PHDC NEWSLETTER
ISSUE #86  ✧  FEBRUARY, 2016
Dear , PHDC logo

"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." is a quote often attributed to Francis of Assisi, our city's namesake. Whether he actually said it or not, let's let it be the theme of the discussion at PHDC's next meeting. Please join us.

Joni Eisen, President
Tuesday, March 1st: Homelessness in San Francisco

We've heard about the problems. We've seen the problems. At this meeting, we want to focus on solutions - real, imagined; happening, never tried; possible, impossible; short-term, long-term; direct action, legislation; good, perfect...

Please join the discussion with these local folks to hear their ideas:
  • Emily Cohen, Deputy Director, Mayor's Office of HOPE (Housing Opportunity, Partnership & Engagement)    
  • Ken Fisher, Founder/Designer, RouteHome
  • Julie Leadbetter, Director, San Francisco Navigation Center 
  • Shira Noel, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Homeless Youth Alliance
  • Amy Farah Weiss, Founder/Director, Saint Francis Homelessness Challenge*   
...and let's hear some of yours!

*In advance of attending this meeting, Amy Weiss requests that you please take the online quiz/survey to test your knowledge about the status quo of homelessness in SF and learn more about the Saint Francis Homelessness Challenge. Thanks.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 1, at 7pm

WHERE: Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro St @ Southern Heights

 
Imminent community planning meetings of high interest
TOMORROW, Monday, February 22, 6 - 8pm
Affordable Housing Density Bonus Program District 10 Community Meeting. The Planning Department finally comes to D10 to present the Mayor-approved proposal, which has seen plenty of criticism in the press and from the public along the way, and has been amended somewhat as a result. Come hear what is currently proposed and put in your 2�. Southeast Community Facility, 1800 Oakdale.

Tuesday, February 23, 6 - 8pm
Railyard Alternatives and I-280 Boulevard Feasibility Study Meeting. San Francisco Planning presents a discussion on a multi-agency program studying transportation and land use alternatives in the most rapidly growing areas of the City: South of Market, Mission Bay, and Showplace Square/Lower Potrero Hill. In anticipation of the Downtown Rail Extension (DTX), the electrification of Caltrain, and High-Speed Rail, the City is studying how best to coordinate these projects in a unified vision for the area rather than building each project independently.

The first phase of the RAB has prepared conceptual design alternatives for four different project components, in addition to a study of overall land use considerations and opportunities for placemaking:
  • Make I-280 a boulevard
  • Value engineer the proposed DTX alignment
  • Create a loop track/extension to the East Bay to enhance operational capacity at the Transbay Transit Center
  • Reconfigure, relocate, or substantially reduce the 4th and King railyard
  • Create placemaking, neighborhood connectivity, employment and transit-oriented development opportunities
  Potrero Hill Recreation Center Auditorium, 801 Arkansas. Registration, more info here.
Endorsements for the June election - a few notes about the process
If you are thinking of joining PHDC (you can join online now) this year as a new member: that's great! Please remember that in order to vote on endorsements, you must have 1) been a member for 2 months before the endorsement meeting, and 2) attended at least two PHDC-sponsored meetings or other events during the past year.

There will be two endorsement meetings: Tuesday April 5th, for ballot measures and some candidate races, and Tuesday April 12th, for the SF Democratic County Central Committee. 

February 2nd meeting followup
Robyn Thomas (left), Executive Director of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, has been keeping up the good fight in the face of daunting challenges. It's been about three years since Robyn has appeared at our club; it was time for another conversation. The focus was on President Obama's recent move to shore up background-check laws, and also on a package of gun reforms in the Safety For All Act, a 2016 California ballot measure sponsored by her organization together with Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom.
 Photo: John O'Neill.  

Robin Dean
, (right), an activist for the soda tax last time around, spoke about the Sugary Drinks Distributor Tax Ordinance, a new, revised and possibly more passable version now gathering signatures in San Francisco.
Club members voted to early-endorse the measure, but the Executive Committee subsequently determined that since proper notice was not given for an endorsement vote, the endorsement was not valid and will therefore be taken up again at a regular endorsement meeting.

Other business included updating the Bylaws to comply with a new requirement of the CA Democratic Party; passing a resolution in support of the environmental appeal of the City's permanent commuter shuttle program; and electing club officers. Elected for 2016:

President - Joni Eisen
1st Vice-President (membership) - Tony Kelly
2nd Vice-President (political action) - Bob Boileau
Secretary - Gary Horowitz
Treasurer - Audrey Cortes
Tech Officer - John O'Neill
Officer-At-Large - Kim Christensen
Officer-At-Large - J.R. Eppler
Officer-At-Large - Eliana L�pez
Officer-At-Large - Monisha Mustapha


Potrero Hill Democratic Club