Announcing a New Chapter

Dear neighbors,

As many of you have probably heard, I have decided not to run for re-election for supervisor of District 1. Serving on the Board of Supervisors is a wildly rewarding yet demanding job, one that requires constant focus and attention. After much reflection, I have decided that it is now time for me to shift my attention back to my own personal fulfillment, my friends and family, and spending time on things that have been pushed to the back burner during my last 12 years of public service on the Board of Supervisors and the Board of Education. 

It has been an incredible honor to serve in this capacity, but I am looking forward to a different pace of life and contributing to my community in new ways. I’d like to thank the residents of District 1 for allowing me to serve and represent them for the past three years. Together we have achieved a tremendous amount and I will continue to stay active in my district in a new capacity in 2021. Until then, I look forward to making the most of my last year on the Board of Supervisors. My office has some exciting policy issues that we’ll be announcing shortly. It has been an honor, Richmond District.

In the Neighborhood

In January I hosted a community meeting with the SF Planning Department on the newly proposed Priority Development Areas in San Francisco and discussed a community planning process with neighbors. During my term I have fought for more affordable housing production and preservation of existing apartment buildings, as well as equitable transit and safety improvements. I look forward to continuing to engage neighbors in this process during my last year in office to ensure that these improvements will serve the needs of our residents as our population continues to grow.  

I had a wonderful time at the Muni Art 2019 kickoff. Thank you to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), San Francisco Beautiful, the Poetry Society of America and all the incredible artists whose work is now featured in 100 Muni buses citywide. It was truly inspiring to meet with the Richmond District Youth Fellows, a group of young people committed to engaging with local government. Thank you to all of the Fellows for doing their One Richmond thing by engaging with important local issues and taking a seat at the table.

It was an amazing experience to march alongside powerful women at the Women’s March. Thank you to all the organizers who volunteered countless hours to make Women’s March 2020 happen. 

I joined a packed house at the annual MLK Labor Council breakfast. It was great to see so many labor brothers and sisters gathering in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to be reminded of the importance of his words and life’s work.

Inside City Hall

In January we passed legislation at the Board of Supervisors to name 12 Neighborhood Commercial Districts (NCD) throughout the City, including three in the Richmond District: The Geary Boulevard NCD, Inner Balboa NCD and Outer Balboa NCD. District 1 currently has two named NCDs – the Inner Clement and Outer Clement NCDs – and it’s time that these other three commercial corridors be named and recognized by the City as part of our neighborhood fabric. Naming these commercial corridors allows the neighbors and merchants to better shape what the corridor looks like by developing more targeted residential and commercial controls to fit the unique needs of their neighborhood. It also ensures that if the vacancy tax proposal on the March 2020 ballot (Prop. D) is passed by the voters, it will apply to these commercial areas and provide more leverage for small businesses to negotiate fair lease agreements with commercial landlords.

I have called for a hearing on the frequency, conditions and impacts of landlord pass-through petitions that result in rent increases on San Francisco tenants. In 2018, I passed legislation preventing landlords from passing through their debt service onto their tenants after purchasing rent-controlled buildings. However, there are still several other types of pass-throughs that can be used to increase rents and there is no overall cap for the total amount of pass-throughs that may be imposed on tenants. We will be hearing from the Rent Board and the Office of the Budget and Legislative Analyst about the impacts of these rent increases on tenants and exploring potential policy changes. If you are interested in learning more about this hearing, email ian.fregosi@sfgov.org.

Fulton Street Safety Project

Thank you to everyone who filled out our survey on Fulton Street safety improvements. Join me for a community meeting to discuss the Fulton Street Safety Project. SFMTA staff will be there to provide a presentation on the project and answer questions.

Fulton Street Safety Project Community Meeting, Argonne Elementary School, 680 18th Ave. Multipurpose Room, Saturday, Feb. 29, 10:30 a.m.-noon.

Enjoy Black History Month and have a very Happy Lunar New Year (Year of the Rat). Remember to do your One Richmond thing every day!

San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer represents District 1.

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