The GrowSF Report: Bad news poll for Chesa Boudin
Plus, permanent closure of JFK Drive within reach
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of March 13, 2022:
- GrowSF recommends voting Matt Haney on April 19
- 68% of San Franciscans support recalling Chesa Boudin
- When our boycotts hurt us more
- Permanent closure of JFK Drive within reach
- Powerful stories of Asian women who face and confront anti-Asian bigotry
- I’m gay, you’re gay, we’re all gay
GrowSF recommends voting for Matt Haney on April 19
Fresh on the heels of the February 15, 2022 election comes the runoff between Matt Haney and David Campos. Bilal Mahmood was our #1 choice but he didn’t manage to place in the top two, so now voters will decide between Matt Haney and David Campos. GrowSF recommends voting for Matt Haney because he’s better than Campos on everything we care about: housing, transit, and small business issues, among others.
Stay tuned to the GrowSF report for our June 7 voter guide, where you’ll vote on 23 different contests!
68% of San Franciscans support recalling Chesa Boudin
A recent poll shows that 68% of likely voters in San Francisco support recalling District Attorney Chesa Boudin in the June 7 election. The numbers are worse when it comes to unfavorable opinion of Boudin (74%) and an “only fair” or “poor” job rating (78%).
The poll was conducted February 17 to 21 by a well-respected firm. The Chronicle reported the full results.
When our boycotts hurt us more
City Hall has boycotted a majority of states (28 so far) for LGBTQ, abortion, and voting laws in states at odds with San Francisco values. That means city departments can’t enter into contracts with businesses headquartered in those states.
The unintended consequence is it’s getting more difficult for the city to make purchases without paying a budget-busting premium.
“It limits our ability to procure products and receive services and contract services we need to run,” City Administrator Carmen Chu told Mission Local. “It limits competition for our work.”
State Senator Scott Wiener, who started the boycott trend in 2016, now doubts if it was a good idea: “It is fundamentally not as straightforward an issue as I once believed.”
Permanent closure of JFK Drive within reach
Mayor London Breed introduced legislation this week to permanently ban cars on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park. The Board of Supervisors will vote on it by next month.
Reach out to your supervisor if you want to keep JFK Drive car-free.
Powerful stories of Asian women who face and confront anti-Asian bigotry
The discrimination against Asians the past century is a direct line to the violence we see against Asian Americans today. These crimes were ignored for a long time, but not anymore thanks to national awareness from groups like Stop AAPI Hate.
It’s been one year since a gunman killed six Asian women in Atlanta — a year when crime against Asian Americans soared 107% in California. The Chronicle features the personal and powerful stories of four Bay Area Asian women who have faced anti-Asian bigotry and their work to confront it. We are proud of GrowSF friend Lily Ho, who is profiled.
I’m gay, you’re gay, we’re all gay
YouGov America released surprising poll results that show most Americans grossly overestimate the size of demographic groups.
Americans guess that 30% of American adults live in New York City, when it’s really just 3%. They think 30% of adults are gay or lesbian when census data reports only 3%. They also assume 26% of the population makes $500,000 a year when only 1% do.
Read the full results, which include left-handed people, vegans, and pet owners among many categories.
Your Action Plan
Now that you know what’s happening, help us shape what happens next:
District Attorney Recall Debate
Hear arguments for both sides of the Chesa Boudin recall.
Monday March 21
6pm
Register for Zoom link
Arguing in favor of the recall will be Brooke Jenkins and Don Du Bain, both former prosecuting attorneys for San Francisco under District Attorney Chesa Boudin.
Arguing against the recall will be Tinisch Hollins, executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice, and Richard Corriea, retired San Francisco Police Commander and director of the International Institute of Criminal Justice Leadership at University of San Francisco.
The debate is sponsored by several local Democratic clubs. It will be moderated by KQED political commentator, Marisa Lagos, and crime and criminal justice reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, Megan Cassidy.
June Ballot Measure Forum
Join GrowSF, SF YIMBY, and Streets for People, to learn about two important measures on transportation & construction on the June ballot.
Proposition A is a city bond that will fund many of Muni’s infrastructure projects. Hear from SFMTA's acting CFO Jonathan Rewers and SFMTA Director Sharon Lai (in their personal capacities) about the bond and how it supports housing.
Proposition B restructures the Department of Building Inspection, which controls building permits. Hear from Supervisor Myrna Melgar on what DBI does and how Prop B impacts housing.
Wednesday, March 23
7:00pm-8:30pm
Register for Zoom link
Celebrate San Francisco
There’s a lot to love about our city. Here’s what makes it great:
32 San Francisco things everyone should do
There’s no shortage of fun stuff to do in San Francisco. The Chronicle lists 32 super fun San Francisco activities which include hikes, restaurants, museums, and even a visit to a pet cemetery! See the full list here.
Meet San Francisco’s Newest Cable Car Gripwoman
San Francisco has been running its iconic cable cars for 149 years. Yet in that time, there have been just four gripwomen—and the latest addition to the crew, Catrena Brown, joined the few and far between ranks this February.
The SF Standard has more here.
Bloom SF welcomes workers back to downtown
Events and programming will run Sunday, March 27 through Saturday, April 2 at the Embarcadero Center, Ferry Building, Salesforce Plaza, Salesforce Transit Center and Park, The Crossing at East Cut, Union Square, and Westfield San Francisco Centre.
Love the GrowSF Report? Share it
Help GrowSF grow! Share our newsletter with your friends. The bigger we are, the better San Francisco will be.
Topical Tweets
Yes, there is good stuff on Twitter. Here’s some of it:
After years of delays, the Van Ness BRT is finally opening!
The largest Whole Foods in SF (64,737 square feet!) just opened at Market and 8th St.
A frivolous environmental lawsuit against Berkeley University threatened to block thousands of students from attending the school this fall. But thanks to fast action by our State Assemblymembers, Berkeley will be able to expand and grow.
