MESSAGE FROM CATHERINE

Dear John,

It’s hard to believe we have been confronting COVID-19 for nearly a year. While we finally have a federal administration that is taking the pandemic and economic recovery seriously, we still have a long road ahead of us. So far this year, I have been hard at work advocating for greater access to vaccines, public safety for all, and much-needed economic relief for San Francisco’s small businesses. Keep reading for more updates on what your District 2 office has been up to! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 415-554-7752.

Warm Regards,
Catherine

COVID-19 RESOURCES AND HEALTH ORDER UPDATES

Getting Vaccinated

The COVID-19 vaccine has arrived, and thousands of San Franciscans have been vaccinated, but the supply from the State and federal government remains limited. Visit the City’s vaccine website for the latest details on where and how to get the vaccine, and to sign up to be notified when it’s your turn. For more information, click here to view my town hall on the vaccine with the Department of Public Health! 

Reopening

Since late January, San Francisco has begun to reopen at the State of California’s Purple Tier. This means that outdoor dining is permitted, greater capacity is allowed for certain outdoor activities, and some indoor businesses—such as personal care services and gyms—can operate at limited capacity. More details about the latest health order are available here.

Support for Businesses and Workers

Visit the Office of Economic and Workforce Development’s website for resources for business owners, employees, nonprofits, and others impacted by the pandemic. This website includes local, state, and federal resources and is updated regularly as new resources become available. Please contact my office if you have any difficulty navigating this website or accessing the resources that are available to you.

Getting Tested

San Franciscans have several options to get tested for COVID-19. If you have health insurance, schedule a test with your doctor. If you have symptoms or a known exposure, your healthcare provider is required by law to get you a test. If you are not insured, no-cost testing is available for any San Franciscan who has at least one symptom or has been in contact with a COVID-19-positive individual. Click here for more information or to book your test.

Food Security

Are you or do you know someone who is having trouble getting or affording food during the pandemic? Food resources for low-income San Franciscans, children, seniors, and more, are available here, and this website is updated as more resources become available. Please contact my office if you have any difficulty accessing these services.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Town Hall with District Attorney Boudin

Over the past year, we have seen a huge spike in residential burglaries, an increase in gun-related crimes, and many other disturbing incidents that are driving families and businesses out of San Francisco. On January 29, with special thanks to Meaghan Mitchell from HereSay Media for moderating, I hosted a virtual town hall on public safety in our community with District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Watch a recording of our conversation here.

Town Hall with Police Chief Scott, Captain Yep, and Captain Conley

The uptick in residential burglaries, car break-ins, and gun-related incidents in our neighborhoods cannot continue. That’s why I invited Police Chief Bill Scott, Northern Station Captain Paul Yep, and Richmond Station Captain Bill Conley to a virtual town hall on public safety in December. If you were unable to join us live, click here to access the recording.

Protecting Your Garage

Residential burglaries in our community have skyrocketed, as many know all too well. The San Francisco Police Department has created a video to help keep residents’ homes safe from burglars, and you can view that video here. While I strongly believe in—and will always advocate for—policies that prevent these incidents from occurring in the first place, as well as policies that hold those responsible for home break-ins accountable, these simple tips can help prevent you from experiencing crime in your home.

Senior Scams

Recently, community service providers and the San Francisco Police Department have received reports of a scam targeting San Francisco’s seniors, in which individuals posing as delivery drivers contacted individuals and asked to enter their homes to conduct a “survey,” in some cases asking for money. Do not open your door to strangers. Senior service providers will not ask their clients for money, nor will they ask clients for admission to their homes to take “surveys.” Please call your service provider if you have any doubts or questions about anyone attempting to enter your home.  

SFPD Newsletters

Would you like to receive the latest news and tips from the San Francisco Police Department stations that serve our community? Sign up for Richmond Station, Northern Station, Central Station, and/or Park Station newsletters. Visit these links and scroll down to the bottom of the site to enter your email address.

POLICY AND LEGISLATION

Small Business Fee Waivers

It is fundamentally unfair for the City to charge small businesses license and registration fees during a time when they were ordered to close. This week, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed my legislation to eliminate those fees. This proposal is among the largest fee waivers in City history, and will provide more than $13 million in direct relief to the businesses we know and love that have been devastated by the pandemic. While significant, my legislation is just a first step. We need to do everything we can to ensure our neighborhoods return to the vibrant places they once were, and I am committed to doing just that.

Rearrests and Parole

In just the past few months, on top of the horrifying kidnapping of two children in Pacific Heights, we have seen two women killed on New Year’s Eve, a young father killed in an eight-vehicle crash, fatal midday attacks on our seniors, and too many car break-ins and home invasions to count. In many of these cases, suspects had previously been arrested and released from custody. We cannot keep releasing dangerous individuals back onto the streets after arrests only to see them commit more heinous crimes. The public needs to understand exactly what happens when an individual on parole is arrested for new offenses. That’s why I demanded data and called for a hearing on recidivism, rearrests, and parole. I will be sure to publicize the details of my hearing when it has been scheduled.

Hearing on Addiction and Recovery

Last year, 699 people died from overdoses in San Francisco, and thousands more almost died. This tragedy is as visible as it is shameful. It should be easy to get treatment and hard to get drugs in our city, but that isn’t the case for thousands suffering from addiction. On February 11, I held a hearing on the findings of the Recovery Summit Working Group—individuals who have found recovery in spite of the deadly disease of addiction, often with little support. View my hearing and find out more about their recommendations here.

SFUSD: Prioritize In-Person Learning

More than 50,000 of San Francisco’s children have been unable to attend school in-person for nearly a year, forced instead to adjust to virtual distance learning. The data on learning loss is catastrophic, but parents and families still have no clear understanding of the San Francisco Unified School District’s plans to return children to their classroom. That’s why I wrote an open letter to the Board of Education urging them to focus on what’s most important: returning to in-person learning. Debates about renaming or admissions should be had when—and only when—we have returned all of our children to school. I am glad to see that, as of late February, the Board of Education is finally attempting to focus on reopening. 

Confronting Gun Violence and Honoring Survivors

The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed my resolution recognizing the first week of February as Gun Violence Survivors Week. In 2020, we saw shootings increase by 63 percent in San Francisco. As we honor survivors and listen to their stories, we must recommit to working at all levels of government to end gun violence, and I will continue to push toward that goal in San Francisco.

Renewing and Expanding the Family Violence Council

It’s on each of us to do everything in our power to stop abuse and support survivors. Family and domestic abuse have skyrocketed during the past year, with calls to police and crisis lines spiking over the course of the pandemic. While the Family Violence Council—which coordinates services and advises policymakers—is set to expire in May, its work is more important than ever. That’s why I introduced legislation to expand the membership of the San Francisco Family Violence Council and allow its work to continue for at least three more years.

Supporting UCSF Parnassus’ Expansion

I was the sole Supervisor to vote against a needless delay in approving UCSF Parnassus’ proposed expansion. Each year, UCSF turns away 3,000 patients due to lack of capacity. The proposed project will provide affordable housing, a new hospital, and much-needed jobs—all benefits San Francisco needs as soon as possible—and additional delays are not in our best interest. Click here for more details on my vote.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Lunar New Year

I wish everyone a very happy and healthy Lunar New Year! The past year has challenged each of us in countless ways. May this time of celebration offer renewal and bring forth health and prosperity for all in the Year of the Ox.

The Aquatic Park and Pier Project

Join the effort to save Aquatic Park! The Aquatic Park and Pier Project is a community-led initiative to revitalize the historic waterfront park and its surroundings, and to rebuild its protective pier so that future generations of San Franciscans and visitors can enjoy this truly special place. Click here to find more information and sign up.

Safety Improvements to Geary Boulevard

Last August, a beloved member of the Cathedral Hill community, Mark Berman, was struck and killed by a reckless driver on Geary Boulevard. Thanks to strong community advocacy, the SFMTA recently announced that it has fast-tracked much-needed safety improvements to Geary, including sidewalk bulb-outs, additional streetlights and pedestrian signals, an upgraded center median, and lower speed limits on blocks near the fatal crash. While we still have a long way to go in ensuring safe and accessible streets for all San Franciscans, these are important steps toward that goal.

Sundance Film Festival

I’m proud to have partnered with the Department of Public Health and the Roxie Theater to save the Sundance Film Festival at Fort Mason! In December, when our latest COVID-19 surge began, the Health Officer shut down drive-in movie theaters, threatening the film festival at Fort Mason. After advocating on the festival’s behalf, I convinced the Department of Public Health to amend the health order and certify that it was safe to allow the film festival to continue as planned.

Survey on Vision Zero

Vision Zero is the City’s commitment to creating safe, accessible, and livable streets, with the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and reducing severe injuries. The City is updating its Vision Zero Action Strategy and we want to hear from you! Share your ideas in the survey here. Responses will be accepted through March 5.  

San Francisco Senior Beat

Interested in hearing more from San Francisco’s vibrant and diverse population of older adults? The Senior Beat, an initiative of the San Francisco Community Living Campaign, is an online magazine focusing on sharing our seniors’ experiences, wisdom, challenges, and opportunities. Click here to check out their stories!

Office of Supervisor Catherine Stefani
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 273, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-7752 Fax: (415) 554-7843