Community updates

Neighbors: Summer has arrived, and with it, warm weather and many exciting

events in our neighborhood!

Commendations

This month, in recognition of San Francisco Pride, I was pleased to honor an incredible

organization, API Equality – Northern California. Since its founding in 2004, API Equality

has been deeply invested in the leadership of young LGBTQ Asian Pacific Islander people

who are at the forefront of social change.

I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with several emerging leaders from

API Equality and I was glad to honor this powerful organization during

this important month.

In the neighborhood

It was my pleasure to meet many residents at neighborhood office hours

this month – including the woman who bought my family’s house on 16th Avenue!

We had several things to celebrate in June. The Community Youth Center now

has a permanent home in the Richmond District, thanks to the mayor’s

Non-Profit Sustainability program. And, on June 2, I and Mayor Ed Lee officially

launched “Fewer Potholes!” This month a team from The SF Department of Public Works

was dedicated to filling every reported pothole in the Richmond. Please remember – if

you see a street in need of repair, please call 311 or visit the website at www.sf311.org.

In June, I joined a press event about pedestrian safety at 25th Avenue and

Geary Boulevard organized by seniors and people with disabilities. My staff and I

participated in a budget Town Hall Meeting hosted by St. James Episcopal Church and

Faith in Action. I had the opportunity to sit with the Richmond District YMCA’s

board of directors, and meet with University Terrace neighbors about issues arising in

their community.

I met with the director of the Fine Arts Museums at the M.H. de Young Memorial

Museum, and I sat down with University of San Francisco representatives to discuss

public safety.

The Housing Rights Committee briefed me on its important work protecting tenants in

the west side of San Francisco, and I was hosted by the SF Recreation and Park

Department for a Golden Gate Park big events tour, since our neighborhood is

impacted by many large festivals.

Finally, I was joined by many neighbors wearing matching “Richmond

District Pride” shirts in the pride parade, taking a stand for love and equality for

LGBTQ communities.

Other highlights: Bring your family to visit the newly-renovated playground at

Mountain Lake Park, and please welcome the Barrel Head Brewhouse,

soon to occupy the old Pizza Orgasmica site on Clement Street between

9th and 10th avenues. And celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Summer of

Love by checking out the light show at the Conservatory of Flowers, every night

until Oct. 21.

Budget and legislative updates

In June, I introduced a resolution to protect our National Marine Sanctuaries along the

California coastline, considering the possible threats from the Trump administration

regarding offshore oil exploration and drilling.

We are also investigating the issue of vacant storefronts;

in an upcoming hearing we hope to discover the effectiveness of the city’s vacant retail

space ordinance, and explore ways to strengthen it. We hope to have an impact on filling

many of the empty retail spaces in the Richmond. Finally, I called for a hearing on

employment in the technology industry, to learn how the City can ensure that the

burgeoning technology sector is investing in San Francisco neighborhoods by

employing city residents.

Small Sites hearing

In late June, at the board’s Land Use Committee, I convened a hearing on our city’s

Small Sites Program. Just two months ago the Small Sites Program was able to acquire a

five-unit building in the Richmond, the first on the west side. We must do better for

tenants who are increasingly being displaced by the rampant real estate

speculation that is rapidly changing our City.

At this hearing we discussed strategies for focusing more resources on our side of the

City and I will follow up with additional hearings to ensure that these strategies result

in securing more buildings in the Richmond.

I hope you join me at an upcoming neighborhood office hours:

• Friday, July 7, 10-noon, Park Presidio United Methodist Church, 4301 Geary Blvd.;

• Sunday, July 9, 10-noon, Cumaica parklet at Third Avenue and Clement Street; and,

• Friday, July 21, 10-noon, Park Presidio United Methodist Church.

Community leader passes

Lastly, we wish to recognize the contributions of long-time Richmond resident

Paul Rosenberg. He was raised in the Richmond and was a lifelong

supporter and volunteer, serving on the board of the Planning Association

for the Richmond (PAR) for many years. Sadly, Rosenberg passed away on

June 18. He is survived by his wife Sherrie and son Coleman, and

will be greatly missed.

Sandra Lee Fewer is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 1.