September 2026 eNews
Dear friends,
We’ve had a busy summer, with staff coming and going amidst our many powerful campaigns!
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Abraham Bojorquez. Abraham has joined SDA’s Organizing Department as part of the DreamSF Fellowship. For the next year, Abraham will be supporting our efforts to defend Medi-Cal within the state budget and working to engage new members in our community. Abraham graduated from UC Davis with a BA in Psychology, and his career goal is to get his LMFT license.
(In case you missed it, last month we welcomed Eva Mas, another new organizer!)
We recently said farewell to Grace Clark, Communications and Outreach Manager, who had worked at SDA since 2023. Grace moved back to Minneapolis, their hometown, and is starting a new role at an environmental justice organization. Grace did so much to keep SDA running smoothly, and always made sure that our communications, accessibility practices, and more were in line with our values of access and disability justice. We miss them already!
A new Communications and Operations Manager will be starting soon; stay tuned for their introduction.
We also mourn the passing of Therese Law, a dedicated and beloved SDA member, who participated in many important SDA campaigns, including Free Muni, the free wheelchair repair program, and work for Long-Term Supports and Services. Read a tribute to Therese here.
SDA News & Highlights
SDA's website: Now in Spanish!
We are excited that SDA’s website is now available in Spanish at sdactionesp.org (and via a link at our English homepage, sdaction.org)! Please share with anyone who may be interested. Big thanks to Grace Clark, recently departed SDA staff member, for helping us practice our language justice values in this way, and to Ligia Montano for checking all of the translations.
August Organizing Recaps
Sacramento Rally
A group of seven people standing or sitting together and smiling in a hallway, two of whom are wearing SDA shirts and two of whom are wearing suits.
SDA staff and members rallied and met with legislators in Sacramento, along with over 200 people from all around California. Together, we urged our elected officials to save funding for public transit, housing, and clean air/water programs that are being defunded across the state — including free Muni for seniors, disabled people, and youth — after the California Air Resources Board rerouted that funding for handouts to big oil.
The result: transit funding in the Cap-and-Invest Program went from essentially zero in May and now to $373 million!
A group of ten people outside in front of a stone building, some standing or squatting, some using mobility aids. Many are smiling with fists in the air.
Tenants Assembly
Last month, SDA members joined tenants from across San Francisco at the SF Tenants Assembly! As the AI boom drives up rents and displacement, tenants came together across neighborhoods to share what’s happening in our buildings, learn from tenant leaders who have been organizing and winning, and build connections with each other.
We heard about tenant associations, rent strikes, door knocking, and neighbors taking on neglected repairs, unsafe conditions, evictions, and rising rents.
SDA members brought their own experiences to the room, learned from other tenants, and made connections with people facing many of the same struggles across the city.
SDA also took the lead on accessibility planning to help make sure everyone could fully participate. Good food, interpretation in Cantonese, Spanish, and Tagalog, breakout groups, new connections, and plans to keep organizing together.
San Francisco is our home. We’re here to stay.
September General Meeting
Saving transit, preserving housing funding, stopping a Mayoral consolidation of power, a billionaire’s tax… There are so many important measures this year! Come learn about the many CA State and San Francisco ballot measures.
What: SDA General Meeting
When: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 10am-12pm
Where: San Francisco Disability Cultural Center (165 Grove Street, San Francisco, across from City Hall) and on Zoom
Topic: We will have a presentation about the ballot measures, especially ones on which SDA is taking a strong position on this year.
Access: The Disability Cultural Center is wheelchair accessible (all on one floor, with large bathrooms) and has an outdoor patio space where it’s possible to watch the meeting from. We will provide breakfast and lunch outdoors. Masks (KN95, N95, or better) will be required inside, and provided. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Please share any other access and interpretation requests when you register.
Note the new date and new venue: We’re trying out the Disability Cultural Center space, and a new time to match that. They are a great disability community space and have a lovely library of disability justice books.
Also, save the date for our October General Meeting: Wednesday, October 14, 10-12pm, also at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center.
Get ready for November: Ballot Propositions
Check out SDA’s guide to state and local ballot propositions here, for all of our recommendations of how to vote and why! And read on for reflections from Ligia Montano, Director of Education and Partnerships:
Elections are considered one of the most important expressions of democracy. Unfortunately, year after year, we see the significant influence corporate power exerts on the final results. This year in San Francisco, we attempted to pass a "billionaire tax" proposal, but it was impossible to compete with the millions invested by corporations and the stances taken by prominent politicians who—as on other occasions—defended corporate interests.
Now, we want to give ourselves another chance to achieve a progressive tax in California through Proposition 40. However, as expected, corporations and the politicians representing them at the State Capitol have already prepared a counter-offensive. We want to warn you that you will be targeted by a massive amount of misinformation and propaganda—both against Proposition 40 and in favor of measures that deprive us of the opportunity to secure funding for healthcare, affordable housing, and other essential services.
Corporations and millionaires are behind Propositions 41, 42, and 43, which essentially deny us the possibility of achieving a fairer tax system. If we are to seize this opportunity, we need to mobilize the entire community. We urge you to become advocates for Proposition 40 and to speak out against Propositions 41, 42, and 43—measures that defend corporate interests and seek to perpetuate tax inequality.
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 (Prop H) and Connect Bay Area (Prop RTM). 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 would 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@sdaction.org and mention what bus stops you use the most frequently and your availability. We will reach out to you with more information.
Senior and Disability Survival School Continues
SDA’s “Survival School” program is active at the YMCA in Stonestown Annex and YMCA at Park Merced. Our classes are offered free of charge to the community and cover important topics for seniors and disabled people. Contact the YMCA to join our classes at their locations.
Our first class in August covered emergency preparedness and disaster response for seniors and people with disabilities in partnership with the Community Living Campaign. Get involved with your local NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team) chapter by signing up for their free training program on personal and community preparedness and disaster response skills.
SDA staff member Liza Mamedov also taught community members how to get on the In-Home Support Services (IHSS) program and best practices to prepare for your assessment appointment. Next month, we’ll cover long term care planning and another session of emergency planning.
Want to bring SDSS to your neighborhood, senior center, housing, school, or community site? We’re looking for location partners across the city! Contact Liza Mamedov at liza@sdaction.org to book SDA to come to your area for free programming. We’ll keep you updated about our next scheduled series via this e-newsletter.
Peer Advocate Spotlight: Building Confidence One Click at a Time
by Digital Lift
Learn more about our Peer Advocate Andrew Rogge and his work supporting seniors and disabled people with tech literacy in Digital Lift’s new article! Read the article here.
Resource Highlight: Understand Your Tenant Housing Rights Workshop
When: Thursday, September 17, 4-6 PM
Where: SF Public Library, Main branch (100 Larkin St., SF), Latino/Hispanic Community Room
This workshop is open to all renters wanting to learn more about their housing rights. Whether you're new to the area or have been here for years, this workshop is designed to help you navigate the complexities of tenant laws. The presentation and materials will be provided in both English and Spanish. Register here
Community News & Events
Superfest Disability Film Festival
Wednesday, September 9 through Sunday, September 13, in person and virtual events, streaming access through September 20
Events will feature community conversations and panels exploring disability, film, storytelling, art as activism, intersectionality, and more. Superfest is the longest-running disability film festival in the world, providing a platform for disabled filmmakers, actors, and creators to share their stories. Hosted by the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center, the multi-day festival brings disability-centered film, art, and storytelling to audiences through both in-person and virtual programming.
Election 2026: Ballot Initiatives webinar series
Wednesdays, September 16 and 30, 12:00-1:15pm on Zoom
Join affordable housing advocacy organizations for a two-part webinar series about three critical ballot measures that will impact everyday lives and long-term quality of life of folks in the Bay Area and across the State. Learn about the ins and outs, the whys, and the what-ifs of the Bay Area’s regional transit initiative, Proposition 1 (Statewide Affordable Housing Bond), and Proposition 43 (Taxpayer Deception Initiative).
Bayview Transit Fair Family Fun Day
When: Saturday, September 12, 11am-2pm
Where: India Basin Waterfront Park
This free, family-friendly event is all about celebrating our community and making it easier (and safer) to get around the Bayview — on foot, by bike, or on Muni. There will be giveaways, a guided community walk, and opportunities to connect with neighbors working to make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders.
Research Study for Trans Women Elders
If you are a trans woman, at least 50 years old, and live in Northern California, you may be eligible for a research study through UCSF Prevention Science. You can receive $100 for sharing your health and aging experiences in a 2-hour study. Email MatriarchStudy@ucsf.edu or call 415-481-3708 to learn more.
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!
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