Mayor London Breed Tuesday gave San Francisco tenants an additional month to figure out how they will cover rent and avoid eviction, in light of economic hardships resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the soonest landlords could legally evict for nonpayment of rent is Dec. 1. That’s a month later than the previously announced eviction moratorium was set to end. The information was initially made public in a web post from the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco. The San Francisco Public Press received confirmation of these changes from Hugo Ramirez, a staff member at the Mayor’s office.
Yearly Archives: 2020
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, California, Economy & Business, Technology, Transportation
Taxi Workers Wait Out Fate of Uber and Lyft in California
On Aug. 20, a state appeals court gave Uber and Lyft more time to argue their case that they shouldn’t have to abide by a California law that requires them to classify their drivers as employees, who would be entitled to unemployment, sick leave and other benefits mandated in California.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Community, Coronavirus, Neighborhoods
Treasure Island Organizer Fights to Make Residents Heard
When the shelter-in-place order went into effect in San Francisco to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus, Treasure Island was going into a different kind of isolation than the rest of San Francisco. The island has extremely limited public transit service, just one grocery store, no public school and experiences frequent blackouts.
Posted inCoronavirus, Economy & Business, Environment, Health
Air Pollution Worsens COVID-19, but Bay Area Emissions Limits Are Unchanged
Limits on construction activity were lifted May 17 as California reopened. Reopening presaged a summer-long spike in COVID-19 cases. As the pandemic continues through wildfire season, and San Franciscans breathe in pollution from the fires’ miles-wide blankets of smoke, public health experts and researchers contacted for this article agree that human-created sources of pollution should be limited or eliminated.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, California, Utilities
Regulation Activist: Grid Mismanagement Led to Blackouts
Californians were hit with power shut-offs last weekend and were told to conserve energy by minimizing use as power needs could exceed availability. But some energy experts are doubtful that unusually high demand led to the shutdowns, alleging mismanagement on the part of the state’s energy grid operator.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Labor, Transportation
As Uber, Lyft Get Reprieve on Reclassification, Some Drivers Rally for Employee Status
Uber and Lyft were expected to shut down service at 11:59 p.m. tonight as a court ruling forcing them to reclassify drivers as employees was set to go into effect. With just hours to spare, an appeals court judge granted the companies a reprieve. “Civic” spoke with two drivers who want employee protections.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Media
‘Civic’ Marks One Year of In-Depth Community Radio Reporting
One year ago The San Francisco Public Press launched Civic, its flagship radio program and podcast, on our low-power radio station KSFP at 102.5 FM. Since then Civic has delivered in depth election reporting, interviewed community leaders, and explored the homelessness crisis, the housing shortage and inequality.
Posted inClimate Change, Environment, Health
S.F. Officials Warn Residents to Stay In to Avoid Smoke, May Open Respite Centers
City officials advised San Francisco residents to stay indoors wherever possible with the windows shut to protect against smoke from wildfires that has blanketed the region. On Wednesday afternoon, air quality was designated as unhealthy, though it has fluctuated. If smoke pollution deteriorates air quality to “very unhealthy,” the city will open respite centers, officials said in a press conference.
Posted in“Civic” Podcast, Government & Politics, Immigration, Media
‘Unforgetting’ Confronts Painful Personal, Political Histories of U.S. and Central America
Difficult and painful history connects gang violence and severe policing in Central America and in the United States, as well as mass migrations of refugees. In his new memoir, “Unforgetting,” Roberto Lovato teases out these connections with research and reporting, but also by telling his own story of coming of age as a U.S.-born child […]
Posted inClimate Change, Environment
As S.F. Edges Toward Building Electrification, Equity Questions Remain
San Francisco may be edging closer to its climate goals with an ordinance requiring all new construction to use electric power rather than gas. But the next step down that road involves retrofitting old buildings — and it could add costs low-income residents can’t afford.