Supervisor Carmen Chu: Tackling Neighborhood Issues

Homelessness
Many of you have contacted me with concerns about homeless issues in the City and the Sunset. We, the people at my office working on your behalf, want to be clear that this is an issue we take very seriously and share some of the efforts we are taking to address the issue.

For the first time, we've included funding in the city's budget for six homeless outreach workers for the west side of the City. These homeless outreach workers walk our streets everyday and, with repeated contact with homeless individuals, have been able to move people permanently off the streets. Please call 203-6643 or 203-9963 to be connected to the homeless outreach team. Or, as with any city issue, you can also call 311.

Various community organizations and our office have also worked closely with the Taraval Police Station to find better ways to address the issue.

We also met with Brian O'Neil, superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (National Park Service), regarding coordinating federal efforts with the City to address homeless encampments along beach areas. Other efforts that contribute to the solution include cleaning up our parks and other spaces.

Recently, we deployed our city's Department of Public Works (DPW) and SF Recreation and Park Department (RPD), along with community volunteers, to trim back trees and shrubs to improve visibility and prevent potential encampments along the Great Highway.

There is also legislation pending before the Government Audit and Oversight Committee that would tighten laws around camping in the parks.

Join us Dec. 17 for a community forum on homeless issues in the Sunset so we can listen to and address your concerns. Details are to-be-announced.

Neighborhood Clean-Ups
After hearing from residents that they wanted to see the public restrooms and surrounding area at 48th Avenue and Taraval Street improved, I asked City departments to help us organize a clean-up day.

On Dec. 1, dozens of community volunteers joined DPW and RPD to renovate the public restrooms at Taraval and 48th and to trim back dense bushes near the Great Highway and install new plants along the medians. DPW staff were also out filling potholes on the Great Highway.

On Nov. 17, more than 700 volunteers joined us in pruning trees and plants and removing graffiti along Sloat Boulevard, at Stern Grove, A.P. Giannini Middle School and Abraham Lincoln High School.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of those who took time out of their schedules to help clean our community and Ocean Beach following the oil spill. The efforts of hundreds of volunteers have made a huge impact on the health of our beach and our neighborhoods.

Office Hours
Please join me Wednesday, Jan. 9, between 4:30 - 6 p.m., for district office hours at the Sunset Recreation Center, located at Lawton Street and 28th Avenue. Stop by to share suggestions or to say hello. You can also contact my office at (415) 554-7460 or chustaff@sfgov.org for questions or suggestions or to sign up for our newsletter.

SF Supervisor Carmen Chu represents District 4.