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This Thursday, March 11, join Jennifer Stojkovic of sf.citi and Julie Samuels of Tech:NYC for Mapping the Tech Exodus as they compare the tech policy landscapes of San Francisco and New York City. They’ll discuss ways San Francisco and New York City can recover from COVID-19 and defend their titles as leaders in tech innovation. Make sure to register below!
Register for Mapping the Tech Exodus
- 3,576,926 confirmed cases in California
- 54,222 confirmed deaths in California
- 411,087 confirmed cases in the Bay Area
*As of 9:00am PT on 3/8
COVID-19 Updates from the SF Tech Community
UPDATES FROM THE TECH COMMUNITY
We are sharing the latest COVID-19 resources from the San Francisco tech industry, as well other community-minded initiatives pioneered by sf.citi members.
- Google, in partnership with the nonprofit Housing Trust Silicon Valley, announced nearly $30 million in loans for three new, subsidized housing developments in the Bay Area. The loans will fund the construction of a 100-unit apartment complex in Mountain View, a 150-unit building in Santa Clara, and 880 affordable homes in Potrero Hill. This latest round of funding is part of Google’s $1 billion commitment to support local housing development.
- Twitter announced that it will apply labels to Tweets that may contain misleading information about COVID-19 vaccines. The company is also introducing a strike system to determine when additional enforcement action is necessary and further reduce the spread of potentially harmful and misleading information.
UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
- On March 5, Mayor Breed announced a $28 million economic recovery program for workforce development, paid training programs, and job placement and employment services. The Building Back Stronger program aims to expand services for San Francisco workers and jobseekers, address economic inequities and disparities in unemployment, and bolster the City’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- On March 4, Mayor Breed announced the groundbreaking of a new affordable housing complex that will provide 96 affordable homes for formerly homeless individuals. As part of the Plumbers Union Project, a new affordable housing complex at 53 Colton Street will provide wraparound supportive services and stable homes for 96 adults exiting homelessness. The new homes at 53 Colton Street, along with the construction of 499 additional housing units, are a revitalization effort of the Market Street and Van Ness Avenue neighborhood.
- On March 3, Mayor Breed and Ripple Founder Chris Larson announced a new neighborhood merchant corridor funding initiative called “Avenue Greenlight.” This philanthropically-funded initiative was created to promote small business economic recovery and community vibrancy in San Francisco. With an initial $1.7 million in private funding, locally-focused grants will support merchant corridors through neighborhood cleaning, safety, and beautification projects.
- On March 2, Mayor Breed announced the reopening of some businesses and activities as San Francisco moves into the State’s red tier. Beginning March 3, San Francisco opened up activities such as indoor dining, indoor fitness, and indoor museums and aquariums. In accordance with State and local limits and guidance from the Director of Health Dr.Grant Colfax, San Francisco will resume most business and activities that are allowed by the State for cities designated to the red tier on California’s statewide reopening plan.
To stay up to date with all City of San Francisco updates, follow the Mayor’s updates here.
UPDATES FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
- On March 5, Governor Newsom signed a $6.6 billion package to accelerate the return to in-person instruction across California. $2 billion will fund safety measures to support in-person instruction, including personal protective equipment, ventilation upgrades, and COVID-19 testing. The remaining $4.6 billion will fund expanded learning opportunities such as summer school, tutoring, and mental health services.
- On March 4, Governor Newsom signed an executive order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This executive order extends authorization for local governments to halt evictions for commercial renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic until June 30, 2021.
- On March 4, Governor Newsom introduced a vaccine equity metric to fulfill the conditions of its Blueprint for a Safer Economy by vaccinating the state’s hardest-hit communities against COVID-19. As part of this equity metric, 40 percent of California’s vaccine doses will be set aside for the most impacted communities.
- On March 3, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup confirmed that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe and effective. Unanimously recommended by the workgroup, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine becomes the third vaccine to be supported for use. Initial shipments of the vaccine were received at the end of February.
- On March 3, Governor Newsom announced federal approval of Medicaid funding to expand COVID-19 testing for low-income students. The Biden-Harris Administration approved Medi-Cal funding to help provide voluntary COVID-19 testing for low-income students covered by the program, further supporting the reopening of schools in underserved communities for in-person instruction.
To stay up to date with all State of California updates, follow the California Department of Health’s updates here.
SUPPORT OUR SAN FRANCISCO COMMUNITY
Every week, sf.citi will feature a different San Francisco nonprofit and share ways you can support its mission and work.
- Women’s Audio Mission (WAM) is a San Francisco/Oakland-based nonprofit that uses music and media to get underserved women and girls involved in STEM and creative technology studies. WAM houses the only professional recording studio in the world built and run by women and gender-nonconforming individuals. Over the last 16 years, WAM has provided over 4,000 classes to 16,000 women and girls and has placed nearly 1,000 women in paid positions at companies like Google, Pixar, Dolby Laboratories, and KQED. If you want to help more women and girls launch their STEM and audio careers, consider donating or becoming a WAM member.
Would you like to be featured in a future sf.citi community update? Tell us about your work in San Francisco by emailing jacqueline@sfciti.org.
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