Supervisor Jake McGoldrick: Evictions Data Collection

Greetings. I hope everyone is having a healthy and happy summer.

While most school-aged youth are enjoying their much earned summer vacation, I am working to improve the well being of our youngest residents and families during the school year. I have introduced two pieces of legislation that will help us understand the damaging impacts of evictions of families with children.

The first piece is an ordinance amending the Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Ordinance to collect data on evictions involving families with school-age children during the school term.

The second piece is a resolution urging the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to track student "mobility" (changing schools) caused by residential evictions.

Currently, SFUSD tracks student mobility but does not track changes of address caused by residential evictions. The Office of the Legislative Analyst has already produced a report, which substantiates that moving and changing schools has a negative impact on children's academic performance.

It is also important for the SFUSD to collect this data. Students who miss many days of school tend to fall behind. When these youth change schools during the school year, they are often placed in new classrooms before their records are transferred, leading to inappropriate placement.

In general, moving is stressful. Knowing how this stress impacts academic performance is critical for the City in providing appropriate services and legislative solutions. I believe that both pieces of legislation will go a long way to help identify and address the negative impacts that children and youth face due to relocation, especially when forced to move because of their socio-economic circumstances.

Golden Gate Park Access
My efforts to create safe recreation space on Saturdays in Golden Gate Park has led to a fruitful discussion with the disabled community that has generated solutions to increasing disability access to Golden Gate Park. I have developed legislation to expand access for the disabled community to Golden Gate Park's Sunday car-free program.

The legislation calls for an increase of eight accessible parking spaces on Eighth Avenue, an additional 10 accessible parking spaces to assist with access to closure areas, a signed drop-off zone at Bowling Green Drive, as well as an intra-park transit shuttle.

The legislation is scheduled in the Board of Supervisors' Land Use Committee Aug. 9, at 1 p.m., in Room 263 at City Hall. To show your support, please come to the hearing or send letters or e-mails to all of the members of the SF Board of Supervisors and the mayor.

Neighborhood Beautification
Enclosure of Garbage Receptacles - My legislation passed unanimously at the Board of Supervisors last month. It requires residents to place their garbage, recycling, and compost containers out of plain sight from the public when viewed from the sidewalk.

Many residents have found they no longer need the large 32 gallon trash cans. Thanks to recycling and composting, there is a reduced need for larger 32 gallon cans. You can save money and space by switching to the 20 gallon cans.

If you would like to exchange trash cans, contact Sunset Scavenger at 330-1300. The receptacle exchange is free.

Greening Initiative - This citywide policy is currently underway.

The SF Department of Public Works is assessing streets for major street tree plantings on Turk Street, between Broderick and Arguello; Balboa Street, between Sixth and 33rd avenues and 44th Avenue and the Great Highway; and on 25th Avenue, from Fulton Street to Scenic Way. Please contact 28- CLEAN or 554-6700 to learn more about street tree planting.

Argonne Playground - The replacement of the clubhouse with a 1,700-square-foot building is underway. The building will include a community room, reading room, director's office, kitchen, storage area and restrooms. Demolition activity began in January 2006 and construction will be ongoing for approximately one year.

Rossi Playground - The playground currently has swings and wood climbing structures and is blessed with mature trees within and around the play area. Generally, the play area will be renovated to comply with safety and disability standards. The scope of work includes demolition of the existing play area, new play equipment, rubber safety surface, benches, tables, ornamental fencing, infrastructure for a future restroom, landscaping and irrigation. The City has been working closely with the Friends of Rossi Park in the planning phase and in developing an exciting design concept.

San Francisco Supervisor Jake McGoldrick represents District 1.