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As we finished editing the newsletter, a tentative agreement was reached by SFUSD and UESF. I'm glad that we will see our public schools reopen again on Wednesday.
Dear Neighbor,
One month into the year and San Francisco’s upward trajectory continues with a $500M economic boost from Super Bowl weekend and fantastic media coverage bringing immense (and positive!) national attention to the city.
However, this week started on a different note with the United Educators strike. I’ve spoken to parents and PTA members (a special thanks to the Sherman, Tule Elk and Marina Middle PTA leaders - if you are a PTA member/leader and I haven’t been able to chat yet, please shoot me an email!), and hear three key concerns: childcare, access to free breakfast/lunch programs, and ensuring that students don’t lose out on learning time. I’ve spoken to educators, and there is simply no question that our school faculty deserve more support - costs in San Francisco are exorbitant, especially on housing and healthcare.
While the Board and Mayor have no legal jurisdiction over SFUSD, we have been actively supporting families by:
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Expanding access to free lunches and childcare.
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Extending Library hours to provide safe spaces for students.
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The Fine Arts Museum and Asian Arts Museum (along with SFMOMA, Exploratorium and more) are offering free admissions to SFUSD families this week.
Stay tuned for separate newsletters with real-time strike updates and resources.
Here’s what’s on my mind:
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Crime was down again in January both Citywide and in District 2
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A citywide sprinkler retrofit mandate is still a massive concern to residents, but we are making progress.
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My public safety focus is on persistent challenges like individuals who should be in treatment but instead are still on the streets.
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One permit vexes small businesses more than any other - ADA permits.
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Mayor Lurie committed to expanding access to childcare, and I held a hearing to ensure expansion is fast, affordable, and effective.
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Crime is down 41% citywide year over year (Jan. vs. Jan.):
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At Northern Station, crime in January was down 33% from last January, and is down 36% from December.
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At Richmond Station, crime in January was down 37% from last January, and is down 9% from December.
…and tourism and conventions are on pace to continue the upward march back to pre-pandemic levels (scheduled conventions have already grown to 38 from a projected 36 in the last 30 days). Fort Mason is, once again, completely booked for conventions for the year ahead. At the same time, San Francisco is posting the strongest year-over-year growth in office visits nationwide, with a 13.7% increase compared to a 2.9% national average (
SF Standard).
Last year, the focus was on a reset to basics (three new, pro-safety police commissioners; elimination of unnecessary permits on Van Ness; extending First Year Free). This year, it’s time to accelerate—to make San Francisco a city that works for you.
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The top constituent concern right now is a citywide mandate on fire sprinkler installation in tall, older buildings.
The issue:
In 2023, the previous Board of Supervisors passed what’s often called the “Sprinkler Retrofit Mandate.” It requires residential buildings over 12 stories with a single stairwell to install fire sprinklers in every room of every unit.
By the numbers:
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126 buildings affected
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Nearly 10,000 homeowners impacted
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Cost to each homeowner is estimated between $30K to $300K
Making San Francisco a city that works for you means taking a pragmatic approach to fire safety. And that means being realistic about what types of costs people should be forced to bear in their own homes.
What we’ve done:
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Made fixing this mandate a top priority.
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Hosted a 500+ person town hall — the largest I’ve ever seen.
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Reached a tentative agreement to delay the mandate by five years.
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Reached an agreement on the creation of a Technical Advisory Committee in the coming weeks to establish a clear exemption process for buildings where compliance would cause extreme structural challenges or financial hardships.
What’s next:
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Meetings with affected HOAs.
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Case-by-case work to ensure outcomes that protect safety without causing unnecessary harm.
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Hands-on support as the exemption process moves forward.
What you should do:
If your building is one of the 126 affected ( check the list here), do not hesitate to contact my office for help navigating the exemption process. While I can’t guarantee that your building will be exempt, my office will do our best to guide you through the appropriate next steps.
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Public Safety means looking at the stats - and focusing on the persistent challenges:
1. I visited the new Real Time Investigations Center (RTIC) last week to work with SFPD on better leveraging technology to prevent break-ins along our merchant corridors. Specifically, one business on Union Street has recently been targeted multiple times in the past three months. And while police recruitment is up 40%, security footage is critical to apprehending offenders and preventing future break-ins.
2. Too many people still suffer on our streets without quick action. Last week, while meeting neighbors on Pine Street between Steiner and Pierce, residents flagged an individual who had been camped on a bench next to a sidewalk library for five days. The person was clearly in crisis, posing a risk to themselves and others. Multiple 311 requests and SFPD visits had not solved the issue.
I picked up the phone and escalated the situation directly to the Street Crisis Response Team. They responded immediately and placed the individual on a psychiatric hold (a 5150) at San Francisco General Hospital.
I’m grateful for the SCRT’s swift action, but it shouldn’t take a call from an elected official to resolve an obvious situation. Emily Hoeven’s recent articles in the SF Chronicle are an excellent take on the challenge and a clear illustration of why changes in conservatorship laws and resources are so necessary.
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We need to expand childcare access as quickly as possible:
The context:
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Childcare is the top expense for young families in San Francisco other than housing - sometimes as much as $36k/year per child.
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Voters approved Baby Prop C in 2018, a commercial rent tax which has generated $570M+ to subsidize tuition for early childhood education (ages 0–4).
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A three-year lawsuit (2018–2021) forced the city to hold tax revenue in escrow, leading to a buildup of over $500 million, which has not yet been spent.
Mayor Lurie announced an expansion of the childcare subsidy this fall: families making 200% of the Area Median Income ($312k for a family of 4) will receive a 50% tuition subsidy and families making 150% of AMI will receive a 100% subsidy (currently they receive a 50% subsidy) KQED.
I held a hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 4 to examine how San Francisco can expand childcare subsidies using existing revenue (see: with no new taxes) SF Examiner.
What we learned:
By 2035, the city has set ambitious (but achievable) goals:
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Open 50 new childcare facilities to significantly increase capacity citywide.
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Add 800 new childcare educators to the workforce so more kids can get quality childcare
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Extend subsidies to 2,200 additional children, bringing immediate relief to working families.
To get there, the city plans to invest $693.6 million from FY2026–2035:
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Roughly half will fund one-time investments, like opening new childcare centers and training educators.
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The other half will support ongoing tuition subsidies and increase teacher wages to $28/hr, helping stabilize the balance sheets for childcare centers.
The expanded subsidies are currently projected to begin in fall 2026.
Next Steps:
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Get answers to outstanding questions (can we spend more money to get existing facilities certified into ELFA instead of opening new ones? How are we going to fund this after 2035?)
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Establish regular milestones with the Department of Early Childhood
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Hold an annual hearing to measure progress
Bottom line: Expanding childcare subsidies with existing funds is one of the most immediate, effective ways to keep families in San Francisco—and make the city work for working parents.
Resources:
We have a ton in store, and I’m really excited about everything that is to come!
Warmly,
Stephen Sherrill
San Francisco Supervisor, District 2
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE OFFICE:
Email: SherrillStaff@sfgov.org
Instagram: @stephensherrill
X: @scsherrill
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Roe v. Wade 53rd Anniversary Rally
On the 53rd Anniversary of the ruling of Roe v. Wade in 1973, I stood alongside City leaders including District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, Mayor Daniel Lurie, and City Attorney David Chiu to reaffirm San Francisco’s commitment to reproductive rights. As the Supervisor whose district contains the only Planned Parenthood in the City (Go check it out! Their team is really sweet!), I’m proud to be part of the broad coalition of supporters working to expand access to life saving healthcare.
Resolution Condemning ICE
My colleagues and I at the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after federal agents killed an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse named Alex Pretti. Earlier this year, an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three.
These incidents make one thing painfully clear: federal officers roaming the streets of American cities do not bring safety. Instead, they harm civilians and intimidate immigrant communities. I will continue to oppose the deployment of federal officers to San Francisco.
It is time for Congress to wake up and exercise its constitutional authority to rein in the executive branch’s unchecked willingness to deploy armed federal forces across our cities. This administration must be held accountable.
If you witness ICE activity or are seeking pro bono legal aid for someone detained by ICE, call the SF Rapid Response Network’s 24-hour hotline: (415) 200-1548
3333 California St. & 3700 California St.
After 10 years, we’re finally moving forward on filling the vacant CPMC hospital at 3333 California St with 744 housing units, a 175 spot childcare facility, and 5 acres of open space. After the hospital closed, the Laurel Heights neighborhood hasn’t had the same vitality. On Tuesday, we advanced a special tax district that allows future growth in property tax revenue from the new homes to be used to pay for upfront costs like utilities, parks, and affordable housing.
The City needs to keep being innovative to get projects through the construction pipeline so more young families can afford to stay in San Francisco.
I can’t wait for shovels to break ground in spring of 2027!
Clay Theater (let us know if you want a tour!)
Movie theaters across San Francisco have faced significant challenges since the pandemic. To help them survive and thrive, I authored legislation that removes ridiculous requirements on cinemas who sell beer and wine, enabling them to take advantage of every revenue stream that keeps their doors open.
This effort began with the goal of supporting the soon-to-be reopened Clay Theater. When approached by the project sponsors, we learned that our Planning Code treats movie theaters who would like to serve beer and wine the same as restaurants – and our city levies the same punishments for noncompliance. In other words, the City was mandating that the newly renovated Clay Theater – or any theater serving beer and wine – make at least 51% of their revenue from food that they prepare on site.
Now, I know the AMC popcorn is getting expensive, but I’m confident that the concession stands are not the majority of revenue for our theaters. And instead of carving out the Clay Theater from this exemption, we wanted to extend the same opportunities to theaters citywide.
In addition to expanding beverage sales, the legislation allows all movie theaters to offer a broader range of programming. This change streamlines the permitting process so that our theaters can more easily host different types of activations – such as post-screening Q&A sessions with filmmakers – making it easier for theaters to offer engaging, community-centered experiences.
So go stop by your local neighborhood theaters this month, and I look forward to seeing you at the newly restored Clay Theater later this year!
CVS Closure Reversed at 701 Van Ness
After learning about CVS Pharmacy’s planned closure on 701 Van Ness, our office reached out to CVS to advocate for keeping this vital community resource open.
I’m pleased to share that they have reevaluated and now are keeping the store open! This pharmacy serves our neighbors with essential medications, healthcare services, and everyday necessities.
I’m grateful that CVS reconsidered and that our community will continue to have access to these essential services.
Visiting Teachers at Sherman Elementary School
Over the last week, I’ve spoken with parents across District 2 and I’ve spoken with educators to discuss how best we can support our public schools. One thing we can all agree on is that San Francisco is too expensive.
One educator talked about trying to find housing in the city as a single mom and shared that even the “affordable teacher housing” would cost her $3,600/month. Even though the Board and the Mayor don’t have legal jurisdiction over San Francisco’s school district, we must pull on every lever to make life easier for teachers, and that means thoughtfully building more homes in San Francisco (especially workforce housing teachers can actually afford!)
I am glad that SFUSD and UESF came to a tentative agreement.
150th Anniversary of Sherith Israel
It was an honor to celebrate the commemoration of Congregation Sherith Israel’s 175th Anniversary. From its early service to Gold Rush era settlers in 1851, through its steadfast support of the community following the earthquakes of 1906 and 1989, and continuing to the present day, the synagogue has remained a vital pillar of civic and spiritual life in Pacific Heights.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Day Annual March
I was proud to march alongside the SF Chapter of Brady California for the second year as Supervisor for the MLK Day March. The Brady Campaign is a leading advocate for ending gun violence. Thank you to Brady for inviting me to march with you all and to the SF Interfaith Council for the invite to the post-march ceremony. |
SF Police Department Chief Derrick Lew’s Swearing In Ceremony
I am very excited by Mayor Lurie’s appointment of Derrick Lew as San Francisco’s new Police Chief.
Chief Lew’s history of service, numerous honors as an officer right here in San Francisco, and his deep ties throughout the City make him the perfect choice to lead our dedicated officers. Chief Lew shares our top priority — the safety of all San Franciscans. I know that he will move aggressively on our staffing shortage, and will continue the work he started as head of the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center in tackling the fentanyl crisis — not only downtown, but in every neighborhood across the City.
Thank you Chief Lew for taking on this responsibility and for your service. |
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Friends of Alta Plaza Park Commendation
Since 2002, the Friends of Alta Plaza Park have raised over $1.5 million for a new playground and recreational facilities and led numerous neighborhood cleanups. We commend the organization for more than two decades of service and for achieving independent 501(c)(3) status, enabling it to further advance its mission and stewardship of the park. |
SF Art Week
For a week, San Francisco became the epicenter of the global art scene at Fort Mason.
My incredible wife, Sarah Wendell Sherrill, happens to be a Board Member of the SF FOG Fair Steering Committee and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
Funds from FOG Fair support SFMOMA’s education initiatives which serve more than 100,000 teachers, youth, and families each year. |
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Kopiku Coffee and the SF Department of The Environment
San Francisco’s Environment Department launched the Bring Your Own Cup (BYOC) and Commercial Reuse programs to reduce single-use waste, help small businesses save money, and make sustainability accessible to all residents.
Kopiku Indonesian Coffee at 1443 Lombard St at has embraced the BYOC initiative by encouraging customers to bring reusable cups as part of its community-focused, environmentally conscious approach. By participating, Kopiku is helping normalize reuse culture in District 2 while strengthening its role as a vibrant, locally owned small business. |
SF Slavic Festival
It was great returning to the Slavic Festival at the Russian Center of San Francisco in District 2 for the second year as your Supervisor!
Always a treat meeting attendees and seeing everyone enjoy the incredible food, entertainment, and cultural exhibits. Thank you to the Russian Center and Slavic Festival Committee for always bringing this vibrant celebration to Lower Pacific Heights! |
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Visiting the new Real Time Investigations Center
I went to SFPD’s new Real Time Investigation Center to learn how they are utilizing technology to aid in solving crimes.
Car break-ins are down to a 22 year low, and crime is down 41% citywide year over year. While we work on rebuilding the ranks of 500 more officers, we need to supplement their toolkit with 21st century tools to help quickly retrieve stolen property, hold perpetrators accountable and stop crimes while they actively occur. |
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Budweiser Clydesdales on Chestnut and Union St.
To celebrate the Superbowl, the Budweiser Clydesdales went on a stroll through District 2 along Chestnut and Union St. I had the delight of running into Northern Station Captain McCormick who works hard to keep our neighborhoods safe. |
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Lunar New Year Celebrations
District 2 Neighborhood Cleanups
Join the D2 Youth Council!
Are you or do you know a high schooler who resides or goes to school in District 2? Consider joining the District 2 Youth Council! This independent youth-led group is dedicated to providing a voice to adolescents across the District, and helping offer me and my office their perspective to issues affecting youth. This is also an opportunity to get more involved in our community!
Applications to be in the D2 Youth Council are open until June 1st. Learn more and sign up here.
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SF could make it easier for movie theaters to sell alcoholic drinks (SF Examiner)
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S.F. supervisors make it easier to serve booze at the movies (Mission Local)
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Lack of Approved Child Care Providers May Slow Rollout of San Francisco’s Expanded Subsidies (KQED)
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Here's why SF's subsidized child care program could have negative impact on some preschools (ABC 7 News)
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Officials capture mountain lion that's been prowling SF's Pac Heights neighborhood (ABC 7 News)
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Neighbors say a machete-wielding man is terrorizing their local park. S.F. has no idea what to do about it (SF Chronicle)
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CVS Closure Reversed And A Storage Company Moving Into Van Ness (BeyondChron)
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Wealthy S.F. neighborhood’s 700-unit housing development to break ground after 10 years (SF Chronicle)
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Sprinkler shock: Owners of S.F. high-rise condos stunned by $300K mandate (SF Chronicle)
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‘Who can afford that?': SF's fire sprinkler system requirement irks condo residents (NBC Bay Area)
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‘Enough is enough’: S.F. leaders rally behind new plan to shield families from drug activity (The Voice of San Francisco)
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S.F.’s latest plan to help struggling movie theaters: Make it easier for them to serve alcohol (SF Chronicle)
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Supervisor Sherrill Works to Protect Jefferson Square Park (Beyond Chron)
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Office of Supervisor Stephen Sherrill
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 256, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-7752 Fax: (415) 554-7843 |
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