March Newsletter

Thank you for subscribing to my bi-weekly newsletter. In this edition of my newsletter, read on to learn more about our upcoming COVID-19 town hall, updates from the district, and more.

Becoming Homeless Could Happen to Many of Us

Becoming homeless could happen to many of us — 59% of Americans are just one paycheck away from becoming homeless. California’s divestment from mental health treatment in the 1980’s, federal divestment from Housing and Urban Development, a stagnant minimum wage increase that has not caught up with inflation, and many more factors have contributed to growing homelessness. So it becomes more and more expensive to be working class — most of our paycheck goes to the basics of survival: rent, groceries, utilities, transportation, childcare, and other daily needs. Any life trauma or financial hit can easily take many of us down a path to homelessness.

Once individuals are on the street, not only are the services and resources to help house them limited, they are also easily dragged into the black hole of mental health issues and substance abuse. And even though we know being homeless is not a crime, homeless individuals are easily the target of criminalization.

That’s why we need a compassionate, long-term approach to solve homelessness with serious investments in affordable housing and other services that have seen a decline in federal and state investment for decades. With no statewide eviction moratorium and local eviction moratoriums expiring soon, California could soon see unprecedented levels of homelessness across the state. In order to curb the impact of coming evictions and continued unemployment in some sectors, we need to invest heavily in rent relief and affordable housing.

For anyone with concerns about overcrowded and unsafe encampments, please use these reporting guidelines and the City will address your concerns as soon as possible.

• For medical emergencies, fires or criminal activity IN PROCESS call 9-1-1

• If your concern is related to an encampment blocking the sidewalk, and the sidewalk is fully obstructed or there is less than 6 ft of clearance from entrances to a home or business, you should call Non-Emergency Police at 415-553-0123. 

• If your concern is related to illegal activity within the encampment, you should call Non-Emergency Police at 415-553-0123 or 911, whichever is appropriate. 

• If your concern is about trash or cleaning services around an encampment, tents placed too close and/or safe social distancing guidelines are not being followed, you may report the issue using the SF311 app or call 3-1-1.

Thank you to the Richmond Review, Richmond District Rising (RDR) and the Planning Association of the Richmond (PAR) for joining with Project Homeless Connect to bring desperately needed supplies to un-housed people in the neighborhood. The items collected will be distributed by Project Homeless Connect’s CareVan, which comes to the Richmond each month.

To arrange a donation drop off, email SFRichmondRising@gmail.com.

I am committed to be a strong advocate for District 1, to hold our city government accountable to provide better city services, and to help our housed and unhoused neighbors just the same. And as Vice-Chair of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee, I will review audits, and hold hearings to explore ways to make city services and programming more efficient and effective. I will keep pushing until we see results. Meanwhile, please email me directly at Connie.Chan@sfgov.org and ChanStaff@sfgov.org to send me your feedback and concerns.

This excerpt is from Supervisor Connie Chan's March column submitted to Richmond Review. Please check the Richmond Review website to view the column when posted.

Investigation on SF Parks Alliance

Last week, the Recreation and Park Commission approved a contract allowing a four-year extension for Skystar to operate the Ferris wheel in Golden Gate Park, despite the fact that the Historic Preservation Commission, that has sole authority to determine the historic appropriateness of the wheel and approve its extended stay, voted to continue its decision on whether or not to allow an extension for the operation of the Ferris wheel.

Instead of going directly to our City’s general fund, the revenue generated from Skystar is going to a non-profit that is still under FBI and public corruption investigations. It raises the question of whether this is a good government practice and whether such practices contribute to the ‘pay-to-play’ culture among City agencies. That is why I am calling for an investigation focusing on this agreement and SF Parks Alliance practices.

District 1 COVID Town Hall

On March 3, join my office and the San Francisco Department of Public Health for a community meeting on COVID-19 vaccinations in Cantonese. Please register via bit.ly/CHN-03032021

在3月3日，請與我辦公室參與三藩市公共衛生局舉辦的疫苗接種社區論壇。我知道社區仍然有好多關於疫苗的問題，包括何時或怎樣接種疫苗。這個是一個珍貴的機會了解更多，並向衛生局提出你的問題。

網上報名:
bit.ly/CHN-03032021

My office and the San Francisco Department of Public Health will be hosting a separate town hall on COVID-19 vaccinations in English on March 5. Our constituents have several questions on when they can access the vaccine, so this town hall will be an opportunity to learn more and ask questions.

Please register via bit.ly/covidtownhall-march or watch live on Facebook. 
 

COVID-19 Updates

As of February 24, San Francisco has begun vaccinating people working in the following sectors:

• Education and childcare

• Emergency services

• Food and agriculture

Even if you are eligible, there may not be a dose available right now. The vaccine remains in very limited supply. Keep checking for available appointments.

The general public will likely not have access to the vaccine until later in 2021, when there is more vaccine. Get notified when you’re eligible for the vaccine.

SF Free Clinic

The SF Free Clinic at California and 11th Avenue is providing appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations. Check for information and eligibility here.

University of San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente

Great news! Kaiser Permanente and University of San Francisco are hosting a mass vaccination site at Koret Center. Eligible Kaiser Permanente members will be contacted directly with instructions on how to make an appointment as the vaccine becomes available. This location is convenient for D1 residents, close to the 33-Ashbury, 5-Fulton and a few blocks from the 38-Geary. Seniors and those with disabilities can use essential trip cards (ETC) to make the trip as well.

Free Muni and Paratransit for Vaccine Appointments

As of Tuesday, February 23, Muni and Paratransit will be free for those traveling to COVID-19 vaccination appointments. The SF Municipal Transportation Agency is also providing additional access to taxi service for those who use the Essential Trip Card. The program is designed to eliminate cost and transportation barriers to those traveling to receive the vaccine.

More information on the city-sponsored sites as well as directions on how to get there can be found on the city vaccination website. Find more additional information on SFMTA’s program and how to sign up for the essential trip card here.

Welcoming Captain Caltagirone to the Richmond

 

On Saturday, February 20, the Richmond District received a new police captain to lead the district's station. Last week, I had the honor of joining Captain Gaetano Caltagirone, Police Chief Bill Scott, Mayor London Breed, and Assemblymember David Chiu for a merchant walk down Clement Street. 

A highly respected, 26-year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department, Captain Caltagirone is the immediate past captain at SFPD’s busy Mission Station. A son of immigrants, he is the first generation of a Sicilian family to be born and raised in San Francisco. Captain Caltagirone has earned widespread respect throughout his career from city leaders and neighborhood residents alike for his professionalism and commitment to community engagement.

Police Chief Bill Scott says that the “Richmond Station will be the eighth of SFPD’s ten police districts to benefit from Gaetano Caltagirone’s leadership, and the appointment of such an accomplished veteran comes at an important moment for Richmond District neighbors and businesses. Reversing the recent trend in burglaries is a top priority I share with Supervisor Connie Chan, and I know we both look forward to working closely with Captain Caltagirone and Richmond District community members to make our neighborhoods safer.”

We welcome Captain Caltagirone to the Richmond District and look forward to working with him and the entire Richmond District Police Station to keep our communities involved in increasing the safety of our neighborhoods.

Additionally, the National Park Service announced a new Chief of the United States Park Police, which will also help support law enforcement and emergency response services in the District.

Pamela A. Smith has been named the new Chief of the United States Park Police (USPP). Smith, a 23-year veteran of the USPP, becomes the first African American woman to lead the 230-year-old agency. She will begin her new role on February 28.

In one of her first actions, Chief Smith will establish a body-worn camera program for USPP within 90 days. The program will initially begin in San Francisco and be implemented across the country by the end of the year.

“Body-worn cameras are good for the public and good for our officers, which is why I am prioritizing implementing a body-worn camera program within my first 90 days,” said Chief Smith. “This is one of the many steps we must take to continue to build trust and credibility with the public we have been entrusted to serve.”

Fridays in the District

The pandemic has made it difficult to meet with our city departments who are on the ground daily, providing street and sidewalk cleaning services, attending to unhoused neighbors in need, or ensuring our children are receiving the education they need during distance learning.

That’s why my staff and I are dedicated to meeting our constituents, local merchants, and department staff working hard in the district to improve and sustain our incredible community.

During the month of February, I had the pleasure of spending time in the District visiting our community gardens, community hubs, small businesses, and introducing our local merchants to the clean streets and homeless outreach teams.

Thank you Department for Children, Youth, and Families, the Richmond District Neighborhood Center, Richmond District YMCA, and SF Public Library for giving me a tour of the Richmond’s community hubs. I’m so grateful for their work at our community hubs, helping our students with most needs to continue their learning and keeping them engaged in school. That’s why I am committed to supporting our kids and their families in the coming months and an opportunity to succeed during these tough times.

Thank you Department of Public Works for meeting with our Clement Street merchants and providing resources to make sure our business owners have the resources they need to keep their shops and sidewalks clean.

Thank you Department of Homeless and Supportive Housing and Homeless Outreach Team for walking through the district with me to visit our unhoused neighbors and discuss possible plans and solutions to offer shelter and resources to those in need. The pandemic has been tough on our homeless neighbors and I appreciate all you’re doing to help them.

Last but not least, thank you SF Unified School District for giving me a tour of Lafayette Elementary’s community garden! Lafayette is a recipient of a green infrastructure grant, which allowed the school to create this beautiful reimagined schoolyard, featuring bioretention planters and landscape redesigns that better absorb and collect rainwater onsite, providing a natural space for play and learning.

Community Updates:

Vision Zero Strategy

San Francisco is updating its Vision Zero Action Strategy and wants to hear from you! Vision Zero is the city’s commitment to creating safe, more livable streets with the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and reducing severe injuries. Share your ideas in the survey at https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/walk/vision-zero-sf by March 5.

SFMTA is also hosting virtual office hours over the next few weeks to have direct conversations with the community as they develop the updated Strategy. The final office hour will take place this Thursday, March 4, 2021 - 10:30am - Office Hours #4

Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes on Geary

Last call to complete a survey on the new temporary transit lanes on Geary! New temporary transit lanes and other temporary treatments have been installed on segments of Geary Boulevard between Stanyan Street and 33rd Avenue as part of the 38 Geary Temporary Emergency Transit Lanes project. The survey will close on March 7.

These temporary emergency transit lanes are helping to protect public health for those who continue to depend on transit by reducing crowding and travel times for 38 Geary customers. Check out how they work here!

Legal Services for Small Businesses

SFUSD Free Meal Program

The SF Unified School District is continuing to serve free meals to students and children 18 and younger. School sites in the district are Roosevelt Middle School (460 Arguello Blvd) from 2-3:30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and Washington High School (600 32nd Ave) also from 2-3:30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday.

Additional food resources are here: https://www.sfusd.edu/services/health-wellness/nutrition-school-meals/ot...

Your Child Your Voice

Calling all parents: Your Child, Your Voice gives parents of young children across San Francisco the chance to speak up for and make recommendations on behalf of their children, families, and community. Get registered and get prizes!

Heron Watch

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