August 2026 eNews
Dear friends,
We hope you all had a wonderful Disability Pride Month (though we of course celebrate disability pride every month)! We now have a busy August ahead, with a senior and disability candidate forum, getting out the vote for transit funding ballot measures, and a rally in Sacramento next week to restore funds to affordable housing and transit programs across the state. Read on for more details on each of these events, and how to plug in.
Last week we welcomed Eva Mas, our new Community Organizer with a housing focus. We’re so glad to have them on our team! Read more about Eva here.
Finally, last month we lost Ursula McGuire, longtime SDA board member and movement leader. Ursula participated in the 504 sit-ins in 1977 and was involved in both SDA and Senior Action Network before that, winning SAN’s Senior of the Year award in 2010. She will be very missed. Learn more about Ursula, her life and legacy on our website.
SDA News & Highlights
Get out the vote for ballot measures to save Muni and BART funding!
Bay Area transit agencies including Muni and BART are facing serious budget crises, and drastic service cuts are on the table if we don’t act now to fund them. Two propositions will be on the ballot this November to fund BART and Muni — Stronger Muni for All and Connect Bay Area. It’s crucial that we pass both measures to prevent devastating service cuts. If we don’t, BART would have to cut 70% of service. This would mean ending service at 9pm, shuttering 15 stations, and cutting service to many neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Muni would have to cut 50% of all bus lines, including ending entire neighborhood routes and stopping most service at 9pm.
The good news is, there’s a way out!
Help get out the vote! We must pass two funding measures to prevent service from being cut by 50%, which will make our bus lines twice as crowded and prevent many seniors and disabled people from finding a seat on the bus.
Let us know what transit centers or routes you use frequently and we can arrange a time for a small group of volunteers to meet you there for flyering! Email Mia at mia@sdaction.org and mention what bus stops you use the most frequently and your availability. We will reach out to you with more information.
Rally and Lobby Day to Save Transit, Affordable Housing, Clean Air & Clean Water Programs throughout California
Monday, August 10, 12:30pm
California State Capitol (1315 10th St, Sacramento)
Newsom appointees on the California Air and Resources Board made a decision last month that handed big oil $2 billion/year in free pollution permits — money that was funding transit, affordable housing, and clean air/water programs statewide, including free Muni for seniors, disabled people, and youth. Help us push legislators to restore the funding.
Join us in Sacramento on Monday, August 10, 12:30pm (west steps of the Capitol) for a rally, followed by meetings with legislators.
RSVP here to the Sacramento action, then email Mia at mia@sdaction.org to connect with the SDA group. Let her know if you need transportation help or accessible transit to Sacramento.
Senior and Disability Candidate Forum
Wednesday, August 12, 10am to 1pm
On Zoom and in-person in Oakland (7730 Pardee Lane) and San Jose (2302 Zanker Road)
SDA is supporting the planning of another candidate forum this year with California Alliance for Retired Americans, focusing on senior and disability issues. Join us to hear from State Senate and Assembly candidates and ask questions about their positions on issues impacting our senior and disabled communities.
RSVP to the candidate forum here to receive the Zoom link. Stay tuned for more details and access info coming soon. Questions for the candidates during the event can be submitted in advance or live during the event through the Zoom Q&A function. Please submit advance questions to candidates here by 5pm on August 5.
Save the Date for a Citywide Tenant Assembly
Saturday, August 15, 10:30am
Jones Memorial United Methodist, 1975 Post St, SF
San Francisco has a long history of tenants resisting evictions and fighting for better living conditions. The Anti-Displacement Coalition (of which SDA is a member) is hosting this assembly for tenants to share experiences and learn together how we can win fights in our buildings and collectively as a tenant movement.
Registration begins at 10:30am, program begins at 11am. Lunch will be provided.
Bay Get Ready: People's Assembly Mass Meeting and Nonviolent Direct Action Training
Saturday, August 22, 9am to 3pm (sign in at 9am, program at 10am)
Mission High School, 3750 18th St, SF
The Trump administration is gearing up to undermine the midterm elections in November — scapegoating immigrants, disenfranchising Black voters, threatening to send ICE to the polls, and challenging mail-in voting laws.
Attend the People’s Assembly on August 22 to get trained up. Join hundreds of people from across the Bay to assess conditions, plan for different scenarios, practice democratic decision making, and shape collective strategy for how we Get Ready between now and November.
Learn more and RSVP here for the Bay Resistance People’s Assembly.
Join our August masked park hangout
Want to connect with other Covid cautious people and Masks for Equity members? Join us at our next masked park hangout on Sunday, July 12, 2 to 5pm at Golden Gate Park (exact location shared once you RSVP).
Find more details and access info, and RSVP here for the masked park hang.
Note that high-quality masks (KN95/KF94/N95 or better) are required at all times. This event will also include a mask-chain making activity. We hope to see you there!
Resource Highlight: Openhouse Housing Assistance
Openhouse offers guidance to those seeking affordable housing in San Francisco in an LGBT-centered space. Their primary housing services consist of Housing & ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource) Drop-in Hours on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Drop-in Hours are first-come, first-served and fill up quickly. To learn more, call (415) 296-8995 ext. 306 or visit their website.
Address for Drop-In Center: 65 Laguna St, San Francisco, 94102
Community News & Events
Exploratorium Masks Required hours
We’re happy to report that the Exploratorium is hosting masks required hours on Saturday, August 22, from 9 to 11am. Visit in person or call/email to encourage them to schedule more masks-required hours in future! Contact Exploratorium at visit@exploratorium.edu or 415-528-4407.
Long Covid Defense Series Volume IV
September 2, 12:40-3:40pm PTZoom
MaskTogetherAmerica warmly invites you to register for the Long COVID Defense Series IV. This virtual forum features five dedicated Q&A sessions with Long COVID researchers, healthcare providers, and patient advocates. Register here for the Long COVID Defense Series.
Webinar on Understanding New Medicaid Work Requirements Rules
With the passage of H.R. 1 last July, Congress made major changes to Medicaid eligibility. States are now implementing work requirements and other changes that primarily impact people enrolled in the ACA Medicaid Expansion, including older adults under age 65. Watch the recording of Justice in Aging’s webinar on work requirements to learn more about these new requirements and how to help ensure states adopt all available protections and implement the law in ways that minimize harm to older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities
Find a full list of our monthly program meetings on our website's events calendar.
Let’s build this movement together. Donate to SDA today!
Please let us know if you have any issues with the webpage format or if there are accessibility changes you think we should make. Thank you for reading!