The GrowSF Report: Recalls Give Voters Final Say
Plus, why are supervisors afraid of modular housing?
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of January 30, 2022:
- Recalls Give Voters Final Say
- Why Are Supervisors So Afraid of Modular Housing?
- Is It Murder to Sell Deadly Fentanyl?
- We’re Hosting an Election Night Party
Recalls Give Voters Final Say
This Chronicle OpEd opposing the San Francisco school board recall conveniently omits the most important fact: mayoral appointments are *temporary* and voters pick the full term replacement. The mayor is not a dictator. Voters have the final say. Democracy lives.
It is reckless for the OpEd to say the mayor is a “kingmaker” and the school board recall is an “undemocratic process” without disclosing voters pick the permanent replacements. Plus, temporary mayoral appointments have rarely won the open elections they must compete in. Voters often reject the mayor’s pick.
The OpEd by the leader of the local teacher’s union is a valid argument about the merits of mayors controlling school boards. It’s a worthy debate we should have. But conflating it with the recall is scaremongering days before an important election. Voters deserve accurate information.
This Is What Modular Housing for Formerly Homeless People Looks Like — Why Are Supervisors So Afraid of It?
Modular construction costs only a third of what it takes to build anything else in San Francisco. The modular housing pictured on Bryant Street was built for formerly homeless people in record time at a relatively low cost. So why don’t we build more of it?
Heather Knight explains in her Chronicle column that supervisors are afraid to cross the powerful labor unions that see cheaper and faster modular construction as an existential threat to high paying jobs. The prefab units are manufactured in Vallejo at a union factory and trucked in to be assembled like a “big Lego project.”
If we’re going to solve our housing crisis we need supervisors who are willing to embrace new techniques like modular construction.
Is It Murder to Sell Deadly Fentanyl?
Should drug dealers be prosecuted for the deaths caused by the fentanyl-laced drugs they sell — given how deadly fentanyl is? New York prosecutors charged four dealers in the overdose death of actor Michael K. Williams.
Fentanyl has killed record numbers in San Francisco. Yet dealers face little consequence. According to a recent police memo:
The 16 most repeat offenders were arrested 52 times
Average time in custody for dealers: 5.4 days
If you want to understand the human toll of fentanyl in San Francisco, read “A Disaster in Plain Sight” by the Chronicle. It’s powerful journalism that asks: “Fentanyl is a public health crisis — is San Francisco treating it like one?”
To be clear, we do not believe drug users should be arrested or jailed. They need supportive help for addiction. The question is what to do about the dealers of extremely deadly drugs like fentanyl that are killing people in record numbers.
We’re Hosting an Election Night Party
Join us Election Night to watch the returns on our endorsed races: school board recall and Bilal Mahmood for California Assembly.
Tuesday February 15
7pm to 11pm
Teeth Bar
2323 Mission @19th
Note: Polls close at 8pm. Results are announced at 8:45pm, 9:45pm, and 10:45pm.
Your Action Plan
Now that you know what’s happening, help us shape what happens next:
Before You Attend Our Election Night Party, Please Help the School Board Recall
The school board recall needs help to get more people to vote.
Voting ends on February 15 and the final push in the next 10 days is critical. The outcome will be determined by just a few votes in a very low turnout election (only about 30 percent is expected).
Please volunteer to:
Knock on doors
Knock on the doors of voters who have not returned their ballot yet and encourage them to vote. Click here to sign up for a shift:
Saturday, February 5
10am at Lowell High School
2pm at Parkside Square
Sunday, February 6
10am at McCoppin Square
2pm at South Sunset Fields
Text from your home
Text likely voters from the comfort of your home and remind them about the election. Scripts provided. And your thumbs will be spared because you’ll “text” from your computer/laptop on a special website.
Register for the Zoom event at the links below. You will receive a confirmation email for the Zoom meeting along with an invitation to join the Prompt.io texting platform.
The program runs from 5:30pm to 7pm. The first 30 minutes will be a virtual Zoom training and then you will text on your own.
Each date has a unique link to register: February 8, February 10, February 12, February 13, February 14.
Learn Your SF Politics: Late Night Edition!
Ever wonder why San Francisco is the way it is?
Find out with Joel Engardio’s 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.
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.
SPECIAL LATE NIGHT EDITION
Thursday February 10
9pm to 10pm
Click here to register
The Late Night Edition has the same content as the regular presentation. Many parents requested a late evening option after their kids are in bed. "Wine down" with us for an hour at 9pm. We promise it will be as interesting as your Netflix show. All night owls are welcome.
REGULAR EDITION
Tuesday February 15
7pm to 8pm
Click here to register
Celebrate San Francisco
There’s a lot to love about our city. Here’s what makes it great:
“Bedpan Alley” transformed into two miles of trails
Get lost in the city somewhere around Twin Peaks in the “Bedpan Alley” areas behind Laguna Honda hospital. There are now two miles of hiking trails covered in a tree canopy. Read more.
Ferry to Treasure Island Coming Soon
A rapid ferry from San Francisco to Treasure Island is slated to begin by the end of February. Treasure Island will soon become a major destination with new housing construction in the works that will increase the island’s population from 600 to 12,000 in the coming decade. Read more.
Toilet Paper Ribbon Cutting for Long Awaited BART Restroom
At long last, there’s a restroom on the Powell Street BART station again. It was closed for more than 20 years for security reasons after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Watch local TV news coverage of the momentous event.
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:
Thanks to @RyeOnTheRoad for bringing cocktails to the GrowSF office warming party! Please support your local bars and restaurants.
