Update on SNA’s Plan for 2026 Participatory Budget Proposal

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn Uncategorized

Thank you to those of you who submitted an idea for the 2026 Participatory Budget! The SNA Board discussed the submissions and decided that we will be submitting a proposal to create a pedestrian path through the overgrown triangle at Congo and Circular to improve pedestrian safety and beautify our neighborhood.

For those of you who may not be familiar, while the triangle at Congo and Circular has beautiful plants, it’s so overgrown that there is no longer a path that connects the 2 painted sidewalks on both sides of it (see pictures below). This means pedestrians have to walk on the road along Circular to pass. On days when vehicles are parked along the sides, pedestrians have to step into active traffic to pass. This is dangerous, to say the least. Since there are painted sidewalks visible, we believe DPW should be able to use the funds to create a path and add ADA compliant curb cuts. While we are fortunate that no injuries have been reported, multiple neighbors have raised this as a concern at quarterly membership meetings over the last couple of years. So we felt that this is a repeated issue we should try our best to address.

We will be drafting the official application for submission by midnight on Friday 3/20. Please reach out to board@sunnysideassociation.org ASAP if you wish to contribute to this proposal!

Call for Ideas for 2026 District 7 Participatory Budget Project in Sunnyside

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn Uncategorized

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members propose projects and collectively decide how to spend part of a public budget. It began in 2013 by then-Supervisor Norman Yee, and this year, Participatory Budgeting is back and improved! You can visit the official website to learn more details about the Submission Process.

The Sunnyside Neighborhood Association is collecting ideas from members and residents so we can 

  1. Ensure SNA submits a proposal that reflects the desires from our community and also is unique from what other proposals submitted from within/for our neighborhood, and
  2. Help spread awareness for proposals submitted by other community organizations in Sunnyside.

For the ideas that already have a “sponsoring group”, SNA will make sure to avoid submitting a duplicative idea and help cross-promote for votes. For the ideas that still need a “sponsoring group”, SNA will evaluate and select one to sponsor by refining and submitting an application, marketing for votes, and supporting with implementation if awarded.

Since the official deadline is at March 20th, 11:59pm, we want to strike the right balance between collecting ideas and feedback from our community and preparing a complete application for submission. Therefore, we plan to follow the following timeline prior to the March 20th deadline:

  • SNA will collect ideas using this Google form until 11:59pm on Wednesday March 11th
  • The Board will review all submissions that still require a “sponsoring” organization and select a project as the SNA application to submit by Monday 16th. Once SNA has selected a project, we will notify the members via blog post within a day.
  • SNA will work with the original submitter of the selected idea on the application to submit on March 20th

So please send us your ideas by fill out the form!!

As a reminder: Any neighborhood groups with more than 1 individual in District 7 can submit an application. There is no qualification criteria on group size or official standing with any tax or government agencies. 

Meet the New Sunnyside Neighborhood Association Board!

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn Uncategorized

We are thrilled to introduce the newly elected board members for the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association (SNA). Each of these dedicated residents brings a unique set of skills and a deep passion for our community as they begin their term, which is expected to run from 2026 to 2028. Get to know the team working to keep Sunnyside a vibrant, safe, and welcoming place to live. We have quite some exciting updates and programming coming up. Please keep an eye for updates and spread the words about SNA among your friends/neighbors in Sunnyside!

Michael Kelly – President president@sunnysideassociation.org

A Sunnyside resident since 2024, Michael previously served the SNA as a Member at Large and Membership Director. He is heavily involved in local safety, serving as a coordinator for SF NERT/CERT and a member of the SF Amateur Radio Club. As President, Michael pledges to prioritize membership growth and maintain strong ties with SF City Hall and local emergency services to advance our neighborhood’s priorities.

Jon Winston – Vice-President vicepresident@sunnysideassociation.org

Jon is a long-time Sunnyside resident who served as Vice-President of the SNA for the last 2 years. Known for his work as the Balboa Reservoir Committee Chairman, he has spent years navigating complex development discussions to ensure residents’ interests are prioritized. Jon is also a founding member of Friends of Slow Hearst and remains dedicated to making Sunnyside streets safer for seniors, families, and commuters.

Cecilia Zhou – Secretary secretary@sunnysideassociation.org

Cecilia has lived in Sunnyside since 2020 and is the parent of a local first grader at Sunnyside Elementary. Transitioning from her role as Interim-Secretary and Member-at-Large, she spearheaded impactful programs like the quarterly “Clean and Green” events on Circular Ave and the first SNA Easter Egg Hunt. Her goal as Secretary is to make it easier for neighbors to stay informed, become members, and get more involved.

Niran Somasundaram – Treasurer treasurer@sunnysideassociation.org

Niran joined our community in July 2025 and brings professional expertise as a Land Use and Environmental Attorney. He is committed to securing grants and new funding sources for neighborhood beautification, recreation, and safety projects. Niran aims to ensure that beloved traditions—like the annual Christmas party and community cleanups—continue to thrive and grow.

Sara Barz – Member-at-Large 1 memberatlarge1@sunnysideassociation.org

Sara moved to Sunnyside in 2020 and works as a Product Manager for transit payments at Apple. As a lead organizer for Friends of Slow Hearst, she is a staunch advocate for public transit and street safety. Her pledge is to help grow the SNA membership and support the continuation of regular neighborhood clean-ups and family-friendly social events.

Rosaura Valle – Member-at-Large 2 memberatlarge2@sunnysideassociation.org

A resident since 2016 and a SNA member since 2018, Rosaura is a scientist-turned-non-profit consultant and a dedicated educator. She currently leads the Detroit Steps Project and runs a STEM leadership program for high school students. On the board, she will focus on fostering collaboration between community groups and ensuring the SNA remains financially sustainable.

The newly elected board members would like to express their sincere appreciation to the neighborhood for their votes and the opportunity to lead. They are incredibly excited to serve the Sunnyside community, work together with various local partners, and continue the mission of improving the quality of life for all residents. Please reach out to board@sunnysideassociation.org if you have any questions or concerns!

Sunnyside All Aboard! – Monthly Coffee date with The SNA Board

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn Uncategorized

Hi neighbors,

As a reminder, the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association Board is having our casual coffee meetup at the local coffee joint, the Railroad Expresso, this Saturday, 2/28/2025, from 9 to 10am. Gotta gripe? Maybe an interesting project you’d like to do with the SNA? Swing by for some java and meet your board and your neighbors, and share your thoughts! Let’s make our community even sunnier together!

Your SNA Board

SNA Quarterly Meeting – Monday,

On By Sunnyside Neighborhood AssociationIn Uncategorized

St. Finn Barr Auditorium, 415 Edna Street (at Hearst)
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm – General Meeting


Live meeting stream! Many of our members have busy lives, especially at 6:30 on a Monday night, and they have asked for convenient options for attending our meetings. Now you can watch the meeting from the comfort of your home on our YouTube channel! Please leave comments or ask questions in the YouTube chat, and we’ll do our best to address them during the meeting. Please bear in mind that this project is still in beta, so expect things to go wrong. We will try our best to make it a good experience.

Agenda

1. Welcome and agenda review,
Brian Smith, Board President

2. SNA Board Elections
Cecelia Zhou, Member at Large
Nominations and introductions to candidates
elections of new board members

3. District 7 Update:
Legislative Aides Emma Hare and Jennifer Feiber will present the Participatory Budgeting and Community Opportunity Fund and answer general District 7 questions from the audience

4. Year in review and planning this year’s events

5. Raffle
An insulated travel mug and a box of sweets made with maple syrup