Friends and Neighbors,
The past year has been filled with challenges and opportunities that none of us could have predicted. Which makes it hard to believe that, in one sense, we’re just at the beginning of our time at City Hall.
On January 8, I was sworn in for my first official term as District 5 Supervisor, after serving the final year of a previously-vacated term. We have an ambitious agenda to tackle over the next four years, with equity and justice centered, and I am looking forward to continuing to serve District 5 through this challenging time.
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Since the start of the new year, my office has been working to stop evictions and prevent pandemic-related displacement; get as many people off the streets and into vacant hotels or safe sleeping sites; strengthen a benefits agreement with UCSF to offset the impact of their proposed Parnassus campus expansion, and much more, described below.
In addition to our policy work, as part of the new Board, I was appointed as Chair of the Government Audit & Oversight Committee and Vice Chair of the Land Use and Transportation Committee. These are critical committees for our city and I’m honored to serve in this leadership role.
We are also excited that today marks the beginning of Black History Month. Stay tuned to our social media, and a special newsletter, for news and events related to this important celebration.
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➩ Safe Reopening & Vaccine Info
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On January 26th, the state assigned San Francisco to the purple tier - the most limited tier. We will resume activities allowed by the State in the purple tier, including outdoor dining and personal services, with certain additional safety limitations to limit the spread of the virus. The health order took effect on January 28th. Currently, the curfew is still in place. You can find the latest health updates here.
We understand how challenging this pandemic has been on all of us and are hopeful now that vaccine rollout has begun. San Francisco’s goal is to have everyone vaccinated by June 30th.
It is critical that everyone in San Francisco get vaccinated as soon as it is their turn. It is not mandatory, but vaccinating most people is critical to stop COVID-19 from mutating and continuing to impact our world. Information is constantly changing, and we suggest checking the latest here.
There is also a COVID-19 Vaccinations Tracker that provides information on the number of people who live in San Francisco who have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine and the number of doses administered within San Francisco to anyone. We also encourage you to sign up to be notified when you're eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Right now, we do not have enough vaccines for mass vaccination sites, but those will be set up as soon as we receive a shipment. Unfortunately, we have not received a timeline on the arrival of further vaccines, though it is coming. You can learn about future prioritization groups here.
To get your vaccine, contact your primary care physician. Please remember that the vaccine is in short supply so you may not be able to book your appointment today. If you do not have a physician, contact the SF Health Network.
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➩ The Latest on Eviction Protections
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One of the top priorities for my office has been to do everything in our power to prevent displacement that resulted from COVID-related hardship. This past summer, we passed an ordinance that banned COVID-related nonpayment evictions. It was challenged in court and upheld, a major victory for our City . Then a state bill, AB 3088 was passed in the Fall, which created state protections. Those protections were set to expire January 31, 2021, until just this past week, when state lawmakers unveiled SB91, extending the statewide eviction moratorium for nonpayment of rent through June 2021, as well as creating a rent relief program.
At the last minute, SB91 was passed and signed into law last week. While there are certainly positive aspects to the bill’s passage--the most immediate being the extension of the eviction moratorium--we do have concerns about how the bill may prevent us from making stronger local protections for impacted renters. We are working to better understand what we are able to do for San Francisco tenants under this new law, but in the meantime, if you have questions about your rent, please visit the Anti-Displacement Coalition website, which includes information on what to do if you are behind on rent, as well as organizations to contact if you need help.
My office is committed to making sure we help San Franciscans in need, and later this month, we plan to host a convening to provide resources and educate impacted residents. Stay tuned for more information.
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➩ Developing First Municipal Public Bank in U.S.
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On Tuesday last week, we introduced legislation to develop a plan for the first municipal public bank in the nation.
The Reinvest in SF ordinance will develop a business plan to safely reinvest city funds in affordable housing, small business loans, green infrastructure for a just economic recovery.
A Working Group composed of community representatives and financial experts will create a timeline and a business plan to submit to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, the state agency that approves the establishment of public banks on the local level.
The ordinance is possible due to the previous passage of AB 857, which allows local governments the opportunity to establish a public bank, enabling a framework for state and regional public banks in California.
During a global pandemic when San Franciscans are facing massive unemployment, rent debt, and financial insecurity, billionaire wealth has surged. As we chart a path to economic recovery, we must ensure that our city dollars are used to correct the inequities in our city. We are so proud to take this major step alongside the SF Public Bank Coalition to establish the nation’s first public bank.
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➩ Funding a Fair Recovery with Prop I
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As we navigate the terrain with federal and state relief, we are moving forward with our own local programs to make sure every San Franciscan is protected.
This past year, we authored Prop I, a tax on super wealthy real estate deals, thanks to 58% of voters, it passed with a strong mandate. Now, we are making sure that money goes to what it’s intended--emergency rent relief for COVID-impacted tenants, and the creation of permanently-affordable, social housing.
The ordinance to allocate that money is coming to the Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday, February 10. For more information on the hearing, contact kyle.smeallie@sfgov.org.
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➩ In Effort to Create Safer Streets, Transportation Board Approves First Raised Intersection in San Francisco
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The San Francisco County Transportation Authority Board approved the Page Street Neighborway project which includes 6 sidewalk extensions (three at Buchanan, one at laguna, and two at Gough), four rain gardens, and the first raised intersection in the city at Page and Buchanan Streets.
The Page Street project is part of the San Francisco Planning Department's Green Connections Network, proposed in 2014 to improve 115 miles of streets across the city.
The elements proposed within this project will slow traffic and create a safer and more comfortable walking environment on Page and on the crossings at Webster, Buchanan, and Laguna Streets. The raised intersection, the first of its kind in San Francisco, will improve safety for those moving between John Muir Elementary School and Koshland Park, as well as other nearby destinations.
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➩ Fighting for Housing, Transit as Part of UCSF Expansion Plan
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UCSF has proposed a major expansion of its Parnassus campus, and my office has been hard at work to make sure the development aligns with the City’s priorities for housing, open space, and transportation.
The Comprehensive Parnassus Heights Plan (“CPHP”) details the university’s intent to add 1.5 million square feet of new office, medical, and research space, bringing its total footprint to roughly 5.05 million square feet. This is, by any measure, a major expansion that will impact not only this campus and the surrounding neighborhoods, but all parts of the city.
The city has worked to negotiate an Memorandum of Understanding with UCSF to offset some of the impacts. The current MOU has a lot of good aspects to it--there are proposed agreements for affordable housing, transit fees, and a labor agreement, to name a few--but I believe we can and should do better.
I held a hearing at the Board of Supervisors to make sure our district and the public at large could better understand the expansion plan as well as the proposed MOU, and the related impacts on affordable housing and transit in particular. A lot of important questions were raised in that hearing, including points about whether the agreement between the city and UCSF is enforceable.
Coming out of that hearing, I introduced and passed a resolution calling for a brief pause by the Regents to approve the UCSF plan. My office called for a global mediation between the various impacted parties, as was successfully done several years ago in connection with the development of California Pacific Medical Center.
Unfortunately, the Regents decided to disregard the Board, and voted to move forward with conditional approval of the plan at their January meeting.
Regardless, we will continue to work for the best outcome for the impacted neighborhoods, and are pleased with some of the recent improvements to this proposal. But at the end of the day, I believe the insistence by UCSF and the Regents on rolling out plans without meaningfully involving key stakeholders contributes to the acrimony that could be avoided with real community planning.
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➩ Standing up for Japantown
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I was deeply concerned to learn of multiple incidents in the Japantown community where treasured Cherry Blossom trees were vandalized. In response, I introduced and passed a resolution condemning the destruction and calling for the immediate replacement of the trees.
Public Works has been engaging with the neighborhood to replace the Cherry Blossom trees adjacent to the JCCCNC, and I want to thank the department for their expeditious work.
We have been reminded of the significance of our city’s Japantown in the community response to this incident. Donations from around the world were made to a GoFundMe to support the planting of new trees, a testament to the notion that Japantown is important not only to our city, but to the cultural heritage of the Japanese community worldwide.
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➩ Mission Rock Street Renaming
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Back in June, the Board of Supervisors was presented with plans for development at Mission Rock, which included the creation of several new streets. As a member of the Land Use and Transportation Committee, my office carefully reviewed the proposal, and we saw an opportunity to name some of the new streets in a more meaningful way. At a time when San Franciscans were taking to the streets in unprecedented numbers to demand racial justice, we thought it only made sense to take this opportunity to recognize the contributions of trailblazing black San Franciscans, who all too often are marginalized in our city’s history.
The Port of San Francisco, working with the San Francisco Giants, agreed with our suggestion, and working with my colleagues on the Board, went back and considered alternatives. I am proud to say that after a community process, and approval from the Port Commission, the streets will be named in honor of Toni Stone and Dr. Maya Angelou, two incredible African American trailblazers.
The item was approved at the Land Use and Transportation Committee on January 25th, and it is expected to pass at the full Board of Supervisors this coming week. I want to thank everyone who was part of this process, including Port of San Francisco Executive Director Elaine Forbes, Roscoe Mapps of the San Francisco Giants, and my colleagues Supervisor Matt Haney and Board President Shamann Walton.
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➩ Bringing back the 6, 21 and 31 buses in District 5
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Even during a pandemic, public transportation remains the backbone of sustainable mobility and essential to the recovery of San Francisco. We have been advocating to bring back our MUNI lines and are pleased that many have returned to service in District 5, but others are still suspended without a timetable for return.
In order to truly address environmental and equity concerns, we must advocate for the return of Muni lines and prioritize public transit and other sustainable modes of transportation. Here is a petition created by community members calling for the return of these critical lines.
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Though D5 street and vehicle homelessness numbers have returned to near what they were pre-pandmic, we still have many folks to house and connect with services. Let us know if you see an encampment, so we can be sure to flag it for offers of services and appropriate shelter.
HOTELS: The good news is that the Biden Administration has approved FEMA funding to reimburse 100% of the costs of Shelter in Place hotels for seniors and COVID vulnerable people through unhoused people through September! The bad news is that the Mayor has decided to not house anyone in hotels who entered the homelessness system after April -- though again, it’s 100% reimbursable -- which will undoubtedly leave folks on the street, which is bad for literally everyone. We’re going to keep pushing for MORE folks to get into hotels.
SAFE SLEEP: The Homelessness Department has extended the budget for Safe Sleeping sites. Currently, the 33 Gough Safe Sleeping Village is now extended through the month of June. 730 Stanyan Safe Sleeping Village was extended through March, and also has access to that same budget money to extend, but Covid Command has not finalized a decision on that.
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➩ Bring Democratic Socialists of America into local government
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One of the amazing fellows in our office, Lex, wrote a piece about what it's like to intern in our office. Aside from running an efficient and productive office, we're working towards an environment where young people can cut their teeth on policy, legislation, and government operations and build our bench of future City leaders!
Recently our office had the honor of appointing two young community leaders in DSA to Citizens Advisory Committees. While they both have extensive experience in advocacy and policy, and a deep passion for the subject matter of these committees and the city departments they represent, they’re both far from your average political insiders. Here’s to uplifting a new generation of community voices to city government, and the fresh, progressive perspective they can add to the conversation.
Welcome:
Emily Algire, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission CAC
Chris Arvin, Municipal Transportation Agency, CAC
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➩ Free DIY workshops for adult residents Fillmore/ Western Addition
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Friday Evenings 6pm: Space is limited
Contact: honeyartstudio415@gmail.com
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Please do not hesitate to reach out to our office with any ideas, questions or concerns, at prestonstaff@sfgov.org.
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