that? -- more fees to that? for the main profit margin we have is through alcohol. at $8.50 a bottle for our fought gun -- for our vodka, this is almost a dollar per bottle. this amounts to a 1.12% increase above what we are ready pain -- paying. we have to stay in business to pay the taxes. we feel that this might really reduce our contribution. >> next speaker, please.

>> i and stand to reason for the fast track but i was at the small business commission and the small business commissioners communicated numerous concerns with this and i know they wanted to have an opportunity to weigh in. i would like to know where the money for the rest of the services will come from. this is more than just alcoholism. i took a minute to look at how many family members were impacted. i don't think that this is where i am arguing from. i would like to know in the days when we had budget services, i

thin around for 25 years. i'm wondering where the levels of commitments, where the prevention programs, where did they take us? at different times, we had those surpluses. i'm concerned about the fact that this is a tax. this will further implement our budget to aid detriment because it might meet with legal challenges and that will cost the taxpayers and also have an impact on the budget. i encourage some real thought to the bigger picture of economic development and job creation. that will increase the taxes in the city.

>> i was on an outreach team and they cost the city over a million dollars each. not only would it cost the city but also the store owners. that also cost the tourist industry, or the mayor's office, the out research team to go kick people because they were causing problems because of the impact to the whole community. i had to go and remove people because the children did not feel safe. this impacts all of the community. there is a great story about this last year.

we don't have the funding for this. every year i have to come out and try to save this program. we are hearing from other folks would know. there is no reimbursement.

here is a great opportunity. chair avalos: thank you. next speaker, please. again, if we can refrain from clapping. >> we represent over 13,000 members in the bay area. we currently represent over 1000 members in the driving warehouse sales, that is the spirits and beer. this is with the union 401k, great wages, and worker protection. this looks like public

purchasing. there has been talk about public-sector employment. what would happen to our jobs? and to this date, we do not know how many jobs there are. they would lose their benefits that took years and years to fight for to achieve. if this happens, what will happen to their benefits when they get laid off? we do not support this fee for our members' benefits. thank you. chair avalos: thank you very much. [reading names] >> a supervisor in the coming

election. we are talking about the legal right to do it. my understanding is that they have a right to charge a regulatory fee, and it might save some legal hassles. second, i support what you are doing. this was addressed at the beginning of the session. you did a wonderful job, and thank you so much. one of the things, social problems that we have, that is alcohol abuse by minors. i think it might be a good idea to an least consider a citation when alcohol has been consumed by someone under 21, and in the

case of a minor, to the parents, and that the citation be in the amount of $300 and that the $300 citation be weighed in the event that they attend an alcohol education course, so we get education in their along with the regulation, in order to address the underlying social problem. this amount of $300 would be forgiven a upon completion of the alcohol course. the teacher would be certified by the department of health. they would also have to have teacher credentials. whatever right be necessary for

alcohol education. i hope you like my ideas. i have a couple of other ideas. it seems to me that it is a couple million dollars, which may not be that much. [bell] chair avalos: thank you very much. next speaker, please. >> supervisors, my name is charles, and i am representing the glass unions here in california. currently, there are 2700 union glass jobs, with generations of families working in this industry. there are the containers that we manufacture, the alcohol containers for the beer, wine, and spirits, and we are having a hard time competing with mexico and china, and any fluctuation in business is going to dramatically reduce our jobs,

and it could be a number as high as 300. with these contracts for these worries -- breweries and wineries, we will probably be closing things down. these are good union jobs, and they have medical. we do not want to wind up without a job and then wind up in the system, because that is a cause. what is going to drive the economy is jobs -- that is a cost. one of the things that i have a hard time understanding is you guys talk about how great san francisco is. they would impose a fee where not only 5% of the people will have to pay for people who have a problem. that number really did not matter.

i kind of think that was wrong. we strongly oppose it, and we would like to know. thank you very much. chair avalos: thank you. next speaker. >> my name is -- i own a restaurant, a nightclub, and a small hotel here in san francisco. unjustly tax in a beverage of choice has led to violent revolt a couple of times, so i was surprised this was being considered -- unjustly taxing a beverage. what is left out of the conversation seems to be the millions of dollars in tax revenue that is collected by the alcohol industry. i think we would all agree that alcohol is a problem in our society, and this is to find money for these programs, to get some of the federal excise

money, the federal excise money that is paid by the alcohol industry, and put it towards these programs. i do not think there is a bar owner in san francisco that does not support helping people with a problem, but for every store you have about a drunken needs help, there are thousands of people who celebrate every celebration in their lives successfully with alcohol, and that is a fabric of our society. my own supervisor pontificated about wanting to hear from businesses, and this hearing was important enough for him to stick around for, and i urge you for a no vote, because this is a tax on small business, and that is what this is. the fact of the matter is is the small business that carries the brunt of all of these decisions that you make, and, yes, this guy did fall for several of my employees, because we cannot afford to keep them around anymore, so think about the fact

that we employ more people than you do, that when you lose the private-sector jobs, you lose economic power, and public- sector jobs do not add economic power to our economy, so please do not put this burden on us. chair avalos: thank you. next speaker, please. >> my name is -- then he. " i work for -- i just wanted to touch on some things about drinking -- thank you. if you go to a restaurant, the average patron will have two drinks or so with their meal. i do not think they are not born to pay the extra nickel or dime for a drink at a restaurant. -- not going to pay the extra nickel or dime for a drink and restaurant. i do not think they are going to miss the sixth the one at a bar if they have won, but if they have one, that is when the problem arises -- if they have

one. i don't think extra 10 cents is going to keep them from drinking. it really does have an impact that brings positivity to the community. not to have that extra drink. thanks. chair avalos: thank you. next speaker, please. >> hi, my name is craig, and i have a business with my wife, and a way to keep my comments directed towards the budget and finance committee and not about prohibition. one, i work between 60 and 70

hours per week. this summer, it got to the point where we could hire someone. directly related to the tax. i do not think we can yet, so i do not know how this factors in. i'd like to hire someone, it takes someone off of unemployment, but i thought i would just like to mention that. additionally, i do work with small brewers from all around the country, and i have been able to convince some to come to san francisco because of what we offer in terms of our food, our culture, our diversity. whether they will continue to distribute in san francisco, this is revenue that already exists. it is likely to disappear january 1. additionally, i was having conversations with two

breweries, and we put our talks on suspension, as well, until this has been solved. there were a variety of reasons, but it is more about -- i think this would be about small wineries, as well. thank you. chair avalos: thank you. next speaker. >> good afternoon, supervisors. i am brian. you guys have a tough time balancing this budget. my small-business colleagues and i know how difficult it is to balance a budget. we know all about that with fees and taxes, but what it comes down to is the bill before us as small businesses to have our margins and be able to make payroll, and that affects are staffed. yesterday, we distributed a copy of the legislation to the employees at our bars, and we asked them for their comments

come in 1 st bartender said, "it looks like the city is trying to rob peter to pay for paul pierce " and that is their take on it. -- to pay for paul." and that is their take on it. hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax. this has not been touched upon, the affect the public taxation will have on us. your fee is going to pushing up an extra dollar. this will be passed directly on to us. we will be paying tax on top of that extra dollar. it is not fair, and we want you guys to balance your budgets and us to balance our budgets. and with the taxes, we need to

distribute them appropriately. thank you. chair avalos: next speaker, please. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is -- and i am the father of three children residing in san francisco. i come from a family that has four generations of out of business. i watched my father drink for years. but little or no attention to the needs of a child. providing for me and my family and myself. institutions and funerals. today, i in recovery. -- i am in recovery. but there is funding for treatment facilities and medical services so that the ones that come after me will be out of this madness. today, and determined to make a

difference with my kids and all of those others who have thought about following that path. thank you. chair avalos: thank you. next speaker, please. >> good afternoon, supervisors elsbernd, avalos. i am a member of sf cal. i also am here to talk to you about why this fee would be beneficial for you. we already know that youths are targeted in the community, and there are most influenced by messages around them. this fee will go to help fund some prevention services, and that is something we will really need. also, also, also, i believe this

will help to reduce the harm of underage drinking, and, finally, i would like to add on as someone who has grown up in the city that, first of all, i love my city, and there are millions of people around who love this city, too, and i do not think that this be in any way will harm tourism or businesses here. i strongly encourage you to pass this. thank you. chair avalos: thank you. net speaker, please, and i will call a few more cards. can -- next speaker. [reading names] >> good afternoon, my name is mike pedro, and i am speaking in favor of the mitigation fee korea particularly, i want to talk about how the many kit --

mitigation fee -- and i am speaking in favor of the mitigation fee. particularly, i want to talk about how the mitigation fee affects me. coordinators have been cut because of the budget. and i think that money will go back into the community, for those service providers, and they get hired to work with those used.

i urge you to support this. chair avalos: thank you. next speaker, please. >> oh. i mix -- work with different types of youth. i will put it out there.

this is a great moment. this is a great opportunity. i do not know what we are thinking of. if we have that chance, we have this opportunity to show the we are continuing to support those. by passing this fee, then this is going to sit a great -- set a great example. thank you. chair avalos: thank you. next speaker. >> really well voiced from the previous speaker. thank you. my name is -- and i am talking also about my partner. there were problems to do up of use in the family. that is one use that i am

speaking about strong support for the mitigation fee. listening to the chief today, i was very impressed. they are both innovative and creative, and they maintain as many as 25 full-time equivalent in their department. i want to thank you for the good work that you do and that you can do with this innovative, creative, a positive proposal. thank you. chair avalos: thank you. next speaker, please. >> good afternoon. to some, the mitigation fee means nothing, but for us in these programs, it means a lot. this will lead to educate our youth community. thank you.

[applause] chair avalos: thank you. next speaker, please, and i will read some more cards. [reading names] >> good afternoon, supervisors. i come from france, where we help everybody. i have a business here in san francisco. this is another way to tax business owners. instead of taxing people, you should clean up the streets, and you would have more business. koran slowes all of its --

france loves all of its chefs. i am a chef. san francisco, new york, houston, los angeles. that is where a lot of french ships moving. you are putting business out of the city -- a lot of french chefs moved. chair avalos: thank you. >> good evening, supervisors. my name is -- and i am currently in residential treatment reappear i am very aware of the effect of tolleson has on the individual. i was raised by two alcoholic parents. i've experienced many different tragedies and have suffered greatly at the hands of alcohol abuse. ignored, these tragedies will continue to grow.

these up on mitigation fees that are being proposed can create a much healthier future for liza are affected by alcohol. this allows the alcohol distributor and the many users of alcohol to help clear up the many destructive tragedy's that alcohol creates. which is only fair. the fear -- fee will also recover costs paid by the city for the-costs of alcohol abuse. money will go back into alcohol prevention and treatment services. this fee will also help preserve existing funds for substance- abuse prevention services. these funds could bring back jobs, such as case managers, treatment counselors. this money will support vital and necessary programs and services that help our san francisco community and residence be safer and healthier.

this sends a clear message to put health and that healthy lifestyles really matter to our city. our youth are harmed by alcohol, too. there have never been enough services in this city. as you know, our youth today are our future, so let's not pass up this opportunity for a better, safer future. i want to thank all supervisors for hearing us on this matter. thank you. chair avalos: thank you. [applause] next speaker, police korea again, if we can refrain from clapping. -- next speaker, please. again, if we can refrain from clapping. [reading names] >> hello. my name is -- i am a bottle

maker. i am here to oppose this tax because we're going to be hitting -- taking a hit in the bottle industry. everybody wants a piece of it. i have nothing against these programs. they are good programs. they need to be funded through the medical department and not taken off the backs of people trying to make a living in the city. it is absolutely ridiculous. the other thing, i keep hearing substance abuse. you have to separate that. let's just call it like it is. you need to separate these numbers and say that their alcohol numbered -- related and these are drug-related. this is like putting lipstick on a pig. it looks cute, but it is still a pig. you need to give people a fair evaluation of what you're paying for. this is the same thing,