Your Donations Count Donate Graphicat the Westside Observer!

District 7 Clean Up

Dream's Come True: Get That Neighborhood Improvement Funded

Big or Small Participatory Budgeting Can Make It Happen

SupervisorMyrna Melgar
Supervisor Myrna Melgar

•••••••••• March 9, 2023 ••••••••••

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members propose projects and collectively decide how to spend part of a public budget. It began in 2013 by then-Supervisor Norman Yee, and this year, Participatory Budgeting is back and improved! We are looking for bold and innovative ideas as well as necessary neighborhood improvement projects.

We hope to get as many different project ideas as we can, so be creative and tell us what your concerns, priorities, and ideas are. Please help us spread the word to your neighbors as we hope to expand community participation through this virtual process — every vote counts!

TIMELINE

  • Project Proposal Period: March 15 - April 14
  • Virtual Information Session: March 20, 6 - 7 PM
  • Review Period: April 15 -  June 11 
  • Voting Period: June 12 - June 26
  • Announcement of Winners: July 3 - July 6
  • Funds released to Departments and Department Project Manager assigned: Fall 2023
  • Proposals must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on April 14, 2023.  Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

PRIORITY AREAS

  • Successful applications will focus on activities responding to critical needs in the following areas: 
  • Community Resilience & Recovery: community capacity building, volunteer training, neighborhood beautification & improvements, etc.
  • Public Safety: whistles, safety kits, signs, lights, etc.
  • Disaster Preparedness: equipment, training, program expansion into new neighborhoods, etc.
  • Children and Seniors: programs, accessibility, and safety for young or elderly residents, etc. 
  • Vision Zero: pedestrian safety, traffic calming, bicycle safety, safety education programs, etc.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Successful project proposals will meet all of the following criteria for eligibility:
  • Proposals must be submitted by neighborhood associations, non-profits, merchant groups, or institutions located in District 7. 
    • Authoring entities not located in District 7 will be ineligible.
    • Individual residents and businesses must be sponsored by an organization.
  • Proposals must be for new projects that respond to a demonstrated community need. 
  • Only one proposal per author/group can be submitted. 
  • Proposals must align with at least one of the five priority area categories listed below. 
  • Proposals must be a one-time expenditure.
  • Proposals must benefit District 7 residents.
  • Proposals must receive a minimum of 400 votes to be eligible for funding. 
quote marks

The winning projects will be most closely reflective of the criteria and can be successfully completed with the funding allocated as a one-time grant. Members of this committee are ineligible to apply for Participatory Budgeting funding in order to avoid a conflict of interest.”

FUNDING

In order to have successful community projects, we have increased the grant amounts to be allocated to projects. Grants awarded will now receive up to $50,000 in funding. A total of $377,000 will be available for general projects and a total of $422,000 will be available for the category of Vision Zero.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

All proposals must be submitted through the Google Form found here. Proposals must include all of the following to be considered:

  • • Contact information for the proposer and project lead (if different) 
  • • Detailed description of the proposed project
  • • Detailed budget for the proposed project
  • • Priority Area(s) addressed
  • • Neighborhoods and or communities served
  • • Description of community support for proposed project.

SELECTION PROCESS

A committee of District 7 residents and community members who have subject-matter expertise will review and score proposals. We will have representatives from across District 7, including Park Merced, Twin Peaks, St. Francis Wood, Westwood Park, Balboa Terrace, Parkside, Sunnyside, Midtown Terrace, Miraloma, Inner Sunset, Golden Gate Heights, Westwood Highlands, Ingleside Terraces, and Forest Knolls.

The winning projects will be most closely reflective of the criteria and can be successfully completed with the funding allocated as a one-time grant. Members of this committee are ineligible to apply for Participatory Budgeting funding in order to avoid a conflict of interest. 

EXAMPLES OF WINNING PROJECTS FROM FY 2022 – 2023

  • Expand volunteer-based community litter pick-up and beautification program in West Portal ($1,600)
  • Improve traffic flow and safety at the intersection of Yerba Buena Avenue and Miraloma Drive ($37,500)
  • Install a pedestrian refuge island and analyze the crosswalk for feasibility of flashing beacons to improve pedestrian safety ($40,000)
  • Establish a workforce development program to prepare teens and young adults to grow professionally and develop fulfilling careers that uplift our community ($132,000)
  • Create community sports hub, including volleyball nets, a basketball hoop, a baseball diamond, and picnic tables at Sloat Elementary School ($25,000)
  • Install new string lights and new garbage cans along the Lakeside commercial corridor to encourage foot traffic and reduce litter ($44,000)
  • Fund murals, seating, and lighting along the Monterey Business District to elevate the corridor and provide additional community spaces ($50,000)
  • Expand the community building and disaster resilience through Neighborfests that will provide comprehensive training and strategies to help communities navigate a disaster ($50,000)
  • Create a community garden, emergency response hub, and gathering space for community disaster preparedness at Aptos Middle School ($45,000)

QUESTIONS?  Contact Emma Heiken - Emma.Heiken@sfgov.org 

Myrna Melgar is the Supervisor for District 7

March 9, 2023


Ballot Questions

Voting for District 7's Interests — Props L & G

SupervisorMyrna Melgar
Supervisor Myrna Melgar

Editor's Note: All election recommendations are the opinion of the author, the Westside Observer does not endorse candidates or measures and welcomes opinions to the contrary.

•••••••••• November 1, 2022 ••••••••••

On your November 8 ballot, you will see many propositions to vote on. From protecting the right to choose to increasing voter access, San Franciscans will have the power to shape the future of our state and our City. With so many crucial decisions on the ballot, we cannot overlook Proposition L and Proposition G. Prop L will dedicate new resources to fund transportation projects. Prop G will provide over $1 million in grants to community schools using state funding. Fear not, neither proposition will increase taxes for San Franciscans.

Passing prop L will ensure it’s easy, convenient, and predictable for our west side community members to get where they need to go—within their neighborhoods and across the entire city. Prop L most directly helps people who take Muni or who walk (through traffic calming). But it also helps drivers by paying for road repaving. Crucially, it includes investments in paratransit for seniors and people with disabilities who can’t use Muni independently. Last year, paratransit services provided SF community residents with almost half a million trips – a lifeline to get people to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores, visit with their grandkids, and more. And it helps us all by improving emergency vehicle response times by paying for new, “smart” traffic signals that can keep the traffic light green when a fire truck or ambulance needs it. Muni riders will enjoy new vehicles, including our eventual transition to an all-electric fleet, which directly helps us combat the climate crisis.

quote marks

I worry that without these resources, our most vulnerable west side community members—from school kids to seniors, and everyone in between —will continue to face unneeded challenges as we recover from this pandemic.”

Prop G will utilize excess ERAF funding the state has been setting aside to create a Student Success Fund that invests in community schools, which include social workers, nurses, mental health providers, community members, and trained coordinators. We know that schools have the capacity to be much more than classrooms; for many students, they are the primary resource for nutrition and healthcare as well. The community school model embraces this philosophy by creating a space for students and their families to access many of the most essential services all in one familiar place. Our students are still suffering from the devastating impact of the pandemic and the learning loss and trauma that it caused. As our City and our students struggle to recover, we have the opportunity to leverade the full potential of funds we have already dedicated to our youngest San Franciscans.

All of us see the room for improvement of San Francisco’s transportation system and in our public schools. We know that we can and we will do better. But that’s only possible if we pass Proposition L and Proposition G. I worry that without these resources, our most vulnerable west side community members—from school kids to seniors, and everyone in between —will continue to face unneeded challenges as we recover from this pandemic.

Myrna Melgar is the elected Supervisor for District 7

November 2022

Doorsign-Melgar.
Since We're Neighbors ...

It has been just over a month since I was sworn in as the District 7 Supervisor. I am grateful to the many neighbors and community members who trusted me to do the job, and I would also like to thank the talented and smart people who vied for this seat: Joel Engardio, Vilaska Nguyen, Stephen Martin Pinto, Ben Matranga, Emily Murase, and Ken Piper. Thank you for your energy, good ideas and spirit of civic engagement. I commit to working with all of you over the next four years to help us recover and improve the lives of people in our District.

quote marks

We will begin holding regular office hours in the community this month, as well as posting a monthly e-newsletter.

...
Aides Jen Low, Erica Maybaum (currently on maternity leave) Jennifer Fieber, Megan Imperiale meet on theSupervisor's patio. Not shown, Lila Carrillo who is filling in until Erica comes back

The events in our nation’s capital last month served to remind us that our Democracy is precious and that we are all responsible for maintaining it. I will work with all interested neighbors to support all our residents — including those who have been historically disadvantaged — to flourish here. I am committed to progress and equality, and will listen and collaborate, with a pragmatic focus on timely achievement of good results. I have been assigned to chair the Land Use and Transportation Committee at the Board of Supervisors, as well as representing the Board on the First Five Commission, where I hope to support our city’s investment in family supports for early education. Our district 7 office is up and running virtually, as City Hall is not yet open to the public. Our District 7 staff includes Jen Low, as Chief of Staff, Megan Imperiale and Lila Carrillo as legislative aides and Jennifer Fieber as administrative aide. We will strive to be promptly responsive and give the highest level of constituent services to our community. We will begin holding regular office hours in the community this month, as well as posting a monthly e-newsletter.

My priorities include reducing homelessness; increasing the availability of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities for San Franciscans; improving rent control protections for tenants; supporting small businesses, supporting the rights of workers, improving our public transportation infrastructure, reducing our city’s carbon footprint and expanding education opportunities for disadvantaged San Francisco youth and families. I will focus my efforts in the next few weeks on pandemic recovery and coordination, improving the Westside’s access to senior services, channeling resources to our small businesses, restoring and improving throughout District 7 and supporting the safety and resilience of neighborhoods and commercial corridors.

Please reach out to us at Melgarstaff@sfgov.org, and I look forward to working with you over the next four years to support our neighborhoods, and help pave the way for a bright future for the next generation. If there are topics of particular interest to you and your neighbors that you would like me to address more in depth through this column, email me at myrna.melgar@sfgov.org. Stay safe, and stay healthy.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar lives and works in District 7.

March 2021


Five of the state”s dirtiest beaches are in the Bay Area

SF Bay fish

SF’s Sewage Agency Needs Some Treatment

by Jeff Ruch

Want your taxes & utility fees to pay to pollute our beaches? SF taxpayers and ratepayers are footing the bill to fight for that privilege.

Check it out

Nancy Wuerfel

Thank You Nancy Wuerfel

by George Wooding

Oh no! You don't want Nancy Wuerfel on your case! That woman does her homework, which means that you're going to have to do yours as well!.

Read More

Waiting List

Laguna Honda’s battle to keep 120 skilled nursing beds is unnecessary.

Patrick Monette-Shaw

LHH’s bedrooms exceed the minimum square-foot restrictions. They have sliding doors between each bedroom — essentially making them all private, single-person rooms.

Check it out

SFDPH enables contaminated development

Radioactive USS Independence

Health Dept. Streamlines Article 31

by Dr. Ahimsa Porter Sumchai

The Health Department’s Article 31 needs to prevent housing on radioactive sites.

Check it out

Milking Cows

Laguna Honda Seeks Additional $18 Million for Consultants

Recertification accomplished - so what’s this for?

Patrick Monette-Shaw

On top of the $64.9 M already spent — including $30.5 M on consultant contracts, $22.3 M lost Medi-Cal reimbursement, and $12 M misc.

Check it out

Beyond the tangle of red tape

Public Bank Race

Will SF be the first City with a Public Bank?

Doug Comstock

Mired in Dull-as-Dishwater Details, It's an Amazing Accomplishment — But Will Oakland Beat Us To It?

Check it out