News

On what would have been his 92nd birthday, Sunday, May 22nd the life and legacy of the “Mayor of Castro Street” lives on, as the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District, the Castro Community Benefit District, the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza, and the Castro Merchants Association kicks off a day of celebration, education, activism, and community.

Programming starts at noon and will be kicked off by those who knew Harvey best – his friends and colleagues, including Kent Denning and Medora Payne Sobottka. They will be joined by queer community and elected officials, who in large part due to trailblazers like Milk, can continue the fight to make the LGBTQ community heard and seen in City Hall and beyond. Following the kickoff, our community block party powered by BAAAHS will bring the beats and festivities back to the streets of Castro – Harvey’s home.

Dulce de Leche will host the event, spinning tunes will be DJ Bus Station John and DJ Carnita! 

And across the street, you can take a virtual tour of the new memorial at Harvey Milk Plaza!  You can stand at select locations and experience what it will really feels like! You really don't want to miss this special sneak peek!

Hope to see you on Sunday!

From Heron's Head Park to Fisherman's Wharf, the Port of San Francisco's iconic waterfront has a history that is rich with innovative adaptation. To defend San Francisco from current and future flood risk, and to address urgent earthquake risks, we will need to adapt once again. This means making changes to our waterfront.    Take the Survey This survey will take you through five examples of how other cities made changes to address the risks they faced. We'll ask you to consider how these approaches could work in San Francisco and share your feedback.

Your feedback will help the City develop plans for adapting the waterfront. Significant changes to the waterfront are expected in 2030 or later, but we must make initial planning choices now to access funding opportunities and plan for projects. The development of these plans is guided by the Port’s five-plus years of community engagement – and we want to hear from you again!   Please share your survey response by June 3, 2022.

 For the most up-to-date construction information please visit www.sfpublicworks.org/uppermarket. 

F line substitution, Pink Triangle Park crosswalk successfully completed

Last month the contractor completed all necessary tunneling and surface work that requires the temporary substitution of historic streetcars with bus service along the corridor, including median crosswalk revisions at Laguna and Dolores streets. During this time a new accessible crosswalk to Pink Triangle Park and the existing Muni elevator also was installed on 17^th Street. 

Much work remains to be done - and as noted below there will be upcoming impacts to individual streetcar stops - but this was a major project milestone and we thank everyone for your patience throughout that process. 

Rainbow Honor Walk plaque installations begin this week

In the coming days work will begin to relocate 7 existing Rainbow Honor Walk plaques on Market Street (for more consistent and visible placement) and install 8 new sidewalk plaques (extending the Honor Walk eastward to 16th/Noe streets).  An accessible path of travel and fronting business access will be maintained at all times, but please expect temporary disruptions as this work will affect an approx. 8'x8' area for each plaque.

Median uplighting work continues, HOPE-themed Muni railing installation planned for May

Work in the center medians to install uplighting and cobblestone repair/replacement will continue in the coming weeks between Castro and Dolores. This work may require temporary lane closures during construction. 

Installation of new MUNI railings, designed by Public Works with input from many of you (with a special acknowledgement to the Castro CBD Streetscape Committee), is planned to begin in May. This work will require the temporary closure and removal of transit shelters for individual stops (for approximately one week each), starting with 17th/Jane Warner Plaza and working eastward to Laguna/Guerrero. More information will be posted prior to starting, including multi-language notices at affected locations and an additional email construction update.

A race to Pride (and beyond) 

From the start of construction in June 2021, the project has had the goal of reaching substantial completion by summer 2022 and otherwise supporting the celebration of Pride with minimal construction-related impacts. The project generally remains on track to meet this goal and is working urgently to complete what we can starting at Castro and working east. However, due primarily to supply chain delays for critical components (such as granite curbs and traffic signal heads/poles), it is becoming clear that construction activities will likely extend deeper into the summer months. Contractor and staff are doing what they can to push and/or find new vendors with faster timelines, but there are global issues out of our control.

At this time we are proceeding with the work as described above, along with additional traffic signal and sewer work at 15th /Sanchez and 16th/Noe streets. Construction of sidewalk bulbouts at these locations may be delayed until after Pride, pending the actual delivery of critical materials and coordination with work planned for the Octavia Boulevard/Central Freeway area.

For safety reasons and to keep streets accessible for fire and safety vehicles, planters have been removed from the Noe Slow Street roadway that had been placed near the Slow Street signages. These planters have now joined the other beautiful sidewalk planters that grace Noe Street.

SFMTA Slow Streets Program initiated this change following a request from the San Francisco Fire Department that roadway planters be removed after the recent three alarm Noe Street fire.

Assistance for Neighbors Displaced by the 141-149 Noe Street Fire

For the latest information, contact president@dtna.org.

Fire Relief Fund for Sushi Urashima Restaurant, organisiert von Nobu Agarie

Dear customers, friends, and community, On the early Friday… Nobu Agarie braucht deine Unterstützung für Fire Relief Fund for Sushi Urashima Restaurant (237 kB)

Help Alicia after Fire the Destroyed Everything, organized by Frank Tizedes

Our hearts go out to our neighbor and friend Alicia and her little pupp… Frank Tizedes needs your support for Help Alicia after Fire the Destroyed Everything (608 kB)

Others displaced by the Noe Street fire have informed Frank Tizedes, DTNA President, that they are not in need of further assistance.

Three Alarm Noe Street Fire 04/08/2022

Involved two Victorians (141-149 Noe at Henry) and displaced 5 residents and the restaurant Sushi Urashima. DTNA and neighbors are looking for ways to help, including setting up a GoFundMe page. Contact president@dtna.org for updates on how you can help.

DTNA Public In-Person Meeting Monday April 11^th 7:00PM to 8:00PM:

Will be at the Café Du Nord, 2174 Market Street. This first in-person Public Meeting since February 2020 will be primarily a social event with a brief Slow Triangle report. There will be refreshments and snacks. There is no Vaccination check and Masks are optional, but strongly recommended for the unvaccinated and those who are at high risk for serious illness.

LGBTQ Cultural District 18^th Street COVID TEST/VAC Hub behind Walgreens

Free COVID 19 Tests every Saturday but monthly COVID Vaccinations, including first and second Boosters. Next Vaccination dates: April 16th and May 21st. Additional Saturday Vaccination dates are under active discussion in view of recent FDA authorization of a second COVID booster for those over 50 years old or who are immune-compromised if it’s been at least four months since their last vaccination.

APRIL 16, 2022 Castro Easter Eggstravaganza Block Party 

Sponsored by Castro Merchants

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Noe Street between Market and Beaver Streets. Any questions, please email info@artyhoodsf.com.

• Activities For the Kiddos 11 am – 2 pm and For Kids of All Ages 2 pm – 5 pm

• Easter Bonnet Contest at 4:00PM looking for the most fabulous and extravagant Easter Bonnet. Enter and you could win $500 cash prize. Sign up at https://bit.ly/35buL0w or onsite the day of the event.

• Holiday Art Mart throughout the day.

April 19, 2022, Tuesday: Special Election — Vote 

• San Francisco Special Election to fill Assembly District 17 seat vacated when David Chui was appointed City Attorney.      

4/20/2022 Grand Opening of Flore Store and Unveiling of Mural at 4:20PM

• Join the celebration as you visit the Castro Farmers’ Market

• Ceremony will be in the Noe-Beaver Community Garden

Castro Farmers’ Market returned April 6^th

• Will continue every Wednesday 3:00 to 7:00PM through November 16^th.

• Fresh produce and other edibles are back. A new bakery is working through the City’s permit process and a new hot coffee venue is in the works.

Census-based San Francisco Redistricting Map Final

• Final map keeps the Duboce Triangle and Corona Heights in District 8. https://sfelections.sfgov.org/redistricting-final-maps

April 23^rd Annual McKinley DogFest in Duboce Park 11:00AM to 4:00PM

• A neighborhood tradition to support our local public school, McKinley Elementary, while celebrating the best of our beloved Duboce Park.

• Highlights of the day include a dog show with celebrity judges, carnival games, a photo booth (for humans and dogs), a chow zone, carnival food, a silent auction and live music. There is something for everyone.

• Every penny raised will go to support academic and enrichment programs for more than 250 children at McKinley Elementary. For more information about becoming a sponsor, a vendor, or donating goods or services for the silent auction, please go to https://mckinleyschool.org/dogfest/

April 27^th SFPD Park Station Community Meeting

• Virtual Zoom 06:30PM to 8:00PM meeting with Captain Pedrini.

• To attend, you need to register at; http://bit.ly/ParkCommMtgApril2022

Café Flore: look for renovations to start as the new proprietor formalizes plans and permits are obtained for a food venue reportedly with a seafood emphasis similar to two venues he has in Turkey.

DTNA 14^th Street Safety Project

With a little paint, 14^th Street is now a safer two-lane street between Castro and Sanchez, after eliminating one of the two eastbound lanes.

Come to Duboce Park Friday, March 25, 2022, at 05:00PM and meet with Supervisor Mandelman, Captain Christopher Pedrini (SFPD Park Station), and Cecily Brewster JD from the District Attorney's office to discuss Crime and Safety issues.

Dress warm as it may be windy.

Contact Frank Tizedes at president@dtna.org for any questions.

On April 6th, the market will open for the season with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:00 p.m.  Community activist Donna Sachet and District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman will do the honors and officially open the market. There will be also be a very special performance by local folk/jazz artist Essie Thomas to entertain the crowd.

The Market will be open 3pm to 7pm through November 16th, on Noe Street between Beaver and Market Street.

The latest SF Redistricting Task Force proposed mapping returns Duboce Triangle and Corona Heights to District 8.

https://sfgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=57159538a9a3422a9d22ef75d66565b6

Alex Lemberg, EVNA President, Our next public meeting will be held on Thursday, March 24 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. We will be joined by three City leaders who will share their projects, initiatives, and progress, and answer questions from attendees.  At the beginning of the meeting, we will be joined by City Administrator Carmen Chu, who is in charge of civic engagement, 311, the County Clerk, the Office of Cannabis, and significant efforts regarding planning and equity issues. Next, we will be joined by San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who will share his office's projects, progress, and future plans. If you've never seen DA Boudin speak, I strongly encourage you to attend this meeting. Finally, we will be joined by my friend and colleague Tina V. Aguirre, the Executive Director of the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District. Tina will share the massive amount of work that the Cultural District does, which focuses on preserving and building LGBTQ culture in the neighborhood. A major issue the Castro faces right now is census-based redistricting. The entire Castro/Duboce Triangle neighborhood is currently in District 8, but there is a proposal to split the Duboce Triangle and Corona Heights into District 5. The city-wide redistricting task-force is hosting a series of meetings this week, and you should attend if you can and are interested in this important subject. See this website for more details; meetings are listed below. The Eureka Valley Dog Owners Group, which was created to coordinate the Eureka Valley Dog Play Area's upcoming renovation, will have its next meeting on Tuesday, March 29 at 6:00 p.m. Please email me if you are interested in attending the meeting. I am also excited to announce a Holocaust memorial event hosted by the EVNA. It will be on the evening of Yom Ha'Shoah, the Jewish Day of Holocaust Remembrance, which this year is Wednesday, April 27, at the Pink Triangle Memorial at 17th and Market Streets. We will be joined by the Rabbi at Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, Mychal Copeland, and other guests to be announced soon. Keep an eye out for more information on this event. Finally, our next neighborhood clean-up day will be held on Sunday, April 3, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Please join us, even if you can only come for a a short while! Meet your neighbors and take some tangible actions to improve the Castro We will meet in front of Eureka Sky at Jane Warner Plaza. Please email me to RSVP! Please check out our event information below this letter and I hope to see you next Thursday, the 24th for our meeting! Warmest regards, Alex Lemberg, President

EVENTS   EVNA March Meeting Thursday, March 24 / 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.  Zoom Link Facebook Event Confirmed Attendees: Chesa Boudin, S.F. District Attorney Carmen Chu, S.F. City Administrator Tina V. Aguirre, Castro LGBTQ Cultural District City-wide Redistricting Meetings Monday, March 14 at 5:30 p.m. - Mapping - https://bit.ly/3tt0PVR Wednesday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. - District 5 - https://bit.ly/3sDJ9aF Friday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m. - District 8 (that's us!) - https://bit.ly/3vSVFFF Password for all three: comment See this website for public comment information EVDOG Monthly Meeting Tuesday, March 29 / 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Email Alex Lemberg to RSVP Castro Neighborhood Clean-Up Day Sunday, April 3 / 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Meet at Eureka Sky, 3989 17th St. at Jane Warner Plaza Email Alex Lemberg to RSVP Holocaust Memorial for Yom Ha'Shoah Wednesday, April 27 / Early evening, time to be announced soon Pink Triangle Memorial, 17th and Market Streets