PRESS RELEASE: Clean Team Celebrates Lunar New Year in the Richmond District - 2/26/16

For immediate release: Feb. 26, 2016
Contact: Greg Crump, 415-423-4260

Community Clean Team Celebrates Lunar New Year in the Richmond District
Volunteers to Beautify City Streets, Schools and Parks in District 1 Neighborhoods

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – More than 200 volunteers are expected to join Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor Eric Mar and Public Works crews on Saturday to celebrate the Lunar New Year by beautifying and cleaning the Richmond District and other District 1 neighborhoods.

Date: Saturday, February 27, 2016
Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (speaking program starts at 9 a.m.)
Location: Kickoff at Washington High School (600–32nd Ave.; enter from 30th Ave., on the backside of the school)
Who: Mayor Lee, Supervisor Mar, community volunteers and City crews
What: Celebratory Chinese New Year Community Clean Team kickoff with lion dancers, followed by work projects to improve District 1 neighborhoods

“The Community Clean Team strengthens our diverse neighborhoods and helps to keep our City clean, green and beautiful,” said Mayor Ed Lee. “I applaud our residents, communities and volunteers for their dedication and hard work to keep our City and our neighborhoods world-class.”

Added, Supervisor Mar, ““District 1 is vibrant and diverse. Our community will benefit from the work Community Clean Team volunteers deliver.  This is a great opportunity for all of us working together to improve our neighborhoods and strengthen our community.”

Community Clean Team, San Francisco Public Works’ largest and longest-running volunteer program, has blossomed with the support of residents, nonprofits, businesses and schools. The monthly volunteer events are a joyful and rewarding experience for participants who plant trees, landscape medians, remove graffiti, pick up litter and freshen street furniture to make our neighborhoods shine. The workday ends with a shared meal.

“Community Clean Team comes to different supervisorial districts each month to engage our volunteers through teamwork, neighborhood pride and civic stewardship,” said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. “As we celebrate the Year of the Monkey, we hope everyone enjoys the meaningful work we do together to improve our neighborhoods.”

Last year, Community Clean Team's 3,193 volunteers planted 980 plants and 105 trees, groomed 480 tree basins, removed 61,000 square feet of graffiti, collected 1,146 bags of litter and swept 408 blocks. Since the program began in 2000, volunteers collectively have given more than 165,000 hours of their time.

Photo opportunities at the Feb. 27 Community Clean team event:

• Lion dancers at the event kickoff, Washington High School, 600–32nd Ave.
• Sprucing up medians at Geary Boulevard and Park Presidio Boulevard; along 23rd Avenue between Fulton and Cabrillo streets; and on Geary Boulevard between 23rd and 28th avenues.
• Tending to tree basins around Washington High School, and on Fulton Street between Park Presidio Boulevard and 30th Avenue.
• Painting out graffiti and refresh street furniture along Balboa Street and Geary Boulevard. 
• Cleaning and beautifying the Dupont Tennis Courts located at 30th Avenue and Clement Street
• Tending the sidewalk landscaping on Balboa Street between 34th and 39th avenues.

Sponsors and community and partner organizations include: 76, Starbucks, Walgreens, Emerald Fund, Recology, The Hilton, Academy of Art University, PG&E, Luxor Cabs, SF Clean City Coalition, Local 261, San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco Housing Authority, Juvenile Probation Program, Project 20 Pretrial Diversion Program, Rec and Park, the Garden Project, Climaet Action Now, Washington High School, Community Youth Center, Chinese Newcomers Service Center, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Francisco Parks Alliance, United Playaz, Tzu-Chi Foundation, SF Geo Care, SFPD Collaborative and Gee Yung.

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