May 13, 2020
UPDATE REGARDING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS ("COVID-19"):
A Message From The Supervisor:
As our City is coping with the effects of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19"), I wanted to let each of you know that my office is working hard to stay up-to-date on all fronts so that you all can be informed of what is happening locally, statewide, and nationally. Lastly, please don't hesitate to email us at SafaiStaff@sfgov.org or call us at 1-415-554-6976 and we will immediately respond.
Thank you all for your time, cooperation, and perseverance -- we will all get through this!
Sincerely,
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
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A Message From The Supervisor On Recent Misinformation Circulating Regarding A Particular Legislative Item Pertaining To Our Public Parks And Our Unsheltered Neighbors That Has Yet To Be Voted On By The San Francisco Board Of Supervisors:
There is some misinformation going around about sanctioned homeless encampments in McLaren Park. No parks have been chosen - simply a proposal to allow this in parks citywide was introduced last week by Supervisor Sandra Fewer and Gordon Mar.
This proposal has not been voted on and is making its way through the legislative process. As someone that led in allowing Safe Parking for our unhoused neighbors in our Vehicle Triage Lot near Balboa Park ( the first in the City), most recently supported sanctioned spaces on parking lots for those living on our streets, and finally supported allowing for the safe transfer of our unhoused to hotels with care and monitoring, we have proposed many options and are working to make them viable and safe.
This current proposal to allow encampments in our parks is very different and I will approach that way. Nothing would ever happen in our parks without community input. We are far away from that point and not sure we will ever get there. I am not sure out parks are the best place to allow for temporary housing the unhoused.
I appreciate all the input we have received from those who have called our office and posted on social media.
We will continue to monitor this proposal and ensure other alternatives are pursued.
Best,
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
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The State Of California Launches The Pandemic EBT Benefits Program For Families Whose Children Are Eligible For Free Or Reduced-Price Meals At School:
Today, Mayor London N. Breed announced that the San Francisco Human Services Agency (HSA) and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) are informing families across San Francisco of the newest emergency benefit available for families, the Pandemic EBT or P-EBT.
Children who participate in both free or reduced-price school meals and public benefit assistance from HSA will receive P-EBT cards in the mail. P-EBT benefits do not replace any emergency school meal programs or CalFresh. Children who receive P-EBT,and families may still continue to pick up the free grab-and-go meals provided for families from the 24 locations scattered across the city.
Families with P-EBT eligible children that receive CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or Foster Care benefits do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits and will receive a P-EBT card of up to $365 for each eligible child. Cards will arrive in the mail from the State starting this week through the end of the month. Other families receiving free or reduced-price meal benefits but not on public benefit assistance will need to complete a short online application, which will open on May 22. For families that do not receive the P-EBT card in the mail, the deadline to apply is June 30, 2020.
To learn more about P-EBT, please click here:
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/home/pandemic-ebt
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Supervisor Safai To Host Two Joint Town Halls This Week With Our State Capitol Representatives:
The District 11 office is excited to announce that this week Supervisor Safai will be co-hosting two town halls with our legislative leaders in Sacramento. Fore more details, and the zoom information, please see the details below.
1. Supervisor Safai and State Senator Wiener's Joint Town Hall:
When: Thursday, May 14, 2020
Time: 1PM-2PM
*Please REGISTER IN ADVANCE for this town hall, after registering you will receive a confirmation email with relevant information on how to join the (virtual) town hall. To register, please click here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvfuqrpz4tHdVHHUpjR687txO_YHE3mdEi
2. Supervisor Safai and Assemblymmeber Chiu's Joint Town Hall: State & District 11 COVID-19 Resources:
When: Friday, May 15, 2020
Time: 1PM-2PM
Topics Include But Not Limited To The Following: Support for small businesses; food access and distributoin; information access for seniors and LEP residents; Q&A.
Zoom Webinar ID: 954 2416 9398
Password: 514662
Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you directly!
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New Deadline For Property Taxes: May 15, 2020:
On April 10, 2020, San Francisco’s homeowners know that property taxes are normally due, however the Board of Supervisors, once again, extended the deadline from May 4 to May 15, 2020. The legislation was introduced by Board President Norman Yee and the primary co-sponsor was Supervisor Safai. We hope this provides a bit of relief to all San Franciscans as we continue to fight this pandemic, more information below.
San Francisco’s Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector urges everyone to please pay on time, but if you can’t pay on time or can't the May 15 deadline for reasons related to the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) you should submit a request for a penalty waiver online AFTER the May 15, 2020 deadline.
Please note, the Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector will be TEMPORARILY OPEN ONLY FOR PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS --NOT ANY OTHER BUSINESS -- ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:
Wednesday, May 13, 2020: 9AM to 4PM
Thursday, May 14, 2020: 9AM to 4PM
Friday, May 15, 2020: 9AM to 5PM
*ENTER AT CITY HALL'S GROVE STREET ENTRY
To apply for a Penalty Waiver, ONLY AFTER THE MAY 15, 2020 deadline, please click here:
https://sftreasurer.org/business/manage-your-business/penalty-waiver-refund-request
Please note, except for the above-noted dates and times and only for property taxes, currently, City Hall is still closed to the public and, therefore, not accepting in-person payments. To make a property tax payment you must pay by US mail or online, to pay online please click here:
https://sftreasurer.org/covid19
If you have any questions, please call 3-1-1 or visit the Treasurer & Tax Collector's website here:
https://sftreasurer.org/property-tax-deadline-frequently-asked-questions |
Update Regarding Commercial Evictions In San Francisco:
The Small Business Commission, today, informed the Board of Supervisors that there is now an official City-run email account to assist people field questions on San Francisco's existing moratorium on commercial evictions.
That email is: commercial.evictions@sfgov.org
The email will be monitored by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD).
Currently, all small businesses affected by COVID-19 can keep their locations up-to six (6) months if eligible. To confirm, SMALL BUSINESS TENANTS AND SUBTENANTS MUST:
(1) Be registered to do business in San Francisco; and
(2) Have gross receipts at or below $2 million; and
(3) Missed a rent payment from March 17 to May 17, 2020.
If you meet the above-noted three-prong test, then you must provide written documentation to your landlord that the coronavirus outbreak has had a financial impact on your business.
Once you do this, then your landlord cannot evict you BEFORE GIVING YOU (1) A WRITTEN NOTICE AND (2) AN OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH UP ON YOUR PAYMENTS.
Commercial tenants must discuss a payment plan with their landlords.
Lastly, the website for all eviction-related inquiries FOR COMMERCIAL TENANTS (SMALL BUSINESSES AND
NOT RESIDENTIAL TENANTS) can be found here:
https://sf.gov/check-if-your-business-qualifies-eviction-moratorium
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Tax-Aid, A San Francisco Nonprofit, Offers Free Income Tax Services To People Who Earn Less Than $55,000 A Year:
The District 11 office was contacted by Tax-Aid, a nonprofit that offers free tax services to people who earn less than $55,000 a year, below please find more information on Tax-Aid.
Currently, because of the shelter-in-place order, Tax-Aid has shifted all of its tax services online. Please note, Tax-Aid employs and has volunteers who are multi-lingual and who speak limited English or no English at all.
To learn more about Tax-Aid, you can call 1-415-229-9240 or click here:
https://www.tax-aid.org/ |
IMPORTANT: California's Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program:
On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, California's Employment Development Department (EDD) started accepting online applications for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ("PUA") Program.
What is California's PUA Program?
This is a newly available emergency unemployment assistance program under the federal CARES Act. PUA provides assistance for unemployed or partially unemployed individuals who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance and who are unable or unavailable to work due to COVID-19 related circumstances.
Who should apply (covered individuals)?
- Independent contractors
- Self-employed
- Individuals without sufficient work history
- Individuals who have exhausted their regular and any extended UI benefits
- Must self-certify to be able and available to work except are unemployed due to COVID-19 related reason
When Do Benefits Begin?
Benefits can be retroactive to weeks starting on or after February 2, 2020, depending on your last day of work due to COVID-19 and regardless of when you submitted your claim application. The effective date of your claim will begin the Sunday of the week when you last worked and became unemployed due to reasons directly related to COVID-19.
How Long Will Benefits Be Awarded?
Up to 39 weeks (minus any weeks of regular UI and certain extended UI benefits). Last week is week ending December 26, 2020.**
** Under the CARES Act of 2020, the $600 additional benefits are available through 07/31/20. However, the U.S. DOL has issued guidance to clarify that, for most Californians, the last full week of benefits will end on 07/25/20. Similarly, the PUA program has a legislative end date of 12/31/20, but for most Californians the last full week of benefits will end on 12/26/20.
What is the amount of benefits?
Amount of Benefits
- Minimum weekly benefit amount of $167 (but weekly amount may be higher and equal the amount provided under regular UI, depending on proof of prior earnings)
- PLUS $600 for weeks between March 29, 2020 to July 25, 2020.*
To learn more, please click here:
https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance.htm
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The City and County Of San Francisco Has CLOSED McLaren Park's Shelly Drive and Golden Gate Park's JFK Drive Starting Tuesday, April 28, 2020, At 6:00 A.M. For As Long As The Shelter-In-Place Order Is In Place:
On Monday, April 27, 2020, Mayor London N. Breed announced that beginning Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 6:00 a.m., a portion of John F. Kennedy Drive -- from Kezar Drive to Transverse Drive -- in Golden Gate Park and John F. Shelley Drive in John McLaren Park will be closed to vehicles 24 hours per day throughout the duration of San Francisco's Stay Home Order.
Why?
The street closures are intended to ensure there is enough space for people who choose to exercise in Golden Gate Park McLaren Park to maintain required physical distancing.
Please note, while the street closures are intended to increase space for people to get outside all park users must still practice social distancing and people over 60 years of age and/or those with underlying health conditions or who are sick are encouraged to not leave their homes.
To review the social distancing guidelines, please click here:
https://covid19.ca.gov/
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The Stay-At-Home Order Is Still In Effect In San Francisco:
Please note, as a friendly reminder, that the Stay-At-Home Order was recently extended again by Mayor London N. Breed till June 1, 2020.
Please continue to wear a face mask if you are out in public, practice social distancing (six feet apart), and only be out in public for essential business or if you are an essential worker.
To keep daily track of COVID-19 in San Francisco, please click here:
https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/dak2-gvuj
Thank you and be safe. |
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