Friends and Neighbors,
It’s almost Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos! We hope that everyone can have a fun and safe celebration this year. As the community gets ready to engage in the upcoming festivities, the Department of Public Health has released the following guidelines for our city:
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Outdoor activities, such as trick-or-treating, are much safer than indoor activities
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Wash your hands before and after Halloween activities
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Bring hand sanitizer while trick-or-treating
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Limit outdoor crowds especially for unvaccinated children
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Monitor your health and stay home if you feel sick
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Continue to make safer choices; consider wearing a mask in private indoor settings, especially where the vaccination status of those present is unknown
Keep reading for some important updates and upcoming community events! |
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➩ D5 Public Safety Meeting Tonight |
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| Over the weekend, our district experienced two shootings. Both incidents involved shootings from or at vehicles. This kind of gun violence is unacceptable in our communities. Our office is holding a public safety community meeting tonight, October 28, 2021, at 6:30 p.m., during which we expect updates on recent incidents, a discussion regarding available resources, and a community feedback session. You can register to attend at
https://bit.ly/d5comm-mtg. |
➩ Huge win! Key D5 Muni Lines Coming Back! |
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In a major breakthrough, the MTA is proposing to restore many of the lines that advocates and my office have demanded for the last year. The indefinite suspension of these lines has created a major rift between transit riders and the MTA, but the latest proposal offers hope that the agency will embark on a new path that unifies elected officials, operators, and riders to restore and expand public transit for the future.
MTA’s draft plan would restore the 2 Clement (to Presidio), 6 Parnassus (full line), 10 Townsend and 21 Hayes (to Civic Center), effective February 2022. Among other changes, the plan would also expand capacity on the 5 Fulton and restore the full route of the 43 Masonic.
In recent months, in public hearings under questioning from our office, SFMTA would not commit to restoring the lines that are now included in the proposed 2022 Restoration plan. I have been publicly critical of the process and the MTA’s refusal to commit to restoring key Muni lines and service. We passed a resolution demanding restoration, held a 4-hour hearing, and rallied publicly with advocates. Without the hard work of so many transit advocates, the return of these critical lines would not be happening.
We still have some work to do, and to be clear, this is far from 100% restoration.That said, the proposed February 2022 plan is a major step in the right direction, bringing back key lines and expanding others.
MTA’s 2022 Draft Muni Service Plan can be found here. You can find my full statement here.
Join us at a rally later today at 4pm, Grove and Van Ness, to celebrate the progress on MTA’s proposal, while we also press the MTA to bring back more service.
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➩ Calling for Transparency at 730 Stanyan |
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On Tuesday, we called for a hearing on the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing’s (HSH) sudden abandonment of plans to use a vacant lot for services for homeless youth.
After our office partnered with the Emergency Operations Center, the Homeless Youth Alliance, Larkin Street Youth Services, and neighbors to launch a safe sleeping site at this location-- which was broadly recognized as the most successful safe sleeping site in the City-- the site was extended twice, and then wound down at the end of June, with residents being moved to permanent supportive housing, SIP hotels, or other safe sleeping sites.
Our office secured a commitment from the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development and HSH that the site would continue to function and offer bathrooms, showers, and basic drop-in services, including referrals, for homeless Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) until the housing construction begins. The original plan for the interim-use drop-in center was to launch in September. HSH later confirmed that the services would launch in October for certain.
However, less than two weeks before the launch of the site, HSH senior staff informed us that the drop-in site would not proceed. We cannot expect our communities to trust the promises of HSH when explicit promises can be broken with no explanation to the community or the public. Accountability and transparency are important for our government to function effectively. We expect the hearing to be held at the Government Audit and Oversight Committee in November. |
On Tuesday, October 26, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved our law to ban “no fault” evictions until the end of the calendar year. This is a crucial component of our effort to make District 5 an Eviction Free Zone.
Over the past few weeks, we have been out making sure people know their rights and can stay in their homes. On Saturday, October 16 more than 50 volunteers joined to help us spread the word. We hand delivered more than 8,000 flyers with important information for every renter in our district, including the following:
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If you are asked to move, don't do it. You have protections to stay in your home.
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If you are behind on rent, don’t wait -- apply for rental assistance now at housingiskey.com. Your landlord cannot evict you if you have a pending application for rent relief.
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If you get an eviction notice, you can get a free attorney to help keep you in your home. Contact the Eviction Defense Collaborative at 415.659.9184 or legal@evictiondefense.org
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If you have questions about your housing, tenant counselors and legal assistance groups are available to help. Contact the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco:
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415.703.8644 (English, Spanish, Chinese)
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415.947.9085 (Russian)
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For more, visit sfadc.org/help
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➩ Tenant Rights Boot Camp |
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Worried about the eviction protection moratorium expiring? Don’t panic! Come to our Tenants Rights Boot Camp on November 4, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. at Rosa Parks Elementary at 1501 O’Farrell Street and learn your rights as a renter.
This workshop will cover what you’ll need to know about eviction protections, community organizing, rent relief & much, much more!
Counselors from Open Door Legal and Supervisor Preston will be on hand to answer specific questions after the presentation. We hope to see you there!
Stay tuned for additional Boot Camps, we’re planning as many as possible as we enter a new phase in our pandemic protections |
➩ What to do if you get an eviction notice |
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If you get an eviction notice, you are entitled to free legal representation. Oftentimes, when a landlord gives a tenant an eviction notice, a tenant just assumes that the landlord has a legal right to evict them, though that’s often not the case! But even if a tenant knows their rights and wants to fight the eviction, the average person usually doesn’t have the money and time to fight them in court. Having an attorney in your corner makes a huge difference--we know that 2 out of 3 tenants who have access to an attorney end up staying in their homes. That’s why we passed the 2018 ballot measure to create the
Right to Counsel program, and why we’ve gone to bat since taking office to get the program fully funded.
We hope it never comes to pass, but if you receive a notice of eviction, don’t wait, contact the Eviction Defense Collaborative immediately by phone at (415) 659-9184 or legal@evictiondefense.org.
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➩ Taking Action Against Eviction |
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| Our efforts to stop evictions are not limited to just District 5. On Tuesday, October 12, we joined advocates and neighbors to stand up against the eviction of the Foy-Marti family in District 8,
longtime allies and housing activists. As I said at the rally, I am proud to stand with the Foy-Marti family as they fight unfair and illegal eviction, and will continue to stand against displacement both in our district and beyond. |
We are thrilled to announce that we have confirmed with the Department of Public Health that the Ella Hill Hutch site will remain open to our neighbors for vaccines and other services every day except Sunday.
DPH is partnering with San Francisco State University (SFSU) and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to offer a scholarship program for SF residents ages 12 to 17 who received the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about this program on Friday, Oct. 29, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Ella Hill Hutch Community Center, 1050 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94115.
For more information regarding the official rules, FAQs and health privacy, visit their website or email enrollment@sfsu.edu.
Child Vaccine Townhalls
We know that parents are anxious to hear more about COVID-19 doses for children under 12. The Department of Public Health will be hosting townhalls on November 2 (English - sign up here), 3 (Cantonese - sign up here), and 4 (Spanish -
sign up here
), at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the rollout of child vaccines in San Francisco. We encourage you all to attend!
Flu Vaccinations & COVID-19 Booster Doses
With influenza season beginning in November, the Department of Public Health (DPH) is encouraging San Franciscans to add a flu vaccine on top of their COVID-19 vaccine or booster, if eligible.
DPH strongly recommends that everyone ages six months and older get a flu vaccine to safeguard their health, as November brings the start of flu season that will overlap with COVID-19 this year. The flu vaccine can be safely administered at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine, or the Pfizer-BioNTech booster.
In addition, DPH and its health system partners are now administering Pfizer boosters to eligible individuals who received the Pfizer two-dose primary series. Guidance is expected soon on boosters for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson recipients.
It is very important that those at higher risk seek a booster dose now. These include people who are:
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65 and older;
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18 and older who live in long-term care settings; and
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Adults 50-64 with underlying medical conditions or at increased risk of social inequities.
Frontline workers ages 18-64 with increased risk of COVID-19 exposure due to occupational or institutional settings– such as healthcare workers, teachers and grocery store workers– may benefit from a booster and should first evaluate their individual risk and benefits and discuss questions with their healthcare provider before getting a booster shot.
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➩ Elevating Neighborhood Leaders in Market/Octavia |
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Congratulations to the new appointees to the Market & Octavia Citizens Advisory Committee! On Tuesday, October 19, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved four new members that my office recommended from District 5, who will now join the oversight body and help shape future planning and development in the neighborhood.
I wanted to take a moment to shout out the fantastic appointees, including:
⇛ Tracy Jacks: An avid cyclist and former member of the BART Bicycle Advisory Task Force, and an enthusiastic volunteer who worked closely with my office to help get the Hayes Valley Shared Spaces off the ground.
⇛ Autumn Adamme: Founding member of the Hayes Valley Merchant Association, whose business Dark Garden Corsetry I was proud to nominate to the Legacy Business Registry, and a dedicated neighborhood volunteer.
⇛ Jason Henderson: Author and Professor of Geography at San Francisco State University, Chair of the HVNA Transportation and Planning Committee, a visionary of sustainable urban design, and our go-to person for so many complex transportation issues.
⇛ Madeline Howie: A queer, bi-racial artist, teacher of burlesque and dance at the African American Art & Culture Complex, and avid volunteer with the Shared Spaces program and Hayes Valley Art Works.
These applicants are ready to provide both oversight on community improvement funding and on-the-ground insight into what matters to the residents who live within the boundaries of the area plan, and I’m excited to collaborate with them on shaping the future of the Market Octavia neighborhoods!
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Earlier this month, our office did our walk-through with the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA), which will be dispatching community ambassadors for District 5 neighborhoods, starting with the Fillmore, Hayes Valley, and the Haight. We are eager to share more updates on timing once we have them but in the meantime, we encourage interested and eligible community members who live in these neighborhoods to
apply
to become ambassadors!
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Supervisor Preston spent October 7 at Rosa Parks Elementary, the future home of the mural honoring Earl Gage, Jr., who was the first Black firefighter in San Francisco! Thank you to Principal Darren Kawaii, Lisa Brewer, Sherman Tillman, Mission Art 415, the San Francisco Black Firefighters Association, Bobby Jones, Jen Snyder, and Crayone, for all your work to make this happen!
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➩ Exciting Updates on D5 Infrastructure |
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Buchanan Mall Bulbout
We are happy to report that the new bulbouts at Buchanan and Golden Gate are now completed!
In 2020, my office committed our NTIP funds for the Buchanan Mall Bulb outs at the intersections of Buchanan Street at Golden Gate Avenue and at Turk Street. The community chose to implement bulb-outs at these intersections through the Western Addition Community Based Transportation Plan and additional outreach through our office. The improvements include sidewalk widening, new bulb-outs with ADA curb ramps, and utility and drainage relocation at the intersection.
As for Buchanan/Turk, the PUC has started sewer work, and the bulb outs will be installed shortly after.
This project in the Fillmore will improve pedestrian safety, enhance community connections to recreational spaces and help with the overall walkability of community-identified priority streets in the Western Addition.
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Page Slow Street Walk
We had a great time walking down Page with community members to recommend safety improvements to the Page Slow Street pilot. Thank you to all those that joined! We are excited for the improvements.
The MTA will be bringing together the 2020 Page Street Bikeway Improvements Pilot with COVID-era Slow Streets treatments into a new Page Slow Street project.
As the city’s recovery continues to move forward, the SFMTA plans to advance a new Page Slow Street Pilot in 2022 that will improve upon the existing temporary treatments, re-engage the community, and reboot the evaluation program to allow for a complete consideration of the vision for a post-pandemic Page Street.
You can find more information here.
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➩ Choose Peace Stop Violence |
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On September 25, we joined the 6th Annual Choose Peace Stop Violence event. The Choose Peace Stop Violence event provided everyone the opportunity to come together to create community and to celebrate all of the positive things happening in our communities. Events like this bring unity, hope, and love during a time when it is needed most.
Thank you to Terry Taylor, Cheri Miller from the AAACC and so many others for their help to organize this year’s event.
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➩ Making Pathways for Affordable Housing |
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On Tuesday, October 26, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance to help create more affordable housing citywide. Related to Proposition I, a transfer tax increase approved last year by 58% of San Francisco voters, my legislation ensured that affordable housing projects would not be subjected to the higher tax rate.
This measure facilitates the creation of more affordable housing, while ensuring that private developers and sellers of market rate commercial and residential projects continue to pay their fair share in transfer taxes.
It’s part of our effort to raise taxes from the wealthiest actors in San Francisco, including private developers and those in high-end real estate, to pay more toward housing stability of our most vulnerable. This is housing justice in action.
The legislation we passed this week ensures that Prop I does not burden the development and preservation of affordable housing. To the question of making sure the revenue from Prop I goes toward its intended purpose of creating more permanently affordable housing, my office looks forward to bringing that question back to the board later this year. Stay tuned for more!
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➩ Waiver of Small Business Fees |
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First Year Free is a new program to support and revive San Francisco small businesses as the City recovers from the pandemic. The Program waives the cost of initial registration fees, initial license fees, first-year permit, and other applicable fees for qualifying new businesses and new locations of existing businesses. Learn more about the Program and determine if you qualify:
https://sftreasurer.org/first-year-free
Feel free to share the following flyers with your neighbors! Spanish, Cantonese, Tagalog
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LoHaMNA’s 2nd Annual Halloween Hoedown
The Lower Haight is bringing back Halloween to the neighborhood on Saturday, October 30, 2021 from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. on Waller (between Fillmore and Webster St)! Costumes encouraged!
This Halloween themed block party is FREE, open to the public, and organized by those who live, work, and love Lower Haight. This is a family & dog friendly event hosted by the Lower Haight Merchants & Neighbors Association. Questions or concerns? Please email LowerHaight415@gmail.com. Check out the LoHaMNA website for more details: http://www.lohamna.org/lower-haight-halloween-hoedown/
Hayes Valley Halloween Cleanup
Help your Hayes Valley neighbors clean the neighborhood with the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 10AM. Meet at Patricia’s Green. All supplies provided– except costumes, which are encouraged! Sign up here or email greening@hayesvalleysf.com with the event name in the subject.
Inner Sunset Trick or Treat
Calling all families, big and little kids. On Sunday, October 31, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., dress up and walk the Inner Sunset to trick or treat on Halloween at the Inner Sunset Neighborhood Group’s event, which includes trick-or-treating at over a dozen Inner Sunset businesses! 🎃 Find an event map and participating business information here: https://facebook.com/events/s/inner-sunset-trick-or-treat/238951004955414/
NOPNA/ASNA Halloween Extravaganza
The North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association and Alamo Square Neighborhood Association are teaming up this Halloween! Halloween is happening in NOPA - Sunday, October 31, rain or shine, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.! 👻
Get ready for safe trick or treating: Grove (Central-Baker) and Lyon (Hayes-Fulton) will be car-free.
NOPNA will accept candy donations at our table at Grove/Lyon. Please donate if you can :)
The Alamo Sq Neighborhood Assoc (ASNA) is hosting "Alamo Scare" from 4-6pm in Alamo Sq Park. There will be crafts, games, a haunted forest, and costume parade!
NOPNA/ASNA needs volunteers! Please email board@nopna.org and cynchap24@gmail.com to help make this event run smoothly. They need a full crew of volunteers for a variety of activities, with times from 2pm to 7pm. THANK YOU!
Feel free to reach out to cynchap24@gmail.com and board@nopna.org to learn mre.
Ongoing: Exploratorium Exhibit at Alvord Lake!
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Join the Exploratorium, the San Francisco Rec and Parks Department, and Urban Alchemy in Golden Gate Park to celebrate the opening of eight new experiences at Alvord Lake—these installations have been designed and built by the Exploratorium to reveal, enhance, and celebrate the ever-changing natural and social landscapes of the park.
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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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