Click the link below for the written chat from the meeting.
In the February 22 OWL meeting we learned about action items to assist at-risk immigrants.
In addition to using it yourself, please pass all of this information along to friends, family and colleagues.
Call the hotline 415-200-1548 to report suspected ICE activity in San Francisco.
San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network and the San Franciso Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative have organized and implemented the San Francisco Rapid Response Network to respond to heightened enforcement actions by Immigration and Cu.stems Enforcement (ICE).
The system includes a 24-hour hotline: 415·200·1548. Call this number if you’re a first-hand witness to suspected ICE activity in SF; text a picture of the activity to the same number: and report the behavior and description of their clothing.
The organizations do raid verification for all calls of alleged ICE enforcement activity within San Francisco. Raid verification is an important component to dispel myths and lessen fear. (To date there has been no ICE activity in San Francisco.) And if an indivldual is detained after an ICE raid or ICE activity, they will activate attorneys to file for representation of the Individual.
Print out this information sheet (in Spanish) for your friends and neighbors
Pass out these instruction “red cards” to at-risk immigrants (one side English, one in Spanish) in the event they are approached by ICE. Let OWL know if you want some and we will order them.
OWL-SF is proud to support the efforts of the California Alliance of Retired Americans (CARA) in their efforts to prevent devastating cuts to healthcare programs in the U.S.
HUGE MOMENT TO JOIN THE FIGHT
TO PRESERVE MEDI-CAL
Wanted to help but don’t know how? Now is the time to get started – right from home!
About this event
Congress is proposing to make devastating cuts to healthcare programs which could impact 15 million Californians, including children and people with disabilities! And they’re making the cuts to give huge tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.
To stop the cuts and save lives we need to get a handful of Republican Congress members to vote NO on the proposed healthcare cuts. CARA is making calls to voters in Congress members David Valadao’s, Young Kim’s, and Ken Calvert’s districts to encourage them to call their offices and patching them through right then!
CARA will be using a dialer system to make the calls so you will need a computer or laptop. There will be a short training on Zoom at the beginning of the call shift and then folks will start making calls.
You do not need to live in one of the key districts. Choose a district below to get started!
CD 22 – Valadao – Fight for Our Healthcare Phonebank
CD 40 – Kim – Fight for Our Healthcare Phonebank
CD 41 – Calvert – Fight for Our Healthcare Phonebank
Contact CARA
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 23754, OAKLAND, CA 94623/ 510-663-4086 / www.californiaalliance.org
STAFF CONTACTS:
Executive Director: Rob England, rob@californiaalliance.org 661-364-7101
Administrative Director: Cynthia Lopez, cynthial.cara@gmail.com/ 510-663-4086
Digital Specialist: Vidy Pugalenthi, vpugalenthi@californiaalliance.org/ 213-648-9000
REGIONAL ORGANIZERS:
NORTH (Bay Area and North State):
Daisy Oram, doram@californiaalliance.org/ 707-815-2143
CENTRAL VALLEY:
Yesenia Cuevas, ycuevas@californiaalliance.org/ 209-354-7489 (Stockton-Bakersfield)Sacramento/Yolo counties, and Placer County
SOUTH:
LA COUNTY/ INLAND EMPIRE/ORANGE/SAN DIEGO:
Vidy Pugalenthi, vpugalenthi@californiaalliance.org/ 213-648-9000
SITUATION: In addition to owning Tesla, Inc., Elon Musk is an unelected senior advisor to the current U.S. President. He has been given control of a newly created—dubiously legal— initiative called the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and is using his position to decimate the federal workforce, including, but not limited to: scientific research, veterans services, public education and foreign aid—all of which are essential to stability and growth in the U.S.
The President and Elon Musk have created chaos and unease around the country, especially for the most vulnerable citizens who rely on government funded programs for housing, health care, food, informational services and others.
THESE ATTACKS ON DEMOCRACY MUST BE STOPPED!
ACTION: Join the protest at the San Francisco Tesla showroom on Saturday, March 1 at noon, 999 Van Ness Avenue at O’Farrell. Tell Musk and the President that we do NOT support their policies, and will make our voices heard in the 2025 mid-term elections!
MUNI LINES: 38 and 49 go directly there; 2 and 19 within two blocks.
ALSO: Share this message with friends, family and colleagues in and near San Francisco.
NAVIGATING THE HIRING AND
EMPLOYMENT OF CAREGIVERS
WHEN & WHERE:
Saturday, March 22, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
via Zoom
Jennifer Pardini, Community Education Manager of Legal Assistance for Seniors, will educate us about identifying, hiring and managing people whose roles can make a vital difference in quality of life for elders in need of in-home assistance, including:
- Definitions of skilled care and personal care, and available payment sources
- Tips for success and how to identify care needs to safely remain in the home
- Differences between hiring through an agency or other methods
- Resources for how to hire and maintain employment of caregivers
ZOOM INFO TO FOLLOW
For more info:
info@owlsf.org, (415) 712-1695
IN PERSON MEETING
Saturday, February 22
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rhoda Goldman Plaza
2180 Post Street (at Scott)
Saturday, February 22
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rhoda Goldman Plaza
2180 Post Street (at Scott)
Immigrants play a vital role in keeping the U.S. running smoothly, yet the current presidential administration is aiming major resources at attacking immigrants from all sides, in ways that are inhumane and traumatizing—including breaking apart families who have made valuable contributions in countless ways.
Labor organizer and former SF Supervisor John Avalos and others will tell us how and why SF became a sanctuary city, explain what is being done to immigrants now, and offer ways we may take action for justice and compassion.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A light lunch will be provided. If you wish to partake of lunch, please RSVP to info@owlsf.org or (415) 712-1695 by Thursday, February 20.
DIRECTIONS:
- Post Street is one block north of Geary Boulevard; Scott is one block east of Divisadero.
- Accessible by Muni Lines 2, 22, 24 and 38.
- Rhoda Goldman Plaza has free, wheelchair accessible onsite parking, entrance on Sutter between Scott and Pierce.
SITUATION: Previously, members of the public have been able to make comments remotely at SF Board of Supervisor Committee Meetings.
However, the BOS voted to end remote public comment for everyone—except, we later learned, people with disabilities—who are willing to disclose details of the nature of their disability publicly.
This effectively punishes hundreds, if not thousands, who want to participate remotely in our local government, whether or not they have a disability. Even worse, it will force those who have disabilities to disclose in advance what their special needs are. In order to call in remotely, people living with disabilities—including old age—must seek burdensome “reasonable accommodation” exceptions. Or else they must face the burden of traveling to City Hall to attend in-person meetings.
ACTION: Ask your supervisor to remove the obstacles to remote comments in public meetings—for everyone, especially older women and men, and all people with disabilities.
ALSO: Share this message with friends, family and colleagues in San Francisco.
Click HERE to find the contact information for your SF Supervisor.
The Legacy Film Festival on Aging (LFFOA), based in San Francisco, is extremely proud to present its 12th Annual/3rd Virtual Film Festival beginning February 14-23, 2025.
Get your TICKETS or ALL-FEST PASS now for this highly anticipated Festival, which represents the evolution that all of us have been experiencing since birth: AGING!
Tickets can be purchased at:
$12 for an individual program, consisting of 2-4 films,
averaging 1.5 to 2 hours total time, or $65 for an ALL-FEST PASS.
Provocative and Celebratory films from around the globe will be featured, both fiction and documentary, all aimed at supporting the LFFOA mission: To educate, inspire, and entertain intergenerational audiences on the issues of aging. Our goal in presenting these festival films is for all of us–no matter our age–to conceive of later life as an adventure, with its lighter and darker moments. In addition, we hope to promote new and fresh ideas for older adults to live a more productive, healthy, and meaningful older life, both physically, mentally, and spiritually.
SITUATION: The SFMTA is proposing a new plan called “The Biking and Rolling Plan” which will extend bike lanes to form an interconnected system.
Despite the presence of bike lanes, there are still too many bikers ignoring safety laws.
ACTION: Tell the SFMTA and their Board of Directors that before the City spends more money on bike lanes, they should ensure that the laws should be enforced prohibiting bicycles from riding on the sidewalks, running red lights and stop signs and entering crosswalks while a pedestrian is crossing.
ALSO: Share this message with friends, family and colleagues in San Francisco.
Email the SFMTA Board at: MTABoard@sfmta.com
Call them at: (415) 646-4470
Write to them at:
One South Van Ness Ave., 7th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
OWL-SF is proud to spread the word: The California Association of Retired Americans (CARA) will be hosting two very important Zoom events in January, focusing on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Movement to End Privatization of Medicare
Presents:
Forum on OHCA: Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 at 7 pm Pacific
What is the Office of Health Care Affordability?
Who Wins, Who Loses?
Join the Movement to End Privatization of Medicare for an Educational Forum on the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA). Learn what it is, and how it could impact your health and the health of your community. OHCA promises to control costs through cost caps and value-based payment.
Will cost caps control health care costs? Will workers see health premiums shrink? Will the health of the people of California improve? Could value-based payment promote the proliferation of profit?
Moderator: James G. Kahn, M.D., M.P.H., emeritus professor in the Phillip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at U.C.S.F.
Presenter: Ana Malinow, M.D, retired professor of pediatrics, UCSF.
Panelists:
Catherine Frugoni, M.D., Deligate, California Medical Association;
Stephen Vernon, F.M.T., Board, Healthy California Now, representing Therapists for Single Payer, which he co-founded;
Michael Lyon, San Francisco Grey Panthers, Senior and Disability Action;
Peter Shapiro, Board, Healthy California Now.
Click HERE to register for the forum on OHCA January 23.
___________________________________________________________________
CARA FRIDAY FORUM!
Federal Outlook on Social Security and Medicare
On Friday, Jan 24th at noon Pacific
Featuring: The Alliance for Retired Americans, California Labor Federation, and Caring Across Generations
Hear from the President of the California Labor Federation, Legislative Representative from the National Alliance for Retired Americans, and the Director of Public Policy at LTSS advocacy group Caring Across Generations. We will be discussing what the next four years will mean for federal social programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
LEARN WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON
AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FIGHT BACK.
Click HERE to register for the CARA FRIDAY FORUM January 24.
The OWL Book Group will be meeting at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 14th on Zoom. We will be discussing Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor. Click HERE to read the short story.
2025 OWL PLANNING MEETING
Let’s make 2025 Exceptional for OWL members!
Join in to plan OWL’s Agenda for 2025
WHEN & WHERE: Saturday, January 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
VIA ZOOM
We want your ideas for the following:
- Thought-provoking membership meetings!
- Informative newsletters and updates!
- Political Advocacy on issues important to Older Women!
- Social gatherings and holiday events to make new friends and connect with old friends!
PLUS: ELECTION OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS!
Bring your ideas, creativity and inspiration!
Zoom Link to follow
OWL-SF Member Meetings in 2024 included:
- Preparations for two Elections: March and November Ballot Measure Discussions
- Women and Heart Disease
- Strengthen and Stretch
- Women Helping Women in Ways That Really Make A Difference (SafeHouse)
- Community Living Campaign (Resources for Elders and People With Disabilities
- Crucial Information About Dementia and Alzheimer’s
- Walk to End Alzheimer’s
- Let’s Talk About Food: Eating Well and Healthy for the Holidays
SITUATION: In order to better serve riders, San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) is currently engaged in a process called the Accessible Strategy Needs Assessment. This consists of performance data, institutional knowledge, and community wisdom.
ACTION: You can do your part to aid this process by expressing your opinions and concerns via the Accessibility Strategy Identified Needs Survey. This survey should only take you 3-5 minutes to complete, and your answers will help make the services and programs offered by MUNI more accessible.
You can also email MUNI (AccessibilityStrategy@sfmta.
Please also forward this message to friends, family and colleagues who ride MUNI.
PLEASE JOIN OWL-SF FOR A DELICIOUS
CELEBRATION OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON
When: Saturday, December 14 11:30 AM to 2 PM
(R.S.V.P. by December 6, (415) 712-1695, info@owlsf.org)
Where: SF County Fair Building, Rec Room
(*see below for location and transportation details)
Since OWLs enjoyed the incredibly delicious food in Savor Café at last year’s holiday party, this year Savor will be catering our gathering. Mouthwatering, vegan Mediterranean dishes will be served buffet style.
Lunch is complimentary for OWL Members plus one guest—please consider bringing someone who might want to join OWL-SF.
In addition to your appetite, if you are able, please also bring a book or two for for the book swap (bring a book that needs a new home, and give a new home to a book that needs one).
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU!
*SF County Fair Building, 9th Avenue and Lincoln: 7 Haight and 44 O’Shaughnessy MUNI lines, one block from N-Judah, two blocks from 43 Masonic and 6 Haight-Parnassus. Limited handicapped parking: let us know if you need one of the spots.
SITUATION: The SFMTA Board of Directors is working on a plan to make all forms of biking and rolling—such as scooters, e-bikes, skateboards, power chairs and other low-speed wheeled devices—safer for everyone in the city. Their #1 goal is putting people first. Hopefully that includes seniors and all pedestrians.
Their plan must include educating riders about traffic laws such as stopping for stop signs and red lights, yielding to pedestrians and not riding on sidewalks, practices which are presently making our sidewalks and crosswalks unsafe.
ACTION: Email the Board of SFMTA at MTABoard@sfmta.com and tell them that their Biking and Rolling Plan must include education of the public—and enforcement of laws already on the books—to insure that bicycles and scooters are not allowed on the sidewalks and must stop for red lights, stop signs and crosswalks to ensure the safety of all San Franciscans.
ALSO: Share this message with friends, family and colleagues.
LET’S TALK ABOUT FOOD:
EATING WELL & EATING HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
When: Saturday, Nov 23rd, 11 AM to 1 PM
Location: San Francisco Public Library, Richmond Branch*
(*see below for location specifics)
Professional Chef and Herbalist Lorraine Gruber will instruct us in the use of herbs and spices for holiday dishes, reducing the salt, sugar and fat we once cooked with, especially during the holidays!
Chef Lorraine will bring samples of her delicious and nutritious creations!
LOCATION SPECIFICS
The Richmond branch of San Francisco Public Library, 351 9th Avenue, is half a block north of Geary Boulevard. The Local 38 MUNI line will take you to 9th and Geary, the Rapid does not stop at 9th, but will take you to either 6th Avenue or Park Presidio–sixth being the closest. The 44 line also stops at 6th and Geary. Street parking is reasonably easy within a two block radius.
All branches of SFPL are wheelchair accessible.
The community meeting room is on the ground floor. If you enter through the 9th Avenue doors, the room is downstairs. If you enter through the 10th Avenue doors, as you do so, the room is to your right.
SEE YOU THERE!
Our fellow Americans living in hurricane-impacted areas should not have to worry that the federal government will run out of money to help them rebuild in the next few days.
SITUATION: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has declared that Congress will not return to pass emergency funding to aid hurricane impacted areas before the election. Instead, he has said Congress will wait until November to pass the needed emergency relief for hurricane-impacted areas.
This could soon force FEMA to stop rebuilding projects in hurricane-impacted areas, and to instead focus only on life-saving operations.
ACTION: We cannot let political games endanger lives. Sign this petition to demand that Speaker Mike Johnson reconvene the House and pass the necessary hurricane relief aid.
ALSO: Share this message with friends, family and colleagues.
ALZHEIMER’S DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS WOMEN.
GATHER WITH OWL-SF OCTOBER 19
TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO END ALZHEIMER’S
For the October Member Meeting, OWL-SF will be making a donation to this year’s WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S, and has created a walking team. Our team is called OWL-SF Walks.
WHEN: Saturday, October 19, 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: Pier 27, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
LOOK FOR THE OWL BANNER: We will gather at Pier 27, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Embarcadero, for refreshments, entertainment, information and support. The walk is one mile, but those choosing not to walk can stay at the gathering and cheer others on!
- Gather outdoors and socialize with OWL Members
- Support Research on Alzheimer’s Disease
- Get the word out that OWL is still going strong
- Get Some Exercise (Optional)
RSVP to OWL-SF by phone or email: (415) 712-1695, info@owlsf.org, no later than October 17. Wear your OWL shirt if you’ve got one, or something purple if you have it. Donation optional. Accessible by MUNI F Line. Parking can be both challenging and expensive.
GATHER WITH OWL-SF WALKS
TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT
AGAINST ALZHEIMER’S!
Here is the League of Women Voters’ Pros and Cons page about local San Francisco initiatives.
Here is their Pros and Cons page for statewide measures.
Here are their recommendations.