sf.citi is committed to providing ongoing updates about the latest community news and resources from the San Francisco tech industry and beyond.
- 512,561 confirmed cases in California
- 9,399 confirmed deaths in California
- 55,175 confirmed cases in the Bay Area
*As of 9:00am PT on 8/3
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 extended its work-from-home policy through June 30, 2021. The extension, said Google CEO Sundar Pichai, is intended to help employees plan ahead.
- Microsoft is helping sports fans enjoy the thrill of NBA games—which resumed on July 30—from the comfort of their homes using Together mode in Microsoft Teams. Using AI technology, Together mode “makes being together virtually actually feel like being together in-person.”
- Since COVID-19 started, Okta and its co-founders have provided $1 million in grants and matching funds to Bay Area organizations. This builds upon Okta’s long history of philanthropy—recently profiled by the San Francisco Business Times—including Okta’s commitment to Full Circle Fund and the launch of its Nonprofit Technology Initiative.
UPDATES FROM THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
- On July 31, Mayor Breed and City Librarian Michael Lambert announced the launch of San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) To Go. Rolling out August 10 and 11 with the Main Library and the Excelsior Branch, SFPL To Go will allow San Francisco library cardholders to pick up and return books at libraries throughout the City. After the initial launch, more locations will open up in phases.
- On July 31, Mayor Breed and District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney announced the creation of new pedestrian spaces in the Tenderloin to support residents and businesses hit by COVID-19. The City will develop a temporary four-block project on Jones Street with sidewalk expansions, Shared Spaces, and Play Streets.
- On July 31, Mayor Breed unveiled her two-year budget proposal for the fiscal years 2020–2022. The $13.7 billion proposed budget (which drops to $12.6 billion in the 2021–2022 fiscal year) is higher than last year’s budget, closes the City’s $1.5 billion budget deficit, and prioritizes spending in three key areas. $120 million will be reinvested to address structural inequities affecting the City’s Black community. The proposed budget also includes investments to implement the Homelessness Recovery Plan and expand the City’s permanent supportive housing portfolio. $446.1 million will be allocated to support the City’s ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Additionally, $15 million of new funding will go to the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to help alleviate financial hardships caused by COVID-19.
- UCSF and the Latino Task Force will be offering COVID-19 testing at the 24th Street BART station every Wednesday and Friday from 7:00am–6:00pm. According to Mission Local, the testing site will be open for at least three weeks and will prioritize workers and commuters in the 24th Street corridor.
- On July 29, Mayor Breed, in partnership with the COVID Command Center and Latino Task Force, announced new strategies to expand COVID-19 resources and awareness for San Francisco’s Latino community. These include La Familia Unida Contra COVID-19 (Families United Against COVID-19) campaign to increase awareness of health orders and guidelines and programs offering food, housing, finance, and mental health services.
- On July 27, Mayor Breed and District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton released recommendations on reinvesting in San Francisco’s Black community. In June, Mayor Breed and Supervisor Walton tasked the Human Rights Commission with leading a community input process about redirecting funding from the San Francisco Police Department toward our Black community. The report released by Mayor Breed and Supervisor Walton includes findings and recommendations of that process and will serve as a guiding document for how City funds should be reinvested.
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 July 29, Governor Newsom announced actions to strengthen the state’s unemployment insurance delivery system and better serve workers who have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is forming a Employment Development Department (EDD) strike team to propose improvements to EDD and reimagine their technology systems. Governor Newsom also announced that the state will prioritize processing unpaid claims, starting with the oldest claims.
- On July 29, Governor Newsom announced that over $1 billion has gone to 3.6 million working Californians through the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC). He also said that he will not suspend the minimum wage increase up to $14 per hour in 2021.
- On July 27, Governor Newsom announced actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 California’s Central Valley, which has been particularly hard hit by the virus. He is allocating $52 million to eight counties in the Central Valley to expand COVID-19 investigation, contact tracing, and quarantine efforts. The state will also deploy Unified Support Teams to support on-the-ground efforts to reduce COVID-19 transmission rates.
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.
- TheOpenCode Foundation provides disadvantaged students the education and resources needed to pursue a career in computer science. In light of COVID-19, the organization is focused on sourcing laptops to distribute to students, continuing its 10-week bootcamp and accelerator programs online, and offering grants to youth of color through its Youth Justice Grant program. Help support TheOpenCode Foundation’s work and mission by 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.
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