December 20, 2021
A Message From The Supervisor:
It is hard to believe 2021 is almost over. As many of you know, shortly after my inauguration for my second term as District 11 Supervisor, I welcomed three new legislative aides, Geoffrea (Jah-free-ah) Morris, Lauren Chung, and Ernest "EJ" Jones. Sam Berenson, my administrative aide, was the only staff member that carried over from my first term. With this new team, I began working on an updated district plan and citywide plan.
My district plan was focused on improving the lives of residents in the following areas: addressing hot spots for illegal dumping, reducing/eliminating sideshows, examining mental health resources, cleaning the streets of our commercial corridors, creating safe places for our youth, and finalizing low to moderate-income affordable housing sites that are now under construction.
In regards to my citywide plan, I focused on mitigating commercial retail theft, expanding commercial rent relief for our small business owners and extending the forbearance period for all small businesses, increasing the number of paramedics on our streets, increasing voter turn out by making vote by mail a permanent procedure for local elections, addressing the digital divide, saving SFUSD Class of 2021's graduation ceremonies, and finally reimagining how our city addresses food security with the creation of the food empowerment market model.
This a has been a busy year and as your elected Supervisor, I am proud of the legislation and policies that I have put forth on the behalf of the people of District 11.
As we enter into 2022, I want you all to know that I will continue to put the residents of District 11 first in all of my work. My staff is experienced with the budget process. Going forward, we will introduce even more legislation and continue to fight for even more resources for the people of District 11. Thank you all for supporting me and keeping me and my office informed on the issues impacting our district. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.
The Board of Supervisors is currently in winter recess. My office will remain open during the winter recess with the exception of Christmas and New Years Day observances. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need assistance. Our office remains accessible to the public through telephone, email, virtual meeting or in person via appointment. We are available by email: safaistaff@sfgov.org or by phone 415-554-6976 (leave a message and we will call you back). You can also check for updates on my Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook . Stay safe and healthy.
Please note - if you miss my weekly newsletter, you may find it later on the Board of Supervisor’s website. Click HERE to read past newsletters.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to my staff at Safaistaff@sfgov.org.
Sincerely,
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
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Bay Area Health Officers Urge Boosters to Protect Against Omicron Variant
Public health agencies across the Bay Area urge everyone eligible to get vaccinated and, if eligible, get a COVID-19 booster dose right away to protect against the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.
Widely available by appointment or at drop-in sites, boosters maintain the power of vaccines to strongly protect against infection, severe illness, and death from COVID-19. Everyone should get one when eligible, but particularly those over 50 or those with significant underlying health conditions.
Public health officials in Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma counties as well as the City of Berkeley encourage anyone eligible who needs a booster dose to get one as soon as possible.
Get a booster if you are 16 years or older and have received a second Pfizer dose at least six months ago, or if you are 18 or older and received a second Moderna dose six months ago. Anyone who has received a single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine at least two months ago should also get a booster.
To find a vaccination site for a booster in San Francisco, please go to sf.gov/getvaccinated. Many sites require an appointment, but there are drop in options available at SFDPH-affiliated sites and at other health systems sites.
As of December 13, just 44% of eligible San Francisco residents have received a booster, and approximately 68% residents who are 65 and have received one.
San Francisco had the first detected case of Omicron in the United States on December 1, and it is likely that the variant is now spreading rapidly through the community. Recent preliminary results from positive COVID tests show there are at least 30 probable cases of the Omicron variant among San Francisco residents, though this is likely an undercount.
Many more cases of Omicron are expected to be reported in the coming days and weeks and based on the exponential growth in cases being seen in Europe, there is a significant risk of exponential growth in COVID-19 cases in our region in the coming weeks. The United Kingdom currently has more COVID-19 cases than at any time during the 2-year pandemic. Other highly vaccinated countries that mirror the Bay Area’s high vaccination rates, such as Denmark and Norway, are predicting Omicron will become the dominant variant in a matter of days.
Evidence suggests that Omicron spreads more rapidly than other variants, and more is being learned every day. Although some evidence suggests that a lower percentage of people infected with Omicron may be hospitalized and die, if a surge causes many thousands of new cases per day, even a small percentage of that total entering our hospitals could still overwhelm our hospitals.
“Although we have made great progress in our booster uptake in the last several weeks, in the face of Omicron it is vital that all individuals who are eligible make a plan to get vaccinated as soon as possible, especially those at higher risk of becoming severely ill,” said Dr. Susan Philip, Health Officer for San Francisco County. “We commend San Franciscans who have already gotten vaccinated and have received their booster to protect themselves, their family, and community.”
Although vaccinations including boosters are the most important prevention tools we have against Omicron, other measures like masking, testing, ventilation, and distancing provide additional layers of defense against COVID-19. As the holiday season is upon us, people should stay mindful of risks and take steps to decrease them.
If people travel or gather for the holidays, the San Francisco Department of Public Health recommends the following:
- Have everyone ages 5+ get their COVID-19 vaccine and booster if eligible.
- Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate themselves and get tested as soon as possible.
- Get tested before travel, upon return, and again 3-5 days later.
- Take advantage of quick and easy home test kits available in pharmacies and stores.
- Outside gatherings are safer than indoor gatherings.
- Take all precautions, including vaccinations, boosters and testing, when gathering with others without masks – especially with elderly or immunocompromised individuals, and anyone who is unvaccinated or not yet boosted.
- Wear a mask indoors and in crowded settings.
- Unvaccinated adults should avoid travel and gatherings outside their household.
Parents of very young children and those who have not been vaccinated should make sure to take all advised precautions. Avoid large gatherings of unmasked people. Always wear a mask in indoor public settings (unless under age 2).
Vaccinations are no-cost to the public, insurance is not required, and there are no immigration requirements. Updated data on boosters in San Francisco can be found here.
Information & Guidance Updates
Sign up to receive alerts from the Information & Guidance team for updates to San Francisco’s Health Order, guidance, and directives here.
COVID-19 Resources
SF COVID-19 vaccine call center
Call 628-652-2700 to book an appointment, find a drop-in site, or if you have questions about the vaccine. You can also email sf@sf.org.
Please check the following sites for regular COVID-19 updates:
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COMING SOON: COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program to Provide Small Business Commercial Rent Relief
Last Wednesday, I announced grants for commercial rent relief to help stabilize San Francisco’s small businesses. The Office of Economic and Workforce Development will help administer $2 million in city investment by launching COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program focusing on helping small businesses that have unpaid commercial back rent, by providing grants of up to $35,000 per qualifying business.
The Board of Supervisor’s Budget and Legislative Analyst estimates there is more than a half of billion dollars of unpaid commercial back rent caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this alarming number, Supervisor Safai in collaboration with Mayor Breed, announced $2 million for a pilot program that provides financial assistance to small business owners who successfully renegotiate debt repayment terms with their current property owners. The commercial rent relief pilot fund is being developed to support San Francisco’s small businesses that were greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result have unpaid commercial back rent.
Small businesses in San Francisco have a long road to recovery. While you may still see your favorite local business open, it doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling to make ends meet. The COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program is designed to help small businesses that have unpaid commercial back rent sustain their business for the future.
The COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program will be administered by the Office of Economic Workforce Development. The goal of the pilot program is to help both small businesses and property owners/landlords recover lost income due to the pandemic. The grant program incentivizes property owners to negotiate payment of rent debt by providing small businesses with grants to pay off a portion of their owed rent. The eligibility requirements for the program are currently being developed with the goal of launching the application at the end of February 2022. The focus of the program will be to support small businesses with existing rent debt that have not received substantial government COVID-19 relief funding. Interested businesses can sign up to receive updates and alerts on the grant program as information become available by visiting visit the Office of Economic and Workforce Development at www.oewd.org/evictionhelp.
During the earlier part of the pandemic, the State of California issued a commercial eviction moratorium that prohibited commercial evictions due to back rent payment; however on September 30, 2021, the moratorium ended. Leaving countless small businesses with massive back rent debt. While businesses and landlords are encouraged to develop a repayment plan, the Small Business Rent Relief Pilot program will address a pressing need for small business presently facing back rent debt.
San Francisco continues to partner with community-based organizations to provide lease re-negotiation, mediation and referrals to legal services. The BAR Association of San Francisco (BASF) will host a webinar on December 20th at 12pm to help small business owners understand the resources available to them. For more information, visit the Office of Economic and Workforce Development at www.oewd.org/evictionhelp . Small businesses who have questions or would like to speak to a representative about resources and assistance can also call the Office of Small Business at (415) 554-6134 or email sfosb@sfgov.org |
First Year Free - New Program to Support San Francisco Small Businesses
What is First Year Free?
First Year Free offers relief to qualifying new businesses and new locations of existing businesses by waiving their initial registration, initial license, first-year permit and other applicable fees. The program will be available to qualified new businesses and existing businesses with new locations who commence business between November 1, 2021 and October 31, 2022.
What Do I Need to Know?
TTX is currently working with partner departments to implement the First Year Free program. On November 1, 2021, TTX will begin to enroll qualifying businesses in the program, and then departments with fees covered by First Year Free will waive those fees and bill TTX. TTX will provide more information and verification tools to all impacted departments and business owners will be instructed to alert departments about their inclusion in the program.
How Can I Help?
Spread the word! If you interact with small businesses or people who are planning to start a new business, please let them know about First Year Free:
- Direct them to the program webpage at sftreasurer.org/FirstYearFree, which will be updated with the latest information.
- Distribute information about the program to relevant contacts or via departmental social media.
- Share ideas for how to publicize the program (for example, through merchant groups, neighborhood listservs, etc.).
What If I Have More Questions or Ideas?
If you have any questions about the program or outreach ideas, feel free to reach out to Molly Cohen (molly.cohen@sfgov.org) at TTX. |
| Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project
Project Description
San Francisco Public Works and SFMTA have partnered to complete infrastructure and safety improvements along Geneva Avenue. The work to be performed includes upgrading the existing signal infrastructure, including installation of new signals and interconnect conduit. The Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project also includes wiring, Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCS), Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) pushbuttons, vehicular signal heads, new poles and mast-arms, and signal controllers. This project will also include pedestrian bulb-out work, curb ramp work, sidewalk work, curb and gutter work, parking strip replacement, localized street base repairs and paving work near the newly completed upgrades.
The intersections included in this project are the following:
• Geneva Avenue & London Street
• Geneva Avenue & Paris Street
• Geneva Avenue & Naples Street
• Geneva Avenue & Athens Street
The Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project will also include removal and reconstruction of the center median along Geneva Avenue between Edinburgh Street and Vienna Street. The new center median will be realigned to create turning lanes and facilitate travel through the area.
Neighbors interested in receiving e-updates on the Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project should sign up HERE. Updates will be sent out as-needed during construction to inform residents of the upcoming phase of work, traffic impacts, milestone completions, and any weekend work. Although weekend work is allowed, none is anticipated at this time.
Construction on this project is anticipated to start in late January 2022 with completion expected in late October 2022. This traffic signal project is being completed in advance of a larger scale project coming to Mission Street and Geneva Avenue in summer 2022. The Mission Street and Geneva Avenue Infrastructure Improvement Project will Include Mission Street between the Hwy 280 overpass and Geneva Avenue as well as Geneva Avenue between Mission Street and Prague Street. That project will have an overall duration of 3 years but is being broken up into phases so that the entire limits aren’t under construction the whole time. For additional information on that project please visit www.sfpublicwork.org/Mission-Geneva.
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| ArtSpan Artists Zoe Ani & Nick Maltagliati Exhibition at City Hall
Join us for an in-person artist reception for ArtSpan Artists Zoe Ani & Nick Maltagliati, currently on view in the office of District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai! The office is located on the 2nd floor of City Hall in Room #256.
Come see and hear what our thriving creative community has to offer virtually!
In-Person Reception: Thursday, January 13th 2022 from 5:00 - 6:00pm
**As an attendee, you will receive reminders 48 hours, 7 hours, and 1 hour before the event starts.**
Invite your art-curious friends and come ready for artful conversations as we mix and mingle in-person. *ALL event attendees must be vaccinated and wear a mask at all times.*
The exhibition is on view virtually on our Art-In-Neighborhoods dedicated gallery: V-AIN. For purchasing of any artwork, visit our online store: ArtSpan Market.
Exhibition dates: November 8, 2021 - March 7, 2022
>>To view the collection in-person, email sam.berenson@sfgov.org. Fridays are best to schedule a private viewing.
Featured Artwork:
"Wave Series 8" by Zoe Ani (detail)
“Ripe” by Zoe Ani & Nick Maltagliati
About the Art-in-Neighborhoods Program:
ArtSpan’s Art-in-Neighborhoods program serves the city of San Francisco by connecting communities with local artists while activating spaces with vibrant, locally-made artwork. ArtSpan partners with local businesses and building owners to bring art exhibitions and art events to businesses, dormant storefronts, and empty spaces for lease that seek artwork for their blank walls. Local artists who are ArtSpan members are given the opportunity to display, promote, and sell their artwork in these diverse venues. All aspects of the program allow otherwise unused walls, spaces, or properties to become creative arenas for celebrating local arts.
The Art-In-Neighborhoods program strives to create visibility and accessibility for local arts in San Francisco. ArtSpan provides the public with free, high-quality arts exposure. Simultaneously, local ArtSpan artists are given the opportunity to promote and sell their artwork. Each of the Art-In-Neighborhoods exhibitions and community events will provide clear, consistent information about ArtSpan programing to educate the public about ArtSpan’s goals and how to become a supporter – by attending our events and buying artwork from local artists!
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Last week, I announced grants for commercial rent relief to help stabilize San Francisco’s small businesses at Silvana's Party Supply in the Excelsior. The Office of Economic and Workforce Development will help administer $2 million in city investment by launching COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program focusing on helping small businesses that have unpaid commercial back rent, by providing grants of up to $35,000 per qualifying business.
The COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program will be administered by the Office of Economic Workforce Development. The goal of the pilot program is to help both small businesses and property owners/landlords recover lost income due to the pandemic. The grant program incentivizes property owners to negotiate payment of rent debt by providing small businesses with grants to pay off a portion of their owed rent. The eligibility requirements for the program are currently being developed with the goal of launching the application at the end of February 2022. The focus of the program will be to support small businesses with existing rent debt that have not received substantial government COVID-19 relief funding. Interested businesses can sign up to receive updates and alerts on the grant program as information become available by visiting visit the Office of Economic and Workforce Development at www.oewd.org/evictionhelp.
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| City Hall was lit on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, in Balboa High School’s colors of orange/blue in recognition of the Balboa High School Football Team's winning the CIF Division 7A State Championship. Congrats to each of the students - your excellence does not go unnoticed. |
Amazing toy giveaway in the OMI. Thank you to everyone who participated.
Special thank you to Youth 1st, OMI Cultural Participation Project, OMI Neighbors In Action, Southwest Community Corporation, Guidry's Early Care & Education Program, OMI Family Resource Center, Mission YMCA, Our Special Place, Lacy's Barbershop, Catholic Charities, The Good Rural, Taraval Police Station, SF African American Early Childhood Educators, Inner City Youth for your partnership and work to make this happen. |
| The seniors from the Southwest Community Corporation at IT Bookman made their annual trip to SF City Hall to sing carols and feed our city’s unhoused population. I was happy to meet them on their bus and say hello! |
| The Latino Task Force worked tirelessly throughout this entire pandemic to support their community and many outside of their community. I was happy to join them for their Holiday Party! Keep the movement going. |
| The Entertainment Commission hosted a great holiday get together. It was great to see my colleagues and representatives of the Commission celebrating the year’s work. |
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