District 5 in less than 5 minutes – here’s the TLDR of this newsletter:
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Eid Street Fair is back - Join thousands from across the Bay as we celebrate Eid with Arab street food, petting zoos, and a live performance from Palestinian artist MC Abdul. - RSVP hereÂ
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Making Eid a State Holiday - Assemblymember Matt Haney has introduced legislation to designate Eid as a state holiday in California, and I’ve introduced a resolution at the Board of Supervisors to support it. This is about recognizing the hundreds of thousands of Muslims who live, work, and study in our state.
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How to Unlock 50K Units of Housing - A new study from the Budget and Legislative Analyst found it takes 280 days to approve housing permits in San Francisco, slower than any other major city. We’re now advancing solutions, including potential ballot measures, to speed up housing production. Read more
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Condemning ICE actions at SFO - I co-sponsored a Board resolution, introduced by Supervisors Chan and Chen, condemning ICE’s actions at SFO, urging Congress to fund the TSA, and calling on San Francisco law enforcement agencies to reaffirm their commitment to our Sanctuary City policies.
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Join me at the Cherry Blossom Parade - I’ll be marching alongside Japantown community leaders this April in the Cherry Blossom Parade. Join our contingent and march with us by RSVPing here!
Keep reading for more 👇
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Dear Neighbor,
We recently marked the end of Ramadan here in San Francisco, a sacred month of fasting, reflection, and community for Muslims around the world.
Ramadan holds deep meaning for me, both as the first Muslim elected to the Board of Supervisors and as a representative of thousands of Muslim residents in District 5.
Throughout the month, I had the honor of visiting our diverse Muslim communities across the district—from the Al-Sabeel Mosque in the Tenderloin to the San Francisco Muslim Community Center in the Western Addition. I joined Muslim first responders for iftar, and celebrated community leaders like Tatiana Alabsi, who leads our Safe Passage program and continues to uplift our youth.
To celebrate the end of Ramadan, I’m proud to co-organize the return of the Tenderloin Eid Street Fair in partnership with EMPIRE and the Tenderloin Community Benefit District this Saturday, March 28. |
Last year, we significantly expanded the Eid Street Fair in the Tenderloin—bringing thousands together to celebrate in the heart of our city. Streets were filled with halal food vendors, live performances for families, and a joyful sense of community.
This year will be even bigger—spanning three blocks along Golden Gate Avenue, with performances from Palestinian rapper MC Abdul, incredible halal food, music, and activities for all ages. The event is free and open to everyone—RSVP here!
Honoring our community also means advancing representation and recognition. That’s why I was proud to introduce a resolution at the Board of Supervisors endorsing Assemblymember Matt Haney’s legislation to designate Eid as an official state holiday in California.
Our Muslim community is an essential part of what makes our city strong. It’s time we celebrate and uplift their contributions—from small businesses to families to future generations.
In service,
Bilal Mahmood
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Making Eid an Official State Holiday
We’re working to make Eid an official state holiday in California.
This month, Assemblymember Matt Haney, alongside Hala Hijazi and the California Commission on APIA Affairs, announced AB 2017, a bill in the State Legislature that would designate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as official state holidays. I also introduced a resolution at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to formally endorse this effort.
For the hundreds of thousands of Muslims across California—and the many Muslim residents in District 5 that I represent—this is a meaningful step forward. It’s about ensuring our culture, faith, and values are recognized and reflected in our institutions.
Because our Muslim families, workers, and children deserve to be seen, respected, and celebrated, just like everyone else.
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BLA Report on Housing
Why are 50,000 housing units entitled in San Francisco but still not breaking ground?
In part, it’s because it takes more than 280 days to get permits approved after entitlement, longer than in any other major city.
Last year, I commissioned a first-of-its-kind study from our City's Budget and Legislative Analyst to compare San Francisco’s post-entitlement permitting process with peer cities and identify how we can do better.
What we found is that multiple departments are responsible for post-entitlement approvals, but there is no single point of accountability. At the same time, our building code, which spans over 1,000 pages, often leads to multiple rounds of review that further slow projects down.
To fix this, we need to streamline post-entitlement permitting through greater coordination, consistency, and accountability, including creating a true one-stop shop for housing approvals.
There is a challenge. The roles of key departments like Planning and Building Inspection are defined in the City Charter, which makes structural reform difficult without voter approval.
That's why I will be introducing a Charter reform measure this November to help cut red tape and get housing built faster.
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Sometimes, the biggest wins come from the messiest situations.Over the past several weeks, our office worked closely with city partners to address a persistent sewer backup that was disrupting daily life for residents on Delmar Street. What started as a frustrating, recurring issue—complete with delays and a few false starts—ultimately led us to the root of the problem, quite literally.
After sustained follow-up and coordination, crews completed a full repair, removing intrusive roots and restoring proper flow. The result: a clean, dry, and fully functioning space where there was once standing wastewater. Not glamorous work, but the kind that makes a real difference.
A big thank you to our partners at the PUC for seeing this through, and to the city teams who helped keep everything moving and aligned along the way. It takes real coordination to turn slow progress into a lasting fix.
It’s a reminder that persistence pays off, and that even underground problems deserve above-ground attention.
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Celebrating Tenderloin Leaders
This month we honored community leaders in the Tenderloin who have given back to our neighborhood for decades.
Mike Vuong –
Mike has dedicated over two decades to the Tenderloin through the Boys & Girls Club, growing from a youth member into the Director of the Tenderloin Clubhouse. His leadership has provided generations of young people with stability, opportunity, and inspiration, leaving a lasting impact on the neighborhood.
Pakwan –
For over 20 years, Pakwan has been a cornerstone of the Tenderloin, serving the community with both incredible food and deep generosity. From family legacy to providing thousands of free meals during Ramadan, they embody a lasting commitment to uplifting the neighborhood.
Tatianna Alabsi –
Tatianna has spent nearly a decade serving Tenderloin families through the Safe Passage program, helping ensure children can travel to and from school safely. Her leadership, compassion, and dedication continue to bring joy and security to the community’s youth. |
Stephen Tennis Way
This month, we honored Stephen Tennis, a beloved community leader in the Tenderloin, with a commemorative street renaming to celebrate his legacy.
Stephen was the first park captain for the Tenderloin Safe Passage program, a tireless tenant advocate, and a deeply respected presence in the neighborhood.
My office authored the legislation to officially designate the street in his honor, and it was a joy to celebrate alongside his family, friends, and community.
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$36 Million Renovation of Japantown’s Peace Plaza
We’re nearing completion of a $36 million renovation of Japantown’s Peace Plaza!
Led by community leaders, including Jon Osaki, and delivered in partnership with SF Rec & Park, this project represents the city’s largest investment in Japantown in over 50 years.
The renovation includes structural upgrades to the iconic pagoda, waterproofing to protect the Japantown garage below, and new paving, trees, and interactive art throughout the plaza.
Peace Plaza is expected to reopen to the public later this summer, welcoming residents and visitors back to the heart of Japantown.
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Cherry Blossom Parade
Join my parade contingent at the 59th San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on Sunday, April 19!
We’ll be surrounded by community, live music, and vibrant dance performances as the city celebrates Japanese culture and the beauty of cherry blossom season, with this year’s Grand Marshal, Atsuko Okatsuka, leading the festivities!
🌸 Parade start time: 1:00 PM
📣 Want to march with us?
Save the date now. More details about the route, lineup, and activities will be shared in the coming weeks! We’ll be taking the shoelace express, so make sure to wear your most comfortable walking shoes.Â
Sign up here
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Coffee Chat
Spring is in the air and I’m hosting another round of one-on-one coffee chats and would really value the chance to hear what’s on your mind, whether it’s a question, a concern, or an idea for how we can keep moving District 5 forward. These are informal conversations, just you and me, no agenda beyond what you want to talk about.
I’ll be in Hayes Valley on Saturday, April 11th from 1:45 to 3:15 PM. The exact café will be shared once you RSVP. To give more neighbors the opportunity to participate, each conversation will be about 15 minutes.
Sign up and join me for a quick but meaningful conversation. Reserve your time slot HERE.
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Weekly Lower Haight Clean Up!
Lower Haight gets dirty, so let’s get together for a weekly clean-up. Afterwards, you can hang & grab food and beverages from Tarragon Cafe, sponsored by Civic Joy Fund.
Who: YOU + friends, kids, dogs
What: Neighborhood Clean Up
Where: Tarragon Cafe, 200 Fillmore @ Waller
When: Sundays 10 am - 11 am
Click Here to Register
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Need help? Don’t hesitate to reach out at MahmoodStaff@sfgov.org. We’re here to serve!
Let’s work together to make District 5 a better place for all.
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