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Dear Neighbor,
Here’s what’s on my mind:
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Crime was down yet again in February both Citywide and in District 2. If this feels like a broken record, well yeah - the last month that had a Year-on-Year increase in crime was August 2023.
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We have delayed the sprinkler retrofit mandate and are creating a formal and flexible exemption process, but this is just the beginning.
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Two key neighborhood concerns are the Tesla charging lot on Lombard and an encampment near St. Mark’s Church between Franklin and Gough.
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There’s a lot going on in the Marina - the proposed 25-story building on top of the Marina Safeway is concerning to both me and residents alike, and the city needs to better manage events like Red Bull F1.
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The next few months will be action packed with new landmarks, a hearing into ADA permitting, ballot measures for charter reform and Muni funding, and, of course, the budget process where we need to address an $877 million deficit.
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Crime is down 34.1% citywide year over year (Feb. vs. Feb.):
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At Northern Station, crime in February was down 11.6% from last February and is down 13.5% from January.
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At Richmond Station, crime in February was down 15.2% from last February and is exactly level from January (in three fewer days).
The City’s economy continues to rebound, though progress has been inhibited by layoffs (nationwide) in the tech sector. In February, the City’s Controller reduced the projected budget deficit from $936 million to $877 million, due primarily to property and business taxes coming in above previous projections. That’s good, but obviously there’s a lot of work to be done.
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The top constituent concern from last month hasn’t changed: the citywide mandate on fire sprinkler installation is not rooted in data and is an irresponsible burden on many San Franciscans.
Fixing this situation is my top district priority right now.
A quick reminder:
In 2023, the previous Board of Supervisors passed what’s often called the “Sprinkler Retrofit Mandate.” It requires residential buildings over 12 stories with a single stairwell to install fire sprinklers in every room of every unit. It affects 126 buildings (nearly 10,000 residents), and the cost to each homeowner is estimated between $30K to $300K.
Making San Francisco a city that works for you means taking a pragmatic approach to fire safety. And that means being realistic about what types of costs people should be forced to bear in their own homes - especially when the data does not show outsized risks.
Where we stand today:
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Passed the new Fire Code at the Board of Supervisors which delayed the onset of the mandate for 5 years (to 2032). This gives us more time to clarify the exemption process and create other alternatives.
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Introduced legislation to create a Technical Advisory Council that will formalize a clear exemption process for buildings where compliance would cause extreme structural challenges or financial hardships.
What’s next:
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The Technical Advisory Council (TAC) legislation will be on the Rules Committee agenda in early April (exact date TBD). We will let you know when this is scheduled; this will be a critical time to come and make your voices heard.
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We expect to appoint members to the TAC within the next two months and to have fully defined both exemptions AND equivalences (fire safety measures that would give equal protection to sprinklers) within six months.
What you should do:
If your building is one of the 126 affected and you have not yet had a meeting with my office, please reply to this email for help navigating the exemption process. While I can’t guarantee that your building will be exempt, my office will do our best to guide you through the appropriate next steps.
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Feeling safe in our homes and neighborhoods is paramount; we’ve taken action to address bad behavior at a Tesla charging lot on Lombard and a dangerous encampment on Starr King Way.
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Many of you may have seen or read about
the shocking behavior that’s been taking place at the Tesla EV charging lot on Lombard between Webster and Buchanan. I met with both Tesla and City departments last week, and even though Tesla has agreed to minor adjustments (changing Tesla’s map/routing software to direct cars to enter on Lombard and using a chain to close off entry on Moulton), neighbors aren’t satisfied and nor am I. We are currently drafting legislation that will be introduced if Tesla can’t step up to support the neighborhood.
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We’ve been working closely with neighbors along Starr King Way to address an encampment. Despite numerous visits from SFPD and the Dept. of Emergency Management’s street outreach teams, the encampment has either moved nearby or popped back up in the same location.
There is no silver bullet, but I feel strongly on two counts:
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If you see a dangerous situation, call 911. Law enforcement must address illicit drug use and dangerous behavior (and the new RESET Center will be an excellent new tool to leverage).
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This encampment popped up close to the opening of a Winter Shelter nearby in February (managed by the Dept. of Homelessness and Supportive Housing; it closed last week), even though HSH has a new “Good Neighbor Policy.” This is troubling because it is the OPPOSITE of the approach that we successfully pushed during the opening of the Salvation Army transitional housing facility on Lombard. Any new city-funded facility must take the surrounding neighborhood into account (cleaner sidewalks, better lighting, etc.).
Even though this was a temporary shelter (and didn’t require the same notification process), the “Good Neighbor Policy” must be emphasized. That didn’t happen here and that’s a major problem.
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The Marina has been in the news lately, not only for Chestnut Street’s economic strength, but also because of the proposed 25-story residential development at the Marina Safeway and the Red Bull F1 event. Here’s what’s happening:
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A developer has proposed building a 25-story residential building on the Marina Safeway site. I don’t like this idea. We can build much-needed housing across the City and in District 2 (even on this site!), but a 25-story building right next to Fort Mason is not appropriate (not to mention losing grocery access for 30 months!).
State laws have created a very, very narrow set of options for the City to explore. Mayor Lurie and I have been actively negotiating with the developers and exploring all legal options to get a different project built. We will report on additional details as we gain more clarity, but in the meantime, what questions do you want answered about the project? Let me know by responding to this email.
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On February 21, Red Bull’s F1 team held a “show run” event on Marina Boulevard that did not go as planned, to say the least.
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What happened: projected attendance was 20k, actual attendance was 50k. People climbed on roofs, damaged property, and clogged streets. Residents across the area were not treated with the respect that you and they deserve.
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What we did next: alongside Mayor Lurie, I convened City departments for an after-action meeting to understand what went wrong, why it did, and how to ensure that San Francisco can host fun events safely and effectively going forward. We need to do better.
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Key commitments moving forward:
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Attendance figures should not be used as substitutes for critical safety measures.
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Spectator areas should NOT be adjacent to residences.
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Transit routes, parking areas, and key evacuation routes must be identified and blocked off for major events.
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We will discuss additional, specific recommendations and commitments over the next two months.
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Also please note that Red Bull has been doing repairs: if your property sustained damage and you have not heard from Red Bull, let me know by responding to this email. We’ll get you in touch with their team.
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The next few months will be action packed, so stay tuned for…
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We introduced new D2 landmarks - email us if you have additional recommendations.
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I’m holding a hearing on ADA permitting on Thursday - this permit slows down business openings more than any other.
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Ballot measures for charter reform, Muni funding and more will be on the ballot in November. We’ll be doing deep dives in the months to come.
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The City is facing an $877 million budget deficit (over 2 years). Over the next four months, we’ll be working to close that deficit. Just remember that out of San Francisco’s $16 billion budget, only about 20% is discretionary. Charter reform will be critical to helping us solve structural budget deficits going forward.
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We have a ton in store, and I’m really excited about everything that is to come!
Warmly,
Stephen Sherrill
San Francisco Supervisor, District 2
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE OFFICE:
Email: SherrillStaff@sfgov.org
Instagram: @stephensherrill
X: @scsherrill
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Making SF more affordable for 9,600 condo owners:
Alongside District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter, we delayed the implementation of the Sprinkler Retrofit Mandate by 5 years. We’re also establishing a Technical Advisory Council to create a formal exemption process for buildings where the retrofit is infeasible. The council will also recommend exemptions for individuals for whom the requirement would be financially catastrophic.
Adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2023, the sprinkler ordinance applies to buildings of 12 stories or more that do not have two interior stairs separated from the rest of the building by walls designed to resist fire for at least two hours. Some residents have received quotes of up to $200K-$300K per unit to complete the mandated requirements ( SF Chronicle).
The 5 year delay and the creation of the Technical Advisory Council are the first of many steps, and my office continues to assist every constituent who emails our team for assistance.
Check out this link to find out if your building is one of the 126 buildings affected by this mandate. If you need help navigating the exemption process, email my office at SherrillStaff@sfgov.org.
Getting drug use off our sidewalks:
We’re making big strides to address San Francisco’s fentanyl crisis. Mayor Lurie signed our legislation to create a RESET Center (Rapid Enforcement, Support, Evaluation, Triage) which provides an alternative to jail or hospitalization for people under the influence of fentanyl.
The new RESET center will provide onsite care in a monitored setting staffed by trained professionals. Once able to care for themselves, people will be eligible for release. This sobering center includes performance metrics to track improvement in the lives of people most impacted by the drug crisis.
The RESET Center will be run by the Sheriff's Department with Public Health personnel inside and will be located across from the Hall of Justice and the County Jail, but the capacity of 25 beds is still an issue ( ABC 7).
Should this model be successful, the City will look to expand it across neighborhoods beyond SOMA. Huge shout out to Drugs Free Sidewalks SF, a community advocacy group, which has been instrumental in getting this project across the finish line.
Reducing gun violence:
Last year, I worked with Lesley Hu of Pierce’s Pledge to establish a first in the nation gun safe storage program here in San Francisco.
The S.F.P.D. will now offer all residents the option to safely store their firearm(s) at any of the city's 10 police district stations. S.F.P.D. supports the effort to reduce the risk of harm during family law matters and other crises by providing off-site storage of firearms. San Francisco residents can store their firearms for up to one year ( KRON 4).
I authored a resolution supporting the expansion of San Francisco’s first-in-the-nation safe gun storage program statewide across California (Assembly Bill 1974, Stefani). I’m so proud to have worked on this with Lesley Hu, who has become a friend of mine as a result of our joint advocacy, and I can’t wait to see more cities adopt our successful model!
Learn more about Pierce’s Pledge gun safety initiatives here.
Reviving downtown and drawing tourists back:
We passed the Fisherman’s Wharf Entertainment Zone which gives small business owners new flexibility to host the fun events that attract tourists and keep our hospitality industry vibrant.
We also approved a unique tax financing plan to convert an old office building that is 70% vacant to become an exciting new hotel (The Hearst Building at 3rd and Market St – the former home to the SF Examiner’s headquarters).
Our tax financing plan creates a net positive contribution to our tax base, maintains the architectural significance of the building, and increases the amount of foot traffic along Market Street to bolster the revitalization of downtown ( SF Examiner).
San Francisco currently has the equivalent of more than 11 Salesforce Towers worth of vacant office space. This conversion brings us one step towards converting our under-used buildings to meet the moment of today’s economic reality. Learn more about the history and unique architecture of the Hearst Building here.
Celebrating the Chinese New Year Parade
Honored to participate in the 2026 Year of the Horse Chinese New Year Parade! Thank you to my good friend Rec and Park Commissioner Vanita Louie for riding with me and Austin Louie for driving us in this beautiful car. Wishing everyone good health and prosperity this year! 🐎🧧
St. Vincent de Paul School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
I was absolutely delighted to attend the ribbon cutting at St. Vincent de Paul School alongside Assemblymember Catherine Stefani for the opening of their new Sport Court! Now, students finally have a safe, dedicated space to play and be kids.
Thank you to the parents, staff, and community members, especially SVDP alum Celine Curran, whose tireless support made this possible.
Alta Plaza Quarterly Clean & Green
I joined the incredible @friendsofaltaplazapark for the quarterly ‘clean and green’ volunteer day!
Alta Plaza Park is one of the most under-appreciated parks in SF, and there’s no better way to enjoy our city than by meeting the people who make it great!
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Stringing up lights along Sacramento St
Huge thank you to Danielle Bourhis and the Sacramento Business St Association for their help stringing up solar powered lights on the trees along Sacramento St.
Come check out the lights while pursuing some of the cool shops along Sacramento St between Laurel and Arguello! |
Chestnut St. Merchant Walk with Mayor Daniel Lurie
Mayor Lurie joined me to speak to the small businesses along Chestnut St!
During my time in City Hall, I have consistently advocated for the needs of our small businesses. This year, I reintroduced ‘First Year Free’ which waives City fees for small businesses for the first year after they open their doors to help them get their feet off the ground.
The data speaks for itself: retail sales along Chestnut St are finally exceeding pre-pandemic levels. We’re so back and the momentum is on our side! |
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Volunteered for the Longitudinal Menopause Study at UCSF
Happy International Women’s Day!
To celebrate International Women’s Day, I took part in the Longitudinal Menopause Project lead by the Ann S. Bowers Women’s Brain Health Initiative which is launching one of the most comprehensive studies of how menopause affects the brain.
There are more than 50,000 human-brain imaging articles published in academic journals, but of those less than 0.5% consider health factors specific to women.
It blows me away how little scientific research is dedicated to women’s health and I couldn’t be more proud to participate as part of the control group.
UCSF hopes to get 1,000 women (and a smaller number of men) to sign up to monitor their vitals over time so we can finally understand the neurological impacts of menopause!
If you’re interested in participating in the study, sign up here. |
Turtle Tower Ribbon Cutting in the Marina
Thank you to Turthle Tower for welcoming me to the ribbon cutting for the Marina branch and for expanding your business to District 2. Stop by 3145 Fillmore Street for some of the City’s best Vietnamese food! |
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Celebrating Maria Isabel in Lower Pacific Heights
It was a pleasure to welcome Maria Isabel to the neighborhood and celebrate the opening of this new restaurant on Presidio Avenue. Thank you to Chefs Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz for bringing their Guerrero-style cuisine to District 2 and contributing to the vibrant dining and small business community that makes our neighborhoods so special. I look forward to seeing residents and visitors alike enjoy this exciting new addition. |
Celebrating Bakana Boutique in Cow Hollow
It was a pleasure to stop by Bakana Boutique at 3063 Fillmore Street and celebrate owner Marianna Bakana on being named Best Clothing Store in the neighborhood. I truly believe that small businesses like Bakana Boutique are an essential part of what makes San Francisco’s neighborhoods so vibrant and unique. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work closely with our local business community and remain committed to supporting the shops and storefronts that help keep our commercial corridors thriving. |
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District 2 Office Hours
It was great to connect with residents during our February Office Hours and hear directly about the ideas, concerns, and priorities that matter most to our District 2 community. I believe conversations like these are an important way for our office to stay engaged with the people we serve and better understand the issues impacting daily life in our neighborhoods. I was also blown away to learn about SafeRoute SF, a project created by District 2 resident Trent Hawkins that provides route suggestions based on publicly available data and user preferences to help residents and visitors make more informed travel decisions throughout our city. Learn more at
saferoutesf.com. |
Commending SFFD’s Jesus Mora
It was an honor to commend Chief Information Officer Jesus Mora on his retirement after more than two decades of dedicated service to the San Francisco Fire Department. Since joining SFFD in 2004, Jesus has played a vital role in ensuring the public receives timely information during emergencies through his construction of a custom technology infrastructure that the department continues to rely on today. His commitment to public safety (even stepping in on holidays to keep critical systems running) reflects the deep dedication of those who serve our city. Thank you to Fire Chief Dean Crispen and Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman for joining in recognizing his outstanding contributions. |
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2026 Lunar New Year Celebration at City Hall
It was a pleasure to celebrate the Year of the Horse at the 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration at City Hall. Thank you to Claudine Cheng and the Asian Pacific American Democratic Club (APASF) for hosting an exciting evening of music, speakers, and community. I believe events like this truly highlight the vibrancy and cultural richness of San Francisco’s Asian American Pacific Islander community, whose contributions continue to strengthen and shape the fabric of our city.
California Young Democrats Gala
It was an honor to attend the California Young Democrats gala and meet so many exciting young leaders. I was absolutely blown away by the intelligent young people in attendance and their dedication and passion for improving our city. I especially enjoyed speaking with co-presidents Drea Gallardo and Ernesto Cuellar (pictured above).
I want to give a special thanks to Bay Area Young Democrats and the California Democratic Party for hosting and organizing this event, allowing myself and others to come together and discuss optimal ways to solve our region’s challenges.
I am optimistic that the future of San Francisco, and California as a whole, is bright with these intelligent young minds helping to do the hard work that pushes our communities forward.
Visiting Claire Lilienthal Elementary in the Marina
It was a pleasure to visit Claire Lilienthal Elementary School in the Marina and speak with a class of engaged and thoughtful 5th graders about San Francisco’s Sanctuary City policy.
Thank you to teacher Desry Gunther and former PTA President Cathy Tran for the invitation and for fostering such a welcoming and inquisitive learning environment. I was especially impressed by the students’ curiosity about pedestrian safety and our efforts to strengthen recycling and zero-waste initiatives across the city. Our schools thrive thanks not only to dedicated teachers, but also to the incredible parents who support them.
I want to give a special thanks to Cathy Tran and all the families helping guide the next generation of proud San Franciscans!
Supporting a Stronger MUNI
I joined transit advocates, community leaders, and residents at Dolores Park for the launch of the Stronger Muni for All campaign, an effort to secure stable funding for San Francisco’s public transit system.
As Muni faces a significant budget shortfall due to declining ridership and the end of pandemic relief funding, this proposal would create a dedicated revenue source to help prevent major service cuts and keep buses, trains, and cable cars running for the hundreds of thousands of riders who rely on them every day. Reliable public transit is essential to our city’s economy, mobility, and quality of life, and I’m grateful to the many organizations and advocates working together to support Muni’s future.
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Fun Events across our Neighborhoods:
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Macbeth at Magic Theatre - Wednesday, March 18 - April 5 - times vary at Fort Mason Center, Building D
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The Superfine Art Fair - Thursday, March 19 - 22 - times vary at 2 Marina Blvd
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Jacqueline Novak: 2026 Tour - Friday, March 20 - 8:00PM at Palace of Fine Arts
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Frankie Quinones - Good Vibes Only Tour - Saturday, March 21 - 7:00PM at Palace of Fine Arts
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Grand Kyiv Ballet Presents: Giselle - Thursday, March 26 - 7:30PM at Palace of Fine Arts
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Andrew Callaghan - All Gas No Brakes x Channel 5 “Carnival” - Friday, March 27 - 7:00PM & 9:30PM at Palace of Fine Arts
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Lunasa - Friday, March 27 - 7:30PM at Presidio Theatre on Chestnut
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Mark Foehringer’s Alice in Wonderland - Saturday, March 28 & 29th - 11:00AM & 2:00PM at Cowell Theatre
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Renegade Craft Fair Market at Fort Mason - Saturday and Sunday, March 28 & 29, 11:00AM - 5:00PM
Neighborhood Clean Ups:
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SF Fire Marshall condo sprinkler mandate. Now he’s consulting on how to get exemptions (SF Chronicle) -
S.F. closer to delaying controversial $300K sprinkler mandate for high-rise condos (SF Chronicle) -
This SF Tesla charging lot now has a very gross problem (SF Gate) -
SF could make it easier for movie theaters to sell alcoholic drinks (SF Examiner) -
S.F. supervisors make it easier to serve booze at the movies (Mission Local) -
Lack of Approved Child Care Providers May Slow Rollout of San Francisco’s Expanded Subsidies (KQED) -
Here's why SF's subsidized child care program could have negative impact on some preschools (ABC 7 News) -
Officials capture mountain lion that's been prowling SF's Pac Heights neighborhood (ABC 7 News) -
Neighbors say a machete-wielding man is terrorizing their local park. S.F. has no idea what to do about it (SF Chronicle) -
CVS Closure Reversed And A Storage Company Moving Into Van Ness (BeyondChron) -
Wealthy S.F. neighborhood’s 700-unit housing development to break ground after 10 years (SF Chronicle) -
Sprinkler shock: Owners of S.F. high-rise condos stunned by $300K mandate (SF Chronicle) -
‘Who can afford that?': SF's fire sprinkler system requirement irks condo residents (NBC Bay Area) -
‘Enough is enough’: S.F. leaders rally behind new plan to shield families from drug activity (The Voice of San Francisco) -
S.F.’s latest plan to help struggling movie theaters: Make it easier for them to serve alcohol (SF Chronicle)
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Supervisor Sherrill Works to Protect Jefferson Square Park (Beyond Chron)
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Office of Supervisor Stephen Sherrill
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 256, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-7752 Fax: (415) 554-7843 |
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