We’ve got important updates on our work to support vulnerable residents and businesses, and make sure we are both physically and economically healthy. Including: What’s in this newsletter: – Public Health & Housing Stability Town Halls – Expanding paid leave for 200k+ workers – Holding insurance companies accountable to small businesses – Calling for a suspension of ICE detentions – Muni service reductions – COVID-19 Data Tracker – #SunsetSolidarity Spotlight I’m excited to be hosting a series of Zoom virtual town halls to share important updates and to hear and discuss questions, feedback and ideas on how my office can better support you during these unprecedented and challenging times. This week, I will be hosting two sessions focused on the topics of public health and housing. If there are any relevant issues you would like me to address, please submit them here. We will prioritize frequently raised issues. As always, we are here for you. Contact us at marstaff@sfgov.org or (415) 554-7460at any time.  I look forward to seeing and hearing from you at our virtual town halls!

Upcoming Town Calls Public Health Town Hall with Health Officer Tomás Aragón and Northeast Medical Services (NEMS)   Thursday, April 9, 5pm – 6pm   Dr. Aragón is the Health Officer for the City & County of San Francisco, and Director of the Population Health Division in the Department of Public Health. The Health Officer has the authority to issue public health orders, and Dr. Aragón is credited with San Francisco’s swift action to Shelter in Place to flatten the curve and save lives.   We will also be joined by NEMS leadership, including Medical Director Dr. Lam, and Beatrice Sugiono, Clinic Operations Manager. NEMS is a non-profit community health center serving the medically-underserved populations and is one of the largest health centers serving Asians in the United States, including 4 locations in the Sunset.   Join via link Join via phone: call (669) 900- 6833   Meeting ID: 141 110 533 Password: 362334  RSVP on Facebook Housing Stability Town Hall for Homeowners and Tenants   Saturday, April 11, 10am – 11am   Come learn about the laws and efforts to stabilize housing on the local and state level, including homeowner and tenant rights and responsibilities.    We will be joined by Matthew Tom, Associate Mediation Counsel for the Bar Association of San Francisco. The Bar Association is a grantee of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development to provide education and housing-related mediation.  Join via link Join via phone: call (669) 900- 6833 Meeting ID: 197 450 766 Password: 94122   RSVP on FacebookSF Workers Win Expanded Paid Leave The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt my emergency legislation to immediately provide two additional weeks of paid leave for hundreds of thousands of San Francisco workers. This ordinance closes a major loophole in the federal law by ensuring the city’s large employers also provide paid leave of 14 days to their employee — to use if you can’t work, are sick, quarantined, need to take care of a family member, or are a member of a vulnerable population.  Economic policy is public health policy. When our neighbors can afford to take the time off they need, we are all better off. You can read more about our legislation below:KQED: Even With New Federal Coronavirus Bill, Most Workers Get No Additional Sick LeaveSF Business Times: S.F. Board of Supervisors passes COVID-19 paid sick leave requirementSF Chronicle: Two Bay Area cities approve paid leave for workers during coronavirus emergencyCBS Bay Area: Bay Area Officials Seek Emergency Paid Sick Leave For Essential Workers In Coronavirus PandemicFOX KTVU: San Francisco emergency ordinances approved calling for paid sick leave, more hotel rooms You can also watch our recorded press conference, where we talked about this legislation as a Bay Area-wide regional strategy alongside advocates, organizers, and legislators from San Jose and Oakland, here.   Holding Insurance Companies Accountable to Small Businesses We unanimously passed the resolution I authored to urge insurance companies to honor COVID19-related business interruption claims. I am proud that San Francisco is leading the fight to push insurance companies to step up to protect the vitality of our small businesses, neighborhood corridors and the health of our economy.  You can read more about our resolution below:San Francisco Chronicle: Coronavirus: ‘Things are becoming dire’ for struggling small businessesEater SF: SF Officials Tell Insurance Companies to Stop Denying Claims From Restaurants Shuttered By Coronavirus And you can view our original press release here, and our video press briefing here.  Calling for ICE Detention to End We also unanimously passed my resolution calling for Governor Newsom to take action to suspend ICE Detentions.  The threat of a Covid-19 outbreak in immigration detention facilities is dire and imminent. Children and families are living in crowded and unsanitary conditions, with poor ventilation, poor nutrition, and lack of hygienic materials, and it is impossible to maintain social distance or self quarantine, making them some of the most vulnerable to coronavirus infections and deaths.  The continuation of ICE detention during a pandemic is inhumane and irresponsible, and we’re asking the Governor to end it.  Reductions in Muni Service To maintain service frequency for its highest-ridership lines, provide social distance for passengers, and protect SFMTA workers, the agency is eliminating most routes for the time being, and prioritizing the 17 routes most critically needed for during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a longtime daily transit rider, I know this is incredibly disruptive and difficult. We have confirmed that the N, L, and 29 will continue service, and have advocated for the continuation of as many D4-serving lines as possible. We hope the drastic reduction in the number of lines will allow for increased service where ridership is highest, prevent packed buses, and allow essential workers who rely on Muni to stay socially distanced during their commutes. Visit the SFMTA website for more information.  San Francisco COVID-19 Data Tracker The City released a COVID-19 Data Tracker to provide the public with more frequently updated information about the coronavirus in San Francisco. This information will be updated daily online and will include data about confirmed cases, testing, and hospitalization across the San Francisco health care system.   #SunsetSolidarity Spotlight Sunset small business owner Jackson Wang of Jika Ramen cooks and distributes hundreds of hot meals to homeless and low-income folks in the Tenderloin on a daily basis. Through rain or shine, Jackson and his church group remain on the frontlines in the streets providing this free and crucial service while practicing social distancing. We applaud Jika Ramen for stepping up and continuing to serve the community during these incredibly challenging times! Please continue to support local Sunset businesses still open for business. Help build this list by submitting more businesses through this Google form.

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