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Here’s a deeper look at what we’ve been working on since our last update… |
Homeless Families with children being evicted from shelters
I have been deeply concerned with the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH)
(1) unilaterally removing 300 families from the shelter waitlist in December and
(2) subjecting families to an unrealistic 90-day shelter stay policy, causing massive emotional distress for already distressed homeless families with children.
I’ve participated in multiple community town halls with Faith in Action Bay Area and United Educators of San Francisco, affirming my commitment to fight to ensure not one child is kicked out of shelters and into the streets.
My office has been meeting with the Mayor’s office and HSH, expressing my frustration, as well as with unhoused families facing eviction, medical professionals, principals, teachers, social workers, community organizations, and more, to talk about and solve for the impacts and the assumptions baked into this policy that are causing great harm to families. Fundamentally, this is a question of systemic failures, exacerbated by lack of exits to housing. We cannot place the blame on homeless families for these problems. Rather, we should be working collaboratively and creatively to solve for the deeper causes limiting movement of families out of shelter and into stable housing and
self-sufficiency. That is why I am working on legislation to end this callous and ineffective policy, and ensure the City focuses on addressing systemic barriers and generative solutions that actually solve family homelessness. Stay tuned for more.
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Mission Street Conditions
Street Retail Vending
We recently hosted an all-hands community meeting, bringing together major stakeholders and city agencies involved in permitted street retail vending to ensure that every voice was heard and every perspective included as we undertake a major update to the vending system alongside OEWD, Dept of Public Health, and Dept of Public Works that will promote safety, economic opportunity, and neighborhood vibrancy.
Permitted street vending is a vital part of the culture, economy, and daily life along our Mission corridors and beyond. It provides opportunities for community entrepreneurs, fosters a sense of community, and adds to the vibrancy of our streets. However, we know that street vendors also face unique challenges, from navigating city regulations to ensuring safety and fair working conditions alongside residents and pedestrians.
That’s why it was so important for us to create a space where vendors, small business owners, city officials, and community members could come together for an open and productive conversation. This bilingual roundtable discussion allowed us to hear directly from those on the ground, learning about their struggles, their ideas, and their hopes for the future of street vending in our district.
While we continue to meet with vendors individually to address specific concerns, and work with various departments on the major vending system update, this gathering was a powerful reminder of how strong and resilient our community is when we come together. We’re committed to keeping these conversations going and working on solutions that promote safety, economic opportunity, and community vibrancy. |
Mission Street Cleaning with the Department of Public Works
We are actively advocating for regular, weekly street cleanings along the entire stretch of Mission Street in our District. Clean streets are essential not just for the aesthetic appeal of our neighborhoods, but also for public health, pedestrian safety, and the overall well-being of residents and businesses.
After multiple meetings with the Department of Public Works (DPW) where we emphasized the critical need for more frequent cleanings, we requested detailed cost estimates and feasibility assessments. We’re excited to share that DPW has taken our concerns seriously and is now incorporating this initiative into their upcoming budget. It is now in the hands of the Mayor to include it in his budget, to be released June 1st.
This is a major step forward in ensuring that our streets are well-maintained and that businesses, residents, and visitors can enjoy a cleaner, more welcoming environment. We will continue pushing for accountability and timely implementation, because every neighborhood in our district deserves to be taken care of.
Thank you to all the community members and business owners who have raised their voices about this issue. We hear you, and we’re making progress! Stay tuned for updates as we work to secure consistent, dedicated resources for street cleaning along this vital corridor.
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Public Safety
On Superbowl Sunday, a car being chased by SFPD crashed into a parklet, injuring 6, including a mom and a child who were sent to SF General under a red code. To our relief, no one was killed, but this day could have been even more tragic for our city – between 2018 and 2023, before this new policy was implemented, SFPD reported 150 police chases. 38% of these ended in a collision. High-profile incidents of injuries and deaths resulting from police chases have become all too common. When suspects flee in their vehicles, they hold the public hostage. That is why state laws govern the decisions of law enforcement to engage in these vehicle pursuits, requiring they weigh the benefits of apprehending a suspect and the risks to lives a pursuit poses.
We believe that these events are avoidable which is why we filed a letter of inquiry with the San Francisco Police Department with questions about their police chase policies. Disappointingly, they didn’t have many answers for us. Public safety requires holding all people accountable for the harm they cause, no matter who causes it. I am concerned for the safety of our community, and want to ensure that the San Francisco Police Department is doing all that it can to avoid such an incident in the future.
The Drug Crisis
I continue to be deeply concerned about San Francisco’s drug and substance overdose crises, especially as the Mission bears the brunt of displacement from increased law enforcement actions around the City. This also comes as a recent research paper found that after law enforcement undertakes large drug seizures in San Francisco, overdose incidents unintentionally increase within the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, we continue to see people languishing on our streets in District 9. It is clear that a law enforcement-only approach is insufficient as a solution to the city’s substance overdose issues.
The Four Pillars strategy, developed in Zurich, Switzerland is a comprehensive drug policy and is something our office is studying as a possible model to inspire a more comprehensive approach the City can adopt to meaningfully address this crisis. The Four Pillars of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and law enforcement, represents the collaboration between social services, law enforcement, and public health. Zurich faced similar scenes of people deteriorating in public places, overdoses, and high addiction rates in the 90s. They adopted the Four Pillars approach to get people off the streets, into safe consumption sites, and into treatment. Zurich did not allow people to deteriorate in the streets and public spaces, but rather connected with help. Zurich is now one of the safest
cities in the world. We can be next. |
This is why I have called for a hearing where different departments can come together to present how we are currently addressing the fentanyl crisis and what we might be able to learn from the Four Pillars Strategy of prevention, harm reduction, enforcement, and treatment.
I want to thank cosponsors Supervisors Dorsey, Mahmood, Chen, and Walton for undertaking this hearing with me. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move our city’s drug policy forward to address the negative aspects of problematic drug use and meet this public health crisis with the vigor and resources it deserves. |
A Co-op of Independent Pharmacies in the Wake of Walgreens Closures
Following the recent announcement of Walgreens closures throughout the city, we are concerned about the proliferation of “pharmacy deserts,” where low income residents must travel farther to get to the nearest pharmacy to fill their prescriptions. Pharmacies are an essential component of our healthcare system, and the devastating closures of retail pharmacies are pointing to the need to decouple the healthcare of our residents from major corporations.
I have since requested that the Budget and Legislative Analyst produce a report on how the city could create a model for cooperative pharmacies, to help mom-and-pop pharmacies fill the gap.
Here in the U.S., where our healthcare has been put in the hands of profit-seeking corporations, where retail pharmacies like Walgreens are perpetually understaffed, if not shuttered, people have to take several buses, wait in long lines, and organize their whole days around filling a prescription. It doesn’t have to be this way, which is why we are looking forward to working with the Budget and Legislative Analyst to explore options and to find a path forward to ensuring all residents of San Francisco have access to their basic healthcare needs.
Education
Together with the leadership of Supervisor Melgar, I have co-introduced a motion to form a one-time joint special select committee with the Board of Education and the Board of Supervisors to call a hearing on the status of the Student Success Fund. With all of the current questions around the budget and state of SFUSD, there are many questions about the Student Success Fund roll-out and its impact and oversight at school sites. There are many bright spots with this voter approved City-funding to support student academic achievement and wellness, and we want to lift up some of those examples. We also want to talk about the challenges with the implementation and ask the team administering the
funding, led by the Department of Children Youth and Families in partnership with SFUSD, to talk about plans to improve the process and oversight.
District Town Halls: In April, SFUSD is hosting District Stabilization Town Hall conversations with Superintendent Dr. Su, throughout the city. April 23rd will be at Mission High School from 6-7 pm. While technically Mission High is in District 8, it serves many District 9 families and we encourage D9 families to attend to ask questions about budget and staffing plans, and how it will impact your students’ schools.
Transportation
On March 25th, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed my resolution urging Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature to allocate $2 billion in flexible funding over the next two years to support public transit agencies across the state, including the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which faces a looming $320 million budget shortfall.
Public transit is the backbone of San Francisco’s economy and an essential service for hundreds of thousands of people. Without this critical funding, we face severe service reductions that will hurt workers, seniors, and families, and set back our city’s recovery.
Massive Muni service cuts are scheduled for this summer, with more to come if the City doesn’t find funding to keep Muni running. Disappointingly, the SFMTA Board voted 3-2 in favor of service cuts! As a regular MUNI rider, I understand how devastating cuts will be. Please consider urging the SFMTA Board to prioritize Muni funding and prevent the cuts. sfmta.com/units/board-directors
Critical Audit on City Employees’ Conflicts of Interest
On March 24th, the Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) and I released the BLA’s performance audit of how the city government manages conflicts of interest citywide. This audit, directed by the Government Audit and Oversight Committee (GAO) under former Supervisor and GAO Chair Dean Preston, identifies key concerns with the city’s existing contracting and review process, while also providing recommendations to mitigate potential conflicts of interests among public officials, employees, and contractors. This report comes shortly after recent reports have raised serious concerns over the city’s contracting process. I look forward to working with the Ethics Commission, BLA, and
various departments to implement the recommendations. |
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Keep up with The Supervisor on Social Media!
Twitter: @jackiefielder_
Instagram: @jackiefielder_
Facebook: Jackie Fielder for Supervisor 2024
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Wednesdays - Free class at Oberlin Dance Collective with Parkinson's Dance, 12p - 1p
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April 15th - Immigrant Emerging Leadership Program (IELP) 2025
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April 19th - Bernal Heights Earth Day Stroll from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, along Cortland Avenue and around Bernal Hill, arts, music, demos and talks, community garden fairs, giveaways.
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April 19th - Fun Guaranteed event at Treat Plaza, from 12 - 3 pm. “An immersive and chill art experience in the streets of San Francisco,” on Treat Ave. between 16th and 17th Streets.
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April 19th - San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department’s Spring Fling celebration from 11 am-4 pm at Crocker Amazon Park, 799 Moscow Street. There will be carnival rides and games, food, an egg hunt, arts and crafts activities, live entertainment and more for everyone to enjoy.
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April 23rd - SFUSD District Town Hall @ Mission High School from 6-7 pm
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In April, SFUSD is hosting District Stabilization Town Hall conversations with Superintendent Dr. Su, throughout the city. April 23rd will be at Mission High School from 6-7 pm. While technically Mission High is in District 8, it serves many District 9 families and we encourage D9 families to attend to ask questions about budget and staffing plans, and how it will impact your students’ schools.
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April 23rd - City Contracting 101: Small Business Workshop @ 49 South Van Ness
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April 25th - "Express Yourself" Photography Pop-Up at the HYPE Center
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April 26th - Earth Day at Alemany Farm! From 11 am - 3 pm, at 700 Alemany Blvd. Free community bbq, live music & a DJ, gardening and food demonstrations, face painting, games, farm tours, arts and crafts, and more!
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May 1st - May Day March and rally at City Hall for immigrant rights. Meet at 10 am 24th & Mission, march to City Hall.
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April 26 - Buena Vista Street Festival! From 12-5 pm, on Valencia between 23rd and 24th with art, music, dance, food, partnering with Calle 24, the Mission Merchants Association, SFPD, Cuicaclli, Danza Xitlalli, and Grocery Outlet, and many more community organizations.
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May 2nd - 2025-2026 Civil Grand Jury applications due. Apply to join the civil grand jury, to provide oversight on the conduct of public business and investigate operations of the City and County of San Francisco.
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May 2nd - Taste of Bernal food tour along Cortland
from 5:30 - 7:30 pm, to celebrate the vibrant dining and shopping scene on Cortland Avenue with an unforgettable evening of food, drinks, and community. Ticket holders will stroll through the neighborhood, enjoying a progressive tasting experience at participating restaurants and shops. A list of participating merchants and check in instructions will be emailed out one week in advance of the event. Proceeds benefit the Prospect Steps Mosaic Project at 100 Cortland Ave.
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May 3rd - de Youngsters Day Out from 9:30 am - 4 pm at the de Young Museum. This event is open to every Bay Area family and free of charge. The all-day community event includes art-making activities, in-gallery conversations and entertainment, collaborations with local contemporary artists, and live performances and music. Last year we saw over 6,000 attendees, provided 4 free shuttle buses for over 300 children and their families not directly served by public transit, and featured programming with 5 community partners.
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May 17th - SF Community Mental Health Support - NAMI Walks. It will take all of us to demand victory over mental illness. That's why we provide a safe space at NAMIWalks in everything we do, for everyone who joins our mission.. We invite you to take the walk of your life.
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May 17th - Fun Guaranteed event at Treat Plaza, from 12 - 3 pm. “An immersive and chill art experience in the streets of San Francisco,” on Treat Ave. between 16th and 17th Streets. Organized by Evolved SF.
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