Making the local rounds

by Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer

As we enter the season of holidays and giving thanks, I am thankful that I have the

opportunity to serve this wonderful neighborhood as your supervisor.

In the neighborhood: seniors, transit and more

October has been a busy month in our neighborhood!

Our newly formed senior services roundtable met about better serving seniors in the

Richmond; as our largest growing population, we are working to ensure that seniors can

age in place.

An example is the rehabilitation of 75 units of affordable housing for seniors and

disabled adults on 31st Avenue; the mayor and I just celebrated the reopening

of this beautiful building and met many of the longtime tenants.

I also attended the Dignity Fund Community Forum, organized by the

Department of Aging and Adult Services. And we welcomed the permanent home of the

San Francisco Village, a non-profit organization helping seniors citywide to

build community.

Transit was the topic this month in our ’hood. Many thanks to the Planning

Association for the Richmond for hosting a transportation forum, which included

representatives from Lyft, Go Ford Bike, Peer to Peer Car Share, Ed Reskin from SFMTA,

Bert Hill from the Golden Gate Transit Authority and BART director Bevan Dufty.

The discussion focused on Muni services and safety, emerging mobilities and overall

transit plans for the Richmond.

I am working with SF Supervisor Katy Tang and Dufty to begin planning for BART to the

west side.

The SFMTA conducted a community forum to reveal plans for the Eighth Avenue

Neighborway project; I have received many emails about this project and I invite

other nearby neighbors to weigh in on the discussion. To learn more, contact my aide

Angelina at angelina.yu@sfgov.org.

I attended the Western Neighborhoods Project’s Richmond District history night,

a wonderful evening of stories and memories. The Richmond District Neighborhood

Center hosted its annual Wine on the Westside fundraiser, and I stopped by the Balboa

Theater, which was hosting an awesome benefit show. Finally, we closed

out October with many Halloween festivities and our District 1 Community Clean Team

effort to beautify the neighborhood. I loved joining the Balbooa Frightfest, the Lafayette

Elementary Autumn Halloween Festival and there is nothing as fun as leading the

Halloween parade on Clement Street!

Emergency safety and response

While the heartbreaking North Bay fires filled our City with smoke, it raised concerns

about disaster safety in our neighborhood.

We are waiting to receive a study of proposed emergency water systems on the west side

of the city, and I have been advocating for months for the very best for our

neighborhood. I’ve requested that the Department of Emergency Management give me a

briefing about city response in the case of an earthquake, tsunami or other natural

disaster. And I want to encourage all neighbors to be prepared in the case of

an emergency.

Please join the SF Fire Department’s emergency readiness workshop on Thursday,

Nov. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Argonne Elementary School, 680 18th Ave., to learn more.

’Tis the season for giving

In light of all we have to be thankful for, my office is organizing a benefit drive for

homeless families. We have one family shelter in the neighborhood and we’d like to

invite Richmond neighbors to join us in supporting these children and

families.

Beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 8, through Wednesday, Dec. 6, my office will be collecting

donations every Wednesday and Friday, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at our office

(City Hall, Room 280), and at office hours (see below). To find out how you

can get involved, please e-mail fewerstaff@sfgov.org or call (415) 554-7410.

The families include children ranging from newborns to 11 years old, and adult parents

and caregivers. We are asking for the following items: new and gently used clothes for

children (newborn-11) and adults; new and gently used shoes (sizes needed for

newborns, toddlers, school-aged children and adults); toys (preferably learning toys);

books for children; pillows; linens, blankets and bed covers for twin beds and cribs;

towels and washcloths; paper plates; plastic spoons, forks, knives; and, gift certificates

for grocery and convenience stores for toiletries.

Anything you can contribute to make this holiday special for these families would be

wonderful. In the Richmond, we take care of each other. We always have.

Neighborhood office hours

Please note the new dates and times for neighborhood office hours. Please stop by and

say hello:

• Saturday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m.-noon: Office hours at Home Cafe, 2018 Clement St.;

• Wednesday, Nov. 28, 5:30-7 p.m.: Office hours at Steins, 731 Clement St.;

• Sunday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-noon: Office hours, location to be determined.

As we move into late fall and winter, let’s remember that we are “One Richmond:” We

are inclusive, we take care of each other and the Richmond, and we shop local!

San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer represents District 1.