think, because no lives were injured. no animals ha were injured or lost. what we saw, pretty amazing the way the damage was contained. it couldn't have been a more proud moment in the way the community pull together. i like to bring up gustavo. [applause] just so you know, this is not a unique situation, although it is in our commemoration of what had happened -- of what has happened earlier today. when i took office earlier today -- and i took office early on, we had a significant problem in the lower haight.

a one of the ways we addressed it was we ask the people in the lower haight to form a kind of a block captain because we also believe in the community policing led by the community. here happens to be one of those people earlier on that we in listed that would help us. and there was one time where we had two homicides in the breeze and part of day -- in the brazen part of day. we really needed to pull together. once again, it heighten my complete respect and appreciation, both in city services and, of course, community leaders and citizens that came together. and then a response to their incredible work that the merger never association put a fund- raiser together. that fund raiser, it is not easy to help 21 people who have been

displaced. we are trying to do everything we can to get people back to the building or at least relocated until the building is rebuilt, which they say could be two years. it concerns us about how we will be able to take care of our people, but they raised $12,000. we appreciate the money they had raised. obviously a lot more needs to happen. but it was a good day, considering the tragedy that engulfed lower haight. we're celebrating life and community, and i want to thank everyone for being part of why we argue the day, and i would like to get an opportunity to representatives of the lower haight merchants association. you have our complete appreciation. thank you. [applause]

>> thank you for that introduction. purslane, i would like to thank -- personally, i would like to thank ross, the city of sand and cisco, the fire department, and the lower haight street merchants association. i believe we all have capacity to achieve goodness. on september 27, that is exactly what i did. my neighbors, friends, associates were in danger, and i simply reacted to a bad situation. i am very thankful that everyone all got off. i was asked if i would do it again, and my answer could only be yes. when ever i can assist someone who is in danger and someone who needs a helping hand, i am their help. in closing, i would like to say that you are all heroes and heroines in our unique way.

so to you all, had a lovely day, and thank you again. >> i really was not prepared to give any speeches or anything like this. i did not know what was going to go on here, but i just want to say to everyone that if i had to do it all over again, i would in a second do it all over again. without pierre -- we had each other's back on the way in and on the way out, so i want to thank you for recognizing the spirit it that -- i had my mother with me,, so that makes me happy. it has been a good day. >> hello, everybody. i want to thank ross mirkarimi for letting us tell a little bit of our story. it was quite incredible.

i spoke with the vice president of the lower haight merchant association who watch them run into the building and turned to enter, who is also on our board, and he is a blogger. he said we had to do something. seconds later, it went up. seconds later, the nation's started coming in. -- donations started coming in. we are accepting this on behalf -- this is part of the lower haight board. there are many more who were not able to make it today, but i want to say we are accepting this on behalf of our neighborhood because we have a very special neighborhood, for anyone who has lived in the lower haight. we had 310 people packed -- we were a little worried the fire department was going to come because we had 310 people packed

into this room for the fund raiser that we did. if not for the generosity of the merchants and the neighbors and the friends, the folks who love the lower haight, we could not have raised -- we have raised close to $20,000 now. i would love for liza to say a few words. lisa and andrew were absolutely instrumental in making the fund- raising portion of this happened. >> a few quick words. i am pleased but not surprised that we are here commending these guys. i am opened a small -- i opened a small business in the lower haight earlier this year, and they were some of the first to introduce themselves. pierre was quick to volunteer tools and supplies and bring over shovels and supplies, but again, i am not surprised that he jumped to action when the fire occurred. the response that we have seen has been incredible.

coming together, i think everyone has the sense of when you see a devastating fire like that, we all know that it can happen to any of us. the community really came together. i am very proud to be part of that community. supervisor mirkarimi: i believe the chief would like to also add to the discussion. >> good afternoon to all the members of the board will have gathered. thank you for allowing me the opportunity to join you in acknowledging the great work of two heroes right behind us. i would love to have you as a member of the fire department. not without the benefit of training or equipment, you put your lives at great personal risk to save others and to notify others of a huge fire. it is very rare that we have a four-alarm fire in the city.

we were challenged last month. at great personal risk, you entered the building to notify other people to evacuate. we pride ourselves in the fire department to getting on seen as quickly as possible. we had a great response time, but without them bringing into active -- springing into action, there may have been injuries and there may have been dead. we appreciate all they do. i was very appreciative of how everyone gathered together. it is our job to put the fire out, but it looks like you are helping pick up the pieces to the residence that had suffered some property loss and damage. so we are very appreciative. thank you again to supervisor mirkarimi. i know you were at a meeting that day and you came to the fire. so thank you. for the neighborhood to succeed, but the legislative branch of government and the executive branch of government joining us

at the scene was very helpful and supportive and comforting. thank you. [applause] [applause]

supervisor chiu: congratulations. our next special accommodation of the day will be provided by our colleague from district 10, supervisor cohen. thank you very much. supervisor cohen: thank you very much, mr. president. ladies and gentlemen and friends today, i want you to take a moment to acknowledge a man that has worked for the city and county of san francisco. this man is spread blackwell. -- fred blackwell. he served as the executive director of the redevelopment agency. for a moment, i would like to divorce yourself of whatever feelings you have for the agency and the history the agency has had for san francisco, but

understand that it was had by a great man and a man we have come to honor today. this is mr. fred blackwell, ladies and gentlemen. i think relentless capacity to achieve greatness is a very profound and fitting phrase to describe my friend. those of you that know the history of san francisco know that the redevelopment agency has an interesting and sordid past, one of which that has disrupted many communities, particularly the african- american community. and just for a moment, i want to acknowledge the man, not the agency, but a man that has tried to reinvent and recommit and bring to life the true spirit, that of which the redevelopment agency was created for. fred blackwell has played an

integral role in the into -- implementation of a number of development projects, many of which have touched all of our district. in particular, the southeast part of sand francisco. it is under mr. blackwell's leadership that the redevelopment agency undertook a number of affordable housing projects, and i think that we would all agree that affordable housing is a paramount issue here in the city and county of san francisco. he has been critical in the city's efforts to revitalize public housing sites. it is under his tutelage that the public housing unit received a $30.5 million grant from hud. in the wake of governor brown's signing of legislation to dissolve the redevelopment agency, mr. blackwell has been a vocal supporter.

a commitment to ensuring that products that revitalize some of our most challenged communities can continue. you're so eager to publicly acknowledge you and thank you for your steadfast commitment to improving the living conditions for thousands of san franciscans. congratulations to you and thank you for all the you have done for us. ladies and dillon, he is going to be transitioning on to a new position to serve oakland. i have here just a simple token of my appreciation that i am presenting to you on behalf of my colleagues. it is a proclamation with about five or six snazzy whereas clauses. i will not bore the public with what they say, but i would like to bring you to the podium. you might like to share a couple of words and reflections. >> thank you very much for those kind words. i do not want to take up too much time. i see the gallery is full, which

means there is a long afternoon and night ahead, but i did want to say a few things. i wanted to first say thank you to prior mayor newsom and current mayor lee for giving me this opportunity to give it a tough assignment but most importantly to -- the support to implement them and employment them in a way that, as you said, not only brought in new investments and new opportunity in san francisco but to do in a way where people live through the years of disinvestment and neglect also had a chance to reap the benefits associated with the new development and reinvestment. i want to thank all of you all on the board of supervisors. i did not have to work with everybody year because redevelopment is not in everybody's district, but i wanted to publicly say thank you to supervisor mirkarimi, who

are work very closely with hear the project area expired, and i thought it was important to end at work in a way that was responsible and respectful of the community there. supervisor kim and before that, supervisor daly, in south of market to help the people achieve the things they wanted to achieve for their kids and families in the neighborhood. the development commission has always been supportive. the staff of the redevelopment agency are amazing, committed, technically proficient people who get up every day thinking

about this stuff. i was not the only one at that agency the thought that it could do better by the residents of san francisco. there was a big group of folks who also felt that way, but wanted to close by saying a big, hearty thanks as well to all of the citizens who are members of project areas, the project area committees, and citizen by azeri committees. these are people will volunteer their time to provide advice to the staff and the commission of the redevelopment agency. they missed dinners, and they miss doing homework with kids, and they do a great job as well, so i wanted to say thank you to all those folks and thank you for the opportunity. [applause]

supervisor chiu: we have one final commendation that will be offered by supervisor supervisor kim: -- oh, supervisor avalos. supervisor avalos: i did not want fred blackwell to go away without my saying something nice about him. he is right here. i want to thank you for your service to the city and county of san francisco. you have worked in -- i would say a lot of difficult environments trying to create change, and your vision for community development has been strong wherever you have been. i know what is a great loss to san francisco is a great game to oakland. i believe he lived in east bay, it is probably a greater gain for you as well, but i want to thank you for a job well done.

we did some work in my district, looking at how we could use resources of the redevelopment agency to support prevent a lot of the plight or discourage a lot of the plight in my district. we also worked together on trying to restore the notion of community development work in san francisco when there is a threat to that a couple of years back. we met at 8:30 in the morning or even 7:30 in the morning several friday's in a row to help come up with a plan. i want to thank you for that effort, and i think the city is better for it and my district is better for it. regardless of your not representing any redevelopment area in my district, you have helped tremendously, so thank you very much. [applause] supervisor campos: thank you. my apologies, i had to step out to appear before the mta board of directors, but i wanted to take this opportunity to thank

mr. blackwell for his service to the city and county of san francisco. i have had the privilege of working with him and have found him to be, besides being extremely intelligent and capable, hard-working and fully responsive to not only what happens here in city hall but to the needs of the community, to the very diverse communities we have in the city and county of san francisco, so thank you very much. we wish you well, and your contributions are greatly appreciated. supervisor mirkarimi: director blackwell had referenced our relationship, and it should not go unnoticed because the fillmore in japan town was the original development project area. it had a very up and down past, to say the least, and mr. blackwell came in towards the latter part of the 45-year reign

of redevelopment's governance over land use in the film more western addition in japan town, and i have to say i know there has been a number of directors over the four and a half decades, but i appreciate the level of sensitivity, the level of humanity, and the level of innovation that i know fred blackwell tried to apply despite the bureaucracy, and then take. we did not always agree on everything, but i absolutely appreciated our conversations. sometimes spirited, but always knew that his heart was in the right place. i very much appreciate everything that you have tried to do, and i wish you great success. supervisor chiu: our final commendation of the day will be offered by supervisor kim. supervisor kim: thank you, and i also want to acknowledge fred

blackwell. i have long respected your work and your families work, and i am is sad to see you go. the area most well known by justin herman, who once said that the land is too expensive for for people to park on. you are certainly -- you certainly have not led that type of vision, and i thank you for all of your work. it is incredible. it shows they continue to be relevant and have a voice in that process. i also had a certificate of commendation and an in memoriam for a community leader in our district. her father. on october 9, a few weeks ago, as some of you have heard, we

experienced the untimely passing of paul gilman, the father of gail gilman. we have seen her a lot in the past couple of weeks, while we were setting up a special u.s. district for traditional ag use housing, which i am really excited about. unfortunately, with that victory, we had a loss in our community as well, which is her father. he was a lifelong advocate for social justice, progressive causes, and was very active in community housing partnerships, even while living across the country. i know he was a huge supporter of edward ii, making sure we had affordable housing for our traditional agents in the city. we are all deeply saddened by his passing but are inspired by his energy and his continued dedication to our community. just a little information about colorado. paul was someone who was

actively engaged. he was a labor negotiator. he was a cab driver, a schoolteacher, and a financial planner. he has really had a varied career, but during that whole time, was very active in his community. he ran a women's homeless shelter at the temple in new york city. he was active in lgbt issues and worked as a volunteer with individuals who had aids, to help manage their finances. he also several times volunteered after hurricane katrina to support the residence there and was also a huge supporter of free clinic usa as well as community housing partnerships. family is asking for their nation to community housing partnership, an organization that provides support of housing for the formerly homeless and traditional age youth. we're so lucky to have senior housing partners here. you are our solution to

homelessness, and we want to honor you and your family here today. i want to invite gail to it that the commendation, and i know that president david dot chiu -- president david chiu, because you are a resident in his district, wanted to present this with me. >> i also wanted to say a few words. why don't you come up to the podium? also -- obviously, we want to thank you and team memory of your father. you are a tremendous hero we have worked with closely, and we know the values you have to take care of our pork, our homeless, our youth who are in transition truly embodies values of st. francis. your father will be greatly, greatly missed. i was honored to work with you in carrying the legislation around the edward ii project we passed last week, which was a tremendous victory for what we are all trying to do the data, and we know we do this for our transitional-age youth --

tremendous victory for what we are all trying to do together. congratulations. >> i just want to thank the san francisco board of supervisors for this incredible honor. my father would be so proud, and he did in new york and he fully does support occupied -- occupy sf and wall street. [applause] all i can hope is that moving forward all of us remember we have an obligation to all of our members of society, especially our poor and disadvantaged, to bring them up. thank you. [applause] supervisor chiu: ok. that ends the special accommodations for this afternoon. why don't we move to public

comment? >> the next item on the agenda is the opportunity for the public to address the board for a ticket with zero minutes of items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the board, including the mayor's policy discussion with the board. items on the adoption without committee reference portion of the agenda and excluding items which have been considered by a board committee. speakers using translation assistance will be about twice the amount of time to testify, and a member of the public would like a document to be displayed on the overhead projector, please clearly states that and then remove the document when the screen should return to live coverage of the meeting. supervisor chiu: i want to thank everyone for your patience in waiting for general public comment. as i said before, we will be here and hear from anyone who wishes to speak. we do not allow individuals to vocal support or are express opposition for individuals

testifying during we also do not allow for the bringing in or display of signs in the meeting. if we could ask folks to line up and, again, on the far right wall, we will be here as long as it takes. each member of the public shall have up to two minutes. why don't we hear from our first speaker? thank you. >> [speaking foreign language] fire chief white.

i would like to give her and every one of you a salute. not for her good looking, but for her great job she did to the city. every time when i have heart problems and i fall down, i call the fire department, and the ambulance takes me. when i open my eyes, i tell them thank you. i tell her i will not defeat the homeless. she is coming by herself. not only that, but i asked her to take it to homeless to the movies. she donated it for her own

pocket. she told me if i wanted anything coming back, please, if any one of you have the courage, and you can cut any money from the fire department, the careful because she will give a hard time more than you think. [laughter] i believe her. she is woman, and she is a great woman to work day and night to save our lives. ladies and gentlemen, i would like to ask her if she has time with our supervisor jane kim and my sister to feed the homeless this year. god bless you and god bless her. supervisor chiu: thank you. next speaker, and i really do appreciate the