of the 20,000 people living with hiv/aids are unemployed. prc provides legal representation to help people wade through the difficulties of people obtaining state and federal benefits. and employment service program which provides vocational rehabilitation and job search services for people with hiv/aids or mental health disabilities. brett has a very long history of working for worthy causes even before prc. he was the executive director of the los angeles team mentoring, inc., which offered mentoring to middle school students in some of our most challenging under served communities. and before that he was an executive director of kids and you, a new york based youth oriented nonprofit which administered a program for high school students and self-esteem program for homeless children. and today brett does so much more than the great work at prc. he is one of our most tenacious

advocates in city hall. he is a vice president of the hiv/aids providers network, happen, with whom supervisor campos and i work regularly to ensure that we don't allow any cuts to hiv services, even backfilling federal hiv cuts. * he's a board member of the national working positive coalition. he's on the steering committee of the san francisco human services network and advocates for our nonprofit community in san francisco. he's on the community advisory board of san francisco pride. he he has an incredible track record working for our community. brett, i am now very proud to honor you as part of our celebration. so, thank you for all your work. * (applause) >> thank you, supervisor wiener. i was really glad that you just decided to stop and not go on,

that seemingly nonexhaustive list is exhausting. all is shows is that i'm old. supervisors, good afternoon. i just want to congratulate all of the recipients this year and in the past years. i want to pay particular acknowledgment to a former recipient, police commissioner julius turman who was a fierce attorney and an advocate for social justice and a long-standing leader in our community, a board member of positive resource center, and most importantly someone i am proud to call my friend. in my role as the executive director of positive resource center and on behalf of the hiv/aids provider network, i want to thank you, supervisor wiener and supervisor campos, and all of the board for your leadership that you've demonstrated on the issues related to hiv and aids. i certainly want to acknowledge you for your ongoing commitment and thank you in advance for your receptivity as we engage in advocacy efforts to maven thaictionv our quality level of

hiv care and prevention in our city. san francisco is leading the nation in reduced rates of hiv infection so to make sure we maintain that position. (applause) >> when i received the call from supervisor wiener, three things popped in my mind very quickly. one, i usually am making this call and giving the award so it felt a little uncomfortable. quickly, went into my mind my father adam smallman loving and cynical voice who would tell me, you're going to be 50 years old tomorrow or next year and just know that this is just a symbol that you're getting older. and then my loving mother who would give him a look and certainly find everyone who she could to say how proud she was of me. and it's a great honor and it's a great privilege to have this acknowledgment today. while preparing for today, i took some time over the weekend to reflect on the importance of black history month, the significance of the struggles and the extraordinary contributions made by african

americans over the years. i then focused on my life and i remembered the care and the support of my family, my friends, teachers, mentors, who always seemed to show up at just the right time. and when i thought about the full meaning of this wonderful recognition, i quickly found myself in a familiar place, my ever developing understanding of my wants and my needs. so, i asked myself the question, what do i want and need to convey to you all today? around this generous acknowledgment? * well, for my parents i want this award to represent a perfect union in 1950 between a jewish woman from the north and an african-american man from the south who loved, married against the odds, and filled a home with unconditional love. i want this award to be an emblem and answer a question from so many that i got growing up on whether i was black enough, or whether i was white enough, and i'd like to say

that i'm true barack obama would agree, some time the sum is greater than the parts. amidst the some time self-doubt that would overtake my mind, i want this award to december belie the inexplicable courage that somehow i summoned when i found myself to be the first or the only over the years of my education and career. i want this award to represent the pride that i have in being an openly gay african-american man. (applause) >> i also need this award to serve as a bridge unites the two when issues arise that want to pivot against each other. when i look at this award on my wall, i want it to remind me that i followed my heart and i made the right choices and that when someone tells me that i'm doing god's work, that i won't assume they must be doing the devil's work, but they are just innocently extending a high

compliment of great praise. i think we can all agree that wanting to be a powerful force for positive change is not relegated to a certain work force sector or job title or a set of responsibilities. it just takes someone with a little interest, courage, and concern for your fellow man. so, i accept this honor on behalf of the community of service providers, many represented here in this chamber, business professionals, public servants who commit themselves to making our community and this world a better place in which to live. not just for ourselves, but for those we'll never meet. it is with pleasure that i receive this award in the great spirit that it's given and please know that i will use it as a source of inspiration for years to come. thank you very much. (applause) [laughter]

(applause) >> okay, folks, hang in there, we're almost done. we've got supervisor david campos representing district 9. >> thank you very much, madam chair. it is my honor and privilege to ask marco sinquar to come forward to the podium. (applause) >> it's great. one thing that's amazing about this ceremony, every year we do it, it's just incredible to see the level of achievement by every individual who is recognized here by my colleagues. it's really an honor to be able to live in san francisco and

recognize such amazing excellence. it is my honor to now recognize marco sengor who is originally from senegal. he and i have a special connection, but i think it goes beyond the fact that we're immigrants, but just because of i know that marco really loves san francisco. and marco moved to san francisco like so many of us after falling in love with this city and i think that you fell in love with this city after a short vacation that was supposed to be just a short stay in san francisco back in 1989. and he fell in love with the city and decided to stay. and marco's legendary entrepreneurship kicked off in high gear when he began running the famous mr. good ginger beverage company from his apartment in the mission district, which i proudly represent.

you know, the interesting thing is that it was based on the ginger juice that he drank when he was growing up in senegal as a little boy. in 1996 marco opened up [speaker not understood] on 19th and mission which, of course, has become an institution in that neighborhoodv. it's really an important cultural and community resource. and if you go there just about every night, you'll see that it's full of people who are there to discover, to enjoy, to celebrate the food, dance, and culture of senegal. marco, by the way, has a long history in his family of tremendous achievement. he is the nephew of leopold sengor not only the former but the first president of senegal. and as i was reading more about your family, i learned that your uncle, the first president of senegal, is regarded by many as one of the most important

intellectuals of the entire african continent. and, in fact, was the first african elected to the french academy which is a pretty incredible achievement. marco is also the son of a famous ambassador lat hyacinth. he is a famous ambassador and poet in his own right. as many people know, he sat out as a deejay, music producer and is famous in the district for his unwaivering belief that the power of the mission comes from a melting pot of cultures, an ability to embrace the new while pro steting and respecting the traditions of that neighborhood. i think it's only appropriate is that we honor someone like marco who represents the very best of our district and, you know, being an african-american

who not only is looking out for the interest of the african-american community, but the interests of every single community. and marco, it is really an honor for me to say that i'm your district supervisor, and i appreciate not only what you have done, you know, for yourself and your family, but the fact that you continue to help others to make sure that your good fortune is passed on to other people. and what i would say on a very personal note from me is that african-american history for me is very important because for those of us, not just people of color, but those of us who grew up in this country, the african-american experience is our experience in the sense that it really contributed to the well-being of so many communities. and as a person of color, i know that i owe a lot to the giants and the african-american

community who not only fought for their own civil rights, but for the rights of all of us. and that's why this month is so important and it is my honor and privilege to honor marco sengor. [cheering and applauding] >> thank you so much, supervisor campos. you have been with me all these years when i've been here. i know it hasn't been easy. it's very important for me to have, of course, this achievement today, but when i close my eyes, i remember 15 years ago when i started in the mission, it was really, really hard. the mission was tough. and it was a place for me that i finally fell in love right away because you reminded me a little bit of senegal where i was originally born. and my dad was from a "smallville"age called joel where the community always gather around the tree called baobab and i remember when i used to see my grandma and my dad, every time, every two weeks in the village i was having dreams thinking one day

maybe i will go around the world and see myself over there behind the ocean. and, so, i'm very, very happy because, of course, when you're coming from a very important family and for me inside my hearty always wanted to know who am i really. this is one day when i turned 18, i said to my parents, i'm going to go far away because i need to know who is marco, not sengor, but marco. coming to murky found the mission district, my little hometown. i love it so much and it is so beautiful. and in the name of all my people in my community in senegal because because it's not easy for all of them. not too many of us made it here, i have to say that. so, thank you so much for all what you've done for us. and, again, i hope we're going to do more and more in the mission district [speaker not understood]. and again, thank you to all of you, to my friend and family who are next to me behind, and hopefully we're going to do more for the city all together. thank you. [cheering and applauding]

[applauding] [cheering and applauding] >> all right. all right, ladies and gentlemen. it's actually my turn. i have the great and distinct pleasure to present to you a woman that goes by the name of anne de jesus. anne is a new member of our

community. she moved into bayview about two years ago and she and her fearless partner clensey have rolled up their sleeves and have gotten together working left and right tirelessly on economic development issues, homeless issues, illegal dumping, organizing walks for pet parents. i'm telling you, friends, this woman has done it all. she's everywhere. every time i turn around, she's always over, not just the bayview community, but the entire san francisco. i think i even seen her in oakland in a couple of events. [laughter] >> her reach is far and wide it and is' a privilege to be able to stand here to represent but also to stand as her friend. * it's i'd like to give her a couple moments to share with us a few of her thoughts. (applause) >> thank you so much, supervisors. talk about standing on the shoulders of giants and those

who have gone before you. i feel so overwhelmed and so deeply moved by this great compliment being paid me. i feel so unworthy and undeserving of such a high honor and i really wanted to be able to accept this on behalf of my community, the bayview. so, that will make me feel okay if that's okay with everybody. i'm so proud to live in the bayview. this is a neighborhood of hidden gems. we invite you all to come along, come out and experience our great secret. along those lines i want to tell you guys about bayview urban [speaker not understood] which is getting a lot of traction. so, [speaker not understood], and again, thank you so much for this honor. (applause)

(applause) >> and last but not least, we have supervisor john avalos representing district 11. (applause) >> we always save the best district for last, right? >> that's right. >> just joking. i know we all have the best districts. i want to call up mary lavalos to the podium, please. [cheering and applauding] >> it is my honor to provide a

commendation for the work of mary lavalay. she is a student advisor at san francisco community school where she has spent many, many years bringing up young people, especially youth of color, black kids at the school. that's where my wife actually teaches. i have two kids who go to school there as well. so, mary has had to work with my kids which is above and beyond the call of duty. what's really special about mary is that all of the work that she's done over the years is really about how to make sure that you are providing the space for young people to really learn about their worth, their value, and what they can provide for themselves and for their community. and i've been very inspired by mary's work over the years. i've known her for i think about 12 years. [speaker not understood] advocates when i was there. also with the san francisco organizing project and you are

a part of the work that is done in the excelsior district about bringing forth the small school policy and the school for equity which is a great model school. your commitment to students is well beyond just where you worked. but you've got so much of yourself to teach young people incredible skills. some of the clubs you started, the choir at the school, and you performed here at city hall. and that's something that i had the pleasure of photographing a couple years back, all the santa klaus hats and all that. you've also been part of showing young people their talents in arts and crafts, the craft club. you've been working with young girls as well making sure that they can have the self-respect and dignity that we all deserve to have, something you help people to see in themselves. it's really great to see. one of the things we just had recently, we have a women's

group, african-american student honor roll a couple fridays ago, showing african-american families in san francisco, just how they are providing that space for young people to grow and contribute in education. so, it was a really wonderful event we were at, missouri women's group is the name of the group. missouri is swab swahili for beautiful women. just want to say thank you for your great work in san francisco. thank you for your work at the school, and thank you for -- you worked with my children as well. thank you for your service. >> thank you, john. [cheering and applauding] >> wow, i just feel so blessed and honored. first giving honor to god for me even being here. i just feel like i'm just representing one of many educators, parent educators, counselors, janitors, everyone

that works in the schools with our kids. i want to really thank my daughter erica and my granddaughter jerica and my niece laurie who are here today. but also the women missouri women's group. if you could please just stand up. dianne johnson started this group. (applause) >> my aller jais. -- allergies. she worked tirelessly to get women and grandmothers, mothers, nieces, aunts, and even men are coming a lot to our functions. you know, i just want to charge you all with one really important thing. there's no song that goes no man is an island, no man stands alone. each man's joy is joy to me. each man's grief is my own. we need one another. so, i must defend each man as my brother and each man as my

friend. we must take hold of each other's hand. we must take care of our children. this is black history month. but black history is everybody's history because civilization started in africa. (applause) >> so, we need to know from the beginning no matter what you believe in, there is only one beginning and there's only one race and that's the human race. everything else is culture. (applause) >> so, we've got to hold onto each other and bring up our children. we have got to provide the space for the kid who are disenfranchised, for the parents who are disenfranchised, for the people who are homeless. we cannot turn our back on the homeless here. so, i just charge you with caring about everyone. yes, this is black history month, but this is people's month. this is people's month.

and i just so thank you for this honor and i accept it on behalf of all the educators here in san francisco that work tirelessly with the children here. thank you so much, john. (applause) >> [speaker not understood], my granddaughter is going to ecuador. [speaker not understood]. that's your daughter? >> my granddaughter.

>> okay, congratulations to all of our award recipients and recognees. thank you for your tireless work. (applause) >> colleagues, we are going to take a 15-minute break, recess, so that we can join other festivities that are going on as we close out black history month. i also want to acknowledge and welcome the public to join us downstairs in the north light court. we will resume in 15 minutes. >> at 5:40. >> good afternoon. welcome back to the san francisco board of supervisors

meeting of tuesday, february the 26th, 2013. madam clerk, could we call item 35, general public comment? >> the next item on the agenda is the opportunity for the public to comment generally for up to two minutes. on those items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the board including item on the adoption without reference to committee calendar. please note the public comment is not allowed on those items which have already been subject to public comment by a board committee. speakers using translation assistance will be allowed twice the amount of time to testify. if you would like a document displayed on the overhead projector, please remove the paper when we go to the live meeting. >> thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your patience waiting for us to end the discussion of black history. with that, why don't we hear from our first speaker. each speaker shall have up to two minutes. thank you. [speaker not understood]

please give me few seconds to give message to our supervisor carmen. carmen, thank you very much for any kind of job you did to my community. we're going to miss you, but we still love you. and i would like to be here next time to give warm welcome to the lovely lady who going to bless you, katie, i wish her good luck. and thank you for what you do to this city for. i my name is [speaker not understood] san francisco. [speaker not understood].

[speaker not understood]. ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. my name abdullah miguel. i am here today to thank the president of the united states, barack obama, who has received my voice in the white house.

finally, after i used to be here fight for the veterans who go to the war, and after he finish his war, he come here to be one homeless in the streets of san francisco [speaker not understood]. our president decided to ending the veteran homeless. he's going to give them housing and we're going to ask every one of you as the oldest homeless advocate, i would like to ask the supervisor [speaker not understood] my city to have list for each one of the homeless in your district. if they are veteran, they are going to get housing. if they are not veteran, i work now behind this issue to help

our sheriff to give warm job for the people who ending their own time in the jail. god bless you and god bless everyone who work and try to make it his district better than other. and i would -- i don't for get to tell our supervisor, happy, happy african month day. thank you. carmen, good luck for you. we still love you and i would like to [inaudible]. good afternoon, supervisors. [speaker not understood]. don't give money to the friends and foundation, don't accept money from the friends foundation. [speaker