Mayor Eddie's Newsletter - March 28, 2025

Published on March 28, 2025

Hello South San Francisco Community,

Spring into Action, South San Francisco!

Welcome to Spring! I'm thrilled to invite you to our second annual Clean SSF - Neighborhood Clean-Up Days on Saturday, April 5 and Saturday, April 19! This is your chance to join your neighbors in a fun and rewarding spring cleaning event that will make our city shine.

Bring your friends and family along—we'll provide all the supplies, assignments, and refreshments you need. Every helping hand makes a huge difference! It's a fantastic way to meet new people, enjoy the beautiful outdoors, and show your love for our community. If you are one of our South City employers and would like to bring your team out to volunteer, we welcome you too!

Let's come together to beautify our city and take pride in the place we call home. See you there!

Saturday, April 5 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Linden Green Spot (corner of Linden and Pine)
RSVP Here

Saturday, April 19 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Gardiner Park (137 Gardiner Avenue)
RSVP Here

Watch the Action at Orange Memorial Park Aquatic Center! 

Feel the Excitement, South City! Even though we only had a few warm days this week, I hope it got you pumped for our upcoming Aquatic Center at Orange Memorial Park! Last week, I had the honor of signing one of the beams installed in the indoor pool facility, and I couldn't be prouder of the incredible progress we've made.

Thanks to your support of the 2015 Measure W. Future generations of South City will learn to swim, and maybe even become competitive swimmers right here in our community. This is a testament to the amazing spirit and dedication of our residents.

Stay connected and watch the progress on the livecam, and don't miss my latest Mayor’s Minute for more exciting updates. If you haven't already, follow us on social media for more great videos and news!

Let's celebrate our achievements and look forward to a bright future together!

Learn More About the New Aquatic Center

We Won! Centennial Way Park South Receives Statewide Award 

I am incredibly proud to share that, for the second year in a row, South San Francisco has been recognized with a prestigious award for Excellence in Design – Park Planning! This year, our very own Centennial Way Park South received top honors at the California Parks and Recreation Society’s annual statewide conference on March 20, 2025.

Last year, we earned this distinction for Orange Memorial Park Sports Field, and this year, we continued our momentum with another outstanding achievement. But that’s not all—we also received recognition in Excellence in Design – Facility Design for our Library | Parks and Recreation Center!

These awards celebrate the hard work, vision, and dedication of our city staff and community partners who make South San Francisco a leader in innovative park and facility design. Parks and Recreation Director Greg Mediati proudly shared our success at the Best of the Best Showcase, where attendees were eager to learn about our Centennial Way Park South Project.

This recognition is a testament to our commitment to creating beautiful, accessible, and thoughtfully designed spaces for our residents. Let’s keep building a city that future generations will be proud of!

Red Curbs Ahead! Daylighting Law (AB413) Helps Save Lives! 

Our Engineering Division is implementing AB413 by identifying and removing visibility obstructions at key intersections. Efforts include surveying compliance, collaborating with police for enforcement and education, using GIS mapping, and working with the community to keep areas clear. The goal is to enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians. Learn more about the Daylighting Law, and view a map of all the impacted intersections and street corners. Let’s continue working together to keep each other safe!

City Council Meeting Recap

• At this week’s council meeting, we honored Deputy City Manager and Chief Sustainability Officer, Christina Fernandez for all her hard work and dedication to our great city. Christina will be moving forward as the new Assistant City Manager for our neighbors, the City of Brisbane. We want to thank her for her six years of service and wish her well in all her endeavors!
• We also recognized April as Fair Housing Month, and received a presentation San Mateo County Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Resource Center.
• We also received various updates from City staff regarding key initiatives, including the 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports, a report regarding a resolution approving Program Guidelines and Request for Interest for the “Launch Local!” Vacant Retail Activation Pilot Program”, a report regarding a resolution approving an increase to the South San Francisco Tow

  Services rates to the maximum allowable towing rates that are comparable to other police agencies in northern San Mateo County, and a report regarding changes to the City’s tobacco ordinance.

• View the full agenda here, and watch the replay on our website or YouTube channel.

Our Diverse and Inclusive South City!

South San Francisco proudly embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our community is enriched by immigrants who call South City home, and we are committed to ensuring safety and quality of life for all, regardless of immigration status.

Explore workshops from the County’s Office of Community Affairs to learn about immigrant rights, legal resources, and emergency preparedness. These free resources are open to all.

Stay informed and empowered—visit the County’s Immigrant Services page. Together, we are One South City, stronger through our diversity!

Rapid Response Hotline: Find out how to prepare for or report immigration or ICE raids and verify the correct information. Call and use this easy access phone line, save the number: San Mateo County Rapid Response Hotline at 203-666-4472 (203-NO-MIGRA). 

There’s always something happening in the neighborhood. Be sure to bookmark the City Calendar so you don’t miss any of our amazing events!

Saturday, March 29 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Free Tree Distribution at the Farmer’s Market

Did you know that South San Francisco has among the lowest urban tree canopy in all of San Mateo County?

Rise South City is partnering with the City of South San Francisco to grow the urban forest of South San Francisco! YOU can help us grow our urban tree canopy by joining us at our two upcoming events:

1. Tree Distribution Event on March 29th from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the South San Francisco Farmers' Market

2. Tree Planting Volunteer Event on May 3rd from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (please scan the QR code in the flyer to sign-up)

For more information, visit: www.risesouthcity.org or www.ssf.net/trees

Saturday, March 29 | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: International Transgender Day of Visibility

Celebrate non-binary and transgender identities! Enjoy snacks, make personalized pronoun pins and paracord bracelets, and watch the Barbie movie starting at 2:00pm. Attorneys from Identity Affirmation Workshop will be here to provide legal assistance with name & gender marker change petitions. Parental or guardian consent is required to participate in the clinic for those under the age of 18.

Learn More

Friday, April 4 | 9:00 a.m.: Fire Boat “Industrial” Christening

Get ready to witness history in the making! 

We’re thrilled to unveil our city’s newest hero on the water—the groundbreaking fire boat, “Industrial”! This cutting-edge vessel is a game-changer, ready to safeguard our bay, boost emergency response, and save lives like never before.

You’re invited to be part of this extraordinary celebration! 

Join us for an unforgettable ceremony where you’ll meet our courageous firefighters, learn about the incredible capabilities of “Industrial,” and share in the excitement of a brighter, safer future for our community. 

Don’t miss this monumental leap in public safety—come and make history with us! Advanced registration not required.

Saturday, April 5, 2025 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) and Sunday, April 6, 2025 (11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.): Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale

Save the date! The SSF Friends of the Library is having a $10 a bag Book Sale. All proceeds go to funding for children's and adult special programs as well as library collections (books, audio visual materials, etc.). Cash and exact change only.

Learn More

Monday, April 7 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Community Meeting!

Join Us for an Important Community Meeting!

Our Fire Department has received the new Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps from CALFIRE, and we're excited to host a Community Meeting to help everyone become more informed and prepared for emergencies. Your safety and well-being are our top priorities.

Come join us and Chief Matt Samson at Station 65 (1151 South San Francisco Dr.) for an engaging and informative session. Refreshments will be provided, and we welcome your public comments and questions.  Submit them here: FHSZ.SSF@ssf.net

Let's come together to ensure our community is ready and resilient. See you there!

RSVP Here

Did You Know We Have a Video for How to Pack Your Emergency Bag?

Get Ready, South City! Are you prepared for an emergency?

If not, don't worry—our South San Francisco Fire Department has you covered with an incredibly resourceful video! Emergency Services Captain Ken Anderson will guide you step by step on what essentials you should keep on hand in case of an emergency.

Visit our Emergency Preparedness page for more helpful information, and make sure to RSVP to your neighborhood community meeting to learn about the new Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps.  Let's stay safe and prepared together!

Watch Here

Join the Community Empowerment Webinar

Join us for a Community Empowerment Webinar to support families and students facing immigration challenges and exploring educational opportunities.

Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Where: bit.ly/smctogether or Zoom ID: 94014293565

Topics include family preparedness, immigration resources, support services, and college financial aid. Translation available in Spanish, Tagalog, Samoan, Tongan, Chinese, and Portuguese.

Don't miss this chance to ask questions and connect with valuable resources—spread the word!

Free Wildfire Preparedness Training

Join the County for a FREE training event to help you and your family get ready for wildfires. Learn from emergency response experts, connect with local agencies, and take home vital preparedness resources.

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Where: San Mateo County Event Center – 1346 Saratoga Dr., San Mateo, CA 94403

Essence of Mana

Join a free 13-week course tailored to support adult family members to enhance their communication skills with today’s youth, and learn tools to foster a more nurturing home environment and healthier family dynamic.

Register by contacting Nani Wilson at nwilson@aars.org or Lueni Mascina at lmasina@aars.org