by Erik Honda, DTNA Secretary
On June 14, our second in-person meeting since the beginning of COVID-19, and the first at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts (HMCA) in Duboce Park, brought together a lively group of neighbors to hear a San Francisco Fire Department presentation sparked by the major fire on Noe Street in May.
The meeting was chaired by Membership Coordinator and Beaver Street neighbor Paige Rausser. Robby Roller, the facility coordinator for HMCA, described multitudinous programs now going on at the Center.
Lieutenant John Baxter, the Fire Department’s public information liaison officer, presented information about how fires are handled, how the public should respond when there are fires in the neighborhood, and various ways for the public to protect themselves. He said that recent fires in the area have been from undetermined causes, but most are suspected electrical fires. The Noe Street fire started between the buildings, but within the walls, the most likely cause again being electrical.
Lt. Baxter particularly recommended watch- ing the “Close before you doze” video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Nu5ICj3LwqE which explains the importance of keeping bedroom doors closed at night to give extra time to escape a fire. He also suggested having a working smoke alarm in every room, even though current code only requires alarms in hallways and bedrooms. If you can’t afford it, contact the fire department, they have donated alarms.
Baxter also went over some of the SFFD’s new services; they are taking care of some of the things that police used to do. They have a Street Opioid Response Team, which responds when people are shooting up or overdosing, and that includes follow-ups to get folks into services or on a medication regime. Soon there will be a system to call this Team directly and not get the police. They also have a Street Crisis Response Team which handles unhoused individuals in crisis, as well as a Street Wellness Response Team for people suffering psychological breakdowns or bothering other citizens in a nonviolent manner. For more information text your zip code to 888-7777 for Alert SF, or email Lt. Baxter at firepio@sfgov.org.
Our new DTNA Summer intern Martine Kushner then went over the series of Slow Triangle Workshops she is planning so that neighbors can help design the neighborhood upgrade plans we will present to the City. DTNA Secretary Erik Honda gave a brief history of Slow Triangle efforts so far, and introduced Martine, who is a graduate student pursuing a dual masters degree in City Planning and Architecture, with a concentration in Environmental Planning & Healthy Cities. Martine explained that the work- shops would start the following week and include a June community meeting for initial design input, an early July charrette to con- sider various alternatives, a community meeting in late July to look at the designs based on input, and a final presentation and discussion in early August. Many neighbors at the meeting eagerly signed up to be involved, and if you missed it you too can participate by emailing landuse@dtna.org to be put on the contact list.
We adjourned in concord at about 8:10, and several neighbors stayed to chat and to volunteer to deliver the Duboce Triangle News. Thanks neighbors!