Supervisor Eric Mar: Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Happy Lunar New Year.

May the Year of the Rabbit bring happiness and prosperity to your family.

Richmond businesses hit by disability lawsuits
My office has been busy working with Supervisor Carmen Chu's office and city staff to assist the escalating number of small businesses in the Richmond District that have been hit with "drive-by" disability lawsuits.

There have been numerous instances of merchants receiving letters of demand for money, from attorneys representing disabled persons, claiming the business is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

My office has been working with the Small Business Assistance Center and the Mayor's Office on Disability to assist in getting the word out to business owners about ADA compliance, and resources available to businesses to help protect them. If you own a business in the Richmond, or know someone who does, and are unsure if your business is accessible under the ADA, please call my office at (415) 554-7410. Knowing your rights and responsibilities is crucial, as is accessing all of the types of assistance available.

Additionally, I am chairing a hearing soon, co-sponsored by Supervisor Chu, to assess the progress of our Department of Building Inspection in complying with SB 1608, and providing mandated inspection services. That bill was passed by the state legislature in 2009 to promote and increase compliance with laws providing equal public access in places of business to individuals with disabilities, while reducing unwarranted litigation that does not advance that goal.

Alexandria Theater update
The Alexandria Theater project on Geary and 18th Avenue was reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission on Jan. 19. The commission provided comments to the project sponsor and made recommendations, which then can be approved or rejected by the SF Planning Commission. The commissioners seemed to like the latest proposed plan better than earlier proposals.

My office will continue to closely monitor the progress of the project through the entitlement phase. In the meantime, I have requested a meeting and tour of the property with the owner because it seems to be in very poor condition and has deteriorated more and more over time. We will continue to work with city staff to enforce violations and encourage the owner to maintain the property in anticipation of the upcoming construction.

La Playa Safeway
Many Richmond residents are aware that Safeway at the beach is actively engaged in community outreach regarding the redesign of its store on La Playa. Safeway has been working with its neighbors on La Playa, 48th Avenue and Cabrillo Street to develop a design that reflects the special character of the Ocean Beach neighborhood and serves the grocery needs of the Outer Richmond.

For those of you interested in seeing the most recent design, please visit www.safewayonlaplayasf.com. I am hosting a community meeting, along with members of the Planning Association for the Richmond, Ocean Beach Homeowners Association and 48th Avenue neighbors, in late February to discuss Safeway's new design and get community feedback. Although a date and time has not been selected, please visit www.safewayonlaplayasf.com for the most up-to-date information on where and when that meeting will be held. You can also call my office for the meeting location.

Fresh & Easy
Richmond residents have been anxiously awaiting the opening of our neighborhood Fresh & Easy and we expect the store to open early this year at the old Albertsons on 32nd Avenue and Clement Street.

The building has been repainted and new trees have been planted. The store is hiring locally for up to 25 new positions. Stay tuned as progress towards the opening continues.

Grand opening of the Institute on Aging's Senior Campus
The Institute on Aging (IOA) has begun to move its offices to the Senior Campus, located at 3575 Geary Blvd. (at Arguello), although the official opening will not be until April.

The Institute has provided services to seniors and adults with disabilities for more than 20 years and will continue to offer a wide range of services within the new facility. The Senior Campus will be the main center for IOA, continuing previously offered services like geriatric assessment, mental health and elder abuse prevention, while including new services, such as community education events and a healing garden. Adult day care and health services will move to the new location by March.

In collaboration with the BRIDGE Housing Corporation, the Senior Campus will also house the Coronet Apartments, 150 affordable living spaces for seniors and people with disabilities.

Coffee with Eric
Please join me for coffee on Friday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., at the CafŽ Muse, 785 Eighth Ave., between Fulton and Cabrillo streets. Come meet with me and other Richmond District residents and share what's on your mind.

Please feel free to contact our office anytime at Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org or (415) 554-7410.

San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar represents District 1.