Supervisor Hillary Ronen - COVID19 Update The Latest on Schools Newsletter

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August 11, 2020
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The Latest on Schools, Homelessness Response, Worker Protections, and More

Dear Neighbors,

As coronavirus cases continue to rise in San Francisco, I urge everyone to please continue social distancing and wear a mask any time you are out in public if you must leave your home. Our ability to reopen the city and the economy depends on us; we must all do our part to protect one another. Thank you!

In this newsletter, we cover the latest updates on:

Hearing on Schools this Fall
Mission Homelessness Update
SAFER Act to Protect Workers from COVID Discrimination
Right to Recover Program
Alex Nieto Memorial
Vacant Storefronts for Arts, Nonprofits, and COVID Relief
Transportation Updates
Supporting the 14th Street Fire Victims
Recognizing the Latino Task Force on COVID
Sean Monterrosa Library

My office may not be in City Hall these days, but we are still here for you. We are available by email: ronenstaff@sfgov.org or by phone at 415-554-5144 (leave a message, and we will call you back-- we are checking voicemail frequently). Check for updates on my Twitter and Facebook.

Hearing This Friday on Schools this Fall

School starts Monday, and yet parents and children don’t know what the school day will look like or what will be required of them to ensure a successful fall semester.

Most parents must work full-time to survive and do not have the training, time, or resources to adequately supervise distance learning.

My constituents are telling me about their older children who are missing out on their own schooling because they have to take care of their younger siblings. You have shared stories about internet hot spots that can’t accommodate several devices at the same time, and multiple children in crowded homes who do not have the space to concentrate.

I am holding a hearing this Friday to get concrete answers about the upcoming fall semester. We have invited the School District, the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families, United Educators of SF, and Board of Ed members to discuss how the City can help families with distance learning.

The Health Officer will be present so parents who are considering joining with other families to educate their children can learn how it can be done safely.

I am working hard to ensure families get the learning support that they need during this difficult time. Please join the virtual hearing and make sure to join public comment so we can hear from you.

I hope you can join us. Please, spread the word. You can access versions of the flyer above in English, Chinese, and Spanish here.

Mission Homelessness Update

The conditions of homelessness in the Mission have have grown even more challenging under the global pandemic, and the current situation is not acceptable to either our unhoused or housed neighbors.

Throughout the summer, I have been working incessantly alongside service providers, community advocates, faith leaders, the Latino Task Force on COVID-19, and City departments to develop a Mission Neighborhood Needs Assessment and map out a block-by-block strategy.

After a lot of work, the neighborhood assessment is live. It can be viewed here.

As a first step, we are opening a Safe Sleeping Village within the vacant city-owned lot at 1515 South Van Ness by the end of August. We are partnering with the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and a provider that has experience serving this population and has deep connections with the Mission community. In accordance with public health guidelines, this site will safely accommodate space for 40 tents and provide support services for clients as well as on-site security.

On Monday August 17th, at 5:30 PM, we will be hosting an online forum via Zoom to discuss the proposed plans for this site and gather feedback to ensure its success.

I will continue our fight to secure additional resources to move people out of unsafe living conditions and into safe, sustainable shelter and housing opportunities.

SAFER Act to Protect Workers from COVID-19 Discrimination

At the July 14 Board of Supervisors meeting, I introduced an emergency ordinance, the SF SAFER Act, to protect workers who have COVID-19 or must quarantine because of COVID-19 exposure.

Many San Francisco workers, especially low-wage essential workers, are hesitant to take a COVID test and seek care because they are afraid that a positive diagnosis and the need to quarantine could lead to them being fired from their job.

The SF SAFER Act would make it illegal for an employer to fire, threaten to fire, demote, suspend, discipline, reduce employee benefits, or in any manner discriminate against any worker who is unable to work or who requests time off work because they tested positive for COVID-19 or are quarantining due to exposure.

I introduced this legislation to complement the Right to Recover program I created, which provides replacement wages while a worker recovers from COVID-19. The SAFER Act will encourage residents and workers to get tested so that they can prioritize their health.

Right to Recover Program Update

The Right to Recover Program is officially up and running. We have created a model for the rest of California and the nation! More than 800 San Franciscans who have tested positive for the virus are getting income support so they can safely stay home from work, quarantine, and recover.

The SF Chronicle highlighted the human stories behind the Right to Recover program.

Unfortunately, these stories are far too common in San Francisco and throughout the world. The Right to Recover Program is making a difference. By providing two weeks of income to individuals who test positive for COVID-19, we are making it possible for them to take time off work and quarantine - something not everyone has the privilege to do without programs like this one.

Alex Nieto Memorial

It’s almost here! This is a photo of a recent pre-construction planning meeting of the Alex Nieto memorial. Alex's parents, Refugio and Elvira Nieto, and the beloved community have worked so hard to install this monument in celebration of Alex Nieto’s life.

This memorial will serve as a reminder of the changes we must make to policing in America. With the Alex Nieto memorial, it will be the first time in history that San Francisco will have a permanent monument to honor a person of color killed by the police.

We can’t wait to break ground and have a community unveiling in September!

Win-Win for Vacant Storefronts and Arts, Nonprofits, and COVID-19 Relief

Anywhere you go in the city, you see dozens of empty storefronts lining our streets. The number has only surged under COVID-19. Meanwhile, dozens of nonprofit agencies and arts and culture organizations are facing displacement and are struggling to find new places to operate.

I authored new legislation to offer a win-win solution.This legislation creates a new and easily accessible city permit that will allow nonprofit agencies to provide COVID-19 relief, arts, and social services within unused vacant storefronts throughout the city.

We need to keep our communities active, thriving, and inviting, and re-purposing our vacant storefronts will be key to bringing some needed relief to our hardest hit neighborhoods and commercial corridors.

Transportation Updates

More Bus and Rail Services

Great news from SFMTA! We are happy to report that as of August 22, the 67 bus route will be restored. There will also be service improvements to other lines that serve District 9: the 8, 9, 9R, 14, 22, and 49. For more information on other bus and rail service being restored, click here.

Valencia Shared Spaces Street Closure Pilot

Working together with the Valencia Corridor Merchants Association, SFMTA piloted its Shared Spaces Street Closure program. The new pilot was created to expand public space for physically distanced outdoor dining, retail and mobility.

The Shared Spaces program is a free permit from the city to allow businesses to use the sidewalk, parking lane, or entire street for business during the coronavirus pandemic. Find out how your business can apply for the Shared Spaces program here.

Learn more about the Valencia Street “Shared Spaces” street closures here.

Clipper START Discount - Get 50% off MUNI

Clipper is launching the START Pilot Program with SFMTA, BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, and the Ferry. The Clipper START discount pilot program will last for 18 months while the program is evaluated. SFMTA has committed to continue to offer the discount after the pilot period ends.

Adults ages 19 to 64 who have a household income of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (approximately $50,000 per year for a family of four) can qualify for the Clipper START discount. Income levels and eligibility are available online – see www.clipperstartcard.com for details.

Check this page for SFMTA’s core service.
For info on parking and meter prices, check SFMTA’s page here.

San Francisco’s New Mask Order

The City has expanded its face covering order starting Friday, July 24. It requires anyone ages 10 and up to wear a face covering when approaching a distance of six feet from others, in enclosed shared workplaces, in building common areas, and when working in food service. The updated health order also requires individuals who are unable to wear a face covering based on a medical condition to have a written exemption from a medical professional.

Sadly, we are now seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases in SF. There is no change to businesses and activities currently allowed under prior reopening phases. To see where San Francisco is in our reopening plan, visit here.

GoFundMe Campaigns to Support the 14th Street Fire Victims

My heart goes out to those who lost homes and businesses in the horrific 5-alarm fire on July 28. We've reached out to the businesses and been in touch with several. We are connecting them with city and community resources.

Additionally, several restaurants and individuals have created GoFundMe campaigns to raise funds for their needs.

At least five restaurants lost their shared commercial kitchen to the fire. This fundraiser was started by Simileoluwa Adebajo, head chef and owner of Eko Kitchen. The funds will be split evenly between Eko Kitchen, Crêpe-Madame, ChilliCali, Fulfilled Foods and VeganBacon. This GoFundMe is for Crêpe-Madame.

This is Wendy Parker’s GoFundMe, a resident who lost her cat and most of her belongings to the blaze.

Recognizing the Latino Task Force on COVID-19

This Mission Local article on the Latino Task Force on COVID-19 is a must read! As my quote in the article says, it is not an exaggeration to say that the work of the Latino Task Force on COVID-19 is extraordinary.

Sean Monterrosa Library

Sean Monterrosa, a District 9 resident, was only 22 when his life was cut short by the Vallejo Police on June 2nd, 2020. He loved reading and learning. His sisters, his neighbors, and his school librarian are organizing a fundraiser to create a library in his name so that other youth can "knowledge up" in the form of two Little Free Libraries, filled with bilingual books about social justice, stories that empower, and fantastic nonfiction with important factual information.

You can donate to the Sean Monterrosa Library GoFundMe here.

Resources and Announcements

Resources

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has announced a number of Bill Relief Programs that offer water and sewer bill discounts of 20% to our small businesses and nonprofits experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 crisis. These programs are available for a limited time -- you can learn more about the programs and apply today by visiting this page or calling 415-551-3000.

Essential Worker Ride Home: SF Environment the SFCTA launched a program to help essential workers commuting home late at night and don't have a reliable transit option. Click here for more.

Housing

COVID-19 Eviction and Rent Increase Moratoriums – Emergency tenant protections, including more time to pay your rent, suspension of evictions during the pandemic, and a rent freeze in City-subsidized housing.

Give2SF Housing Stabilization Program – Financial help to pay rent, utilities, and other housing costs if you have been financially impacted by COVID-19.

COVID-19 Homeowner Emergency Loan Program (HELP) – No-payment loans of up to $25,000 to cover HOA dues, property taxes, and lump-sum deferred mortgage payments

Weekly Webinars to Support Workers and Businesses

Impacted by COVID-19 From now through August 25, The OEWD Business Services team is hosting informational sessions every Tuesday from 2:00pm to 3:15pm to answer questions on unemployment benefits, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for independent contractors, healthcare resources, career services, and information for Union members in order to assist workers during this critical time. Here is a link where participants may register.

Businesses who are considering work stoppages, layoffs, or furloughs, and employees experiencing a layoff will also benefit from this webinar. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to lauran.acevedo@sfgov.org.

Announcements

CENSUS 2020: If you haven't done your 2020 census yet, it’s not too late! The census is a count of EVERYONE living in the United States, including the very young and the very old, citizens and non-citizens, the housed and the unhoused. There’s a lot at stake: data from the census determines how many representatives we have in Congress, and impacts how much federal money flows into San Francisco’s schools, hospitals, roads, social services and more. Make sure you complete your census today at https://2020census.gov/! If you need language services, go to https://2020census.gov/en/languages.html.
Updated County Clerk Services: County Clerk services such as marriage licenses and certificates, birth and death records, fictitious business names, notary signature authentication, professional registrations, CEQA environmental document filings, and more are updated on this page of their website website.
SF Planning recently launched the Housing Element 2022 Update, a two year process to shape the future of housing in San Francisco. Your participation and input are crucial for this process to reflect the values of our communities, especially those impacted by historically discriminatory programs. GET INVOLVED! Share your input on key ideas for policy updates through the online participation platform.
- If you cannot provide feedback online, you can: Call 415-644-5891 and leave your comments in a voice message
- Use a short two-pager form to provide your feedback. Request a copy by calling the number above and leaving us message, or by dropping a note here.

General Resources

SF Pit Stop and and Handwashing Stations
SF Food Resources
Help for SF small business owners, workers, and non-profits
Visit the SF Coronavirus Main Page here.
Information for the eviction and rent increase moratorium here.
SF Domestic and family violence resources
SF COVID-19 Data Tracker