September 14, 2021
A Message From The Supervisor:
I would like to start by acknowledging the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Over the weekend I was able to attend a 9/11 Memorial Event with our San Francisco Firefighters and San Francisco Police Department. The event was a stark reminder of the bravery shown by first responders during the attacks 20 years ago. I was fortunate to spend time with the brother of Betty Ong , a San Francisco Native and hero during the tragic events of 9/11. Harry Ong, a resident of District 11 himself, described his sister’s bravery during a speech this past Saturday. Betty was a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11 that crashed into the World Trade Center Tower. Betty used her final moments to relay vital information to air traffic control and ultimately gave the information necessary for the FAA to ground all flights. We will never forget her courage and we will never forget the events of that day.
Election Day for the Gubernatorial Recall Election is TODAY, Tuesday, September 14, 2021. Please do not forget to cast your ballot. You may vote by dropping off your ballot at your local polling place or by dropping off your ballot at City Hall before 8PM TODAY. You can click HERE to find out where you your nearest polling place and drop off location is located. If you have any issues participating in the election please contact the San Francisco Department of Elections for help.
This Wednesday, September 15, 2021, I will host a hearing on the topic of a COVID-19 Commercial Rent Relief Fund for our small businesses at the Budget and Finance Committee. I am seeking to create a COVID-19 Commercial Rent Relief Fund. With the commercial eviction moratorium coming to an end on September 30, 2021, we are working to save San Francisco’s small businesses that have unpaid commercial back rent by incentivizing landlords and tenants to actively renegotiate their current leases. Through the COVID-19 Commercial Rent Relief Fund, I want San Francisco to provide financial assistance in the form of grants (not loans) to businesses who successfully renegotiate existing leases with current tenants. The goal of this ordinance is to re-establish positive relationships between business owners and landlords to ensure a healthy and long lasting recovery for our various commercial corridors. More details can be found later in this newsletter on how to call in for public comment.
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.
Sincerely,
Supervisor Ahsha Safai
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Data Shows COVID-19 Cases Among San Francisco Children are Low and Schools Remain as Safe Settings.
- To date, our data show that cases among San Francisco residents under age 18 have remained low and stable throughout the pandemic and that schools are low-risk settings when the safety protocols are followed.
- SFDPH data on schools and children will be updated weekly to provide information and context to the COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco as it relates to the impact on children. Future weekly updates will be made public on the City’s COVID-19 data dashboard page.
- No COVID-19 outbreaks have been verified as having occurred at San Francisco schools (as of September 8). An outbreak is defined as three or more cases in non-related households in which the source of infection occurred at the school, and not another setting.
- Read the full statement here.
Required signs for businesses and government buildings.
- The Health Order requires businesses and government entities to post signs at public entrances and in employee-facing areas. All required signs are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino, and available in multiple sizes.
- Come to any City Hall entrance between 8 am to 5 pm to pick up required signage, including the new Masking & Vaccination Required sign. Or you may choose to print on your own: Public-facing required sign & Employee-facing required sign
New Testing Site Opened in SOMA - 600 7th Street (7th and Brannon).
Have any questions? Contact the COVID Resource Center:
- Our COVID Resource Center connects SF residents to essential services and support for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 or has been in close contact and needs to quarantine. Call (628) 217-6101 for assistance with quarantining, food delivery, cleaning supplies, and more.
- 211 offers assistance for a wide variety of services, including mental health support
San Francisco Opening Four New Vaccination Sites At SFUSD Schools
SFDPH announced that vaccination sites are launching this week at four schools in partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) in order to further support vaccination among eligible individuals in schools and the surrounding community.
The vaccination sites—located at located at Malcolm X Academy School in the Bayview; Balboa High School in the Excelsior; McCoppin Elementary School in the Inner Richmond; and Sunset Elementary School in the Outer Sunset—will initially administer doses once a week at each site, with several sites open on evenings and weekends to support working families. While these vaccination sites will prioritize staff and families with children at SFUSD, they will also serve the general community. Walk-ins are welcome, and documentation of identity is not required.
Each of the four school sites has the initial capacity to administer 62 doses each day and is prepared to expand to up to 200 a day, as needed. COVID-19 vaccines are currently FDA-approved for people 12 years and older. Details are as follows:
Malcolm X Academy School
350 Harbor Road in the Bayview
3:30 pm – 6:30 pm on Tuesdays starting 9/14
Balboa High School
1000 Cayuga Ave in the Excelsior
2:30 pm – 5:30 pm on Wednesdays starting 9/15
McCoppin Elementary School
651 6th Ave in the Richmond
10:30 am – 1:30 pm on Saturdays starting 9/18
Sunset Elementary School
1920 41st Ave in the Sunset
10:30 am – 1:30 pm on Sundays starting 9/19
Please visit SF.GOV/getvaccinated for a complete list of vaccination sites as well as days and hours of operation. People are encouraged to first seek vaccination through their health care provider, if they have one.
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Transit Month September 2021
Join San Francisco Transit Riders for Transit Month, September 1-30! Sign up for the Ride Contest to win fabulous prizes - each entry is eligible for our raffle, and prizes will be awarded for great transit photos, great transit stories, and folks with the most rides.
October 1: We’ll hold an outdoor edition of our Rider First Awards party. Join us in honoring people who have made a positive difference for transit riders this year - and nominate your own transit hero!
Together, let’s celebrate the central role public transit plays in San Francisco’s recovery, and in our lives every day. More information at transitmonth.org.
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Transit Month BART Fare Reduction
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is offering an automatic 50% reduction in fares for the month of September. This discount applies to already discounted fares for youth, seniors, students, qualifying low-income riders, and people with disabilities. BART's fare calculator and trip planner have all been updated to reflect the discounted fares. For more information please visit here. |
Hearing to Establish a COVID-19 Commercial Rent Relief Fund
Supervisor Safai is seeking to create a COVID-19 Commercial Rent Relief Fund. With the commercial eviction moratorium coming to an end on September 30, 2021, Supervisor Safai is seeking to save San Francisco’s small businesses that have unpaid commercial back rent by incentivizing landlords and tenants to actively renegotiate their current leases. Through the COVID-19 Commercial Rent Relief Fund, Supervisor Ahsha Safai wants San Francisco to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to businesses who successfully renegotiate existing leases with current tenants. The goal of this ordinance is to re-establish positive relationships between business owners and landlords to ensure a healthy and long lasting recovery for our various commercial corridors. Please see below for the details of how you can dial in to the hearing, make a public comment and/or watch it live:
Hearing to Establish a COVID-19 Commercial Rent Relief Fund
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Meeting Starts at 10:30AM, the Item is estimated to begin at 11:30AM
TO MAKE A LISTEN TO THE MEETING AND MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT:
- Dial 415-655-0001
- Enter Meeting ID: 2489 690 7105 , Press # and then # again
- When Item #10 – COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund is called, press *3 added to the public comment queue
- The system will prompt you to speak when it is your turn
You can watch on SF Cable Channel 26, 78 or 99 (depending on provider) or online at www.sfgovtv.org. |
ArtSpan presents SF Wide-Open Studios (SFOS)
This fall, ArtSpan’s SF Wide-Open Studios invites you to discover, explore, and be inspired by the creative power of SF Bay Area artists! From September 16 through November 21, 2021, experience a festival season of free artful happenings across the San Francisco Bay Area with opportunities to build your collection while supporting local artists.
From receptions and exhibitions, to happy hours and virtual happenings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
- Visit artist-hosted open studio events 09/16-10/17; then the SFOS Exhibition at SOMArts Cultural Center from 10/21-11/21
- Discover unique artful events while out and about during the SFOS season by using the SFOS web app to “see art near you”
- Purchase art directly from open studio artists knowing that you’re investing in their livelihood⠀
- Begin or build your art collection while supporting active artists⠀
Visit artspan.org/sfos to learn more.
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“No day shall erase you from the memory of time. “
We remember each and every innocent victim of 9/11 and thank every first responder who made extreme sacrifices in the search and rescue efforts. We shall never forget and we shall always honor the memory of our fallen heroes.
Supervisor Connie Chan and I had a chance to speak with the brother of Betty Ong, Harry. Betty was the flight attendant and hero who alerted American Airlines Flight 11 hijacking. She was a native San Franciscan and American hero. |
| Had a lovely time at the first annual OMI Skate Party in Lakeview. Thank you to Maurice Rivers of OMI CPP and all the community partners that made this possible. Thank you to Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Myrna Melgar for stopping by and sharing in the fun! |
On Saturday, we celebrated the 31st Annual Autumn Moon Festival in San Francisco. This holiday has been celebrated for over 3000 years.
19 months ago, Chinatown was hit first by the effects of this pandemic. Today, Chinatown is back in full force. Go out and buy a moon cake, dine in at a dim sum restaurant, buy your groceries here. Chinatown is back! |
Last week, we opened the first sober, abstinence based drug treatment, recovery and prevention (TRP) academy in San Francisco. The community has asked for this for YEARS and we delivered it this year by funding 86 treatment beds focused on turning lives around and a therapeutic community of peer to peer abstinence based programming.
Thank you to Geoffrea Morris on my staff for advocating for this and bringing this to my attention. I want to thank Mayor London Breed for funding this program in the budget, Supervisor Stefani for your early advocacy on this. Budget Chair Matt Haney, Board President Walton, Chief Fletcher of Adult Probation, Steve Adami, Positive Directions and so many more advocates and community members who made this a possibility. |
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