MESSAGE FROM
CATHERINE
Dear John,
With Autumn in full swing and
elections right around the corner, I am proud of what my office has
accomplished so far this year. San Franciscan’s
resoundingly passed Proposition D, and will bring new services
for victims of crime and domestic violence. The Office of Victim and Witness
Rights, will guarantee
legal services for survivors of domestic violence, and will provide
survivors with a proven tool to break the cycle of violence. I am
thrilled to have championed this public safety initiative and am
grateful that the voters helped make it a reality.
Additionally, the decisive passage
of Proposition H, which recalled District Attorney Chesa
Boudin, was a loud cry for change from constituents who felt unsafe on
our streets and in their homes, and victims who felt abandoned. Much
like the recall of the
Board of Education members, this ouster represents another
flashpoint in our city's history. San Franciscans are right to demand
that their elected officials act with honesty, integrity, and a
commitment to doing the job they were elected to do.
Warm
Regards,
Catherine
POLICY AND LEGISLATION
Public
Safety
Police Staffing
For more than two years, the San
Francisco Police Department has had a staffing crisis. In March 2020,
an independent study on police staffing levels found that the San
Francisco Police Department (SFPD) needed to hire 330 officers to meet
the demand for service at that time. Since then, the need for officers
has grown to over 500, and is projected to be over 700 by the end of
the fiscal year.
It’s no secret that the SFPD has
struggled to recruit and retain sworn officers. A generation of
experienced officers are in the process of retiring, and we have not
been able to recruit enough to replace those who leave.
- We’re
losing approximately two officers per week through
attrition.
- New
recruit applications have significantly decreased over the past 5
years -- Falling by 67% from 2017 to 2021.
These numbers have real-world
consequences. We cannot meet the demand for service, implement
necessary criminal justice reforms, or protect our most vulnerable
residents without adequate police staffing, and the public suffers as
a result.
I was thrilled that finally, after
years of advocacy, a budget agreement was reached with the Mayor in
June to provide the resources necessary to hire 220 more officers to
fill critical vacancies.
Historically, SFPD has had
significant attrition issues that have compounded staffing challenges.
In this year’s budget we invested approximately $38 million to allow
the Department to increase officer compensation, and offer bonuses and
incentive pay, to better recruit and retain officers. While these
initiatives won’t satisfy the full need, they represent a significant
step in the right direction.
Proposition D
I want to thank all the voters of
San Francisco for passing Proposition D to create an Office of
Victims’ Rights in San Francisco and establish the country’s first
right to civil counsel for survivors of domestic violence. As the
primary author of this initiative, I am incredibly proud of the change
we’re going to bring to this City.
Approximately 20,000 times per
quarter, a person in San Francisco is a victim of crime. Furthermore,
arrests and charges only occur in a tiny fraction of these cases. This
system forces victims and witnesses of crime already suffering from
the emotional, physical and financial aftermath of a crime to navigate
a complicated system through multiple departments, and many ultimately
receive no support.
Proposition D will make a profound
difference in the lives of domestic violence survivors by providing
them with a new set of tools to end the cycle of violence. This
initiative makes individuals who report domestic violence or file a
domestic violence restraining order eligible for full-scope legal
representation to aid with their legal issues, including protective
orders, gun violence restraining orders, custody, child support,
Marsy’s Law, alimony, social service benefits, health care,
employment, and housing. Legal aid is the single most cost-effective
intervention we can provide to keep families safe and prevent them
from falling into poverty.
Over the next year, I’m going to be
extremely focused on ensuring that Proposition D is fully
implemented. Between Prop D implementation, a new District Attorney,
and funding the SFPD, San Franciscans will see one of the largest
investments in public safety in years, and I fully intend to make sure
you all feel the benefits..
Downtown’s Economic Future
San Francisco's downtown core and
Financial District have been devastated by the pandemic, and early
signs indicate that our recovery continues to lag behind the rest of
the nation. A report from February underscored that our job recovery
is 15% lower than the national average, and 10% lower than California
as a whole.
Additional indicators like hotel
occupancy, domestic air travel, and transit ridership show that San
Francisco is well behind other major U.S. metro areas. More than 42%
of San Francisco’s small businesses and 30% of its total employment
are located within the area defined as the city’s economic core,
according to data from the Controller’s Office. As such, I have issued
a letter of inquiry to the City Assessor’s Office, The City
Controller’s Office, and the Office of Economic and Workforce
Development.
The purpose of this letter of
inquiry is to ask each office to try and assess the likelihood and
impact of reduced demand for commercial space in San Francisco,
especially in our downtown, and on local tax revenue. In order to
better understand this issue, I have requested information on: what is
the share of property tax revenue from commercial real estate; have
there been any recent trends in commercial real estate transaction
activity that might impact property tax revenue; how have property
values changed and can we forecast any impact; and are property owners
changing the rate at which they request reassessments?
The City Economist is developing a
model to understand the economic impact of these changes, and I am
holding a hearing on the results of that analysis in November. This
information is crucial to understanding the problem and developing new
policies to revitalize our downtown core.
Addiction and Recovery
BAART Programs
It's a
fact that the opioid crisis in San Francisco,
fueled by the pandemic, has claimed more lives than COVID-19.
The
mortality rate doubled among the homeless population in the city
as a direct result of opioids like fentanyl flooding our streets.
Recently, I became aware of allegations that individuals seeking to
enroll in methadone treatment for their opioid addiction were being
turned away. We cannot force people seeking treatment back out to the
streets to face their addiction alone. This is a public health and
public safety crisis and that is why I submitted a formal letter of inquiry
about alleged delays in
intake at the city’s drug treatment facilities.
If you or a loved one are
experiencing the grip of the opioid addiction there is a path to break
the addiction BAART Program's comprehensive medication-assisted
treatment. Call: 844-341-4040 to schedule an assessment.
Additionally, those seeking
treatment for addiction can find other recovery programs, like
Ohloff House, which offers inpatient and outpatient
programs for those seeking an abstinence-based treatment. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are peer-based support services for
those want to seek help with substance abuse issues. AA and NA are
free and meetings are open to anyone wants to begin to address their
addictions.
San Francisco Recovers
I was proud to stand with
Supervisor Matt Dorsey and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman to announce San
Francisco Recovers. This new program plans to use some of the $100
million the city earned in opioid litigation settlements to do three things: incentivize and support
those with substance-use disorders to seek recovery, end street-level
drug use and dealing; and ordering 21 city departments to get on the
same page.
Transportation
Muni Service Restored
Several Muni Bus routes are
increasing service throughout the District. I am pleased that SFMTA is
ramping up capacity and transit operability as the city adapts to life
post-pandemic.
2 Sutter (formerly 2 Clement), 6:30 am – 7 pm daily: The 2 Sutter has
returned to service as a shortened route between Presidio &
California and Ferry Plaza. The new terminal near Ferry Plaza is at
Steuart & Don Chee Way. Riders looking to continue travel west of
Presidio Avenue should transfer to the outbound 1 California Route at
California & Presidio.
43 Masonic (open): This major connecting route is
restored to pre-pandemic alignment, extending to north of Presidio
Avenue and California Street to the Presidio, the Marina and Fort
Mason.
28 19th Avenue (open): Extended from Van Ness Avenue and
North Point Street to Powell and Beach streets in Fisherman’s Wharf to
replace the 49 Van Ness-Mission, which will terminate at Van Ness
& North Point in response to changing trip patterns.
45 Union/Stockton (open): Increased frequency to address
crowding.
We know there’s still a lot of work
to be done and we’re actively meeting with the SFMTA about restoring
service along the 3 Jackson and 30X Marina Express lines. We know how important these lines
are to District 2 residents and we’re pushing to return services to
these routes.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Wear Orange Golden Gate Bridge March
I had a great experience marching the length of the Golden Gate
Bridge with Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms
Demand Action to end gun violence. Arm-and-arm with Jackie Speier,
Shannon Watts, Mattie Scott and hundreds of supporters, activists, and
those impacted by gun violence, we marched to elevate awareness on the
nation’s gun violence crisis.
The latest
victory, the signing of the Safe Communities Act by President Joe
Biden on June 25th, is a direct result of the hard work of
Everytown, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action. Placing
over 1 million calls and messages to the U.S. Senate and advising the
drafting of the legislation, the fight for sensible gun laws
advances. If you want to get involved
in Moms Demand Action, you can text READY to 644-33.
Honoring SFPD & SFFD for Field Birth
I honored members of the San
Francisco Police and Fire Departments for their exceptional response
to an emergency field birth of twin babies on May 21st. When the
initial 911 call came in to dispatch the family-to-be did not know
their exact location and the mother was in very active labor. SFPD
officers saturated the area in search for the family and Captain Jack
Hart located the vehicle and family, directing additional Officers,
Fire, and EMS to the location. Police, Fire, and Ambulance crews
worked quickly to ensure the safe delivery of these twins, and I thank
them for their incredible service.
Union Street Fair
District 2 welcomed back the
47th annual Union Street Festival on July 4th
and 5th. The festival kicked off the
San Francisco Street Festival
Season, featuring live
classical and jazz music as well as food, art, photography, and other
unique items from over 100 boutique vendors. It gives me great
pleasure to host such a unique family-friendly event in the district,
bringing the community closer together and symbolizing our gradual
return to a more normal way of life. I want to thank the Union Street
Merchant Association for their incredible leadership and congratulate
them on throwing such a fantastic event!
Tunnel Tops opening
 The Tunnel Tops Park in the Presidio
neighborhood opened July 17th. The 14-acre park connects
Presidio’s Main Post with Crissy Field through a series of bluff
landscapes, pathways and communal gathering places and features
several scenic overlooks, trails, and picnic areas. Tunnel Tops plans
to continue celebrating its grand opening with a score of communal
events every first Sunday from 1pm-4pm including outdoor art, drop-in
nature and history explorations, and National Park Service ranger
talks. Reserve
a picnic table, starting August 1st and enjoy fantastic iconic
views and all the natural wonder of our revitalized green open
space.
Honoring Ruth Borenstein
I was excited to close out Pride
Month by honoring Ruth Borenstein. Ruth is an incredible LGBTQ rights
and gun violence prevention activist . Ruth filed amicus briefs in the
U.S. Supreme Court and several state supreme courts to support
marriage equality, and she was part of a team of lawyers from Morrison
and Foerster and the ACLU who fought for relationship recognition for
same-sex couples in Montana. In 2018 Ruth joined the San Francisco Brady Chapter and together, she and I worked on some of
the original ghost gun ban legislation, and in partnership with my
office, we helped pave the way for numerous counties throughout the
state to adopt similar laws and the State of CA’s recent strengthening
of its ghost gun regulations.
Pride Parade
With basic human rights under
attack around the country, it was a true joy and honor to partake in
the Pride Parade this year. I am so excited to see the city spring
back to life after two long years!. This was San Francisco's
52nd annual Pride Parade and Pride remains the
largest LGBTQ+ gathering in the U.S., with over 200 parade contingents
and exhibitors and more than 20 community-run stages and venues. This
year's Pride was a huge success and I am looking forward to all of the
future major events throughout the city!
  
Chuseok Festival
 It was my absolute pleasure to welcome
the Chuseok Day Festival back to the Presidio for the first in-person
celebration in three years. The Chuseok Day Festival, also known as
“Korean Thanksgiving,” in the Presidio has become a major event for
the Korean community in the Bay Area. I’m thrilled to have the
Korean Center, Inc. in District 2 and was proud to honor them
for their work organizing and hosting this incredible festival.
Thousands gathered for games, food, and performances, I can’t wait for
next year’s celebration!
 
Fillmore Street Merchant Walk
 I had the honor of joining the
Fillmore Street Merchant Association and Avenue Greenlight on a
merchant walk to visit with merchants, residents, and customers to
hear about the issues they face and the improvements they’d like to
see. Public safety remains a top priority for merchants along
Fillmore, as it is for everyone in San Francisco.
Honoring Planned Parenthood’s Gilda Gonzales for Latino
Heritage Month
This has been a devastating year
for women’s rights and reproductive health in the United States. In
the face of tremendous adversity and relentless protests and
harassment, I am proud to stand with Planned Parenthood at every
opportunity I can, and I’m thrilled that their new flagship clinic is
located in District 2. This year, I could think of no one better to
honor for Latino Heritage Month than Gilda Gonzales, the CEO of
Planned Parenthood of Northern California. Gilda is the first latina
to serve as CEO of any Planned Parenthood affiliate in California, and
she has dedicated her entire career to championing healthy communities
and increasing access to healthcare, especially for those who need it
the most.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Planned Parenthood Drag and Disco Fundraiser
Please join the Planned Parenthood
of Northern California for their Drag & Disco fundraiser on
Thursday, October 6 in San Francisco! This event will feature a drag
show, disco music, dancing, drinks, appetizers, and the opportunity to
learn about Prop 1. Dust off your dancing shoes and help protect
reproductive freedom in California!
Buy
Tickets Here
Friends of Allyne Social
Friday, October 7th from
5:30pm-dark is the first Friends of Allyne Park social event - kick
off your Blue Angels weekend with a fun gathering in Allyne Park!
They'll provide snacks . Please BYO beverages and cups and please RSVP
here with the # in your party before 10/5.
Friends of Lafayette Park Fall Social
After 2 years of canceled events,
Friends of Lafayette Park presents:
The 11th Annual Friends of
Lafayette Park Fall Social
October 7th, 2022
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
At the Summit (Top of the
Park)
Friends of Lafayette Park invite
you to our annual neighborhood gathering.
We'll provide food from some of our
favorite neighborhood restaurants, drinks, live music, and an amazing
time in our own Lafayette Park.
Lots of fun for all ages! Dogs
too!
Italian American Heritage Parade and
Celebration
Join San Francisco’s
Italian-American Community as we celebrate the Italian Heritage
Festival & Parade, featuring Italian and Italian-American
dignitaries, music, performances, floats, and representatives of
Italian and Italian-American organizations and businesses.
The Parade begins at 12:30 pm on Sunday October 9
at the foot of Jefferson and
Powell Streets in Fisherman’s Wharf, proceeds south through North
Beach on Columbus Avenue and ends in Washington Square in front of
Saints Peter and Paul Church. Parade viewing is available throughout
the entire route.
Find more information here: https://sfitalianheritage.org/
Fleet Week
San Francisco Fleet Week (SFFW)
began in 1981 when then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein led the nation in
celebrating America's sea services.
Taking place every October in San
Francisco over Italian Heritage Weekend, SFFW's air show, the parade
of ships and many community events have become a significant and
integral part of the city's local culture and economy.
SFFW also features a unique
training and education program that brings together civilian and
military forces to develop and share best practices in humanitarian
assistance.
SFFW creates important and lasting
relationships for its partners and generates over $10M in annual
revenue for the city. SFFW is now recognized by the
United States Department of Defense as the model for fleet weeks
across the country.
Held annually between the Golden
Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, The San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show
Presented by United attracts fans from all over the globe. The
waterfront event is headlined by The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and is the
only air show in the United States with a commercial airliner, the
United 777, to perform a fully choreographed act.
Find more information here:
https://fleetweeksf.org/air-show/
Northern Neighbors Block Party
Come party with Northern Neighbors
on October 15 from 11:00 to 4:00. We are planning several activities
on Green Street between Laguna and Buchanan. We can use your help!
Sign up to show up and have some fun!
RSVP Here
All Out SF
All Out SF is a week-long
celebration of San Francisco and all the ways to make it even better.
Organized by Manny Yekutiel of Welcome to Manny's, All Out SF will run from October 16-23 and
is a dedicated week to celebrate San Francisco and get involved in
making it even better.
Citywide events will span the week
ranging from beautification projects, civic conversations &
advocacy, arts, culture, and community. You'll be encouraged to bring
friends and to post and share throughout the week to @alloutsf and
#alloutsf.
It's time we pour some love back
into San Francisco. All Out SF is a truly group endeavor with partner
organizations across the city that are bonding together to make this
week possible.
Find more information here:
https://www.alloutsf.com/
SFUSD PreKindergarten and Elementary School Enrollment
Fair
SAVE THE DATES! Join us in-person for the 2023-24 SFUSD
Pre-Kindergarten and Elementary School Enrollment Fair on Saturday,
October 22, 2022 from 10am to 2pm at John O’ Connell High School! And
join us online for the 2023-24 Middle and High School Enrollment Fair
from Monday, October 24 to Thursday, October 27 from 5pm to 7pm. Meet
representatives from our schools! Learn about school programs, how to
apply, and more! To subscribe to get updates about the Fair, visit sfusd.edu/fair.
Clean Corridors
A new season of Clean Corridors, is
scheduled to begin. Public Works deploys a contingent of
power-washers, flusher trucks, litter removers, graffiti abaters, and
outreach inspectors to clean the streets, sidewalks, and public
furniture along key commercial corridors while also educating
residents and merchants about their cleanliness responsibilities and
Public Works’ role. These events take place citywide every Thursday at
8am starting August 1st.
Here is our D2 schedule for the
upcoming year:
December 29, 2022:
Chestnut and Lombard (westbound) from Fillmore to Divisadero
(including side streets)
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING
INSPECTION
DBI has been conducting public
outreach on the Accessible Business Entrance (ABE)
program and would
appreciate if your office could share the following blurb with your
constituents and networks:
Help make sure San Francisco is
welcoming to all! Commercial property owners of public-serving
businesses are legally required to confirm that their primary
entrances are accessible to people with disabilities. Learn more about
the Department of Building Inspection’s Accessible Business Entrance
program at sfdbi.org/abe.
SFPUC Green
Infrastructure Grant Program
The Green Infrastructure Grant
Program funds the design and construction of green stormwater
infrastructure on large public and private properties.
-
Projects must capture stormwater
runoff from at least 0.5 acres (21,780 sf) of impervious surface, work
with a licensed Landscape Architect or Engineer, and meet all other
eligibility requirements outlined in the
Fall 2022 Application
Requirements.
-
Each applicant, if approved can
receive up to $2M per
project.
This fall competitive cycle
includes expanded grantee eligibility including the option for
community groups and contractors to receive grant funds
directly.
Are you ready to beautify your
neighborhood, build resilience to climate change, and protect our
surrounding waters through sustainable stormwater management
practices? Transform underutilized space into a multi-benefit,
community-oriented stormwater project through the San Francisco Public
Utilities Commission (SFPUC)
Green Infrastructure Grant
Program.
We are
excited to announce that the SFPUC Green Infrastructure Grant
Program is now accepting
applications for the Fall 2022 application cycle. Applications are due October 31st.
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
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