April 12, 2021
A Message From The Supervisor:
Today’s newsletter has several announcements specifically for families with minor children. Through the generosity of the Crankstart Foundation, Mayor Breed’s Summer Together Initiative will be offering a combination of free in-person and virtual learning experiences for San Francisco Unified School District students who have been impacted by learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, District 11 has opened its first community COVID-19 vaccine site. The Excelsior Site located in the Norton Street Parking Lot opened and has successfully served nearly 400 people this week. For this site, appointments are recommended. To book an appointment, please call (415) 562-8638. This site is special because it is operated by Excelsior Strong and the Latino Task Force, as well as, other community contributors and stakeholders in collaboration with the Department of Public Health. This site is low barrier and accessible to community members who need these services the most.
After hearing many constituents interested in the Johnson and Johnson vaccination, which many call the one and done shot, I am happy to announce the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is being offered in our District this Saturday, April 17, 2021 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the San Francisco Christian Center. This site also requires an appointment. Please see the flyer in the COVID-19 section below.
Lastly, District 11 is returning to the new normal. This week is an exciting week for children and parents as many of our elementary school students are returning to school. Many of these students have spent the last year only learning via zoom or in very small cohorts at our community learning hubs. Distance learning inspired my office to examine the digital divide and the disparities that exist in some of our communities when it comes to access to technology and the internet. My staff and I have collaborated with City departments as well as internet service providers to understand how we can bridge the gaps around access to technology for our youth, families, and seniors.
Finally, I am happy to announce District 11 will be Hosting a Budget Town Hall meeting on Thursday, April 29, 2021 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. More information will be included in next week’s newsletter.
Please be advise, I briefly highlighted these announcements in my intro because, I want to encourage all my constituent and subscribers to actually read/skim today’s ENTIRE newsletter for the recent updates I mentioned above.
In closing, my office continues to be open and my staff respective to any and all constituent issues. 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.
Although our City Hall Office is closed to the public due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are still here to serve you. If you have any difficulty during this time, please do not hesitate to reach out. 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.
Sincerely,
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
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Re-opening Guidelines
San Francisco entered the 'orange tier' of reopening last Wednesday, March 24. Click HERE to find out which businesses and activities were allowed to resume or expand capacity.
San Francisco expects to enter the Yellow Tier of reopening soon. The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) hosted a Best Practices for Reopening webinar that you can watch by clicking HERE.
In addition, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California is targeting a near full reopening of the state's economy by June 15. Click HERE to read more.
San Francisco Announces Plans for Indoor Live Ticketed Events
San Francisco is on track to issue guidelines that will allow indoor live events to resume with capacity limits and other safety protocols beginning April 15, 2021. These planned guidelines respond to new guidance from the State announced last week. The State’s announcement established operating guidelines for indoor live events and performances, which are activities that had not been previously addressed or allowed to reopen in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Additionally, the State recently changed the allowances established for meetings and private events such as conferences and receptions as well as expanding the number of participants allowed to participate in indoor and outdoor social gatherings. San Francisco also plans to update its health order to offer local guidance for conducting these activities.
Health Officer Recession of Order Directing Hospitals to Limit Visitors and Other Non-Essential Persons
Even though COVID-19 case rates have come down significantly and more people are vaccinated, there is still reason to use caution until the end of the pandemic as to activities that can lead to transmission of the virus, such as hospital visitation. All general acute care hospitals that were covered by Health Officer Order No. C19-06b are subject to the guidance and requirements of the California Department of Public Heath, and the Health Officer urges those hospitals to follow that guidance and those requirements and any additional recommendations provided by the San Francisco Department of Public Health available online at www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/hospitalvisitation.pdf.
Also, all businesses and Healthcare Operations in the City and County of San Francisco remain subject to the Health Officer’s Stay-Safer-At-Home Order, Order No. C19-07u, including as that order is revised in the future, until that order is rescinded. And to the extent that any general acute care hospital includes services (such as a skilled nursing facility or ambulatory or dental care) that are covered by a separate Health Officer order or directive, those other orders and directives continue to apply until they are rescinded.
Click the following link to learn more about current reopening guidelines at SF.gov/reopening
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Current Eligibility:
We are vaccinating:
• People 50 and older
• Healthcare workers
• People who work in certain jobs
• People with certain health conditions or disabilities
• People living in congregate living settings (homeless shelters, correctional facilities, SROs, or other treatment facilities)
• People experiencing homelessness
Every Californian 16 years and older will be eligible for vaccination on April 15, 2021.
District 11 Vaccination Site Update:
Mayor London N. Breed, myself, the Department of Public Health (DPH), and community partners Excelsior Strong and Latino Task Force, today announced the opening of a new neighborhood COVID-19 vaccine site in the Excelsior District. The Excelsior site, located at 20 Norton Street, bolsters the City’s ongoing efforts to ensure that highly impacted neighborhoods have equitable access to the vaccine.
At the onset of the Pandemic, the Excelsior saw very high rates of COVID-19 contraction. At that time we fought for services and worked with groups like Excelsior Strong and the Latino Task Force to secure and provide low barrier testing. This site is the next step in that collaborative work as we offer vaccines to community members who need it most.
The goal of San Francisco’s vaccination strategy is to make receiving the vaccine as convenient and comfortable for as many people as possible, particularly in those neighborhoods disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and where there is a lack of access to healthcare. The Excelsior District is home to many Latino, Asian, and Pacific Islander residents and essential workers and has been one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19. See the image above for more information on how to make an appointment.
The Excelsior site, located on a San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) parking lot, has the additional benefit of being adjacent to Mission Street, which has numerous Muni bus lines, and walking distance from Balboa Park BART station, ensuring that it is accessible and convenient for people that it will serve. Muni and Paratransit are free for anyone traveling to and from COVID-19 vaccine appointments. The SFMTA is also providing additional access to taxi service for those using the Essential Trip Card. Information can be found at sfmta.com/COVID and sfmta.com/Paratransit.
People who are eligible to be vaccinated can sign-up for an appointment as they become available at: SF.gov/getvaccinated or by visiting https://myturn.ca.gov/.
Below are links to some additional resources on the available COVID-19 vaccines and the State's prioritization plan:
Vaccine Town Hall in Cantonese (Recording)
Last week, SFDPH hosted a Vaccine Town Hall in Cantonese. Click HERE to watch the town hall and share it with your friends and family, if they wish to hear more information regarding the vaccine in Cantonese.
April COVID-19 Testing in District 11
The City is encouraging residents who have insurance to get tested through their medical provider, so as to take the strain off of our free testing sites. If you have health insurance, schedule a test with your doctor. If you have symptoms or known exposure, your healthcare provider is required by law to get you a test.
Excelsior (Community Pop-up Site)
Mondays from 10am to 6pm
Crocker Amazon Park
799 Moscow (in the parking lot near Paris Street)
San Francisco, CA 94112
Walk-Through and Drive-through
OMI (Community Pop Up Site)
Fridays from 9am-4pm
50 Broad Street
No Appointment Necessary
Walk-Through, Free Parking Provided
Alemany Farmers Market (CityTest SF)
100 Alemany Boulevard
Walk-Through and Drive-through
Alemany takes a limited number of drop-ins. Make an Appointment for guaranteed testing. Click HERE to make an appointment at Alemany.
Visit sf.gov/gettestedsf for more information.
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Please click HERE for housing resources, eviction prevention programs, and other financial assistance related services offered to District 11 residents and all San Francisco residents.
If you are facing any difficulty, please reach out to my office at SafaiStaff@sfgov.org and we will connect you with a housing resources available to all residents.
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CalTrans
If you have any questions or requests for Caltrans, please visit the Caltrans’ Customer Service Request tool: https://csr.dot.ca.gov/
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$10.9 Million Grant Program for Small Businesses
Mayor London N. Breed today signed legislation to fund additional grants and loans to provide immediate financial relief for small businesses struggling as a result of COVID-19. The $10.9 million grant program will focus on helping storefront businesses that have received little to no federal or city funding, businesses that have been forced to close for six months or longer due to state and local regulations, long established businesses, and those in high need neighborhoods.
The City will begin accepting grant applications today. Small businesses can apply online at sf.gov/sf-relief-grants. Beginning in May this grant program will be complemented by the launch of over $10 million in very low to zero-interest loans for small businesses through an initial investment in a partnership with the state backed California Rebuilding Fund.
This new grant program will provide immediate relief to help stabilize more than 1,400 small businesses by offering grants of between $5,000 and $25,000 based on the number of employees that each employer had prior to the pandemic. This program will support small businesses operated citywide and target businesses owned by people of color, women, long-standing businesses, those most impacted by Stay at Home orders, and those that were excluded from or otherwise unable to access state and federal programs. Businesses will be required to have a San Francisco storefront open to the public and a San Francisco business license to operate. Grant funding will begin being delivered within 30 days after the application period closes, with the goal of disbursing all $10.9 million by July so as to support businesses impacted by the current surge. More substantial loan funds will follow during the summer to supporting businesses as they further reopen and bring more people back to work.
The grant funds are split into two programs. The Small Business Storefront Equity program focuses on businesses that have been most impacted by closures required by the Stay at Home Order, those that have not been able to access other local, state, and federal resources, and those serving low-income, historically disinvested neighborhoods. The Community Storefront Anchors program is focused on supporting long-running businesses and those that contribute to the culture and vibrancy of San Francisco and its commercial corridors.
San Francisco Community Investment Loan Program -- $7.3 million
This new loan program, to be launched in May, is aimed at supporting businesses by providing working capital, especially to those left out of existing relief programs. To meet the overwhelming need created by COVID-19, during the past year, the City has successfully leveraged investments to maximize available loans to small businesses. Working with our State-backed lending partners and local community-based partners, the City will leverage additional funding to offer San Francisco small businesses very low to zero-interest loans ranging up to $100,000.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the City of San Francisco has provided immediate and ongoing support for small businesses, including an investment of more than $24 million in grants and loans to more than 1,300 small businesses, tens of millions of dollars in fee and tax deferrals, and assistance applying for state and federal funding. This includes legislation introduced and signed by the Mayor to waive $5 million in fees and taxes for entertainment and nightlife venues and small restaurants, meaning that businesses that receive a waiver do not have to pay back the fees at a later date.
In addition to creating and supporting programs that respond to the urgent and ongoing needs of COVID-19, Mayor Breed has continued to invest in programs that regularly support small businesses in San Francisco, including the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative and Grants for the Arts. Lastly, the City has advanced numerous initiatives to make it easier to operate and open businesses during COVID-19 and beyond, such as the Shared Spaces program and the Small Business Recovery Act legislation, which was introduced in March and is scheduled for hearings in the coming weeks. More information about San Francisco’s support for small businesses is available here.
CA RELIEF GRANT
The state recently announced four new funding rounds for businesses and nonprofits to apply. A total of $2.1 billion is being made available as part of a comprehensive package to provide financial relief to individuals, families, and businesses that are suffering economic hardship from the impacts of COVID-19.
Round 6 (dates to be announced soon)
- Eligible applicants: Current waitlisted small businesses and/or non-profits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found athttp://avenuegreenlight.com/.
- Eligible grant award: $5,000 to $25,000
- Details: Applicants not selected to receive a grant in Rounds 1, 2, 3, and 5 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 6. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com.
Legacy Business Website
The Office of Small Business is pleased to announce our new website for the Legacy Business Registry: www.legacybusiness.org
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The 2021 San Francisco Restaurant Week started last Friday, April 9th and will go until Sunday, April 18th. Special menus will be available for lunch and dinner. Celebrate the flavors of San Francisco's unique and diverse neighborhoods through special prix fixe menus.
Click the following link for more information on participating restaurants: https://www.sfrestaurantweek.com/restaurants/
If you get a chance to visit some of the amazing participating restaurants, the organizers of SF Restaurant Week would love to share photos of you dining or picking up your take out. So they can easily repost, they ask you to:
- Use these Hashtags:
- #sfrestaurantweek2021
- #sfrw2021
- Tag these accounts:
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Free Programming Through 'Summer Together' Initiative
We're proud to announce #SummerTogether free summer learning programs for San Francisco's public school students. Enrollment begins in April.
This year the City’s summer offerings will focus on continuity of learning and will expand beyond traditional programs to include curriculum to combat learning loss, ensure credit recovery for high school students, and provide comprehensive support for families. Each individual family will be offered a range of supports for their children from free summer reading books easily picked up at any San Francisco Public Library to a full day of in-person learning at school sites, Community Hubs, or Recreation and Park Camps. For more information, click the link below.
Sign up for updates about enrollment or volunteer opportunities (or both!) at https://summertogether.org/
James Denman Middle School
Wednesdays from 9am-1pm
Address: 240 Seneca Avenue, San Francisco, 94112
Minnie and Lovie Ward Rec Center
Saturdays from 9am-1pm
Address: 650 Capitol Avenue, San Francisco, 94112
Stonestown YMCA
Wednesdays from 12pm-4pm
Address: 333 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco, 94132
Cow Palace
Fridays from 9am-1pm
Address: 2600 Geneva Avenue San Francisco, 94014
Food Bank participants can inquire about the home-delivery service or apply directly by calling their Hotline: 628-272-8430.
Or, the agencies can refer participants to the program via the link below:
To be eligible for the Pantry at Home program, participants must be:
- 65 years or older, OR
- Have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk for complications from COVID-19, OR
- Have difficulty attending a food pantry due to a physical or cognitive disability.
Please visit the following link for a schedule of food pantries open in San Francisco sponsored by the SF Marin Food Bank: https://www.sfmfoodbank.org/find-food/
Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for San Francisco Artists
The artist guaranteed income pilot program will provide monthly payments of $1,000 to approximately 130 eligible San Francisco artists for six months beginning May 2021. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements listed on the pilot program website, and are invited to apply online through the April 15, 2021 deadline. For this program, an artist is someone who actively engages with the community through music, dance, creative writing, visual art, performance art, installation, photography, theater, or film. Teaching artists, arts educators, and culturally-based craft workers and makers are also encouraged to apply.
Taraval Police Station Newsletter
Captain Nicholas Rainsford of Taraval Police Station puts out a newsletter with updates on issues related to this District. Please click HERE to read more.
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On Saturday, April 17, from 12 to 2 PM, please join the SF Human Rights Commission and Stand Together SF Initiative at Civic Center Plaza for a unity event to launch a citywide Campaign for Solidarity. The Campaign for Solidarity brings together our Asian American and Pacific Islander, Black, Latinx, American Indian and multiracial communities to demonstrate against racist hate and violence. The unity event will feature healing spaces, family-friendly activities and a volunteer opportunity to assemble 1,000 Solidarity Kits to inspire, inform and nourish our neighbors across the city.
Here are actions you can take to support the demonstration:
- Ask your community members to show up and show out for folks across San Francisco! We welcome you to share with them ways to demonstrate solidarity in the face of racism and violence, such as joining the event, volunteering in person, and sharing what solidarity means to them in a 30-second video. Click here for the toolkit.
- Donate items for Solidarity Kits. We’d love to share a part of your culture in the Solidarity Kits! The Solidarity Kits each include items like children’s books, family passes to the Asian Art Museum, mental health resources, and public and personal safety fact sheets. They will be distributed directly to residents through our community partners in neighborhoods including Chinatown, Bayview Hunters Point, Tenderloin, Fillmore, and OMI/Lakeview. No item is too small, but we ask that you provide between 200 to 1,000 of them. Sign up to donate items here
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| A new San Francisco Public Library To Go-Go pop-up site launched in the OMI neighborhood on Wednesday, February 3. You can now pick up and drop off books at 50 Broad Street in the parking lot of Catholic Charities on Wednesdays between 2-6 pm. Visit the Library's website to check out your books today! https://sfpl.org/sfpl-to-go |
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