YOUR URGENT ATTENTION IS REQUIRED...

A New Fight for SOMA’s Small Businesses

The SOMA West Neighborhood Association has filed a major civil rights and fair housing complaint with the State of California, alleging that San Francisco is unlawfully concentrating its highest-need social services in SOMA while insulating wealthier neighborhoods from sharing that responsibility. You can read the San Francisco Chronicle’s coverage for more details.

The impact is felt daily by SOMA’s small businesses: unsafe street conditions, open-air drug activity, and a worsening overdose crisis that discourages foot traffic and makes it increasingly difficult to operate. Although SOMA is home to just 11% of the city’s unhoused population, it contains 28% of its shelter beds.

The complaint calls on the State to require San Francisco to distribute services more equitably, halt the disproportionate allocation of discretionary funding into SOMA, and remove zoning barriers that prevent the development of mixed-income housing and the private investment needed to revitalize our commercial corridors.



SOMA needs your support. Join us in calling for a more balanced, citywide approach before additional shelters are added in SOMA, until equity is achieved across all neighborhoods.

Please take action now:

Sign the petition calling on the City to end the concentration of services and freeze pending contract renewals.

Date: Wednesday, April 15th

Time: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Where: Virtual

Facilitator: Benjamin Mills Martin Jr., Attorney at Law

In real estate, the three most important factors are often said to be location, location, location, but the true impact of location lies in the details. This free workshop explores both marketing and risk, with a particular emphasis on identifying potential risks and strategies to minimize them.

Choosing a new location can be one of the most daunting decisions a business owner faces. Unexpected challenges can arise, often when you least anticipate them. This session will help you understand what to look for so you can make informed, confident decisions about where to establish or grow your business.

Attorney Benjamin Martin serves as a Business Consultant with the Small Business Development Center, where he leads workshops and provides one-on-one advising to support small business success. In his private practice, he works closely with startups and small businesses. He holds a Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.

Date: Saturday, April 18th (11am - 5pm) and Sunday, April 19th (11am - 4pm)

Where: The Box SF

Location: 1069 Howard Street, San Francisco

The Box SF is opening its doors to the community for a vibrant, multi-day local art fair in the heart of SOMA!

Come explore a curated mix of creativity, from handmade jewelry and ceramics to paintings and one-of-a-kind works by talented local artists and makers. Set inside a stunning historic venue, it’s the perfect place to discover something unique while enjoying the energy of San Francisco’s creative scene.

Are you an artist or maker? Don’t miss the chance to showcase and sell your work, click the button below to learn how to participate!

Bay Area Companies & Communities...

Date: Monday, April 20th

Time: 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Where: Trellis Coworking & Events

Location: 981 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103

Network, listen, learn and build relationships with Bay Area B-Corps, Everyday Climate Champions, and other local folks devoted to climate resilience.

​Engage in a riveting discussion bringing together community and business voices working at the intersection of climate justice and local community resilience.

​Speakers include:

• ​Kat Sawyer, Senior Manager, Greening Urban Watersheds, The Watershed Project
• ​Devorah Freudiger, Director of Coffee Culture, Equator Coffees & Teas at Equator Coffee (a B Corp)
• ​Ellisa Feinstein, Co-Producer/Host, Everyday Climate Champions Podcast (moderator)

Looking for a fun and free way to stay active during the week? Salesforce Park offers complimentary fitness classes every week, no registration required.

Here’s the current schedule:

• Monday at 6:00 PM – Zumba
• Wednesday at 12:30 PM – Vinyasa Yoga
• Thursday at 8:00 AM – Bootcamp
• Thursday at 1:00 PM – HIGH Fitness
• Friday at 12:30 PM – Vinyasa Yoga

Check out the rest of their events at Salesforce by clicking the button below: