PAR 2025 YEAR-END LETTER
Dear PAR Members and Supporters,
New Year’s Greetings. Wishing you all the best for peace and joy in the coming year.
We’re happy to take this opportunity to update you.
It’s been a busy year and we’ve been involved with many issues. Most important has been our ongoing opposition to Mayor Lurie’s “Family Zoning Plan,” a controversial housing and development plan that will significantly alter the Richmond District landscape. PAR opposes the Plan and was actively engaged in raising awareness of its impacts on our community. We organized several Town Hall Forums; spoke at meetings in City Hall; signed on to a letter in the Richmond Review
(https://richmondsunsetnews.com/2025/09/24/commentary-westside-neighborhood-groups-oppose-family-zoning-plan/); coordinated with Supervisor Connie Chan, a strong opponent of the Plan; worked with Neighborhoods United SF (www.neighborhoodsunitedsf.org); and, thanks to the PAR Upzoning Action Committee advocated for opposition to the Plan throughout the Richmond. Unfortunately, despite our efforts and efforts throughout the City the Plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors, with Supervisor Chan casting one of the four “Nay” votes. Thank you to everyone who supported us. The opposition continues and we will keep you informed as we organize, educate, and advocate.
We’ve also been advocating for an Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS) in the Richmond District that would prevent catastrophic fires in our community following either a powerful earthquake, an event that is considered inevitable, or a high wind event that can rapidly cause fire to spread. The SF Public Utilities Commission is moving ahead with an emergency fire-fighting system that experts and two Grand Jury reports have said is less effective than an AWSS that will not provide the Richmond with adequate protection after an earthquake.
(https://richmondsunsetnews.com/2021/10/30/sponsored-the-s-f-public-utilities-commission-a-civic-disaster-from-corruption-to-conflagration-how-they-are-moc-ing-the-richmond-and-sea-cliff/). We’ve sent a letter to Mayor Lurie and others in City Hall urging consideration of an AWSS and we’ve signed a petition supporting an AWSS. Our work on this continues.
Other issues we’re working on are the impact of the closure of the Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Blvd.; supporting our small businesses, including participating in the Richmond Night Markets; excessive concerts in Golden Gate Park; and transit concerns, especially in view of a significant SFMTA budget shortfall, which resulted in service cutbacks on the 38 Geary and the 1 California.
We’re pleased to have two new Board members. After an absence of several years, Sharon Gadberry has rejoined the Board. Sharon owned an outplacement business for 24 years. She has been a strong advocate for small businesses and professional women, serving as President of SF NAWBO and Stanford Professional Women, and on the SF Human Rights Commission and California State Small Business Commission. She enjoys bicycling and hiking throughout the Richmond and is a regular at the Presidio YMCA. Brian Kragh is a USF Law School graduate who was recently admitted to the California Bar and works as an attorney at Bay Area Legal Aid. He created the first City Council districts for Paso Robles when he was 19, previously served on the San Luis Obispo Mass Transportation Committee, and has interned for the offices of Supervisors Dean Preston and Chyanne Chen. In his free time, he loves to go on runs, engage in political discussions, and explore the landmarks of San Francisco. We are thrilled to welcome these two new Board members.
Save the Date Our next General Membership Meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan 14, 7– 9 pm at the Richmond Recreation Center, 251 18th Ave. (between Clement and California). The office of Supervisor Connie Chan will give us a D1 update, and SFMTA Director Julie Kirschbaum will discuss important transit issues, including upcoming ballot initiatives. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion about your concerns regarding public transit, parking, MTA's budget and other transportation issues. We’ll be sending an Announcement soon. Meanwhile please mark your calendars.
In closing, thank you all for your continued support. Established in 1971, PAR remains committed to its mission to maintain and improve the quality of life in San Francisco's Richmond District by developing recommendations and implementing policies that maintain and enhance the physical and social dimensions of life in the Richmond District. Our membership is growing and meeting attendance is increasing. You can learn more at our website at sfpar.org.
We welcome your help as we move forward in the coming year. Please contact us with questions, suggestions, and offers of assistance. Feel free to email [email protected]. Together, we can make a difference.
Sincerely, PAR Board of Directors
Jean Barish, President
Natalia Kresich, Secretary
Chris Wright, Treasurer
Samantha Davis
Paul Epstein
Sharon Gadberry
Brian Kragh
Zachary Nathan
Richard Rothman