Category Archives: Events

Save the Date: Community Transit Forum on Thursday, October 15

Posted on by

Did you know that we have an initiative on the November ballot to raise $1 billion annually to fund Bay Area transit via sales tax increases across five Bay Area counties? 

The funds are dedicated to averting massive service cuts and funding capital improvements for BART, SF Muni, Caltrain, AC Transit, and the San Francisco Bay Ferry.  Locally in San Francisco, this regional effort is complemented by a proposed SFMTA Muni parcel tax. The city’s measure seeks to raise $160 million annually specifically to protect Muni bus and cable car operations from fiscal cliff cuts.

Without new sources of revenue, the lost revenue from the pandemic and lower ridership in the past five years will cause severe service cuts for the agencies listed above.  For SF Muni that translates to:

  • 50% cut in Muni services 
  • Elimination of fare discounts and pass programs for youth and seniors
  • $322-$398 million budget deficit (25% of Muni’s operating budget)

Supervisor Mandelman and transit officials provide more details and have extended Q&A with attendees.

Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 15th, from 6-7:30pm, in Ellard Hall at Most Holy Redeemer (100 Diamond St in the Castro).

Summertime Happenings in the ‘Hood

Posted on by

The dog days of summer are approaching.  Take a break and have some fun … here’s some local events to enjoy

Fairs and Markets:  The Castro Night Market happens monthly!  Upcoming dates are Friday July 17 and August 21 at 18th and Castro.  Weekly Farmers Markets are held at Noe & Market on Wednesday afternoons from April 1 – Nov. 18 and at Noe Town Square on Saturday mornings.  The Castro Art Walk is the first Friday of every month – routes and info here.

Gardening:  20th Street Hillside Gardening at Noe and 20th Streets.  For upcoming date & invite, email Dave Dea (ddea888@gmail.com)  The Civic Joy Fund – Park Volunteers will be beautifying Dolores Park these Saturdays in August 1, 8, 15, and 22, 10am – 12 noon – register at this link. 

The Castro Merchants are hosting a Family Carnival on Saturday, August 29 from 12 noon to 5pm at Noe and Market Streets.  Family-friendly with performers and music.     

San Francisco Public Library has book-related (storytime for toddlers through to book clubs for adults), films, crafts and many other themed events.  For details, go to the SFPL Events Page – select your favorite/ nearby Branch Library and scroll through their offerings.  Or search by event topic to find a knitting circle, history talk, health/wellness and much much more.

Neighborhood clean-ups:  Refuse Refuse has “tons” of clean-ups throughout the City.  EVNA and the Civic Joy Fund host a weekly Saturday Castro clean-up at 10am at HiTops Restaurant 

Wine Walks in the Castro during the fall and on 24th Street/Noe Valley in the fall/winter (TBA).

Noe Valley Town Square has great upcoming events in July and August.

Sundown Cinema movies in the parks:  Dolores Park hosted Princess Bride in June.  Here’s the list of upcoming movies in other SF parks.

And don’t forget to show up at the DHIC Fall Gathering on September 26 from 11am – 2pm on the 800 Block of Sanchez Street

DHIC Fall Gathering September 26

Featured

Posted on by
Screenshot

Save the Date:  Saturday, Sept. 26 at 11am – 1pm

DHIC’s Fall Gathering

All Are Welcome

You are invited to DHIC’s Fall Gathering

on  Saturday, September 26 from 11am to 1pm

at Sanchez Street between 21st and Hill Streets

Meet neighbors, learn about DHIC’s work 

Meet the candidates for D8 Supervisor

Enjoy snacks and refreshments

Enter our raffle for fun prizes 

Join Our Neighbors for a Congressional Forum, May 6

Posted on by

We’re proud to be co-sponsors of a forum with all the leading candidates vying for San Francisco’s U.S. House seat, featuring Saikat Chakrabarti, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, Marie Hurabiell, and State Senator Scott Wiener .

Eleven neighborhood groups across District 8 are hosting the forum to address issues that matter to neighbors and households across the Castro, Noe Valley, Glen Park, Duboce Triangle, and Cole Valley. 

District 8 Neighbors Congressional Forum

7 pm, Wednesday, May 6 (doors open at 6:30 pm)

Randall Museum Theater 

199 Museum Way

San Francisco, CA 94114

Open to the public with first-come seating

RSVP for updates 

San Francisco Standard reporter Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez will moderate the forum, which will feature questions from neighborhood groups. With mail-in ballots arriving the same week, the forum is the perfect time to make your final choice for the June 2 primary in this once-in-a-generation race.

San Francisco Standard reporter Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez will moderate the forum, which will feature questions submitted by the neighborhood groups. With mail-in ballots arriving the same week, the forum is the perfect time to make your final choice for the June 2 primary in this once-in-a-generation race. 

Forum co-sponsors:

  • Buena Vista Neighborhood Association
  • Cole Valley Improvement Association
  • Corbett Heights Neighbors
  • Diamond Heights Community Association
  • Dolores Heights Improvement Club
  • Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association
  • Duncan Newburg Association
  • Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association
  • Glen Park Association
  • Mount Olympus Neighbors Association
  • Upper Noe Neighbors

2025 Fall Gathering Recap – Neighbors Meet New Police Captain & Legislative Aide

Posted on by

On a warm sunny Saturday, Dolores Heights neighbors socialized and then met Captain Sean Perdomo, the new head of SFPD Mission Station.  They discussed safety concerns – the disruptive and illegal dirt bikes in the Dolores area, the  loud after-hours parties at Dolores Park, and speeding on neighborhood streets.  The Captain took notes and on Monday, Oct. 6 responded with these actions [excerpts from his email of October 6]:  

  1. Dirt Bikes. The Department’s using technology to aid in the apprehension of dirt bikers. At the station we have followed up and obtained an arrest/search warrant for a dirt biker on a previous incident at Dolores Park using the technology. I am tasking my plainclothes officers with more arrest/search warrants for those dirt bikers we can identify. Please encourage your members to call 911 to report a gathering of dirt bikers so that we can coordinate the drone.
  2. Traffic. Dave Burke identified the trouble areas and the intersections have been added to the Traffic Unit’s (motorcycles) daily enforcement activities. Please let me know if you see them in the area  … they are short staffed and are tasked with many dignitary visits. Captain Peter Shields of the traffic unit was notified. If they aren’t in the area much, I can assign a traffic car when staffing allows.
  3. Dolores Park Noise. I contacted Chief Murphy to have him evaluate placing rangers in places where they are most visible. The current challenge is the shift change that occurs at 2200 hours when the park closes. I’ll keep you posted on further. 

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman also spoke and took questions from neighbors.  And he introduced Sophie Marie (sophie.marie@sfgov.org), his newest Legislative Aide and our contact when we need assistance getting City action on filed complaints or finding out “who to contact” for a specific issue.  

We held our annual raffle and Fiona, a young resident, drew the winning tickets.  Neighborhood merchants donated eleven gift cards and bottles of wine & liquor which made the raffle a “hot ticket.”   Please patronize these donating businesses and thank them for their support:  Absinthe Restaurant Group, Poesia Restaurant, Canela Bistro and Wine Bar, Hot Johnnies, Castro Coffee, 17th Street Market, and a kind neighbor who donated two bottles of premium wine and tequila. 

Saturday, October 4 – Come to DHIC’s Fall Party

Posted on by

Mark your calendars for DHIC’s Fall neighborhood party on Saturday, October 4 

All are welcome to attend our annual party on  Saturday, October 4 – 11am to 1pm.  It’s at Sanchez Street between 21st & Hill Streets.  

Meet & greet neighbors.  See our history exhibit, hear guest speakers, enjoy  snacks, refreshments, and the great raffle!

More details in our September Newsletter.  

Screenshot

Upzoning Legislation Hearing – September 11

Posted on by

You should have received a postcard from SF Planning – with a QR code link to the proposed height and other zoning changes.  DHIC urges you to read details below and on the SF Planning site.  This proposed “rezoning of height and/or density” entails the most extensive and highest-impact changes possibly in the history of San Francisco’s planning code.  The plan will significantly affect Dolores Heights (expand this interactive map to ID changes to your lot.)  DHIC opposes this excessive upzoning.  We urge Dolores Heights residents to express your opinion to our elected officials  including our supervisor, Rafael Mandelman, and Mayor Lurie and to attend the Sept 11 hearing at 12 noon at City Hall, Room 400.  Following the Planning Commission hearing, the Board of Supervisors will vote on the proposed legislation to enact the “Family Zoning Plan” this fall.

State law and SF’s 2022 Housing Element require the City to create more “capacity” for housing.  The City has chosen to upzone roughly two-thirds of our City with new heights, density, and other planning code changes. These proposed changes have significant impacts on Dolores Heights.   

What will change in Dolores Heights?    

  • Our heights are currently 35 or 40 feet; the new allowed heights will be 40, 50, or 65 feet.  
  • The rear yard open space is currently 45% of the lot depth or 51 feet for a 114 foot lot.  The plan allows new properties to expand 20 feet further into the rear yard (18% more of the lot depth)
  • Properties on any corner can be up to 65 feet high.  This 65-foot height also applies to lots that are 8000 square feet (less than the size of three merged standard lots or an apartment building-sized lot.)     

Say hello to 50 foot buildings on many DH streets, to 65 foot buildings on corners, and to adjacent buildings that extend 20 feet past your home’s rear wall.  For specific proposed heights for your home, expand this interactive map.  You will see two heights “Base” and “Local Program.”   “Base” height will be the “new” allowed heights.  The “Local Program” height is often higher than the “base” height. To build higher and bigger in Dolores Heights, an owner or developer can “opt into” the local program and receive the benefits bulleted above. 

DHIC opposes this strategy to upzone hundreds of thousands of SF properties for several reasons.  

  • Overkill:  To meet its state housing mandate, San Francisco only needs to approve 36,200 additional projects by 2032 … not hundreds of thousands of projects  
  • Not affordable:  80% of newly proposed projects must be affordable housing. Yet, inclusionary units required under this program and other affordable subsidies will not produce the 28,700 affordable units needed to meet the state mandate. (Read this SF Planning primer for details.)  
  • Not financially feasible:  SF Planning’s own feasibility study modeled the impact of these changes and found that under current economic conditions, no project would meet minimum profitability.  With slightly improved economic assumptions, then multi-unit projects with apartments averaging 866 sf and renting for $4600 monthly would be profitable. (see pages 34 – 63 of SF Planning memo to SF Planning Commissioners, dated June 26, 2025)
  • Tenant/small biz displacement: Church Street and 24th Street are proposed for 65 foot heights along with most other NCDs.  Most renters and small local businesses on these streets that are displaced by new construction won’t be able to afford the new rents.   

What can we do?  DHIC is part of Neighborhoods United SF (NUSF.net ) which opposes the plan and advocates for alternative strategies.  You can write or call the Mayor to express your views on the plan. Questions? Feedback?  Or if you’d like to come with us to the Sept. 11 hearing, email DHIC at info@doloresheights.org  

For more details and the full list of proposed changes, see SF Planning memo, June 26, 2025, page 16 – 19, Figure 6.  DHIC is part of Neighborhoods United SF (NUSF.net ) which opposes the plan, provides factual arguments relating to its shortcomings, and advocates for reasonable changes to the plan. 

Meet your Neighbors – June 14 DHIC Summer Gathering

Posted on by

School is out; Pride is coming!  Come to our summer in-person event to meet new neighbors and see old friends. It’s on Saturday, June 14 from 10am to 11:30pm at the top of the Sanchez stairs.  In Dolores Heights, we’re building community and fostering connections.  Drop by for coffee, beverages, and refreshments. 

For those wanting to know more about safety, greening, and housing, we’ll have tables with info.  We’ll have name tags so you can network to meet more neighbors and/or folks with similar interests.  If you just want to hang out, drink coffee and eat treats on Saturday morning, we want to meet you!  

Strong networks are the foundation of neighborhood community, health, and safety.  Come to talk with your neighbors and strengthen ties.  Be part of our community.  All are welcome.  

Green Garden Day December 7

Posted on by

Hello Neighbor!

Please join the DHIC’s Green Garden Group for an invigorating morning of gardening and clean-up at the Sanchez & 19th St staircase on Saturday, December 7. Meet us from 9 – 11 am and we’ll provide all the tools needed, including Spike’s Coffees & Teas and homemade treats!