Mission Supervisor Hillary Ronen sat down with Mission Local to talk about issues relating to her district. This is a monthly series – this interview has been edited and shortened for print. ML: Calle 24 recently blocked GoBike and other bike share companies from operating in the cultural district/SUD. Do you see these companies as the gentrifiers? Ronen: I...
Four months ago, Mission District Supervisor Hillary Ronen took office with the promise of tackling some of the district’s most pressing issues, including housing and homelessness. Ronen sat down with Mission Local for the first in a series of conversations to discuss strategies and evaluate the progress on some of her key goals. This interview has been edited and shortened for print. ML:...
At a meeting Monday night, service providers for the city’s Latino and immigrant populations said fear of deportation and family de-stabilization have risen while the resources to deal with both have diminished. “Our attorneys are doing quasi-social work,” said Lariza Dugan-Cuadra, executive director of the Mission-based Central American Resource Center or CARECEN, a nonprofit that provides immigration legal services to...
San Francisco Supervisors sent a planned nine-story affordable senior housing project onward toward construction, unanimously rejecting an appeal of its prior approval. The appeal, represented at Tuesday’s hearing by Shotwell Street resident Craig Weber through the Inner Mission Neighborhood Association, raised concerns about adding 94 units of housing without additional parking, about failing to promote mixed-income housing and about crime increases...
A small group of homeless residents and their advocates went to City Hall on Tuesday to propose a “transitional village” in San Francisco where the homeless would be allowed to camp legally. From the so-called village, they would be connected to case management and health services while awaiting placement in city shelters, other Navigation Centers or in supportive housing. The...
In response to an executive order stripping sanctuary cities of federal funding signed Wednesday morning by President Donald Trump, immigrants, nonprofit organizers and city legislators rallied in front of City Hall to publicly commit to maintaining protections for immigrants and to reassure one another. “Your local government is with you,” said District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen. “We’re going to protect...
In her first move as Supervisor for District 9, Hillary Ronen on Tuesday introduced legislation that would place additional restrictions on what kinds of businesses can move into the 24th Street Latino Cultural District. She framed the proposal as an effort to support the existing small businesses in the area. “While the Latino Cultural District is a special place, it...
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors commended the city’s Homeless Outreach Team for its work reaching out to and offering services to the homeless. Supervisor Malia Cohen initiated the commendation for “serving city’s homeless population and selfless deication to building bridges out of homelessness.” Accepting the commendation on behalf of the team, HOT director Jim Zelaya-Wagner addressed his team. “You work with...
Traduccion en español aquí. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved 9-1 an ordinance directing the Recreation and Parks department to install a memorial to police shooting victim Alex Nieto at Bernal Heights Park. Supporters of the memorial, friends of Nieto’s parents and advocates who have mobilized around his and other police shootings, burst into cheers at the vote, with...
San Francisco supervisors challenged Acting Police Chief Toney Chaplin on his commitment to reform at a Tuesday hearing at the Board of Supervisors. Supervisors asked pointed questions about everything from Chaplin’s ability to push back against the influential police union to working towards changing department culture. “We are getting all this talk about things happening and implementation, but I...
Community members, homeless advocates and city leaders weighed in Thursday at City Hall on legislation that would give homeless campers longer notice of impending camp removals and guarantee them shelter. The hearing took place during the Board of Supervisors Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. While all agreed that tent encampments – some 80 of which have been mapped by...
This week, we decided to ask candidates for District 9 supervisor to talk about their backgrounds, particularly in regards to housing. We received a series of questions from a reader interested in finding out whether candidates had experiences with evictions and owning property, and how long the candidates have lived in the district they hope to represent. Respuestas en español aquí....
Mission tech workers reacted to a proposal for a tech tax to curb the city’s growing inequality with comments ranging from skepticism to wondering why such a tax had not been imposed earlier. Mission-based tech worker Erini Blakey said that while the tax would rightfully “force tech companies to be good citizens,” she questioned its efficacy since it targets only...
Supervisor John Avalos today announced his intention to mandate reforms to the Police Department’s use of force policies by withholding a portion of the department’s budget until reform metrics are met. The proposed budget amendment would hold $200 million of the budget on reserve, with its release dependent on positive quarterly reviews by the city. Success would be measured in...
Mayor Lee told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday that he had yet to read the recently released findings by a blue-ribbon panel that found a lack of oversight and prevalence of racial bias within the police department. Those preliminary findings emerged from a year-long investigation commissioned by the District Attorney’s Office. “Right now I can’t tell you what that report...
