| October 15, 2020 |
 Dear Friends and Neighbors, By now, you should have received your ballot for the November 2020 Election in the mail. It’s crucial we all vote not only at the national level for President and Vice President, but at the local level in our own districts. We need more equitable representation across the board at every level. Educate yourself about candidates and ballot measures to choose what is best for you and your family.I’ve heard from many of you about the Twin Peaks Auto Care lease extension and the St. Ignatius lights. Thank you to all who have shared their thoughts on these issues. I’ve heard you and will keep your comments in mind as these issues again come before the Board. Today is the LAST DAY to fill out your 2020 Census. If you haven’t yet, please go to my2020census.gov today to make sure SF gets the resources we need. The deadline is 11:59pm tonight. And, don’t get complacent about COVID-19, please keep wearing your masks, washing your hands and watching your distance around others. Sincerely, Norman ___________________________________________________ In this newsletter you will find information about: Playgrounds Reopen: Guidelines Halloween Safety Tips COVID Testing for Minors Ballot & Voting Preparation: City Programs to Help & Stay SafeMerced SF Public Library to Go ______________________________________________________ Playgrounds Have Reopened  Playgrounds are Open – Learn the Guidelines Outdoor playgrounds are now permitted to reopen. While it’s ok to visit the parks and enjoy the outdoors, please remember we all still need to be careful. Actively supervise children. Everyone should continue to wear masks, wash your hands and watch your distance. Don’t share toys or eat or drink while you’re at the park. At this time, playgrounds that are allowed to open must be fully outdoors, open to the public, free, operated by a government agency, and intended to serve nearby residents within ½ mile. You can find more info at sfrecpark.org. To report concerns around playground overcrowding, call 311 or visit sf311.org. ___________________________________________ Celebrate Safely This Halloween  Wondering how to Celebrate Halloween Safely This Year? Here are Some IdeasHave a spooky but safe Halloween. Avoid COVID-19 by doing activities at home with your family. You can have a small group outside, staying 6 feet apart. Remember to wear your face covering! Check out this guide to celebrate safer.DoActivities at home with people you live withRemote parties with friendsOutdoor activities with up to 12 people staying 6 feet apartOutdoor dining at a local restaurantWear your face covering if you leave your homeAvoidDoor to door trick-or-treatingTrunk-or-treating between carsTraveling to a rural fall festivalSharing a candy bowl between households is risky. Unnecessary travel can also spread COVID-19.Do notGather with more than 12 people, inside or outsideCelebrate indoors with anyone who doesn’t live with youGo to a local haunted house, carnival, festival, or live attractionThese activities are banned during the pandemic._____________________________________________ COVID Testing for Minors Now Available COVID-19 Testing for Minors Beginning last week, community-based mobile testing sites will offer COVID-19 testing to minors under the age of 13 with guardian/parental consent. Test results will be delivered to the parent/guardian, not the minor. Verbal or written consent from a parent/guardian is acceptable for testing. Currently, children can also get tested at community clinics. As a reminder, in August, DPH (in partnership with testing partners Color/Carbon) extended testing to minors over the age of 13 without adult/parental/guardian consent required. A minor who is 13+ can provide their own contact information and receive results themselves. _________________________________________ Voting Safely Voting Safely During the Pandemic As ballots arrive in the mail, it’s important that San Franciscans have a plan to vote safely in the November 3, 2020 election. All registered voters in San Francisco and California will be sent a vote-by-mail ballot for the election, and should have received their own by now. You can still register to vote online or in person at the Voting Center. Those who miss the voter registration deadline but are still eligible can visit the Voting Center or a polling place to register and cast their ballot. San Francisco’s outdoor Voting Center is located at 99 Grove St., in front of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The Voting Center is one of more than 588 locations in San Francisco where people can vote in the upcoming election. If you vote early in person or by mail, you will avoid possible wait times and crowded public spaces, and your ballot will be reviewed and counted well before Election Day. There are several ways to vote in the election:- By Mail – This is the safest way to vote. The Department of Elections recommends voters return their ballots using a United States Postal Service blue mail collection box. Find your nearest mailbox here.- At the Voting Center – Now through Nov. 3, including weekends starting Oct. 24.- At a Polling Place on Election Day – There are 588 polling places in San Francisco. Find your polling places on San Francisco’s Voter Portal. – At Ballot Drop-Off Sites – Now through Nov. 3, voters can drop-off ballots at the Voting Center. Starting Oct. 31 and through Nov. 3, the Department will provide drop-off sites at the Chase Center, Bayview/Linda Brooks-Burton Library, Excelsior Library, and Portsmouth Square.- Accessible Vote-by-Mail System – allows voters to mark screen-readable vote-by-mail ballots using common internet-connected devices. After marking an AVBM ballot, a voter must download and print the ballot and return the ballot printout by mail or in person in a timely manner, just as vote-by-mail voters who use official paper ballots must do. – Authorizing another person to pick up your ballot – Any registered voter may authorize a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, sibling, or person residing in their household to pick up a vote-by-mail ballot from the Voting Center and deliver it to them, provided the authorized person is at least 16 years old.Have additional questions or need more information? Contact the SF Department of Elections at (415) 554-4375, by email at SFVote@sfgov.org or use this Contact Form. ___________________________________________ Merced Public Library Curbside Service  Merced SF Public Library To Go – Curbside Service Tuesdays to Saturdays The Merced Branch is now offering SFPL to Go curbside services Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00am to 5:30pm. The services offered at this time are: 1) Pick up of reserved library materials for which the patron has received a notice by email, voicemail, or regular mail. 2) Pick up of Summer Stride tote bags and Reading Ranger badges. 3) Return of checked out San Francisco Public Library, Link Plus, and interlibrary loan materials. The book drop is only open during SFPL to Go hours. To use this service, place a hold through your library accounts for books, DVDs, audiobooks, LPs, or any circulating item and select the SFPL To Go site for pick up. Once the materials are ready, patrons will receive an email, print notice, or phone call letting them know that their materials are ready. Due to safety precautions, it may take a week or for returned materials to be checked in and reflected on a patron’s library record. Additional locations will continue to open through October. For more information, please visit https://sfpl.org/sfpl-to-go. |
Sunnyside Neighborhood Association 