Our merchant corridors are filled with vibrant and unique shops, delicious restaurants, food markets and vital service providers. Recently we have heard a lot about proposed changes to our district – upzoning that would put eight-story buildings on Richmond District streets, like Clement and Balboa, and 14-story buildings along Geary Boulevard.
Why transform a section of the Great Highway into an oceanside park? I believe it will help the environment, boost local merchants and bring people joy.
This November, San Franciscans will decide whether a section of the Upper Great Highway becomes an oceanside park or remains a road for cars. It’s important to note we’re only talking about the section between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard, which does not have any on or off ramps for cars.
As the chair of the SF Board of Supervisors’ Budget Committee, I spent the month of June in meetings and hearings to review and amend the mayor’s proposed San Francisco city budget.
More than 100 people lined the steps in front of City Hall on July 23 to protest against permanently closing the Upper Great Highway for motor vehicle traffic between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard.
The future of the Upper Great Highway will be on the ballot this November. It has served as a part-time park with the road closed to traffic on weekends the past few years. Now, voters will determine if the City should plan for the Upper Great Highway to become a permanent oceanside park.
I had such a wonderful time at our first Heart of the Richmond Night Market last month. We had more than 40 vendors and community partners, and I can’t wait for our next one on July 20!
Last month, our police chief’s Small Business Advisory Board held its monthly meeting in the Richmond District, bringing together representatives from our City’s business districts and commercial corridors to discuss issues facing small businesses. I attended and discussed ways we can support our small businesses.
A plaque that says “What would Jimmy Carter Do?” hangs above my desk at City Hall. It provides inspiration for my work as a city supervisor – and advice for the political science graduates of San Francisco State University.
San Francisco spends $646 million a year trying to address homelessness. The results have been less than desirable.
As we all know, the Richmond is not immune to crime. We often face the same public safety issues as the rest of the City, although we are not given the same resources.
We have a lot to fix in San Francisco. Residents are concerned about public safety, homelessness, the drug overdose crisis, housing affordability and the survival of small businesses – in addition to fixing our downtown.
Last month, my office welcomed the Golden Gate Park Community Benefit Fund recipients and Another Planet Entertainment to the Richmond Recreation Center to jointly announce $110,000 in funding for community-based organizations and programs benefiting the Richmond. As part of the Outside Lands (OSL) contract with the City, the Richmond District receives annual funding from Another Planet Entertainment (APE) to help mitigate the impacts the concert series has on our neighborhood.
Public safety is the #1 concern for San Franciscans. That’s why I prioritized hiring a dedicated community safety liaison to help Sunset residents and merchants affected by crime.
As your district supervisor, I am working to deliver the public safety resources the Richmond needs and deserves. With the mayor and her administration prioritizing the revitalization of downtown over our neighborhoods, we are seeing an increase in burglaries on the west side; we experienced two incidents where suspects drove vehicles through the front of businesses, and our small businesses are reporting an increase in broken windows and stolen goods.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 