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Dear Neighbor,
The close of the year always brings with it important moments of reflection. Looking back on 2023, the themes that resonated most with me were “balance” and “holding complexity.” Whether it was implementing a street vending ban on Mission Street to make the corridor safe or calling for a ceasefire in Gaza – the issues my office tackled were not one-sided or simplistic. We may not make everyone happy all the time, but we always weigh the diverse needs of our constituents and strive to make decisions with thoughtfulness and compassion.
As I step into my final year of office, my team and I are preparing to work with you on meaningful solutions for District 9 and San Francisco. 2024 promises to be a year of significant change for the City as it wades through an $800M budget deficit, local and national elections and everyday city challenges. However, I know that together we can bring creativity, heart and resolve to the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Please read on to learn about what we have been up to this fall to bring 2023 to a close. There is much to be hopeful for, despite the heartbreak and challenges we all face as a city, as a nation, and globally. We are here doing our part, and are proud of our accomplishments to make our residents' lives a little better in both small and big ways. No matter what, you can count on us to advocate for those who need it most in our district with gratitude and a deep love for District 9 and San Francisco.
From all of us in the D9 office, we wish you peace and love this holiday season.
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| Photo: Tiny Cabins design rendering. Image credit: San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing |
Street Conditions
Director of Mission Streets Condition Response
I secured a new City position to work full time on addressing street conditions in the Mission. We are thrilled to announce that Santiago Lerma, formerly a legislative aide in my office, was hired for this position. Santiago is extremely qualified for this job, after 4 years in my office working in the Mission to address homelessness and public safety. He, more than anyone, knows the problems inside and out, and can address them now more directly through his role based at the Department of Emergency Management (DEM). Santiago, as Director of Mission Streets Condition Response, will continuously monitor conditions on the streets, build relationships with people experiencing homelessness, and coordinate with the Departments that provide services to offer shelter placement, mental health referrals, and more. Santiago will also work closely with the Department of Public Works to ensure regular clean up and power washing to keep the streets clean, and will be accessible to neighbors and businesses to arrange responses to concerns in real-time.
There has never been a high-level position like this in our District, and it will bring much needed problem-solving attention to the areas of the Mission that are struggling the most with what have been challenging conditions. Already in just the first month of Santiago’s new post, we are seeing improvements we are truly proud of, and there are more improvements ahead for 2024.
Street Vendors on Mission Street
On November 27, we initiated a 90-day street vending ban on Mission Street to get a handle on the rampant and unsafe conditions along the corridor – unpermitted vendors selling stolen goods, threats to City permit enforcement workers, drugs, extortion, violence and trash. It’s taken a couple weeks to fine tune our efforts, but with consistent enforcement by the Department of Public Works and San Francisco Police Department, Mission residents and small businesses are commenting on the positive difference. We’re hearing that community members feel safer getting on BART and Muni at the 16th and 24th Street plazas. Mission Street is significantly cleaner and once again accessible to pedestrians. Also, business is picking up at brick-and-mortar businesses, many of which are run by immigrant owners.
Of course, we’ve been concerned about the impact of the ban on legitimate street vendors previously on Mission St. That’s why the City and our community partners have developed several supports. We’ve set up two new marketplaces, El Tiangue and La Placita, as options for vendors that choose not to relocate to another commercial corridor in the Mission or elsewhere in San Francisco. The City and our partners have launched a holiday shopping campaign to drive business to the marketplaces and small businesses, and are helping vendors identify financial assistance available to low-income households, training, and workforce opportunities. As a community member, one of the best ways you can support these vendors is to do your holiday and New Year’s shopping at El Tiangue and La Placita. You can learn more about hours of operation and special holiday events at sf.gov/shop-mission.
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As we’ve learned over the past couple of weeks, we will need to continue to stay on top of this effort to keep Mission Street safe and welcoming. Thank you for your patience and words of encouragement. It’s been a challenging but rewarding effort to undertake. You can read more about the first two weeks in this Mission Local article.
Deep Cleaning Commercial Corridors
A big thank you to the Department of Public Works for giving parts of Valencia Street and 18th Street a deep clean last week through the department’s CleanCorridorsSF program. CleanCorridorsSF is a special operation that deploys a large contingent of San Francisco Public Works street cleaners to a different neighborhood commercial district every Thursday to power wash and sweep the sidewalks, flush down the roadway and wipe out graffiti – a coordinated deep-cleaning blitz resulting in noticeable improvements to the cleanliness of the targeted area. Mission Street, San Bruno Avenue, and Bayshore are a few of the District 9 corridors receiving a deep clean through CleanCorridorsSF this fiscal year. Learn more at CleanCorridorsSF.
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| Photo Credit: Alberto Zapata. (Above photo) Public Works employees power washe a sidewalk on Valencia St as part of CleanCorridorsSF. (Side photo) Jimmy Vaing, Ron Aleman and Alberto Zapata are part of the Public Works team deep cleaning commercial corridors throughout the city, including District 9. |
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Homelessness
This year I served as the Chair of a new committee that the Board of Supervisors piloted called the Homelessness and Behavioral Health Select Committee (HBHC). For the past calendar year, I held bi-weekly committee meetings alongside my Vice-Chair, Supervisor Mandelman, and Supervisor Walton.
The primary goals of this committee were to:
- Identify gaps in our system of care for people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or drug addiction
- Examine the performance of the city contracts coming before the Board of Supervisors
- Hold hearings to drill into some of the most persistent issues facing San Francisco and how to better address those issues
The HBHC created a space for the Departments of Public Health and Homelessness and Supportive Housing to discuss critical problems in our system. Growing wealth inequality and other systemic issues like the overprescription of opioids and disinvestment in public housing and other welfare programs have contributed substantially to the crisis we see on our streets and nationwide. Adding to these problems are the fact that a major hiring shortage exists for behavioral healthcare workers, case managers, outreach workers, and so many more who are needed on the ground working with those most in need of services.
None of these issues are unique to San Francisco. These persistent issues across the country will require that our federal government partner with local governments to address the massive needs of Americans. In a recent NY Times article this week, a journalist refers to the lack of federal investment in public housing.
"After decades of rising rents, housing assistance for the poorest tenants has fallen to the lowest level in nearly a quarter-century. The three main federal programs for the neediest renters — public housing, Section 8, and Housing Choice Vouchers — serve 287,000 fewer households than they did at their peak in 2004, a new analysis shows. That is a 6 percent drop, while the number of eligible households without aid grew by about a quarter, to 15 million.
'We’re not just treading water — we’re falling further behind,' said Chris Herbert, the managing director of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, which prepared the analysis at the request of The New York Times. 'That was an eye-opener, even for me.'”
— DeParle, Jason, "As Need Rises, Housing Aid Hits Lowest Level in Nearly 25 Years," New York Times (December 19, 2023)
San Francisco needs Federal dollars to invest in building more public housing, opening more behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services including overdose prevention centers, creating workforce development pipelines to fill the workforce shortages ranging from law enforcement to behavioral healthcare workers to educators to 911 call operators, and more. We will continue to do what we can with the resources available to our city, but I have been vocal in my calling on state and federal leaders to partner with us as we find long-term solutions that meet the root causes of these issues.
The Homelessness and Behavioral Health Select Committee has now sunset, but my colleagues and I are committed to continuing these discussions in other regularly scheduled committees and working on solutions to these pressing issues.
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Historic Preservation
Landmark Designation for Carnaval and Chata Gutierrez Murals
The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted in support of my ordinances to designate the iconic Carnaval and Chata Gutiérrez murals as historic landmarks this month. |
| Photo Credit: SF Planning Department. "La Rumba No Para: The Chata Gutierrez Mural." |
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The Carnaval mural famously celebrates the annual Carnaval Parade and Festival, a tradition hosted and led by Latinx performers, residents, and organizations of the Mission for over 40 years. The Chata Gutierrez mural celebrates the life of Chata Gutierrez, who was born and raised in the Mission, and became the first Latina DJ for her “Con Clave'' salsa & latin music show on KPOO 85.5FM. Landmarking designation formally recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of the Latinx and Mission community to San Francisco, and helps preserve these murals for generations to come.
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| Photo Credit: Lou Dematteis via Mission Local. The Carnaval Mural, restored in 2014. |
Small Business, Nonprofits, & Commercial Corridors
Cost of Doing Business Legislation
Our non-profit contractors are the backbone of City services, and we rely heavily on them to address our most pressing problems, like homelessness, addiction and provision of mental health services. Yet we know that many of these organizations struggle to recruit and retain staff to do this very difficult work, due to inadequate funding and uncertainty about how to cover the year over year cost of doing business.
A major contributing factor to these struggles is the fact that departments often issue grants for service for only one year, when they know the likelihood is that the need for such service is ongoing. This leaves service providers uncertain of funding the next year and does not allow them to engage in adequate financial planning. Moreover, it causes stress for the critical staff who don't know if they will have a job next year.
Another major problem is that when a department does issue multi-year grants, there are no cost escalators or built-in increases to cover the rate of inflation, year-to-year increase in costs, increased rents, etc. This leaves the Board, seemingly every year, fighting with the Mayor to add the cost of doing business to the City’s budget.
The legislation I wrote and passed in October addresses both of these issues. First it will require that when the department knows a service will be needed beyond one year, then the department issues multi year contracts to allow organizations to better plan. Additionally, this ordinance will require the department to include a cost of doing business increase for each subsequent year of the contract so that each service provider will know exactly how much they will be paid each year moving forward.
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Profile of a D9 Business
Free Play. Safe Space. Community. |
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| Photo Credit: Ryan Hazelton. Kids playing during the program at Mariposa Kids. |
Mariposa Kids is a local non-profit program located in the James Rolph Jr. Park & Playground with the mission to inspire and support children's natural curiosity and independence through free play during their out-of-school time. With a year round after-school program and summer camps for children ages 5-11, Mariposa Kids focuses on providing a safe space for healthy social emotional development with ample outdoor time. Play is not merely an activity; it is a fundamental component of childhood that contributes to children's happiness, emotional growth, and mental health. As the need for quality out-of-school time programming continues to grow in San Francisco, Mariposa Kids is looking for new community partnerships and opportunities to expand and deepen their positive impact in D9. Learn more at sfmariposakids.com
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Bernal Heights Lights!!
If you’ve strolled down Cortland Ave at night recently, you may have noticed a new addition to the neighborhood; festival string lights are aglow from the Epicurean Trader and Good Life Grocery, to the Bernal Heights Public Library and down to Vino Rosso. Thanks to grants from Avenue Greenlight and the Civic Joy Fund, Bernal Heights has now joined other neighborhoods in San Francisco with decorative lighting for their merchant corridor.
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| Photo Credit: Robert Kanes. Laurie Kanes, President of BBAA under the Bernal Lights. |
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The effect was immediately uplifting and festive, but also helpful in providing additional lighting for the sidewalks at night. Everyone was so happy with the results that the BBAA will be raising more funding to do the rest of the Cortland business blocks, from Pinhole Coffee down to 3rd Cousin, which they hope to complete by the new year.
- Laurie Kanes, president of the Bernal Business and Arts Alliance who coordinated the lighting
The BBAA would like to thank all the merchants who are sponsoring the electricity for each block, plus Pauric Electric and Greenforce Outdoor Light for working so diligently to get everything completed in time for the holidays.
New public art installations in the Portola!
Come to the Portola to immerse yourself in the splendor of two new art installations! Renowned artist Dana Albany graced the southern entrance of the Freeway Greenway (Burrows at San Bruno Ave) with a mesmerizing gothic-style gate. It was unveiled on Halloween and funded through a Community Challenge Grant. Adding to the visual tapestry is "Bayshore Sunrise," a colorful mural by the talented cartoonist Neil G. Ballard, located at the northern entrance of the Greenway at Thornton and San Bruno Ave. It was completed in mid-December with generous support from the Civic Joy Fund . During the design process, the Portola Neighborhood Association collected feedback from over 500 community members, with special emphasis from local students and teachers.
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| Photo Credit: Mural photos by Neil G. Ballard. Gate photo by the Portola Neighborhood Association. |
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Education/Youth Issues
Successful Math Pilot, Japan Math, and the link to bringing back 8th Grade Algebra
The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has made a commitment to bringing back 8th grade algebra, and we support that move. However, what has been absent from the public debate is how, evidenced by current math scores in elementary schools across the District, the opportunity gap persists and many students will not be prepared to take advantage of this change by the time they reach 8th grade.
In 2021, I worked with Supervisor Melgar and School Board Commissioner Matt Alexander to change this reality. We partnered
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Photo Credit: Jen Ferrigno. December 6, John Muir Elementary School hosted a public math lesson. The screen shows a first grade student working through a math problem. Adults in front are observing the lesson and debrief with the staff following the lesson.
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with SFUSD to expand a highly promising math teaching model, developed in Japan, where students rank second in math achievement worldwide, to four schools in the district. SFUSD first piloted the Japanese model at John Muir Elementary School, and, after incredibly positive results and with City support, included three additional schools in the pilot shortly after: Leonard R Flynn (in District 9), Malcom X and Sanchez Elementary Schools.
The program is based on a teaching method that focuses on students learning essential skills through problem-solving, including highly intensive teacher professional learning and mentorship, developed and used throughout Japan. The academic achievement and rigor brought to classrooms with this program is mirrored by the joy of students and teachers in math learning.
I feel like Lesson Study has changed my purpose and breathed new life into my teaching.
- Recent remarks from a teacher at one of the pilot schools
When 8th grade Algebra is reinstated, all SFUSD students should be ready to take advantage of the opportunity, and this approach’s early indications show it could provide students the skills needed to succeed.
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Photo Credit: Jen Ferrigno. Board of Education Commissioner Alexander, Supervisor Ronen, and John Muir Elementary Principal Sara Liebert at the public lesson event with first graders on December 6.
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| A teacher participating in the event, sharing debrief notes with colleagues after the math lesson. |
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Spotlight on a D9 Community Organization
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To lift up the amazing work that is happening every day in Bernal, the Mission and the Portola, we are featuring the work of one D9 organization in each newsletter. This month features…
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In 2009, renowned San Francisco artist Ruth Asawa, donated her dining table, constructed by her husband, architect Albert Lanier, to Bethany Center affordable living community. The table, symbolic of social gathering, community and creativity, inspired the foundation of an arts initiative now called Ruth’s Table, a non-profit full-scale community art gallery and makerspace featuring free neighborhood art programs, rotating exhibitions, virtual classes, and cultural events! Stop by to see the space, meet the staff, and learn about what’s happening at Ruth’s Table! For more information, go here.
Ruth's Table's building is surrounded by art. Next door, the mosaic created in 1968 by Ruth Asawa herself, “Growth” wraps around Bethany Center affordable senior housing on Capp Street and 21st Streets. On Bethany Center’s western side, one of the tallest murals in the neighborhood by artist Dan Fontes depicts Bethany’s residents, seniors or adults with disabilities, joyfully expressing themselves in colorful and creative ways. These beautiful expressions of community and art are at the root of Ruth's Table's mission.
With intergenerational exchange at the core of our mission, Ruth's Table offers a dynamic combination of rotating gallery exhibitions, creative programming, and community initiatives.
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| Photo Credit: Ruth's Table. Students participating in a makers class with master artists at Ruth's Table. |
Ruth’s Table hosts FREE ART CLASSES every Wednesday from 1-3 PM with Teaching Artist Monica Lee. She’s been teaching “Creative Reuse Art Workshop” alongside Bethany Center residents for 13 years at Ruth’s Table. More info here.
Currently on view at Ruth’s Table through February 8th, Rediscovery in the Making. There is an open invitation for the public to: “Reimagine the everyday and reveal riches within yourself and those around you.” One of the pieces on view is a listening station called “Voices of Discovery.” To add your voice to this public art audio project, dial 1-800-839- 9227 and answer the prompt, “What is one thing that you are rediscovering at this stage of life?”
Ruth’s Table
3160 21st Street, San Francisco
Gallery hours:
Tuesday through Friday 10 AM to 5 PM
All events are free. |
The D9 Team!
We have had a few changes with our team this fall. As mentioned above, Santiago Lerma accepted the Director of Mission Streets Condition Response at the Department of Emergency Management. Santiago will continue to work closely with our team in his new position.
We are thrilled to share that Sheila Chung Hagen has taken his spot and rejoined the D9 team! Many of you may remember Sheila from my early days in office, she was a legislative aide extraordinaire who helped me get the ball rolling when I took office. Sheila has been consulting with nonprofits and foundations on immigrant rights, land use and community development programs. She comes to us with many years of policy and strategic organizing expertise under her belt. She will be taking on our work in the Mission regarding Street Vendors, staffing on recreation and parks issues, and working with other staff on key housing and transportation projects.
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I am very excited about my team as we enter into the new year. 2024 is going to be a powerful year for our office and we have ambitious plans to continue to advocate for our constituents and make District 9 the place we all know and love.
I am also so thankful for the hundreds of people we work with every day who dedicate their lives to providing essential services and bring about positive change for our constituents.
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| Photo: Taken at our holiday party this, year, this is the District 9 team, past and present. Featured: Jesus Barragan (current senior intern); Sheila Chung-Hagen, current legislative aide; Jen Ferrigno, current legislative aide; Amy Beinart, former legislative aide; Nathalie Guillen, former intern; Supervisor Hillary Ronen; Jackie Prager, current legislative aide; Jennifer Li, former legislative aide, and; Ana Herrera, current legislative aide. (Missing: Anne Gallagher, current senior intern.) |
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These partnerships are what keeps us going! I want to express my deep gratitude to each of the individuals and proactive neighbors seeking to make improvements, nonprofits that provide services despite being stretched thin, and City department staffers who are responsive to our advocacy on behalf of D9 residents. We could never do this without you and are so honored to be working side by side.
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