Mayor Eddie's Newsletter - July 3, 2025

Published on July 03, 2025

Hello South City Community,

It is my honor to be the first to wish you, your family, and friends, a “Happy 4th of July!” I am sharing our weekly newsletter early this week, in lieu of the holiday. Tomorrow, we celebrate more than just our nation’s independence — we honor the ongoing journey toward liberty, justice, and equality for ALL.

Our flag stands for the enduring belief that freedom must be inclusive — that every person, regardless of race, gender, identity, or origin, deserves dignity and opportunity. This country was not only shaped by the ideals of independence, but built — quite literally — by the hands, hopes, and sacrifices of immigrants. We are, and have always been, a nation of immigrants: diverse in heritage, united in pursuit of a better future.

As we mark this day, let us recommit ourselves to the promise of America — one rooted in human rights, democracy, and shared progress. The work of building a more just and equitable nation continues — and it calls on all of us.

Here's to resilience, renewal, and the collective promise of what we can become — together.

As your mayor, I want you all to celebrate with your family and friends as safely as possible. Here in South San Francisco, all fireworks are illegal. Our Police and Fire Departments are committed to ensuring the use of fireworks is nonexistent in our community. Full Stop. I want to share some interesting happenings that we as a city have been involved in that we hope will make this 4th of July a lot safer!

In February, South City Police seized over 10,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and other explosive materials that could very well have been sold illegally and used in our city streets. In June, both departments partnered with several local law enforcement agencies and hosted a Fireworks Buyback event. The event was well attended and yielded a total of 82 pounds of illegal fireworks. That’s right, that is a lot of fireworks that were taken off our streets preventing them from being used in our city. By the way, anyone can still surrender any fireworks to our SSF Police, dropping them off at our police station; they are equipped to accept those items and properly dispose of them.

Finally, as Mayor I want to assure you that law enforcement staffing levels for the 4th of July here in South San Francisco will be increased, and officers will be specifically assigned to enforce and prevent the use of fireworks. The extra staffing levels include officers who will be in unmarked vehicles to help reduce the amount of fireworks activity in our city. But remember, if you see something, please say something! It takes all of us as one united South City to keep our neighborhoods safe.

Once again, have a happy and safe 4th of July weekend! May God bless the United States of America, and may God Bless South San Francisco!

South City Proud

This past Saturday the City of South San Francisco co-hosted “South City Proud” with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and the SSF Chamber of Commerce. The event took place in the Breezeway adjacent to the Economic Advancement Center (EAC) and was the City’s final celebration of Pride Month.

The event featured 20 vendors, remarks from Councilmember James Coleman (D-4), a lively fashion show, live music, a drag performance, and emceed by Bay Area radio personality, St. John.

Guests also participated in a BINGO game which incorporated our downtown merchants as well as the event’s business vendors. A huge “thank you” to our sponsors: Amgen Inc., Sonesta Hotels, and SSF Scavengers. South City Proud was considered an overall success thanks to support from its sponsors, organizers, vendors, business owners, and volunteers.

July is National Parks & Recreation Month!

Join South San Francisco as we celebrate National Parks and Recreation month. This year marks the 40th anniversary of this nationwide celebration! Throughout the month of July, we invite the community to participate in a variety of free programs. Follow along with our South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department's social media accounts as we highlight and celebrate our Parks and Recreation professionals, programs and parks of South San Francisco.  

Be sure to join us at our Parks and Recreation Month featured event on Friday, July 18 at Orange Memorial Park beginning at 6:00 p.m. to enjoy lawn games and a hot dog giveaway while supplies last. A Hawaiian hula show will provide the pre-film entertainment, followed by a free showing of Moana 2 at sundown on the Orange Memorial Park Meadow. Everyone is welcome to attend. This is a free event.

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SAVE THE DATE: Touch a Truck on July 19

The upcoming Touch A Truck event will be a celebration of community fun and will mark the launch of something truly meaningful: our citywide Diaper Drive to support families in need.

We know that something as basic as diapers can become a major burden for parents living paycheck to paycheck. When an item that essential becomes unaffordable, the impact is far-reaching—affecting health, stress levels, and a parent’s ability to focus on long-term goals.

As we say in Spanish, “Cuando le pasa a uno, nos pasa a todos.” When it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.

This initiative is about more than donations—it’s about dignity, solidarity, and the infrastructure of care. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the partners who made this possible:

• Councilmember Mark Nagales (D-2), whose passion as a parent helped drive this idea forward from day one.
• The YMCA Community Resource Center, our city’s core service agency and a lifeline for so many.
• Our South San Francisco Firefighters (IAFF Local 1507), who do more than respond to emergencies—they strengthen lives. You are all amazing!
• And Genentech, a valued corporate partner that continues to invest in our community’s wellbeing for nearly 50 years now.

Thanks to their collaboration, donation bins are now being placed at fire stations and Genentech’s daycare site, and the City’s Fire Courier will help deliver donations for YMCA staff to distribute directly to local families.

Let’s continue showing what it means to be South City Strong—by giving generously, spreading the word, and making sure every family knows they’re not alone.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

There’s so much to experience right here in South San Francisco—and this is just a glimpse! Come join me at upcoming events that bring our community to life. From cultural celebrations to neighborhood gatherings, there’s something for everyone.

Explore the full City Calendar at https://www.ssf.net/city-calendar and stay connected to all that’s happening!

Summer Learning Challenge Performer: Aguacate Music Kids - Saturday, July 5, 11:00 a.m.

This Saturday at Grand Avenue Library, Aguacate Music Kids presents an interactive, fun, and educational experience for kids and families to sing, dance, play instruments, and explore healthy habits together! Through music, they’ll be inspired to drink water, eat veggies, practice yoga, and learn new words in Spanish - all while having a blast!

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Puppet Art Theater presents Tommy's Space Adventure – Saturday, July 12, 1:00 p.m.

Join us on a Saturday afternoon in the SSF Library | Parks and Recreation Center for Tommy's Space Adventure presented by Puppet Art Theater Co.! Tommy loves books about outer space, but his biggest wish is to someday meet a space alien. His wish is about to come true! Recommended for children and families.

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Did You Know our SSF Commissioner was Grand Marshall for San Mateo County Pride Parade?

South San Francisco Equity and Public Safety Commissioner, Krystal Cansino, was selected as Grand Marshall for San Mateo County’s 3rd Annual LGBTQIA+ Pride Parade and 13th Annual Pride Celebration. Krystal is a mental health clinician as well as an advocate for our LGBTQIA+ and other underrepresented communities. We could not be prouder of Krystle!

Photo: Chris Ceguerra, SMC Pride Parade 2025, smdailyjournal.com, 6.27.25, https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/south-san-francisco-s-krystle-cansino-leads-in-many-different-ways/article_1289f42f-9831-4470-b74f-59bd911cb060.html

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Seeking Café Operator at Library | Parks and Recreation Center

The City of South San Francisco seeks a qualified vendor to operate a café in the new Library | Parks and Recreation Center at 901 Civic Campus Way.  Interested vendors must attend the mandatory site visit on Tuesday, July 8 at 4:00 p.m. Proposals are due on Thursday, July 24 at 4:00 p.m. 

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COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Subscribe to the County’s Health & Education Newsletter

Keeping our community healthy starts with knowledge—subscribe to the Health Education newsletter from San Mateo County’s Public Health, Policy & Planning Department to stay in the know.

The latest issue focuses on Salmonellosis, a foodborne illness that affects thousands of Californians each year. You'll find practical tips on how to protect yourself and your loved ones—from proper food handling and handwashing to knowing when to seek medical care.

It’s full of resources for families, food workers, and anyone who wants to help prevent the spread of illness in our community.

Check it out here: Read the latest issue
Subscribe here to receive future updates: San Mateo County Health Newsletter

Stay informed with other City communications! Sign up to receive newsletters from the Library, Parks & Recreation, or get notifications about the Shuttle, and Police bulletins by signing up on the City website.

Remember, you can read this entire newsletter fully in Spanish or Tagalog, or any other language via our website, by tap on the top right corner of the website (for most, the default language will appear as English (United States)). Choose your preferred language in the menu.

Please take care of yourself, and each other.

Mayor Eddie
City of South San Francisco