Supervisor Hillary Ronen - Rest in Power: Sean Monterrosa Newsletter

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June 10, 2020
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#BlackLivesMatter #JusticeforSeanMonterrosa

Dear Neighbors,

There have been a lot of recent developments, and I want to make sure that you are staying informed. In this newsletter, we cover:

The killing of Bernal resident Sean Monterrosa
San Francisco’s curfew
Homelessness update
Update on Bernal Rock
Free COVID-19 testing for those who have been protesting
New face covering orders
San Francisco’s Reopening Plan
A list of resources, including more financial relief for small businesses impacted by COVID-19

The heaviness around us can be overwhelming, but I hope that you are also finding inspiration in the beautiful expressions of unity and defiance we are seeing all around us. Now is the time to commit to taking concrete actions to fight white supremacy.

Here are some of the efforts I am working on to effect local change:

Rejecting appointments to the Police Commission of individuals who aren’t leaders in the police reform movement
Co-sponsoring legislation to prevent the hiring of officers with past misconduct history
Co-sponsoring legislation to ban police use of body parts, including the knee, to cut off a person’s airway
Introducing the Right to Protest Safely Act, which bans the use of dangerous weapons, chemical sprays, and use of military equipment against protesters

I miss seeing all of you, and I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy.

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.

Justice for Sean Monterrosa

Photos via Jennifer Li

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that yet another young life was taken away by police violence this week. Sean Monterrosa was a District 9 resident and was a member of our community.

Sean Monterrosa was the child of Argentine immigrants who grew up in Bernal Heights and attended Aptos Middle School and Independence High School. As a youth, Sean was involved with local nonprofit organizations including Horizons Unlimited, where he demonstrated a passion for learning, reading, and mentoring other young people.

On Tuesday, June 2nd, Sean was tragically shot and killed by the Vallejo Police Department. He was only 22 years old.

The news has reported that Vallejo police fired at Sean five times through their squad car windshield while Sean was kneeling. He died from the gunshot wounds. I have been in touch with his family members and the community gathered to remember and protest in his name on Friday, June 5.

I honored his life at our June 9th Board of Supervisors meeting and introduced a resolution urging the Mayor and City Council of Vallejo to release police body camera footage of the incident that claimed Sean’s life.

Sean's family has set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs; please donate here. His family has also created an Instagram account for updates. You can follow them on on Instagram.com/Justice4Sean_.

On San Francisco’s Curfew

On Sunday, May 31, 2020, the Mayor ordered a citywide 8 pm-5 am curfew. It was issued without an end date. Taking away our residents' right to free speech and movement and freedom from searches and seizures without probable cause between 8 pm and 5 am is a very extreme act.

The Mayor’s curfew was a huge overreach and a massive violation of protestors' rights. Responding to protests against police violence by giving the police carte-blanche to arrest anyone who steps out of their house after 8 pm was frankly, outrageous.

At the June 2nd Board of Supervisors meeting, I spoke against the extreme curfew and asked the Mayor to replace it with a narrow tool to help maintain public order. After much pushing from the community, the Mayor announced on June 3rd that the curfew would end on June 4th . The police and the Mayor insisted they would not arrest anyone who was not breaking the law and that was proven untrue.

On Wednesday, June 3rd, San Francisco youth, many from Mission High School, organized an inspiring and peaceful protest of tens of thousands of San Franciscans. There was no destruction or violence to my knowledge. That night, a small group of young people were still in the streets of the Mission. Two to three dozen police surrounded the group.

Julian Mark, a Mission Local reporter, came down to cover the event wearing his police issued press badge. As he moved in to record the event, a police officer shoved him in with the group. He could not leave as the group was completely surrounded by police officers. A San Francisco journalist was detained by the SFPD for covering the protest.

The youth in the group were begging to go home. Instead, the police arrested them for violating the curfew - a mere handful of hours before it was set to expire.

This is why I am introducing “The Right to Protest Safely Act” ordinance with Supervisors Matt Haney and Shamann Walton to prevent the militarization of crowd control with the use of chemical agents and “nonlethal” projectiles.

Homelessness

After I pushed the City for weeks and weeks, on May 27th, my staff and I finally met with four teams of dedicated City and community workers to survey every block in the Mission. We spoke with unhoused individuals in every corner of the Mission in order to develop a plan to improve street conditions for all residents.

My team and I are working on individualized plans for each encampment. Ultimately, individuals can only be moved from our streets if we have alternative places for them to go. That is why I have been advocating strongly for the City to place unhoused individuals in the hotel rooms that the City has been acquiring, many of which have sat empty . I have also been fighting for the Division Circle Navigation Center to reopen at half capacity for safe distancing, with priority for people who are currently living on Mission District streets.

I’d like to express my thanks to all the community partners who helped lead these efforts, including the Latino Task Force on COVID-19, San Francisco Day Labor Program and Women’s Collective, the Coalition on Homelessness, Gubbio Project, Fire Department, Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, HOT team, Emergency Operations Center, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and so many more. And a very special thanks to Alejandro Pimental from the City and Paul Monge from my office for organizing the entire operation.

Will not stop until the Mission is safe for everyone.

Bernal Rock

I am sickened that our famous Bernal rock has been defaced multiple times. After neighborhood artists painted Black Lives Matter on the rock, it was repeatedly painted over by others. However, that act of hate was replaced by neighborly love. A woman I had never met before knocked on our door with a Black Lives Matter poster to hang in our window. She was going door to door in the neighborhood to offer people the poster to show where the values of this neighborhood really stand.

I was incensed after I found out that a city crew arrived yesterday morning to paint over the rock's #BlackLivesMatter message. The artists are repainting it for the sixth time.

I called the director of Department of Public Works, Alaric Degrafinried. He apologized for DPW and said it was an awful mistake by a worker responding to a graffiti service request at Bernal Rock. He assured me DPW has a policy to never paint over murals and confirmed this will not happen again.

He said that this action in no way reflects the position of DPW on the BLM movement. He has issued an apology. I requested that DPW donate paint and supplies to the artists and I'm glad to report that he has agreed to do so. I appreciate our neighborhood solidarity. Black Lives Matter!

Get Tested If You Have Been to Recent Protests

San Francisco residents who have been to recent protests and want to get tested for COVID-19 can do so for free at the Fillmore Pop-up Testing Site.

People do NOT need to have symptoms to be tested at this site. The best time to get an accurate test is about 5 days after potential exposure.

The site is located at the Cathedral of St. Mary’s at 1111 Gough (cross street is Geary) and is open to all San Francisco residents

Register for a test at www.sf.gov/GetTestedSF

Find the header “Fillmore Pop-up Test Site” and click on the button that says “Book at Fillmore.”

Updated Health Order on Face Covering Requirement: Clarified and Expanded

Here are highlights of what’s new.

Face coverings are required in most situations outside the home, including:

When exercising and you are within 30 feet of someone.
The face covering can be loose fitting, like a bandanna or neck gaiter.
When walking past someone on the sidewalk
For anyone working at or seeking goods or services
On public transportation
It is recommended to consider wearing a face covering at home if someone in your household is a member of a vulnerable population.

When face coverings are NOT required:

When outside in a location where nobody is within 30 feet.
Even then, you must have a face covering visible and ready for immediate use (around your neck, hanging from a pocket, purse, backpack, etc.)
For children 12 or younger
For people with documented medical exceptions or other conditions that prevent them from wearing one

Read more about exceptions here.

San Francisco’s Reopening Plan

The city has announced a plan for safely reopening San Francisco to help keep all residents safe and healthy.

The reopening plan allows businesses and activities to resume in different phases over the coming weeks and months. The city will rely on our health experts and health indicators to determine when to safely enter each next phase. The plan is also informed by the San Francisco COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force. I have been in close communication with the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force. If you have specific questions about your business, please contact my office at RonenStaff@sfgov.org.

Information for the reopening plan can be found here. San Francisco’s plan for safely reopening still requires residents to wear face coverings. Please see above for the new mask requirements.

As the city begins to reopen for business, the City is offering free, temporary Shared Spaces permits to use the sidewalk or parking lane for business operations, like seating, dining, or retail pickup. Find out more and apply for a Shared Spaces permit here.

Resources and Announcements

Resources

More Financial Relief for Small Businesses
- SF Resiliency Fund: The second phase of San Francisco Resiliency Fund grant program is now open with grants for up to $10,000 for San Francisco small businesses affected by COVID-19 with less than 5 employees. Businesses who have applied for the Phase One of the Resiliency Fund but were not selected for funding will automatically be entered into Phase Two. You do not need to reapply. For more information, and to apply, visit https://sf.gov/get-small-business-grant-resiliency-fund. Applications will be accepted until June 17, 2020.
- SF Hardship Emergency Loan Program (HELP) The second cycle of small business funding that Supervisor Ronen pushed for is now open for applications. SF HELP provide small businesses with up to $50,000 in zero interest loans. San Francisco businesses who have been financially impacted by the pandemic and have not received a federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan are encouraged to fill out a form. Applications will be accepted until June 18, 2020. For more information, and to submit a form, visit https://medasf.org/sfhelp/.
- Family Child Care Emergency Operating Grant: The City has announced new program to support Family Child Care (FCC) educators. FCCs provide child care for children ages 0 to 12 and are a vital resource for families. The Give2SF Fund will create a Family Child Care Emergency Operating Grant program. The program will provide up to 150 FCCs with funding they can use to cover operating expenses Additional program details and application information will be available on OECE’s webpage: https://sfoece.org/
The SF Public Utilities Commission has launched an emergency Community Assistance Program—providing discounts of up to 35% on water, power and sewer services. Apply today.
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.
向警方舉報罪案
SFPD 語言協助服務指南
High Risk Community Housing Program: This new city program provides complimentary, temporary hotel accommodations to San Francisco residents living with others in neighborhoods with higher COVID-19 rates. Please visit, www.sfhsa.org/EmergencyHousing for more information about program benefits, eligibility, and to apply.
- 三藩市高風險社區住房（HRCH）計劃為新型冠狀病毒 (COVID-19) 發生率較高的社區中與他人同住的三藩市工人提供臨時的免費酒店住宿。如果您需要用中文查看此应用程序請點擊此處。
- El Programa de Vivienda Comunitaria de Alto Riesgo (HRCH, por sus siglas en inglés) de San Francisco brinda alojamiento temporal y gratuito en el hotel a los trabajadores de San Francisco que viven con otras personas en vecindarios con tasas COVID-19 más altas. Si necesita ver esta aplicación en español, haga clic aquí .

Announcements

SFMTA is taking feedback on their SlowStreets program. Let them know your thoughts here.
Summer Camps and Programs: Rec and Park Summer Programs Registration: The Recreation and Park Department opened registration here. Families who are interested in enrolling their children in summer camps and programs, visit here.
Free Meals for Kids Will Continue This Summer SFUSD’s grab and go meal sites will continue throughout the summer. Free meals will be available to all children. For locations and updates, visit sfusd.edu/schoolfood. Summer school will be remote this year
Transportation info: Go to 511.org/alerts/emergencies/coronavirus for Bay Area transportation updates.
Blood Donors Needed: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, patients continue to require blood products for childbirth, cancer treatments, essential medical procedures, and everyday emergencies. Currently, there’s a critical need for all blood types, especially type O, A-negative and B-negative. Go to www.bloodheroes.org

PSA

Please move your car so we can keep our streets clean for everyone. If you are able, please be a good neighbor and do your part on your designated street cleaning days.
Please keep your dogs on a leash when walking them outside.

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