Celebrating springtime

Spring is here! With the new season comes a host of celebrations

and other activities.

Commendations

During Black History Month, I was thrilled to honor George

Washington High School’s Black Student Union for its remarkable

efforts empowering young people to become change-makers.

This commendation was especially meaningful to me as a

proud Washington graduate.

Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer

I was also pleased to recognize another Washington alum,

long-time resident Richard Rothman, who serves as our

neighborhood’s representative on Recreation and Parks’ Open

Space Advisory Committee. Rothman has worked tirelessly

to restore the city’s WPA murals and recently had a well-received

photo show!

In the neighborhood

It has been a pleasure meeting with constituents during the

three neighborhood office hours I host each month. I look forward

to seeing more of you in April at the following times and locations:

• Friday, April 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., at the Park Presidio

United Methodist Church, 4301 Geary Blvd.;

• Sunday, April 9, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., outside Simple

Pleasures Cafe, 3434 Balboa St.;

• Friday, April 21, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., at the Park Presidio United Methodist Church.

Join me in welcoming Alexa O’Brien, the new police captain

at the Richmond Station. With roots in the district, O’Brien understands

the Richmond’s needs, and I look forward to working

with her to improve neighborhood safety. Thanks to outgoing

Capt. Paul Yep for his dedicated service and best wishes to him as

he takes charge of the Central Police Station.

This past month: Residents came together to discuss trafficcalming

tools in the Inner Richmond District’s Eighth Avenue Neighborways project.

I attended a mayor’s office “fix it” meeting, which would address

quality-of-life issues near Golden Gate Park, between Fifth

and Ninth avenues, which covers McCoppin Elementary School.

The Richmond District Neighborhood Center, which has

done so much to support district families, celebrated its 36th anniversary.

I joined the community to celebrate Lafayette Elementary School’s having

been named a 2016 National Blue Ribbon School. It was a treat to read to Alamo and

Lafayette kindergarteners on Read Aloud Day and to speak to

some of my youngest constituents at George Peabody Elementary’s career day.

Encouraging community involvement involvement

continues to be among my top priorities. My office and the Richmond District

Democratic Club hosted the first of what will be several voter registration

drives. I applaud the efforts of The Surfrider Foundation, Richmond District

Neighborhood Center and the Balboa Village Merchants’ Association to spruce up our

neighborhood with its first cigarette butt clean-up day. And I’ve met with

constituents from the Inner Richmond to Seal Rock about a variety of concerns,

including pending liquor licenses, property disputes and pedestrian safety.

Budget and legislative updates

In March, we celebrated the opening of a new immigrant legal

defense unit in the SF Public Defender’s office. With so many immigrant groups

under attack, I am proud that the legislation I sponsored has allowed for the

creation of this critical new resource for legal representation

and due process.

I am pleased to report that a resolution I authored, urging the

addition of the Dakota Access Pipeline to the City’s social responsibility

matrix, passed by a unanimous vote. The city treasurer

has agreed to add the pipeline when making future investments

on the City’s behalf.

I’ve called for two upcoming hearings on:

• Litter and waste,

10:30 a.m., April 12: The SF Department of Public Works, SF

Depart ment of the Environment, Recology, controller’s office and

311 will report on its efforts to reduce and prevent litter and waste;

• Small-site acquisitions,

10:30 a.m., May 10: Small sites will be key for the development

of affordable housing in the Richmond, and I look forward to

discussing how to grow this important program.

Other neighborhood projects include:

• Dog park renovation:

The Golden Gate Park Dog Training Area (off Fulton Street and 36th

Avenue) is in dire need of repairs. Last year, I worked with

SF Supervisor Eric Mar and interested residents to identify the

resources needed for this renovation. We’ll meet in April to discuss

next steps; Contact Nick Pagoulatos, nick.pagoulatos@sfgov.org

or (415) 554-7412, to get involved;

• City Budget 101 and community meeting:

Join me and my staff to learn how decisions are

made on the city budget and the possible impact of state and federal

cuts, either:

Monday, April 10, 5:30-8 p.m., at the Richmond Recreation Center; or

Thursday, April 20, 6-8 p.m., location to be determined.

To RSVP, contact Chelsea Bollard at chelsea.boilard@sfgov.org

or (415) 554-7413.

I wish everyone a wonderful Easter and Passover!

San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer represents District 1.