Supervisor Melgar 10252023 Newsletter

Dear Neighbors,

Public Safety is the number one concern for San Franciscans. While the Board of Supervisors has limited oversight over Departments and staffing, I share an interest in having a robust and motivated police force to keep us safe. We also need focused resources to support people living with mental health and substance abuse issues.

I think it is important that the public has a chance to hear from and ask questions to public servants rather than just reading about it in the news. So last September, we organized and participated in a townhall where over 100 residents showed up for a panel that included myself, Police Captains, and City Attorney David Chiu for a discussion on the actions and challenges the city faces. Since that town hall, San Francisco received more clarity on the court injunction regarding public sleeping laws, making it clear that there can be enforcement of problematic encampments that pose a safety risk or block the public right-of-ways.

Our office is increasingly receiving calls for service around people experiencing homelessness, but the response times and resources for our side of the city are limited. A concentration of services and non profits are located in the downtown areas but are scarce in the outer neighborhoods. I hope to change that. That is why I used this week's Question Time for the Mayor, to publicly ask for more homelessness services for the West side of town.

UPDATE ON ASSAULT CASE AT SHAW'S

I want to thank the community for the amazing response to our request for letters regarding the brutal attack at Shaw's Ice Cream and Candy. Along with my own letter, 35 letters from the community were submitted to the District Attorney asking the Court to make sure that the perpetrator of the violence remains behind bars. There have been three hearings so far to determine how this case will move forward. Assistant District Attorney Jamal Anderson has done a good job. The defendant remains in custody and the next hearing is scheduled for October 27th. My staff will continue to monitor this case. Our heart goes out to Diana Zogaric and the other members of the community that were assaulted. Our gratitude also goes out to new Taraval Police Station Captain Hoo who has stepped up the number of Police that are patrolling West Portal. The difference has been significant.

We love to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 415-554-6516 or via email at MelgarStaff@sfgov.org if you require assistance.

Sincerely,
Myrna

---

TABLE OF NEWSLETTER CONTENTS

Legislative and Project Updates
Government In Action
In the Community
Halloween Events

LEGISLATIVE AND PROJECT UPDATES

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF POLICE OFFICERS

Every year, we are losing many officers to retirement and other counties and our hiring process has not been able to keep up with the losses.

One way to stop the bleed of officers from our force, and aid in our recruitment efforts is to ensure that serving in our Police Force works for all lifestyles, including women and mothers. This month, I called for a hearing on the working conditions of women and mothers in the San Francisco Police Department to see what barriers we can break down to encourage women to join the force. My office has convened a working group of the Police Commission, SFPD leadership, the Department on the Status of Women, and the Sheriff’s Department in order to explore a pilot program to provide childcare to SFPD officers.

When women have more opportunities to enter and thrive in our Police Force, we can finally get back to a City where all San Franciscans feel safe and we can continue to build upon the cultural change within the department that has been part of our systemic reforms.

VISION ZERO GOALS

I am also introducing a hearing request to explore another method to bring us closer to our Vision Zero goals of zero traffic-related deaths on our streets. Almost ten years ago, San Francisco adopted the Vision Zero policy and yet we have made little progress on implementing the physical infrastructure needed to protect pedestrians, folks with disabilities, and bicycle riders across the City from collisions with cars. One tool that we should be employing more than we currently are is "daylighting" or visibility improvements near intersections. Across District 7 and San Francisco, there are countless intersections that have low visibility and high risk to life and limb. In 2019, my predecessor President Norman Yee passed legislation urging the SFMTA to daylight every intersection on the High Injury Network in order to improve pedestrian safety where it is most needed.

We are also thrilled that the Governor signed into law AB 645 to allow San Francisco to pilot automated speed enforcement cameras. This has been a long legislative journey. SFMTA will be working on evaluating sites where cameras can be rolled out over the next year.

"LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS" PERMIT LEGISLATION

From little libraries to tiled staircases, neighborhood beautification and enhancement projects bring vibrancy and joy to San Francisco. Many of these neighbor-led projects face needlessly complicated, expensive obstacles because they happen to be in the public right-of-way even when they do not obstruct travel. That is why I am the proud to work with Public Works and sponsor legislation to cut the red tape and establish a one-stop, easy, better-coordinated system to streamline approvals of neighborhood projects.

The Love Our Neighborhoods legislation will create a new program with 3 tiers. Tier 1 provides free registration for residents who want to add a little library, bench, or planter in front of their property. Tier 2 allows organizations and neighborhood groups to apply for projects that add artwork to existing public spaces such as wall or sidewalk murals, tiled steps, or stringed lights for a nominal fee. Tier 3 allows organizations and neighborhood groups to apply for permits for more complex projects like sculptures, major landscaping, etc. for a reasonable fee.

The legislation will be heard at the Land Use & Transportation Committee on Monday, October 30th at 1:30pm. We need your support! To learn more, please e-mail Jen.Low@sfgov.org.

REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT ENDS

Last week, the Board of Supervisors passed a new rule that would limit remote public comment–the ability to use a phone to testify – at meetings. This was a motion introduced by President Peskin to address the recent spike in unanimous hate-filled callers who have abused the public comment system.

I voted in dissent because I believe that remote public comment provided an opportunity to residents who are unable to physically be at City Hall because of caregiving responsibilities, mobility issues, or because they are unable to take hours off work to be at a hearing.

I know that District 7 residents – being as far as we are from City Hall benefited from being able to call into a hearing.

Unfortunately, the motion passed by a 8-3 vote. Members of the public who wish to call in must now request in advance a reasonable accommodation by contacting the Clerk's Office at (415) 554-5184 in advance of the meeting. The request should include a description of the functional limitations that precludes their ability to attend in person. Those requiring remote access via phone will be required to provide a phone number that they will be calling in from so that system administrators may identify them in the caller queue; however personal contact information will not be retained.

The Board of Supervisors will still able to receive your comment in writing via mail or e-mail at bos@sfgov.org.

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION

RAINREADY SF & WAWONA STORMDRAIN PROJECT

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is upgrading our combined sewer system in the district to better manage stormwater. The Wawona and Vicente Streets Project will be completed in your neighborhood later this year, increasing sewer capacity and reducing flood risk. With the completion of the project, we are updating our approach to sandbag delivery. After the delivery of sandbags this fall (2023), we will no longer be delivering sandbags to your neighborhood starting next fall (2024).

We will schedule a sandbag pickup once the rainy season is over in spring/summer 2024.

After this year, you can still pick up FREE sandbags from the San Francisco Public Works operations yard at 2323 Cesar Chavez (entrance off of Kansas/Marin Streets). For more info, visit http://sfpublicworks.org/sandbags.

WAWONA AND VICENTE STREET STORMWATER AND WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT

October 9th: Paving and Speed Hump Restoration to begin at Wawona Street between 14th and Vicente
Late-October: Merced Manor Lawn Sewer Work Restoration
January 2024: Anticipated Project Completion

For questions, please email ssip@sfwater.org or leave a message at (415) 554-3233.

NEW UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has launched an updated Customer Assistance Program that provides 25%-40% off SFPUC water/sewer bills for customers with low incomes. Check your eligibility and apply today.

SF PLANNING DEPARTMENT
EXPANDING HOUSING CHOICE OPEN HOUSE

Please join SF Planning to share your feedback on Expanding Housing Choice (Housing Element Zoning Program). At the Open House, you will learn about existing zoning and land use rules and proposed changes to better meet San Francisco’s housing needs, increase affordability for low- and middle-income households, and help advance racial and social equity.

Enjoy some light bites, and opening remarks from our City leadership at each event. We look forward to your participation!

November 8, 2023, 5:30-7:30PM
SF LGBTQ Center, 1800 Market Street, San Francisco. Register here

November 15, 2023, 5:30-7:30PM
San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 9th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here

Register and get more information here for November 8th or 15th.

There will be a short presentation followed by opportunities to meet with various City departments on the collective effort to pair new housing with critical infrastructure, services, and resources to support communities.

If you are not able to attend, materials will be posted online. Visit the webpage for more information about how the City plans to implement the Housing Element.

To schedule Planning staff to attend your next neighborhood meeting to discuss the Housing Element, e-mail: sf.housing.choice@sfgov.org.

IN THE COMMUNITY

HAWK HILL PARK CLEAN UP

D7 Resident Daniel Fuchs came to our office months ago with a plan to make his neighborhood better and his first cleanup went better than expected. Twenty neighbors gathered this past Saturday in the morning for a couple of hours of community bonding and environmental stewardship. One of the reasons our office loves this cleanup so much is that it is a truly multi-generational gathering. We hope people will join in and volunteer next weekend. Daniel is planning on doing it again in a couple of months so email him if you are interested. Daniel Fuchs: danielbfuchs@gmail.com

https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Hawk-Hill-340

INGLESIDE LIBRARY CHESS CLUB

Looking for high school students who are interested in teaching chess to younger kids.

HALLOWEEN EVENTS

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

This email was sent by: City and County of San Francisco
1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place, San Francisco, California, 94102 United States

Privacy Policy