FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Contact: dempress@sfgov.org

PRESS RELEASE

San Francisco’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show Canceled Due to Concerns Over Public Health and Safety

Priority for continuity of key public safety operations prompts proactive measures as surging COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant impact staffing levels

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Mayor London N. Breed and City public safety leaders today announced plans to cancel this year’s New Year’s Eve fireworks show due to the ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases. The decision was made after closely monitoring local health indicators and impacted public safety staffing levels. Enacting proactive measures that will best protect San Franciscans and essential front-line workers as the Omicron variant is increasingly prevalent remains the City’s top priority.

Currently, 84% of eligible San Franciscans are fully vaccinated and 55% have received a booster dose, but the community spread of the Omicron variant still poses a significant risk. And, with recent increases in holiday travel and gatherings, the City is taking all necessary and precautionary steps to manage the highest transmissible COVID-19 variant we have seen to date.

“While we are all understandably eager to ring in a new year with San Francisco’s customary New Year’s Eve fireworks show, we must remain vigilant in doing all we can to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant,” said Mayor Breed. “Thanks to our employee vaccine mandate, our public safety workers are well-protected against COVID, but they still must take all precautions to help limit the spread. By canceling the New Year’s Eve fireworks show we are reducing everyone’s exposure to COVID-19, while ensuring continuity of citywide public safety operations.”

Limiting large public events like the City’s New Year’s fireworks show will provide an additional layer of protection to San Francisco first responders. City public safety agencies are experiencing reduced staffing levels due to public health isolation and quarantine requirements brought on by COVID-19. “The newest variant is here and spreading fast. It is impacting everyone in the community, including our public safety staff,” added Mary Ellen Carroll, Executive Director, Department of Emergency Management. “The health and safety of our first responders, front-line workers, and community is our top priority. Canceling this New Year’s Eve fireworks show not only reduces the risk of Omicron exposure, but also minimizes impacts on critical safety systems like 9-1-1, allowing dispatchers to remain available to those in most critical need.”

The annual fireworks show at the Embarcadero requires increased deployments for critical public safety staff like police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and 9-1-1 dispatchers.

“San Francisco is taking yet another smart, prudent and necessary step to protect one another from the spread of COVID-19 — this time, from a highly contagious Omicron variant — by canceling New Year’s Eve fireworks,” said Chief of Police Bill Scott. “Minimizing needless exposures among our officers and professional staff is key to maintaining the police staffing levels San Franciscans expect of us, and it’s important that we all do our part as San Franciscans to help reduce community transmission citywide.”

The momentous spread of Omicron throughout San Francisco, the Bay Area region, and the country exposes the serious risk this variant poses not only to New Year’s Eve celebrations, but as part of everyday, routine schedules. “Due to the sudden, widespread surge in COVID cases, the SFFD supports the difficult decision to cancel the traditional fireworks display on New Year’s Eve. We urge you to join us in celebrating safely at home with your close family members and friends with all COVID safety measures in place,” said Chief Jeannine Nicholson, San Francisco Fire Department. “The cancellation of the traditional fireworks display will allow us to focus our resources on emergency services and day-to-day operations without the addition of large crowds and the potential incidents that arise from such crowds.”

Even though the City has made remarkable progress in the fight against COVID-19, residents, visitors, and businesses are encouraged to remain vigilant throughout the holiday season. “The arrival of Omicron calls us to take swift action to mitigate preventable further spread in the community to help protect the most vulnerable and maintain hospital capacity. We thank San Franciscans for their understanding as we work to keep our city safer, continue to conduct essential activities, and keep our schools and businesses open,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health. “Boosters for all eligible, along with masking and testing, are vital to prevent a sharp rise in hospitalizations during this surge.”

Despite the canceled fireworks, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM) will still activate the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for New Year’s Eve to support citywide coordination, situational awareness, and resource management. The public is reminded to call 3-1-1 to report any noise complaints, such as illegal fireworks, and call 9-1-1 only for life safety emergencies. The public also is encouraged to register for AlertSF at www.alertsf.org or by texting their zip code to 888-777. This is the fastest way to be informed of any type of emergency impacting your area.

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28 December 2021 – Palm Springs: Out of an abundance of caution, the New Year’s Eve preview party at AsiaSF/Palm Springs has been canceled. The popular night-spot, shuttered since March 2020 due to COVID, is currently scheduled to reopen to paying customers with dinner shows on January 7.

“New Year’s is a time for new beginnings and we’re looking forward to our re–launch of AsiaSF/Palm Springs in early January as previously announced,” says Larry Hashbarger, AsiaSF Founder. “However, in light of the accelerating Omicron fueled COVID surge we have decided to postpone our New Year’s Eve pre-opening event.  Instead, we’ll use this time to get ready for our first seated dinner on January 7, and celebrate the Lunar New Year the last weekend of January.”

media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@andresdavidperry-com

Schedule Change for THE MOUNTAINTOP from Dezart Performs

Due to COVID / Omicron Spread Production Postponed
New Dates are March 4 – 13

Shortened Season will Finish with EVERY BRILLIANT THING (April 1 – 10)
Previously Announced GRAND CONCOURSE Cancelled for 2021/22 Season

www.dezartperforms.org

28 December 2021 – Palm Springs, CA: Due to the rapidly spreading Omicron Variant of COVID-19, Dezart Performs (www.dezartperforms.org) of Palm Springs has announced changes to their upcoming 14^thSeason.

The previously announced THE MOUNTAINTOP (originally slated for January 14 –23) will now run March 4 – 13 with EVERY BRILLIANT THING running as previously planned, April 1 – 10. GRAND CONCOURSE will be cancelled for the 2021/22 Season. 

“Unfortunately but unavoidably once again COVID has forced us to change our plans,” says Michael Shaw, Dezart Performs founding artistic director. “Given the nature of this most recent variant, and out of an abundance of caution, this decision is based on our concern for the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, actors and audience members.”

According to Shaw, in the coming days, ticket holders will be contacted to arrange refunds or transfer of their tickets to the new date, or as a credit for a future production.

“Our loyal supporters have been incredibly flexible and patient during this challenging time,” said Shaw. “We appreciate them more than ever and look forward to welcoming them back into our theatre soon.”

About THE MOUNTAINTOP:
It’s April 3, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has just delivered his iconic – and final – speech.  It’s his last night on Earth and the first day on the job for a very unusual housekeeper named Camae. For playwright Katori Hall it’s the opportunity for a fantastical, moving and prophetic two-step tour-de force for actors Shanté DeLoach and Cortez Johnson. The 2010Olivier Award winning drama is presented by Dezart Performs (www.dezartperforms.org) March 4 – 13,2022 at the Pearl McManus Theatre in downtown Palm Springs.

Not only because of its timing as his final public appearance, but because of its Biblical scope and cadence, Dr. King’s “Mountaintop” speech is considered one of the greatest of the 20^th century. Given in defense of the Memphis, Tennessee sanitationworkers strike, it has come to symbolize the over-arching and centuries long struggle for racial equity in the United States. Deeply rooted in that history, Katori Hall has crafted a play that tackles the legacy of one of America’s seminal icons and presents him in all his glorious and flawed humanity. When Dr. King first meets Camae, it is over a hidden flask of alcohol and shared cigarettes: specifically humanizing elements. Also, the language of THE MOUNTAINTOP is at once eloquent and earthy, as grounded in Hall’s Tennessee heritage as King’s soaring rhetoric is based in religion and philosophy.

THE MOUNTAINTOP follows the opening show for the esteemed Dezart Performs, GIRLFRIEND, the first ever musical for the company and its first outdoor dinner theatre production, mounted at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheatre. Rounding out the calendar is the one-person comedy/drama EVERY BRILLIANT THING (April 1 – 10) by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe and directed by Deborah Harmon. Individual tickets for remaining shows in our 2021/22 Season are on sale at www.dezartperforms.org or by calling (760) 322-0179.

“For the health, safety and well-being of our patrons, staff and artists, Dezart Performs’ COVID-19 policy requires guests to be fully vaccinated,” reminds Shaw. “Upon arrival at all events, guests must present a photo ID along with proof that they meet the CDC definition of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, either in the form of a physical vaccination card or a photo of the card. Also, mask must be worn indoors at all times, except when eating or drinking.”

Shaw and the company stress, that this policy is subject to changes at any time, in accordance with local, state and federal guidelines. Please check the Dezart Performs website for current policy guidelines beforeattending any scheduled performance date. 

Dezart Performs, one of the Coachella Valley’s preeminent theatre companies, recognizes that the performing arts enrich the life and culture of a community, promote greater understanding and provoke insightful discussion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofittheatre company, its mission is to provide an artistic home for bold and cutting–edge plays, creating an atmosphere of artistic growth for actors, writers, and directors who uniquely contribute to the diverse theatrical environment in the Coachella Valley. 

All performances take place at the Pearl McManus Theater (at the historic Palm Springs Woman’s Club) 314 S Cahuilla Road, Downtown Palm Springs. Tickets may be purchased online at www.dezartperforms.org, or by calling (760) 322-0179. Showtimes are Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2pm and 7:30pm; Sundays at 2pm.

14^th Dezart Performs Complete Season Listing

THE MOUNTAINTOP

March 4 – 13, 2022

Written by Katori Hall

Drama

Directed by Michael Shaw

Pearl McManus Theater

2010 Winner, Olivier Award for Best Play

A re-imagined depiction of Martin Luther King Jr.’s last night on earth set entirely in Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel on the eve of his assassination in 1968. After delivering his famous “I’ve been to the mountaintop speech”, King goes to the Lorraine Motel to rest. His world is spun on his axis when he meets Camae, a young, feisty and foul-mouthed maid, who delivers his room service. 

“Funny and emotionally charged… a powerful, poetic take on [King’s] legacy.” -Philip Brandes, Los Angeles Times

“Intriguing, shocking, funny… a stunning evening.” – Dale Reynolds, EDGE Los Angeles

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EVERY BRILLIANT THING

April 1-10, 2022

Written by Duncan Macmillan, with Jonny Donahoe

Directed by Deborah Harmon

Comedy/Drama

Pearl McManus Theater

You’re six years old. Mom’s in the hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid.” She finds it hard to behappy. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for. 1. Ice cream. 2. Kung Fu movies. 3. Burningthings. 4. Laughing so hard you shoot milk out your nose. 5. Constructions cranes. 6. Me. You leave it onher pillow. You know she’s read it because she’scorrected your spelling. Soon, the list will take on a life of its own. A play about depression and the lengths we will go for those we love.

“A heart-wrenching, hilarious play…One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop!” —The Guardian

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, December 24, 2021

Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications,mayorspressoffice@sfgov.org

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES MAYOR LONDON BREED’S STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION IN THE TENDERLOIN

Approved Declaration allows the City to waive bureaucratic hurdles to quickly implement crucial parts of the Mayor’s Tenderloin Emergency Intervention Plan

San Francisco, CA — The Board of Supervisors voted today to approve Mayor London N. Breed’s State of Emergency Declaration in the Tenderloin, officially allowing the City to waive certain laws to quickly address the crisis of people dying of drug overdoses on the streets of the neighborhood as part of the Mayor’s Tenderloin Emergency Intervention Plan.

Similar to the City’s COVID-19 Declaration of Emergency, this action will eliminate bureaucratic barriers, allowing the City to quickly implement public health solutions relating to the health and safety of the people in the Tenderloin. The overdose problem has worsened, particularly over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the recent rapidly deteriorating conditions in the Tenderloin caused by the opioid crisis put the lives of San Franciscans in serious risk. 

“The Tenderloin needs change, and that requires us to do things different,” said Mayor Breed. We showed during COVID that when we’re able to use an Emergency Declaration to cut through the bureaucracy and barriers that get in the way of decisive action, we can get things done and make real, tangible progress. It will take that same focus and coordination in the Tenderloin to make a meaningful change to this neighborhood that has been held back for too long. I want to thank the members of the Board that voted to support this urgent response and who understand that he people who live in the Tenderloin deserve better and the people suffering on our streets deserve better.”

The Emergency Declaration allows the City to expedite the implementation of emergency programs like waiving rules around contract procurement and waiving zoning and planning codes to quickly open a temporary linkage site where people with substance use issues can receive behavioral health services and get off the street. The Emergency Declaration will apply to actions taken within the boundaries of the Tenderloin Police District. Additionally, the Order will be amended to waive certain laws around hiring, which allows for the expedited hiring of 200 behavioral health clinicians to fill current vacancies.

“In an emergency, people need resources immediately not months from now. An emergency declaration allows San Francisco to cut through the red tape and obtain the contracts, resources and personnel to address the crisis conditions in the Tenderloin,” said Mary Ellen Carroll, Executive Director, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. “We only have to look at our COVID response to see how an emergency declaration allowed us to quickly lease hotels, hire critical staff and establish testing and vaccine sites. Today’s action will expedite the opening of a linkage center and other essential resources.”

“Overdose deaths are a public health crisis in the Tenderloin neighborhood that requires an urgent and compassionate response,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health. “San Francisco has shown what we can achieve when we come together for a common public health goal. At the Department of Public Health, we have evidence-based health tools to support people with mental health and substance use disorders. These tools save lives and support our residents on their path to wellness and recovery. The Emergency Declaration provides us with a critical opportunity to greatly expand our services and connect many more people to resources, care, treatment, and safety.”

“We are grateful that the City and the Mayor will now have the tools needed to address the public health emergency in the Tenderloin,” said Simon Bertrang, Executive Director, Tenderloin Community Benefit District. “We saw that this kind of response – led by the Department of Emergency Management – has worked to guide San Francisco through the pandemic, and now people who live and work in the Tenderloin can expect some relief from the crisis that has taken over their sidewalks.” 

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