The COVID-19 Effect on California and San Francisco Schools
Featured Speaker: Mark Sanchez, San Francisco School Board

Governments, exhausted parents, and students alike want nothing more than to see schools reopen. But COVID-19 has made the prospect a logistical nightmare at best and a life-threatening public health risk at worst. In conversation with President of the San Francisco School Board, Mark Sanchez, sf.citi explored how California and San Francisco schools are grappling with the new challenges presented by COVID-19 and what students, staff, and parents can expect in the 2020-2021 academic year.

The COVID-19 Effect on San Francisco’s Housing and Rental Market
Featured Speaker: Xiomara Cisneros, Bay Area Council

In June 2020, San Francisco rents fell by an unprecedented 11.8 percent—the largest drop of any American city. “Pandemic pricing” was just one of many topics covered during sf.citi’s conversation about the impact of COVID-19 on the San Francisco’s housing and rental market. Adding her expertise, Bay Area Council Policy Director, Xiomara Cisneros, helped us explore the Bay Area’s housing challenges before, during, and after COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Effect on San Francisco’s Restaurants and Food Culture
Featured Speaker: Laurie Thomas, Golden Gate Restaurant Association

Restaurants have been among the businesses hardest hit by COVID-19. Even before the pandemic, operating a restaurant in San Francisco was costly, explained Laurie Thomas, Executive Director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association. She talked to sf.citi about the additional challenges restaurants have had to overcome and how San Franciscans can support their local favorites during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 Effect on Elections
Featured Speaker: Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State

sf.citi discussed the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 Presidential election with California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. Also known as California’s Chief Elections Officer, Secretary Padilla explained the state’s decision to automatically send all California voters a vote-by-mail ballot. He also walked us through other precautions the state is taking to maximize both voter turnout and voter safety during the November 2020 election.

The COVID-19 Effect on San Francisco’s Transportation
Featured Speaker: Jeffrey Tumlin, San Francisco Director of Transportation

sf.citi looked at how COVID-19 impacted San Francisco’s transportation system with San Francisco Director of Transportation Jeffrey Tumlin. We explored the ways in which COVID-19 upended traffic patterns across the Bay Area and the challenges new pandemic-induced transportation trends pose for San Francisco’s future.

The COVID-19 Effect on San Francisco’s Office Space Market
Featured Speaker: Rich Hillis, San Francisco Planning Director

sf.citi talked to Director of San Francisco’s Planning Department, Rich Hillis, about the impact of COVID-19 on San Francisco offices. In a matter of weeks, COVID-19 prompted office occupancy rates to drop from 90 percent to 10 percent. Hillis explained how the City’s office space market supports San Francisco’s overall economic health and what to expect from offices in the future.

The COVID-19 Effect on San Francisco’s Budget
Featured Speaker: Ben Rosenfield, San Francisco City Controller

sf.citi discussed the impact of COVID-19 on San Francisco’s budget—including a projected $1.7 billion deficit—with City Controller Ben Rosenfield. Rosenfield explained which of San Francisco’s revenue streams will be most affected by COVID-19 and the path toward economic recovery.