The Grow SF Report, Vol. 34: Senator Wiener Endorses School Board Recall
Plus, the NIMBY Report analyzes Dean Preston's record on housing
Published November 06, 2021
What You Need To Know
Here's what happened around the city for the week of October 31st, 2021:
A progressive backlash in San Francisco
Senator Scott Wiener endorses the Board of Education recall
A love letter to Golden Gate Park
The NIMBY Report analyzes Dean Preston's record on housing
As the Nation Goes, So Does San Francisco?
San Francisco was in the national news again as the White House correspondent for Yahoo! theorized that progressives are seeing a backlash --- "even in San Francisco."
"Parents are outraged by the state of public education. Citizens are tired of property crime and theft. Their combined frustration has turned San Francisco into an unlikely sign of where American politics is heading as the congressional midterms near."
Senator Scott Wiener Endorses School Board Recall
Senator Scott Wiener is perhaps the most influential thought leader in San Francisco politics and he published a tweet thread lays out the case for why he supports recalling all three commissioners on the San Francisco School Board who face a recall vote in February.
The Bay Area Reporter has full coverage of the school board recall campaign launch this week.
A Love Letter to Golden Gate Park
A writer who spent the pandemic in San Francisco found refuge in Golden Gate Park. She explains the magic of the location for a national audience in a Washington Post essay:
"Before the pandemic, I left my house looking for adventure; now, I mostly leave seeking relief from hectic workdays and a chance to quiet my racing mind. During my West Coast sojourn, I found both at Golden Gate Park."
The NIMBY Report Tracks Housing Blocked by Dean Preston
We now know precisely how many homes Dean Preston has opposed: 28,708. The NIMBY Report breaks this down project by project.
Your Action Plan
Now that you know what's happening, help us shape what happens next:
Yes, Gerrymandering Happens in Local Elections
Find out how the local supervisor districts are going to be redrawn in the coming months. The stakes are high, because the lines will be in place for the next decade and can help or hinder certain candidates from winning local office.
TogetherSF is hosting a panel discussion on redistricting. The conversation features Vikrum Aiyer, Deputy Director at the National ACLU, Viva Mogi, San Francisco Elections Commissioner, and Byron Philhour, Ph.D., Political Data Scientist at RTBiQ.
Monday November 8\ 7pm\ By Zoom\ RSVP here
State Assembly Candidate Forum
One of the hottest political tickets in town is the Assembly District 17 to determine who will the seat vacated by David Chiu when he became City Attorney. This assembly seat represents residents on the Eastern side of San Francisco at the state capitol in Sacramento.
Monday November 15\ 5:30pm\ By Zoom\ RSVP here
The Grow SF PAC has endorsed Bilal Mahmood in this race.
Fun in SF
Check out some of our favorite fun activities happening in SF right now:
The Golden Girls Live!
Take 4 San Francisco drag legends, cast them in two parody Xmas episodes of the uproarious TV show: THE GOLDEN GIRLS, and you have the perfect holiday event for the entire family.
Last Chance to See Wangechi Mutu at the Legion
Wangechi Mutu, "I am Speaking, Can You Hear Me?" at the Legion of Honor ends this weekend. Did you know? Tickets to the Legion of Honor also include admission to the de Young! Get your tickets here.
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Update: SF COVID-19 Vaccinations
Vaccines are now available to anyone 5 years and up! Click here to search for vaccination sites and to book an appointment.
The FDA has authorized boosters for the following populations:
All Johnson & Johnson recipients older than 18
Elderly and high-risk Moderna recipients
Elderly and high-risk Pfizer-BioNTech recipients
Consult this CDC webpage to determine if you are "high-risk"
Note: Recipients of one vaccine may choose a different vaccine for their booster. For example, if you got the Johnson & Johnson shot, you may choose J&J, Moderna, or Pfizer for your booster.
Current stats
Vaccination Rate: 85% of SF residents over 5 have received at least 1 dose. 79% have been fully vaccinated.
Eligibility: All SF residents 5 and older are eligible to be vaccinated!