Supervisor Chiu July 2012 Newsletter

7/29/2019 Supervisor Chiu July 2012 Newsletter

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Supervisor David Chiu - July 2012 NewsletterSummer is budget season at City Hall, and after deliberations with my colleagues that lasted until thevery early morning hours of June 29, I am pleased to report that the Budget Committee approved abudget that contains funding for many crucial services that we all depend on. For example, we directedadditional funding to gardeners in our parks, youth employment, workforce development, smallbusiness technical assistance and new police academy classes.

Im glad District 3 will see more services for seniors who wish to age in place, street beautification workopportunities for homeless individuals, improved la nguage access to city services, and increasedfunding for other important community-based services among other things, District 3 will also receivecapital investments to protect Coit Tower, stabilize Telegraph Hill, redesign Jefferson Street and buildthe new Cruise Ship Terminal.

These budget decisions are crucial to strengthening our communities and protecting our mostvulnerable residents. If youd like more details on the budget, please contact my aide Catherine [email protected].

Sincerely,

David Chiu

Contents

District 3 UpdateLegislationSee You in the DistrictCommunity Calendar

Official Web site

District 3 Update

Central Subway Construction in North Beach

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Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center(Photo courtesy of Rec & Parks Dept)

Two months ago, North Beach merchants and I were both surprised and frustrated to learn at the sametime that the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is planning to engage in CentralSubway-related construction activities for up to two years in North Beach. Specifically, the SFMTA isplanning on extracting the two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) on Columbus between Union andFilbert.

While the North Beach Tunnel Construction Variant was included and approved in the FinalSupplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (SEIR/SEIS), thatdocument was certified before I took office in 2009. My office did not receive any notice about theplanned work in North Beach at any point in the last three years. I have let the SFMTA know that thisnonexistent level of outreach is unacceptable. After hearing from merchants and receiving a formalletter from my office, the SFMTA is now reviewing possible alternatives to the planned work. I am astrong supporter of the Central Subway, which will serve one of the most congested corridors in theUnited States, but I am deeply dissatisfied with what Ive heard from the SFMTA so far on this issue. Iwill keep the community updated as this situation develops.

Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation CenterI hope many of you will join me on Saturday, July 14 at 12 p.m.to celebrate the grand opening of the renovated Betty AnnOng Chinese Recreation Center at 1199 Mason Street. Therec center has been serving our kids and families for decades,and with funding from the 2008 Clean & Safe NeighborhoodPark Bond, the space will now have a new gym, arts and craftsand multi-purpose rooms and resurfaced basketball court. And

thanks to the hard work of the Recreation and ParkDepartment and the many community groups that collaboratedin the vision and design of the project, we can all continue toenjoy this valuable community space in honor of SanFrancisco heroine Betty Ann Ong.

Weekly Polk Farmers MarketThe Polk Street Farmers market has been up and running since June 30th, and it will be there weeklythrough this Fall from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m in Fern Alley between Polk and Larkin Streets. (Apologiesfor mentioning a June 16th opening in the last e-newsletter.) Please join me at the grand openingribbon cutting this Saturday, July 7 at 10:30 a.m. Thank you to the operator Pacific Coast FarmersMarkets, the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and the Lower Polk Neighbors formaking this fantastic new community event possible.

Legislation

Conserving Water and Reducing the Use of Plastic WaterBottlesThis past month, in partnership with the San Francisco PublicUtilities Commission, I introduced two ordinances related towater use in buildings. The first is legislation that provides apathway for developers interested in installing alternative watersystems. There are currently no clear guidelines for projectsthat want to include environmentally-friendly systems that allow


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Filling my stainless steel water bottle atthe Academy of Sciences after

announcing my legislation.

buildings to collect, treat and recycle stormwater and greywaterfor uses such as toilet flushing, and the legislation wouldprovide such guidance for those who voluntarily choose toinstall them. The second ordinance is aimed at decreasing ouruse of plastic water bottles by requiring that future new waterfountains installed in buildings have tap water filling stations forreusable bottles. I have long been an advocate of theconservation and increased drinking water use of our pristineHetch Hetchy tap water, and both pieces of legislation will moveus in this direction.

Rebuilding California Pacific Medical Center and St. Lukesthe Right WayIn recent weeks, the Board of Supervisors Land Use Committeehas held two lengthy hearings on the proposal by CaliforniaPacific Medical Center (CPMC), an affiliate of Sutter Health, tobuild a new 555-bed hospital on Cathedral Hill at Geary & VanNess and a new 80-bed St. Lukes Hospital in the Mission. Iparticipated in these hearings to ask about i ssues ranging fromSutters commitment to hiring San Franciscans to the need for this lucrative corporation to providelevels of charity care comparable to other major San Francisco hospitals. As you may have read in theChronicle or the Examiner, I held a press conference with several colleagues to bring to light disturbingSutter Health financial documents that raise serious concerns about Sutters promise to keep St. Lukesopen for 20 years. At upcoming hearings, my colleagues and I will delve into the impact of Sutters

growing market share on our citys health care cost containment efforts and the transportation andneigh borhood impacts of this massive project. My hope is that CPMC Sutter will renegotiate keyelements of this project so that it truly serves San Franciscos long-term health care needs.

Muni Adopts All Door Boarding and Family-Friendly Stroller PolicyAfter years of delays, on July 1, Muni implemented legal rear door boarding (as long as you have aClipper Card), which is a common sense step to improve the efficiency of a system that crawls ourstreets at an average of 8 miles per hour. Although rear door boarding already happens quite a bit,making it legal will help Muni riders get on the systems crowded buses more quickly, which will reducethe time the buses are sitting at their stops. I was proud to sponsor the ordinance that made this changepossible.

As the Chronicle reported, I also worked with Supervisor Elsbernd to pass a resolution at the Board thaturged SFMTA to adopt a family-friendly stroller policy. Many families had testified at a committee

hearing on family flight that policies such as not permitting unfolded strollers on Muni vehicles made itchallenging for parents to raise their children in San Francisco. At the Boards urging, the SFMTAconsulted with parent advocates and bus operators in the adoption of a new policy that permits strollersto board Muni vehicles and remain unfolded as long as wheels are locked and strollers are notblocking passenger movement. I am glad that the city is continuing to take steps to support our familiesand ensure better access to public transportation.

Business Tax ReformAs the deadl ine for submi tting ba llot measures approaches this month, I am con tinuing to wo rk closelywith the Mayors office, my colleagues and the Controller to craft a new business tax that would replaceour payroll-based tax, which directly discourages hiring, with a gross receipts tax that more fairlymirrors a companys profits. I have championed this important reform ever since I was elected, and amhopeful that voters will have the chance to support this change in November.

See You In The District!While I always enjoy casual conversations as I walk around our neighborhoods or attend events inDistrict 3, you can also come to one of the Office Hours that I regula rly hold in one of our great cafes. Ifyou plan on stopping by, please email my aide Judson True [email protected] since officehours occasionally need to be rescheduled due to unanticipated events.

My July District Office Hours

Friday, July 13, 9:00 - 10:00 a.mMiddle PolkThe Crepe House, 1755 Polk Street

Friday, July 20, 9:00 - 10:00 a.mNorth BeachCaffe Greco, 423 Columbus Avenue


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Friday, July 13, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.ChinatownChinatown L ibrary, 1135 Powell Street

July 2012 Community Calendar

Friday, July 6, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.First Fridays in North BeachVarious Galleries

Saturday, July 7, 10:30 a.m.Fern Alley Farmers Market Grand Opening CeremonyFern Alley between Polk and Larkin

Saturday, July 7, 10:00 a.m.Community Youth Center 4th Annual Parent SummitGordon J. Lau Elementary School auditorium, 950 ClayStreet

Wednesday, July 11, 7:00 p.m.Lower Polk Neighbors Monthly MeetingFirst Congregational Church, 1300 Polk Street SanFrancisco

Saturday , July 14, 12 p.m.Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center GrandOpening199 Mason Street (at Washington)

Monday, July 16, 6:00 p.m.Immigrant Rights Commission District 3 NeighborhoodMeetingPortsmouth Square Clubhouse, 779 Kearny Street

Monday, July 16, 7:00 p.m.Middle Polk Neighborhood Associations MonthlyMeetingIts a Grind Coffee House, 1800 Polk Street

Wednesday, July 18, 5:30 p.m.San Francisco Police Department Central StationCommunity Meeting660 Lombard Street

Friday, July 20, 6:00 p.m.APA Family Su ppo rt Services GalaYank Sing Restaurant, 101 Spear Street

Saturday, July 21, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Urban Bicycling Workshop: Traffic Skills 101First Congregational Church, 1300 Polk Street

Saturday, July 21, 9:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.Middle Polk Neighborhood Associations Monthly Clean-UpIt's A Grind Coffee House, 1800 Polk Street

Thursday, August 2, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.Lower Polk Art WalkVarious Galleries

Friday, August 3, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.First Fridays in North BeachVarious Galleries

Saturday, August 4, 6:00 p.m.Chinese Progressive Association 40th AnniversaryCelebrationCounty Fair Building, 1199 9th Avenue

***If we missed your event or meeting, please send future events to [email protected] well include asmany as we can.

UPCOMING NEWSLETTERS: Our office will be sending out a newsletter by the end of the first week

of each month. Please send questions, topics youd like covered, or items for the CommunityCalendar [email protected] the Monday of that week.

Sent by the office of Supervisor David Chiu

Phone: (415) 554-7450 Fax: (415) 554-7454 [email protected] Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl Room 264

San Francisco, CA 94102

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Supervisor Chiu July 2012 Newsletter