Dear <<First Name>>,
What do we mean when we talk about "the soul of San Francisco"? You've heard people bemoan how it’s being crushed by speculation, erased by gentrification, or hurt by those who have yet to understand it. You may also have rejoiced at how it continues to thrive in various enclaves, how it’s kept alive by those willing to advocate for and rejuvenate it. But what is that “it”?
It was certainly worth thinking about this month as we celebrated the 100th birthday of Lawrence Ferlinghetti, a living testament to San Francisco's enduring soul. Read my column in April's Marina Times for more ruminations, and read on below to learn about how we're working to put those thoughts into action.
See you in the neighborhood, and don't be shy to hit reply.
Sincerely,
Aaron |
|
|
The Protect & Preserve Act: Saving Affordable Housing
|
|
The City's recent Housing Balance Report revealed a startling data point: over the last 10 years, for every two units of affordable housing built, we've lost one to demolition or speculative eviction. In all, the City has shed over 4,200 rent controlled or affordable homes and displaced thousands of tenants in the midst of our ongoing housing crisis!
To address this problem, I introduced a bill to help protect the City's most affordable housing - which, more often than not, is our existing rent controlled and deed-restricted housing. The bill is also motivated by a strong desire to keep tenants in their homes, amid rampant speculation and a market that strongly favors "Monster Homes" over secure, affordable housing.
As the Protect & Preserve Act hurtles toward its first public hearings next month, my office has been working closely with City departments and community stakeholders to refine the proposal and ensure that it protects tenants, prevents unlawful demolitions and creates incentives for new affordable housing. Stay tuned!
ALSO:
Did you know that District 3 has the highest concentration of low-income seniors in San Francisco? And that 50% of them aren't actually income-eligible for the City's affordable housing lottery where "affordable" rents are set 4x as high for seniors as other low-income residents? Come out to this Monday's Land Use & Transportation Committee and join the movement to ensure our most vulnerable neighbors and seniors have equitable access to the City's affordable housing stock, as we fight to ensure more funding for senior housing in this November's $500 million Housing Bond. |
|
|
Shedding Light On Surveillance Technology
|
|
As surveillance technology evolves in ways that seemed unthinkable just a decade ago, unfortunately so does the potential for surveillance technology to be abused. Earlier this year, I introduced the Stop Secret Surveillance Ordinance - modeled after similar laws in Oakland and Santa Clara County - to provide some oversight of the City's use of this increasingly advanced technology, from License Plate Readers to microphone- and video-enabled street lamps.
As I simultaneously advocate for new security cameras to address auto-burglaries and retail theft in Union Square and Chinatown, my desire for greater public oversight of this technology is simple: living in a secure community should not mean living in a surveillance state. By that same token, good policing does not mean living in a police state. Safety in our communities means more than just preventing crime; it also means building community trust in the City's ability to govern responsibly.
I'm proud to work alongside ACLU NorCal, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Color of Change, SF Latino Democrats, the Asian Law Caucus and a broad coalition of advocates to help build community trust through public oversight of our City's integrated surveillance network. I firmly believe that when it comes to safety in our communities, we can benefit from amazing technological advances while safeguarding against violations of your civil rights and civil liberties. |
|
|
Revitalizing Downtown Retail & Enhancing the Pedestrian Experience
|
|
From premiere shopping to home-grown institutions, Union Square has long been a premiere retail destination for San Francisco residents and our robust tourist industry. It is also facing new challenges, from expanding online shopping behavior to competitive office growth.
Everyone has a part to play in ensuring the vitality of this iconic destination. Amid a flurry of applications to convert prime retail storefronts to office space, I convened City departments and longtime stewards of Union Square to ensure that street-level retail spaces were protected from the impacts of a highly speculative market. In doing so, we passed legislation to regulate office conversions and create a conversion "impact fee" that will immediately redirect over $1 million into overdue improvements along Maiden Lane, the Powell Street cable car turnaround, and Hallidie Plaza. Thank you to the Union Square Business Improvement District (whose renewal efforts I am sponsoring at the Board of Supervisors) for their continued collaboration. |
|
|
It's Time for PG&E Accountability & Public Power
|
|
Following 17 wildfires in Northern California over the course of the past two years - including last year's Camp Fire that killed 85 people and razed 14,000 homes - PG&E filed for bankruptcy in a transparent attempt to pass tens of billions of dollars in potential liabilities on to their ratepayers. As shareholder equity has more than doubled to $20 billion over the past decade, it is unconscionable for public entities and ratepayers to bear this burden.
Earlier this year, I authored and the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a Resolution to reform state liability provisions that unfairly shift costs from this private utility to public entities, homeowners and ratepayers. In the meantime, the City and County of San Francisco is working on every opportunity to acquire PG&E's infrastructure and establish a Public Power system that prioritizes public safety over private profit.
Read my Marina Times column on "Next Steps for Clean, Safe & Affordable Energy Independence" to learn more. |
|
|
Landmarking Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
|
|
Nestled in the Northeast corner of San Francisco at 906 Broadway is Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, a site that is historic not just for its beauty but for its association with the development of San Francisco's Latino and Spanish-speaking communities that helped define North Beach through the 1950's.
The building earned landmark status for its exterior in 1993, and this month - with the consent of its new owners - the City was able to landmark its character-defining interior features. If you haven't seen it in person, trust me, this striking architectural treasure is worth a visit. |
|
|
Celebrating Polk Streetscape Safety Improvements and a newly-activated Fern Alley
|
|
| Although the Polk Streetscape Project technically spans three Supervisorial Districts from the Bay to the Tenderloin, it truly was the Lower Polk community that pushed hard for this project to include a vibrant mix of open space, alleyway, pedestrian and bicycle improvements. The City dug deep on this project - literally - to perform critical sewer, traffic signal and water line replacements, as well. Kudos to the capable public servants at Public Works who led this inter-departmental effort and helped keep the entire 1.3 mile project on track and everyone for their patience |
|
|
Affordable Housing Week 2019
|
|
| San Francisco is celebrating its annual Affordable Housing Week during the first week of May 2019, sponsored by the Council of Community Housing Organizations. Events include policy panels, groundbreakings for affordable housing projects, and educational workshops all uplifting the housing affordability issues our communities are facing, while offering solutions and rich conversation. Find more information here! |
|
|
SF Youth Commission Open House!
|
|
| On Thursday, May 2, the San Francisco Youth Commission will hold its first ever Open House for people between the ages of 12 and 23 years old seeking to make a direct impact on local government. Do you know anyone potentially interested in applying to the Youth Commission in the year ahead? Come on by for free food and an art show featuring artists from the Youth Art Exchange (YAX). Thanks to D3 Youth Commissioner Maggie Dong for her ongoing leadership! More information here. |
|
|
Judge Puri Takes the Bench!
|
|
| Congratulations to my dear friend and neighbor, the Honorable Vedica Puri, on her appointment to the San Francisco Superior Court. Judge Puri's appointment caps an impressive legal career - and a term as the President of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers! I am confident she will serve with honor and distinction. |
|
|
Women's History Month and Black Futures Month Honorees
|
|
It was my genuine honor to commend Sarah Aminzadeh, my colleague on the California Coastal Commission, for Women's History Month. A fighter for environmental justice every day of the year, I can always count on Commissioner Aminzadeh to challenge power with truth. California is beyond lucky to have such a strong public servant on its side.
It was also my honor to commend the incomparable Towanna Granger, a resident organizer of the Ping Yuen Resident Improvement Association (PYRIA) - the City's oldest and most active public housing tenant association - and all-around community treasure. It was a joy for the Board to be regaled by her poetry and wisdom. |
|
|
North Beach Farmer's Market - 2019 Season Opening this Saturday, April 27th
|
|
| Particularly if this beautiful Spring weather holds, it's shaping up to be a delightful day to visit the 2019 Season Opening of the North Beach Farmer's Market. Stop by anytime from 9am-1pm at 699 Columbus Ave. (corner of Filbert St.), and find more information here. Thank you, North Beach Neighbors! |
|
| That's all for now, but there's much more to come. Questions or concerns? Don't hesitate to reply directly to this email. Better yet, reach out to any one of my capable staff:
We look forward to hearing from you! |
|
|
|
