Dear Neighbor,
This weekend we witnessed a truly beautiful day in the community. Words can’t describe how special the Tenderloin Eid Street Fair was.
Thousands of people flooded the streets of the Tenderloin and filled it with joy, smiles, and laughter. Seeing children play tag with cotton candy-covered faces and fresh henna, or getting their new Warriors jerseys signed by Palestinian superstar rapper MC Abdul — brought so much joy to many.
It’s something I and so many of my neighbors see in pockets of the neighborhood everyday — it’s what the TL community really is — and I’m grateful to all who helped showcase the beauty, cultural richness, and community resiliency of our neighborhood. This is just the first of many events we hope to bring to the TL, I can’t wait to see you again at the next one.
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This wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of our amazing organizers and partners who helped make this event a success. Thank you to: Into the the Streets, Tenderloin Community School, Up on Top, Chinese Community Development Center, TL Muslim Youth, TNDC, St. Anthony’s, AlSabeel Mosque, Empire, Golden State Warriors Basketball Academy, Maram Foundation, Halafest, TLCBD, Rec & Parks, SFPD, SFFD, Public Works and to all vendors, retailers, and volunteers who spent time making this a truly special event.
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On Tuesday, I introduced a resolution that is deeply personal for me. Growing up, shaking hands, making eye contact, and hugging others were difficult. Routines were necessary, disruptions in schedule caused stress. They still do.
At the time, I felt I was different. And I didn't understand why.
Later in life, I was diagnosed with autism.
At first I was surprised - at Stanford I remember being taught that autism predominantly presented itself in White male youth. Now, with more research, it’s clear this has been under-diagnosed in people of color and women for years.
As a result, there are so many misconceptions of autism. My hope in sharing my story today is to distigmatize neurodivergence.
Over time, I've come to find strength in my diagnosis. Monotropism - a common characteristic of autism, can give a sense of hyperfocus. What I once perceived as rigidness in schedule has kept me hyper organized.
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That’s why I’ve introduced a resolution declaring April Autism Awareness Month, which pledges to continue support and funding for those impacted by autism and received unanimous co-sponsorship from the Board of Supervisors.
It is imperative that our city continue to fund programs like the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, support organizations like The Arc, and invest in SFUSD. Amidst budget deficits, we must view these services not as line items in a budget, but lifelines for our most vulnerable communities.
These are services I wish I had access to as a child. And ones I am committed to fighting to protect for the next generation.
Read more about my experience here: https://sfstandard.com/2025/04/08/bilal-mahmood-autism-san-francisco/
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🌸Cherry Blossom Festival Grand Parade🌸
Springtime is officially here, and the District 5 office is excited to invite you to join Supervisor Bilal Mahmood for the 58th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Grand Parade on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
This is a great chance to walk with me as part of the District 5 contingent, build community, and celebrate with our Japantown neighbors. We hope you'll join us! Please sign up using the link below.👇
Join the D5 Cherry Blossom Parade here.
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Workforce Assistance
The Job Forum ( thejobforum.org) is a 73-year-old nonprofit sponsored by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, run entirely by volunteers who help those looking for jobs conduct a more effective job search. All are welcome.
The Job Forum has a special program for young people, ages 15 – 25 called, “Workforce of the Future.” There are 3 events with custom content for younger job hunters coming up.
Here is a list of our upcoming events:
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I'd like to hear more from you! After a successful first Community Coffee Chat filled with insightful discussion, I am excited to extend this month’s coffee chat by an additional hour.
This is an opportunity to share your thoughts, ask questions, and discuss community issues in an informal setting directly with me. Sign up now to reserve your spot and engage in meaningful conversation about the future of our district.
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Left to right: before and after |
From Grime to Sublime
This week, we saw what happens when neighbors speak up to work with the city — all sparked by Reverend Paul Trudeau from City Hope. After raising alarms about the dangerous conditions at 790 Ellis Street — including trash, graffiti, and rats — Reverend Paul’s advocacy led to swift action. Public Works, Public Health, and Friends of the Urban Forest all played a role: cleaning up the site, inspecting the location, and even planting new trees where the sidewalk had long sat bare.
Reverend Paul shared:
“It was so encouraging to see city agencies show up in force to help bring safety and beauty to our community.”
Our office couldn’t agree more! Huge thanks to Reverend Paul for bringing this to our attention and to our city partners for helping turn this block from blight to bright.
Don’t hesitate to reach out at MahmoodStaff@sfgov.org. We’re here to help!
Let’s work together to make District 5 a better place for all.
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