Earlier this morning, a five alarm fire broke out near 13th Street at Folsom in San Francisco. SFPUC crews were one of the first on-site to respond and support the fire department as they battled the flames. The blaze rapidly grew from a second alarm to fifth alarm fire within minutes. SFFD crews attacked flames…
Category: Response
An Essential Worker & Father’s Message to Wear a Mask
Tomio Nakadegawa is a Chief Stationary Engineer at the SFPUC’s Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant. On March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order directing all residents to stay home, except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors. This order included the wastewater sector. For months, Nakadegawa has been getting up each morning…
A Fifth Generation San Franciscan’s Journey in Public Service During COVID-19
“Normal is not how I would describe these times,” said John Scarpulla. During “normal” times, Scarpulla serves as the SFPUC’s Manager of Local and Regional Policy and Government Affairs, where he is the main liaison between the agency, Board of Supervisors, and the Mayor’s Office. On March 5, Scarpulla was activated as a disaster service…
New Financial Assistance Program Helps Small Business and Nonprofits Pay Water and Sewer Bills
With many customers facing the tough reality that the COVID-19 pandemic is not going away anytime soon, and the SFPUC understood the kind of pressures that puts on the business and nonprofit communities as they work to recover. Last week, the SFPUC launched a new program that will provide 20 percent discounts off water and…
Keeping Up with Public Information Officer Cassidy Wallerstein
Public Information Officer Cassidy Wallerstein likes to be on the move. You could find her strolling sidewalks for hours in the Presidio, eyeing the detailed architecture and blooming bougainvillea. You might also spot the Southern California native partaking in an intense virtual exercise class midday at a local park. Or, if you were lucky to…
How Emily Alt Has Worn Many Hats (and Costumes, and Masks Too) During COVID-19
The SFPUC’s External Affairs’ Sustainability, Planning, and Budget Manager Emily Alt is known for many things: her expert management of the SFPUC’s External Affairs budget, commitment to data-based decision making, and flair for creative homemade costumes to name a few. When the City activated a shelter-in-place order in early March, Alt stepped up to serve an…