discovering my uncle's body and making sure that after he even left the chinese new year's parade where he was the grand marshal of the parade, that we were looking out for him because his health was -- it's difficult to come out at the age of 88 in san francisco and then to fly back. but i did want to express on behalf of my family great thankfulness to san francisco for honoring him and acknowledging him, and especially roger dong and ron lee from the cafe post in san francisco for always treating him so honorably in san francisco when they brought him out here. he was born in 1926, so, he had a really great life. and i did want to say, too, that though he had a number of purple hearts and the silver star, he he achieved the second highest u.s. military honor, the navy cross. but many within the organization of chinese

americans and other civil rights organizations felt that as a person of color he may not have kind of been credited with his amount of courage and valor and i hope the oca and other groups never give up on honoring people of color who served in the military to achieve their full props and honors. my hope is that my uncle kurt lee could be buried next to not only his wife, but actually with my other uncle chu mon lee who died in vietnam and is buried in arlington cemetery in washington, d.c. i want to thank supervisor cohen and the rest of this board and san francisco ans for honoring my uncle kurt lee and to thank him for ~ setting a great example not only for chinese americans, but for all in living a life of courage and honor as we move forward with

our lives. i have a couple of items. the first is a hearing request. colleagues, all of us are faced with the challenge of keeping our various commercial corridors vibrant and filled with thriving businesses. i know on clement street and balboa and on geary in my district it's a critical goal of my office. a commercial vacancy is problematic not just because it represents a failed business, but also because it can create the perception that an entire district is neglected and it creates blight as well. much of city hall, according to many from our neighborhood, focuses recently on large companies moving into the city and maintaining them in the city, and much of city hall's efforts have been to bring these sort of large businesses and chain stores to san francisco. however, i feel as a small

business sector that creates the greatest number of jobs and lends character and uniqueness and that specialness to san francisco and the vitality to our neighborhoods. in the richmond district, vibrant small businesses like green apple books, seed store park light, eats and george yo on clement street [speaker not understood]. and supervisor farrell lives a couple blocks away, too, as well, but we know they help to revitalize areas and make our districts proud as well. many cities such as seattle and new york city have helped create art pop-ups where artists and small businesses can move into vacant store fronts to attract foot traffic and bringing people into neighborhoods and encourage small businesses to come to targeted neighborhoods. those are programs that we are trying to bring to san francisco in a more concerted effort as well. late last year i directed our budget and legislative analyst office to draft a comprehensive report on this issue. today i'm calling for a hearing

for this report so that small businesses and community based groups can come to testify to share their input. the hearing will examine how many other cities have addressed the problem of vacant store fronts in commercial corridors, look at best practices, and also assess what kind of job san francisco is currently performing in keeping our store fronts filled and neighborhood vibrant. ly keep you informed of that hearing as we move forward. the rest i submit. >> thank you, supervisor mar. supervisor wiener. >> thank you, madam clerk. i have two items today. first, along with co-sponsors supervisor mar and supervisor cohen, i am calling a hearing today on the state of type 2 diabetes in san francisco including trends of other disease and costs to the city in terms of taxpayers and our health care system overall and

particularly impacts on our kids. we know that nationally 30% of teenagers are currently pre-diabetic. we used to call it onset diabetes, but we can't do that any more. we also know that a major cause of the explosion of type 2 diabetes are sodas and other sugars, sweetened beverages. so, i think that this hearing will be very helpful in terms of shedding light on the actual science and medicine underlying various public health efforts to try to reduce the growth of type 2 diabetes. i also will be -- after the discussion we had earlier, we'll be submitting a hearing request today directed to the retirement system asking them to provide an evaluation of the possibility of divesting from russian securities. also to talk about their policies and procedures in terms of how they respond to inquiries from members of the

board of supervisors. and the rest i submit. >> thank you, supervisor wiener. mr. president, you asked to be re-referred. >> thank you. two thing. supervisor cohen had introduced a in memoriam for kurt lee who is a relative of supervisor mar. she asked if we can do that as a full board and that shall be the case. [gavel] >> and i have a memoriam for jean lump for our board and the office of the clerk of the board. jean was a well loved and respected employee of our clerk's office and she served as a secretary to the clerk of the board, to the committee clerk and the deputy collect clerk. she began working for the city and county of san francisco in 1964 and retired after 37 years of distinguished service in 2001. in addition to our board of supervisors, she also worked for the department of social services and the chief administrative officer. jean was a native of san francisco, educated in our public schools, and an outstanding member of the

richmond district community. in her retirement she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, traveling, gardening, and handy crafts and she is survived by her husband steve, four children and 7 grandchildren with another grandchild along the way. colleagues, i ask that we do this in memoriam on behalf of the full board if we can do that without objection. that shall be the case. [gavel] >> thank you, mr. president. seeing no other names on the roster, that concludes roll call for introductions. >> thank you, colleagues. why don't we now go to our 3:30 special commendations in honor of women's history month. this year we want to celebrate our women of character, courage, and commitment as we do every year. we have a ceremony with honorees that each of us have decided upon as well as our mayor and our district attorney, as well as the friends of the commission on the status of women and i'd like to invite the president of that commission to say a few words to kick this off. >> good afternoon, president

chiu and members of the board of supervisors. my name is nancy rodriguez. i am the current president on the commission of the status of women and i am very pleased to be before you to celebrate women's history month. i am joined today by several of my fellow commissioners either here or on their way. and dr. emilie morasi and many staff on the department of the status of women. we are here to celebrate rims history month and to recognize women in our community who are working to improve the lives of all san franciscans. this year the national theme for national women's history month is celebrating women of character, courage, and commitment. with this annual event, we take a moment to recognize the rich and varied contributions of women to the history and culture of san francisco. and i just want to say we really do stand on the

shoulders, the women here, of so many amazing women and we in san francisco should be especially proud that when women -- women and men, when people think of women leaders in america, i believe that they think immediately of our women, our leader nancy pelosi, senator and former mayor dianne feinstein, congresswoman jackie spear, our sister from across the bays, senator barbara boxer and congresswoman barbara lee. and so many others who every day show courage, commitment, and character. i'm honored today to be part of such an important celebration and to recognize the efforts of just a few of the amazing women in our great city. congratulations to all of the women and men in our communities for working every day to inspire our dreams and build on those visions. thank you. >> thank you very much. and without further ado, i'd like to jump straight to the

presentations. usually every time we do an award ceremony, we pick a different order to move through our presentations. what i'd like to do today is go in reverse numerical order for our districts, which would mean that we will start with district 11 and work our way down to district 1. so, i'd like to first ask supervisor avalos to make the initial presentation. >> thank you, president chiu. i'd like to call up reverend glenn da hope who is making her way up to the podium. when we heard the theme for this year's women's history month, celebrating women of character, courage and commitment, i thought of glenn da right away. its wasn't long ago she was here for her retirement, but i thought because of her work it would be really important to be able to honor her here again the second time [speaker not understood]. i've known reverend hope for a number of years and as someone

who commutes by bart at times, i've actually had a number of occasionses where we've struck up a lot of conversations and reverend hope has always given me great advice about what i should be doing on the board of supervisors, advice that i will always heed because of her great moral authority. reverend glenn da hope is known as the patron saint of the tenderloin. she just retired from the san francisco [speaker not understood] ministry which she led for over 40 years. she was born in atlanta, georgia and grew up during the jim crowe era in the south. as a witness to rampant institutional racism, she became a civil rights activist and a lifelong advocate for social justice. reverend hope was ordained as a presbyterian minister in may of 1970. she was the first presbyterian clergy woman in northern california. so, she has been a trail blazer much of her life.

the the ministry began with a series of house churches, low cost coffee house on [speaker not understood] street, [speaker not understood] and large corporations. the ministry began to serve the tenderloin back in 1972 and has served the people of that neighborhood for 40 years. [speaker not understood] milestones include the construction of a five story apartment building for low-income family and a computer center in collaboration and partnership with st. anthony's foundation. [speaker not understood] services in the tenderloin as well. thea include the tenderloin [speaker not understood] that provides practical and emotional support for elders living in the neighborhood. she also helped found the tenderloin aids research center and operated it as a program for five years before it became

its own stand alone program. she has conducted -- she was known, very well known for conducting me norial services for many tenderloin residents and homeless people who died on her streets and a memorial for all homeless dead ~ everyone should be able to take part in as it is something that really recognizes the harm that poverty inflicts on people in our midst. reverend hope is also been part of helping women who have been victims of the sex trade. she has -- she started a safe house for women escaping prostitution and opened it in january of 1998. the safe house has provided women with a respite and support, women who are seeking justice and freedom from oppression. the 18-month program provides many women with psychosocial services, health care services, [speaker not understood] services and work force services, services that will

help them lead independent lives and to be able to be self-sufficient as they move forward. the safe house is one of six residential programs in the entire country. that's devote today helping women. [speaker not understood] visited from many people around the world that look to provide similar services in their placeses. in 1998, the tenderloin times named her a tender champ for her nurturing spirit, nurturing the spirit of [speaker not understood] and advocating with them for change. this is her most cherished award. she was also named an unsung hero of compassion by the dali lama in 2001 and hold three honorary doctorates for her work among the poor. currently reverend hope serves on the board of the older women's league of san francisco, [speaker not understood] action committee. working through the community living campaign, she is also organizing an aging in place network with the [speaker not

understood] where she live. we have been partnering in our office with her work. and she's also raised the consciousness of a lot of people in her neighborhood where she lives around the [speaker not understood] area. we are actually expanding services for many elder people who are living in the olmai neighborhood. [speaker not understood] medicare and medicaid and working on pedestrian safety measures. the league also provides a space for friendship and socialization. lastly, reverend hope is a leader in the taxpayers for public safety group, advocating for alternatives to incarceration. and one of our more recent times running into reverend hope was her expression about building a new jail and probably the place where i moved the most in terms of hearing what her role is.

[speaker not understood] because of her efforts. recently she brought me out to visit with the community assessment services center, a project of our probation center to pro side alternatives to incarceration and wrap around services for those exiting our jails and seeking to transform their lives. and it just reminds me of the new jim crowe, it discusses how our justice system -- example of the jim crowe era system of apartheid in the south of the united states that led to people becoming -- black people, african americans becoming second class citizens and being barred from opportunity. with the african-american and latinos in our justice system, we have our jim crowe system, it is in existence, just resembled a different way legally. reverend hope has been a big part of making sure that system can be dismantled in whatever form it come in.

so, i want to thank you for all your great service in san francisco. your great example for leadership in the united states as well, and look forward to many years of working with you, reverend hope. thank you. (applause) >> thank you so much. i thank you [speaker not understood]. the one thing i would like to adhere is that without 900 of people who have been board members and staff members and volunteers and otherwise engaged in the work in the tenderloin and currently at our safe house for homeless women escaping prostitution as well as in the older women's league and the community living campaign and taxpayers for public safety, without all of these people, i would not be standing here today. there are some of them here in

the chamber and i would just like to ask that they stand up because truly, friends, this award is for you. (applause) >> thank you, supervisor avalos. let's now go down from district

11 to district 10. supervisor cohen. >> thank you very much, mr. president. ladies and gentlemen, it's wonderful to see you as we celebrate women making history in their everyday lives. today i have the pleasure to honor a woman that is called by the name of [speaker not understood]. and today olga is president of seiu local 87. and unfortunately she couldn't be here with us today. she's actually in washington, d.c. advocating on behalf of women and the labor community. but i am very proud to have her sister iris here to accept the award on her behalf. olga was born in las vegas, nevada. she was the eighth child in a family of 10 children. she grew up in los angeles and was raised by a strong woman who also was a community activist and single mother.

olga was lucky enough to be the only child in the family born under a union health plan. and her mother always thought that this was a sign of things to come for olga, and we all know that her mother was is always right. as a teenager olga worked with [speaker not understood] in the community and it is really here where her past became one of the bay area's youngest and only chicana union president began. olga moved to san francisco, the san francisco area ask became a union organizer at seiu and local 87. she served under president richard young and 2002 olga ran for secretary, treasurer and won her first election. a few years thereafter she ran for seiu local 87's president and won in a land slide election. she's one of the youngest latinaseses elected in seiu history ~. today olga proudly represents

over 3500 janitors in san francisco and as president of local 87, her formidable skills, she's an impeccable negotiator that continues to make history by negotiating one of the strongest janitorial contracts in the nation. in some of the countries worst's economic times, she ha been able to single handedly accomplish this all while being a loving wife and mother to a very young boy. i've had the pleasure of working with olga and can certainly attest for her steadfast commitment to her role, to the labor community. i'm proud to call her a friend and in many ways she's a mentor to me. we are fortunate to have her as a leader here in san francisco. please, please, put your hands together and just honor olga. [cheering and applauding] >> i'd like to give her sister an opportunity to speak on her

behalf. >> thank you. as you said, unfortunately olga is not here today, she's in d.c. and she is honored, councilwoman, to have you giving her this award for woman of the year. she more than anything wants to make sure that she acknowledges the people that are here today who have joined me who are seiu local 87 who are standing in the back and who tirelessly work every night, every day here in the city of san francisco. (applause) >> and she so proudly represents. my mother is so proud of olga for everything she does, but today she was grinning from ear to ear to know that her daughter -- my mom is an immigrant, she is illiterate, but she knows her daughter has done so much and the union does so much [speaker not understood]. i want to thank you on behalf of my sister and want%backerthank all of you and

kristine johnson all of the honorees here this afternoon as well. it is well deserved. and thank you so much. >> thank you. (applause) ~ >> thank you, supervisor cohen. from district 10 now to district 9, supervisor campos. >> thank you very much, president chiu. and it is my honor to call upon the amazing adrian varili. let me begin by saying that it is truly remarkable to see the incredible women that are being

honored today. i think it speaks to how fortunate we are that we live in a city that -- like san francisco that attracts this level of caliber. so, let me talk about my friend adrian who has become a role model for me. when i think about making sure that you're doing something that you're passionate about and that you're not afraid to move forward even when it is challenging. i first had the honor of meeting adrian when planned parenthood shasta pacific opened up a health clinic in my district, district 9. at the time we were thrilled that planned parenthood, that has excellent reproductive health services to women and girls, that this organization was opening an office in my district. however, the celebratory nature of our interaction became overshadowed unfortunately by a

very challenging thing, a protester who started going to the clinic each week with horribly scary and offensive signs, a video camera, and a slew of factually inaccurate accusations that he screams at the top of his lungs as he's trying to intimidate and scare the women who are trying to access services at planned parenthood. and, of course, as he's trying to intimidate the men and women who work in that clinic. when adrian approached my office about the need to get help, to protect her patients, to protect her coworkers, i was impressed. i was impressed because adrian has that very unique combination of personality traits that just impresses. she's fiercely passionate about what she does and she will take no for an answer.

~ won't take no for an answer. she approaches her advocacy with a certain deal of passion, fierceness, but also very deal of grace, intelligence, and quite frankly very loving nature and a great deal of wit. and i have to say that i learned a lot from watching her in action because she has truly done everything we can to solve the problem at hand. after several starts, many false starts and stops, very frustrating process, because of adrian's persistence, her tenacity, we were able to pass legislation that was unanimously approved by this board that created a 25-foot buffer zone around the planned parenthood health clinic that not only protects the patients, the women that are trying to

seek and get reproductive health services from planned parenthood, but also protects the workers who on a daily basis risk themselves and protects them from the bullying, the harassment and intimidation that these anti-choice extremists are engaging in. without adrian's tenacity, advocacy, we know that the rights of so many women would have been trampled upon, that they would not have had access to basic help. and the thing that bugs me the most about these types of protesters is that they always go to the neighborhoods that -- where you find women of color, working women who do not have a mean to access basic health services.

adrian is a communications veteran and public policy expert who until recently had the very important title here in bay area of communications director for this clinic. and as is the case with people who have the talent and the credentials and the tremendous expertise that adrian has, she has moved on. and as of, i guess a couple of weeks ago, a few weeks back, she, her husband michael and her two cats scott and louie. >> yes, very important. >> it's important to get that right. have moved to new york city where adrian will play a pretty important leadership role for planned parenthood in new york city. and that's a very big accomplishment and it's a

testament to the amazing, amazing talent that she has. i want to note a little bit more about adrian. she has been doing this work for many, many years. she is truly committed to the work that she does. and what's scary about that work is that, you know, i think it's no exaggeration to say that you literally risk your life on a daily basis every time you come to work, and you do it because you want every woman, irrespective of income, irrespective of background, to have access to basic health. and i am so proud of you, adrian, for what you do. and as the supervisor for district 9, as the representative of a very special place, it is my honor to recognize you as the district 9 woman of the year.

i know that you're going to be in new york city, but san francisco will always be a home to you and you will always be in our hearts. and i am proud that in the course of my tenure as a supervisor i have been lucky enough to work with and get to know someone like you. thank you very much. (applause) >> thank you. well, first i want to thank you, supervisor campos. as you mentioned, we had a long haul to get where we were, but now we are very, very grateful to you and the leadership and the board of supervisors for unanimously granting us a 25-foot buffer zone which has given great relief to our clients and our staff so that they can walk through our front doors