Board Membership:  With a newly vacated seat, the Board will begin recruiting for the current opening in advance of the upcoming Board election.

Website/Membership:  The Board discussed changes to the Membership Directory on DTNA’s website.  See the Membership/Website Tips article for all the details.

Land Use Updates:  DTNA has endorsed YES on Props D and L. At the August meeting, the Board discussed November ballot measures Prop D (Affordable Housing – Initiative Petition), Prop E (Affordable Housing – Board of Supervisors), Prop L (Sales Tax for Transportation Projects), and Prop M (Tax on Keeping Residential Units Vacant). A majority of Board members voted to support Prop D, and Prop L was unanimously endorsed. See the Land Use blog post for additional information and a summary of the Land Use committee's discussion. 

October Block Party:  In lieu of an October 16^th Phoenix Day Block Party, DTNA will support the Sunday, October 30^th Castro Merchants Halloween Family Block Party.

Greening the Triangle:  There are 22 open tree wells in the neighborhood. DTNA is looking for volunteers to commit to watering new trees after they are planted. Email DTNA President Frank Tizedes at president@dtna.org if you are interested in helping with this project.

Upcoming Tuesday, October 11^th Public Meeting Agenda:  Duboce Triangle Historic District Report, conversation with Captain Jack Hart (Park Station SFPD), Bureau of Forestry update on trees and repairs in the Triangle.

Bob Bush, DTNA Vice President

The Board of Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association meets every month. At the June and July 2022 meetings, the Board discussed the following:

President’s Report

Mayor’s budget approved including $15,000.00 for repairs and improvements to Street Garden parklets on Sanchez and Noe Streets.

Halloween Events on Noe Street: Comfort and Joy “Glow in the Streets 2022” on Saturday, October 29^th and Castro Merchant’s “Halloween Family Block Party,” Sunday, October 30^th.

Discussed Newsletter Byline standards.

Board Slack channel to discuss Social Media presence.

President to interview Capt. Jack Hart, new Park Station SFPD Captain

Newsletter

Jessica Martines willing to be Distribution Manager and maintain the Distributor spreadsheet list.

Website

Need to maintain Peter Otte as consultant with limited funding. New “Initiative” pages created.

Slow Triangle/Land Use Updates

See related newsletter articles. Summer Slow Triangle interns to present their final report at the Tuesday, August 9^th Public Meeting at the Harvey Milk Center of Recreational Arts.

Membership Committee

Will add Slow Triangle participants to Wild Apricot Contact list if not current members.

Environmental Protection Impact Committee

Great neighborhood turnout for June Pride Sweep. Fall 2022 Street Tree planting approaching.

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!

The Board of Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association meets every month. At the May 2022 meeting, the Board discussed the following:

Meetings

The Ballroom at the Harvey Milk Recreation Center has been secured for bimonthly in-person Tuesday evening Public Meetings as the venue is currently closed on Mondays. The community room at Chase has been secured for in-person Board Meetings. A hybrid format with both in-person and Zoom options is being developed.

Treasurer’s Report

Transfer of records and accounts to new DTNA Treasurer, Kimyn Braithwaite, should be completed in May. Last month DTNA Board approved opening a QuickBooks account which Wild Apricot is set up to work with.

Newsletter

Rose continues to solicit contributors to provide more varied content.

Website

A map depicting membership eligibility “one block beyond” DTNA boundaries has been posted. So far $4,065.00 of the 2021 $4,275.00 budget has been expended. Additional work is needed to make the site more dynamic and highlight current DTNA initiatives. A new budget for 2022 is needed.

DTNA Board Updates

Board approved DTNA support for Supervisor Mandelman’s ‘A Place for All’ ordinance.

Slow Triangle Updates

Slow Triangle Working Group selected two excellent interns to work this summer with goal of (1) obtaining Community Input regarding creation and nature of a Slow Triangle, holding 3 to 5 Community workshops, (2) design concept for bulb-out gardens/public space, and (3) design suggestions for the Duboce & Sanchez-Steiner intersection. Waymo has donated $2,500 for the summer project. Additional funding is needed to reach a goal of $10,000.

Land Use Updates

The mixed-use multi-family apartment buildings at 2135 and 2140 Market Street are being presented to the San Francisco Planning Department in June for entitlement. The Committee reviewed the updated designs, which include more on-site affordable units and higher quality facades. The Committee voted to endorse both projects and will issue a letter of support.

The 1 Church Street apartment building is looking to activate its ground floor, which could include reopening the child care center on Webster St. and finding a new use for the retail space on Church St.

Membership Committee

A brainstorming meeting was held. Suggestions for expanding membership are being developed.

DTNA Logo Contest

A Zoom meeting is being set up.

Environmental Protection Impact Committee

Street pruning has begun, starting with Castro Street. The latest pruning appears severe, but MUNI requires clearance of 10 feet from wires and 2 feet from poles. Street gardens are spreading on Potomac Street. Survey for tree plantings continues.

Safety Reports

Fire safety concerns can be addressed by inviting SFFD to make a presentation at a Public Meeting.

April Community Public Meeting

The April 11^th in-person meeting at Café du Nord which included a Zoom hybrid component was well attended. See Public Meeting article.

The Board of Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association now meets every month. At the March 2022 meeting, we discussed the following:

2022 DTNA Election

The Board welcomed two new members, Sugam Jain and Jessica Martines, Frank Tizedes new President and Kimyn Braithwaite the new Treasurer. 

Treasurer’s Report

Past Treasurer, Nick, presented a financial report and is to meet with new Treasurer, Kimyn Braithwaite, to complete transfer of records.

Newsletter

New Advertising is putting pressure on space needed for content and impacts cost if additional pages are needed. Rose is looking at alternatives and suggested consideration of a low cost classified section that could also help with engaging new members.

Website

Annual single year and auto-recurring membership payment levels have been created. A map depicting membership eligibility “one block beyond” DTNA boundaries is being developed. So far $2,675.00 of the $5,000.00 budget has been expended. Tutorial meetings will be set up for Board members needing website Admin access.

Land Use Updates

14^th Street calming proposal approved with painted buffer zones and no alteration of parking. A proposal has been submitted for a UC Berkeley summer student to develop a values statement and a design concept for common areas/public space and the Duboce-Sanchez-Steiner intersection in the Triangle. Funding is being sought.

Environmental Protection Impact Committee

Focus will be on expanding the green canopy. Some funding has been secured from Supervisor Mandelman’s office.

Safety Reports

Website or Facebook may be better suited than newsletter for these reports. 

Upcoming April Community Public Meeting Agenda

The April 11^th meeting will be held in-person at Café du Nord and follow SF safety protocols that are rapidly changing. This will be the first in-person Public meeting since February 2020. The meeting will be primarily social with a brief Slow Triangle report.

The Board of Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association now meets every month. At the January 2022 meeting, we discussed the following:

2022 DTNA Election

Plan to conduct online voting using Election Runner and mailing paper ballots to those few members for whom DTNA has no email address in February, as DTNA did in 2021. Current Board members have expressed an interest in continuing on the Board, although the current DTNA Treasurer would like to pass the baton for that position and return to his Director’s role if a new Treasurer candidate can be identified. There are currently two Board seat vacancies. Two DTNA members have reached out to the Board expressing their interest in serving on the Board. See DTNA 2022 Election Post in News/Update blog.

Board Goals for 2022

Each Board member was asked what Goal they would be the champion for in 2022 and what Goal they would help another Board member address. Five working groups were identified: Land Use: Kevin Riley; Open/Public Space (Beautification, Trees, Slow Triangle): Frank Tizedes, Erik Honda, Hans Galland; Membership: Paige Rausser; Website: Bob Bush; Newsletter: Rose Linke.

2022 Meeting Schedule

Reaffirmed new monthly first Monday Board meetings; every odd-numbered month second Monday, Land Use; and maintaining every even-numbered month second Monday Public Community meetings shortened to one hour (07:00PM to 08:00PM). Meetings will remain virtual for now with expectation to add periodic in-person social meet-ups like the October 17^th block party or, when feasible, the December 2019 meeting party.

Newsletter

With additional new advertisers need to review how many pages are needed to ensure space for needed content. Further discussion referred to the Newsletter Working Group.

Website Migration 

Bundle membership for all membership levels above Household approved. Online ordering of newsletter advertisements has been added to website.

Land Use Updates

DTNA will address desired inclusion of 20% Affordable Housing based on recommendations from the Land Use committee on a project-by-project basis instead of a 2015 Letter of Intent that other signatories no longer adhere to.

Upcoming February General Meeting Agenda

2022 DTNA Election of Officers and Board Directors; Duboce Triangle Street Trees and Public Works tree trimming planned in 2022; and introduction of some new neighborhood businesses.

by Erik Honda, DTNA Secretary

A large and feisty crowd showed up for the DTNA December General Meeting to see the data collected by three teams from a UC Berkeley Urban Design graduate research class, who have been looking at the Triangle through the frame of our plans for a Slow Triangle. We apologize for the problems folks had getting in on Google Meet, and will work on solutions to get that fixed for future meetings. So sorry!

Board member Hans Galland, who is coordinating the project, introduced it as research-based, but also part of an iterative process that will involve the community at all stages, of which this meeting was an early part. The three teams presented, and details of their presentations can be found in the Slow Triangle updates article elsewhere in this newsletter, and also on our website at dtna.org.

Following the presentations, one neighbor took issue with most of the recommendations and proposals that came out of the data the students collected, on the basis that since they are not from here they can’t fully understand what it’s like to live here. Others celebrated their suggestions and hoped for even more radical transformations. All agreed that we need better enforcement of traffic laws in San Francisco, that different parts of the neighborhood and different streets need different treatments (this cannot be a “one size fits all” proposal), and that they were very appreciative of all the hard work and many hours the students spent in our neighborhood, observing traffic, conducting surveys of pedestrians and business owners, and sketching out solutions to make our neighborhood a better place. 

Thanks again so much to the teams! Hopefully they will return in future years to celebrate the fruits of their labor.

Team 1:  Streetside Mini-Plazas 

This team found the corner bulb-outs or “mini-plazas” to be the key urban design element of the Triangle, and made suggestions for repairing and upgrading the plazas. 

Shuqi Li, Master of Urban Design – Houzhou China
Jieqiong Chang, Master of Landscape Architecture – Hebei Province, China

Byron Li, Master of Landscape Architecture – San Francisco California, U.S.A.

Team 2: Parking Configurations’ Effect on Traffic Calming and the Public Realm

This team found that easy “paint-only” reconfigurations of parking orientation could make the neighborhood safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Andy Cheng, Master of Urban Design – Taipei, Taiwan
Diksha Singh, Master of Urban Design – Delhi, India

Joann Martinez, Master of City Planning – Lodi California, U.S.A.

Team 3: The Potential for a Safe and Walkable 14^th Street

This team provided suggestions for widening sidewalks and other changes to allow for better pedestrian movement and business access on 14^th Street.

Vedanti Agrawal, Master of Urban Design – Mumbai, India
Wenzheng Fang, Master of Urban Design – Beijing, China

Pawida Bualert, Master of City Planning – Bangkok, Thailand

Call to all neighbors: Please involve yourself in the process going forward (see links and info in the 2022 Feb-Mar Duboce Triangle News Slow Triangle article), because the more participation we have, the better the final product will be. Thanks to all who attended!

Wendy Gutshall (Director, Public and Government Affairs, Safeway - Northern California Division) and Shawn Robertson (Market Street Safeway Store Director) discussed recent changes to address challenges Market Street Safeway is facing: there is now only one site for entrance and exit, self checkouts have been consolidated to one space, and the store closes at 09:00PM. So far these changes have had a positive impact.

Neighbors raised concerns about the impact of early closure at 09:00PM, especially on those who work non-traditional shifts, noting that Whole Food is open to 10:00PM. Supervisor Mandelman said he is working to get hours extended.

by Bob Bush, DTNA Vice President                

The Board of Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association meets every other month. At the November 2021 meeting, we discussed the following:

Board Function: Discussed how to improve the Board experience and functioning through more frequent in-person interactions that have been missing with COVID restrictions. Board members to meet in the Noe-Beaver Community Garden, Sunday November 21, 2021, at 02:00PM.

Website Migration: Migration of membership data onto the new website for DTNA members who paid dues 2018 though 2021 is complete and an email blast introducing the new website has been sent to them. The website is still a work in process.

Land Use Updates: Kevin Riley, Land Use Chair, summarized what is detailed in Land Use Blog Update.

Phoenix Day Block Party: Sunday, October 17th, Noe Street between 14^th and Henry Streets. Many neighbors helped set up the successful Block Party which was well attended.

Upcoming December Community Public Meeting Agenda: UC Berkeley master students who are researching various aspects of traffic calming in the Duboce Triangle as part of their course in Urban Design Research Methods will present their research findings. 

Political Bigwigs Descend on DTNA General Meeting

by Erik Honda, DTNA Secretary

The October DTNA General Meeting was a nexus of state and local political power, as former Asssemblymember and now San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu joined State Senator Scott Wiener and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman for a confab. Chiu, who started his political career as a neighborhood association president, has been bringing San Francisco values to the state assembly and intends to preserve those same values as City Attorney, working hard to see citizens’ civil rights protected, and taking down corporate bad guys. He will continue to fight evictions, and to secure funding for affordable housing; this year the Assembly was able to pass $10 billion for affordable housing, plus $4 billion for tenant subsidies to prevent evictions.

Senator Wiener has had a recent run of legislative success. He has always been a legislative powerhouse, but this year he was able to get a ton of bills signed, including SB9 and SB10, which he has been pursuing since he arrived in Sacramento. Wiener pointed out that San Francisco has only a three-person delegation in Sacramento (compared to 30 for LA county), but they are strong – Ting, Chiu, and Wiener, and they get a lot done. This session Wiener would like to give San Francisco more tools to address the 700 people who died of drug overdoses last year. He has spent six years pushing for safe consumption sites, he wants to get usage off the streets, and get folks into treatment. There have been decades of positive outcomes with these facilities in Europe, Canada, and Australia. A vehicle-miles-traveled fee instead of a gas tax is also moving forward. 

Supervisor Mandelman sparred with Senator Wiener a bit on the housing issue, saying he is a little bit less hardcore than Wiener on housing, but that he agrees with Wiener that too much local discretion has definitely caused problems, and San Francisco is among the worst places (ironically, shortly after our meeting Mandelman was one of eight Supervisors who voted down a new building South of Market that would have included affordable housing). 

Despite the controversy, we adjourned in concord, significantly more knowledgeable because the movers and shakers were engaged with their constituents.