APRIL 2018 NEWSLETTER

Friends. On January 30, Mayor Mark Farrell appointed me to represent District 2 on the Board of Supervisors - one of the greatest honors of my life. For over a decade, I proudly served District 2 as a legislative aide for 9 years to Supervisors Michela Alioto-Pier and Mark Farrell. Through my work in the district and my time in City Hall, including the last two years as your County Clerk, I have learned a great deal about this incredible responsibility. My central mission is to work collaboratively with neighborhood groups, listen to your needs, and help build consensus on issues important to our community.  We are facing tough challenges in San Francisco, and I’m excited about the opportunity to apply my experience, the relationships I’ve built over the past 11 years in City Hall, and my passion and love for our District to work extremely hard to address problems and make a difference. Through this newsletter, I will share regular updates every month to keep you posted on what is happening at City Hall in our community. We will also use this newsletter to highlight important initiatives from your fellow neighbors & community partners in District 2 and across our City. Constituent services is extremely important to me so please reach contact me directly with any questions, issues, comments, or concerns by emailing me at catherine.stefani@sfgov.org. I am here to serve you and I look forward to continue to bring your voice at City Hall.

LEGISLATION & POLICY UPDATE

Free Speech Protection Act
April 18th at 1:00 PM in Room 250
Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee
Public safety is one of my number one concerns. When I took office, I introduced legislation that closes a loophole in a City law that bans individuals from the ability to carry concealed weapons on city property. The existing law does not however, ban to carry on the public right-of-way near city property which allows the possibility for an individual to bring a concealed weapon to a rally, for instance. The Free Speech Protection Act will make it clear that people are free to exercise their First Amendment rights without intimidation or fear from those carrying concealed firearms at large demonstrations in the city. This policy will apply to gatherings of 50 or more people in parks, parades, and rallies. A violation would be considered a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. San Francisco will once again lead the way in the national conversation on common sense gun reform. The legislation is currently scheduled to be heard in the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on April 18th starting at 1:00 pm in Room 250 of City Hall. The public is invited to attend and provide public comment on this measure. Please contact my office to confirm details as this date and time may change.

Italian American Heritage Day
April 11th at 2:00 PM in Room 250
Rules Committee
I introduced an ordinance that recognizes the second Monday of October as Italian American Heritage Day in San Francisco. Our City owes a great deal of gratitude to the Italian immigrants and Italian Americans who have made innumerable contributions to San Francisco’s society, culture, landscape, and history. This year also marks the 150th Italian Heritage Parade in North Beach. As a proud Italian-AmericanI I am honored to recognize the Italian American community and all its contributions to our City's civic fabric and history.. The ordinance will be heard at the Rules Committee on April 11th starting at 2:00 PM in Room 250 of City Hall.

Hearing on San Francisco Police Department’s Property Crime Units
April 25th in Room 250
Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee 
When I moved to Cow Hollow 17 years ago, broken glass on the street was a rarity and now it is a daily occurence. San Francisco is experiencing a car break-in epidemic that must stop. These car burglaries are being run by sophisticated criminals and  our response must be smart, strong, and strategic. Our Chief of Police, Chief Scott, created property crime units at each police station to combat the problem. I called for a hearing on these units to learn more about the structure and how they are targeting the problem. The hearing will also explore what resources SFPD needs from the Board of Supervisors to significantly reduce property crimes and the challenges they are facing. The hearing will take place at the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee meeting on Wednesday, April 25 in Room 250 of City Hall starting at 10:00am.

Hearing on Public Safety in City Owned Parking Lots and Garages
As leaders of this City, we are responsible for the safety of our community and cannot allow open opportunities for people to be victimized. After our weekly scheduled Budget & Finance subcommittee meeting on March 1, I called for a hearing to further understand the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) safety measures and procedures in place for city owned and/or operated parking lots and garages.  An enclosed large garage space without proper lighting, surveillance cameras, or other safety measures to protect its customers is unacceptable. I look forward to a report back from the SFMTA and the San Francisco Police Department at a future meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. A meeting date will be announced shortly.

Budget and Legislative Analyst Report on Street Cleaning
I requested a report from our Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office that will survey street cleaning practices in comparable cities in the United States and internationally to San Francisco. These cities will include those that are similar in population and geographic size. In urban areas, and facing similar issue such as homelessness. I want to know what other cities are doing nationally and internationally, and learn from best practices in those comparable cities. As a member of the Budget and Finance Committee, I believe the information gathered will help us make an informed and impactful decision when it comes to our street cleaning strategy.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Black History Month Honoree
For Black History Month, I was so proud to commend Nadia Sesay as the District 2’s Honoree. As the Executive Director of the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII),Nadia is responsible for the economic development of the new Transbay, Mission Bay, and Hunters Point Shipyard neighborhoods. Prior to that, she served as the Director of the Controller’s Office of Public Finance since 2005 and was awarded San Francisco’s Public Managerial Excellence Award for exemplary leadership, fiscal ingenuity, and vision in 2010. She is an incredible force at City Hall.

Installing Stop Signs at Bay & Broderick  
It was a pleasure to join the SFMTA to install much needed stop signs at the intersection of Bay & Broderick in the Marina. Traffic calming in our neighborhoods is extremely important and hearing from constituents about unsafe conditions is key. Thank you Kristin Hagan Sprincin for leading the neighborhood efforts to make this happen.

Walking in the Chinese New Year Parade
I had the honor of walking alongside Mayor Mark Farrell to ring in the Year of the Dog in the Chinese New Year Parade. Our family had such a grand time celebrating with the Chinese community and honoring their tradition by gifting the children in the crowds with red envelopes!

Fillmore Merchants Association 
In District 2 we are fortunate to have the strongest, most vital commercial corridors in the City. I had the pleasure of meeting with leaders of the Fillmore Merchants Association at Curbside Cafe to discuss how we can work together to empower our merchants and ensure retail vitality. I look forward to to work with more local businesses a to make sure our beloved neighborhood businesses continue to grow and thrive.

Eva Belloni turns 100!
A long time member of our community, Eva Belloni, recently celebrated her 100th birthday. It was a privilege to present her a Certificate of Honor on this special occasion through her grandson, Nicholas Belloni. 

March for Meals Campaign 
I had the pleasure of meeting Romilda Garibaldi through the March for Meals Campaign. She is one of the many low-income San Franciscans who benefits from the Meals on Wheels Program. Thank you to Meals on Wheels and Kara’s Cupcakes for all that you do for senior nutrition, health, and dignity, and the care you give to our seniors. 

District 2 Merchant Association Meeting
I spent a productive meeting with leaders of our District 2 Merchant Associations and Captain Joseph Engler of Northern Station discussing ways we can support our small businesses. I love our neighborhood commercial corridors, Union, Chestnut, Sacramento, Fillmore and Lombard.I look forward to continue the conversation with our small business and law enforcement partners so that our merchant corridors thrive.

Joining Mayor Mark Farrell on Chestnut Street   
I had the honor of joining Mayor Mark Farrell on a great walk on Chestnut Street to connect with and celebrate many of our merchants and small business owners. The Legacy Business Registry works to save longstanding, community-serving businesses that have operated in San Francisco for more than 20 years. Legacy Businesses are nominated by a member of the Board of Supervisors or the Mayor and enter an application process with the Small Business Commission. So far, I nominated California Wine Merchant, Marina Super, and Fireside Camera - all businesses that contribute to the neighborhood's identity and community. I look forward to nominating more businesses including Deleuse Jewelers and the Silver Clouds Restaurant & Karaoke Bar on Lombard Street! For more information on this program, please contact my Legislative Aide, Ellie Miller Hall by emailing her directly at ellie.miller.hall@sfgov.org.

Standing with our Students on #NationalWalkoutDay
I was so inspired by the dozens of high school students who rallied on the steps of City Hall to call for gun reform on National Walkout Day. In my nearly two decades of activism for gun violence prevention, these students give me hope for the future. 

District 2 Movie Night - CoCo at the Presidio YMCA 
It was great to host my first District 2 movie night as Supervisor. This is a free event for families with popcorn, ice cream, and healthy snacks. I helped start these events as a legislative aide to Supervisor Farrell and I am so happy to be able to continue this tradition.Thank you to the Presidio Trust and the Presidio YMCA for partnering with us to provide free, family activities in the district.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
I participated in San Francisco’s 167th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade with my daughter, Gianna, and her friends from her Girl Scout Brownie Troop. It was an honor to participate in the parade with the next generation of female leaders.

Women’s History Month Honoree 
For Women’s History Month, I was so proud to commend Seema Daryanani as our District 2 Honoree. Seema is the San Francisco Chapter Chair for iSanctuary, an organization that combines employment with holistic care to provide a path of reintegration of young women rescued from trafficking. Seema is a faithful supporter but also an expansion partner for this enterprise which has grown exponentially.  Her professional career is also rooted in human resources and recruiting - with a particular expertise and focus on promoting inclusion & diversity throughout the tech industry. We thank you, Seema, for your ongoing commitment to fight for women’s rights and empowerment.

Marina Community Association Social  
The Marina Community Association graciously hosted a social where I got to meet new members and reconnect with long-time friends in our community.As a legislative aide for 9 years, I worked closely with MCA to address many issues facing our neighborhoods including public safety concerns, quality of life improvements, and retail vitality for our local businesses. I look forward to continuing our partnership.

March for Our Lives Rally & March 
For nearly two decades, I have worked on gun violence prevention, and I have never seen such energy and momentum around these efforts than what we have seen across our country these last weeks. At the March for Our Lives, I was overjoyed to be joined by Senator Dianne Feinstein. We were both so humbled and inspired by all the students, speakers, and the tens of thousands of people who attended.

Beach Street Neighborhood Watch
It was a pleasure to spend the evening with members of the recently formed Beach Street Neighborhood Watch, who have worked diligently to help educate neighbors and deter crime. At a recent meeting, we discussed many different efforts to keep the area safe including traffic calming measures and speed bumps to help make the neighborhood safer. Groups like this one in collaboration with law enforcement are incredible tools that make our community safer for our kids, families, and all District 2 residents.

Repainting the Crosswalk at Lake & 12th 
I was glad to join Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer and the SFMTA to enhance the crosswalk at the intersection of Lake and 12th Avenue. The new "zebra-stripe" crosswalk design increases visibility and safety for all residents in the who visit the area, including the many children and families who walk to enjoy Mountain Lake Park. 

Union Street Easter Parade
Our Union Street merchants hosted the 27th Easter Parade and Spring Celebration! I loved walking with  Mayor Mark Farrell and joining hundreds of families and children from all over the Bay Area who joined in the celebrations.Thank you also to Jest Jewels where we got to meet the Easter Bunny!

D2 UPDATES

AlertSF
We want to make sure all of our community members are kept safe and up to date in case of an emergency. AlertSF is a text-based notification system for San Francisco's residents and visitors. It alerts subscribers to emergencies disrupting vehicular/pedestrian traffic; warnings for tsunamis, flooding, and Citywide post-disaster information.. We encourage each of you to sign up. You can learn more about AlertSF, by visiting here! 

Three Capital Project Openings
A huge thank you to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department fthe openings of the brand new Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds, and the Geneva Community Garden, along with the reopening of the Randall Museum! We hope to see everyone at these newly renovated and constructed facilities.

San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is now hiring!
The Greenager Program is an outdoor youth leadership program created and designed to offer early high school teens a chance to play an important role in our community. Greenagers support the city’s green spaces through volunteerism, engagement, raising awareness, and creating place-based projects focused on topics participants value. Find out how you can sign up to be a Greenager today by visiting here!

Recruiting for the 2018-2019 Civil Grand Jury
The Civil Grand Jury is comprised of 19 members representing the citizens of the City & County of San Francisco by investigating, evaluating, and reporting on the operations and actions of local government officers, departments or agencies. The grand jurors serve for a period of one year, from July 1 through June 30 the following year, and are selected at random from a pool of 30 prospective grand jurors. During the term, grand jurors serve a minimum of approximately 500 hours.The San Francisco Superior Court is currently recruiting members for the 2018-2019 Civil Grand Jury. The application deadline is May 18, 2018. We encourage you to look into this opportunity to serve our City. More information about this process is available here.

Support at Home
Support at Home is a new San Francisco pilot program run by the Institute on Aging. This program provides financial assistance to enable adults 18 and over who makeup to 100% Area Median Income ($80,700 for 1 person household) to afford home care and stay in the community. This is the first of its kind and anyone can make a referral for themselves or someone else by calling 415-750-4111 or by clicking here.

Free Disaster Preparedness Outreach and Training
Community Youth Center San Francisco (CYC SF) received funding from the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection to organize free disaster preparedness outreach and training for residents of San Francisco. The five-part series in the Seismic Safety Outreach Program is free for anyone who wants to be certified. Click here for more information.

D2 UPCOMING EVENTS

Take the Water Pledge and Win for the Entire month of April!
The National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation is a friendly non-profit competition between cities across the country from April 1-30. By pledging, you can help our City continue to meet our sustainability goals and earn a chance to win up to $5,000 toward home utility bills! Find out how to complete your pledge here.

Citywide Electric Mobility Strategy - Wednesday, April 18th
San Francisco is currently developing a Citywide Electric Mobility Strategy to help the us all identify opportunities to accelerate the transition of cars and trucks away from fossil fuels. We invite you to join an upcoming Community Listening Session will be held at the San Francisco County Fair Building at 6 PM. Please register here.

Moscone Community Fun Day - Saturday, April 14th
We welcome everyone to Moscone Community Fun Day! We will gather together at this event to celebrate the new improvements to the Moscone Playground. The playground is situated on Chestnut Street between Webster Street and Laguna Street. Please come out and play at 10AM on Saturday, April 14!

Bike & Roll to School Week - Monday, April 16th - Friday, April 20th
The annual Bike & Roll to School Week is April 16 - 20. Get out your bicycles, skateboards, wheelchairs, roller skates, and strollers to celebrate the joys and health benefits of rolling to work and school! You can access more information here.

The Junior League of San Francisco’ Annual Touch-A-Truck Event - Saturday, April 21st
The Junior League of San Francisco, Inc.’s 3rd Annual Touch-A-Truck event will be held at the Presidio Civil War Parade Grounds from 11AM to 3PM. This is a family-friendly event for children to explore, climb, and engage with trucks of all shapes and sizes! Event and ticket information can be found here.

Russian Hill Public Safety Forum - Sunday, April 22nd
Our office has been working diligently in partnership with our neighborhood groups to spread the word about two important initiatives aimed at improving public safety and reducing car break-ins. We will host a series of Public Safety Forums across District 2 to help engage our communities  about Park Smart and the Security Camera Registry. The first forum will be held downstairs at the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in Russian Hill, 2454 Hyde Street, at 3 PM. Please RSVP here.

IN THE MEDIA

January 30, 2018
SFGate, “SF county clerk replaces new mayor on Board of Supervisors, will run for seat”
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SF-s-county-clerk-selected-to-replace-new-Mayor-12536868.php

January 31, 2018
SF Chronicle, “The city’s newest supervisor comes with experience”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-The-city-s-newest-supervisor-comes-12541539.php

February 8th, 2018
KRON 4, “How can San Francisco stop car break-ins”
http://www.kron4.com/news/interview-how-can-san-francisco-stop-car-break-ins_20180306102948139/1012959147

February 24th, 2018
SF Chronicle, “I’m like you. I just do what I think is right and then justify it”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/williesworld/article/Legislature-may-not-have-seen-the-last-of-12705376.php

February 27th, 2018
SF Examiner, “We owe a great deal of gratitude to the Italian immigrants and Italian Americans who have made innumerable contributions to our city’s society, culture, landscape, and history.”
http://www.sfexaminer.com/italian-americans-gain-support-sf-city-hall-outcry-columbus-day-removal/

SF Chronicle, “It’s my hope that the city can celebrate the rich and diverse contributions of both the indigenous people and Italian Americans”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-Supervisor-Stefani-wants-indigenous-people-12714822.php

March 1st, 2018
SF Weekly, “Car break-ins should not be a toll you pay to live in San Francisco”
http://www.sfweekly.com/news/authorities-hustle-to-curb-s-f-s-smash-and-grab-epidemic/

March 2nd, 2018
Marina Times, “The Second Amendment doesn’t trump the First Amendment. Your right to free speech should not be endangered by people carrying guns.”
http://www.marinatimes.com/2018/03/15258/

Marina Times, “The Stefani era beings”
http://www.marinatimes.com/2018/03/the-stefani-era-begins/

March 3rd, 2018
Marina Times, “On a separate note, a heartfelt welcome to my newest colleague in District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani. She is smart, she is compassionate and, most of all, she is extremely dedicated to the communities of District 2.”http://www.marinatimes.com/2018/03/empower-public-process-not-a-political-economy-ethics-reforms-we-need-now/

March 20th, 2018
SF Bay, “I am so proud to join Mayor Farrell today in supporting additional funding to make certain San Francisco is removing gun from violent offenders and following the letter of the law.”
https://sfbay.ca/2018/03/20/sf-adult-probation-receives-800000-funding-boost/

March 22nd, 2018
SF Weekly, “Before voting, Supervisor Catherine Stefani told the audience how much their words inspired her and how (Harvey) Milk meant a lot to her gay sister, especially while growing up in the Central Valley with a Catholic family”
http://www.sfweekly.com/news/40-years-after-his-death-sfo-terminal-to-be-named-after-harvey-milk/

March 29th, 2018
San Francisco News, “Guns should not be in the hands of violent offenders - period”
http://www.thesfnews.com/goal-confiscate-guns-convicted-felons/42890

April 10, 2018
SF Examiner, “Kim prevails in 6-5 vote on street cleaning funds but faces mayoral veto threat”
http://www.sfexaminer.com/192650-2/

SF Chronicle, “SF Supervisor Peskin wants to tax ride-hail vehicles, some private shuttles”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/SF-supervisor-Peskin-wants-to-tax-shuttles-12823454.php

Office of Supervisor Catherine Stefani
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-7752 Fax: (415) 554-7843
Legislative Aides: Jack.Gallagher@sfgov.org; Ellie.MillerHall@sfgov.org; Sharon.Chung@sfgov.org
Please follow us on social media & stay up to date with with us at City Hall! 
Facebook: @SupervisorStefani Instagram: @SupervisorStefani Twitter: @SupStefani