At HANC’s September 2021 meeting, we discussed the community impact of robotic cars on our streets  and strove  to understand the brave new world of autonomous vehicles (AVs). Back then we invited representatives from SFMTA and the AV companies WAYMO, CRUISE and ZOOX to answer our questions. At this November’s meeting,  we hoped to provide updated information but as of our print deadline, HANC did not hear back. We still have many questions for the AV companies; we will will hold our growing list for a future meeting.

-How many vehicles are operating on our city streets?

-Where are your facilities for vehicle storage and repair located in San Francisco?

The Mayor’s Disability Council (MDC) is staffed by the Mayor’s Office on Disability.  Its mission is to 1) advise the Mayor on disability issues, 2) work with the Mayor’s Office on Disability to ensure ADA compliance, and 3) provide a public forum to discuss disability issues.

MDC meets on the third Friday of every month (except August and December) from 1 pm to 4 pm.  The preliminary agenda has two items:  1) E-Scooter Safety Enforcement Update and 2) Active Communities Plan:  addressing equity and accessibility for the Citywide bike network.  A detailed agenda, including instructions for joining the meeting in person or online will be posted seven days before the meeting (by November 11), and will be available at https://sfgov.org/sfmdc/whats-new .

Planning for the Haight-Ashbury Public Realm Plan began in May, 2011 when HAMA (Haight Ashbury Merchant’s Association) presented its ideas to then-supervisor Mirkarimi and the Planning Department.  Meetings were held with community groups during 2011 and 2012, and various public meetings were held from 2012 through 2016.  The plan evolved into a partnership between SFMTA and the Department of Public Works.  Ground was broken in September, 2018, and the project was completed in June, 2021.  Although there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony in July, 2021, this might have been missed, as it was early in the City’s reopening from the Covid pandemic, and the numbers were again rising.

The project included sewer upgrades, traffic signals, curb ramps, sidewalk replacement, pedestrian lighting, and street repaving. 

We would like your thoughts on the Public Realm:

--What changes have you noticed on Haight Street since 2018?

--Which of these changes do you like?

--Which of these changes do you dislike?

--Were you disrupted by the street work?  If so, how?

--Was the final result worth the disruption?

--What else should have been done?

--What was done that should not have been changed?

--Do you have any other thoughts or comments about the Public Realm?

Please send your responses via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by mail to HANC, P.O. Box 170518, San Francisco, CA  94117.  Thank you.

After cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid and a postponement in 2022, the Haight Ashbury Street Fair returned on October 16, 2022.  Overcast skies gave way to some sunshine in the late afternoon.  The crowd seemed happy and the 2022 fair can be considered a success.  Here are some photos from the day:

 

 

 

Haight Ashbury Street Fair

 

By Christin Evans, HANC Board

The next meeting of the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council will be held on Thursday, October 13 from 7-9pm via Zoom.  We are hosting guests who will share the details of four important measures on the November 2022 ballot: Propositions C (Homeless Oversight Commission), H (City Elections in Even-Numbered Years), L (Sales Tax for Transportation Projects) and O (Additional Parcel Tax for City College).

Proposition C, placed on the ballot by a majority of the Board of Supervisors and opposed by the Mayor, is a Charter amendment to create a new Commission to oversee the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH).  The measure does not remove the current bodies with partial jurisdiction, including the Our City Our Home Oversight Committee (OCOH) and the Local Homeless Coordinating Board (LHCB), but adds a comprehensive 7-member commission to review the policies and programs of HSH which was created in 2016 and now has a budget over $600 million annually. With 4 appointees by the Mayor and 3 by the Board of Supervisors, the Commission is unlikely to have a significant impact on a department the mayor controls but it would create a regular forum for the department to give regular updates. The measure also requires the City controller to conduct audits of homelessness services.

By Lisa Awbrey, HANC President

The HANC Board recently heard from Dan Miller, Head of Urban School on an upcoming construction project to convert the old St. Agnes gymnasium on Page Street to a Performing Arts Complex and Community Center. Urban School has been talking about this project for 20 years; permitting was completed in 2015. Urban School’s current student body of 420 students requires a larger space, and currently has no formal assembly space for students and teachers. They use the old Gumption Theater building on Page, with a maximum capacity of 80, which is completely inadequate for 420 students. The new performance space will host theatrical productions, musical theatre, jazz, classical and chorale performances, along with school assemblies. Construction is set to begin some time after Thanksgiving/December/January 2023. Dan has hosted three community meetings with immediate neighbors attending.

By Tes Welborn, HANC Board

The Elections Commission is holding some meetings to review the recent Redistricting process and consider what, if any, changes may be needed for the next Redistricting in 10 years.  Changes proposed may come in the form of a ballot proposition, sponsored by the Elections Commission or the Board of Supervisors.

I attended the Elections Commission’s September meeting in which they devoted about an hour to Q&A with three former task force members from the last three redistricting processes.

Cynthia Dai, Asian American, who served on the state's redistricting commission, is the Elections Commission’s point person for Redistricting. New commissioner Renita LiVolsi, appointed by the Public Defender, and is African American, volunteered to work with Ms. Dai on future Redistricting discussions. [FYI, other commissioners appeared to be white.]

The developers of the proposed affordable housing at 730 Stanyan are in the process of seeking funding for the project.  If the funding is approved, construction is scheduled to begin in Spring, 2023, and to last through Spring, 2025.  As we reported in March and July, the project is required to use part of the construction budget to fund art that is visible from the street.

Five artists were selected as semi-finalists based on their responses to a Request for Qualifications.  Four have submitted proposals.  Video presentations by these four artists, which include their backgrounds, previous works, and their proposal for art at 730 Stanyan are available at https://www.730stanyan.org/public-art .  There is also a link to a survey from that webpage.  The survey was due to close on September 30, but appeared to still be open at the time this article was written (October 3).

  1. HANC's Ballot Argument Supporting Proposition E
  2. September 8th at HANC: Propositions E and M, and Newsom Targets SF
  3. What Happened at Laguna Honda?
  4. HANC Officer and Board Nominations are Open
  5. Afterglow - Haight Street Lights
  6. Housing Policy and November Ballot Measures