Xenophobia Has No Place In America

February 22, 2021

Protecting Asian Americans Across The Country
Over the past year, anti-Asian sentiment has increased in our community, leading to tragic events, including last month's brutal attack on Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old Thai man and resident of San Francisco, who was killed in what appears to be a racially motivated attack. We pray for his family and the countless other victims of these heinous attacks and will continue fighting to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there have been over 3,000 reported incidents of violence towards members of the AAPI community across the country, from our city of San Francisco to the streets of New York City. Today, I joined Members of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus to denounce the recent spike in anti-Asian crimes and violence, and discuss ways we can combat this epidemic and work to safeguard the AAPI community and all vulnerable communities across the country. These crimes have no place in this great nation, and every effort should be taken to put a stop to these repeated attacks against our fellow Americans.

The Biden-Harris Administration has already taken vital steps with their executive actions condemning these shameful attacks and their leadership in directing the Executive branch to combat the deadly violence against the AAPI community – honoring our nation's beautiful diversity and our most sacred values of equality and justice for all. As we work to defeat the crisis and pursue justice, we will continue to reaffirm what San Franciscans always say, that the beauty is in the mix.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi joins Members of Congress to denounce the sudden spike in anti-Asian attacks across the country

San Franciscan Appointed to the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys
Wednesday, I was proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Joseph Marshall, Founder and Executive Director of Alive & Free in San Francisco, to serve on the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, established by the Congress to study, report on and provide recommendations relating to the conditions affecting Black men and boys.

Our nation has been undergoing a reckoning as we confront and combat the racial injustice and police brutality targeting Black Americans, particularly Black men and boys. The Democratic House, reflecting the outpouring of activism across the country, continues to take action to address these cruel disparities, from passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, removing portraits and statues of Confederate leaders and others embodying hate from the U.S. Capitol, and last summer, passing legislation to establish this Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. This Commission is part of a long overdue effort to acknowledge and end the institutional racism that Black men and boys face every day in America.

Dr. Marshall is a visionary leader, who is helping to fundamentally transform our communities' and nation's approach to the challenges facing today's Black youth, as he works to eliminate violence across America. His pioneering work has made a difference in the lives of countless young people and has been recognized at the highest levels, including with a MacArthur Genius Award. Now, on the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, Dr. Marshall will bring the innovation, expertise and excellence needed to create real, impactful change in our country.

Congresswoman Pelosi with Dr. Joseph Marshall Jr. at Omega Boys Club during a Gun Violence Prevention Panel Discussion on January 30, 2013.

Deadline Approaching for SBA Loans Responding To Pier 45 Fire
Last summer, San Francisco's fishing community suffered a financial disaster when Pier 45 caught fire and thousands of dollars of critical fishing equipment were lost in the blaze. To help preserve the struggling waterfront economy that has suffered from this tragedy, the U.S. Small Business Administration has made loans available for businesses who were forced to replace their equipment that was lost in this tragic fire. Visit the SBA website to see if you are eligible and send in your application before the deadline on March 17, 2021 to apply for disaster relief.

Security Breach May Have Compromised CA DMV Information
This week, the California Department of Motor Vehicles notified its customers out of an abundance of caution that a company it uses to verify vehicle registration addresses had its security breached. While the DMV's systems were not compromised and it is unknown if any driver information was put at risk, an investigation is underway to assess the scope of the breach. As the DMV continues to assess any possible damage to its data security, they would like to urge customers to report any suspicious activity regarding their personal information to law enforcement. More information on the security breach can be found here.

Staying Up To Date on COVID in San Francisco
With the ever-present threat of COVID-19, it is important to stay updated with the ongoing changes in our community. Below you can find some of those changes as well as tools and resources to help with these developments:

A constituent contacted my office with a request to expedite the issuance of a social security number for their newborn baby. SSA processed the constituent's corrected document and issued a new social security number to her dependent within 2 weeks.

Caseworkers in my San Francisco office work to address any problems or concerns you may have with a federal government agency. To submit a Casework Authorization Form, please visit my website.