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    Turning Promises Into Direct Help for People Struggling With Mental Illness and Substance Use

    Rafael Mandelman, President, San Francisco Board of Supervisors–

    June was a whirlwind month at City Hall. I spent much of the month deep in hearings and negotiations over our city’s two-year budget. It wasn’t an easy process and no one got everything they wanted, but we were able to restore critical services, including protecting funding for legal aid, housing support, and community-based organizations. 

    June was also Pride Month, and I was honored to once again march alongside so many of you in San Francisco’s Pride Parade! But this month also brought reminders of the work still ahead. In a deeply disappointing move, the Department of Defense announced it would strip Harvey Milk’s name from the Navy ship that once bore it—a shameful erasure of an American hero. But San Francisco will not let bullies erase Harvey’s legacy. On the last Friday of Pride Month, I joined the Mayor to announce that the long-awaited renovation of Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro will begin next year.

    On June 26 I held two hearings on San Francisco’s behavioral health crisis at the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. The first focused on San Francisco’s implementation of Senate Bill 43 (2019), which expanded the eligibility criteria for conservatorship to include individuals with severe substance use disorder.

    San Francisco District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman led a panel discussion on the topic “Castro Public Safety” on Thursday, July Panelists included District Attorney Brooke Jenkins; SF Chief of Health and Human Services, Kunal Modi, SFPD Mission Station Deputy Chief Derrick Lew; acting Mission Station Captain Manny Bonilla; and Adrienne Bechelli, Coordinated Streets Program Director. (PHOTO COURTESY OF RAFAEL MANDELMAN AND THE ACADEMY SF)

    The second was on the Residential Care and Treatment Workgroup’s findings and recommendations on San Francisco’s treatment bed inventory. I had asked Mayor Breed to convene the Workgroup following the passage of Prop 1 in March 2024, and I co-chaired the group.

    I will continue pressing our departments to turn promises into real, on-the-ground help for people struggling with mental illness and substance use. As always, thank you for your support, your partnership, and your commitment to a more compassionate, livable San Francisco.

    In-Person Office Hours

    Join me in-person on Saturday, July 19, from 10 am–Noon at Duboce Park Cafe. To reserve a spot, email mandelmanstaff@sfgov.org 

    Upcoming District 8 Events

    Wednesdays, 3 pm–7 pm: Castro Farmers’ Market – Every Wednesday on Noe & Market streets

    Friday, July 18, 5 pm–10 pm: Castro Night Market – Enjoy local food vendors, merchants, and live entertainment on the third Friday of every month.

    Saturday, July 19, 4 pm–8:30 pm: 

    Glen Park Night Market – Enjoy local food vendors, merchants, and live performances on Kern Street

    (Diamond to Brompton) 

    Tuesday, July 29, 4:30 pm–8:30 pm: Noe Valley Night Market – With the expanded footprint onto 24th Street, the Noe Valley Night Market is growing! Enjoy live entertainment, local artists, and delicious food.

    Rafael Mandelman is the San Francisco District 8 Supervisor and the President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. https://bit.ly/4iQvwvY

    View from the Dome
    Published on July 17, 2025