Issues:
Eight years ago our City confronted a $250 million dollar deficit. This year's deficit is estimated at over $300 million dollars, yet our City budget has increased over a billion dollars -- a staggering $6,100,000,000.00. That's $6.1 BILLION, larger than many countries! Working families may want to go out to a dinner and movie, but think twice before they spend money on something they may not be able to afford. We need to make sure our elected officials exercise the same budgeting restraint. We can prioritize our existing budget and address the following important issues that impact San Francisco families.
Affordable Housing
Our elected representatives have demonstrated leadership in protecting our most vulnerable citizens through their support of rent control protections. We need to demonstrate the same leadership in promoting homeownership opportunities. We can do this with a two-pronged plan.
First: Build more neighborhoods for family housing. This was the original plan for Mission Bay and it makes sense. Neighborhoods with schools, shopping, and support services will help create new opportunities for San Francisco families.
Second: My parents bought their home with the help of the GI Bill. San Francisco can support a similar program that provides low-interest loans and grants for long-term San Franciscans, safety personnel, and educators.
Homelessness
Though I have attended most of Mayor Newsom's Homeless Connect events, outreach to those in need on our Westside has been sporadic at best. This must change. Tragically, many of the homeless are San Franciscans, public school graduates about my own age, which made a few bad decisions and lost 20 years of their life. We have a moral obligation to help those who are committed to rejoining society.
Possible Elimination of Police Stations
The District Station Boundaries Analysis recommends the elimination of five police stations, thereby increasing the number of officers on the street. Only ONE station, however, remains the same size. While four proposed stations INCREASE substantially in size, ONLY TARAVAL stays the same size in both percentage of the City and percentageof the population.
The Supervisor's concern about resources being "sucked" from throughout the City to higher crime areas is ALREADY happening. The three most understaffed stations currently are Richmond, Park, and Taraval, despite Taraval's already enormous size. It has been seriously understaffed for years. . Eliminating stations without significantly increasing staffing on our City's Westside MUST NOT HAPPEN.
The proposed Southwest station however, CUTS OFF the residents of District 4 north of Lawton. The logical northern boundary to any San Franciscan would be Lincoln Way at the Golden Gate Park. There is absolutely NO REASON to shift the reach of Taraval Station east and abandon all of the residents north of Lawton. The Golden Gate Park is a REAL BARRIER for the proposed Northwestern station to adequately service.
Furthermore, one of the stated goals (pg. 8) is to keep Supervisorial Districts intact. Shifting Taraval east unnecessarily defeats this stated goal.
Finally, if the proposed plan truly puts more officers on the street, then I expect the Taraval station to realize a significant increase in police staffing levels. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD TARAVAL BE CLOSED. Police concerns about parking their personal cars can be addressed without this drastic decision.
Quality of Life Decisions
Neighborhood Schools
Neighborhood schools build community. We must refocus the dialogue away from divisive language and towards solutions that strengthen our goal of quality education for our children.
Responsible Energy Decisions
Our Supervisors are about to authorize the construction of a fossil-fuel burning power plant on Potrero Hill without a thorough evaluation of the alternatives. Committing $270 million paid off in 30 years, on technology that could be obsolete in 10 seems irresponsible given our current budget crisis and the absence of a long-range energy strategy.