The Grow SF Report, Vol. 21
The latest updates on SF government progress, policies, and priorities
What You Need To Know
The latest updates on SF government progress, policies, and priorities:
BART Expands Service
BART is once again running midnight service Monday through Saturday.
Vaccines work
Fully vaccinated people should not worry too much about Covid. Even if you catch a breakthrough infection, your symptoms will almost certainly be very mild.
Mask mandates are back
Despite extremely high vaccination rates, and extremely effective vaccines, the SF Department of Public Health has issued mask mandates for all people, regardless of vaccination status, when indoors.
Indoor dining, bars, gyms, and movie theaters all remain open to masked individuals.
Customers may remove their masks when actively eating or drinking, but the city wants you to stay masked otherwise (like when walking to the bathroom).
More Slow Streets Made Permanent
The SF MTA unanimously agreed to make the following “slow streets” permanent (aka, streets for people instead of cars):
Shotwell Street from Cesar Chavez to 14th
Lake Street from 28th to 2nd avenues
Golden Gate Avenue from Masonic Avenue to Broderick Street
Sanchez Street from 23rd to 30th
Update: SF COVID-19 Vaccinations
With the delta variant spreading, it’s important that everyone who is eligible get vaccinated.
Delta variant update
If you received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine and are worried about the Delta variant, San Francisco’s Department of Public Health Adult Immunization & Travel Clinic (AITC) and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) are offering supplemental mRNA shots.
AITC: Book an appointment for “COVID Vaccine #1” online. Pfizer is offered Monday and Wednesdays, Moderna is offered Tuesday and Thursdays.
ZSFG: Vaccine clinic is open for drop-ins from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays at 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 5, 2nd Floor. Call 628-652-2700 for more information.
Current stats
Vaccination Rate: 84% of SF residents over 12 have received at least 1 dose. 77% have been fully vaccinated.
Eligibility: All SF residents 12 and older are eligible to be vaccinated!
Vaccine Sites: Find a vaccine site near you.
Your Action Plan
Now that you know what’s happening, help us shape what happens next:
School Board Recall Down to the Wire
There won’t be a school board recall in San Francisco if they can’t get 52,000 valid signatures by September 7.
They have 42,000. But we need 70,000 to ensure a validity rate that qualifies for the ballot (up to 30 percent of signatures are typically thrown out by the Dept. of Elections as duplicates, non-residents, or not registered voters).
That means they must collect 28,000 more signatures before September 7.
If you object to school board Commissioner Alison Collins bullying educators, tweeting racist remarks about Asian Americans, pushing to rename schools while refusing to safely reopen them, and suing the school district for $87 million — imagine how emboldened she will be if the recall fails.
Here’s what must happen now to ensure the recall can move forward:
Download, print, and sign the petition (it must be signed pen on paper). Click here to get a petition and mail it back ASAP. Get five friends/family to sign it with you.
Sign petition at grocery stores and street corners throughout San Francisco. Click here for locations.
Donate. Organizers are hiring signature gatherers who can work all day, every day. Click here to help cover the costs.
Volunteer. Door knockers are needed. You’ll go door-to-door to collect signatures at identified homes in your neighborhood. Click here to help with door knocking.
Panel Discussion: Building Housing in SF
Everyone knows that the rent is too damn high, but do you know how much it costs to create homes in San Francisco? Join TogetherSF and leading experts to learn more about how building costs got so out of control.
Monday August 9
7pm
Click here to register
Learn Your San Francisco Politics
Ever wonder why San Francisco is the way it is? Find out with the SF Politics 101 webinar. It provides an entertaining look at the history that shaped San Francisco, while explaining how City Hall and local politics work.
Tuesday August 17
7pm
Click here to register
Learn about San Francisco’s journey from the Gold Rush to tech backlash — and every twist in between. The webinar is brought to life with photos and narrative storytelling. It’s designed for all residents new and old who want to better understand the city they love.
Fun in SF
Check out some of our favorite fun activities happening in SF right now:
Chinatown Supper Together
This Sunday, August 8, TogetherSF is partnering with ReviveSF Chinatown to host Chinatown Supper Together, a walking neighborhood tour that supports small businesses. You’ll stop at 5 locations, ending with a banquet dinner at 5pm.
Cable cars are back! And they’re free all August!
Topical Tweets
Yes, there is good stuff on Twitter. Here’s some of it:
