Mayor Eddie's Newsletter - November 7, 2025

Published on November 07, 2025

Hello South City Community,

I know it’s been an interesting season with confusing or heavy headlines. As your mayor, I feel it too. Most especially with the evolving situation affecting our community members who rely on federal SNAP benefits to help put food on the table. As changes to this program continue to evolve, we understand that some families in South San Francisco may experience challenges in meeting their basic needs.

In response to the federal government shutdown and pause in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California, this past Wednesday, I introduced an item at our council meeting and your City Council took decisive action to support residents facing food insecurity. Myself along with members of the Council authorized up to $170,000 in emergency funding to partner with the YMCA Community Resource Center to assist nearly 1,700 South San Francisco residents impacted by CalFresh delays. This program will provide grocery gift cards to eligible CalFresh recipients, and reflects our City’s ongoing commitment to compassion, equity, and ensuring every resident can meet their basic needs.

No one in South City should have to face food insecurity alone. If you need additional support, please visit https://www.ssfca.gov/Services/Food-Distribution-Resources for a list of local programs and services available to you and your loved ones. We’re in this together!

November 12 and 13: State of the City - Free event!

The clock is ticking for when I’ll be sharing our State of the City address, and I’m excited to share with you the past year’s achievements, share our City’s vision for the future, and celebrate everything that makes South San Francisco the place we call home. I hope you’ll join me next week in either of the following:

• Wednesday, November 12 at 6:30 p.m.: Our State of the City, free and open to the public, will be one of the agenda items I’ll present on at the regular City Council meeting held at the Council Chambers in our Library | Parks & Recreation Center at 901 Civic Campus Way. Registration is not required, and I encourage you to stay for the rest of the meeting to learn more about our City initiatives in real time! Again, this is a free event and open to all who wish to attend.
• Thursday, November 13 at 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: We’ve extended a special invitation to our local businesses, hoteliers, educational and healthcare partners for this special luncheon event— making it a unique opportunity to hear directly from City leadership and connect with fellow business owners and executives. I will also be joined by special guests: Our own South City youth and one of our student interns will also host a fireside chat with me, and other special guests. The meeting is free for anyone to attend, and registration is not required. Lunch is available for purchase here. However, if you would like to attend without joining the luncheon, you are able to do so. 

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

Also next week is our annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day celebration! Come join me, South San Francisco Unified School District Board President, Amanda Anthony, and the Martin Elementary student body on the steps of City Hall (400 Grand Avenue) as we reflect on Ruby Bridges’ bravery. Ruby Bridges became a pioneer in the Civic Rights movement at the young age of 6 years old when she was amongst the first African American children to integrate all-White schools in Louisiana in 1960. Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day is celebrated throughout the country, and started right here in South San Francisco! If you cannot join the celebration, we encourage you to walk or ride your bike to school in honor of Ruby Bridges! 

Learn More

Notice To South San Francisco Permitholders 

In preparation of the upcoming holiday season, we want to advise all South San Francisco Permitholders that City offices will be closed from: Wednesday, December 24, 2025 to Friday, January 2, 2026. If you need to pick up permits purchased for January in person, kindly make arrangements to do so before the closure. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Come join me at upcoming events that bring our community to life. From educational events to neighborhood gatherings, there’s something for everyone.

Explore the full City Calendar at https://www.ssf.net/city-calendar and stay connected to all that’s happening!

Monday, November 10, 6:00 p.m.: Native American Heritage Month Film: "Gather"

Join us in the Library | Parks & Recreation Center for a film screening. "Gather" follows the stories of Native Americans on the front lines of a growing movement to reconnect with spiritual and cultural identities. An indigenous chef embarks on a ambitious project to reclaim ancient food ways on the Apache reservation; in South Dakota a gifted Lakota high school student, raised on a buffalo ranch, is proving her tribes native wisdom through her passion for science; and a group of young men of the Yurok tribe in Northern California are struggling to keep their culture alive and rehabilitate the habitat of their sacred salmon.

Running time: 1 hour 24 minutes

Learn More

November 14 and 15, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Friends of the Library Book Sale

Save the dates! The SSF Friends of the Library are hosting a book sale this fall. All proceeds go to funding for children's and adult special programs as well as library collections - books, audio visual materials, and more. 

Learn More

Tuesday, November 18, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Scam Stopper Seminar

Come join Councilmember Mark Nagales and the South San Francisco Police Department to learn how to protect yourself from fraud. Join us in the Social Hall of the Library | Parks & Recreation Center at 901 Civic Campus Way.

Learn More

Saturday, November 22, 9:00 a.m.: Fun Run

The 52nd annual South San Francisco Thanksgiving 5K Fun Run will take place at the Oyster Point Marina & Bay Trail. The run will begin at 9:00 a.m. Registration is $10.00 for adults 18 years of age and up. $6.00 for ages 13 -17 years old. FREE for 12 and under. Participants will be awarded prizes for top finishers in each age group as well as entered into an opportunity drawing for prizes after the race. 

New this year, this event requires pre-registration by November 15, 2025. There will be no race day registration. Register at www.ssf.net/rec-catalog.

Did you know the library has a Veterans Resource Center? 

Veterans and their families can meet one-on-one with trained volunteers and be connected to organizations, agencies, and library materials that will assist with:

• Transitioning from military to civilian life
• Finding jobs
• Surviving change
• Veterans’ benefits
• Managing post-traumatic stress disorders.

For more information visit our website, call us or email ssfpladm@plsinfo.org.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Free Webinar: How to Build an ADU

The ADU Resource Center of San Mateo County will be holding a webinar on Wednesday, November 12th 6-7pm with the ADU Center to go over the main steps of building an ADU, as well as hearing from homeowners who have successfully built. 

Register Here 

Remember, you can read this entire newsletter fully in Spanish or Tagalog, or any other language via our website, by tapping on the top right corner of the website (for most, the default language will appear as English (United States)). Choose your preferred language in the menu.

Please take care of yourself, and each other.

Mayor Eddie
City of South San Francisco