The Weekly Digest (January 22, 2023)
Happy Sunday, Brionies! Here’s what you need to know about San Francisco politics this week and beyond:
City Hall
Monday, January 23 at 1:30pm: Regular meeting of the Land Use and Transportation Committee (agenda and call-in instructions here)
Agenda Item Number 3 – Resolution supporting the development of affordable housing at 1377 Fell Street, current site of the DMV.
Agenda Item Number 4 – Housing Element 2022 update.
Tuesday, January 24 at 2pm: Regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors (agenda and call-in instructions here):
Agenda Item Number 8 – Resolution authorizing the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) to accept and expend a Project Homekey grant to acquire 5630 Mission Street for permanent supportive housing for transitional-age youth. The resolution requires HSH to commit $13 million in matching funds.
Wednesday, January 25 at 12:30pm: Regular meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee (agenda and call-in instructions here)
Agenda Item Number 6 – Resolution approving agreement between the Department of Public Works and the Progress Foundation (operator of residential treatment facilities) in an amount not to exceed $222 million.
Agenda Item Number 13 – Hearing on the Mayor’s five-year budget projections.
Agenda Item Number 14 – Hearing on proposed draft budgets for FY 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
Happenings around town
Monday, January 23 at 6:30pm, Richmond Recreation Center (RSVP required)
Wednesday, January 25 at 11am, The Hoover Institution
Discover the fascinating, yet little known story of the Portuguese Consul who saved 30,000 people from Nazi persecution – by disobeying orders.
Friday, January 27 at 6pm, Jewish Community Center of San Francisco
Monday, January 30 at 6pm, The Commonwealth Club
Philip Taubman on George P. Shultz: The Life and Legacy of a Great Statesman
Tuesday, January 31 at 5pm, The Commonwealth Club
What we’re reading
Surprise, surprise, Mayor Breed – you appointed a Trojan horse to the Police Commission. Breed-appointee Max Carter-Oberstone’s proposal to ban certain types of traffic enforcement was approved by the Commission last week over the mayor’s (and most sensible observers’) objections. Carter-Oberstone was joined by the newly-reappointed Cindy Elias and two other commissioners in voting for the ban. (Ever-vigilant, your fearless Briones squires saw this coming.)
A Tale of Two Metrics: San Francisco’s graduation rate is higher than California’s, according to the state’s Department of Education. Great, right? Not so fast. Thanks to the SFUSD focusing its attention on renaming schools, banning art, and defending itself against frivolous lawsuits brought by its own board members, almost half of SFUSD students aren't prepared for college.
Here’s the latest in the lawsuit brought by the Coalition on Homelessness and the ACLU against the City for enforcing its long-standing prohibition against street camping. If you’re wondering why San Francisco is still short of shelter beds despite spending over $600 million a year on homelessness, you might find that this piece by Joe Lonsdale sheds some light.
According to US Census data, the San Francisco metro area lost 125 thousand residents from 2020 to 2021, but new LinkedIn data shows that some people are moving back.
We told you last week about a community meeting with DA Brooke Jenkins, Police Chief Bill Scott, and D2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani. Apparently, they got an earful. If you were there, let us know how you think it went!
As we’ve been saying, the SFPD is dangerously understaffed; Leighton Woodhouse explains why.
“Move over Detroit, here comes San Francisco.” This is not an article about square pizza.
Since the Mission has solved all of its problems, Hillary Ronen has made the wise choice to focus on illegal construction.
The proposal to pay $5 million in reparations to the city’s Black residents is not winning over conservatives.
Affordable Housing Quotas Imperil New S.F. Building Projects, New Study Says
What the Only Four Book Ban Requests in SF Reveal About the City