Author: Alfredo Casuso

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, July 19, 2021

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

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

MAYOR LONDON BREED ANNOUNCES SFPD TOURISM DEPLOYMENT PLAN AS SAN FRANCISCO READIES FOR REEMERGING TRAVEL SEASON

SFPD continues showcasing community policing reforms in deployment of 26 additional officers on bicycle and foot patrols to City’s high-traffic, iconic travel destinations

San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed today announced details from San Francisco’s new community policing and tourism deployment plan to support and safeguard a re-emergent travel season that is forecast to exceed 15.3 million visitors by year’s end. 

Outlining operational elements at a press conference at Chinatown’s iconic Dragon’s Gate this morning, Mayor Breed and Chief Bill Scott highlighted how the San Francisco Police Department’s Tourism Deployment Plan will provide high-visibility and welcome support to an economic sector that is vitally important to San Francisco as travelers worldwide emerge from COVID-19 lockdowns. 

“Tourism has long been an economic powerhouse in our city, bringing not just local tax revenue to fund vital city services but also jobs and economic opportunities for generations of San Franciscans,” said Mayor Breed. “San Francisco has done an incredible job managing this pandemic, and with one of the highest vaccination rates of anywhere in the country, we are working hard to reopen our city. That means bringing more officers to our tourist areas, as well as other efforts like our recently funded efforts to add more ambassadors and performances throughout Downtown, the Waterfront, and Mid-Market areas. We are committed to doing everything we can to reopen our businesses, put our residents back to work, and welcome travelers back to all of our city’s unforgettable destinations.”

The San Francisco Police Department’s Tourism Deployment Plan draws heavily from a community policing strategy that is among the pillars of SFPD’s groundbreaking 21st century police reforms. Under the plan, SFPD will deploy 26 additional police officers on bicycle and foot patrols to an array of high-traffic and highly sought-after travel destinations in five of the City’s ten police districts:

• Central Police District’s new deployments will feature 14 additional officers on bike and foot patrols that include: Union Square, Market Street, Powell Street, Chinatown and Lower Grant Avenue, Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach and the crooked portion of Lombard Street. 

• Mission Police District’s new deployments will feature two additional officers on bike and foot patrols in the Castro and Upper Market.

• Northern Police District’s new deployments will feature six additional officers on bicycle patrols around the Palace of Fine Arts, Alamo Square and Japantown. 

• Park Police District’s new deployments will feature two additional officers on bicycle patrols along the Haight Street commercial corridor.  

• Richmond Police District’s new deployments will feature two additional officers on bicycle patrols in Golden Gate Park. 

In addition to this Tourism Deployment Plan, the Mayor’s proposed budget, which the Board of Supervisors has come to an agreement on, includes funding for the Downtown Recovery Plan. The Downtown Recovery Plan includes an expansion of the number of ambassadors in the downtown and Union Square areas; a series of events and activations throughout Downtown, at the site of the temporary Transbay Terminal, and along the waterfront; and improvements at Hallidie Plaza, the entrance to the Powell Street BART Station and site of the Cable Car turnaround. 

Outlook for Tourism Sector

Although there is renewed uncertainty about effects from COVID-19 variants in many parts of the world, a San Francisco Travel Association analysis released in March forecast that overall visitation to the City would reach 15.3 million in 2021, with $3.5 billion in overall visitor spending projected by year’s end. The study by San Francisco’s official destination marketing organization said that total visitation was not anticipated to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023. Due to a slower recovery of international visitors and average rate in the City, San Francisco Travel concluded that overall visitor spending was unlikely to return to 2019 levels before 2025. 

“Our market research shows a light at the end of the tunnel for destinations like San Francisco after a devastating year for the global tourism industry: there is huge pent-up demand for travel all over the world,” said San Francisco Travel President and CEO Joe D’Alessandro. “As San Francisco embarks on a multi-year recovery, we know that high-visibility, community-oriented patrols by San Francisco police officers provide a reassuring, welcoming presence for the visitors and conventions so essential to our city’s continued success.” 

San Francisco Travel reported a total of 10.2 million visitors to the City in 2020, which was down 61 percent from a record high of 26.2 million in 2019. Total spending by visitors was $2.3 billion in 2020, representing a pandemic-driven drop of 77.7 percent from 2019’s record high of $10.3 billion in total visitor spending. Spending figures include expenditures on meetings and conventions in San Francisco.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has similarly affected local employment related to the tourism sector, according to San Francisco Travel, which found that the number of jobs supported by tourism in San Francisco fell to 20,880 in 2020 — a 75.8 percent decline from 86,111 jobs tourism supported in 2019. 

Expanded Community Policing at Visitor Destinations

The mission of officers detailed to the Tourism Deployment Plan is to provide high-visibility and preventative patrol in their assigned locations, while embodying the principles of a community policing strategy that is a centerpiece of the San Francisco Police Department’s comprehensive and voluntary Collaborative Reform Initiative. Officers are well trained to incorporate five goals into their community interactions and public guardianship, as detailed in SFPD’s Community Policing Strategic Plan. SFPD’s Community Policing principles include: 

• Goal 1: Communication that is honest, transparent, empathetic and culturally and linguistically competent and respectful.

• Goal 2: Education that both teaches community members in safety awareness and learns from communities to serve more responsively.

• Goal 3: Problem-solving through collaborative working partnerships to identify and address safety issues and topics of concern.

• Goal 4: Relationship-building to forge trusting and respectful engagements with San Francisco’s residents and visitors alike. 

• Goal 5: Organizational and operational approaches reflecting the guardian mindset that defines the promise of 21st century policing.

New deployments of police officers under the Tourism Deployment Plan announced today have already been implemented and will supplement existing patrols citywide, which will remain at current staffing levels.

Officers deployed under the plan will be on bicycle or on foot in frequently traveled areas, greeting and interacting with community members and guests. Assignments include fixed posts as well as patrols in commercial corridors, depending on deployments. Officers’ primary focus will be to engage with the public and provide aid when needed, and to take necessary enforcement action whenever identifying individuals involved in crime.  

“The San Francisco Police Department’s Tourism Deployment Plan is one more step that’s making good on our city’s united commitment to come back from COVID-19 stronger than ever before,” said Chief of Police Bill Scott. “Together with the Mid-Market Vibrancy and Safety Plan, Shine On SF, and a shared spaces program that’s here to stay, all of us in SFPD are grateful for the opportunity to do our part for the comeback — and to put community policing to work. We’re grateful to Mayor Breed and the San Francisco Police Commission as well as to our community-based partners like SF Travel and so many others. We look forward to showcasing 21st century police reform and welcoming travelers back to San Francisco, warmly and safely.”  

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

AsiaSF Reopens July 29!

Celebrating 23 Years, Internationally Acclaimed San Francisco Legacy Business Returns Bigger & Better Following Extensive Retrofit and Renovation

Transgender Performers Known for Sell-Out Crowds Are the Stars at
“One of America’s Top 100 Restaurants” as Voted by Opentable

AsiaSF Takes Lead in Requiring All Guests & Employees to Be Vaccinated or Show Negative COVID Test

www.asiasf.com

19 July 2021 – San Francisco, CA:It takes more than the worst pandemic in 102 years to wipe out a legendary, internationally-known entertainment icon and nightclub. Celebrating 23 years of sold out spectacles, AsiaSF (www.asiasf.com), the storied San Francisco dinner theatre and cabaret featuring the world-famous transgender Ladies of AsiaSF, is set to welcome back its first paying customers on Thursday, July 29 at their newly remodeled and retrofitted iconic venue: 201 9^th Street in the SoMa District of San Francisco.

“AsiaSF has always been about fun entertainment, fashion, food and family,” said Larry Hashbarger, Chairman and CEO of AsiaSF. “Especially as we come out of our COVID enforced cocoon, we’re once again raring to go — not only to entertain but also to educate and enlighten people about the transgender experience and human diversity. As a San Francisco legacy business for 23 years that celebrates diversity, family and is a safe place for all, we’re proud to support Mayor Breed’s initiative and take the lead in requiring our patrons and our employees be vaccinated or provide proof of a negative COVID test. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the smart business thing to do.” 

In 1998, a small business that celebrates diversity and multiculturalism was born: AsiaSF. Founded by Hashbarger and Skip Young, the world-famous restaurant, cabaret and nightclub quickly became an iconic entertainment landmark.

“AsiaSF has been a visionary pioneer in supporting the transgender community through empowerment by creating a safe space and unique employment opportunities that showcase our beautiful transgender stars, the Ladies of AsiaSF, said AsiaSF President/COO, Aaron Nelson. “The Ladies of AsiaSF, our star performers make you laugh, make you blush, make you go ‘WOW!’ and make you feel like a million bucks.”

Choreographed dance routines, lip sync numbers, live singing, comedy and special effects are just some of the talents the Ladies of AsiaSF bring to the runway stage, under the direction of show director and choreographer, Ronnie Reddick.

“This sisterhood of diverse Bay Area performers has mastered the art of celebrating themselves,” said Young. By being their own authentic, welcoming selves, the Ladies of AsiaSF provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere to celebrate the fabulous you as well.”

With Vegas commercial style choreography byReddick and award-winning Cal-Asian cuisine, AsiaSF is a unique interactive, cabaret and dinner entertainment experience. From the moment one enters, the internationally acclaimed “Ladies of AsiaSF” will entertain and enlighten you, complete with stand-out-performances featuring original creations by Julian Mendez Couture and Prime Kreations of Los Angeles who has designed for Beyoncé, Kendall Jenner and Megan Thee Stallion.

Voted “One of America’s Top 100 Restaurants” by Opentable, AsiaSF had hosted over 1 million patrons since it opened its doors in 1998.  Then: COVID and the need for a seismic retrofit. During the last year and a half, the team at AsiaSF took the forced sabbatical to regroup, reform and undergo a Renaissance that will take the legendary San Francisco venue into the Roaring ‘20s.

“AsiaSF is a complete entertainment and food/cocktail experience,” says Hashbarger, the creator/producer of Passport – America’s premier fashion show and HIV/AIDS fundraiser – during his three and a half decades as Director of Special Productions for Macy’s. “Our beautiful and talented transgender cast bring our guests into their world from the first second they enter the space. They serve drinks. They serve food. They dish up a stand-on-the-table and applaud-‘til-your-hands-are-sore song and dance experience that is, literally, transformative. I couldn’t be prouder of these inspiring women.”

“One of our missions of AsiaSF is to create a trans-positive environment that educates and raises awareness about living your truth and being your authentic self,” Hashbarger sums up, “while at the same time providing our guests with a ‘time of your life’ experience.”

All prices are inclusive of dinner and the shows, with cocktails priced separately. For individual reservations, groups and special events go to asiasf.com or call (415) 255-2742.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

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

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

MAYOR LONDON BREED AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS LAUNCH SHINE ON SF RECOVERY INITIATIVE 

Broad citywide partnership kicks off multi-year effort to reignite civic pride, foster civic engagement, and improve the conditions of streets and public spaces

San Francisco, CA — Today, Mayor London N. Breed and a diverse group of civic, business and community leaders launched Shine On SF, a new recovery initiative designed to reignite civic pride and improve the conditions of San Francisco’s streets and public spaces. Shine On SF will build on the care San Franciscans from all walks of life have for their neighborhoods, inspiring a renewed culture of pride across the City and motivating and empowering the next generation of caretakers. Shine On SF aims to support immediate and long-term cleaning improvements and systems changes while also bringing together residents to care for city streets and public spaces, producing a visible change over the next three years.  

Shine On SF is championed by the Shine On SF Partnership, a new coalition of public and private partners representing more than 40 small and large businesses, neighborhood groups, the tourism sector, community benefits districts, nonprofit workforce development organizations, and arts institutions, together with the City and County of San Francisco. For more information, visit shineonsf.org.

“San Franciscans care deeply about our City—for its unique beauty, culture, diversity and its neighborhoods,” said Mayor Breed. “During this pandemic, we showed what we can do when we come together to protect and care for one another, and we need to carry that spirit forward to care for our City. Clean sidewalks and beautiful public spaces are essential to public health, community, and economic viability. They are a matter of equity that every resident and visitor should enjoy. We are launching Shine On SF to do more to keep San Francisco clean, celebrate all those who take care of our City every day, and inspire everyone to do their part to make this City shine.”

The initiative is composed of two main components: creating civic engagement opportunities for San Franciscans to volunteer and directly contribute to creating a cleaner and more cared-for city; and expanding and improving the City’s cleaning and beautification programs through immediate investments and long-term systemic changes. Funding and staff time are being provided by both private and public partners.

Civic Engagement: Rallying a City of Caretakers

Shine On SF calls on people to get involved. The Shine On SF website connects people and groups with opportunities to volunteer in neighborhood clean ups, gardening projects, and public space activation and beautification projects throughout the City. Shine On SF will match volunteers with real needs generated by community-based groups and City agencies. Educational efforts will encourage businesses, property owners, and the general public to use 311 and care for their own spaces. People can sign up for these volunteer opportunities at 
shineonsf.org/get-involved.

Shine On SF’s first public space activation project, Golden Trees, is designed to remind people what they love about San Francisco. Each weekend from June 26 through August 15, trees in colorful planters will be displayed at pop-up activations in 16 public spaces throughout the City, including community-owned spaces and Recreation and Park locations. People will be invited to decorate the trees with golden cards featuring their personal responses to the prompt, “What makes San Francisco shine?” Intended to reconnect neighbors with each other and showcase the unique outdoor spaces that provided hope and positivity for many throughout the pandemic, the project will culminate in a citywide participatory art installation during the holidays.  

“Clean and cared for streets and public spaces are key to public confidence, and to our civic and economic recovery,” said Joe D’Alessandro, President & CEO of SF Travel. “We want San Francisco to tell a story to our visitors and residents alike about our unified commitment and enthusiasm to making our city the best it can be.”

Improved City Cleaning: Making San Francisco Shine

Shine On SF is also about making immediate investments and long-term systemic changes to clean up and beautify San Francisco. Through this upcoming budget, Mayor Breed is committing $96.2 million to support these efforts that cover San Francisco. Additional new cleaning efforts funded in the City’s budget include:

• Expanding the City’s CleanCorridorsSF program: Launched during the COVID pandemic, CleanCorridorsSF deploys a large contingent of San Francisco Public Works street cleaners to a different neighborhood commercial district one day each week to power wash and sweep the sidewalks, flush down the roadway and wipe out graffiti—a coordinated deep-cleaning blitz resulting in noticeable improvements to the cleanliness of the targeted area. New funding will make this pilot program permanent and double the existing service.
• Expanding the Community Youth Center (CYC) Power Wash Mobile Team: a new program that employs immigrants with barriers to employment in steam cleaning commercial corridors, the CYC Power Wash Mobile Team will provide new monthly cleaning in additional commercial corridors throughout the Bayview, Visitacion Valley, the Richmond, the Sunset, the Excelsior, the Mission and the Fillmore, as well as continued cleaning in Chinatown where the program began as a pilot. Power washing will begin in August 2021.

Additionally, the Shine On SF Partnership is pursuing two cleaning infrastructure and services systems changes, including:

• Making the 311 system more efficient and responsive to residents. New funding in the budget will help city agency workers and community benefit district cleaners respond more efficiently to 311 requests and close out requests with images so users can see they’ve been completed.
• Undergoing a comprehensive city trash can replacement effort. Shine On SF will engage cross-sector partners to enhance Public Works’ Trash Receptacle Replacement program, which will be implemented over the next three years. City trash cans will be replaced with new cans that prevent overflow from wind and tampering. Shine On SF will support the design process while also engaging experts to advise on receptacle placement and frequency of trash removal service of public cans to better improve cleanliness across the entire city.

The above city funding is separate from the funding for community benefit districts, which leverage funds collected by a special assessment from neighborhood property owners to provide services including street cleaning, trash collection, and neighborhood ambassadors and guides.

“We are already seeing real world results from this partnership between the City and the community,” said Simon Bertrang, Executive Director of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District. “Shine On connects all of the Community Benefit Districts and the neighborhoods we serve with non-profits, private citizens and the City to harness the power of collective action.” 

“We as San Franciscans are not powerless to help affect change and make a difference,” said Vince Yuen, Founder of Refuse Refuse, “It’s about each person being committed and taking a small action which collectively has a big impact. I’m proud to be part of the Shine On SF movement that brings San Franciscans together and empowers them to get involved and keep our city beautiful.” 

Below is a full list of partners for the Shine On SF Partnership. For more information, visit shineonsf.org.

• 311
• African American Art & Culture Complex
• American Conservatory Theatre
• Art for Civil Discourse, Paint the Void
• AT&T
• Bedford Grove
• Block by Block
• BOMA SF
• BUILDING 180, Paint the Void
• Clorox
• Coffee and Cream Press
• Committee On Jobs
• Community Benefit District Consortium
• Downtown Community Benefit District
• Dropbox
• East Cut Community Benefit District
• En2Action
• Facebook
• Fisherman’s Wharf CBD
• Golden Gate Restaurant Association
• Hospital Council Northern & Central California
• Hotel Council of San Francisco
• Illuminate
• Make it Mariko
• Mekanism
• NextDoor
• Office of Economic and Workforce Development
• Office of Assessor-Recorder
• Office of the City Administrator
• Recology
• Refuse Refuse SF
• San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
• San Francisco Council of District Merchants Associations
• San Francisco Department of Environment
• San Francisco Public Works
• San Francisco Parks Alliance
• San Francisco Planning Department
• San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
• SF Travel
• SF.Citi
• SFEtsy
• SOMA West CBD
• SPUR
• Stamen Design
• SWA Group
• Tenderloin Community Benefit District
• TogetherSF
• Urban Alchemy
• Webcor
• YBCA
• Youth Speaks

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

SFWednesdays Free Summer Performance Series Begins July 14
San Francisco Mayor Breed’s Initiative to Spur Downtown Revival Kicks Off This Week in Union Square, Embarcadero Plaza & Mint Plaza

www.SFWednesdays.com

13 July 2021 — San Francisco:   With SFWednesdays (www.sfwednesdays.com), San Francisco is taking it to the streets with 30 performances, free and open-to-the-public, spread across 10 Wednesdays this summer in some of the City’s most iconic outdoor public spaces. The series kicks off this Wednesday, July 14 (12pm – 2pm) in three simultaneous offerings at Union Square, Embarcadero Plaza and Mint Plaza.

 “SFWednesdays is all about welcoming people back to San Francisco and reminding them what makes this City special,” said San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed who initiated the effort. “These free performances by local artists will bring music, dance and excitement to our downtown and waterfront neighborhoods, and are part of our broader efforts to help San Francisco emerge from this pandemic better than ever.” 

The series of free live events is designed to reactivate downtown public spaces and reconnect San Franciscans and visitors with the city streetscape. In an effort to support the economic recovery of the cultural and business community, the program employs local artists performing in popular venues where retail and hospitality naturally mix with day-to-day workers. Sites such as Union Square, Embarcadero Plaza and Mechanics Monument Plaza will feature music, dance and other live performances as San Francisco renews and recovers. Attendees are encouraged to share their experiences online via social media with the hashtag #sfwednesdays

The schedule for the first five performances follows:

July 14
Union Square – Inspector Gadje (12pm – 2pm)
Embarcadero Plaza – Rav-E (12pm – 2pm)
Mint Plaza – Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco (12pm – 2pm) 

July 21
Union Square – Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl & DJ Victor Cortez (12pm – 2pm)
Embarcadero Plaza – CHELLE! and Friends (12pm – 2pm)
Mint Plaza – Joe Warner Trio (12pm – 2pm) 

July 28
Union Square –  Classical Revolution (4pm – 6pm)
Embarcadero Plaza – Odissi Vila (4pm – 6pm)
Mint Plaza – Yiddish Combo (4pm – 6pm) 

August 4
Union Square – Valverde Dance (4pm – 6pm)
Embarcadero Plaza – Fogo Na Roupa (4pm – 6pm)
Mechanics Monument Plaza – Bayonics (4pm – 6pm) 

August 18
Union Square – American Jubilee Dance (4pm – 6pm)
Embarcadero Plaza – Noah and the Arkiteks (4pm – 6pm)
Location TBD – Tory Teasley (4pm – 6pm)