By Tes Welborn, HANC Board
Calvin Welch introduced the meeting topic, What's Up with the Mayor? He asked, “Why is the Mayor seeking more control in a second Emergency Declaration, when she already has enormous Emergency powers?” There are 34,000 city employees, 75 departments, and some 40 boards and commissions, and most are under the Mayor, even in non-emergency times. The Mayor proposed two charter changes that were discussed.
Jennifer Friedenbach, Coalition on Homelessness, tackled the Tenderloin Emergency 90 day Declaration. The Mayor called a meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Christmas Eve that lasted to midnight! The Mayor did not appear, and her representatives didn't have many answers. The vote was 8 yes, 2 no, Aaron Peskin absent. Ms. Friedenbach said that the Mayor already had the power to take action.
Ms. Friedenbach pointed out that we lost due process during “sheltering in place.” Of some 8,000 unhoused San Franciscans, only 2,000 were given SIP hotels, which are still being closed, despite continuing federal funding. Ms. Friedenbach said the Mayor was weaponizing drug use, calling for arrests of drug dealers and users: more jail, not enough services. Ostensible reasons were near 1,000 overdose deaths and to stop “open air drug market.” This was a program created in the Mayor's office without consulting expert non-profits. There is a lengthy process for the city to hire, and the emergency may have helped hiring and increasing staffing. The 90 day period will expire soon. By coincidence, the Mayor announced her Re-election campaign Christmas Day.
Margaret Brodkin, who has a long history with Children's services, was one of many surprised by the Mayor's proposed Charter Amendment, Children First. The new commission would take power over all children's services, and also oversee the SFUSD School Board. Nine months in development, the proposed charter amendment was crafted in the Mayor's office, with wealthy men and friends – but no experts on children and children’s education, parents, or other stakeholder--and no public hearings were involved. So, surprise--the charter amendment included specifications for School Board candidates, their training, etc. - details that didn't seem to belong in the charter. The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee voted it down. Follow the money. Remember, several recent supervisors came from the School Board. If Supervisor Haney is elected to AD17, the Mayor's appointment will insure that the BOS cannot over-ride her veto. Stay tuned.
Our third speaker, Joseph Smooke, addressed the Mayor's housing charter amendment, sponsored also by one supervisor, Asha Safai. It would affect buildings of 25 units or more, no Design Reviews allowed, and affordable housing on site would be for household incomes at 140% AMI (Area Median Income). That's household income of $138,000/year for one person, and $180,000 for a family of four. But teachers and many other workers don't make that much. So the proposal was a give-away to developers, and no give-back to the city. Mr. Smooke said that we need to unmake Sacramento laws and MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Commission) housing allocations, watch Housing Element language, keep and strengthen Anti-Demolition rules, and set up long term goals and fight for them.
Supervisor Dean Preston announced an Initiative to tax vacant housing, now that a new report shows some 40,000 vacant housing units in San Francisco! The signature gathering will start soon. Mr. Welch said, Land Use is the Heart of the city. And if we the people can't control a Charter city for the benefit of people already here, there may be no defense anywhere.