By Magaly Muñoz

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) voted 6-1 to authorize the city to tow large RVs parked in designated locations if parked overnight and if occupants refuse shelter from outreach teams.

This tactic is the latest tool by Mayor London Breed to crack down on homelessness and prevent people from continuing to sleep on the streets.

Police officers were previously only allowed to tow RVs on certain streets from 12 a.m to 6 a.m and with a warrant, but now under the new rule officers can tow if dwellers refuse services from city outreach workers on any street in San Francisco.

Staff assured the public that towing and citing of RVs would be “the last resort” and offers of shelter and services, like transportation tickets to loved ones living outside the city, would come first before escalation.

According to the 2024 Point in Time Count, 1,444 people were living in vehicles, but it is unsure how many were living in RVs. Those living in vehicles are considered unsheltered, despite many considering their campers or RVs as their homes.

Families are the largest population of those living in RVs in San Francisco. One hundred and thrity families were living unsheltered on the night of the count and 90% of them were in vehicles.

City staff said it is difficult to pinpoint how many people live in large vehicles, but there are currently 361 campers, trailers, and box trucks parked on the streets.

Advocates have been calling for a stop to the threats of towing to RVs because of concerns that families will be separated and displaced onto the streets if they decline county shelter options.

Representatives of Supervisors Ahsha Safai and Aaron Peskin read statements asking the MTA Board to vote against the resolution.

“A vehicle is not an ideal shelter, however, for these 117 unhoused families their RVs are their last minor protection from living on the street,” Safai wrote.

Peskin called the proposed action “inhumane” and officials should instead focus on finding comprehensible solutions that will not exacerbate vulnerable people’s problems.

MTA members and advocates inquired about permanent parking solutions for RV dwellers.

Currently, the city has “vehicle triage centers” (VTC) located at Candlestick Park, which allows people to safely park their mobile homes and receive services while waiting for permanent housing. But the number of accommodations is very limited, the site only serving 35 vehicles a night, when it was once projected that it would serve 155 vehicles.

While staff said they are looking into other permanent options, no new sites have been located at the moment to accommodate the current number of RVs parked on the street right now.

Parking restrictions will take effect on Nov. 1, but staff said it will not trigger an immediate city-wide ban on the RVs. Instead, enforcement workers will likely begin with one sweep per month, increasing them if needed.

The towing policy will cost the city $230,000.

Mayor Breed has been working to bring more enforcement measures to remove people from living and sleeping on the streets. She has previously said that the city will take a “very aggressive” approach in alleviating this problem.

“Our message is clear: accepting our help is not just an option, it is the option. If someone is offered housing, shelter, and support but turns us down, they cannot remain on the streets,” Breed said in a statement.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

By Lalita Perez Acosta

The Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra and Chorus proudly presents the world premiere of “Elijah’s Call: An Oratorio for an Abolitionist” on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 p.m., at the Palace of Fine Arts. Composed by the Bay Area’s Allison Lovejoy, the piece honors Elijah Parrish Lovejoy, a preacher and anti-slavery martyr.

Lovejoy, a distant relative of Elijah, draws on her ancestry in response to the killing of George Floyd by police in 2020. “The message of this piece is about coming together to cultivate a garden of love and grace,” said Lovejoy. “It speaks to the importance of unity—to heal, grow, and foster a stronger sense of community.”

“Elijah’s Call” invites audiences to reflect on the ongoing quest for civil rights and aims to inspire activism in the face of contemporary racial justice issues.

The world premiere performance will feature civil rights activist and attorney Walter Riley as narrator, with vocalists Michael Desnoyers (tenor), Melinda Martinez-Becker (mezzo-soprano), and Bradley Kynard (bass) delivering the oratorio’s evocative arias. The libretto is written by San Francisco historian, author, and journalist – Gary Kamiya and the Golden Gate Symphony will perform under the direction of Music Director/Conductor Urs Leonhardt Steiner.

In addition to “Elijah’s Call”, the program will include Symphony No. 4 by Florence Price, a pioneering African American composer whose work first premiered at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. This symphony, a landmark in classical music history, was the first by an African American woman to be performed by a major orchestra. The evening will also feature a moving performance by the Men’s Choir from Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ in Oakland, directed by Chris Poston, who will present a selection of African American spirituals.

Leading up to the world premiere, two free panel discussions will offer audiences a deeper look into the creation of “Elijah’s Call.” Composer Lovejoy, librettist Gary Kamiya, who is known for his contributions to local history with notable works published in the San Francisco Chronicle and acclaimed books like Cool Gray City of Love, and conductor Urs Leonhardt Steiner will share insights into the composition process, the historical research involved, and the ongoing relevance of Elijah Lovejoy’s legacy in the modern civil rights movement. Attendees will also hear musical excerpts from the oratorio.

The first panel will be on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. at the Project Artaud Salon Series, Sculpture Studio, 401 Alabama St., San Francisco, CA

The second panel will be on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St., San Francisco, CA

Tickets for the Nov. 3 performance of “Elijah’s Call: An Oratorio for an Abolitionist” are available now at www.cityboxoffice.com/ggsoc. Tickets will also be available at the door, with discounts offered for seniors and students under 18.

This premiere is made possible with the support of the San Francisco Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant.

Lalita Perez Acosta is a communications associate for the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

By Rebecca Kaplan,
Vice Mayor of Oakland

As California accelerates its shift to a clean energy future, the debate around how to best reduce emissions often focuses on the merits of one technology over another.

But the truth is, to meet our ambitious climate goals, we need a comprehensive approach—one that includes both electrification and clean hydrogen solutions. We cannot afford to choose one over the other if we want to ensure a cleaner, more equitable future for all.

That’s why I was honored to welcome state and federal leaders to Oakland for the official launch of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), a groundbreaking project that marks a turning point for our city and the greater Bay Area.

The event showcased Oakland’s leadership in hydrogen adoption, demonstrating how Oakland is implementing innovative technologies that have practical benefits for our community.

This includes a hydrogen sea ferry that will reduce emissions in our bay, AC Transit hydrogen buses that will improve air quality on our streets, and the NorCAL ZERO First Element Hydrogen Fueling station, the largest in the nation, which will significantly reduce harmful air pollution from our hardest-hit neighborhoods.

Why does this matter for Bay Area residents?

For too long, Black, Latino, and lower-income communities, particularly those in industrial truck corridors along West and East Oakland and near busy highways, have been subjected to a disproportionate share of harmful air pollution caused by emissions, especially diesel particulate emissions, from trucks and other sources.

A recent study authored by researchers at UC Berkeley and the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that disparities are widening between the communities most exposed to harmful pollutants and those most protected from them.

Reducing truck emissions is one of the most important steps we can take toward climate and environmental equity in terms of human health impact; it causes asthma, cancer, and even premature birth in these disproportionately impacted communities.

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is a crucial piece of the puzzle in addressing these challenges, offering both environmental and economic advantages that will benefit Oakland and Alameda County for future generations.

Two years ago, I was proud to introduce a resolution asking the state to make the City of Oakland a clean-fuel hydrogen hub for ARCHES, which aims to accelerate the adoption of renewable hydrogen and develop the necessary infrastructure. This initiative is pivotal for several reasons:

• It supports the transition to a zero-carbon economy, aligning with our city and state’s ambitious climate goals.
• It prioritizes environmental and energy justice, addressing the needs of communities like ours that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution.

The focus on equity within ARCHES cannot be overstated. The realization of economic and environmental benefits from hydrogen projects represents a tangible commitment to rectifying historical injustices by addressing environmental disparities rooted in systems of injustice.

With zero-emission trucks and improved air quality, we are taking a significant step toward reversing the health impacts suffered by our communities. Beyond the environmental improvements that our region desperately needs, this initiative is poised to create good-paying jobs and boost our local economy.

For these hydrogen projects to realize their full potential, ongoing support and engagement are crucial. We must continue to advocate for policies that support clean energy, push for further investment in renewable infrastructure, and ensure that the benefits of these advancements reach all corners of our community.

As we look ahead, we must prioritize a California with cleaner air and a more robust economy. The hydrogen revolution is here, and with it, an opportunity to transform the Bay Area for a brighter, healthier, and more equitable future.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post