Joining the first D2 Open House
This week marked the first-ever District 2 Open House at Fort Mason. Organized by Jack Hebb, the communications director for Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, who I got to know last year organizing the D2 Map Your Neighborhood event at the Palace of Fine Arts.
SFFD Captain Hashim Anderson, Captain Brandon Tom, me, and Fire Chief Dean Crispen. Assistant Fire Marshall Kathy Arnold can be seen at the table assisting residents.
The Mayor Daniel Lurie, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and Supervisor Stephen Sherrill spoke about public safety to the crowd that assembled with only a few hours notice. There were tables from multiple city departments, like Police and Parks and Public Works and Emergency Management, ready to answer and assist with permits, grants, and inquiries.
The Fire Dept invited me to table with them to meet my District 2 neighbors in my initiative to revitalize emergency response in this area. The table was rounded out by EMT Alia Dong-Stewart who taught CPR to attendees and Assistant Fire Marshall Kathy Harold who keeps the city up to code. As you can see I wore the vest, the only neon green in the room so easy to find if you wanted to connect with me! Granted, it was also easy to find DA Jenkins. She was wearing head to toe fuchsia and heels.
I alerted my local NERT roster and was able to meet face to face for the first time with numerous response team members who live in Cow Hollow and Marina. We’ve been penpals for the past two years discussing the history of NERT and the present conditions of our team roster: aging out, in need of new members.
Passing The Baton
One 90-year old NERT hung up her helmet for the last time this week. She came to the D2 Open House to hand me back her vest and green helmet. Thirty plus years of service! Brava, Frances, and thank you.
I was edified that I met so many people who are members of neighborhood groups, which is exactly how to scale the Fire Department’s offer of free training: when an organized group takes it on and disseminates the opportunity to their own membership. I look forward to what we can all do together this year.
Thanks to the Mayor for his initiative to stage District Open Houses “to bring the city to the neighborhoods”.
