The Grow SF Report, Vol. 10
What You Need To Know
The latest updates on SF government progress, policies, and priorities:
More Police in Mid-Market
Sadly, there were 135 overdose deaths in San Francisco in the first two months of the year, putting the city on track to surpass the already record high set in 2020. To help combat this and help with general public safety, the Mayor announced a program to place more police and community ambassadors in the Mid-Market area.
SF Real Estate is Booming
It’s a good time to be a real estate agent! Over the past 3 months there have been 1,042 home sales in San Francisco. We’re told that’s more transactions than any other 3 month period in the past 16 years!
Supes Consider Allowing Fourplexes on Corner Lots
A San Francisco lawmaker will introduce legislation Tuesday to make four-unit buildings legal on corner lots in neighborhoods zoned for single-family homes, but some housing advocates are already criticizing the proposed law as too narrow and watered down to actually generate new units.
The legislation, introduced by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, would apply on corner lots in the 60% of the city that currently excludes multifamily buildings. An earlier version of the fourplex legislation would have also applied to non-corner properties within a half mile of Muni, Caltrain or BART transit stops.
Roadblocks to Cutting Red Tape
Wouldn’t it be nice if San Francisco could actually embrace change? Mayor Breed and Supervisor Haney proposed legislation that would prevent a single person from blocking projects that are important to public safety, can be reversed, or are temporary. Seems like common sense to us. But not to Supervisors Preston and Peskin, who voted to table the proposal and not send it to the full board. Sigh.
Use Your Phone as a Clipper Card
Muni trains started running again on Saturday (yay!) and now you can use your NFC enabled iPhone, Apple Watch, or Android device to tap to pay. Very slick!
Update: SF COVID-19 Vaccinations
San Francisco continues to quickly distribute the vaccine. Here’s the latest:
Vaccination Rate: 76% of SF residents over 16 have received at least 1 dose. 52% have been fully vaccinated.
Eligibility: All SF residents 12 or older are now eligible to be vaccinated!
Vaccine Sites: Find a vaccine site near you. Some allow drop-ins, while others are appointment only.
Your Action Plan
Now that you know what’s happening, help us shape what happens next:
Help Us Save Outdoor Dining
Grow SF, together with Streets for People, is fighting to make outdoor dining (the Shared Spaces program) permanent.
Here are 3 things you can do:
Visit our website for instructions on how to email your Supervisor
Give public comment at the Land Use Committee meeting on Monday. Sign up here to be notified when it’s time to call in.
Join SFHAC’s 15th Annual Spring Symposium
The SF Housing Action Coalition is hosting an event where you can hear from elected leaders and housing experts on how we can end exclusionary zoning and legalize more multi-family housing. The event includes a roundtable with Mayor London Breed, Mayor of San Jose Sam Liccardo, and Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf.
Sign to Support a Car-Free Great Walkway
Make sure to sign this petition to keep the Great Walkway car free forever!
Fun in SF
Check out some of our favorite fun activities happening in SF right now:
The Legion of Honor Has Reopened
After being closed for over a year, the Legion of Honor has finally reopened. And there are some pretty amazing special exhibitions right now. Not to be missed are “Wangechi Mutu: I Am Speaking, Are You Listening?” and “Last Supper in Pompeii: From the Table to the Grave”. Pro tip: the de Young and Legion of Honor are partner museums, so a membership to one gets you access to both. Score.
Camp out in the Presidio
Did you know you can actually camp out in SF without leaving the city? SFGate has published an outstanding photo review of Rob Hill Campground in the Presidio, the city’s only campground for over 70 years.
Wish Bruce a Happy Hippo Birthday at the SF Zoo
Topical Tweets
Yes, there is good stuff on Twitter. Here’s some of it:
This past Sunday’s march to preserve the Great Walkway was a huge success! (Sign the petition here).
Hunter Pence retires to SF:
Supervisor Dean Preston ironically complained to Twitter about Muni service times despite consistently proclaiming Free Muni is “more important” than better service quality:
