News & Updates
Apr 26

4.26.2021 | SF Tech Community Update

Community Update

sf.citi is committed to providing you ongoing updates about the latest community news and resources from the San Francisco tech industry and beyond.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Latest Report*

  • 47.5 percent of Californians who are vaccinated with at least one dose
  • 28.5 percent of Californians who are fully vaccinated
  • 68 percent of San Francisco adults who are vaccinated with at least one dose

*As of 9:00am PT on 4/26

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.

  • Cruise launched a dedicated social impact program called Cruise for Good. As part of this program, Cruise is pledging 1 percent of its fleet of electric, autonomous vehicles to serve local communities in need—not just in San Francisco, but everywhere Cruise operates.
  • Facebook and Microsoft joined Hewlett Packard Enterprise in offering free patents to innovators developing low-carbon technologies as part of the Low-Carbon Patent Pledge.
  • Google announced sustainability milestones that bring the company one step closer to reaching its goal of operating entirely on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030.
  • Instacart announced new commitments to support the Black community and increase equitable outcomes in its systems and processes. These include observing Juneteenth as an official company holiday, prioritizing Black, women, and Latinx communities in its talent strategy, and supporting food banks to address food insecurity.
  • Intuit announced that it will adopt a hybrid work model in which the majority of its employees will meet, collaborate, and work from Intuit sites 2-3 days per week. Intuit’s return to work plan comes after surveying 9,800 of its employees, only 6% of whom said they would like to return to working full-time on site after the pandemic.
  • Lyft shared updates on its commitment to sustainability. The company aims to reach 100 percent electric vehicles on the Lyft platform by 2030. Currently, Lyft offers bikeshare programs in 9 markets and scooters in 6 markets and recently launched a new lightweight e-station in Portland, Oregon that embraces the concept of the circular economy, or turning waste into products.

UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO

  • On April 22, Mayor Breed announced San Francisco’s newest environmental and climate change commitments, including becoming a carbon-neutral city in the next 24 years. The City also moved up its net-zero carbon goal by five years to 2045 and committed CleanPowerSF to provide all customers 100 percent renewable electricity by 2025. As of 2019, San Francisco’s greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 41 percent below 1990 levels, which is six years ahead of the City’s goal of reaching a 40 percent reduction by 2025.
  • On April 21, Mayor Breed announced legislation to enhance the Cannabis Equity Program and support all cannabis businesses in San Francisco. Established in 2018, the Cannabis Equity Program aims to lower the barriers to cannabis licensing and prioritize those hit hardest by the War on Drugs. Mayor Breed’s latest legislation will modify the permit process and create new processing priorities to increase opportunities for equity businesses. It also provides greater ownership flexibility for cannabis businesses.
  • On April 20, Mayor Breed announced that the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) will begin to reopen for limited indoor service. The first floor of the Main Library will reopen on May 3, followed by the Chinatown/Him Mark Lai Branch Library and Mission Bay Branch Library during the week of May 17. Additional floors at the Main Library and other neighborhood branches will reopen as staffing permits and San Francisco continues to make progress on its COVID-19 recovery.
  • On April 19, Mayor Breed announced the City’s Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund will begin accepting applications for grants of at least $10,000 on April 21. Established to financially support San Francisco live music and entertainment venues impacted by COVID-19, the $3 million fund is part of a larger small business loans and grants program. Members of the public are also invited to donate to the fund.

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 April 24, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup concluded that use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine should resume in the western states. Made up of nationally-acclaimed scientists with expertise in immunization and public health, the workgroup independently reviewed the FDA’s actions related to COVID-19 vaccines and provided its confirmation to the Governors of California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The workgroup also recommended that vaccine information fact sheets be made available in multiple languages at an accessible reading level.
  • On April 23, Governor Newsom directed departments to end the issuance of new permits for hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) by January 2024 and analyze pathways to phase out oil extraction across California by no later than 2045. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will evaluate how to phase out oil extraction through the state’s climate change scoping plan, a multi-year regulatory and programmatic plan to achieve required reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
  • On April 21, Governor Newsom directed state agencies to take immediate action to bolster drought resilience and prepare for impacts on communities, businesses, and ecosystems. The Governor also proclaimed a regional drought emergency for the Russian River watershed in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, where reservoirs are at record lows following two critically dry years.
  • On April 21, Governor Newsom joined a bipartisan group of 12 governors calling for the Biden Administration to build on its early action to tackle climate change. The group wants to ensure that all new vehicles sold in the U.S. will be zero-emission in the near future and see the Biden Administration amplify states’ investments in zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) charging and fueling infrastructure.

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.

  • Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) helps individuals and neighborhood groups plant and care for street trees and sidewalk gardens in San Francisco. Since 1981, FUF has brought communities together to plant more than 60,000 trees in San Francisco, accounting for almost half of the City’s street tree canopy. All FUF programs focus on growing San Francisco’s urban forest all while empowering local San Franciscans to make their neighborhoods greener. If you want to support San Francisco greenery, take a look at one of the many ways to get involved with Friends of the Urban Forest, including making a donation.

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.