by Tes Welborn, HANC Board
We opened the meeting with a presentation on “Preparing for Emergencies in San Francisco” by Francis Zamora, Chief of Staff, SF Department of Emergency Management. Links for more information follow. He suggests we text our zip code to 888-777 to receive real-time emergency alerts, and even better, go to www.alertSF.org to customize the alerts we'd like, and to add our landline and email.
Remember those “red” skies? When air quality is poor, due to fire smoke or other reasons, stay home; that's better than wearing an N-95 mask. Consider purchasing an air filter for one room. And check on your neighbors who may be at higher risk to air pollution or excessive heat, maybe without electrical power. Some general emergency advice: make a plan for the things we cannot live without, and include an out-of-area contact phone number and a list of prescriptions.
- Heat Preparedness Information: https://www.sf72.org/hazard/heat-0
- Electric Outage Preparedness Information: https://www.sf72.org/hazard/electric-outages
- Air Quality Preparedness Information: https://www.sf72.org/hazard/air-quality-covid-19
Guests Ilsa Lund and Rose Sargent of Larkin Youth Services told about moving past Covid-19 challenges. They miss the toilets and showers at Buena Vista Park, but plan evening drop-ins for youth. They also promote events in parks, to give kids a place to go off sidewalks. Medical needs are still an issue. Thanks to Supervisor Preston and the Budget Committee, there are more pathways off the streets and emergency hotel vouchers.
Kenn Sutto, Homeless Youth Alliance, said that the Covid-19 times were harrowing, as many city services just stopped. Neighbors stepped up to help, and HYA is working to thread the labyrinth of obstacles. Young people on the street felt more desperate – where to use toilets? charge phones? Etc. The 730 Stanyan CAMP had many success stories. Government services are coming back more slowly than they are needed, with departments not working together to meet needs. HYA's medical clinics help, along with Tom Waddell Clinic and SF General. All hope that Huckleberry House will be able to reopen soon. Ilsa asks, 'Want to help? Treat your neighbors with compassion [housed or unhoused].'
Then Supervisor Dean Preston introduced two new Fellows in his office, Katie McIntosh and Toshrima Hossain. All have been working on extended Eviction Protection, Rent Relief, as well as proposals for Free MUNI, demanding that MUNI fully restore all lines, and commercial rent relief. Prop I is providing massive amounts of funds for rent relief. He praised the CAMP site at 730 Stanyan and neighbors' support. It was so different from that at Civic Center, where unhoused people were first herded, then fenced in. He announced that Community Ambassadors program will be coming to the Haight and Fillmore, and that they got funding for one CART – Community Action Response Team – to provide a non-police response alternative.
DeYoung Museum staff, Megan Bourne, Chief of Staff, and Paria Dea, Fine Arts Museums, presented alternative plans for JFK that would keep one-half of the street for walkers and cyclists, while having the other half for vehicles, driving and parking. The County Transportation Authority is involved in discussions, and community outreach is planned.