Transit and the J-Church Improvement Project

June 15, 2019 Mark D McHale Leave a comment

Our Own Supervisor, Rafael Mandelman, is hard at work. He's launched the J Church Improvement Project and writes: Muni’s J Church line serves nearly 17,000 riders each weekday in Noe Valley, the Castro, the Mission, Glen Park and Mission Terrace. Our office has been working with the SFMTA to create a plan to better serve those riders, and starting in May we launched the J Church Improvement Project. The first step in the process is a Listening Tour, where the SFMTA is asking riders about their top concerns and what improvements you would like to see. The SFMTA will be putting together proposals over the summer to address these issues based on what we hear. Check out the upcoming schedule by visiting the J Church Improvement Project page, and visiting these upcoming neighborhood meetings:

Mission Dolores Neighborhood Assn, 6/11, 6:30pm
Upper Noe Neighbors, 7/17, 7pm
Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association, 7/24, 7:00 pm

In addition, you can tell the SFMTA what improvements you would like to see on the J Church by emailing JChurchProject@sfmta.com.

Governance

A Small Step Forward to Help Some of Those Struggling on Our Streets

June 6, 2019 Mark D McHale Leave a comment

There's a glimmer of hope from the Board of Supervisors, who struck a deal to pass SB-1045 after all.

For all the hand-ringing and political posturing it took to arrive at even this meager solution to get the absolute worst cases of mentally ill off the street and into some modicum of care, it's no surprise why we can't seem to solve this huge problem given the huge amounts of energy, money and social cohesiveness it's been sucking from our community and city budget. This bill will purportedly apply only to 2-5 people across the entire city.

Thanks to our own D-8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Carolyn Thomas and Jared Goldfine (Ford Street Action Group), and all our neighbors who got involved, showed up at City Hall, and made their support known to our Supervisor and the Board.

Read this write up in the Chronicle for more details.

Events

Castro Art Walk – June 2019

May 14, 2019 Rob Cox Leave a comment

Governance, Meetings, Quality of Life

It’s Time to Speak up for Some of the Most Vulnerable Among Us…

May 12, 2019 Mark D McHale Leave a comment

EVNA Members- Call to Action

As president of EVNA, and as your neighbor, I'd like to ask you to be at this meeting at city hall tomorrow- will you show up to support SB-1045, The Conservatorship Law?

San Francisco needs to address the serious and inhumane crisis on our streets. Mental illness affects nearly 25% of individuals living outdoors.

We've seen it everywhere in our neighborhood- it's distressing, overwhelming, and at times terrifying to witness the extreme and out of control behavior of people who are obviously suffering from mental illness, whether organically or chemically induced. It's shameful that we've allow this to go on, and it's inhumane to leave them outside to survive in often brutal circumstances.

There's a time when, with care and transparency, we need to help these worst-case individuals by taking them into care, stabilizing their situation, and hopefully help them into services to improve their lives over time.

The SF Board of Supervisors is deliberating the merits of SB-1045 (The Conservatorship law) and is taking public input as to what citizens think would be in the best interests of our city, carefully weighing civil liberties and conservatorship.

The hearing is Monday 5/13 at City Hall, Room 250, beginning at 10am. The Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association is in support of applying SB-1045 Conservatorship to the most hardcore individuals, estimated to be 5-12 people in the entire city. They need us to speak for them- let's take this small step in the name of human kindness...

Planning

Upper Market Retail Vacancies

April 16, 2019 the Eureka! Leave a comment

The follow-up community meeting regarding Upper Market retail vacancies with Veritas has been scheduled for Monday, April 29th at 6pm. The meeting will be held at 693 14th Street.

Elections, Planning, Quality of Life

The Proposed Mission Dolores GBD

April 11, 2019 the Eureka! 3 Comments

Many of our EVNA members who live on the East side of Castro street but not within the boundaries of the Castro/Upper market Community Benefit District (Castro CBD) will have an opportunity to participate in the process for the formation of a new proposed Mission Dolores Green Benefit District (MDGBD).

Conan McHugh and Tom Shaub of the MDGBD formation committee briefed the EVNA Board of Directors about proposed GBD and the general concepts involved in making the GBD a reality. The Board concurred with the GBD Formation Committee on the process of engaging neighbors to evaluate the needs and benefits a GBD could bring to the neighborhood. The EVNA Board has taken no position on the property owner election to establish the GBD and is eager to provide a forum for our members to engage in meaningful discussion on the pros and cons of a GBD as proposed.

For more information about the proposed GBD, you can visit the MDGBD website at http://www.doloresgbd.org

EVNA Members are invited to join a meaningful discussion below. You must be a member in good standing (i.e., dues up to date) to participate. Being a subscriber to our newsletter is not membership. If you live within the boundaries of the ENVA, please join us to join the conversation.

Quality of Life, Recruiting

Castro Welcome pack kick off this week

April 5, 2019 Mark D McHale Leave a comment

The long awaited Castro Welcome Pack campaign is ready for delivery! We've got our backs packed (so to speak!), we have about 100 addresses, and now all we need is our volunteers to pick 'em up and get 'em delivered!

You've been hearing for several months now that the EVNA is launching a quarterly program to welcome all new residents to the neighborhood with a "Hello!" and a wine tote gift bag that includes information about EVNA and also promotes our local businesses with coupons and specials. I can't think of a better way to make sure those moving into the neighborhood feel connected and cared for from the start!

The delivery process goes something like this: you and a friend pick up about 10-15 of the pre-assembled, pre-addressed gift bags, and get them delivered before the end of April- anytime that works for you and your side-kick (we recommend teams of 2 people). The idea is to meet new residents face to face, say hello and welcome to the neighborhood, share a little bit about yourself, the Castro, and invite them to check out EVNA and to stop in the shops and restaurants with these specials included in the gift bag. Sounds pretty fun and easy! We've got a conversation guide if you need it, and a system to deal with recipients who might not be home the first time.

Volunteers had a great time putting all the bags together, and it's going to be a lot of fun getting them delivered. I know from experience, that the more I invest my time in helping others to feel connected, I somehow walk away with the same gift- it's a great feeling. If you'd like to help with delivery of the Castro Welcome Packs, email me and I'll get you connected!

mark.mchale@evna.org

Working to Improve Life in Eureka Valley Since 1881