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Dear friends,
Summer started off with victory for seniors and people with disabilities in the San Francisco city budget! Congratulations to SDA members and allies who fought for and won funding for rental subsidies, Senior Operating Subsidies, Dignity Fund money, tech devices and training, and critical community services. Click here for more information. We also improved accessibility guidelines in San Francisco’s Shared Spaces legislation, held our first-ever East Bay SDA gathering, started building the Free WiFi campaign, and launched the first Social Media Advocacy Senior & Disability University. Thank you to all who joined SDA to celebrate community at the Annual Celebration on August 11! We had such a lovely time.
Unfortunately COVID is still a major threat in our community and we cannot yet open our office doors and hold in-person meetings. Let’s continue to connect on zoom and phone, and occasional outside gatherings — like this Friday’s action at the SF Federal Building for Home and Community-Based Services!
Together, let’s connect to support each other and build stronger, more just communities. Take care, and take action.
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FRIDAY: Urge Speaker Pelosi to lead on funding for care!
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Friday, August 27th, 11am
The Long Term Supports and Services (LTSS) for All Grassroots Coalition will be meeting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office to urge her to SUPPORT and LEAD the efforts to win $400 billion in funding for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). Over the last months, members of the LTSS for All Coalition have collected personal stories sharing why CARE Is ESSENTIAL to them. These stories will be presented to Speaker Pelosi in person and on Zoom. Help us urge the Speaker to LEAD on this funding and help us pass the $400 billion in Congress when they return from their August recess. Here is how you can join:
In Person (outside):
Meet at 10:30 outside Speaker Pelosi’s SF office to drop off the letters at 11 to Speaker Pelosi at the Federal Building in SF (90 7th St). Wear a mask, socially distance. RSVP at www.bit.ly/400forPelosi
Zoom:
If you cannot be in SF for the in-person event, you can still participate on Zoom at 10:30AM. RSVP at www.bit.ly/400forPelosi
For questions: cynthial.cara@gmail.com / 510-663-4086
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Thank you for joining us at our Annual Celebration!
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The SDA Annual Celebration was held on Wednesday August 11th. Thank you to all our sponsors, donors, members, friends and family who help make it a rousing success! We raised over $30,000 for our growing work around housing, healthcare, pedestrian safety, mutual aid, digital organizing and peer advocates!
Click here for more information and a full list of sponsors.
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Do you recall there’s a recall? We hope so!
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Potential Recall of Governor Newsom
Now through poll closings on Tuesday, September 14th
Be sure to vote in the recall election! If you need any help, please contact the SF Department of Elections at (415) 554-4375 or SFVote@sfgov.org, or leave SDA a message at (415) 546-1333. Sign your envelope and drop it in the mail, a vote-by-mail dropbox, or a voting site, by September 14, or vote in-person early or on Election Day.
There are only two questions: Do you want to recall (take out of office) Governor Gavin Newsom? (yes – recall him; no – keep him as Governor). And if he is recalled, who do you want to replace him from the list in your ballot? You can but do not have to vote on both questions.
Conservatives collected signatures to put the recall on the ballot out of frustration with Newsom’s policies on immigration, COVID, and homelessness. Top contenders include (all Republicans) conservative talk radio show host Larry Elder, reality tv star and former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner, and businessman John Cox. The election will cost the state $276 million.
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Advocacy Agenda Campaign Updates
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Free WiFi Campaign
We all know how essential for survival staying connected is — survival during and beyond this pandemic. We also know the barriers that lack of access to technology and quality, reliable internet connection poses to staying connected.
SDA Members are joining together to call on AT&T to create a high-quality, reliable, Free WiFi program! We are gearing up for a rally in front of the AT&T building in San Francisco on October 18th. Before this, we will gather to prepare materials for the rally at 11am on Saturday, September 18th.
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Our Free WiFi group has also launched a PETITION to gather signatures in support of the campaign! Join us and sign the petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/we-need-free-wifi. Then, share it with your community!
Meetings are the last Tuesday of the month – there is no meeting in August, so the next meeting is on Tuesday September 15th from 3:30-5:00, by Zoom and phone. Spanish interpretation will be provided – please let us know if you’d like to join and have any other requests for interpretation or accommodation.
Email Peter[at]sdaction.org or Dasom[at]sdaction.org to get involved by attending a meeting and/or joining outreach efforts or call 415-546-1333 and leave a voicemail on the main line mentioning the Free WiFi Campaign.
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Recap: Mad Mob Toxic Conservatorship Forum
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Mad Mob collaborated with the Mental Health Association of SF to host Toxic Conservatorship on August 5, a community forum on guardianship inspired by the case of Britney Spears. We hosted 5 speakers— all of whom have mental health disabilities— including two disability rights attorneys, three people who survived psychiatric incarceration, and two longtime peer advocates. Over 85 people participated in the forum, and discussion was lively, impassioned, and supportive. Mad Mob will keep pushing for autonomy, freedom, and accessible care in mental health treatment. Contact Raia (raia@sdaction.org) to get involved with Mad Mob.
Watch the recording of the forum here and check out our Toxic Conservatorship resource list here.
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Updates from the Transit Justice Committee
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One of the Programs of the Senior and Disability Movement
Our current Ongoing projects and campaigns to make the city safer, accessible and enjoyable for all seniors and people with disabilities pedestrians and transit rides consist of:
- Shared Spaces: Making sidewalk dining and socializing accessible for all,
- Slow Streets: neighborhood streets to be less motorize and more pedestrian-ize and safe,
- Golden Gate Park: Closing down a street, JFK, is just one of many improvements needed to make the Park safe and accessible for seniors and people with disabilities,
- City’s Restore Muni Service plan: Create a Muni service plan that is truly accessible and affordable for all riders
If any or all of these projects move you or should I say “Walk and Roll” you, then join us.
Our monthly Transit Justice Meeting is this Friday the 27th at 1:00 pm.
On Tuesday September 14, 2:00 – 3:30, we will be hosting a meeting with the Park & Rec and San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, SFMTA. The topic will the closure of JFK Drive and other city plans for Golden Gate Park.
For more information and how to attend our upcoming Transit Justice meetings, please email or call Pi Ra, srira@sdaction.org / 415.225.2080.
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Social Media Advocacy SDU Kicks Off!
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Thank you to all those who have participated in the first Social Media Advocacy SDU course so far! We have been able to cover the account basics of Facebook, Twitter, Zoom and digital safety practices, while workshopping the #FreeWIFI campaign together.
There are recordings available on Youtube in case you want to see the content that was covered. Stay tuned for a future SDU Social Media course later this year. If you have specific social or digital media requests to cover in the future class, please email Bisma, SDA’s Digital Organizer, at bisma@sdaction.org.
Watch the videos here: https://www.youtube.com/user/SrDisabilityAction.
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September General Meeting
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Join us for the September General Meeting (GM) as we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, discuss immigrant voting rights, and engage in an anti-racist & anti-colonialist discussion.
There will be a lot to cover, so come prepared with your thoughts and compassion for each other. The September GM will take place on September 9th, from 10-12PM PST over zoom. Info on how to join by Zoom or Phone is at the bottom of this email, in the Upcoming SDA Meetings section.
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Disability Book Series is back – starting with Emily Ladau!
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The Disability Book reading series is back! Join us on October 7th, from 5-6:30 PM on zoom as we discuss Emily Ladau’s upcoming book, Demystifying Disability. Stay tuned for more events in the series. Click here to register. You can preorder Emily Ladau’s book here.
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Beyond the Bay and Beyond CA
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#CareCantWait: a national campaign for action
On July 13th, SDA Members rallied with allies in support of the proposal to include $400 billion for home and community based services in the federal budget reconciliation package.
Seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers (paid and unpaid) have been fighting for this for years — now is the time to keep the pressure up! Be sure to join us this Friday, August 27th to call on Speaker Pelosi to make sure this critical investment passes. RSVP here. More info here.
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A Message on Smoke and Wildfire Safety
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As climate catastrophe induced fires ravage California and the American West, we want to do what we can to help our community stay safe. Stay tuned for updates from more disability and senior-specific resources, but here are a few resources that may be helpful in dealing with wildfire season, especially if you are located in the East Bay:
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**Please note all meetings are remote until further notice**
Friday, August 27 and September 24: Transit Justice Meeting. 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Email Pi for more information.
Friday, September 3, SRO Workgroup (first Friday of the month). 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Email Yesi for more information.
Thursday, September 9: General Meeting (2nd Thursday of every month). Join at 9:45am for Zoom support and interpretation set up, 10:00am for General Meeting. Captioning and Spanish Interpretation provided. Email SDA or leave a message at 415-546-1333 mentioning the General Meeting with any questions. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85282401205 One-tap mobile: +16699006833,,85282401205# US (San Jose). Toll-Free Dial In: 888-475-4499; Meeting ID: 852 8240 1205.
Friday, September 10 and September 24: Mad Mob SF. 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm. Email Raia to get the information to join or to find out about future meetings.
Tuesday, September 14: Healthcare Action Team (HAT) Meeting (2nd Tuesday of every month). 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Email Ligia for more information.
Wednesday, September 15: Housing Collaborative Meeting (3rd Wednesday of every month). 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Email Freddy for more information.
Friday, September 24: African-American Racial and Social Equity and Justice Alliance (AARSEJA). 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm. This is a space for African-American/Black-identifying members. Please email Freddy for more information.
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Senior and Disability Action
1360 Mission Street #400
San Francisco, CA 94103
http://www.sdaction.org
(415) 546-1333
Please let us know if you have any issue with the email format or if there are changes you think we should make. Thank you for reading!
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![[Image Description: Screenshot of Mad Mob Toxic Conservatorship Forum on Zoom. Spotlighted on screen are: Imade Nibokun, Fancher Larson, Carly Myers, Erik Henriques, Raia Small, Ludmilla Bade, and Victor Gresser]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/can2-unlayer/1629762282355-106062.jpg "[Image Description: Screenshot of Mad Mob Toxic Conservatorship Forum on Zoom. Spotlighted on screen are: Imade Nibokun, Fancher Larson, Carly Myers, Erik Henriques, Raia Small, Ludmilla Bade, and Victor Gresser]")
![[Image Description: Photo by Caring Across Generations on April 01, 2021. Image of text that says #CareCantWait “Congress must invest in the people at the heart of our care infrastructure. Creating good jobs with better pay, benefits and workplace protections including the right to unionize and a pathway to citizenship for care workers will ensure they can take care of their own families and feel secure and safe in their jobs, which will ultimately allow them to do their best work and provide the highest quality care.” - Ai-jen Poo'.]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/can2-unlayer/1619545432300-Ai-jenPoo+%23CareCantWait_CaringAcrossGenerationsRepost.jpg "[Image Description: Photo by Caring Across Generations on April 01, 2021. Image of text that says #CareCantWait “Congress must invest in the people at the heart of our care infrastructure. Creating good jobs with better pay, benefits and workplace protections including the right to unionize and a pathway to citizenship for care workers will ensure they can take care of their own families and feel secure and safe in their jobs, which will ultimately allow them to do their best work and provide the highest quality care.” - Ai-jen Poo'.]")
San Francisco Senior and Disability Action 