Community updates

by Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer

Dear Neighbors,

February brings us the Lunar New Year, so please join the Richmond District

Neighborhood Center (741 30th Ave.) at its Wishing Tree Festival, to be held on Saturday,

Feb. 10, from 10 a.m.-noon.

In the neighborhood

During January, I attended a community meeting to discuss renovations to the

pickleball/tennis courts in Golden Gate Park, and also visited the California

Academy of Sciences to learn about its newest exhibits and education programs. I met

with Kai Ming Head Start parents to discuss affordability, teacher retention, childcare

and child development issues.

As well, Assembly member Phil Ting held a community coffee in the district with more

than 150 attendees, and I met with members of the Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants’

Association to discuss vacant storefronts in the neighborhood.

I mediated between a landlord and tenant in hopes of finding common ground and I

spoke at a Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR) meeting about the Auxiliary

Water Supply System (AWSS), which would provide high-pressure water in case of a

catastrophe. I met with the SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to advocate for a

reliable system for our district. I also recently reached out to the SFPUC to request a

lighting assessment in the neighborhood to improve visibility and public safety.

In late January, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development hosted a

community meeting at George Washington High School. More than 100 neighbors came

together to discuss housing and community development strategies.

We also had a great community meeting at the Richmond Police Station on safety issues

in the neighborhood. In light of recent traffic collisions, I requested increased patrols

along the Geary Boulevard and Fulton Street corridors, and Capt. Alexa O’Brien and I are

planning a joint “driving education refresher course” for Richmond residents.

There have been a rising number of car break-ins, particularly at common tourist

locations like Golden Gate Park, Lands End and Mel’s Drive-In. The SF Police Department

is implementing district-based auto break-in units; in addition, neighbors interested in

starting a neighborhood watch group should contact SF Safety Awareness for Everyone

(SAFE) at the website at https://sfsafe.org/neighborhood- watch.

 Traffic Improvements in the Neighborhood:

I am delighted the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will be installing higher

visibility “zebra” crosswalks at Lake Street and 12th Avenue, at the entrance to the newly

renovated Mountain Lake Park. It is an intersection utilized by many students near

the Sutro Elementary School.

For neighbors who want to see traffic calming on their blocks, such as speed humps,

there is an application process open until June 30! Apply at the website at

http://www.sfmta.com/residential-traffic-calming-program.

One Richmond:

Our office is partnering with the Richmond District Neighborhood Center

and the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development to launch the

#OneRichmond campaign, promoting inclusiveness, compassion, community pride and

shopping local. Please take the survey at the website at http://bit.ly/2Ge8yh4 to help us

shape the look and feel of this exciting campaign.

We have three upcoming events to introduce the campaign and hear

community feedback:

● Monday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m., at Argonne Elementary School (680 18th Ave);

● Thursday, March 1, 6:30 p.m., at the George Washington High School cafeteria

(600 32nd Ave.);

● Thursday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., at George Peabody Elementary School

(251 Sixth Ave.).

For more information, contact my aide, Ian Fregosi at Ian.Fregosi@sfgov.org.

Disaster Preparedness:

I am working closely with the Department of Emergency Management to roll out a

month of District 1 disaster preparedness activities in March.

Stay tuned for more details.

Legislative updates

On Thursday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m., there will be a hearing on public banking (at the SF Board

of Supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee). Weigh in on whether San Francisco

should create a public bank, which could provide financing for affordable housing

development or low-interest loans to residents and small businesses.

On Monday, Feb. 5, at 1:30 p.m., there will be a hearing on vacant storefronts (at the

supervisors’ Land Use Committee). We are looking forward to this hearing and possible

next steps to address long-standing concerns about empty commercial spaces in the

neighborhood and across the City.

On Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m., there will be a hearing on emergency water systems (at

the supervisors’ Government Audit and Oversight Committee). Come hear a report on the

SFPUC’s long-awaited independently reviewed report on emergency water supply

systems for the west side of San Francisco.

Universal immigrant legal defense:

I proudly introduced legislation in late January that would provide funding for a

universal immigrant legal defense in the face of terrible threats from ICE to conduct

raids in our city and our communities.

Other updates

Staff transitions:

As you may have heard, Angelina Yu from my office will be going on maternity leave

early this month. Nicholas Persky, who has been a dedicated intern in my office

since May, will now be joining our team full time while Angelina is on leave.

Please join me for two upcoming neighborhood “office hours.” On the morning of

Sunday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m.- noon, I will be at Kawika’s Ocean Beach Deli, located at

734 La Playa. And on Monday, Feb. 26, from 5:30-7 p.m., I will be at the La Promenade

Cafe, located at 3643 Balboa St.

I look forward to seeing you and connecting about neighborhood concerns

and priorities.

San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer represents District 1.