When should San Francisco police officers bring in certified language interpreters in their dealings with people who don’t speak English well? A new city policy directs officers to look for signs when an interpreter is needed.
Tag: News
Posted inArtificial Intelligence, Economy & Business, Labor, News, Technology, Transportation
Drivers Protest Uber’s ‘Black Box’ Fare System
Uber’s use of secretive fare pricing algorithms driven by artificial intelligence lowers drivers’ wages, causes them confusion and uncertainty, and could undermine public safety — all while boosting company profits to record levels.
That’s the conclusion of a new report surveying more than 2,500 Uber drivers and the message sounded by dozens who protested July 1 outside the company’s San Francisco headquarters.
Drivers say the company’s opaque fare-pricing algorithms have been hurting their income and wellbeing. The protesters’ signs echoed conclusions from the report by PowerSwitch Action and Gig Workers Rising, grassroots organizations representing workers and labor interests.
Posted inCommunity, Housing, Neighborhoods, News
Mission District Slated to Gain 168 Affordable Homes for Families by 2027
After years of advocacy and shifting plans, construction has begun on Casa Adelante at 1515 South Van Ness, a project set to bring 168 below-market-rate units to the Mission District by 2027 for low-income, formerly homeless, and HIV-affected families.
Posted inNews
Landlord-Tenant Spat Persists in Tenderloin Building Where Resolution Seemed Possible
San Francisco’s largest residential landlord has withdrawn an offer of rent reductions for tenants of a Tenderloin building who have been on rent strike and negotiating with the property owner for more than a year, tenant organizers say. The landlord is moving to evict six of the seven remaining striking tenants.
Posted inCity Hall, Community, Government & Politics, News
Inadequate Language Services Leave Immigrants in the Dark at SF Public Meetings
For immigrants and other San Francisco residents who speak little English, accessible and robust interpretation services are essential in order to understand what’s said at public meetings and communicate with officials.
The city claims to have the strongest language-access policies in the nation, and a new proposal is on the way to strengthen them further. But, in practice, those policies leave a communication gap between lawmakers and those affected by their laws, community groups say.
Posted inCity Hall, Government & Politics, Homelessness, Housing, News
Missed Connections: SF Shelter Hotline Staff Could Not Reach Most People Who Called for Help
Data from San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing show that accessing shelter is very difficult for unhoused people in San Francisco due to a lack of available beds and other barriers.
Posted inCity Hall, Health, Law & Justice, News, Overdose Crisis
Supervisor Defends Dropping Support for Addiction-Treatment Centers
Supervisor Matt Dorsey received backlash this month for asking the mayor to redirect the entire $18.9 million in city funding budgeted for a new drop-in addiction treatment center toward jails instead.
Dorsey told the San Francisco Public Press that he reversed his previous support for the centers — called wellness hubs — once the city’s plans narrowed to one site from six, and removed safe consumption sites, which would have allowed people to consume drugs under supervision so they could receive immediate help in case of overdose.
Dorsey said he now wants the funds to go toward jail health services, including forcing treatment for people in jail who are struggling with substance abuse disorder.
Posted inLaw & Justice, News
State Supreme Court to Weigh In on Long Trial Delays
A lawsuit against San Francisco Superior Court over its routine failure to uphold defendants’ right to a speedy trial is now in the hands of California’s Supreme Court. San Francisco has more than 1,100 cases past statutory time limits, and 115 of those defendants are languishing in jail without a conviction.
Posted inCity Hall, News, Reparations, Social Justice
New Reparations Ideas Include Senior Housing, Legal Assistance and a ‘Black Card’ for Local Discounts
The San Francisco African American Reparations Advisory Committee shared its final recommendations to remedy historical and ongoing harms to local Black communities.
Posted inNews, Public Safety, Ride-Hailing’s Dark Data, Transportation, Utilities
Local Planners Say State Failed to Track Safety Incidents on Uber and Lyft
The state agency responsible for ensuring Uber and Lyft rides are safe failed to consistently track the number of accidents, assaults and drunk driving complaints that occur on them, according to a new study by San Francisco traffic planners.
The California Public Utilities Commission did not even consistently collect the most basic industry information, such as ride requests and miles driven, the report from the San Francisco County Transportation Authority shows.