January 3, 2022
A Message From The Supervisor:
Happy New Year! Although 2021 was full of challenges, District 11 persevered and is doing an excellent job of working together to respond to and recover from this pandemic. In 2021, we saw so many leaders emerge to serve their community. Whether it was a neighbor standing up for access to their local outdoor space, a community member working to deliver foods with Casa De Apoyo in the Excelsior, or seniors in OMI providing hot meals to residents of the Tenderloin – we saw amazing work being done to improve our District and City. My office thanks each community member who contributed to making District 11 better. This same energy carries over as we start 2022. This new year symbolizes a fresh start with a renewed energy and commitment to our communities.
I am excited to continue our work on behalf of District 11 constituents. My priorities at the District level will focus on safety, cleanliness, and housing. We have received a lot of feedback asking for cleaner streets and I will be focusing much of my energy on this effort. There will be more information to follow in subsequent newsletters. This year we will begin to see our newest affordable housing sites take shape at 4840 Mission Street and Balboa Upper Yard. In addition, I will continue to fight for safer streets and increased safety along our commercial corridors.
As a reminder, I am seeking the help of my District 11 community. I am seeking community and stakeholder feedback on district specific issues that need to be addressed. In addition, I would like all those interested in citywide issues to share your feedback. The policies that my office implements are never done in a vacuum and I appreciate your feedback. Please email all concerns and feedback to my office at SafaiStaff@sfgov.org.
Our office remains accessible to the public through telephone, email, virtual meeting or in person via appointment. We are available by email: safaistaff@sfgov.org or by phone 415-554-6976 (leave a message and we will call you back). You can also check for updates on my Twitter , Instagram, and Facebook. Stay safe and healthy.
Please note - if you miss my weekly newsletter, you may find it later on the Board of Supervisor’s website. Click HERE to read past newsletters.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to my staff at Safaistaff@sfgov.org.
Sincerely,
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
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SFDPH Reaffirms Support for In-Person Learning Despite Presence of COVID-19 Omicron Variant
As families prepare for a return to school following the holidays, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) reaffirms its support for the resumption of in-person learning despite rising COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. Multiple layers of health and safety protocols have kept school settings open this year despite COVID-19, and SFDPH urges families and schools to continue following these recommendations to allow for a safer return to school.
Getting vaccinated and boosted, testing after travel and gatherings, staying home when sick, and wearing well-fitted masks are key to keeping schools open for in-person learning.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced its support for an additional valuable tool in school settings as part of its layered prevention strategy called Test to Stay. Test to Stay combines contact tracing and COVID-19 testing that is repeated at least twice during a seven-day period post-exposure to allow asymptomatic school-associated close contacts who are not fully vaccinated and do not test positive for COVID-19 to continue in-person learning. Students who participate in Test to Stay should consistently and correctly wear masks while in school and should stay home and isolate if they develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.
SFDPH continues to support strategies that safely keep as many kids in schools, such as the CDC’s Test to Stay tool, which is similar to the modified quarantine guidance that SFDPH supported and allowed since the beginning of the school year. More information on the modified quarantine guidance is available HERE.
Safer Return to School Recommendations
- Testing
- Stay Home When Sick
- Students, teachers and staff who have symptoms of infectious illness, such as COVID-19 or the flu, should stay home and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care, regardless of vaccination status.
- Vaccination
- Everyone who is eligible (currently open to age 5 and above) for a COVID-19 vaccine should get vaccinated and stay up to date with boosters (currently open to age 16 and above if enough time has passed since their initial vaccination).
- The F.D.A. cleared boosters for Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds. The C.D.C. is expected to sign off before shots are given out.
- Click HERE for COVID-19 vaccination sites and resources
- Face Coverings
- A well-fitted mask that can be comfortably worn is most important
- Double masking is an effective way to improve fit and filtration. A close-fitting cloth mask can be worn on top of a surgical/disposable mask to improve the seal of the mask to the face
- Click HERE for additional masking resources
SFDPH Updates COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations Following Changes From the State
San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) announced updated recommendations of Isolation and Quarantine following an announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and adoption of guidance by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to reduce the isolation period after an individual is infected with COVID-19. As is required (because counties may not be less restrictive than the State), SFDPH’s updated Isolation and Quarantine guidance is in alignment with the CDPH changes.
Key changes include:
(The following apply to non-health care personnel. Health care personnel are subject to more health protective requirements.)
- Isolation following infection with COVID-19
- Shortened period of isolation for individuals infected with COVID-19 (i.e., tested positive, diagnosed with COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms and have not yet tested) from 10 days to 5 days since the onset of symptoms or since the first positive COVID-19 test, whichever is first. To leave isolation, the individual must test negative on day 5 and have no symptoms or meet other requirements. Individuals must wear masks while around others, indoors and outdoors, for a total of 10 days.
- Quarantine after close contact (Close contact: Close contact is being within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more in 24 hours, even if both people were wearing masks, regardless of vaccination status.)
- Individuals who are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, for those who are eligible: No quarantine required. These individuals should test at day 5 after contact. They must wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days after contact. If symptoms develop, they should test and stay home.
- Unvaccinated individuals or those who are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines: These individuals must quarantine for at least 5 days after close contact. They should test on day 5. To leave quarantine, they must have a negative test collected on day 5 or later. They must wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days, indoors and outdoors. If symptoms develop, they should test and stay home.
SFDPH has guidance available on how people can isolate and quarantine safely in their own home. For those needing guidance on how to set up space in your home to isolate or quarantine,
arrange for food delivery, or receive mental health support, call the SFDPH COVID Resource Center at (628) 217-6101 and leave a message to get help.
Information & Guidance Updates
Sign up to receive alerts from the Information & Guidance team for updates to San Francisco’s Health Order, guidance, and directives here.
COVID-19 Resources
SF COVID-19 vaccine call center
Call 628-652-2700 to book an appointment, find a drop-in site, or if you have questions about the vaccine. You can also email sf@sf.org.
Please check the following sites for regular COVID-19 updates:
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COMING SOON: COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program to Provide Small Business Commercial Rent Relief
In December 2021, I announced grants for commercial rent relief to help stabilize San Francisco’s small businesses. The Office of Economic and Workforce Development will help administer $2 million in city investment by launching COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program focusing on helping small businesses that have unpaid commercial back rent, by providing grants of up to $35,000 per qualifying business.
The Board of Supervisor’s Budget and Legislative Analyst estimates there is more than a half of billion dollars of unpaid commercial back rent caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this alarming number, Supervisor Safai in collaboration with Mayor Breed, announced $2 million for a pilot program that provides financial assistance to small business owners who successfully renegotiate debt repayment terms with their current property owners. The commercial rent relief pilot fund is being developed to support San Francisco’s small businesses that were greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and as a result have unpaid commercial back rent.
“Small businesses in San Francisco have a long road to recovery.” said Supervisor Ahsha Safai, “While you may still see your favorite local business open, it doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling to make ends meet. The COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program is designed to help small businesses that have unpaid commercial back rent sustain their business for the future.”
The COVID-19 Small Business Rent Relief Pilot Program will be administered by the Office of Economic Workforce Development. The goal of the pilot program is to help both small businesses and property owners/landlords recover lost income due to the pandemic. The grant program incentivizes property owners to negotiate payment of rent debt by providing small businesses with grants to pay off a portion of their owed rent. The eligibility requirements for the program are currently being developed with the goal of launching the application at the end of February 2022. The focus of the program will be to support small businesses with existing rent debt that have not received substantial government COVID-19 relief funding. Interested businesses can sign up to receive updates and alerts on the grant program as information become available by visiting visit the Office of Economic and Workforce Development at www.oewd.org/evictionhelp.
During the earlier part of the pandemic, the State of California issued a commercial eviction moratorium that prohibited commercial evictions due to back rent payment; however on September 30, 2021, the moratorium ended. Leaving countless small businesses with massive back rent debt. While businesses and landlords are encouraged to develop a repayment plan, the Small Business Rent Relief Pilot program will address a pressing need for small business presently facing back rent debt.
San Francisco continues to partner with community-based organizations to provide lease re-negotiation, mediation and referrals to legal services. The BAR Association of San Francisco (BASF) will host a webinar on December 20th at 12pm to help small business owners understand the resources available to them. For more information, visit the Office of Economic and Workforce Development at www.oewd.org/evictionhelp . Small businesses who have questions or would like to speak to a representative about resources and assistance can also call the Office of Small Business at (415) 554-6134 or email sfosb@sfgov.org
Join Us Jan. 4 @ 2pm! Live Webinar w/info on San Francisco Workforce Services
Ask Live Questions! Workforce partners can provide you with information about:
- Job Training
- Career Services
- Union Member Resources
- Healthcare Options and Unemployment Insurance Filing Process
- 1st Tuesdays 2:00PM-3:15PM
- Click HERE to Register
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| Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project
Project Description
San Francisco Public Works and SFMTA have partnered to complete infrastructure and safety improvements along Geneva Avenue. The work to be performed includes upgrading the existing signal infrastructure, including installation of new signals and interconnect conduit. The Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project also includes wiring, Pedestrian Countdown Signals (PCS), Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) pushbuttons, vehicular signal heads, new poles and mast-arms, and signal controllers. This project will also include pedestrian bulb-out work, curb ramp work, sidewalk work, curb and gutter work, parking strip replacement, localized street base repairs and paving work near the newly completed upgrades.
The intersections included in this project are the following:
• Geneva Avenue & London Street
• Geneva Avenue & Paris Street
• Geneva Avenue & Naples Street
• Geneva Avenue & Athens Street
The Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project will also include removal and reconstruction of the center median along Geneva Avenue between Edinburgh Street and Vienna Street. The new center median will be realigned to create turning lanes and facilitate travel through the area.
Neighbors interested in receiving e-updates on the Geneva Avenue Traffic Signal Project should sign up HERE. Updates will be sent out as-needed during construction to inform residents of the upcoming phase of work, traffic impacts, milestone completions, and any weekend work. Although weekend work is allowed, none is anticipated at this time.
Construction on this project is anticipated to start in late January 2022 with completion expected in late October 2022. This traffic signal project is being completed in advance of a larger scale project coming to Mission Street and Geneva Avenue in summer 2022. The Mission Street and Geneva Avenue Infrastructure Improvement Project will Include Mission Street between the Hwy 280 overpass and Geneva Avenue as well as Geneva Avenue between Mission Street and Prague Street. That project will have an overall duration of 3 years but is being broken up into phases so that the entire limits aren’t under construction the whole time. For additional information on that project please visit www.sfpublicwork.org/Mission-Geneva.
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| ArtSpan Artists Zoe Ani & Nick Maltagliati Exhibition at City Hall
Join us for an in-person artist reception for ArtSpan Artists Zoe Ani & Nick Maltagliati, currently on view in the office of District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safai! The office is located on the 2nd floor of City Hall in Room #256.
Come see and hear what our thriving creative community has to offer virtually!
In-Person Reception: Thursday, January 13th 2022 from 5:00 - 6:00pm
**As an attendee, you will receive reminders 48 hours, 7 hours, and 1 hour before the event starts.**
Invite your art-curious friends and come ready for artful conversations as we mix and mingle in-person. *ALL event attendees must be vaccinated and wear a mask at all times.*
The exhibition is on view virtually on our Art-In-Neighborhoods dedicated gallery: V-AIN. For purchasing of any artwork, visit our online store: ArtSpan Market.
Exhibition dates: November 8, 2021 - March 7, 2022
>>To view the collection in-person, email sam.berenson@sfgov.org. Fridays are best to schedule a private viewing.
Featured Artwork:
"Wave Series 8" by Zoe Ani (detail)
“Ripe” by Zoe Ani & Nick Maltagliati
About the Art-in-Neighborhoods Program:
ArtSpan’s Art-in-Neighborhoods program serves the city of San Francisco by connecting communities with local artists while activating spaces with vibrant, locally-made artwork. ArtSpan partners with local businesses and building owners to bring art exhibitions and art events to businesses, dormant storefronts, and empty spaces for lease that seek artwork for their blank walls. Local artists who are ArtSpan members are given the opportunity to display, promote, and sell their artwork in these diverse venues. All aspects of the program allow otherwise unused walls, spaces, or properties to become creative arenas for celebrating local arts.
The Art-In-Neighborhoods program strives to create visibility and accessibility for local arts in San Francisco. ArtSpan provides the public with free, high-quality arts exposure. Simultaneously, local ArtSpan artists are given the opportunity to promote and sell their artwork. Each of the Art-In-Neighborhoods exhibitions and community events will provide clear, consistent information about ArtSpan programing to educate the public about ArtSpan’s goals and how to become a supporter – by attending our events and buying artwork from local artists!
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