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tv   [untitled]    February 24, 2012 11:00am-11:30am PST

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istina. >> good afternoon, supervisors. my name is andrew would, with the san francisco international arts festival, and i would like to oppose that not be part of the amended resolution. i think this is our last opportunity to require the america's cup event authority to actually work with us. i don't think that we can have lots of different things happening. there has to be a guiding idea, there has to be something that is holistic and works with us. i think it will be in the interests of the city of the arts committee ran all of the entertainment and cultural activities that went on during the america's cup, and were part of a holistic, whole. it cannot be that the america's cup is doing one thing and the city and other. that will not work for a number
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of reasons. the terms of the economic benefits, crowd safety, and transportation. all of those things have to be done as one and looked over as something that is a cohesive and event. i think once we get past this, this is the last chance we have to have to contribute or work with it. what we get to march 12, it is too late. they are off the hook and i can do is exactly as they like. what makes it worse is getting a memorandum from the city which says what their ideas are. i would not expect to see such a deplorable document issued by a city department in terms of what it plans to do for the arts and culture in the coming 18 months for the america's cup. it completely disregards all the work we have done. there are over 100 different organizations that have been part of the programming, and what we set last week beats this to death. we gave a package, a program we
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have put together, and it is really way ahead of this. i would not allow the city or the america's cup to have this. i would advocate that is a whole and it all works together. thank you. >> good evening, supervisors. eric brooks, representing the san francisco great party and the local grassroots organization of our city. how many development deals have we seen where this happens? we get to the end process, we are at the 0 hour on a huge to the bad deal, and at the very last minute, repeatedly during the same day, we're seeing amendments to the agreement. i would just suck at what many of you have already said that as supervisor. i would just second what many of you have already said as supervisors, we need to see what is written on paper and make sure that the parties have signed on the dotted line. the environmental community has
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already been asked to accept a lot of impacts that it does not agree with. the people of the city of san francisco are being asked to accept billionaire developer is controlling large swaths of their waterfront for the rest of the century, essentially. the budget analyst is being asked not to have all of its amendments approved. you are being asked to go with a whole new deal that came up after the one that you voted on in 2010. and you can tell from the response is that you got from the authority that this is a game of hardball right now. by all means, keep up what you were sing and play hard ball. to me, the place where you really need to draw the line as to local hiring, we need to make sure that is sacrosanct and that happens. i did not get why we cannot just go by the city and local hiring
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hall. you heard the authorities say just a few minutes ago, we don't need to nail this down in the agreement because we are confident that we can do it. well, if they're confident they can do it, nail it down in the agreement. let's do it, make sure that happens. >> good afternoon. i am the president and commodore of the pacific yacht association. we were formed an 1896 to foster communication between not clubs. there are over 100 yacht clubs in northern california. one dozen of them are in san francisco, and we represent about 20,000 boaters. i am also on the board of the recreational board of boaters and part of the tour guide guild. i am in support of the america's cup coming to san francisco. on the tourism and all, i
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believe san francisco is one of the best cities in the world and i am excited to have us in the spotlight of sailing. i want to teach some of you and remind others that boating is a multigenerational activity. contrary to many beliefs, it is not only a rich man's sport. did you know that you could take a two-day maritime sport class at cal state? sailing and boating is an activity as a personal family can't afford, being together, enjoying nature, is in maps, science, of physical ability, and having fun together -- it is a sport that a family can afford. we where card to protect our playground and yours. thank you for your time. i look forward to this world class at the the city, and i think the america's cup event authority. i think have done a great job. supervisor kim: thank you.
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>> good afternoon. thank you for this opportunity. my name is julie smith, and i met advocate for the third for the america's cup. -- i am an advocate for the 34th america's cup. i believe in what the america's cup event authority and risk- management have created, and i believe that this will be a great benefit to san francisco and the global community. if any of you have seen an ac-45 up close and personal as the media did yesterday, it is thrilling. it is one thing to watch the boats practice, another to experience a recent firsthand. the america's cup showcases beauty, speed, and state of the art technology. when they compete on the bay, people will become fans. please pass this legislation
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today to allow the america's cup to happen here. it will bring local jobs and economic stimulus, create new public access that will be a legacy for all along the waterfront piers,19, 23, 27, and 29. the public will have free access to watch races from land. the america's cup will inject funds to renovate the dilapidated piers that without this will fall apart and is repair. lastly, the america's cup is a sustainable sporting event that honors the city of san francisco. i urge you to vote today and let the america's cup happened here in san francisco. thank you for your support. supervisor kim: thank you. >> good afternoon. my name is braden farmer. i worked as a pile driver for power engineering.
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as my colleagues will tell you, we get to see on a first hand basis the dilapidation of these piers we are speaking of. i think it is important as contractors in this opportunity that you guys maintain the local hiring practices. i was hired through that program. i lived in the city, and it is supposed to keep the work and the city workers there. secondly, these piers need rehabilitation immediately, and this is good, solid work. as a union workers, we appreciate getting to improve the city, especially along the waterfront. we take great pride in that. we need to maintain the local hiring practices and get this deal signed so concelebrate this magnificent -- so we can celebrate this magnificent
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opportunity. it will be a magnificent race. thank you. >> hi, my name is fred barnes. i am also a pile driver with local 34, 18-year member. local 34 has been building san francisco cents at 1877. i have personally been fitted with the local hiring initiative, at what to think personally mr. avalos and whoever supported that. thank you very much. i think it is really important, i really think we have a great opportunity with the america's cup here to benefit my family. i think it is a great opportunity for san francisco. i do appreciate your effort to try to protect the city and our budget, and also to make sure that we cut the bastille -- cut the best deal that we possibly can. the job that we do is very dangerous, but everybody who
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does it does it with pride and also with great safety. it is really nice we get to work in our city, that we did not have to travel so far. also, i think construction is a driving engine. i have heard it said before that construction drives the economy, and i believe that can really do so for san francisco. we're working on pier 15 and 17 for the exploratory on, which is a great opportunity, and i think it will be another federer and cap for san francisco that will bring more people here -- i think it will be another factor in the cap for san francisco that will bring people here. thank you. >> good evening, supervisors. my name is terry macneky. i'm a proud union member. i'm a longtime resident of san
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francisco. it is a great opportunity to have these beneficial jobs and i hope that local hiring will stay here and we all have common ground. so we can keep everything going good. we are seeing firsthand the deterioration in the way the piers need to be redeveloped. if we come to a common ground, with positive projects and san francisco, which were historical landmarks, it is a positive thing to be about to bring your children and kids from the community growing up in san francisco, to see the positive aspects and the things that people can achieve by coming to a common ground. the big issue at hand is, if we come together and keep a lot of hiring and everything in line, we will see the positive aspects. and we will have a nice time
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watching the america's cup. i am just giving positive feedback. i am very proud of my union, very proud of my work. if we get together and have a positive fun and positive race, everybody will be on common ground. thank you, guys. >> thank you. >> good afternoon, everyone. i am sean. we're not here to talk about red shopping house, where i work. the america's cup people have been with the generous. we're here to talk about the dilapidated piers 32, 30. this is a time when you have the opportunity to straighten things out, make things well in san francisco, to turn the waterfront into a beautiful thing. this is your chance. some people should forget the
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posturing and the political agenda as they have. this is a time to work together. i am not saying have cheeseburgers and sit at the same table, but this is the time to make a move. you have to take a chance. sometimes you hit, sometimes you miss. i don't think thwe port has the money right out to fix anything for possibly 20 years. pier 30 and 32 are in terrible shape. they cannot hold a truck or cars. in five years it will be skateboard's they cannot hold because it will fall into the ocean, and what would you do with that mess? i appreciate your time, and you guys have a great day. >> thank you. >> good afternoon. i am for pier 23 cafe.
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i have been there for over 25 years. i am a native san francisco. i have witnessed all of the changes on the waterfront in that time, which have been fascinating and exciting. the tearing down of the freeway, the rebuilding of the embarcadero. this is a great opportunity for us to make another move like that. the america's cup is very exciting. it will create chaos in my area, my business, but i am not afraid. change is great. i think we should look for to making a good deal for the city of san francisco, and welcome to cash flow to rebuild our piers. thank you very much. >> thank you. >> good evening. my name is kevin carroll, the executive director of the hotel council of san francisco. i thank you for bringing the america's cup to san francisco. i have had the pleasure of
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working in this industry, and we are ready, willing, and able to bring an end welcome the visitors who will come to san francisco and do it at our hotels. someone spends $300 in the hotel, they spend $700 in the neighboring businesses, both large and small, and the fluctuation of additional people helps all of us and grows the business for the city and the city of san francisco. also, the opportunity to market san francisco as a global destination, which it already is, but getting the word out and showing that we can bring an event like this to san francisco will help us for generations to come with more visitors helping with the work we're doing. the addition of a world-class cruise ship terminal on our waterfront that can be used both for cruise ships and other events will help grow and really expand what is happening with all of the excitement on the waterfront. we're very much in support of the america's cup and we urge that you move this agreement for
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it and bring it to the full board next week, and we thank you for all of your efforts to make happen. >> just a quick question. a supervisor avalos? supervisor avalos: thank you. are we seeing increased bookings for events coming up in late summer, early fall of this year as we are getting closer? >> some of our hotels have already seen bookings. supervisor avalos: that you know are linked to the actual race? >> they are getting requests for 2013 related to the events, and questions that are coming back is that it happening? they're getting requests and harassing the activity with people wanting to find out more about reservations, both for 2012 and 2013. the question on everybody's mind is how many people will come. we're starting to get those inquiries.
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supervisor avalos: thank you. >> thank you. >> good afternoon, madam chair, supervisors. my name is a battery. i will pick up wet my husband left off. -- my name is a battery. we are with the golden gate not club. we're 25 year property owners, boaters, several generations. i want to say from a resident property owner's point of view, i think you for all of the time and attention that you have put into this deal on our behalf, but i did not quite agreei do ne fears you may make a mistake you look back on three years later. i believe in the risk of losing to another city. i am 100% in favor of the america's cup. i am not a long-term sailor, although i work with kids now and give them all my free time. i have seen, living here, what
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development can do for a city. i have seen san diego, what having the america's cup bid for that city. i do not think you could compare their world series event to the numbers you might expect for america's cup. the people who have america's cup know what that is. we cannot miss the opportunity of bringing economic stimulus to the city. it would create new public access would make the pier and embarcadero mort 6 -- more excessive to the public -- accessible to the public. the america's cup goes back so far. it has never let any other city down. we should not question the details. i would just like to see it move
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forward. >> i am a lifelong resident of san francisco. i have been involved with saving -- with sailing a little over 50 years, since i was about 10. i am also an entrepreneur. there is a question of who is booking right now. one of the big problems we have had -- we do not have a signed deal. i cannot get my clients in front of america's cup event authority until the deal is signed. i have a pipeline of people just waiting to come and see america's cup. but they are not going to sign any deals with me until it is a signed deal with you. i have an overhead here of a few
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things that have happened, and the legacy aspect of san francisco's involvement 10 years ago. there is an endowment left by the founders of america true. they went through for the last 10 years, reaching out to the public and giving public support to events and public sailing events in san francisco. it is an endowment that reinvest itself and invests itself with the public. it reinvest itself in reaching out to the community. this is a small campaign. it was only about $11 million. yet 10 years later, they are generating this legacy. i think with mr. barkley at the helm, trying to make this work for oracle and america's cup, we are going to have a 30 year legacy and a much better
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financial throughput. educating these children and these communities across the city, i think the delay is going to be hurtful to these children and to business in the city. >> thank you. chairperson chu: i do not have other cards other than in manuel flores. if there are members of the public who have not spoken, please line up in the center aisle. paul alito. san francisco president, business owner, a journalist. thank you for the diligence you take in looking at all aspects of this agreement, making sure the agreement has the maximum benefits to the city. in my opinion, time has nearly run out to run the america's
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cup well in san francisco. in my opinion, if you delay, you will do several things. if you delay, you will diminish the value of this event for the city by diminishing the size of it. if you delay, you will dramatically in habit fund- raising, since fund-raising cannot take place unless it is clear the event is going to move forward in san francisco under a certain size and scope of activity. you will jeopardize the comfort level that any other event will have in coming to san francisco and bringing an event of any size to san francisco, because of the uncertainty of the process of coming to agreement with the city on terms. i strongly urge you to forward this to the full board with your
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strong recommendation, as well as to vote in favor of this project next tuesday. chairperson chu: thank you. >> good evening, board members. my name is james brian, director of the philip randolph institute. we have had a long road. this is another long road of history to san francisco. we need to do the right thing. we need to make sure local hiring is an important piece of this process. we need to make sure that all that hard work the board put together in crafting local hiring is put into action. we have heard the authorities.
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we understand the importance of the committee, this idea of having america's cup here. we understand that it is important to have some contentions. and we are willing. and we are supportive of some kind of cap. we do not want you or anyone else to come to the city and make a financial endeavor and get nothing for it. our family and friends that have grown up here in san francisco -- we need to have the next big event for san francisco, as they had in 1915, as they had in 1939. this is another pivotal moment in san francisco, but i need you all to understand that with every pivotal moment, there is also some flexibility to bring
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our community together. this local hiring, with some concessions, makes sure that business ventures that are reported should be put in play. today is the day. let us do it. but let not -- but as not do it by giving the community which this city serbs. -- service. -- serves. >> i am here to urge you to make sure that local hiring and prevailing wage is put into the dda for the america's cup. i think that after four hours there is no doubt that a lot of money is going to be coming to san francisco. i think it is your responsibility to make sure it is beneficial to san francisco. when mr. barkley was up here earlier, he repeated the commented on the fact that san francisco has won the right to host the america's cup. as a san francisco native, going
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and raised here, i thought the america's cup was a soccer game, but that is beside the point. i want to make sure that local hiring and prevailing wage go into the dda. i would like to submit that your friend for looking at this agreement not be that san francisco has won the right, but that the america's cup has won the right to host the event here, in this beautiful city. thank you. chairperson chu: thank you. if there are other members of the public who would like to speak, please come forward. otherwise, this will be the last speaker. >> are you saying you saved the best for last? manny flores, carpenters' local 22. we are in support of the workforce development plan. we have been working diligently with the event authority, especially with good progress.
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we have straightened up the language. we have an addendum to what is already in the workforce development plan -- the apprenticeships, prevailing wage, and covered work. we are in a positive direction there. recently, we just presented them with a basic craft agreement. that is an agreement with a few of the trades -- the laborers, the operating engineers, and carpenters. what it creates is labor harmony. we are very confident we are going to move forward with that. it is in the authority to have hands. we are working together with them. it helps to keep the project moving with no delays. disputes are solved prior to that. that keeps the project moving.
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that was a concern in our office. we just wanted to address that. other than that, we would like to move forward. chairperson chu: i would like to welcome a former supervisor to the chambers. >> thank you. aaron peskin, for the record, member of the committee. as president clinton said, i feel your pain. you guys are in a tough spot. i kind of know what it might feel like. i want you to stand up for the taxpayers of san francisco and the business enterprise that is the port of san francisco.
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you can, if you negotiate hard, prevent this from being a boondoggle. we have heard much discussion about december 14 and december 31. if you would turn on the overhead, i would like to show you a document that is available on the internet. that was dated december 14, 2010. it is pages 53 and 54 of the host of the new agreement. you will see on page one is signed by then-mayor gavin newsom. it is signed according to form. and it is signed on behalf of the america's cup organizing committee. you will see on page 54, also dated december 14, 2010, the signature of richard worth, on behalf of the america's cup en