City Hall: Supervisor Eric Mar

Supporting the Richmond's Small Businesses
This past year I am proud to have worked closely with the Greater Geary Boulevard Merchants Association, Clement Street Merchants Association, and the Planning Association for the Richmond to make our commercial corridors visibly cleaner and more vibrant. After several weeks of conversation with the director of the SF Department of Public Works (DPW), I am happy to announce that DPW has agreed to include the Geary corridor, from 14th to 27th avenues, in the city's Corridors Project. This means additional resources will be devoted to keeping that section of the corridor clean. Thanks to the groups I mentioned for helping achieve this significant community victory.

I am also holding a hearing on Monday, Dec. 5, at the Board of Supervisors' Land Use Committee meeting, to learn about the impact that formula retail is having on our small business community. I am working with members of the pet shop owner coalition that helped me to pass the ban on formula retail pet shops earlier this year to bring local business owners to this hearing and am reaching out to Asian and Russian serving businesses as well. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m., in Room 263 of City Hall. I encourage everyone's participation.

Shop Local
On Nov. 26, I participated in Small Business Saturday, a national day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities.

According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses have created two out of every three new jobs over the past 15 years and employ more than half of all private sector employees. Small businesses truly are the job creators in our community and provide our commercial corridors with their uniqueness and vibrancy. Without question, when small businesses thrive, a community thrives.

This year's District 1 participants were Clement Street small businesses - Green Apple Books, Park Life and SeedStore. I encourage you all to patronize these great shops as well as all of our other fantastic, locally-owned, small businesses. Small Business Saturday should not be celebrated just one day: We should celebrate our local businesses every day.

Helping Seniors and Russian Speakers
In November, I introduced and passed two resolutions that will greatly benefit District 1 residents.

First, BRIDGE Housing Corporation's Coronet senior housing project on Geary Boulevard was, through no fault of its own, in danger of defaulting on a bond obligation. This placed its 150 senior residents in peril. My resolution extended the bond maturity date by three months, enough time for it to close on a loan that will allow it to meet its bond obligation and continue to provide stellar, dignified housing for hundreds of low-income seniors. I will continue to work with BRIDGE in the future to ensure that this critical community resource keeps going strong.

Also, I was approached by the National Council On Alcoholism and Other Drug Addictions (NCADA), which operates a "first offender driving under the influence (DUI) program" in San Francisco. Through this program, NCADA has identified a number of Russian-speaking clients who require a multiple offender program. They asked that the Board of Supervisors recommend their program for licensure with the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs as required by state law.

The national council provides a critically important service and this new program will fill a big safety need in our under-served community that is often overlooked. It will not have a fiscal impact as it will be funded by the participants. This new program is a true win/win for our district.

December Coffee Hour
My next coffee hour is scheduled on Dec. 20, at the Toy Boat Dessert Cafe, 401 Clement St., at 10 a.m. If you need my attention before then, please feel free to contact my office at (415) 554-7410 or e-mail me at eric.l.mar@sfgov.org.

San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar represents District 1.