Supervisor Fiona Ma: Hard Work Last Year Paid Off

Thanks to the hard work of our neighbors, 2004 was a year for our residents to actively take back our neighborhoods and clean them up, make them safer and create sanctuaries for all to enjoy.

Neighborhood clean-ups were popular this past year. In several areas, neighbors not only picked up trash and painted over graffiti, but they also beautified the district. By collaborating with my office, the SF Department of Public Works, SF Recreation and Park Department, SF Public Utilities Commission, SF SAFE and the Taraval Police Station, our neighbors created several mini-parks for all to enjoy. Take a stroll in the district and visit La Playa Park, at the intersection of La Playa and Judah Street; Coastal Park, at Lower Great Highway and Taraval Street; and the newly landscaped meridian at El Mirasol Place and Sloat Boulevard. 

In the process of beautifying their neighborhoods, residents also took an active role in making the district safer. Last year saw the birth of several Neighborhood Watch groups, which are a great way for neighbors to get to know each other and pro-actively collaborate with Taraval Police Station to address concerns of safety, cleanliness, graffiti and crime.

In line with these local initiatives, my office and several of my colleagues at the SF Board of Supervisors have tackled various quality-of-life issues legislatively. As a result of growing concerns, we drafted and are actively working to pass legislation that would prohibit overnight parking of RVs, boats and trailers on our city streets. Anyone driving through the Sunset, particularly down Sunset Boulevard, is familiar with the visual blight and hazard these vehicles cause in our district and throughout the City.

Other quality-of-life issues I am addressing at the board include various ordinances regulating the posting of banners, signs and handbills on electrical and telephone poles and an ordinance protecting the safety of pedestrians on our streets. These ordinances resulted, in a large part, from concerns we received from residents or through community meetings.

If you are interested in starting any of the above initiatives or finding out more about our current efforts, please call me at (415) 554-7460. Of course, my office also continues to assist all residents with their concerns, including garbage and graffiti cleanup, traffic and pedestrian safety and access to various services. I look forward to continuing this work in 2005 and welcome your support.

San Francisco supervisor Fiona Ma represents District 4.