staying with the puc is where i love it >> good afternoon. wait, are we ready? [gavel] good afternoon, the meeting will come to order. welcome to the april 17, 2024 meeting of the budget and appropriation committee. i'm supervisor connie chan, chair of the committee. i'm joined by supervisors shamann walton and melgar and

our clerk is brent. i would like to thank those for broadcasting this meeting. >> for those in attendance, meez make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices. should you have any documents to be included as part of the file, it should be submitted to myself the clerk. public comment will be taken on each item often the agenda. please line up on my right to your left. you may fill out a comment card. if you we shall to be accurately recorded for the minutes. you may submit in writing by e-mail to myself of the appropriations committee is clerk at brbmt@sf golf tv.

it will be part of the official file and you may send your written comments by u.s. postal service at dr. carlton. >> i hope we can continue item 1 to get into the hearing with item number 2. mr. clerk, please call item number 1. >> a hearing to the march update for the five year financial plan. madam chair. >> c. chan: i would like to make the motion to continue and with that a roll call. >> to the call of chair. >> c. chan: do we need to do public comment? >> yes. >> and before we go to the public comments today, i would

like to limit them to one minute can. and with that, let as go to public comments on item number 1. >> we do invite members of the public who wish to address the committee regarding the continuance of this item number one. now is your opportunity to approach the lectern. and chair, we have no speakers. >> c. chan: seeing no public comment for item 1, the public comment is close. we'll move and do a roll call in the motion to continue it item to the call chair. >> clerk: may i have a second? and on that motion, let this hearing be continued to the call of the chair, moved by chair chan seconded bill walton. >> aye. >> member walton. item 2.

>> c. chan: aye and that passes. >> clerk: item 2 is the hearing to protect and strengthen the city's homelessness and preserve healthy room occupancy and resident services to prevent substandard housing and eviction prevention and anti-displacement measures. madam chair. >> c. chan: i called this hearing today to so the committee could get a head start on the budget process. although we won't see the proposal until she submits it on in a 31st of this year, we know there a lot of conversation happening between the departments, our community stakeholders and the mayor's budget office. as we continue to hear, the city is facing $800 million budget

deficit. it is in the best interest of this poly making body to be a part of that conversation and understand what we will be facing in our june budget hearing as early as we can. this hearing will be the first of three in the series to seek -- that seeks to engage our department and community stakeholders around top issues and concerns that face us every budget cycle. this first hearing addresses the city's continuum of homeless supportive housing and tenants protective services. today we'll be hearing from the department of homelessness in support of house, mayor's office of housing and community development and department of building inspection. in addition, we'll have a presentation from our non-profit service providers that work alongside these departments to provide service to our vum

necial members. i ask committee members to hold questions until after public comment so we can hear from people directly impacted from these services and any cuts or augmentation that might be decided upon by policymakers. so with that, let's start withal dfl drr if any of me completion want to make evening remarks are welcome to do so now. seeing no names on the roster, let's start with the department of homelessness and supportive housing. >> good afternoon, honorable members of the budget and appropriation committee. i am sher reason mcfadden

executive director with department 6 homelessness and supportive housing. i'm joined by gi gi whitley. we published home by the bay our five year plan to set our goals for preventing and ending homelessness. this calls for growth of the system and system improvements needed to achieve the goals laid out in the plan. the fiscal year 23/24 budget made a down payment toward implementation of the plan. as we move into a difficult budget season, our goal is to continue to make strides toward our strategic plan and to prevent cuts to services for or highly vulnerable clients. in this presentation, we'll address our overall budget strategy and key investments in housing and shelter and homelessness prevention as requested by you, chair chan. our proposed budget continues the investment plan approved

last year's budget while it includes a cost of living increase in line with reasonable inflation projections, addresses revenue short falls in prevention in shelter by using prop c and using services for bed capacity and funding through year 2026. it increases the spending recommendations for young adults and family housing and maintains key initiatives and it addresses reduction instructions without cutting programs. overall the proposed budget addresses the immediate fiscal needs much our department and defers fiscal cliffs that will need to be addressed in future budget cycles. we continue to measure data from across our system of care. by helping people permanently exit

homelessness because we knee it's the most impactful component of our work. this table here demonstrates the incredible success we've had in moving people out of crisis and in perm flent housing over the last several years. in the past two years alone, we've helped over 6,700 people move out of homelessness through city housing programs. the home by the bay strategic plan is i multi-pronged strategy that focuses on five goals. including significantly reducing unsheltered homelessness over the next four years. the fiscal year 2024 budget makes significant invest ms towards these goals including 1,650 additional slots of homelessness prevention which is 34% of our goal. 600 new shelter beds, 55% of the goal, 355 new housing units or vouchers, 11% of our goal.

over the past few years, the department is focused on prioritizing people with the highest barriers for supportive housing to assure that they have a pathway off the streets. through this prioritization, we have seen an increase in acute of people living in supportive housing. to ensure that we're able to meet the service needs of the community, the department has enhanced support services across the portfolio. this includes investments in staffing, settinger toes for staff as well as standardizing and lowering the ratio of case managers to clients. we've also implemented initiatives to include services including extending money management, overdose scferses and supportive housing and making enhancements with the department of public health and

department of disability and aging services. in addition to improving services at permanent supportive housing sites, we've been working to improve site quality especially within our older buildings. in the last two years we're in the who is process of $2,600 in funding including accessibility of the older buildings within our portfolio. some of the improvements include launching quality inspects in our portfolio, enhancing accessibility. repairing he will exprairts other safety upgrades. rerepairing he will exprairts other safety upgrades. as you can see we have continued to significantly expand shelter resources even after taking the

shelter in place hotels off line. in 23/24 we made critical investments to have resources by leveraging local and state funds including maintaining 500 beds slated to end last fiscal year and adding 600 new shelter beds. the fiscal year 24-26 budget maintaining current programming and investments and identifies new state funding to help sustain current investment in future years. this include state encampment funding that will support shelter in our bayview. homeless housing and prevention that will maintain over 8900 shelter beds and funding to sustain the 35 additional hotel vouchers for families we're bringing on line this sphroing meet the needs of families in our community. like psh, we've seen the needs change for people accessing shelter. to meet the changing needs, the

department and our partners made investments to include the quality of services, increase access to health resources and, pand our family homelessness responsor. moving on to prevention, since july 2023, the department has served 918 households with a total of $67 million allocate in financial assistance. approximately 50% of the farchtion assistance we paid as part of homelessness prevention was for back rent so denyants could remain housed. i'll pass it over toe gi gi whitley for more details. >> good afternoon madam chair and members of the committee. gi gi whitley with sfsh.

the slide before you is a high level view of the department es proposed budget. you can see on tt top line the proposed budget decreases a little over 7% over the two years. and there is a significant reduction in rev newly mostly driven by the expiration of one-time state funding and weakness in our city our home prop c funds. our general fund proposed budget is increasing modestly. that reflects the addition of the cost of doing business addition that was put in the base budget alonging with -- in the second year of the budget increases if or you are work order for housing for costs for the lost supportive housing program. sfsh was tasked with identifying 10% in on going fund reduction

which means $27 million in reduction or finding comparable new revenue as well as a 5% contingency reduction which equates to 13 million. on top of this budget reduction on the general fund side, shsh has the challenge to maintain programs including the shelter expansion that director mcfadden mentioned that was budgeted last year with one-time funding. the next slide i'm going to walk you through how we balance the key initiatives with the mayor's budget instructions. so, as you see at the top of the slide, a 27 million-dollar on going general fund target plus a 5s for contingency with the instructions we were working with. the first thing we did was look at the shelters that were opened

after the covid response that we kept open to deal with our crisis on the streets. this is about 395 beds and we've given ourselves a 10 million-dollar reduction target next year. these are, again, one-time funds that were put in last year's budget to support these projects and to keep those going we're trying to make it more cost efficient to operate those. we've also identified one-time funding. we are leveraging the hhhap 15 geared towards housing assistance so we're expecting to get that and have that programmed in the budget that is coming in higher than what we anticipated and then finally we identified 4 million on going and then 6 million in the second year of the budget and general fund budget reduction mostly

through realignment through existing contracting and looking at our underspend and trying to right-size our community-based contract to the spending level. for the reduction tart, if we are asked which the mayor's office to identify additional general fund cuts, we'd looked at our grants programming for further reductions. last slide shows you how this proposed budget next year divides around investment area the biggest slice of the pie is our investment in maintaining and some modest expansion in housing that includes everything we do from rapid rehousing and permanent and supportive housing. about 19% for crisis and shelter interventions can. 9% of our budget is focused on

homelessness prevention and 1% on coordinated entry and 1% on department-wide costs including work orders and finally our personnel salary and budget makes up about 8% of our total cost and that does include approximately 50 direct service workers that are providing outreach, transportation and clinical services in our system. that concludes the hsh presentation. and i'm happy to answer any questions. >> thank you, we'll go to the mayor's office of housing and community development. >> good afternoon. i'm sheila director of policy

and legislative affairses for the mayors' office of housing and community development. i'm going to talk about eviction prevention. tenant protections help to stabilize our city. san francisco has a long history of fenant protection. we have tenant protection including rental assistance education services and preservation of housing stock. multiple agencies provide tenant protections because the city uses a variety of tls to meet the needs. we provide anti-displacement services including eviction, legal defense, building tenant education programs, mediation and then there are two or departments i want to note that provide important tenant protections, the rent board, eviction preventions and

planning department implementing local and state law including sp-330, planning code puts limits on mergers and demolitions and protections for unauthorized dwelling units as well. mohcd programs help prevent displacement of san franciscans from their homes. this is a cultural preservation tool. it provides more than $60 million annually to community-based organizations. we work with the department of homelessness and supportive housing on homelessness prevention. our programs are community-based and innovative. service recipients are rent bureed and have, treemly low or very low income. tenant assistance programs fall into four areas. tenant right to council which is full scope legal representation.

we provide these services to approximately 22-households annually. all those who avail themselves for help get it. we work with 8 ceo provider -- cbo providers. we have the financial assistance of various types and durations. approximately 3,100 households are served annually. next tenant right to education. know your rights campaigns 1-on-1 counseling, we provide these services to more than 1,500 households annually through 7 cbo partners. lastly the forth is mediation. we have dispute help for all. 600 households annually are served and we have a strong

partnership with the bar association of san francisco. i do want to highlight a few other anti-displacement strategies. there is the small sites program where we support non-profits to purchase privately own buildings ingsand convert them to affordae units. the vaing 30 to 100 percent. cbos provide counseling services to applicants and 20% of available lottery units are set aside for applicants with displaced tenant preferences. this is the breakdown of funding in the four problematic areas. 78.8 million for eviction drens. $2 million for mediation for a total of 66.6 million. looking at our client served to

date -- just to date, almost 2,000 people have received eviction legal defense. financial assistance has benefited more than 2,000 households. tenant right to education is more than 600 households and more than 400 households receive mediation support. looking ahead to the next fiscal year, for our eviction and anti-displacement services, mohcd has not identified cuts in these service areas. mohcd provided the budget office with the goal of minimizing impacts on all cbo grants. the emergency rental assistant or erap program is funded in part with one-time sourcing. the spending is increasing. funding levels for up coming fiscal year depend on the final budget for 24/25 and unspent

funds that could be carried forward as well. i have staff here to answer questions. >> c. chan: thank you, we'll go to the department of building inspection. >> looks like my presentation is having an error. chair chan, do you know if there is another copy of our presentation? >> c. chan: the presentation should be on the legislative

files for all members to check and interest click on. and click on. if you have it for the public, it's the most ideal. >> i have it on a disc. it will looks like the file didn't work when it was copied over. by our assistant.

sorry. >> c. chan: do you want to start with an introduction? >> sure. good afternoon -- it's working on her computer so we'll try another approach.

there is goes. good afternoon, chair chan and supervisors i'm the assistant director of the department of build inspection. we oversee the enforcement of city building housing, plumbing, electrical and mechanical code as well as enforcement regulations. we enforce the housing code and habitability standards. since 2010 we've managed grants in which community-based assist for tenants for code enforcement and habitability standards. the grants of around $5 million

annually have been awarded to the community-based organizations and they're used for code enforcement outreach and for the second group of grants, specifically to assist tenants living in single-room occupancy buildings. i'm going to zoom out before i talk more about thees grants, i'm going to zoom out and give an overview of dbi's budget. as an enterprise department we're budgeted by the fees. we fees are set by determining the reasonable cost of providing our services. the majority of our budget is non-discretionary with labor costs for the biggest chunk. when our revenues are down, we don't have a lot of opportunity to prim trim our costs. what it shows here is the gray line in the middle is our expenditures which have risen

mostly as labor costs have risen. the orange line is our revenues which dropped significantly during and after the pandemic and the yellow line that spikes is our reserves which went up significantly during the boom years and have been mostly used up in the past few years to fill our gaps. the projection is our reserves will fall below 10 million in the next few years. i was asked to talk specifically about our fees and fee study. our fees are established by eye fee study to analyze our costs and sets a model for charging fees. we last cuttinged a fee study from 2015 which lowered most of our fees when times were good. and last year we raised all of our fees by 15% across the board while we were working on our current fee study published a couple of months ago.

in the new fee study, it's been recommended to raise most of our fees by an average of 40%. because some of the fees are going up significantly, we are phasing in the fee increases over a three-year period to support economic recovery. so, going back to the cbo grants, looking specifically our budget submission includes is continued funding for the grafnts supported by the general fund. it called for a 10% reduction in general fund support that is about $5,000 less for the grants. we don't expect that to have any effect on the services or staffing because in the last few years those grants are underspent by the same amount. wrapping up, the controller currently auditing the programs, we expect to receive recommendations later in the year. thank you, i'm available for any questions.

>> c. chan: thank you and we have last but not least a community coalition. first name, last name and the organization. >> thank you. jennifer, the coalition on homelessness but representing the community-based organizations who came together to face down a large city deficit with the clear scen us that we'll not balance the budget on the backs of poor and working class san franciscans. we should not take sphrksz back 30 years and make the same bad decisions we're paying for today.

this is tax cuts for the wealthy and. we're driving up our deficit and making a recovery impossible. we have fantastic plans. a great overdose plan, for example, a great homeless strategic plan, but austerity measures make these crisis we see on streets worse. community programs are working. thousands of households last year were prevented from losing their homes. thousands of houses were lost but we have tremendous unmet needs. i want to start with thes vision of where the system should be. heavy investment in prevention keep san franciscans housed is incredibly important. the homeless count we last had, 5 game homeless. we feed to have shelter gassities, short dignified stays in shelters and we need to have

diversity to meet the needs. we need shelters to meet those with, treemly low income to step-down housing to boarding care and a plan for every person a by-name, by-block system for placement and care. currently we have an uncoordinate and bewildering and expensive response of all of the different teams that are dispatched and swoop in and disappear leaving people to fend for themselves and dumped on the doorsteps at placement at best. continuing on street and homeless system response presentation, the best way to expand shelter capacity is to prevent people from becoming homeless and adding housing. there are 1650 people on shelter wait for adults. 442 homeless families on wait

for shelter and hotel. we're failing families with. that are about 35 shelter beds and increase due to prop-c. this has been a great job but where is it getting us? shelter is more expensive than housing. we need housing and we're facing about $11 million in cuts to family and youth house housing through prop c that need to be resphord. one way to buildoing on the resources is 2022 pit count found 24% of unsheltered individuals were found sleeping in rvs. there needs to be sanitation for those sleeping on the streets. families and students live near sfsu and san francisco only has

one vehicle triage for all the vehicular housed people. a quarter of our homeless count. increasing of parking enforcement led to ticketing and increased housing insecurity. next slide, i talked earlier by our bee builders and street response. this is a failed response. we have 10 hhoc occurring. 15 to 20 representatives from 8 city departments swooping in with i show of force standing around for house. we get a third of the people enp in shelter. they did a quick little go around and don't find out the needs because their objective is to move the encampment that doesn't solve the issue. king street swept many times and folks returned until there was a plan to house community members with a hundred percent success

rate. earlier encampment had a 70% success rate. we can remove the harm, make it mur efficient and still build capacity without losing programs. i'll turn it it over to tabitha allen can. >> i'm tabitha allen with tenant lirveg housing and co-chair of the housing network supporting housing hoad. the city bus fund, home by the bay strategic plan which requires significant investments and supportive housing including the expanding the number of units, capital improvements in the buildings, increased safety measures, enhance services and housing mobility particularly for individuals with complex care needs. families to obtain housing opportunities. supportive house dlsh there is a

full range of needs and exos for providing resident services including food security, overdose prevention chams. maintenance costs, increases in wages for our staff. non-payment of rent and high vacancy rates is a challenge for our providers. 30% of permanent supportive housing residents are at least 90 days behind in rent and providers are facing over $8 million in losses due to rental arrears. also the high rate of vacancies adds another $5 million in losses. increase property damage and escalated insurance premiums. difficulties to retain insurance increases pressure. these challenges may lead to more staff reductions which would exacerbate permanent housing in ways to to promote

housing retention. flat funding because of all of these increases puts non-profits at a disadvantage. and then there is significant differences in the quality of all of our permanent supportive housing. there are older buildings. 12% of permanent supportive housing sites, mostly the older buildings account for 33% of the vacancies. support vieders network estimates that we need an additional $27 million in the coming year to improve habitability concerns. this is for quality of life improvements adding bathrooms until units that don't have them. remodeling bathrooms that have not been remodeled in a long time. adding kitchens for food security and making safety improvements including restructuring and adding cameras, painting walls, redoing

floors, making the buildings nicer for the tenants that live there. thank you. >> before the next speaker -- sorry. i'm not sure if the people in line are in line for public comment right now. we're in the middle of a presentation. until we open public comment, i ask that you have a seat and when public comment is called is when it's your opportunity to line up to address this committee. >> let me know when you want me -- >> waiting for movement. thank you much. okay. >> good afternoon, supervisors i'm [indiscernible] director of

the housing registry of san francisco. a member of the code enforcement outreach program and talking to you about our work. the history of cop. we are a 30 year program. we were -- started through a chart ever eament a voter initiative in 1994 after a history of fires, bedbug and issues gripping our housing stock so the voters came together in 1994 and moved this program which has been in operation since then. we do code enforcement everywhere. the outreach program across the organizations who you saw in the last slide do proactive competent through the city. it's a system that works.

this system as you can see, it has its own flow. we do door-to-door outreach and competent in language and our cbos, our counselors are doing inspection and we do eviction case management leading to baitdment without having to involve the city departments. here are the numbers last year and this year. these were the cases we were able to resolve at a cost-saving measure. windowen gauge city departments when we need to but we find that we can often support tenants and landlords to abate the issues through our tenant counseling. these are pictures before and after an example of repairs. our tenant counselors were not

able to doll this without engaging city departments. but we didn't have to. as you heard from the departments, we're facing a 10% cut to our whole entire program on top of a 10% cut that we received last year. our pranl is $5.2 million. it was cut last year to 4 plt 8 and now another cut at 4.2. this will will definitely jeopardize vital services contrary to what the department is saying, these 10% cuts to the programs will result in potentially staff reduction, resulting in less ability for our organizations to do the work and unfortunately one of the things the department did not say is is there is actually not a plan from the department to ensure that the work that our cbo partners would not be able to do can the cuts were enacted i don't not able to do.

the results is a 5% contingency cut this we're preparing for. we are hoping that we can make a different plan because these services are necessary. and valuable and independenceable to the city to ensure our housing stock is safe and habitable. now i'll pass it over to lora for legal assistant to the elderly. >> hi. good afternoon everybody. i'm lora kiera the executive director and managing foreign for legal assistance to the elderly. >> i'm krista and director for defense collaborative. >> eviction preveks in san francisco a collaboration between legal service organizations, trc legal service organizations that provide free legal services, provide free representation to eviction cases

in san francisco. there are 9 organizations. tenant counseling organizations that provide essential services to tenants so they can find a lawyer and rental assistance who provide the critical assistance. it's a collaboration that works. it's very successful, but it also demonstrates the tremendous need we have for the services. if you see that in this fiscal year there are over -- we project 3,000 active eviction cases in sphrks that these services can provide. there are 2800 as of today. our clients are the most vulnerable. they are overwhellingly low income. 55% have inkroms -- monthly imcomes of less than $1,200. they are overwhelmingly bipoc and a significant portion do not

speak english showing this is a racial injustice issue in this eviction defense. what we learned is the very success of the crt program. 90% receive help through trc and they remain housed. the overwhelming majority remain in current housing but a small portion move but never experience homelessness because they get the support to find other housing. >> the success of tenants right to counsel system rerelies on this to achieve the success rate. we've been alerted to a 50% cut in the erap funding. this could be catastrophic to the city of disprks could result

up to 5,000 individuals losing their homes. the arap serves bipoc, extremely low income, 46% are disabled. 20% are lgbtq and others need an they werer. they would have nowhere to go and we're hoping this cut will not be made. >> apologize for interruption, but right into the microphone, please. >> the program receives 11,000 applications each year and a backlog remains. annually is that we're serving 3,000 households annually. it's critical that any unspent funds from this fiscal year that remain be allowed to carry forward as part of a measure to stabilize not only the program,

but also the non-profits that are administering it. thank you very much. >> thank you. next slide, please. yes. we cannot underemphasize the important role that tenant counseling organizations play in this system. they are the first top for tenants when they get threatened by landlords. when they don't know where to go and that's what they find out what their rights are and how to find a lawyer. it's an important first step. i want to say i've been an eviction defense attorney in san francisco for 20 years. i remember when they were 10 attorneys for the whole city and there was no meaningful rental assistance.

being evicted meant losing your housing. the way it was back then, the housing crises back then is nothing like we're facing today. we have to pa maintain an increase in the rental assistance making sure every tenant gets education and representation. it's critical to maintaining our city as we know it. >> good afternoon, i'm joel olsen executive director of hospitality house. i think you've heard a lot of good ideas, thoughtful, practical, humane, necessary. i can say that part of my story

is what can happen when we care about each other in this city. some decades ago i was sleeping on a mat on the floor in hospitality house shelter. what got me up off the floor, feeling better about myself, feeling that i still have promise and worth were other people caring about me. that's what made a difference. that happens every day in the city. in addition to the pragmatic and thoughtfulness of the proposal you've heard, there is pain here. every day people are enduring struggle. people that have devoted their lives work about caring about

each other in trying to promote the best of the city of san francisco. a volcano matter, i want to acknowledge supervisor peskin whom i've known for quite a while and respected you and admired you. supervisor walton. your story is our story. it is challenging here. what it feels like when you're not sure people are listening. that is painful. we've been doing this for a while. it's unclear if we're making any progress. it doesn't often feel that way.

but pain needs to become possibilities. people need a reason to believe in us, they need a reason to believe new. they need to know that you believe in them. it doesn't feel that way. that's what we're asking. you don't have to win, you just need to know that you'll fight for us. that's what we need to know. that's what this is about. everybody here has a stake in the outcome, everyone! and people here in this audience often feel like they're powerless. they don't feel like people are hearing or feeling them. we have 84 millionaires in this town. 84 billionaires. 1 half of 1% of that 84 people

solves the problem. you tell them this is how we're going to do business in this town for the next five years. that's how we make progress. we need to know that you'll fight for us. that's what this is about. because every day people are struggling, people are feeling other people's pain. there is it loss in our communities every hour of every day. and yet people still keep coming to work. people still keep trying. people still keep facing the danting aspect that nobody cares, that nobody is listening. let's do something about that. that's what this is about. join us in this fight. and, again, for our, you know, sympathetic members from the

rescue commit and growth commit, not one housing placement among them. pick up a blanket, pick up a bucket, pick up a broom, be part of the solution rather than explaining about shit you don't know anything about. [cheers and applause] >> thank you everyone for your presentation. i am going to offer colleagues, what we're going to do ?eks take public comment. so that we all can hear directly from the public. but i want to -- seeing no name on the roster, we'll go directly to public comments and hear from them. >> now is the opportunity for public to express their views. i do know we have some members

of the public in the overflow room if you do wish it provide public comment, now is the time to enter the chamber and line up with the rest of the public. >> c. chan: reminder of one minute each. >> thank you madam chair. out of respect to any speakers that may be speaking, can you please try to keep it down so we can hear the public commentary towards this committee. thank you very much. first speaker, please. >> good afternoon supervisors. many of you know me. my name is rebecca jackson. as advocates we understand this budget process as shrink or shrinking more. we understand that government and city departments are constantly evolving their vision and mission of who and what they

want to fund. even in a year when the budge is not as difficult as it is this year, we know that resources and housing that we offer to people is not enough. and that it's been historically underfunded. we know that the city and residents of san francisco want and expect the risk providers like us to tackle the big social issues of access and care and housing but we can't do that if costs to vital services are made. we can't do more with less. we believe that the city's approved budget will be a direct reflection of how it values the most vulnerable populations and it's desire is to fund solutions. thank you. >> thank you much rebecca for address the committee. next speaker, please. >> hello. i'm chelsea winter and i'm a chief development officer for san francisco safe house. we house unhoused survivors and

those involved in sexual exploitation. we want you to know the budget cuts will have a affect on the most vulnerable. there are marginalized populations will bear the burden. services are integral for women and spham list. we must stand as a city who does not abandon the families. it impacts the well-being of all san franciscans. every choice we pawk in the budgeting process affects our values as a city and people. while we're bombarded by national voice of governments voicing a few over the roar of many, we ask you to have san francisco stand as a beak be of hope. i urge the budget committee are in alignment with social justice.

>> ?eks speaker please. >> good afternoon. i am the fiscal manager at community services. today i stand before you alongside many noars this chamber urging you not to cut funding. among the thousands of clients there are hundreds of workers dedicated to up lift our community to direct services and advocacy for affordable city. we actively dreats issues affecting our streets. budget cuts and reduced protection will have serious consequences. our community safety will be compromised leaving vulnerable individuals at risk of slipping further into poverty. you're also going to hear from residents who wish to share their concerns regarding proposed funding cuts. i urng you you to consider this seriously. >> next speaker, please. >> good afternoon, supervisors.

members of the committee. i'm a long-time resident of san francisco. i haven't worked for the last year. in our [indiscernible] we're fond of calling california the republic of california. it is an independent state. people in government should focus on governance. the defense and protection of people. please [indiscernible] action that we enjoy as a state and country. cutting our budget does not hold water on establishing the greater republic of california. thank you. >> thank you, much. next speaker, please.

>> good afternoon super viers, i'm with the san francisco land use coalition. chair chan, thanks for calling this hearing. i'm talking about the prevention of substandard housing. there is no question that the city should fund the services. this is a just cause and we should have the services renders. but there needs to to be something done about substandard housing. some of the residents are the most vulnerable people in san francisco. that is why we long with the gray panthers and faith in action are supporting melgar's proposal by holding the landlords accountable. this is the time we need to act

because see the cuts to the budget are going to impact programs helping to find issues, elevators and what not. plea support that. thank you. >> thank you very much. next speaker, please. >> [indiscernible] [speaking foreign language]

>> hi supervisors, my name is li and i'm with the families united collaborative. i come before you to stress the importance of prioritizing budget allocations for sro families united collaborative. my husband and i struggled to make ends meet. we have back breaking and low paying jobs. as a result, my family of four can only afford to live in a tiny sro. we often come home from building problems to a non-functioning stove is to broken showers and broken toilets. when the budget issues arrive, we're grateful to receive assistance from sro from the

collaborative. they help us effectively communicate our needs to the landlord. fill stating repairs, their assistance is invaluable to low-income families like us. supervisors, please make budget decisions that reflect your commitment to housing justice, equity and compassion, thank you. >> thank you very much. next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language]

thank you. >> hello supervisors i'm pam and i'm here to ask the budget committee to consider the proposed cuts for the srk ro program and know they are important for us. my family of live have lived in sro in chinatown for over po three years. we have to share a toilet, shower and kitchen with another household. we also experience troiment

problems, liking faucets and sanitation which lead to issues that affect our daily needs and health. i'm grateful to have the sr organizationer. the sro program not only help us in our environment and also offer many different tenants [indiscernible] speak a certain language and we can better under our rights. sro is important for us. i urge the committee to support the budget, thank you. >> thank you very much for addressing this committee. next speaker, please.

>> [speaking foreign language]

>> hi, supervisors. my name is mao gan and i am here to ask you not to cut the budget. we live where building issues occur. i found likes in the communal bathroom and a broken window. when i report the issues to the landlord and property management company, they were not addressed. but when i report the issues to my sro, she quickly contacted the landlord and property management and three days later technicians came to repair the toilets and windows. with over 22 households in our building, breakdowns often occur. fortunately with the help of our organizer, building issues get repaired in a timely manner. we need these essential services provided by the collaborative.

after a long day of work, we want to come home to a place that is safe to live. i hope the board of supervisors can proper advertise the budget. we need your help to live in a safe environment. thank you. >> thank you very much for your comments. next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> if you could start the translation, please. >> hello, i'm i single mom and our family of three live in a sing the ten tans which in chinatown. [indiscernible] the environment is bad and the noise from the

restaurant down stairs is nonstop 24 hours a day. but i'm lucky to have the support from the organizer, the organizer will help me give the support and love especially with my 1 years old son who has trouble hearing. i'm here to ask for the budget to keep the sro program going. it's very important for the people like me who need help and support. thank you for funding. >> thank you for your comments. next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language] >> interpreter: i urge you not

to cut funding for the sro families united collaborative. my family of four lives in an sro in chinatown. there are 22 units on our floor with an average of three to four units to share. per unit. and only three toilets to share.

previously we had clogged toilets sometimes for several days with no repair. we called but no response. with sro order nateers helped us resolve the issue. we followed up in assistance from the building manager a addresses our concerns alleviating our worries. sro organizers speak our language. we have no language barriers. sro is essential for vulnerable groups like us. they not only improve our environment but help us with activities. please support the budget for sro families. >> next speaker please. >> [speaking foreign language]

interpreter: my name is [indiscernible] and i'm a member of the chinese association. i am here to ask for the budget to keep the sro program going.

i have a 13-year-old daughter and it's an important time. as our families are important for us, organizers meet with us regularly. they listen to our needs. once our center malfunctioned and randomly rings for half a month. the city manager and owner did nothing to fix it. we had a language barrier and we met with the organizer and communicated with the building manager and get it fixed. we are a low-income family.

the organizer speaks the same language as us. without the sro services, what can we do? the i urge you to consider those proposals for the sro program. it will help us improve our living conditions and support our needs in life. thank you. >> thank you very much for your comments. next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language bracket. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> cut off your conversation, please. >> good afternoon interpret interpret i'm a student coordinator living in chinatown

urng you not to cut the programs for the sro program. i have learned a lots from the program such as fire prevention. how to raise issues with the language lord and so on. previously there were issues with infestation of lice and lotuses. lotus. i do not speak english but housing counselors help us. they ensure the issues will adjust properly, there is no need to raise the landlord's response for months. this program is very important to our community. it empowers tenants to exercise our rights ensuring that the building we live in comprises housing and recreation.

>> thank you for your comments. next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language] >> interpreter: i'm here to report that please do not cut the support to organizations that support tenants in san

francisco because there is a will the of infestations, cockroaches and rats. i don't want my granddaughter to grow up in an environment like that. please keep supporting the tenants in san francisco. >> thank you very much. next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> interpreter: hello, i'm in the southeast tenant association. i've been calling that the landlord has neglected the building. the sros help us to report the repairs that's why i ask you to not stop the -- my child is exposed to all this sick environment. thankvi you. >> thank you for your comments.

next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language] >> interpreter: good afternoon. i'm here to say i was not informed before. i was living on the streets and harassed by many people. i found the southeastern organization and they've been supporting me. they're still supporting me to this day. i ask you to please not cut

those services. thank you. >> thank you very much for your comments. nextco speaker, please. >> hello i'm a lead organizer and housing rights committee of san francisco. iement here with the southeast center association from district 9, 10 and 11, we ask you not only to stop the cuts to central services that support the vulnerable services in san francisco but you i be vest more in programs such as the code enforcement. the code enforcement outreach program holds landlords accountable for providing habitable and dignified housing. we need to navigate tenants through the services. wha we help them in language

support 365 did is a year. where will they go with these proposed cuts? thank you. >> thank you. next speaker, please. >> hello. good h afternoon, i'm the organizer for the southeast tenants association. i'm here to support many issues and violations of the code of enforcement in the buildings and homes of the tenens in san francisco.n as aan tenant, i'm also experiencing a lot of adverse issues thatdv my landlord neglected or ?ised. the cuts will exacerbate the resources and please allocate the resources to the needs of san francisco and code of enforcement. thank you very much. >> thank you. [applause] next speaker, please. >> good afternoon, my name is jamie diaz.

i work at eviction defense collaborative as a paralegal. 10 years ago my mom was diagnosed with cancer. instead of grieving, i went to the costa hopkins act. i'm many of the stories of people getting priced out of their neighborhoods. sorry, i'm getting nervous. people in we vick just like me experience eviction every day. we need to keep funding for vital resources and programs like eviction defense committee of sanee francisco to help keep people housed in san francisco. if we do not keep these programs funded. what will thehe city be in san francisco? what kind of -- what kind of community do you want to see here? i ask you to please do not make cuts to thee organization. thank you. >> thank you very much for

addressing us. [cheers and applause] before the next speaker speaks, we have a general rule about automobile responses during commentary. so let's not interrupt between speakers. if you like what you hear, spare your fingsers. if you don't like it thumbs down. keep the oral response to a minimum. next speaker. >> i'm a development organizer with housing rights committee of san francisco. i've been honored to work with the residents in public housing. i come before you today as an advocate for housing residents a committee that fights for housing justice and equity. our efforts are not going unnoticed previously in working with the youth, we were able to get funding from house authority by pressuring them with

residents from plaza east. we were able to get $7 million in capital needs improvement. 12 ft. $2 million in services and s programs. this wouldn't happen without funding from this budget. despite our progress, our work is far from over. these cuts will jeopardize our ability to address pressing needs such p as repairs and maintenance and resident services and diminish the impact of our efforts. >> thank you very much for addressing this committee. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisors, my name is [indiscernible] and i work in the commission for homelessness. today i want to say that today

the revenue for the proxy money. the city is proposing $5 million for families in housing subsidies. $5.5 million to homeless youth. this is a steer yus problem. serious problem. despite helping the people and families, we are decreasing the budget for these folks. we have 2,160 women with children suffer domestic violence. we are not doing anything to help the families. we have 1100 youths that need to be off the streets with housing. what are we doing is cutting the budget. we need to invest in the youth.

we need to invest -- >> thank you for addressing the committee. i do apologize for cutting anybody off, but for the sake of equity, i am timing everybody at one minute. next speaker, please. >> i'm lucy and i represent the san francisco parity and equity coalition. i appreciate you calling this special hearing. we represent 23 latino agencies and try to positively impact 60,000 individuals citywide. the disparity is affecting working class immigrants and families further exasperating the inequality in the city. specifically within that latino community, they're already facing tough choices and the cuts will make it difficult to access essential services and

housing. city's commitment to support vulnerable population, these cuts will significantly affect all of s us and determine the services determine who is able to ripe e main in the city. i urge you join in the fight with us against the budget cuts on essential services around housing. >> next speaker please. >> my name is paloma tracy and i'm with the parity and equity coalition. as a resident of the city and humannd being, i'm concerned abt the contradictionsce in this proposed budget. the city claims it prioritizes essentializ services, but the proposed budget cuts vital programs like homeless services and support housing. the city states it's committed to addressing homelessness in supporting vulnerable populations but these cuts contradict that commitment. the city can't afford to

compromise in essential services that impact the well-being of the community members. people need an opportunity to live and thrive. it is essential that this invest in economic growth so that this city is vibrant and inclusive for all people. >> thank you very much for addressing thisor committee. next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language bracket.

>> interpret interpret: i work as a housing rights counselor at the services. the services are essential for liveable housing conditions. the impact of these programs is evident when repair or habitation issues are addressed due to management. cuts to these programs jeopardize thes safety of these tenants. that is why we demand that you as public servants not cut our budget so that we can continue tonu help our community. >> thank you very much. next speaker.

>> [speaking foreign language] >> interpreter: i live at the mission hotel in san francisco. in strks my life has become unsolvable and budget cuts have a negative impact on the community especially for people

likee knee when don't have a jo. if you cut the budget for organizations that help us with essentialh service, this will have a negative impact on our lives which is why we want to demand that instead of cutsingal budget. we need to strengthen the organizations that carry out in favor of us. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> interpreter: if i were to ask you what kind of house do you live d in, perhaps you would say it's a house that has all the comforts one needs. in my case, i'm currently unemployed and living in a shelter in san francisco. that's why i'm here because i want to ask each one of you to put your hand on your conscience

and not cut the funds. when one has to prioritize for buyingor food or paying rent, without the help from programs i would be living on the streets. that's why i ask you not to cut the budget for organizations that help the latino community and all communities. >> next speaker, please. >> my name is jordan, i find it gross that the city continues to fund conflict of interest that harms us ten rchts. the tenderloin housing clinic has c been allowed to run centrl city for over two decades and gaves a lot of "f"-ing damage to us. if sro were not run by psh landlords there would not be the hunger right i had for it.

we psh tenants should knot have to wildcat organize to get basic rights and needs because much city funded astro tur fg. get your shit together. i have a lot of shit to share with you. i yield my time, fuck you. >> that's a hard act to follow. hello, i'm mer taidz bullock and i'm a housing coordinator with the city on homelessness. would i ask you not to cut funding but increase investment to prevent the break down of our city family structure. especially our black ask brown residents. as a former san francisco foster youth, i recognize how much these programs have helped shape me into a stable adult and maintain my love for this city.

i would like that to continue for this city's next generation. cutting funding will not only increase homelessness for families and youth but increase chronic homelessness for single adults. >> thank you very much mer taidz bullock. mercedes bullock. thank you very much. next speaker please. >> gracias. [speaking foreign language]

>> interpreter: the budget cuts tohe the essential services threaten the capacity for residents of the working class who stay in san francisco, residents of the working class of ourki city that make our city function and that are needed for the recup racing -- continued recup racing of our city. >> speaking foreign language bracket. >> we must face the reality of the decisions and budget decisions determine who can stay and who has to go out of the city. >> [speaking foreign language] >> interpret interpret: san

francisco should be a place for everyone to prosper in the city. >> thank you, next speaker, please. >> good afternoon, supervisors i'm co-chair of [indiscernible] wedi are extremely concerned abt the proposed cuts from this budget. the mayor regularly reminds san franciscans that homelessness ands housing are top priorities. defunding departments in charge of homelessness and housing makes zero sense. hock we make progress on a bold five-year strategic plan home by the bay if funding is cut. cuts translate into less people sheltered and housed and driving. thriving. it's not the fault of unhoused residents that san francisco is not f bouncing back because tech

workers want to work the a home. we as a city can do better than this. let's start with police and sheriff overtime. >> next speaker, please. >> goodle afternoon, my colleage jennifer mentioned this earlier but i wanted to revisit the 442 families waiting for shelter in san francisco. director whitley can't wave a want and produce more cash for hsh. there are children sleeping outside tonight.le and i wonder what you can do about it. thank you. >> thank you very much. next speaker please. >> good afternoon supervisors charles defaraj with episcopal community services.

outreach shelter and housing all exist along a tin i'm that when resourced moving people along drn continuum that when resourced move people along. we face so many challenges to serve these people. you've heard all these issues. we recognize that you're budget forecast will need more intentional services. please be intentional and not cut the funds for the vulnerable services. thank you for your continued leadership through the this difficult budget process. >> thank you very much. next speaker, please. >> good afternoon, supervisors, my namal is amelia. i'm a tenant and a community at zero cat of the asian housing.

we provide helper it low-income families. evictions have risen beyond pre-pandemic individuals making protection more essential than ever. the bment cuts threaten our services andn partner organizations which together create a robust safety net system. cuts to tenant organizations disproportionately harm the poor can woring class peoples of cloor. they're more vulnerable to tunist landlords and less able to access help. we'll see more violation and higher demand for help. as we brace for economic uncertainty, we must prioritize displacement affecting our

vulnerable. >> my. name is tuesday barton ad i'm a law fellow. 92% of tenants that receive help in their lawsuits remain housed. majority staying in their current housing and enough moving out to find new housing. we have 8,000 neighbors in the city without permanent shelter. we cannot afford to cut these services. thank you. >> thank you very much for address the committee. next speaker, please. >> my name is diane and i'm with theit race and equity and all planning coalition. we want to thank supervisor chan forha holding hearings and the supervisors here with the budget cuts. i want to relate what is happening with the budget cuts in relation tout what is happeng in other areas of the city. specifically the planning

department and the rezonings that are being proposed for the city. the housing element was supposed to be the city's tiers that focused on racial and social equity. and that is not going to be accomplished with the budget cuts that are being proposed. the housing element includes that wede actually should be increasing funding for tenant pro techs and making sure that the programs are culturally relevant. and we should. be expanding counseling to make sure our vulnerable communities have increased access to affordable housing such as 2.1.4. these are legal requirements for the city to be in compliance with the housing element and we need to make sure -- we need to make sure -- thank you very much for addressing this committee. next speaker, please.

>> hello, i'm the cofounder and executive districter of sf city vitals a non-profit provider for workers and dula. we urge you not to cut the budget for this as medical providers of dulas we see many people turned away experiencing violence and children sleeping outside. i challenge you to experience homelessness for 48 hours. do not carry your wallet. i challenge you to whoever is going to cut the dut the budget. it. was homeless and pregnant. please do not cut any more

budgets. >> next speaker. >> [good afternoon. i am a filipino case worker. we are a member of the sro families united collaborative and i work in the south market with immigrant families. some are single parents, seniors and vulnerable people. some of the filipino families came to the rally yesterday to show their support. iout reach and build relationships with these families. we speak their language and they trust us and feel comfortable to inform us about their issues. we provide cultural and link gis cli appropriatallal help. we work on elevators out of order. this is a difficult environment for people with disabilities.

because of the sro collaborative, some of our family have moved to housing that is healthy and safe. unfortunately due to budget cuts these families have been left behind. >> next speaker. >> good afternoon supervisors i'm ora director of litigation with the lead o agency and right to counsel program. you've heard from staff about the success of our program. the most effective way to address homelessness is to keep someone in their home if they already have one. that's what we do. that's the financial aspect and they ignore the tangibles on people out on the streets. wets help the most vulnerable on the streets.ne 95% are low income. some are bipoc. we are connected to the

residential assistance program they have 50s for cuts. please do what we need to to preserve our city. >> thanky. you for addressing ts committee. next speaker. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> interpret interpret i arrived because the owner of the building where i lived wasn't accepting my rent check. the owner had told me that i wasn't the original own expwr stherp going towr continue withn eviction. they helped me to answer the we vick letter and now starting three monthsg ago, they started to receive my rent and accept it and i'm happy to be able to continue living in the place that i live. please don't make cuts to the organizations that need the money and funds to continue to support the community. >> thank you very much for kreas addressing this committee. next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> start the translation,

please. >> interpret: my namal is [indiscernible] and i'm a tenant in san francisco. i'm here to tell you the importance ever funding tenants rights organizations present here. i would have been evicted years ago if not for their help. last year i was left homeless due to aes fire. there is no way to hold the landlords accountable and they hide under their insurance. all this time i was helped not to end up on the streets. to this day my home row mains unrepaired oon though it happened a year ago. my unit was not habitable and i still pay my rent. if you do not provide funds for people for housing and health services san francisco will be a people for only rich people to

live. the people who support this city and entire country with our work and we are paid less so we cannot afford high housing prices. sphi funds should go to low-income housing. please support these services to save the city of san francisco. >> next speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> start the translation please. >> gracias. >> interpret: my name is [indiscernible] and i'm a renter here in san francisco. and my landlord was trying to

make me leave. she was being violent and harassing me. i'm a survivor three times of having cancer. i no longer have any breasts. when i was going through my cancer treatment and i was trying hard not to lose my home. if you cut this money to the budget, then places like housa hughesa which having supporting me and save my home and stay where i am, won't have the support to do work they do like going to the rent board and prohibiting the landlord from being violent towards me. thank you. >> thank you much for your comments. next speaker. good afternoon. i work for the housing clinic. i oversee central city collaborative and program for tenderloin and [indiscernible]

i don'te] have to explain what e do. we've heard so many testimonials on how we are the frontline for all of the tenants in various communities in the city. we actually mediate between the landlord and the tenant. first the tenants come to us and we try to resolve issues that they have with their landlords. i hope -- and i urge you to basically continue the sro collaborative and funding. >> thank you very much. next speaker, please. >> i'm anthony and i'm a code enforcement outreach community organizer.mu to echo my supervisor's sentiments, we ask as a bridge between thege community and tenants and landlord. if we weren't there, the tenants would not nowhere to go and wouldn't have a front-facing

center to walk by and say i need that.ee so i urge them not to cut the program's funding. >> thank you.un next speaker. >> members of the committee i'm a worker in the tenderloin. cutting funding for essential services will be catastrophic. not supporting the vulnerable is a sure way to ensure death and marginalization. bipoc low income residents are fighting for their live as we talk about taking away their funding. stand with us if you believe your responsibility is for us fighting for their lives. invest in us because you know it's the right thing to do.

>> thank you. nks speaker please. >> hello. my h name is [indiscernible] and i know you have a budget and a lot of money and everything. how about like building facilities. instead of a shelter bed and housing the homeless and giving them everything that they need. in that facility. you know what i'm saying? i built some. getting the homeless off the street and getting the garbage and nastiness off the street. >> thank you forre addressing te committee. next speaker, please. >> hi guys. i'll start with statistics did you knowti that 50% of homeless families are black in san francisco? despite being only 5% of the

overall population? did you know that homelessness is deeply rooted as systemic racism? did you know that poor black sf families are constantly pushed out of san francisco? my name is liz and i stand before you not only as a tenant counselor and community organizer buts a member of the very communities being affected thete most by proposed budget cuts. speak not only for myself but for the countless black families immigrant and low-income families that rely on the programs. these programs are not just about survival, they're about empowerment and creating leaders in the community for change. as someone who mass experienced the challenges of being a teen mom, black family and daughter of imgrajts, i know firsthand the difference that the programs make. now they're at risk threatening to further marginalize vulnerable populations.

>> thank you liz for addressing this committee.re next speaker. >> as a member until san francisco, my journey to affirmative housing [indiscernible] my husband by my side navigating the complexities of urban life has been challenging. however, through cjjc i get help for immigrant assistance. budget cuts essential service deeply concern me. cutting this will force us to make impossible choices between paying rent and putting food on the table.

i implore the city to reconsider and discuss and prioritize helping impants with low-income families lake mine. we must ensure that all residents have access -- >> thank you. next speaker please. >> [speaking foreign language] >> interpret: i live in the mission district and i'm here to defend the organizations that continue to give us resources from r which i receive resources and for them to continue working for us for a dignified living

for dignified housing and for you to continue to support the people that live in san francisco and those who lack housing. those who areho in threat of losing their homes. thank you. >> thank you very much for your comments. next speaker, please. >> hello i'm a apology of glide and resident ever district four. i'm here here to fight for he can and equity budgets. i've been with the coalition to support families with children living in rvs. these monolingual families make do with what little they have. they're working families with smallh children. our communities will continue to hurt if this city's leaders are

focusing on community issues instead of address the various disparities. it makes it more difficult for our communities to access already existing resources. prevention is the best intervention to sustain limited funds. the budget reflects the value ever the cities and the well-being of our community. thank you. >> thank you. next speaker, please. >> good afternoon board of supervisors i'm amanda the executive director of [indiscernible] in the mission and i'm here to represent the latino coalition. i'm here to speak about the wonderful tenant services in budget and urge you to support that ask since our families are literally living on the street.

also, the center pueblo building isin comprised of all non-profit organizations and many of them support low income tenants, immigrant tenants, single moms, elders, disabled who need a place in this community. it's not only an ask that i'm asking you to support to build center pueblo. we hope to restore our legal defense that we lost funding for in 2019. >> next speaker please. >> i'm a housing organizer with senior and disability action. we organize and educate seniors with disabilities to live independently in the city. window rely on critical services. we cannot cut budgets on the back of the most in need.

these funds are essential for people in the city. let's keep programs to ensure that seniors and disabled can stay in their homes. let's keep the services that set seniors andvi disabled people ry on and cut out the corruption in then city. we need to stop balancing the books on the backs of the poor. >> neeks speaker, please. >> i'm indigenous and i deal with quality control services. from monday through friday we see and talk to tenants mostly people of color that ask for services. we hear cases about ceilings falling, infestations and going through winters without a heater andea many other stories where

tenants live in deplorable conditions. whenns we see the photos of whee they live, it's unbelievable to see this happening in one of the richest cities in the country. i can guarantee you most of the tenants that live in inhabitable units until organizations like us intervene. and remember many of the homeless folks who live on streets need the services. we need to dress the root of the problem. homelessness is a result of greed and racism. we need funding for all the organizations here today. >> thank you for addressingay te committee. nexte. speaker, please. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> interpret: i am a counselor and i live here in san francisco for 30 years now. through my work. i don't doubt that the services

that the tenants receive to sros are essential to guarantee that the conditions that they livened are dignified, equitable and especially for those that don't speak english and that do not know how to communicate the problems that they experience and the repairs that they need that can cut risk to their lives if they are not solved in an adequate way. i want to headache make sure that thema cuts to services for tenants is a direct threat to the rights of habitability and is a direct threat to the working class and the resources that we can provide for the working class community in san francisco. >> thank you very much for your comments. next. speaker, please.

>> good afternoon council and members. i'm juan martinez and i'm a councilor at costa hu costa hus. i help them to fight the abuse from landlords. this is usually the same situation over and over again. i am here today standing before you representing on behalf of the black and brown community hard working people. to let you know that if there are no organizations like costa and other organizations to provide the resources, tenants needs, then we'll have a massive number of homeless families on the streets with children and

elderly. the city can afford to have or let that happen, especially with the many potential voters thrown out t on the street. >> thank you very much. next speaker. >> hi, everyone. my nameon is anna and i come to you as a member of costo husta and someone proudly born and raised in the bay area. budget cuts that are proposed are impacting those most marginalized, working class people, black and brown people, people with disabilities. elders, the queer and trans communities. itie is those communities that make san francisco the special, special place that this it is. every one of those people has a right to be here just as much as

the wealthy elite as the companies that changed our downtown and they are what makes this place special. if the city of san francisco claims to care about these communities, so much as they're willing to say in front of the breast or on social media, they'll address is it with their dollars. thank you. >> thank you very much anna. next speaker. >> good afternoon supervisor. i have been a beneficiary of the support. after going through this, i came here -- the urban decay and we need to do something. people could be on the street. this is an international city. we'd like to welcome the visitors here.

we need support from all of you and remember, housing is a human right. housing is a human right housing is a human right. >> next speaker, please. >> goodle afternoon, i'm kile he as a lead organizer for corporate landlord campaigns for san francisco and i'm a tenant in district 4. as an organizer i see firsthand the impact that these budget cuts would have.ge .

supervisors. my name is brad. i'm from housing rights committee of san francisco. over the last couple of hours, i have been imagining what the ceos of the most pernicious and predatory real estate investment firms are thinking when they watch these proceedings. and i know they are, i have imagined what the ceo of veritas is imagining who has tried already

to jeopardize hrc's funding in the past, unsuccessfully. and i imagine that they that they think, look, city hall will do it for us. they will prevent us. the city hall will prevent us from visiting buildings, going door to door, every single door taking photos, ripping at rent, board hearings, filing dbi complaints, filing complaints, going to arbitrations and doing everything that holds them accountable. and if these cuts go through, they will thank you. thank you. brad. next speaker, please. good afternoon. my name is caitlin cao, and i'm also with the housing rights committee of san francisco. every day of my work, i hear tenants tell us the unbearable condition they live in. i also been into those units and seen it with my own eyes. homes infested with pests and black molds. units with no heat or no hot water, basements so neglected that trash overflow and rats running around. these aren't just few cases. these are so common in units and buildings

that landlords neglect their responsibilities. that put tenants at risk. the tenant outreach and education work that we do directly support these tenants and to hold their landlords accountable to ensure that necessary repairs are made so that they don't feel forced to leave their home out of fear for their safety. our work is not optional. it's essential and cutting funding to these programs means the city is putting people in a position where they have to choose living in danger or leaving their home. this is a choice that no one should ever face. so i urge you to not let this happen. thank you. thank you much, caitlin cao. next speaker, please. hi. good afternoon. my name is lena maibaum, and i am also an organizer for housing rights committee of san francisco. and i also live in a veritas building in district three. i have been with hrc for almost eight years prior to being hired

in staff. i volunteered myself for two and a half years, also having three other jobs just to stay afloat with my rent, i was honored to accept the position of being an organizer, and one of the things i love doing with hrc is doing outreach door knocking. as you know, veritas owns more than 250 buildings alone and trying to reach out to all those tenants, empowering them and having them to fight back against veritas and even other corporate landlords like monster, brick and timber. so please, we need to preserve budget, not cut it. thank you. thank you much. linda. mambo next speaker, please. hello. thank you. my name is debbie nunez. i am a volunteer with the housing rights committee and a member, proud member of the veritas tenants association. i've been here before. we've had your support and i just want to speak briefly, just to everything that i've heard today

in another aspect of what all of these organizations offer, and that is tenant counseling and helping us as a tenant have a voice, understanding it, i always felt capable that i could help my take care of my own problems issues. but yet with our corporate landlord, it became an issue, i'm just here to tell you firsthand that everybody here who is speaking has been the recipient of services of resources and that has allowed us to stand tall, to not feel alone and to support one another, whether it's our neighbors, ourselves, our unhoused neighbors. and please, please, if you can address the issues with the budget san francisco needs it, at my age, i don't put my energies into everything. i select a few things and this is something i feel truly. thank you. thank you. next speaker, please. hello, magandang hapon, mr. clark and supervisors. my name

is teresa imperial of. i'm the director of build housing program. i just want to say that when we're thinking about housing, it needs to be in a very holistic way. and i would advise the board of supervisors to deeply scrutinize the department of building inspection. as you can see, the community is doing a far better outreach and education than the inspectors itself. so, when you have a chance to scrutinize the dbi, please do that. what i can say is the current process of accessing affordable housing in san francisco is daunting and unfair. barriers exists at various levels. cuts to services like rental relief, subsidies, education or case management can impede individuals ability to maintain stable housing. since there is no senior housing, housing for people with disabilities and or section eight housing never opens. rental assistance specialist subsidy is the only alternative you have right now already.

investment in tenants assistance services programs are already low, which actually should be more expanded, especially in this current years. thank you. thank you very much. next speaker, please. marhaban is miss madeira can. okay as you know. so no one who can speak arabic here. so i'm going to help myself. so i'm here to present the most underserved and unrepresented community which the arabic speaking community. my name is tommy alotaibi. i'm a senior housing case manager with build social housing program and we are one of few organizations that have large language capacity. french spanish, english, tagalog, arabic with more than ten dialects. so so i

feel like the most like people who's going to be affected by the. the cat is the arabic speaking community because they don't have like, a lot of, like access to arabic, speaking like a case managers or counselors, especially for housing. so i think i, i urge, urge you to like, not support this cat. and also because we are serving a lot of like arabic speaking community especially. so much for your comments. next speaker, please. next speaker. good afternoon, supervisors. my name is chris durazzo. i'm a proud worker over at housing rights committee of san francisco. i'm also this is my community right here. so, i just want to say, i remember when each of you ran started running for this office right here, and how you made a promise to see the people that you that are here in this room,

that you're there to represent us, that you're able to kind of, lift up our voices that people didn't see. and i want to thank you for doing that today, for holding this hearing, which would normally be the week before your final vote. i want to thank you so much. all of all all three of you and your whole team, your whole all five of you have the capacity to turn this information into a strategic plan that needs to happen. you were so lucky during covid. i was in oakland. i can tell you right now, san francisco is so blessed compared to the rest of the state. for what you have the networks, the connections, the way that you have a social, net that holds people up and together that's not replicable in like one year. so please continue to thank you. see us. thank you. next speaker please. thank you. supervisors, i'm deepa verma. i know all of you. this is my community too, and i'm proud to have worked

alongside these incredibly hard, working incredibly passionate and dedicated folks, some of whom came to this work because of their own life experiences with housing instability themselves, i'm a tenant myself, and i couldn't be here without the work of folks like them, i've spent 16 years doing direct tenant work in some capacity or another, and i still see people on the street in this city who i represented, who are still here, because i was able to represent them. and i still remember the faces of all those people. i wasn't able to represent, because it was the bad old days, and we didn't have right to counsel. and i still remember some of them being homeless on the street after i was not able to represent them. and we can't go back to those days. we're in a moment where people are in much worse shape in this city. working class people are still recovering, are still struggling to get back on their feet. after all, they're all that lost income, from covid. i'm still getting phone calls from people who remember me from my time at the tenants union and my time at

edc, asking for help, and i try to get them help. and i hear from edc, it depends on whether we get funded this year. it's going to be up to you all. time has elapsed. thank you so much. next speaker, please. hi. good afternoon. my name is taylor. i'm with housing rights committee of san francisco, these budget cuts will have ripple effects that last for many years. lives will be altered. people will be displaced. the budget cuts will only make things more expensive down the line because when we lose preventative services, it has a compounding effect that will be extremely difficult to recover from. the city will save money by keeping people in their homes, keeping the homes habitable, and continuing to provide essential, dignified services to those without homes. the crisis of housing and displacement is bad enough. we cannot afford to go backwards. a city without a working class cannot function. thank you for fighting for us and maintaining our funding. thank you, miss taylor. next speaker, please. hello, my name is jackie. i am

with the housing rights committee of san francisco, and i. i am here because we primarily support residents in the fillmore and the bayview neighborhoods, representing d5 and d10 and that's where predominantly the black, brown immigrant families have been. kinda. they live there, and they've already had to pay enough, to this society, on the backs of, of their communities and their and their, and their on their communities. so we, but i'm not here to talk about that. i'm here to talk about this year budget. and what we're urging you is to not cut the budget, but increase the budget, we deeply believe that housing is not merely an option, but it's a fundamental human right. and unfortunately, the residents we work with, particularly those under hard, building, consistently face deplorable conditions with the state of their homes being their number one complaint. so what we're urging you to do today is to

consider the sro and the sea of counselors that actually work with these housing, these housing communities, so that to make sure that they get housed and they stay housed. thank you. thank you, miss jackie. next speaker, please. hi. good afternoon. my name is maria, and i live in the mission district. and i also represent jobs for justice san francisco, i just wanted to, you know, support all the organizations today and all the people today are and say that our most vulnerable communities and our teachers, health care workers, home care workers, childcare providers, and so many other people that our city wouldn't run without, they serve having access to essential housing services to not only protect their housing, but the conditions that they live in. i urge the budget committee to stop the proposed budget and ensure that our sf budget aligns with the city's values of equity, compassion and social justice for all of us, especially our most essential and vulnerable. we need a budget that works for all of us. we need our people, house and resource. thank you. thank you maria. next speaker, please. hello, members of the committee, i'm selena, i'm with the

coalition on homelessness. i stand here today in support of unhoused families and youth. we must not cut homeless supportive programs. if you truly want to solve homelessness, you must oppose all of the cuts. families and youth rely on these supportive services. and if we don't continue to fund these programs that are working, then we are turning a blind eye to the problem. please, please oppose all cuts. thank you. thank you, miss selena. next speaker. hello, everyone. my name is andrea moreno. i'm a community organizer with. but i am also a poet, so i will be sharing a poem with you, hopefully this effects won't sway you. maybe strong words will. i have memorized where the wrinkles on my tenants face lay. how they explain away the hellish squalor. and march with the hunch of oppression. with paper cuts from opening eviction letters and permanent creased

rage folded as neat envelope trauma. if facts will not sway a privileged collective, then death to hundreds might. thank you. thank you much for addressing this committee. if we have any other members of the public who wish to address this committee regarding this hearing, now's your opportunity, madam chair. that completes our queue. thank you. seeing no more public comments. public comment is now closed, colleagues, i appreciate you, going through this hearing today, typically we would have always have this taking place in june with the public comment, but given the fact that the mayor has, made a mid-year budget cut since our last budget process, that it is only right that we actually continue this process, about both public comments, but about the services that are facing cuts and reduction. and so today, i think that with some of these public comments before us,

and i really appreciate the city departments that stay, to answer some of these questions. i just really want to make sure that we understand, these conversations and matching to the dollars, that currently exist, but also potentially facing cuts. i want to bring up, if the department of building inspection is here, i just wanted to understand that specific there's a mention about from our community coalition presentation mentioning the emergency rental assistance that was actually cut by 450. is that is that accurate? the emergency rental? no, that's actually the mayor's office. that's not so for sorry. so for the department of building inspection, the sro collaborative. so right now you have a fee studies that you indicated in your presentation that you're going to increase your fees by 40. of course, you're going to do it incrementally. and you're facing in that increase in the next three fiscal years. i think that's what you said. so with that increase of fee, are you

cutting anything within your, within dbi? and with that, sro collaborative will be on the chopping block, because it was last year, it was 5 million. and i think that based on the, community coalition now, it's saying that. so from 5 million last year, we cut it to 4.8. and it sounds like there's a further reduction proposed this year, thanks for the question, chair chan, so i think the first question was about the fee study and the fee increases. so i said it was an average of 40, but some fees are going up by more, some by less, it's, not just across the board going up by 40. it's that's just an average of the increases, that's the first question for the second question about the cap programs and the sro collaboratives, the cut is the 10% mandatory cut because it's general fund supported,

that's roughly $500,000, which, as i said in my presentation for the past two years, that those grants have been underspent by between 5 and $600,000. so you know, that amount of money has been left on the table, but for both of the past two years. yeah. and then so that's why i think you cut from 5 million to 4.8. so you're going to do a further reduction this year as well. i believe that was the budget instructions. it wasn't you know, dbi saying we're going to cut this budget. it was based on the budget instructions and understood. so it will be reduced in this upcoming proposed budget, correct? yeah thank you, and i think that, the next question is for mlcd. we appreciate it. thank you. and i think that the question is the emergency rental assistance, that was we were told that it's going to be reduced by 50% from $46.5 million. sure i'm brian chu, director of community development for mayor's office of housing and community development. so, we have three

sources for our current erap program, one source was a one time, $10.5 million from what we call prop i. another source was a $32 million, one time mayoral enhancement, and then the third source is an ongoing work order from, h'sh, which is about a little over $12 million, so we are coming to the final spend down of the 32 million and the 10.5 million, we probably won't be spending all of that out at the end of this year. so we plan to roll that over into next year, and we also will have some unspent money from this year's work order because we're spending out the general fund first, so last year we probably spent about, let's say like 22, 23 million. this year we're probably on that same track. so for 24, 25, really what we have

budgeted is really just, let's say a 12.5 million from oco, which is far below, let's say, the 20 million or so that we've been actually spending, and then we will have some leftover funds , but those leftover funds will most not will most likely not equal the actual amount that we've been able to give out each year. so it's not a budgeting cut, but it's really it's an expiration of those one year of those one time, enhancements. and that's what we're looking for. that's what we're looking at for next year. and that's roughly how much. well, we don't really know how much is going to be unspent at the end of this year. so i think the agencies are trying to spend out as much, but let's say we had let's say like 4 million rolled over. so with that 12 million, so that's 16 million for next year. but we've been spending far above 20

million, and the capacity is probably more like 25 or 26 million. so it just means that the actual amount of dollars that we'll have on hand will be less than what the providers are able to put out in any one given year. yeah. so it's like roughly , say $10 million short by the year of fiscal year. 2425. yeah, arguably, yes. i mean, we will have, you know, we'll probably be returning this year, probably about $8 million in terms of the oco funds, because we're spending out the other funds first, so that money may come back to us this, next year. but as you know, the budget is also hard pressed. right? and they're remaining on their own fund balance. so we're not sure whether we can count on those dollars because oco itself is having some funding challenges in the eviction prevention, pot. and why would you identify prop i as a one time fund, my understanding is that, when the proposition was passed, it

allocated the total amount allocated towards this kind of, eviction defense was a maximum of 10.5. and i think that's all that's been available. that's what i was informed by our fiscal team. 10.5 million. yes. that's correct. of the total of the entire pot. yes, yes. thank you, and i think that i my last question is probably and i, i see that supervisor walton has questions. thank you. chair chan, just a quick question. i believe it's slide nine where it says you provided the mayor's budget office with a variety of options and scenarios with the goal of eliminating or minimizing impacts on all cbo grants for 24, 25. can you get more specific what were those options and scenarios that were provided to the mayor's office, i don't know if i can get more specific rather than other than saying that we, attempted to sort of minimize the impact on

all of our existing service providers and some of them i think what i can say is that some of the options, involved, for example, proposing that if we had a one time unexpended general fund dollars that could be rolled over into subsequent years, that instead we propose returning that to the general fund, which would then eliminate the need to decrease existing grant awards, in effect, what that does is defer for the impact of these cuts into a subsequent year. right? so if we have funding available this year that could cover next year's. so let's say we have a delay in funding. i encumber funds at the end of this year. that would hold over into next year. and then, you know, the impact would most truly be felt in the next

request for proposals, because at that time, then we're going to be having to reallocate all of our dollars, and that's the time when we would probably be feeling more of those cuts. that's fy 26, not fy 25, so that's what we were proposing to do. but, you know, i, i don't think i can be more specific on that because i don't know what the mayor's office is looking at , but that was our well, it looks like you submitted the these these options. pardon me. it looks like your office submitted these options to the mayor's budget office. yes yes. so you know what those options were, but i don't know which what they're looking at. so i don't know. i was just trying to get an example of what you submitted to the mayor's budget office. yeah. so as i said, we proposed options that identified some one time savings to see if that would suffice, as opposed to, proposing cuts to specific

organizations such as the ones that we're talking about today, and, i checked with the budget office to see what they were looking at, or they're looking at those options, they're looking at different options. and they told me that they were still reviewing those and said that that's all they could tell me at this time. thank you. yeah. thank you. i mean, if i may, though, i want to add to it. so what it means, though, you were saying, is that the strategy is basically to defer the spending and then and so you can stretch it out to the next fiscal year because you know, that it will likely be a significant reduction. and then we can go out for rfp at a rate that, you know, is the money that actually is available. and that's the essentially instead of reducing right now and fund it fully, you're deferring to fund fully, but spread it out so

that when you go out back on rfp again, it will be at a reduction amount, a reduced amount. yes. altogether. that's true. and i can say, for example, for next year, we were able to access, like a one time grant from hud for some home dollars that can be allocated to things like eviction defense. that would be a one time, $700,000 patch for this, and i can also say that, as we did last year, we proposed, potentially eliminating, the, the capital program for rehab, which traditionally has been funded at $1 million. but because it's not direct services, that's just a trade off that we had to make. thank you, i think i'm going to bring up h'sh and just help us understand your overall strategies, to i think you have

advocates here that have your back, and they really want you to continue the programing that and services that you have, because this is the group of people really believe the work that you do as a both department, but also in partnership, i think the question is with, with, budget deficit, what has been submitted to the mayor and what has the conversation been like? what are your anticipated cuts or reductions that could look like for, for those who spoke today in public comments about how much they value the work that you do. thank you. gigi whitley h'sh, as i presented in our initial comments that, we attempted to preserve current services and there even in some targeted areas, expansion in our budget, we made, we fulfilled the mayor's budget instructions in two ways by capturing some

underspending that would not impact programs, as well as leveraging a large portion of state funds. so our two year proposed budget is, balanced. it does not include any of the cuts . i think that was perhaps preemptive, but it does not include programmatic cuts, i will say for this committee to chew on that, you know, our proposal does really maximize and try to leverage one time state money, but there is a fiscal cliff coming and there will be harder choices to come in the future. so, i want to make sure that's part of the budget conversation with this committee, as you're looking to do beyond what we've proposed. yeah. i mean, i'm trying to understand that here. you says about $13.5 million reduction to the grant grants programing, and i know that you're saying that

to be determined. can you give us some ideas that like what you're looking at when it comes to the grant programing that you're looking to reduce? so the way the mayor's budget instruction does work is that is considered a contingency proposal. so what that means is if the mayor's budget office needs to come back for additional cuts, we've identified where we would start and we would start with our largest budget item, which is our our grants budget. we're mostly a funder of grants, so we have not taken that additional step to identify individual programs or contracts. what we've articulated is that anything beyond what we've proposed and, unless we can find additional savings in our budget, would begin to impact programs. and we've done that in close collaboration with the mayor's budget office and conversation about retaining, new programs, continuing to expand towards our strategic goals as well as, continuing to

fund programs that would otherwise be cut. so at this stage for h'sh, it's a delicately balanced proposal. and we have not yet identified further programmatic cuts. if the mayor were to ask, we would have to go through that process. and then, so with that, i totally understand. you know, it's difficult to say, this is what this is what it is, but what would be your guiding principles, so to speak, when you start to identify like what would be sort of the criteria you say we're going to start looking at these types of program to, to for reduction. sure. so we talked about this a little when we were in front of our commission in february, talking about what our, our, our guidance and, you know, criteria is and our first criteria is to, to, look within our budget for any efficiencies. so can we do

the same thing that we're doing more efficiently by renegotiating, you know, contracts by capturing underspending. so that has really been our approach to date. and what we've said is to go beyond that, to make, you know, ongoing cuts on the magnitude of 27 million in general fund, plus, balancing this revenue would require some really, difficult decisions for, you know, the mayor and, and the board to make in terms of policy priorities. so right now we haven't gone beyond that. stated criteria is what we can what can we do? what can we better leverage with the funds we have, and how more aggressive can we be in seeking state funds in this department has been extremely aggressive in going after millions and millions of dollars in competitive grants at the state level for a variety of services, including, shelter, encampment response and affordable and permanent housing

. here you already propose a general fund budget, savings from 4 million to 6 million. can you tell me what they are specifically? sure. like. like i said, we've identified, efficiencies and contracts and elsewhere in our budget. so two quick examples, we have a security contract to provide security at h'sh facilities. and in, in addition to some other facilities, we fund. over the years, we've been working with the providers on different strategies and putting the money in their budget in case they want to fund private security, but perhaps they also want to find, de-escalation services. so that's elicited some contract savings in that shelter, excuse me, in that security contract. that's one of the items. another item is that we, we have stopped funding stabilization rooms, we sort of moved away from funding

stabilization rooms during covid as we've been opening up additional shelter beds for that response. these were beds where sf hot case management could place people in and do case management services. we've sort of transitioned that work over to some of our shelters, and so we're able to recapture that savings. those are two quick top of mind examples. but you know, many examples like that got us to the general fund reductions. thank you, i don't have any more questions for today. i think, colleagues, i hope that today this hearings, to also not just for us but really provide everybody in a context and sort of just the thinking that we oftentimes that we kind of wait till until june to discuss what is being reduced and what it's being cut, and i think we're, we're, we're trying to continue what it's been going on as a conversation since, i would say,

last summer and then continuing to december. we understand that we're facing a difficult budget, conversation. we're facing it. and it's a lot of deficits. i think it's rather to just have the upfront to understand the thinking from the city departments. but meanwhile, to really allow the opportunity for the community to express their needs and their concerns and also what they understand as to be what is on the chopping block so that we can be transparent about the budget choices that we must make. i would say in about a month or so, you know, and it's just oftentimes i find that by the time we come to june and start making those decisions, it seems like we could be emotional about it. and instead of being able to be data driven and, and now we have we're able to be transparent and start having a conversation that sort of allowing our community partners to come to you, city departments, to be able to say, here's our thinking. and hopefully in both the partner, being partners in cost savings,

if any, and also help you understand and help all of us understand the importance of investing in certain aspects of the programing and what is really essential and critical, i think this is a moment that i have to be honest, that for both city departments and our community partners and ourselves, that it's a moment to really say what is the most critical and what is the most essential and we need to start from there. and as a core, value that we're going to you know, as a, as a core value for the for the rest of the budget conversation, that i agree that it's going to be very difficult, in the coming months. so thank you. and i don't see any name on the roster here, and we already close the public comment, colleagues, thank you again for your patience on this. i would like to, make the motion to file this hearing, and with that, a roll call, please. second. oh, yes. second by supervisor walton. and, roll call, please.

and on that motion by chair chan, seconded by member walton, that this hearing be heard and filed, vice chair mandelman mandelman i member melgar. member. melgar. absent member. walton a walton i member. peskin, member. peskin. absent chair. chan i chan i we have three eyes with members melgar and peskin. absent the motion passes. and, mr. clerk, do we have any other items before us today, madam chair, that concludes our business. thank you. colleagues the meeting is adjourned

chinatown. >> (music). >> welcome to san francisco japantown. >> san francisco japantown is the oddity downtown in the united states. >> it was founded in the late 1800s by japanese immigrants for construction over the jars japantown has become a home to a japanese community with restaurants and shops and a popular tourism decision in the heart of san francisco. and san

francisco and japantown is quite unique it is one of the three remaining chung's by the states and how i explain japantown we're a city within a city to taste and experience the japanese culture but really be a community what is all about and one of the best things about japantown is the food. there are dozens of shops in the neighborhood serving from modern deserts and go with friends. >> (speaking foreign language.) >> my name is t a leader of the japantown to we try to provide something they creates like savory yummy favors we try to

provide like japanese flavor as well as for the japanese customers. >> if you're foodie or looking for a quick and delicious meal you're sure to find something. >> it is a authentic japanese deter and drink shop special lists in we also offer a roasted green tea and we have flares and other flavors we're known for ice cream and sun disingenuous. >> japantown is a variety of culture contributions with the community center the eight amendment association of north

california. >> (speaking foreign language.) >> this tearoom is designed by the tearoom art (unintelligible) and then they built everything in jpa that is a a he ship it to the united states. with the carpenter and this is one of the public only two in the united states and the japantown takes you on journey sdlts neighborhoods and the history was a self guided tour you start by japantown center west mall and work your way and learn about the history what made japantown had say is today. >> what as young people; right? what to make sure this stays here for the future. speaking of future you can enter the world of augmented reality created we

adobe in a phone stand under which of the store we call that the tree ar experience a great opportunity to do something completely different that will take you to the future with a immersion of an experience? incredible. in addition to the culture and ar contribution japantown hosted festivities and events throughout the year some are the cheri blossom festival. and after dark japantown comes life with night clubs and or joy serene moments through the illuminated part and san

francisco is japantown an engaging community that likewise people to experience japanese culture with food and exciting events and japantown is a must see for any visitor to san tele >> the filling that on encouragement center offers community resources is to the community efforts for the heritage. >> and filipinos features in the community a indigenous community in weaving those beautiful textiles for hundreds

of years we're proud to feature more than one antique ones and other fashioned from the community. and we're trying to have an >> once i got the hang of it a little bit, you know, like the first time, i never left the court. i just fell in love with it and any opportunity i had to get out there, you know, they didn't have to ask twice. you can always find me on the court. [♪♪♪] >> we have been able to participate in 12 athletics wheelchairs. they provide what is an

expensive tool to facilitate basketball specifically. behind me are the amazing golden state road warriors, which are one of the most competitive adaptive basketball teams in the state led by its captain, chuck hill, who was a national paralympic and, and is now an assistant coach on the national big team. >> it is great to have this opportunity here in san francisco. we are the main hub of the bay area, which, you know, we should definitely have resources here. now that that is happening, you know, i i'm looking forward to that growing and spreading and helping spread the word that needs -- that these people are here for everyone. i think it is important for people with disabilities, as well as able-bodied, to be able to see and to try different sports, and to appreciate trying different things.

>> people can come and check out this chairs and use them. but then also friday evening, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., it will be wheelchair basketball we will make sure it is available, and that way people can no that people will be coming to play at the same time. >> we offer a wide variety of adaptive and inclusion programming, but this is the first time we have had our own equipment. [♪♪♪]

>> shared spaces have transformed san francisco's adjacent sidewalks, local business communities are more resilient and their neighborhood centers are more vibrant and mildly. sidewalks and parking lanes can be used for outdoor seating, dining, merchandising, and other community activities. we're counting on operators of shared spaces to ensure their sites are safe and accessible for all. people with disabilities enjoy all types of spaces. please provide at least 8 feet of open uninterrupted sidewalk so everyone can get through. sidewalk diverter let those who have low vision navigate through dining and other activity areas on the sidewalk. these devices are rectangular planters or boxes that are placed on the sidewalk at the ends of each shared space and need to be at least 12 inches wide and 24 inches long and 30 inches tall. they can be

on wheels to make it easy to bring in and out at the start and the end of each day. but during business hours, they should be stationary and secure. please provide at least one wheelchair accessible dining table in your shared space so the disability people can patronize your business. to ensure that wheelchair users can get to the wheelchair accessible area in the park area, provide an adequate ramp or parklet ramps are even with the curb. nobody wants to trip or get stuck. cable covers or cable ramps can create tripping hazards and difficulties for wheelchair users so they are not permitted on sidewalks. instead, electrical cables should run overhead at least ten feet above

sidewalk. these updates to the shared spaces program will help to ensure safety and accessibility for everyone, so that we can all enjoy these public spaces. more information is available at sf.govt/shared spaces.