MESSAGE FROM CATHERINE

This October has been a great month of hearing from so many people in our community about the changes they want to see in the City. It’s clear that people want to get involved in improving our neighborhoods and – especially as Election Day gets closer – one of the best ways to do this is to vote! I hope you’ll join me at the polls on Tuesday, November 5. Keep reading for updates on what I’ve been working on and, as always, please feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns by emailing me at Catherine.Stefani@sfgov.org or calling (415) 554-7752. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Warm Regards,

Catherine

POLICY AND LEGISLATION UPDATES

Interim District Attorney Suzy Loftus

This month, following the early resignation of George Gascón, I joined community leaders from across San Francisco as Mayor London Breed announced the appointment of Suzy Loftus as San Francisco’s interim District Attorney. Reversing former District Attorney Gascón’s diversion policy, the interim District Attorney has already committed to prosecute first-time DUI cases, as we have had two dozen traffic fatalities this year. As a former prosecutor myself, I am so looking forward to working with her to make our neighborhoods safe for all of us.

Hearing on Filling Vacancies for Urgent Public Health and Safety Positions

I called for a hearing to examine the hiring practices and procedures around critical public health and safety positions in order to understand how long it takes and to speed up the process to fill those vacancies. During a recent Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee meeting, we heard from the San Francisco Police Department about how long it is taking to hire civilian staff in order to deploy more officers to important patrol duties. We know that performance standards and the public’s expectations aren’t met when critical positions aren’t being filled. It is essential that we have as many patrol officers on the streets as possible, and we must do everything we can to ensure this is the case.

Calling for Assistance

Over the past few months of community meetings and merchant corridor walks, I have heard loud and clear that the City has made it too confusing to know who exactly you should call when in need of assistance. If you see tent encampments or debris blocking the sidewalk and public right of way, report to 311. You can do this by phone, or by using the 311 app on Android or Apple. To report discarded syringes only, report to 311 or text a photo and location to (415) 810-1337. To report trespassing or blocked entrances, or to request a well-being check for an individual who is not in acute distress, call the SFPD Non-Emergency line, (415) 553-0123. As always, if you feel that someone is a threat to you, themselves, or others, call 911 immediately. This includes situations such as medical or mental health emergencies, violent or threatening behavior, unresponsiveness, or trespassing and blocked entrances where an individual may need medical assistance. For more information on calling for assistance, please visit the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing’s website.

Chuseok Festival

Last month, we celebrated San Francisco’s first annual Chuseok Festival in the Presidio. Chuseok emphasizes family and community, and I was proud to unanimously pass a resolution at the Board of Supervisors recognizing this holiday and honoring our Korean American community. Thank you to District 2’s own Korean Center, the Consul General of the Republic of Korea, and everyone who helped make our first Chuseok Festival possible!

Italian American Heritage Month

The Board of Supervisors also unanimously passed my resolution recognizing October as Italian American Heritage Month. October is when we hold month-long celebrations in honor of all that Italian Americans have brought to the City, and it was time for San Francisco to join Los Angeles, Boston, and many others in declaring October Italian American Heritage Month. Thank you to the San Francisco Italian American community for all your incredible contributions to our City. Pace e bene!

IN THE COMMUNITY

Reopening Moscone Playground

We enjoyed beautiful weather at the reopening of Moscone Playground! My own children grew up at Moscone, and I’m proud to have advocated to secure the funds to resurface the playground for future generations. Thank you Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg, Commissioners Kat Anderson and Eric McDonnell, and staff for your work on this project and for maintaining our beautiful parks and open spaces.

Sixth Annual Pier to Pier Walk

We had a fantastic turnout at the San Francisco Senior Center’s 6th Annual Pier to Pier Walk. Thank you to Sue Horst for all that you do for the Senior Center and to all those who came out to join in the festivities. Huge shout-out as well to Fran Hegeler with Save Aquatic Park Pier for joining and letting everyone know about our efforts to save the Pier. For more information on the Senior Center and the services they provide, visit their website.

Meeting with Daniel Burnham Court Board of Directors

It was my pleasure to meet with representatives from the Daniel Burnham Court Board of Directors to discuss how we can work together to make neighborhoods around Van Ness safe and clean. Thank you for recognizing my commitment to DBC and quality of life issues in the neighborhood, as well as for your continued engagement in improving our community!

Honoring La Canasta

I was thrilled to honor Alberto and LiLi Mier at the Board of Supervisors in recognition of Latinx Heritage Month. Their restaurant, La Canasta, has been a vital part of the Union Street community for more than three decades, and they have spent the last 32 years making their adopted home a better place for all of us. Thank you, Alberto and LiLi, for your dedication to our community.

Quarterly Neighborhood Leaders Meeting

Thank you to the neighbors who joined my fall neighborhood leaders meeting, where we focused our discussion on the state of public safety in our community. We heard from Captain Engler and officers from Northern Station about the expectations that the San Francisco Police Department faces, Northern Station’s strategies to address property crime, as well as how we can help. I will continue to advocate for clean and safe streets for all of us, and I look forward to working with you to make the changes we want to see in our neighborhoods.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Thank you to Mayor London Breed, the Department on the Status of Women, and the Domestic Violence Consortium for sponsoring the Domestic Violence Awareness Month opening ceremony. We’ve made great progress in the City, but we know that we have a lot more work to do. I look forward to continuing this work and advocating at every level of government for legislation to end domestic violence. If someone is hurting you or someone you know, please call for help right away. The national domestic violence hotline is 1 (800) 799-7233, and you can find more resources available in San Francisco here.

Pacific Heights Residents Association Annual Meeting

It was my honor to speak at this year’s Pacific Heights Residents Association annual meeting. Our neighborhood associations are the heart of our community, and PHRA in particular has always done incredible work. I look forward to our continued partnership in making Pacific Heights the best it can be for our families and small businesses.

Commemorating Loma Prieta

Thank you to Mayor London Breed, Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson, Police Chief Bill Scott, and all of the neighbors and first responders who came to the Marina Green to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake. In recognition of how much more we have to do to ensure our community is ready for the next natural disaster, I’m proud to launch Resilient District 2 to coordinate our neighborhoods’ disaster preparedness efforts for the future.

Resilient District 2

Thirty years after Loma Prieta, our neighborhoods face new challenges, from heatwaves to power outages and poor air quality. Thank you to the community leaders and the Neighborhood Empowerment Network for joining me to launch Resilient District 2, which will guide our collective investment in disaster preparedness. Please reach out to my office if you would like to take part in this effort to make our community safer and more resilient!

Celebrating Italian American Heritage Month

In honor of Italian American Heritage Month, I joined in celebrating the Festa della Madonna del Lume and the 151st Annual Italian Heritage Parade. I was also so happy to recognize Bertina Cannizzaro and Tony Gemignani at the Board of Supervisors. Bertina has been instrumental in helping to organize Italian cultural events throughout the City, and Tony is an expert pizza maker with five restaurants in San Francisco. Thank you, Bertina and Tony, for all you do to preserve Italian American culture. Grazie mille!

Visits with Local Students

It was my pleasure to meet with Girl Scouts from Convent as well as students from the Bay School to discuss my work and how youth can get involved in improving our community. We covered everything from the homelessness crisis to the role of local government in politics and women in leadership. Based on our conversations, I am certain that the future is in good hands!

Cow Hollow Association Mid-Year Meeting

Thank you to the Cow Hollow Association for inviting me to speak at your first annual mid-year meeting. When I moved to the neighborhood nearly two decades ago, I immediately joined CHA and later served as Vice President. I look forward to our continued collaboration in advocating for public safety and the quality of life in Cow Hollow and all District 2 neighborhoods.

EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

Election Day

Tuesday, November 5 is Election Day, and all ballots must be cast by the close of polls at 8:00 pm on Election Day to be counted! Ballots that are returned by mail must be postmarked on or before Election Day and delivered no later than Friday, November 8. Those who prefer to return their vote-by-mail ballots in person may bring them to voting centers or to any polling place during voting hours on Election Day. For more information about the upcoming election, contact the Department of Elections at sfvote@sfgov.org or at (415) 554-4375.

Discovery Day at Oracle Park

On Saturday, November 2, between 11:00 am and 4:30 pm, experience hundreds of dynamic demonstrations, engaging experiments, and geeky games led by Bay Area scientists and engineers. There will be free activities for all ages, including a dedicated Teen Zone, Pre-K Area, and Robot Zoo. See the full Bay Area Science Festival schedule at www.bayareasciencefestival.org.

Clean and Green with the Friends of Lafayette Park

Join the Friends of Lafayette Park for a workday on the first Sunday of the month, November 3, between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm. Meet at the picnic tables at the south end of the playground to help maintain the park and get to know your neighbors!

Embracing the Journey

Join the JCC for the Fifth Annual End of Life Resource Fair, Embracing the Journey, between 9:15 am and 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 3. Learn compassionate and dignified ways to navigate the pathways that we and our loved ones will all travel. Presentations and activities will take place throughout the day, with a resource fair between 10:30 am and 2:00 pm in the Pottruck Family Atrium. Register to attend for free at 415-292-1200 or jccsf.org.

UCSF Veterans Job Fair and Open House

Calling all veterans and military service members! UCSF’s 4th Annual Veterans Job Fair and Open House is designed for veterans to get to know the UCSF community and consider UCSF as an employer of choice. Veteran job seekers interested in exploring UCSF employment are welcome to attend between 1:00 and 4:00 pm on Friday, November 8, at the UCSF Laurel Heights Campus, located at 3333 California Street. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP here to attend.

Veterans Day USO-Style Dance at the Presidio Officers’ Club

On Saturday, November 9, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm, travel back in time to a USO-style dance at the Officers’ Club in its World War II heyday. Light up the Officers’ Club’s historic dance floor as you swing to the 1940s rhythms of The Royal Society Jazz. Admission is free and vintage dress is encouraged! Register here.

99th Annual Veterans Day Parade

Honor our veterans’ service with the 99th Annual Veterans Day Parade on Sunday, November 10, between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. The parade will begin on the Embarcadero and North Point Street and end at the last block of Jefferson Street. This event is free.

Veterans Day Interfaith Service

Fighting ceased at the end of World War I – the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month – and November 11 became Veterans Day, honoring all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. At 11:00 am on Monday, November 11, at the Presidio Interfaith Center, Luc Ferier of the Forgotten Heroes 14-19 Foundation will present fascinating untold stories of Muslims, Christians, and Jews in the First World War.

District 2 Family Summit

You’re invited to share your personal stories, perspectives, and experiences to help make San Francisco a great place to grow up. The City’s Family Summits are places for San Francisco youth and families to make their voices heard for our five-year planning process. Food and family fun will be provided! Our Family Summit will be on Thursday, November 14, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Sherman Elementary School. RSVP here. I hope to see you there!

Golden Gate National Recreation Area Public Advisory Period

Golden Gate National Recreation Area has extended the public advisory period for the 2019 Superintendent’s Compendium. You can view the document here and submit feedback to goga_public_affairs@nps.gov by November 27. Those who have previously submitted feedback related to compendium changes do not need to resubmit their input. Park staff will review and consider all feedback at the end of the advisory period.

Neighborhood Empowerment Network Awards Nominations

The Neighborhood Empowerment Network Awards are returning for the twelfth time this winter, and NEN is currently seeking nominations for this year’s awardees. The Awards celebrate the amazing work of leaders and organizations making our neighborhoods more resilient, but we need your help to make sure that the heroes in our community will be considered for an award! To see a complete list of NEN Award categories, and to make nominations by November 29, visit this year’s website.

Flu Season

It may be flu season but it’s not too late to get your flu shot! If you’re not sure where to go, find the best place here: https://www.sfcdcp.org/immunizations/where-to-get-immunized/.

Water and Sewer Savings

To keep basic services like water and sewer affordable and accessible to all, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission offers discounts on water and sewer charges to qualifying single-family residential customers through its low-income Community Assistance Program. You may be eligible for a 15-percent discount on water and a 35-percent discount on sewer services each month. For more information, to see if you qualify, and to apply, please visit SFPUC’s website.

Office of Supervisor Catherine Stefani
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 260, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-7752 Fax: (415) 554-7843