a week that fresh and easy would do? that is $250,000 in weekly sales that -- the money they would be making, that is a few cents within a seven block radius within casa marias and casa lucas. those are generations of families that have created the mission what is and what it continues to be. it is that stability that sometimes gets lost in the talk of these different numbers. we really strongly feel that our job as community, is to go beyond a silver bullet. the america's cup, to go beyond the tax cuts and public subsidies. also competing stealing the [unintelligible]

we need to think about how do we prevent family flight? it is not just about the services that are being offered but it is also about a living wage, dignity. it is about conditional use process. those are things it wanted to share with you. supervisor mar: thank you. peter cohen is a housing development for some --coordinae city. >> i wanted to offer to you. i was involved in the crafting of the 2004 formula retail legislation. i have -- a little bit of history. if there is anything in particular. i heard earlier stephen cornell, we work with these folks

intensively to think this through. there has been some troubleshooting in the years since then but there were three big issues that framed the concerns. one was mentioned earlier. the first is a non competitive playing field between local independents and corporate chain stores. the inability to be a strong negotiator on lease terms and what ever it is, it needed to be counterbalanced through the process of entitlement. the second is where the money goes. this idea that small independents, up more money bounces through the local economy. it has been critical in a working-class and poor neighborhoods where you could get value through economic investment. the third is this idea of neighborhood character which is more abstract. we know when we see it. there was a lot of concern that

it be done+ we did not have is deeper analytical work. it was extremely politically difficult to get that ordinance passed and there was not much assistance from the city departments at the time. they're much more interested. we have the benefit of a lot of the economic analysies, the vacancy studies that have been out there. i would suggest this needs to be done now. looking at the next generation. how do we analyze this more deeply and inform ourselves about how the policy is working? >supervisor mar: you mentioned three areas where property was being developed. what areas would benefit us in understanding how formula retail impacts our city? >> the three typical things i hear when their arguments being given for a formula retailer is that it provides economic investment in the city as a

whole or the neighborhood. the scale of the store makes a huge difference. if it is a small coffee shop, it is different than a large box. i do not think we know. the counter argument is that takes away from economic activity. you heard that here today. i do not think we know. there are some metrics out there and studies that have been -- been done in austin and boulder which can tell us that. the second is work force is often a claim, there are new jobs with better wages than the local independence. sometimes that is true, sometimes it is not. we do not know if they are jobs that have shifted away from existing jobs because some businesses are at competed. we do not know what the net gain is either in numbers or types of jobs. that again is a kind of analytical question we typically answer more empirically or rhetorically. the third argument i often hear,

increasingly in the last couple years is we have a vacant space and we need to fill space. we need to build on that lot or we have a vacant storefront. it is true. it raises the question of why are the space is vacant? in san francisco, there is a tremendous amount of commercial real estate owned not by the merchants and not even by locals but by folks who do not live in san francisco. there is a disincentive to reduce prices to fill space, and you will find that prices are held high and the leasing market so they are inaccessible until formula retail comes along which has that creek -- credit-tenet value added. there is a lot of question about why space is vacant. is it being held of the market? is there a stagnant economy in which case the argument could be made for formula retail as a -- a way to jump-start it. i have seen this for years, both

ways and we often end up in a political process to answer them as opposed to having analysis to inform us. those are my ideas. supervisor mar: a number of different studies were sighted on the website as well. our next speaker, the vice- president of san francisco's labor council. thank you. >> think you for calling this very critical hearing -- thank you for calling this very critical hearing. this is a coalition of 15 community groups and 10 labor unions that have come together over the past couple of years to try to enhance, broughton, and create the city of san francisco that we care about. that is -- it is difficult now. there is all lot of competing issues. we have members out of work. we have a lot of our members who are looking for the cheapest way

to go, because they cannot make ends meet and cannot afford to buy things at certain stores. where are all about trying to balance the needs of every community and every community as you know is different and its needs are different. when we look about formula retail stores, we have studied this over the past several months and we agree with a lot of things people have said. it is important to know that formula retail stores need to be thought about in the greater context of living in san francisco. we agree for instance, with the planning commission's comments about strengthening the formula retail legislation. it needs to be tighter. it needs to be -- closed loopholes so when stores come in they are good neighbors to our friends and housing partners and ourselves. they have to be good partners and what does it mean to be a good partner?

they bring their services, yes, they bring their goods, but they create a workp of workers. they create a workplace that is -- has a living wage ordinance and has health care. as you have heard, it is not an extra burden on the city and the government in terms of supplying things like food stamps and other kinds of social services that many of these large retail formula businesses lack as they come in. one thing in terms of policy, of strengthening the formula retail legislation, another is as the planning commission and the small business people say, the economic impact study. that study them on a business by business to make sure that as they are coming in, what are the effects they are having? are they bringing the revenue promised historically? look at what is happening in the other cities? are they bringing the kinds of jobs, are their burden to our city, or the adding something

that can be done through the economic impact. the living wage ordinance is an important one. living wage ordinance, many of us were around for the beginning. it keeps growing, it keeps being amended, it keeps being better and why cannot be to the formula retail stores? why can it not be included so people will have a living wage? people will have health care, people will have designated vacation and sick time which is all included now in a living wage. that is a possibility. they pass an ordinance like this in chicago. the mayor happened to veto it. i am talking about real possible things. another one possibility, a policy might look at which is closer and dear to my heart is giving incentive for some of these stores to come in. where there is a lack of resources.

opportunities for people out there. we want to do both. we want to make sure that as businesses come in, they are respectful of the community and if they provide decent services and their good neighborhoods and other neighborhood to have an abundance of them like the mission, like others, we want to be careful that the integrity of the neighborhood there is in place. it is a balancing act. we could do it all. the last policy has to do with the community benefit agreement. ensuring what moves in there is the best possible opportunities [no audio]

to insure that with every single formula retail that comes into town and that is the community input that supervisor wiener was talking about and we would like to work more to ensure that community, what ever committee is, whenever the needs are, they come in to be good neighbors and respectful of their workers. >> i was going to thank you for the different legislative ideas. i shall look more closely at chicago. there is a term used, the high road economy. they're using terminology like a high road economy. a booklet out -- government does

not allow a formula retail and the store goes in and pretty much was different influence can override what the local city, we can do to protect its community. we will continue to talk with you about that. supervisor cohen: thanks for being a trellis and relentless advocate. >> that has happened in other places. we are not talking pie in the sky. it is an incentive and we're looking for that out there in the shipyard. along third street and other places we need to do it. supervisor cohen: have you started to put your thoughts down on paper? >> we would like to submit that

as soon as we get them. supervisor mar: we with love to -- would love to work with you on that. we have finished our cards. >> i am a native san franciscan. i traveled the world for many years and came back here about 10 years ago. whereupon i got involved in commercial real estate. i come from a small business family background. my dad was an account. many of his clients were small business. i worked the small business -- circuit. i am in favor of protecting our local business that gives us the flavor that makes us what we are. as a practitioner in commercial real estate and supervisor wiener addressed it earlier today, as we think about making

changes, strengthening, revising, what ever it is, please pay attention to the process because, for example, i know steve sarver who is a formula retail and does not want to do more stores in the city because it is too complex and maybe there is too many sf soup co. stores. i have small clients, 1500 sq. ft. operators who have 11 stores sorels who will not come here because of the uncertainty and the cost, expense, time consuming things. what is important the time of year they opened up. they plan to open up in plan -- time for the holidays. it could be four months or six months. it could be longer still. it is uncertain. instead they have chosen to

enter into san francisco. a lot of people think of san francisco being broader. i think the process needs to be looked at. you have addressed it that if you need input from somebody with a different perspective, i would be glad to offer it. supervisor mar: thank you. anyone else? last call. thank you. >> i am second vice-president of the coalition of san francisco neighborhoods. i am excited about the work they have done. we are the excelsior. i want to make sure there is a distinction. we are very distinct neighborhoods and we have our own personalities and while we appreciate the work they do is

in the mission. that being said, i am all about economic justice but we need to be careful when we start crafting legislation about big bucks realty. in district 11, we have to merchant corridors that are barren. there is no activity. we have the excelsior corridor. i think -- lots of old stores. the kids are selling their property. we have dollar stores and wonderful fruit stands but we have no anchor stores. the purpose for having big box coming in is they are critical. i am excited about the work that

jobs for justice coalition has put together. they have targeted the importance of being a caucus that look at things. not just there is too many so we cannot have any. i am hoping that in the process of doing this overhaul, and just to give you an example. there is a gazillion starbucks downtown but there is not a starbucks within a mile of the district 11 border. within the borders. we have tons of starbucks cops there so there is a need for starbucks. whether we think they are the but the manner not. there is the in and out burger. the only one i know of is that the wharf and the other one is in south city.

we're losing tax revenue. people from my neck of the woods and my neighborhood including visitation valley are taking their money and getting in their cars and going to south san francisco going to westlake and daly city. the park needs to be taken a hard look at before we craft our legislation. supervisor mar: is there anyone else who would like to speak p? public comment is closed. that hearing has been useful. thank you for the data and map.s -- maps. i see janet clyde is here as well. the workers who have spoken from wal-mart and the small business owners. thank you for telling about

your family's history. it has been very useful. thank you for the analysis as well. my hope is that we continue this discussion. a lot of issues have been brought up by supervisor wiener on the conditional use process and making sure it works right and supervisor cohen has raised issues of equity from different parts of the city as well and workforce development and the hiring of many of the stores. we have opened up a lot of different issues and my hope is we continue this until later when we have more of the data. thank you to the small-business owners to -- for being here and talk about how we are revitalizing our neighborhood and merchant corridors. can we continue this? thank you. could you please call the next item? >> there are no items. supervisor mar: there are no other items. meeting adjourned.

>> just a few steps away from union square is a quiet corner stone of san francisco's our community to the meridian gallery has a 20-year history of supporting visual arts. experimental music concert, and also readings. >> give us this day our daily bread at least three times a day. and lead us not into temptation to often on weekdays. [laughter] >> meridians' stands apart from the commercial galleries around

union square, and it is because of their core mission, to increase social, philosophical, and spiritual change my isolated individuals and communities. >> it gives a statement, the idea that a significant art of any kind, in any discipline, creates change. >> it is philosophy that attracted david linger to mount a show at meridian. >> you want to feel like your work this summer that it can do some good. i felt like at meridian, it could do some good. we did not even talk about price until the day before the show. of course, meridian needs to support itself and support the community. but that was not the first consideration, so that made me very happy. >> his work is printed porcelain. he transfers images onto and spoils the surface a fragile shes of clay. each one, only one-tenth of an inch thick. >> it took about two years to

get it down. i would say i lose 30% of the pieces that i made. something happens to them. they cracked, the break during the process. it is very complex. they fall apart. but it is worth it to me. there are photographs i took 1 hours 99 the former soviet union. these are blown up to a gigantic images. they lose resolution. i do not mind that, because my images are about the images, but they're also about the idea, which is why there is text all over the entire surface. >> marie in moved into the mansion on powell street just five years ago. its galleries are housed in one of the very rare single family residences around union square. for the 100th anniversary of the mansion, meridian hosted a series of special events, including a world premiere reading by lawrence ferlinghetti. >> the birth of an american

corporate fascism, the next to last free states radio, the next-to-last independent newspaper raising hell, the next-to-last independent bookstore with a mind of its own, the next to last leftie looking for obama nirvana. [laughter] the first day of the wall street occupation set forth upon this continent a new revolutionary nation. [applause] >> in addition to its own programming as -- of artist talks, meridian has been a downtown host for san francisco states well-known port trees center. recent luminaries have included david meltzer, steve dixon, and jack hirsch man. >> you can black as out of the

press, blog and arrest us, tear gas, mace, and shoot us, as we know very well, you will, but this time we're not turning back. we know you are finished. desperate, near the end. hysterical in your flabbergastlyness. amen. >> after the readings, the crowd headed to a reception upstairs by wandering through the other gallery rooms in the historic home. the third floor is not usually reserved for just parties, however. it is the stage for live performances. ♪ under the guidance of musical curators, these three, meridian

has maintained a strong commitment to new music, compositions that are innovative, experimental, and sometimes challenging. sound art is an artistic and event that usually receives short shrift from most galleries because san francisco is musicians have responded by showing strong support for the programming. ♪ looking into meridian's future, she says she wants to keep doing the same thing that she has been doing since 1989. to enlighten and disturbed. >> i really believe that all the arts have a serious function and that it helps us find out who we are in a much wider

sense than we were before we experienced that work of art. ♪