1

Volume 6 Issue 1 February 2018

News and Views

Check out our website! www.sdaction.org Find us on Facebook! info@sdaction.org

Inside this Issue: Pg. 2 Housing Update/SDA Office Updates Pg. 3 Thanking our 2017 Donors Pg. 4 California State Budget Pg. 5 SDA’s Year in Pictures Pg. 6 SDA 2017 Accomplishments Pg. 7 Community Calendar

Special New Year’s Issue 2018

Above: Disability Capitol Action Day with our allies. Thursday, June 7, 2017

The Year in Pictures Right: Betty Traynor and Margaret Eidt holding the SDA banner at the Inauguration Day March, January 20, 2017.

Below: SDA Safe Streets action and press conference, May 26, 2017.

Left: Die-in protesting the attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid, June 28, 2017.

2

Office space available! SDA has three private office rooms that are available for nonprofits to rent, along with access to the conference room, computer lab and kitchen, plus use of the water cooler and copier. Great transit-friendly location, on a bus line and near City Hall and BART. Must be willing to carry out our scent free policy for staff and visitors to the of-fice. Please contact Sarah at (415) 546-1333 ext 307 or sarah@sdaction.org to learn more or see the space.

Celebrate the New Year with SDA!

Once we at SDA found out we could stay in our office at 1360 Mission, we got a grant to spiff things up! Staff and volunteers have done an amazing job transforming the place: new paint, the logo up on the wall, new furniture, and a new arrangement.

Come party with us!

Friday, January 19th

4-6 PM

1360 Mission St. #400

Bring a dish to share! Call (415) 546-1333 for questions

and to RSVP

Keeping Rents Down

Busloads of tenant advocates from San Francisco and all over the state got up be-

fore 6 am to head to Sacramento on Thursday, January 11, to urge legislators to re-

peal the Costa Hawkins Act, a statewide law that prohibits rent control on newly-

constructed housing, outlaws vacancy control (which restricts rent increases be-

tween tenants), and prevents cities from passing rent control laws. Housing advo-

cates packed the hearing room and spread a strong message that we cannot contin-

ue to let speculators profit while our neighbors get pushed out of our homes and

communities. But money and greed won out this time. Huge pressure from the real

estate industry meant that legislators voted against repealing Costa Hawkins. They

see, however, that tenant advocates are getting stronger and stronger, and we are

going to win this fight at some point, whether through the legislature or the ballot.

We’ll be back!

Above and below: Before and after

3

Organized actions and phone banks as part of the successful effort that stopped the repeal of the

Affordable Care Act and saved Medicaid/Medi-Cal!

As a core member of the newly-formed Bay Resistance Network, helped fight back against Trump’s attacks on poor people, people of color, seniors, people with disabilities, LGBT people, and other marginalized communities. Marched with thousands on Inauguration Day and May 1

st,

contributed to the Bay Resistance Mass Meeting in March, and more.

Ensured that the city’s inclusionary housing policy includes a minimum of 10% low-income housing.

With coalition partners, crafted and won enforcement legislation to deal with fraudulent Owner Move-In (OMI) evictions, plus legislation holding short-term rental platforms (like Airbnb) accountable for listing unregistered hosts and contributing to the eviction crisis.

Helped secure $2 million in rental subsidies for seniors and people with disabilities from the City of San Francisco, working with the Dignity Fund Coalition, HESPA, and others.

Worked with city government to start a SRO Elevator Repair Rebate Program.

Supported the process of launching Support at Home, San Francisco’s brand-new home care voucher program for upper-poor seniors and people with disabilities.

Won longer crossing times at key intersections in the Bayview and built a strong campaign throughout the city to allow seniors and people with disabilities more time to cross the street safely.

With a statewide coalition, advanced single-payer healthcare through the California State

Senate! Held trainings and got more attention than ever before.

Developed a new training called “Getting More for Less,” about free and discount services available to seniors and people with disabilities. Reached 110 people through 6 trainings.

Partnered with the California Domestic Workers Coalition and Hand in Hand to put out a new report

about seniors and people with disabilities who employ home attendants.

Trained 200+ people in workshops on disability and ableism and trainings for seniors and people with disabilities about how to hire and employ home care workers .

SDA members and staff accomplished much in 2017! Together we...

Welcome our new organizer, Raia Small!

Raia is excited to contribute to an organization working to make San Francisco more livable for seniors and people with disabilities, and we are delighted to have her on our staff! She comes to SDA after ten years of living in New York City, where she organized against po-licing and tenant displacement in Brooklyn with Equality for Flatbush. Previously, she worked on a campaign to end the tipped minimum wage in New York state with Restaurant Opportunities Center-NYC. She was born and raised in San Francisco, and her family’s experi-ence of facing an Ellis Act eviction in 2001 motivated her to fight

against urban displacement in her home city. She’s passionate about economic justice, especially for people who have been excluded from traditional labor organizing (including prisoners, care workers, unemployed people, seniors, and sick and disabled people). Outside of work, she loves to read, write poetry and creative nonfiction, partici-pate in study groups, see live music, spend time outdoors, hang out with friends and family, and sleep in whenever possible.

4

Governor Brown’s 2018-19 January Budget Proposal: Billions in Surpluses, But Few New Investments to End Poverty Excerpts from the Western Center on Law & Poverty, January 10, 2018 The Governor just released his 2018-19 budget blueprint. The budget projects continued robust revenue for 2018-19 and directs the revenue increases into the Rainy Day Fund, the budget reserve, and full funding for K-12 education. The budget notes that poverty contin-ues to be a problem for many Californians and that the lack of affordable housing is a major cause for poverty. Unfortunately, the Governor’s budget does little to reduce poverty or ex-pand access to affordable housing. The budget does include some new ideas including a CalWORKs Home Visiting program, a pilot program to move traffic tickets to civil adjudica-tion and funding to promote participation in the upcoming census.

Affordable Housing We applaud the Governor for providing significant additional resources to the Department of Housing and Community Development to implement the bills in the 2017 Housing Package. We urge the Governor to consider a one-time allocation of general fund dollars to spur af-fordable housing construction, particularly critically needed permanent supportive housing units. Additionally, federal tax reform means a decrease in resources available in California to produce affordable housing. We urge the Governor to address this gap by augmenting the state low-income housing tax credit program.

SSI/SSP The budget provides no new state increases for the 1.3 million seniors and people with dis-abilities relying on SSI grants. The budget actually reduces state spending by $34 million due to decreases in caseload projections. Cuts to state funding dating to 2011 have never been restored and the state’s multi-billion dollar surplus is due in part to the savings the state has enjoyed for the past 8 budgets. The cuts to SSI have been a major reason why California’s poverty rate has remained stubbornly high. “Enough is enough. It is time to give persons living with disabilities and the elderly the money back that was taken from them. It is unconscionable that we are celebrating large budget surpluses partly derived from cuts to SSI grants while ignoring the ongoing harm done to so many Californians.” WCLP calls on the Legislature to restore the Cost of Living Adjustment and reinstate cuts made to SSP funding.

Health Care The Governor’s budget proposal does continue implementation of the ACA, which has cut the uninsured rate in half in California. However, no new state investments were made to increasing health coverage and affordability. Specifically the Medi-Cal Aged & Disabled (A&D) income eligibility threshold for full-scope Medi-Cal remains at 123% FPL, meaning adults 65 and older are subject to a lower income eligibility threshold. In addition, no efforts were made to advance Health4All by covering adults who would be eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal but for their immigration status.”

Census Funding The budget includes $40.3 million for statewide outreach and other activities related to the 2020 Census count. “We commend Governor Brown on his proposal to invest in outreach planning for the 2020 Census. Census data is used to determine representation in Con-gress and to establish federal funding formulas for vital programs and services, including Medicare, Medi-Cal, affordable housing, infrastructure, and programs for children.”

5

SDA’s Busy Year!

Right: Housing Rally at the Federal Building, December 5, 2017.

Left: SDA members Sid Corrales, Marie Ospital, Michael Lyon, and Joyce Calagos at Sacramento Rally and Hearing for Healthy California, April 26, 2017.

Above: SDA member Kathy Galvez and left, District 7 Supervisor Norman Yee speak about the newly-launched home care voucher program, Support at Home, November 16, 2017.

Left: SDA member Jean Adams at the SDA 5 Going on 55 event, September 22, 2017.

SDA Staff member Alice

Chiu at the Safe Streets

press conference, May 3,

2017.

6

Community Living Campaign Compassionate Community Care Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Curry Senior Center D. Mosgofian Dale Carlson David Rothschild David Williams Debbie Toth Debra Howell Dominika Bednarska Donna Calame Donna Staub Donna Willmott Douglass Engmann Dr. Alan Coleman Dr. Marcia R. Adelman Edward Kachmarik Elinore Lurie Episcopal Community Services Felton – FSA Fiona Hinze and Mary Chan Frances Taylor Gemma Daggs Gen Fujioka Giuliana Milanese Greg Hom Gretchen Blais Hand in Hand Hannah Joyce Karpilow Heather Appel Heather Zahiri Heidi Strupp Helen Rogers Hene and Dennis Kelly* Herb Levine Homebridge HOMEY Hospitality House Housing Rights Committee Hugh Wang Ina Moon Institute on Aging Iris Biblowitz James Chionsini James Illig Jane Yamada Jean Davis Jeanne Lynch Jennifer Walsh Jessica Lehman Jill Shenker Jillian Whitcomb Jobs with Justice John Osterweis Jonathan Lyens Joseph Cadiz

Josie Philip JT Philip Judy Auda Judy Hom Julie Roberts-Phung Julien Ball Junli Dai Juslyn Manalo* Justice in Aging Kaiser Permanente Karen Fishkin* Kathleen Mayeda Kathy Coll Kathy Lipscomb* KC Ho Kelly Dearman Kevin Prindiville Kim Kruckel Kimberly Swain Laura Jean Torgerson Laurel Newmark Lea Beaulieu Lee Staub Ligia Montano Linda Murley Linda Shak Lindsay Imai Hong Lolita Kintanar Lori Liederman Lorraine Honig LYRIC Marcia Peterzell Margaret Baran Maria Guillen* Maria Reyes Marie Jobling* and Tony Fazio Marie Ospital Marla Bastien Knight Mary Magee Matthias Mormino Maureen Donohoe Meals on Wheels MEDA Meg Cooch Melanie Grossman Melissa Crisp-Cooper Mercy Housing Michael Zaugg Michael Lyon* Michael and Miyoung Kleine Michael Macia Michael Miller Mike Boyd Mujeres Unidas y Activas Nanette Lim Natl Union of Healthcare Workers Neil Sims

Nicholas Subias Obo Help Older Women's League OnLok/30th Street Openhouse Owen Cooper OWL Pam T. Lee Patty Clement-Cihak Po Yee Law Ung PODER Puerto Alegre Q Foundation Rainbow Grocery Cooperative Ramona Davies Rebuilding Together Rita and David Lehman Robert Fitch Robert and Jean Davis Robin Shaffert Rocio de Mateo Smith Roland Wong Sam Alicia Duke SF Bicycle Coalition SF Community Land Trust SF Labor Council Sandhya Jha Sari Bilick Sascha Bittner SEIU 1021 SEIU Local 2015 SFIHSS Public Authority Shanti Sharon York Shireen McSpadden Sid and Sylvia Corrales SOMCAN Stephanie Leung Stephen Kaye Susan Poor Susan Kitazawa Susan Mizner Sybil Boutilier TNDC Therese Law Timothy Magill TJ Warfield Tom Nolan Uncheeda Wilson Unite Here Local 2 United Domestic Workers Valerie Coleman Verlie Pickens Vincent Crisostomo Virginia Appel Wendy Peterson Xochitl Cervantes

Thank you to SDA’s 2017 Donors and Funders!

Major support comes from the SF Department of Aging & Adult Services, SF Foundation, Transit Center, Mayor’s Office of Housing & Community Development, SF IHSS Public Authority, Society for Community Work, Yerba Buena Community Benefits District, Rebuilding Together/SOMA Community Action Grant, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Kaiser Permanente, Tides Center and SF Depart-ment of Public Health. Thanks to SDA board members, noted with an asterisk (*).

Anonymous Donors Abdul Kadir Abril Gonzalez Tamayo Agesong AIDS Legal Referral Panel Akiko Takeshita Alice Wong American Civil Liberties Union Amparo Vigil Amy Beinart Amy Lehman Anandi Worden Andrew Sekara Ann Wolgamot Anaya Anna Sylvester Annette Williams API Legal Outreach Ariana Thompson-Lastad Arla Ertz Asiano Guardado Barry Hermanson Bart Wolgamot Becki Hom Benson Nadell Bernard and Ruth Dehovitz Bernard Gilbert Betsy Gran Betty Traynor* Betty Bernstein Beverly Taylor* Bill Haskell Bill and Victoria Bruckner Bill Haskell Bob Allen CARA California Faculty Association California Nurses Association CANHR Casey Kho Catherine Campisi Catholic Charities Cathy DeLuca Cathy Hongola-Baptista Cathy Spensley Causa Justa :: Just Cause CCDC Central City Hospitality House Charlene Harrington Charles Minster Chelsea Boilard Chinese Progressive Assn. Cindy Kauffman Claire Ramsey Clare Bayard Coalition on Homelessness Colleen Ma Community Housing Partnership

7

Community Calendar: Feb/March 2018 DATE ACTIVITY TIME & PLACE MORE INFO?

Mon-Fri

Computer Open Lab and Beginning Computer Classes

Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-4:00 PM 1360 Mission Street Suite 400 Call for class times and lab hours

Pi Ra 415-546-2096

1st Thursday None in Feb. March 1

IHSS Task Force Meeting

10:30 AM 1360 Mission St. #400

Jessica 415-546-1333 x301

1st Thursday February 1st And March 1st

SDA Board Meeting 4:00-6:00 PM 1360 Mission St. #400

Jessica Lehman 415-546-1333 x301

2nd Thursday February 8th And March 8th

SDA General Meeting

10 AM - 12 PM, doors open at 9 Unitarian Universalist Church 1187 Franklin @ Geary

SDA 415-546-1333

2nd Thursday February 8th And March 8th

CARA meeting 1-2:30 PM ILWU Building 1188 Franklin St. #4 @Geary

Jodi Reid 550-0828

2nd Tuesday February 13th And March 13th

HealthCare Action Team (HAT)

11:00-1:00 PM ILRC 825 Howard St.

Ligia Montano 415-546-1333 x302

3rd Wednesday February 21st And March 21st

SDA Housing Collaborative

1-3 PM 1390 Mission Street, 2nd Floor

Tony Robles 415-546-1333 x305

3rd Friday February 16th And March 16th

Mayor’s Disability Council

1-4 PM City Hall Room 400

Mayor’s Office on Disability 415-554-6789

Wanted: People with Disabilities Who Have Or Need Home Care Support at Home, the new home care voucher program, is off and running! SDA member Kathy Galvez was the first person signed up. She says having the financial assistance with a home care provider has cut down on her pain and allowed her to get things done. There are vouchers available for people with disabilities ages 18-60 (as well as for seniors over 60), who cannot get IHSS but need some help at home. If your income or savings is just barely too high for Medi-Cal and IHSS, but you can’t afford the out-of-pocket costs for home care, this program may be for you. To sign up, call Institute on Aging / IOA Connect at (415) 750-4111. More information (and flyers in multiple languages) available on the SDA website, www.sdaction.org.

As of January 1, 2018, adults with full-scope Medi-Cal have many dental bene-fits restored through Denti-Cal. To learn more, please visit https://www.denti-cal.ca.gov or call 1-800-322-6384.

8

Become a Member of Senior and Disability Action!! Dues are $20/year OR according to your means. Pay more or less as you are able. Name: ______________________________ Renewal □ Address: ____________________________ City: ___________ Zip: __________ Phone: __________________________________ □Cell □Home □Work Phone: __________________________________ □Cell □Home □Work Email: ___________________________________________ Interests: □Housing □Healthcare □Long-term care & supports

□Community education □Computer training □Pedestrian safety & transit □Other:

____________________________________________________

How would you like to receive newsletters & postcards? □Email □Postal mail

Please send dues to: SDA, 1360 Mission St. #400, San Francisco CA 94103

. .

San Francisco Senior and Disability Action 1360 Mission Street, Suite 400 San Francisco, CA 94103 Phone: 415-546-1333 Fax: 415-546-1344 www.sdaction.org

Senior and Disability Action News and Views

NONPROFIT ORG.

US POSTAGE PAID

SAN FRANCISCO CA

PERMIT NO. 2024

Return Service Requested

Senior and Disability Action News is produced by SDA Staff and volunteers.

We would like to hear from you! Send comments to info@sdaction.org or call (415) 546-1333.

Reminder: Membership renewals for all SDA members are due at the beginning of each year. Please send or bring in as soon as possible!