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The Grow SF Report, Vol. 3

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It’s time to fix San Francisco. Our leaders have failed at the basics: housing, transit, schools, and public safety. GrowSF pursues common sense solutions to create a San Francisco that works for everyone.
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The Grow SF Report, Vol. 3

Apr 1, 2021
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What You Need To Know

The latest updates on SF government progress, policies, and priorities:

S.F. School Board Turmoil Rages On

Amid ongoing battles between the S.F. School Board and frustrated parents, Board Commissioner Alison Collins was stripped of her Vice President title and committee assignments in a 5-2 vote of no confidence. 

The vote resulted from a newly surfaced series of incendiary, anti-Asian tweets Collins posted in 2016. The ensuing outrage resulted in calls for her resignation from a rare coalition of progressive and moderate local political leaders and even yielded national coverage from The New York Times.

Despite this, Collins has refused to resign and is now suing the city and other school board members for $27M.

SF is Coming Back!

Maybe it’s been this week’s incredible weather, but there’s definitely a new energy returning to San Francisco. It seems life is (slowly) returning: rent is on the rise, conferences are being scheduled, and Outside Lands will happen in October. We can’t wait.

Update: SF COVID-19 Vaccinations

San Francisco continues to quickly distribute the vaccine. Here’s the latest:

  • Vaccination Rate: 44% of SF residents over 16 have received at least 1 dose. 26% have been fully vaccinated.

  • Eligibility: As of 4/1 (today), SF expanded eligibility to all residents 50 and over, and also others with certain health conditions, disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness. See eligibility requirements.

  • Vaccine Sites: Find a vaccine site near you. Some allow drop-ins, while others are appointment only.

  • FYI: The CDC says vaccinated people don’t carry or transmit COVID-19.


Your Action Plan

Now that you know what’s happening, help us shape what happens next:

Rally Against AAPI Hate

When: Saturday, April 3, 1 PM
Where: Jane Warner Plaza, Castro

Join other city residents to protest hate incidents against the Asian and Pacific Islander community.

Sign the Petition for a Car-Free JFK

San Francisco now more than ever needs safe, inclusive, joyous public spaces for everyone. Parks with protected public spaces are where residents and visitors of San Francisco can be active, enjoy nature, and spend time with friends and family.

Join the coalition of families, walkers, stroller users, runners, bikers, scooter-ers, skaters, and seniors who believe that parks are for people and that everyone should be able to safely enjoy Golden Gate Park.


Your Dose of Data

When progress is hard to notice, we look at the data. Here’s what we found:

New Tree Plantings Across the City!

Source: https://datasf.org

Spring is in the air, and the Department of Public Works is doing its part to brighten up our neighborhoods. DPW has planted 192 plants across the city since Jan 1, 2020, almost 3 per day. SoMA, Geary/Franklin, and Polk Gulch were the biggest beneficiaries in Q1, receiving over 50% of the new trees planted this year.

Over 50 Brisbane Box (Lophostemon Confertus) were planted, making it the most popular species planted YTD, edging out the Swamp Myrtle (Tristaniopsis Laurina) which was the most popular in 2020. Keep an eye out as you explore SF and send us pictures if you see any of our new neighbors! 

For more on everything plant-life in the city, visit the SF DPW and SF Parks Alliance.


Fun in SF

Check out some of our favorite fun activities happening in SF right now:

El Rio’s Patio Reopens

When: April 1st (Today!) at 4 PM
Where: El Rio, The Mission

Beloved Mission District bar El Rio is finally reopening its patio, 12 and a half months after it was forced to close along with the rest of the bars across the city in March 2020. Thursday, April 1 is the big day — and the patio will reopen for table service at 4 PM.

SF Chinatown “Walkway Weekends”

When: Every Saturday and Sunday thru June 2021
Where: Grant Avenue, Chinatown

San Francisco Chinatown’s iconic Grant Avenue will be closed off to traffic and cars for a pleasant open walkway under vibrant red lanterns every weekend — now through June 2021.

Enjoy a historic street stroll, outdoor dining, and an Asian shopping experience.

Outer Sunset Farmers Market & Mercantile

When: Sundays 9 AM — 3 PM
Where: 37th Ave and Noriega

Come eat, drink, shop, play, connect and be local at the Outer Sunset Farmers Market & Mercantile, a festive open-air, year-round weekly market featuring local farmers, ranchers, food artisans, merchants, makers, artists, and organizations on a closed-to-traffic 37th Avenue between Ortega and Pacheco.


Topical Tweets

Yes, there is good stuff on Twitter. Here’s some of it:

San Francisco has a $1 billion surplus (yes, with a ‘b’) and Matt Haney needs help figuring out what to do with it. Send him your ideas on Twitter:

Twitter avatar for @MattHaneySF
Matt Haney @MattHaneySF
With the stimulus & COVID reserve, SF has over billion dollars available to fund urgent priorities. We still face a longer term structural deficit. Small biz relief, reserves, transit, schools, homelessness, UBI--many needs. How would you like to see SF prioritize these funds?
8:25 PM ∙ Mar 29, 2021
147Likes12Retweets

SF Chronicle columnist Heather Knight shares some gorgeous photos of the tulips in full bloom at the Dutch Windmill in Golden Gate Park. Check it out before they’re gone!

Twitter avatar for @hknightsf
Heather Knight @hknightsf
Don’t sleep on catching the gorgeous tulips at the Dutch Windmill in Golden Gate Park. They won’t be around much longer. #TotalSF
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11:15 PM ∙ Mar 29, 2021
606Likes75Retweets

Families for San Francisco published a comprehensive summary of timelines, decisions, lessons learned from a year of distance learning, and the ongoing BoE controversy:

Twitter avatar for @familiesforsf
Families for San Francisco @familiesforsf
We are proud to release this report, titled “Lessons from One Year of Distance Learning,” which examines the actions of the SF Board of Education and their duty to safely reopen public schools. Find it here:
11:00 PM ∙ Mar 25, 2021
12Likes2Retweets

The Board of Supervisors is playing politics with a $25 million philanthropic donation to fund a city initiative to offer free summer school or daycare programs to kids:

Twitter avatar for @teddyschleifer
Teddy Schleifer @teddyschleifer
In December, San Francisco condemned the naming of a hospital after Mark Zuckerberg, who gave it $75 million. Now, one San Francisco lawmaker has temporarily derailed a proposal that includes a $25 million donation to bring summer school to 20,000 kids.
vox.comHow a $25 million donation to help students got ensnared in politicsSupervisor Hillary Rosen is asking questions about a philanthropy called Crankstart and a nonprofit called Together SF.
6:02 PM ∙ Mar 27, 2021
423Likes77Retweets

Responding to the tweet above, Chris Sacca recounted his failed effort 15 years ago to bring free internet to San Francisco, which was promptly shut-down by the Board of Supervisors:

Twitter avatar for @sacca
Chris Sacca 🇺🇸 @sacca
15 years ago, I co-led a team trying to give 100% free Internet access to all of San Francisco starting with the poorest neighborhoods first. The network would be anonymous, with no ads, no cookies, etc. Approximately a $20-25 million gift. The result? We were chased out of town.
Twitter avatar for @teddyschleifer
Teddy Schleifer @teddyschleifer
Mike Moritz, the Sequoia billionaire who donated $25 million and helped broker the summer school arrangement, told Recode that he was trying to help local schoolchildren “and nothing beyond that.” https://t.co/qy5KDv5IjM
12:06 AM ∙ Mar 28, 2021
22,372Likes5,743Retweets
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