Dear neighbors,

Thanks to the SF Chronicle for inviting me to participate in my first-ever podcast as part of the “Tribute to the Richmond District” at the Balboa Theater before the screening of “So I Married an Axe Murderer.” Another thanks goes to all the neighbors who did their One Richmond thing by coming out for my office’s annual city budget 101 for the Richmond District. I also appreciated the opportunity to take part in Read-Aloud Day at Lafayette Elementary school. 

At the SF Small Business Commission, I was proud to support our newest legacy business, Picture Machine Tattoo, which is one of the longest-running tattoo shops in San Francisco. It was truly a sweet community celebration of legacy business Joe’s Ice Cream for its 60th anniversary, with all of the past and present owners celebrating together. I also had a great time at the first Balboa Village Art and Music Walk and at the Clement Street Merchants Association mixer at the newly opened Breck’s wine bar and market.  What an honor it was to join in the celebration of Chinese Hospital (where I was born!) for its 120th Anniversary.  

We had a great crew of more than 15 neighbors join me for Walk to Work Day. It was a beautiful morning for a two-and-a-half mile stroll from the Richmond to City Hall chatting about Vision Zero. Thank you to neighbors who attended the Central Richmond Traffic Safety open house. I am glad this comprehensive proposal incorporates intersection-specific needs and feedback from residents. Thank you to SF Municipal Transit Agency (SFMTA) and Richmond Station for working to identify strategies for safer streets. 

It was great to have Project Homeless Connect out in the ‘hood providing services and problem solving for our homeless neighbors in the Richmond. They will be providing services for our neighborhood on the third Friday of each month at the Park Presidio United Methodist Church (Geary Boulevard and Seventh Avenue). A huge thank you to all our neighbors who came out to lend a hand – a true example of doing a One Richmond thing.

Inside City Hall

COPA

I am incredibly proud that my “community opportunity to purchase” (COPA) legislation passed in April with all 11 supervisors as co-sponsors. COPA gives affordable housing nonprofits the first-right-to-purchase multi-family apartment buildings and removes them from the speculative market, stabilizes the tenants in their homes and preserves the buildings as permanently affordable housing. Thank you to all the amazing housing advocates who worked closely with my office to craft this policy and build support for this critical anti-displacement legislation!

Affordable Housing Production and Preservation Fund

After the passage of COPA, I introduced legislation to create an “affordable housing production and preservation fund” from excess Education Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) revenues that the City receives from the state. San Francisco is currently on track to exceed its regional housing goals for market-rate development, but we are falling fall short of our goals for affordable housing production and preservation. If we are serious about meeting our housing balance goals and addressing our affordability crisis, we cannot merely rely on market rate developer fees to fund our affordable housing. This is an opportunity to put our money where our mouth is.

Committee Hearings

I have sponsored several hearings recently, including one on the City’s use of temporary exempt positions rather than civil service positions; and as chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, I have held several issue-based budget hearings on board priorities, including affordable housing and homelessness, public safety and mental health and substance use.

Adding Traffic Enforcement Officers

Last year, I held a hearing about traffic enforcement that revealed the SFPD Traffic Unit was understaffed. Since then, I have been working with SF Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and SF Police Chief Bill Scott on this issue. I am thrilled that additional motorcycle solos are being added to focus on traffic safety and Vision Zero in our neighborhoods. There has not been a training class in three years and there but three classes slated for this year.  

Vacant Storefront Ordinance 

On April 22, my Vacant Storefront Ordinance officially went into effect. From now on, commercial property owners will no longer be able to avoid registering their vacant storefronts and paying fees by merely putting up a “for lease” sign in the window. The enforcement mechanisms in this legislation are vital to addressing our vacancy problem head on and complement ongoing efforts to streamline the permitting process and to clear hurdles so our small businesses and commercial corridors can thrive.

Community Announcements

Fewer Potholes 2.0

Our streets and roadways require ongoing maintenance to be kept in a state of good repair.  We will be working with the Richmond District Blog to launch the #fewerpotholes campaign in May to identify pothole locations in the district. Throughout the month of June, a public works crew will be dedicated to repairing reported potholes throughout the neighborhood. Caltrans will also be repaving Park Presidio Boulevard beginning in June. Here’s to smoother and safer roads! 

Health Festival

Join us on Sat., May 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Richmond Rec. Center (251 18th Ave.) for the Richmond Community Health Festival. Attendees can benefit from a variety of activities, such as health and dental screenings, medication review, hearing tests, health education, emergency and disaster preparedness sessions and resources to support care-providers. 

One Richmond Open House

Mark your calendars for May 19, from 10 a.m.-noon for the open house celebration of the new One Richmond headquarters at 802 Clement St. We are excited for this new community space for neighbors and businesses to learn about and sign up for #OneRichmond opportunities. It is free to join at http://www.onerichmondsf.com. I will also be holding “neighborhood office hours” during the open house so please stop by and say hello! I hope to see you there.

Have you visited a Richmond District small business today? Help keep them in business and do a One Richmond thing: buy something!

San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer represents District 1.