Friends & neighbors,

I’m thrilled to share some great news – following pressure from neighborhood leaders and our office, and on the eve of a vote my office’s resolution demanding Safeway reconsider and reverse its plan to close the Fillmore’s only full service grocery store in March, Safeway officials just announced that they would stay open until January 2025.

As soon as we heard Safeway’s announcement to close in less than 60 days, we said clearly, and unequivocally – not here, not now. I am pleased that Safeway has listened to the hundreds of community members who demanded they reverse plans to close a critical location to so many of our vulnerable community members.

On January 4th, Safeway announced the closure of their Webster Street location, shocking and outraging the Fillmore and Japantown communities that rely on this store for food, the pharmacy, and the banking services on site. My office immediately responded with a letter to Safeway officials , demanding that they withdraw plans to close in March, and work with all stakeholders to hold a community meeting. We then introduced a resolution at the Board of Supervisors on January 8, scheduled to be voted on by the full board tomorrow, Tuesday, January 23, to be preceded by a rally at Safeway on Tuesday morning with community members, neighborhood leaders from the Fillmore and Japantown, and Board President Aaron Peskin, and Supervisors Ahsha Safai and Shamann Walton. Then we just got the great news earlier today.

Safeway’s decision here is an important first step to making sure plans for this site do not harm the community. We urge Safeway and any buyer to work collaboratively with community members and city leaders on a real plan for this important site in the heart of the Fillmore.

Thank you to the hundreds of neighbors who contacted our office, thank you to the organizers and activists who stood up for this community, and for the elected officials who from the very start made sure Safeway heard your demands.

There is work to be done, to be sure, but I wanted to share this exciting update.