SUPERVISOR ERIC MAR District One November 2009

Greetings from Supervisor Mar

I hope you all had a safe Halloween and impressed your neighbors with your costumes! As always, please contact our office if you have any questions or comments.

Wishing you all a happy holiday season.

Eric

Supervisor Mar with Captain Correia and Officer Putz at the “Keeping Our Streets Clean” Town Hall meeting in October.

Keeping Our Streets Clean

Last month, our office hosted a meeting on street cleanliness and graffiti abatement. Over 60 members of the community attended and brought their great questions and suggestions for the Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW), the Police Department (SFPD) including our district station captain, Captain Correia, and our office. We were also very pleased to have to community members give presentations on what they do to help keep our streets clean. The first presenter was Jean Barish, Co Founder and Coordinator of Keep Our Neighborhood Clean (KONC), a group that organizes neighborhood clean ups and educates the community on street cleanliness issues. The second community presenter was Kevin McInnis, member of the Graffiti Advisory Board (GAB) . He spoke to us about ways that the community can engage the GAB and help to combat graffiti. You can help leverage the services already provided by DPW by getting involved in an Adopt a Street Program (http://www.sfgov.org/site/sfdpw_page.asp?id=32453), calling 3-1-1 to report graffiti or calling 9-1-1 to report graffiti in action. Also, please use 3-1-1 to report all illegal dumping, hot spots for litter and any other issues of blight. The SFPD and DPW need the help of the community to abate graffiti and keep our neighborhoods clean. Residents are also encouraged to organize their own neighborhood cleanups. For assistance with planning and organizing your clean up, you can contact KONC, at [email protected], or 752-0185.

Contact Supervisor Mar at (415) 554-7410 [email protected] • [email protected]

Attendees of Keep Our Neighborhood Safe Town Hall Meeting

Merle Goldstone of the Department of Public Works had a lot of information to share with the public about programs her department is running.

Contact Supervisor Mar at (415) 554-7410 [email protected] • [email protected] Attendees of the town hall meeting indicated the “hot spots” for illegal dumping and graffiti with markers on large maps of the

Richmond District. This information was then given to DPW to help with their proactive cleanup efforts.

Contact Supervisor Mar at (415) 554-7410 [email protected] • [email protected]

Second Hand Smoke Ordinance

I am working with the Department of Public Health, the Tobacco Free Project and community organizations to introduce legislation that will strengthen San Francisco's Health Code to increase protections from secondhand smoke. The current law leaves some San Francisco residents vulnerable to exposure to secondhand smoke. The proposed amendments will close these loopholes.

The recent Surgeon General’s Report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, reported that millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces and that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

I am sponsoring this legislation to keep San Francisco healthy, especially the most vulnerable population of young children in our communities. While law protects indoor workers from secondhand smoke, a family’s right to breathe clean air in their own home has been vastly overlooked. The new provisions provide some protection by banning smoking in enclosed common areas of multi-family housing complexes.

The new provisions would prohibit smoking in outdoor dining areas, hotel and motel lobbies, in at least 75% of hotel and motel guest rooms, bars, tobacco shops, ticket and ATM lines, and farmers markets. Smoking permitted at the curb outside of private non- residential building entrances, exits and windows. If there is no curb, no smoking within 15 feet of private building entrances, exits and windows.

The new provisions would require that enclosed common areas of apartment buildings and multi-unit residences be smoke free. This includes common halls, elevators, parking areas, lobbies, waiting areas, bathrooms, cooking, dining, lounge, laundry facilities and recreation areas. Tenants must keep the front door of their private unit closed while smoking.

A public information campaign will be conducted to inform residents and building, restaurant and hotel owners of the new law. Additionally, signs will be posted in public areas covered by ordinance including in enclosed common areas of multi-unit housing.

I hope that we can work together to keep everyone safe from the dangers of second hand smoke.

Contact Supervisor Mar at (415) 554-7410 [email protected] • [email protected]

Big Events in Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is the “crown jewel” of parks in San Francisco and arguably the United States. We in the Richmond District are incredibly lucky to live so close to this destination that millions of people flock to annually. It is the perfect picnic place for some, the most serene jogging path for others and a place of mediation for even more. Golden Gate Park supports hundreds of uses for our diverse city and our interests.

As many of you have noticed, Golden Gate Park is also a popular location to host large cultural events and shows. The two most notable events this past summer were the Outside Lands Concert and the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. Although many people thoroughly enjoy these events they can have very inconvenient impacts to the surrounding neighbors of the park. These inconveniences range from parking and traffic to noise and blocked driveways. I want to thank all of you who called and emailed my office about these large events and how you were affected.

I am working with our Recreation and Parks Department to try to minimize these negative impacts on our neighborhoods. I have called for a hearing to discuss a more efficient interagency approach so we can better manage and schedule these events. I am working directly with the new General Manager and his top staff to ensure that these events are handled better, have more efficient neighborhood outreach and input and respect every aspect of our park system.

I hope that you will join me in the Land Use Committee in December to add your suggestions and input to the discussion. All relevant city departments will be present and I anticipate a fruitful discussion with a clear outline from the Recreation and Park Department as to what they will do to improve these large events for the sake of the park and its neighbors. Please contact my office for information on the day and time of the hearing.

Contact Supervisor Mar at (415) 554-7410 [email protected] • [email protected] Photography From the Fog-A Huge Success!

Last month our office was turned into a gallery hosting photography from Richmond Districts photographers of places and things in the Richmond District. The display will be up for at least a few months so please come by and check out our local talent! Top: Wolfgang Schubert sitting in front of his two pieces. Middle: Suzanne Ray standing in front of one of her photographs. Bottom: Photographer John Agoncillo stands with art show organizer Susan Vaughan in front of one of his pieces.

Special thanks to Sue Vaughan for organizing the entire art show! Also, thanks to all of the artists who came in to help hang their work and the work of others and to all of the volunteers who helped clean and set up. We couldn’t have done this without you! Also, hanks to Sue for sharing these photos of the event for our newsletter.

Contact Supervisor Mar at (415) 554-7410 [email protected] • [email protected]

Celebrating One of Richmond Districts Greatest Resources

by Theresa Allen

If you walk into RAMS, Inc.'s lobby area on 3626 Balboa Avenue, you are likely to experience a sense of calmness. The room is warmly decorated in a homely manner with plants lined up by the entrance, Asian art and resource literature in several languages decorate the walls- unconventional pieces not typically found in a medical setting. RAMS, Inc. (Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc.) was founded in the Richmond District in 1974 by the Richmond Asian Caucus and currently serves individuals citywide with satellite locations throughout San Francisco to provide greater accessibility. The idea behind the foundation of what was then known as the "Richmond Maxi-Center," was to proactively outreach to the Asian American and Russian-speaking communities that experienced cultural and language barriers to mental health services. RAMS, Inc. aims to provide comprehensive care in behavioral and mental health to underserved communities, providing services in over 30 languages.

Annually, the agency serves and outreaches to over 10,000 adults, children, and families offering over 30 clinical programs (integrated into 9 core programs) at varying levels of care in over 75 sites citywide, to meet the diverse needs of the community. Core programs are: Adult/Older Adult Outpatient Clinic; Asian Family Institute, Broderick Street Adult Residential Facility; Child, Youth & Family Outpatient Clinic; Clinical Training Programs; Fu Yau Project, Hire-Ability Vocational Services; PAES Counseling & Pre-Vocational Services; and Wellness Centers Program that attends to each high school in the San Francisco Unified School District.

Angela Tang, RAMS Operations Manager, met with us to describe new projects and services that RAMS, Inc. has undertaken with funding from the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). One project is a collaboration with San Francisco State University, in which RAMS, Inc. will be implementing a Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program that is scheduled to launch for the Fall 2010 semester. Secondly, they are also looking to staff more counselors in the high school-based Wellness Centers, increasing their capacity to provide outreach and intervention. Through the Fu Yau Project, RAMS, Inc. is providing consultation to the childcare community for children, ages 0–5. In addition, the agency is facilitating the Summer Bridge which fosters the interest of the health care field in high school-aged youth. RAMS, Inc. has also undertaken a consultation project that will provide cultural sensitivity trainings to providers in working with Asian & Pacific Islander and Russian-speaking populations.

With their many established partnerships with primary care physicians and cross- collaborations with other mental health agencies throughout the district and citywide, it would be nearly impossible to avoid the efforts of RAMS, Inc.'s services. To take advantage of their services and/or to learn more, you can contact them at (415) 668-5955.

Contact Supervisor Mar at (415) 554-7410 [email protected] • [email protected]

Helpful Information

Telecommunications Education & Assistance in Multiple Languages TEAM is a new program that will help consumers resolve complaints with their telephone bills, and to provide education and assistance to consumers who do not speak English. For assistance, please go to the Chinese Newcomers Services Center at 777 Stockton Street, Suite 104, San Francisco, CA 94118

Enactment of Vacant Building Ordinance The Department of Building Inspection (DBI) needs your assistance! Please report any potentially vacant and/or abandoned buildings in any neighborhood to DBI's Code Enforcement Services at Tel. (415) 558-6454 Email: [email protected]

Extended Parking Meter Proposal In April 2009, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) proposed extending parking meter hours of operation throughout the City, Monday through Saturday, and to operate parking meters from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The SFMTA conducted a study last summer and the results are published here: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/rextendedhours/extendedhours.htm. The study was presented to the SFMTA Board of Directors as an informational item on October 20. SFMTA staff are continuing to meet with individuals and organizations to discuss the study findings and recommendations and to seek public input. There is no scheduled date at this time for the SFMTA Board of Directors to vote on this proposal. To give feedback on the study, please call 311 or e-mail [email protected]. The final decision is made by the SFMTA, so we encourage you to contact them directly with your feedback and questions. We have forwarded all correspondence we have received from constituents on this topic to the project manager of the study.

Contact Supervisor Mar at (415) 554-7410 [email protected] • [email protected]

Upcoming Events

Northwest San Francisco Community Calendar For the most comprehensive listing of Richmond District events, please visit: http://nwsfconvener.wordpress.com/calendar/ Our friend and community partner, Joshua Leonard, Senior Director of Community Programs at Richmond District YMCA, puts this calendar together every month. He solicits information from dozens of local community groups and organizations.

The 1909 Building of the Cliff House turns 100! The Cliff House Restaurant is celebrating its 100th anniversary of its 1909 building on Wednesday, November 4th. For more information, please visit: http://www.cliffhouse.com/. Our office honored the Cliff House with a resolution commending them and Supervisor Mar will present it at the celebration.

Coffee with Eric Wednesday, November 25th from 10:00 – 11:00 am, I will be at Garden House Cafe (3117 Clement St at 32nd Ave) in the Outer Richmond. Come meet with me and other Richmond residents and share what’s on your mind!

Golden Gate Park Hearing Please join Supervisor Mar and relevant City departments to discuss how the city is managing the large events in Golden Gate Park. The hearing will take place in early December. Please contact our office for exact time and date.

Contact Supervisor Mar at (415) 554-7410 [email protected] • [email protected]