District 5 Newsletter - May 24, 2024
Friends and neighbors,
I would like to start this newsletter by thanking everyone who has reached out to our office in support of the Williams family, who have been a target of racial terror for weeks, and whose family home suffered a major fire earlier this week. Our sincerest gratitude and appreciation also goes to the SFFD and EMS first responders who arrived quickly and saved lives. Terry’s neighbors have set up a GoFundMe to support the Williams Family , and are hosting a neighborhood Block Party and Donation Drive on May 26 from 4PM to 7PM on the 900 Block of Grove. I was at the scene of the fire on Tuesday and our office has been working with the Mayor’s Office and city departments to make sure the family and other displaced neighbors get the temporary housing and support they need. Earlier this week, the Board passed our resolution calling for urgent support for the Williams family and for the investigation into the hate crimes to be prioritized.
I would like to share two major wins for renters in San Francisco. First, thousands of San Franciscans have avoided homelessness since 2019 because of the Tenant Right to Counsel (TRC) program . Second, a report from the City’s Budget and Legislative Analyst on San Francisco’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) revealed that ERAP provided $61.2 million worth of local rental assistance to 10,110 households from 2021 through March 2024. This is the first comprehensive report on the pandemic rent relief program. San Francisco had by far the largest local rent relief program of any city. I am so proud to have authored these crucial ballot measures that were passed by San Francisco voters to keep people in their homes.
There are two community meetings that I would like to invite you to attend:
Alamo Square Fire Community Meeting on Thursday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Redemption Church (1660 McAllister). On Tuesday, there was a major fire in Alamo Square at the home of Terry Williams and his family, who have been the targets of racial terror and threats for the past few weeks. This fire resulted in the displacement of eight residents and their pets. My office is teaming up with City departments to convene a community meeting to provide updates and to make sure residents are aware of all available resources. In addition, we will provide neighbors with information on how you can help. Please RSVP here so we can follow up with updates.
District 5 Town Hall with City Attorney David Chiu on Thursday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Third Baptist Church (1399 McAllister Street). City Attorney Chiu is holding a town hall to discuss the role and the work of the City Attorney's Office. Our office was invited to participate and we are looking forward to the event.
As always, stay in touch with the District 5 office by emailing us at PrestonStaff@sfgov.org, calling (415) 554-7630, or replying to this email.
In community,
Dean Preston, District 5 Supervisor
Coming Soon: Hayes Valley Assisted Living Facility
The City plans to purchase an assisted living facility in Hayes Valley to provide essential beds and services for more than 55 San Franciscan senior citizens. The state-licensed facility will provide a home for people who require care to meet their daily needs, with programming and support for clients’ daily health necessities. This is the first of two facilities in the area that the City is aiming to purchase. We are proud to partner with the Mayor and DPH on this important acquisition to meet the needs of vulnerable seniors.
It’s Official! Veterans Alley Gets Its Signage
In February, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to rename Shannon Street, a small alley in the heart of the Tenderloin, to Veterans Alley to commemorate the murals created by veterans and their relatives lining its walls. The signs went up earlier this month. Thank you to Amos Gregory and the artists of Vets Alley for working with our office, the community that has supported this project, and SFMTA for their expertise in getting these up!
Preventing Deceptive AI in Elections
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in elections, our office held a hearing on San Francisco's regulations and oversight of AI in local elections. The hearing focused on potential state and local legislation to enhance protections against AI misuse. Nationwide, concerns about AI in elections are growing, with political ads using AI to create deceptive content; an AP poll found that nearly 6 in 10 adults worry about AI increasing misinformation in the 2024 elections. You can read more about the hearing here. Following this hearing, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed Supervisor Preston’s resolution to support the pending state AI bill package consisting of four important bills on this topic pending before the state legislature.
Expediting SRO Elevator Repairs
We held a hearing at the Government Audit and Oversight Committee to push the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) and the Mayor's Office to expedite the distribution of $10 million for Single Room Occupancy (SRO) elevator repairs. The funds, part of a June 2022 budget deal, had yet to be released by the Administration, and HSH missed four deadlines over the past year on release of the funding. As a result of our hearing, HSH has provided a firm timeline for posting the NOFAs and release of funding. You can read more about the hearing here.
Performance Audit of the City’s Permanent Supportive Housing Program
The Budget and Legislative Analyst’s released its latest performance audit of the City’s permanent supportive housing program, a report that was commissioned by our office. The audit highlights improvements in strategic planning and progress in filling vacant units but notes that the department has not consistently inspected units and struggles with contract monitoring. The department has pledged to perform regular inspections and implement standard metrics and monitoring procedures.
Recognizing Stuttering Awareness Week
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the resolution by our office, in partnership with Proud Stutter and the Bay Area stuttering community, to acknowledge Stuttering Awareness Week, May 13—19, 2024. Stuttering impacts over 70 million people worldwide. It can affect communication, quality of life, relationships, job opportunities, and professional growth. You can read more about the resolution here.
Public Comment Open for New SFPD Policies
The San Francisco Police Department and Police Commission are seeking public input on potential changes to SFPD policies, including their policies on car towing and crowd control, through June 17th. Read the policies and submit your comments here!
SFPD Redistricting Under Way
As you may know, police districts are in the process of redistricting now. If you would like to get involved, you can do so here. Through this website, you can view current district boundaries, propose your own maps, and submit public comments for consideration by SFPD. You can also hear about this process from your station captain at their monthly community meeting . We will keep you posted as other engagement opportunities arise!
