601 Vallejo Street at Grant Avenue
Spec’s Museum Cafe - 12 Adler
The District 3 Office - We have been coordinating donations and essential PPE, email us if you have a community organization that needs donations at peskinStaff@sfgov.org.
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The OEWD Business Services team hosts informational sessions every Tuesday from 2:00pm to 3:15pm alongside the Employment Development Department (EDD), the San Francisco Labor Council, Covered California and other partners. OEWD presents information and answers questions on unemployment benefits, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for independent contractors, healthcare resources, career services, and information for Union members in order to assist workers during this critical time. Click here to register.
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Visit the SF.GOV Coronavirus Main Page here.
Access the District 3 Master Resources List here.
Browse Small Business and Employee Resources here.
Find Eviction Protections for Residential Tenants here.
Access Past District 3 Newsletters here.
Reply directly to this email or find contact info for my whole staff here. |
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Board of Supervisors | District 3 | Aaron Peskin
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