Policy Works
Rebuilding Kezar Drive
I have heard from many residents about the deteriorating state of the pavement on Kezar Drive, the street that connects Lincoln to Oak and Fell stre
ets, a major east-west artery. Yet the road is crumbling and creating jarring and unsafe conditions. My office has been working hard to get this fixed. Kezar Drive's plight is a case study in bureaucracy-so please bear with me. Since it is inside a park, the road is not considered a "city accepted" street. This means that it is not in the Department of Public Work's (DPW) normal maintenance jurisdiction, and it is ineligible for most sources of street repair funding. We are working with the Transportation Authority, Recreation and Park Department
, Municipal Transportation Agency, and DPW to resolve this ASAP! The short-term plan is to find sufficient funding, about $250,000, to repave the worst portions of the road surface now. This will buy us a few years. During that time, we will need to secure $1.5 to $3 million to rebuild the road's base and surface, bring it up to City and ADA standards, and find it a consistent funding source. I am confident we will get it done. Thank you for your patience.
Kezar Triangle Park
I am very happy that construction is underway to rehabilitate Kezar Triangle, the triangular park just west of Kezar stadium. The Recreation and Parks department is upgrading the irrigation system, improving the sod, installing new plants, and creating accessible pedestrian pathways. I
want to thank Carla Crane and The Friends of Kezar Triangle whose hard work and generosity made this project possible. The park should be open to the public and ready for discus practice in early 2014. For more info click here.
Making the Panhandle Safer
I cosponsored a hearing on November 14th to evaluate the new "oversize vehicle overnight parking restriction program." Run by the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), the program prevents people from storing RVs, delivery trucks, and other large vehicles on our residential streets. Currently only one area in D5, a stretch along Lincoln Way, is in the program. I strongly support adding Oak and Fell in the Panhandle to the program. These are major thoroughfares directly abutting a public park. Large vehicles reduce visibility for pedestrians, parents, and dog owners, impede Muni buses, and take parking spaces away from our neighbors.
I appreciate the support of Dera-Jill Pozner with the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association, Ted Loewenberg with the Haight Ashbury Improvement Association, MTA staff, and many others. The MTA Board will make the final decision soon.
For more info click here.
Taking a Stand Against Graffiti
I am working on legislation to address San Francisco's growing problem with graffiti. This is a problem that is costing us an estimated $20,000,000 every year and that does not even include the costs borne by private property owners, Caltrans, and federal agencies. Muni bears a huge portion of the damages, meaning if we reduce graffiti offenses, we can invest more in running the buses on ti
me and less in cleaning paint off of them. Quite frankly, the City is not taking graffiti seriously enough. I am working closely with the City Attorney's office, the Police Department, and many others to develop a collaborative and comprehensive legislative response to the issue. I am hoping to introduce the first draft of the legislation before the end of 2013. I want to thank the SF Examiner and City Attorney for their early support of my efforts. Take a look at the SF Examiner article here.
Helping Small Businesses
I sponsored the release of $217,000 to help the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and the Department of Technology create the One Stop personalized business portal. A follow-on to OEWD
's
License123 website, and akin to the
One Stop job centers that I have helped revamp, the One Stop business portal will help small business owners navigate city government. I know how arduous, bureaucratic, and slow government can sometimes be for business owners, and
I think we in public service have an obligation to make it easier to do business in San Francisco. The One Stop site will allow business owners to identify specifically which permits they will need and create personalized forms accordingly. It is expected to be complete by July 2014. For more info click here.
Preserving Marcus Books (Update)
At its meeting on November 6th, the Historic Preservation Commission approved my request to make the Marcus Books building an official San Francisco landmark. I have now introduced the landmarking legislation to the full Board of Supervisors which will consider the matter soon. For more info click here.
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Supervisor Breed with Paul Henderson - Mayor Lee's Deputy Chief of Staff, HealthRIGHT 360 CEO Vitka Eisen and former Walden House CEO Chris Cunnie at the HealthRIGHT 360 Be the Change Breakfast on November 8th.
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Parking Meters
The Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) recently asked the Board of Supervisors to approve a contract with IPS Group, Inc. to purchase 35,000 new parking meters. About 25,000 of these will go toward replacing existing meters with new smart meters. Smart meters are far more convenient for users, allowing payment by credit cards, parking cards, phone apps, etc. These meters actually increase meter revenue while decreasing parking tickets. I fully support this aspect of the contract, and the 5,000 meters intended for maintenance/replacement needs.
I had serious reservations, however, about MTA's request for 5,000 meters for "expansion". I will not support the unfettered spread of meters into our residential neighborhoods. I, along with many of my colleagues, shared our concerns with the MTA, and the 5,000 expansion meters have been removed from the contract. I absolutely support smart parking management and prioritizing transit, but that does not mean granting MTA carte blanche to install meters in our residential neighborhoods.
Community Updates
Pre-Thanksgiving fun with Project LEVEL
A big thank you to Lefty O'Doul's Restaurant and Bauer's Intelligent Transportation for coming together to organize a festive pre-Thanksgiving dinner for the good folks at Project LEVEL. Special thanks to my friends Lee Housekeeper and Hala Hijazi for making this happen.
About Project LEVEL
Project LEVEL is program which seeks to educate and enlighten young people by exposing them to the arts including studio recording, graphic design, photography, video production, money management, and journalism. They currently hold classes and events at the African American Art & Culture Complex in the Western Addition.
Alamo Square Off Limits to Tour Buses
After more than two years of perseverance by the Alamo Square Neighborhood Association and other community groups, tour buses will no longer be a public safety concern for the residents of Alamo Square. On November 19th the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors voted to prohibit tour buses with more than nine passengers around the square. The ban will go into effect in January.
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| Supervisor Breed at the Indian festival of Diwali at the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center on November 9th. |
Text Message Service for Muni Riders
Last month Muni launched Muni Alerts, which sends real-time email and text messages to subscribing Muni riders, allowing them to get the specific route information they want, when they want it. For example, if the N Judah is delayed, subscribing N Judah users will receive a text or email letting them know. This is a great way to ensure Muni riders have accurate, real-time information. For more info or to sign up, go here.
311 App: Now Everyone's the Mayor!
Be the Mayor! Download the Official SF311app here or by searching "SF311" in the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android).
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Mayor Ed Lee & The Giants' Lou Seal Team Up in SF311's "Everyone's the Mayor" Video (1 minute)
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The new SF311 app allows smartphone users to quickly and easilyobtain information about City services and report quality of life issues to the City such as graffiti, street light outages, and more. Check out Mayor Ed Lee and Giants Mascot Lou Seal's new video "Everyone's the Mayor" for a demonstration.
WalkFirst: Improve Pedestrian Safety!
Are you passionate about pedestrian safety issues? Would you like to share your input to help inform future solutions that address this issue? A number of key city departments are working on WalkFirst - a data driven process that will review existing City crash data, collect community feedback, document findings, and analyze risk factors that cause pedestrian collisions. They're looking for individuals to participate in a small focus group meeting on Tuesday, December 10 at 11:30AM to share their perspective. All participants will receive a pre-loaded $15 Clipper Card. Space is limited, so please email walkfirstsf@gmail.com if you're interested.
You can find out more details about WalkFirst and also participate in the interactive online tool for the program here.
CommUNITY Garden Grand Opening
Congratulations to the Recreation and Parks Department on their opening of Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden, a free gardening resource located at Frederick and Arguello Streets. Check out this video of the project:
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| Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden! (2 minutes) |
Want your own plot in the CommUNITY garden? Proposals must be submitted by December 15th. For more information download the instructions here.
Interested but not sure you can take full responsibility for your own site? Email rpd.urbanag@sfgov.org by Monday December 9th and Rec and Park will try to match you up with a group looking for an extra set of hands.
For more information about the CommUNTIY Garden, please contact Marvin Yee at marvin.yee@sfgov.org, or Melinda Stockmann at melinda.stockmann@sfgov.org.
San Francisco Arts Commission Town Hall
This is your chance to learn about the SF Arts Commission's plans for the future. Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny will present the agency's vision for the next five years and its goals for getting there. You'll also have an opportunity to ask questions, share comments and provide input on priorities for arts-related policy in the City. 
Saturday, December 14, 10-11:30 a.m.
Golden Gate Park, County Fair Building
1199 9th Ave at Lincoln
Questions? Email Kate.Patterson@sfgov.org
Upcoming Events
Hayes Valley Block Party
Friday December 6th
5:30-9:30pm
Patricia's Green (Hayes st. @Octavia)
A Hayes Valley tradition for 22 years, this event includes food and drink specialties throughout the neighborhood, discounts at local shops, and carolers and a brass quintet at Patricia's Green.
Buena Vista Park Volunteer Day
Saturday December 7th
9am-12pm
Children's Playground, Waller Street
All ages and all levels of agility, ability and gardening skills are welcome. For more information contact Richard Magary at BVNA@ix.netcom.com
Wreath and Card Making
Saturday December 7th
1-4pm
Hayes Valley South Apts Community Room
403 Rose Street @ Buchanan
Join us for a fun afternoon making holiday wreaths and cards for you to
take home. Supplies will be provided but you are welcome to bring any embellishments you like. Refreshments will be provided at this festive community event. For more information contact Nora at nora@communitygrows.org or 415-424-5770.
Divisadero Art Walk
Saturday December 7th
1-6pm
Divisadero between Golden Gate and Haight
Explore the artisan offerings along Divisadero and its surrounding streets and take advantage of the many discounts and deals offered by the various merchants along the corridor.
NOPNA & ASNA Holiday Party
Saturday December 7th
6-9:30pm
2097 Turk Street @Lyon
Cyprian's Center - Arts, Resilience, Community
Get out your party hats, dancing shoes and ugly sweaters for this holiday fiesta! There will be musical acts, catering by local establishments and babysitting services for the youngsters. Please bring a wrapped gift for a youth 6-16. Identify age and gender appropriateness. Gifts will be donated to the Village Project of the Western Addition.
RSVP requested for this free event. You can do that here.
Inner Sunset Sundays
Sunday December 8th
10am-6pm
Irving Street between 9th & 10th Avenues
Part block party/part street fair, this grassroots, community-focused event celebrates the belief that healthy communities depend on vibrant gathering spaces that are welcoming to all ages and all types of people. For more information visit: www.issundays.org
Toy Wrapping Party
Tuesday December 10th
5-8pm
African American Art and Culture Complex - Hall of Culture, 3rd Floor
762 Fulton Street @Webster
Bring your holiday spirit (and wrapping paper if you have it) to this festive event. Enjoy food, drinks and music while wrapping toys that will brighten the holiday season of the children receiving them at the Holiday Fair on Dec. 14th. Toys are always welcomed but not required to participate.
SFPD Park Station Community Meeting
Tuesday December 10th
6-7:30pm
Park Station, 1899 Waller Street near Stanyan
Participate in this monthly meeting to discuss new or ongoing public safety issues.
Fillmore Holiday Marketplace
Thursday December 12th
4-9pm
Fillmore Street between Eddy and Ellis
Enjoy live music, and shop for all of your holiday needs at the small businesses which will be selling food, artwork, jewelry and other crafts. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate at this event hosted by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Urban Solutions and Infin8 Sync.
Panhandle Park Community Workday
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| Supervisor Breed planting trees at Westside Courts with Friends of the Urban Forest on November 9th |
Saturday December 14th
9am-12pm
Bulletin Board near the playground, Masonic and Fell
The 2nd Saturday of every month we meet to keep the Panhandle clean.
Holiday Fair
Saturday December 14th
10am- 2pm
African American Art and Culture Complex - 762 Fulton Street @Webster
This free event is fun for all ages! Enjoy the festivities including performances, raffle prizes, pony rides and face painting. Kids much be present to receive toys distributed by Santa.
