11.16.2020 | SF Tech Community Update

COVID-19 Latest Report*

• 1,030,589 confirmed cases in California
• 18,265 confirmed deaths in California
• 131,068 confirmed cases in the Bay Area

*As of 9:00am PT on 11/16

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 recently launched FutureWorks, an annual social impact program focused on increasing economic mobility by directly supporting students and jobseekers. Cruise also teamed up with Walmart to launch an autonomous vehicle pilot in Scottsdale, Arizona. Beginning early next year, Scottsdale customers can place an order at their local Walmart and have their groceries delivered, contact-free, via one of Cruise’s all-electric self-driving cars.
• London & Partners released data showing that San Francisco and London are emerging as impact tech hubs with a significant amount of VC investment in startups addressing one or more of the 17 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The findings overlapped with the latest edition of the Silicon Valley Comes to the UK virtual event series, which connects innovators from the Bay Area and the UK to discuss the future of tech.
• Salesforce volunteers have partnered with nonprofits throughout the pandemic to help them transition their operations online and continue serving their communities.

UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO

• On November 12, Mayor Breed announced that the City and County of San Francisco reached a new agreement with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to send staff to help support the district’s school facility assessments. So far, the district has assessed 20 schools, which leaves a remaining 65 buildings that need to be inspected in order to welcome students back into the classroom during the pandemic.
• On November 10, Mayor Breed and San Francisco Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax announced that the City is temporarily rolling back its reopening plans due to a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, which have risen by 250 percent since October 2. Starting Friday, November 13, San Francisco began rolling back indoor dining and reducing the capacity of fitness centers and movie theaters. The City also paused indoor instruction at high schools that had not already opened.
• On November 10, Mayor Breed and District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney introduced legislation intended to prevent abuse of the City’s appeals process, which often results in delays in City projects and increased costs. The proposed legislation requires 50 signatures from San Francisco residents or five members of the Board of Supervisors to appeal a City project. This marks a significant contrast from the current rules, which require just one appellant.
• On November 9, Mayor Breed announced that San Francisco’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing began moving unhoused individuals out of hotels and into longer-term housing solutions. Working with different nonprofits, the department will eventually transition 2,300 people from hotels to new housing accommodations as part of San Francisco’s COVID-19 response.
• On November 9, Mayor Breed announced a $3.5 million expansion of the San Francisco Hardship and Emergency Loan Program (SF HELP). It will provide zero interest loans of up to $50,000 to some 80 small businesses as part of San Francisco’s COVID-19 recovery 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 November 13, Governor Newsom joined Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee in issuing travel advisories recommending 14-day quarantines for inter-state and international travel. The advisories come as COVID-19 cases continue to rise significantly across the country.

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.

• Two days after the November 3, 2020 election, sf.citi Executive Director Jennifer Stojkovic sat down (virtually) with Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) Executive Director Paula Arrigoni to discuss the future of tech, San Francisco, and social impact. The conversation was part of SF Commons’ ongoing Nonprofit Spotlight Series, which highlights San Francisco’s incredible network of nonprofits and all of the important work they do for our City. Watch the latest episode of the SF Nonprofit Spotlight series to better understand San Francisco’s challenges during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapidly changing landscape of corporate social impact.

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.