By James Sword, HANC Board
Despite the surge in COVID19 cases in SF and the higher transmissibility of the Delta variant particularly among children, San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) schools are open to in-person learning with fewer mitigation strategies than there were in the spring, and distance learning has been restricted to a small group of students. That was the single goal Decrease the Distance (DtD) had been pushing since Fall 2020.
by Calvin Welch, HANC Board
On July 27th the Board of Supervisors passed 9-2 a resolution sponsored by District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston and District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan calling upon the SFMTA "to reinstate all transit lines and restore pre-Covid service hours by December 31, 2021 and release by September 30, 2021, a written plan for the restoration of all lines and service".
The resolution was necessary because the SFMTA has failed to make such a commitment and Mayor Breed has stated that "many lines have existed for generations...We need to make the system more efficient...It is more complicated than saying ‘yes, we will restore service to lines."
No Explanation
Failing to explain why lines that have existed “for many generations" are inefficient, Breed articulated a policy that was repeated time and again by her recently appointed Director of SFMTA, Jeffery Tumlin, at a July 23rd public hearing on the resolution before Preston's Government Operation Committee. Tumlin- a private consultant, had previous operational experience running the Stanford University transportation program where his Linkedin bio states - rather alarmingly in his present role- he eliminated "the use of General Funds for transportation," and repeatedly stated that he would not perpetuate "inefficient" transit lines that were, in his opinion, threatening to create a "death spiral" for Muni.
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.
by Richard Ivanhoe, HANC Board
The Park Branch Library closed in March, 2020 when the shelter-in-place order was issued. With the Library’s Community Room no longer available, HANC canceled our March and April 2020 meetings. Our meetings resumed, but online, in May, 2020.
Library services were also available online only until August, 2020, when “SFPL to Go” pick-up service began at the Main Library and the Excelsior Branch. Park Branch added this service in February, 2021, with pick-up available 10 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
Acting Branch Manager Davey Reed has announced that Park Brach reopened for full in-person library service on August 3. Open hours remain 10 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. The library system and branches are moving toward 7 day service depending on staffing.
by Bruce Wolfe, HANC Board
Did you know that SF has a community land trust (CLT) that creates forever homes for low-to-moderate income residents and workers? It’s called San Francisco Community Land Trust (https://SFCLT.org). But, what is a CLT? SFCLT explains it:
A Community Land Trust is a membership-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to create permanently affordable, resident-owned housing for low- and moderate-income people. Resident ownership of multi-family properties through the Community Land Trust model is one means of stabilizing affordable housing, in perpetuity, for low-income and working class residents. (https://www.sfclt.org/our-approach1#how)
And, how does a CLT provide affordable housing in perpetuity and take it off the speculative market permanently? The California CLT Network describes it this way: (https://www.cacltnetwork.org/california-clt-definition/)
by Supervisor Dean Preston
The Board of Supervisors voted in next year’s budget last month. There’s no such thing as a perfect budget, but with a surplus (thanks Props C and I) and reserves (thanks fed relief), we got critical help to renters, working people, unhoused folks and communities of color.
The Good:
Public Bank - San Francisco is leading the way to establish the first municipal bank in the nation. This is a critical investment in the future of our city and we will carry it to the finish line.
Rent relief - We won an additional $32 million for local rent relief efforts, ensuring that approximately 3,500 households who would otherwise be shut out will receive the relief needed to prevent eviction.
Right to Counsel - This year for the first time the budget fully funds a right to an attorney if you face eviction, as promised by our 2018 ballot measure we passed with DSA. It will have a massive impact on preventing post-pandemic displacement.
By Christin Evans, HANC Board
Before the pandemic started Haight Street was already at a record high 21 storefront vacancies. Rising costs including skyrocketing rents, payroll and other costs coincided with 4 years of disruptive street construction making it a tough go for many shopkeepers. Notable closures in that time included the 40 year old Haight Ashbury Music Center, Carlos’ Shoe Repair, and Kids Only.
So when the pandemic forced doors closed and the plywood went up, there was a period when it looked like many more Haight businesses wouldn’t survive. By March 2021, a year from the first shelter-in-place order, there were 32 storefront vacancies (about a fifth of the storefronts between Stanyan and Central). Many of the pandemic closures were clothing stores such as Haight Ashbury T-Shirts, Static and Crossroads Trading Company, which struggled to meet rent obligations with a significant drop in sales.
But as local retail is inching out of its pandemic funk, and restaurants and bars are expanding service, vacant storefronts are beginning to fill in. Here are some notable new businesses:
In April 2020, after the Bay Area was officially in lockdown in response to the pandemic, Food Runners San Francisco found a temporary home at 1525 Waller Street (where the weekly food pantry operates) to cook, pack, and store meals for distribution to those in need throughout the City. Presently, staff and volunteers are preparing between 12,000-15,000 meals each week. The non-profit organization created in 1987 aims to alleviate hunger by using excess food that otherwise would be discarded and in doing so helps prevent waste and sustains the community-at-large.
Because occupation and use of the Waller Street space was planned as short-term only, the operation needs to relocate in September 2021. According to Food Runners staff, its new location needs: a catering or restaurant kitchen; equipment (e.g., large cold storage, flat top, grill, ovens, burners, ice machine, dishwasher); area(s) for food packing; office space; and parking (a minimum of six (6) vehicle spaces and area for food delivery drivers and trucks).
Any neighbors or friends who know of a space for lease that meets these criteria should contact Ashlee Thompson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .