Updates from Supervisor Gordon Mar: May 30, 2020

By Sunset Beacon on May 30, 2020 • ( Leave a comment )

Yesterday, Mayor Breed announced a timeline and plan for safely reopening San Francisco, which will allow businesses and activities to resume with modifications in phases over the coming weeks and months. Details and updates can be found here.

Part of San Francisco’s plan for safely reopening includes requiring residents to wear face coverings on most occasions when they leave their home and are near other people, both indoors and outdoors. A new Health Order was issued with updated requirements regarding face coverings.

San Francisco’s reopening plan is aligned with the State’s guidelines and is based on a San Francisco-specific risk model to control the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health. The plan is also informed by the work of the San Francisco COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force. The timeline for allowing certain businesses and activities to resume will be adjusted as needed based on public health data.

While we plan for reopening, we also must plan for economic recovery, and I hope you’ll join us for an important conversation on this tomorrow morningwith Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu and Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rodney Fong.

And, we’ll continue to share important information and updates as we receive them, and are here to serve you.

Economic Recovery | D4 Virtual Town Hall

TOMORROW: Saturday May 30, 10:00 – 11:00 AM

Join Supervisor Gordon Mar, Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu, and Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rodney Fong for a discussion on planning for San Francisco’s economic recovery.

Register in advance for this meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Submit questions in advance here.

We’ll prioritize frequently asked questions.

COVID testing on Irving Street

City Bay Urgent Care on Irving Street is providing COVID-19 testing, including molecular diagnostic and antibody (serology) testing. The antibody testing is used to detect previous exposure to COVID-19. Most major insurers have agreed to fully cover COVID-19 related visits. There are also options for uninsured patients. For more information on testing, please visit CBUC’s website.

Reduced utility bills

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has announced a New Emergency Assistance Program that offers discounts to residential customers who need help paying their bills. Qualified customers can save 15-35% on Water, Sewer, and Hetchy Power bills retroactively to March 4. This program is available for a limited time, you can learn more about the program and apply today by visiting sfwater.org/bill-covid19 or calling 415-551-3000.

College students: make sure you’re counted in the 2020 Census

Counting college students living off campus is even more challenging during this public health crisis, but it is crucial that students are counted properly to ensure that schools receive the crucial resources from the federal government, including funding for Pell grants. If you were a student living in on-campus housing, your school already has you counted and you do not need to do anything. But if you were living in off-campus housing, you should have received a Census form at that address. You can reply online, by phone or by mail. Be sure to use the address you normally live at while attending school and include your housemates.

Please watch and share this video to make sure all college students are counted!

SF Botanical Garden Reopening June 1st

SFBG is excited to welcome you back to the Garden starting Monday, June 1! As we reopen to the public, we ask for your cooperation with new health and safety rules, as well as your patience and understanding while we continue to implement new procedures during these unprecedented times. Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged for all visitors to minimize transaction times at the entrance. Face coverings and social distancing are required. Please see FAQs on reopening procedures, social distancing protocol, and more.

Public gardens such as San Francisco Botanical Garden are indispensable to community health, offering much-needed places for respite and connection with nature. The Garden will prioritize the health and safety of all visitors, staff, and volunteers throughout the reopening process and continue to follow guidance from public health officials in partnership with SF Recreation & Parks. As the Garden and our community begins what will be a long and slow recovery from the financial hardship caused by COVID-19, we are especially grateful for the generosity of our members and donors. To support the Garden during these tough times, please contribute here.

Help for Veterans

The physical County Veterans Service Office co-located with the SF Benefits and Resources Hub (2 Gough Street) is currently closed. Veterans seeking assistance with VA claims, IHSS, APS, CalFresh, Medicare, etc. should call 415-934-4200 and leave a message with their name, phone number, and area of concern. Staff will return your call ASAP.
For general assistance, visit https://sfgov.org/vets/resources or call the San Francisco Benefits and Resource Hub at 415-355-6700.
Veterans can also reach out to any of the following contacts: