>> 7 and a half million renovation is part of the clean and safe neighbor's park fund which was on the ballot four years ago and look at how that public investment has transformed our neighborhood. >> the playground is unique in that it serves a number of age groups, unlike many of the other properties, it serves small children with the children's play grounds and clubhouses that has basketball courts, it has an outdoor soccer field and so there were a lot of people that came to the table that had their wish list and we did our best to make sure that we kind of divided up spaces and made sure that we kept the old features of the playground but we were

able to enhance all of those features. >> the playground and the soccer field and the tennis fields and it is such a key part of this neighborhood. >> we want kids to be here. we want families to be here and we want people to have athletic opportunities. >> we are given a real responsibility to insure that the public's money is used appropriately and that something really special comes of these projects. we generally have about an opportunity every 50 years to

redo these spaces. and it is really, really rewarding to see children and families benefit, you know, from the change of culture, at each one of these properties >> and as a result of, what you see behind us, more kids are playing on our soccer fields than ever before. we have more girls playing sports than we have ever had before. [ applause ] fp >> and we are sending a strong message that san francisco families are welcome and we want you to stay. >> this park is open. ♪

>> we came to seven straight about 10 years ago. -- 7th street about 10 years ago. the environment is huge. it is stronger than willpower. surrounding yourself with artists, being in a culture where artists are driving, and where a huge amount of them is a healthy environment. >> you are making it safer. push, push.

that is better. when i start thinking, i see it actually -- sometimes, i do not see it, but when i do, it is usually from the inside out. it is like watching something being spawned. you go in, and you begin to work, excavate, play with the dancers, and then things began to emerge. you may have a plan that this is what i want to create. here are the ideas i want to play with, but then, you go into the room, and there maybe some fertile ideas that are becoming manifest that are more interesting than the idea you had initially set out to plan. so there has to be this openness for spontaneity. also, a sense that regardless of the deadline, that you have tons of time so the you can keep your creativity alive and not cut it off and just go into old habits.

it is a lot like listening. really listening to watch what is going to emerge. i like this thing where you put your foot on his back. let's keep it. were your mind is is how you build your life. if you put it in steel or in failure, it works. that works. it is a commitment. for most artists, it is a vacation and a life that they have committed themselves to. there is this notion that artists continue to do their work because of some kind of the external financial support. if that was taken away, artists would still do their art. it is not like there is a prerequisite for these things to happen or i will not do it.

how could that be? it is the relationship that you have committed to. it is the vocation. no matter how difficult it gets, you are going to need to produce your art. whether it is a large scale or very small scale. the need to create is going to happen, and you are going to have to fulfill it because that is your life. much. >> good afternoon. i'm supervisor yee representing district that. i want to thank you all for

being here today, we're here today unified for children and families yes (clapping) we are honored to have not only mayor ed lee but assembly member tom who is on his way to join us today. thank you. (clapping.) this is a special day for san francisco children we'll be introducing the final version off our legislation the children and families first initiative today at the board of supervisors meeting the final result was much, much input. from mire colleagues and from mayor lee's office the reward for working together is a strong, strong piece of legislation supported by not

only by me but all 11 members of the board of supervisors and mayor ed lee. (clapping.) san francisco's population totaled children population is approximately one hundred and 9 thousand children. 56 thousands of those attend our publics schools there's about 35 thousand children between the age of zero and 5. this is why we're asking voters to support the children and families initiative which brings amendments to our city chart of four elements number one reorientation of our children and family fund passed in 1991 and 2001. two the reauthorization the fund

for the enrichment passed in 2004 one of those dates. number 3 modification of the rainy day reserves to become two see reserves and we will have baegs that that number 4 asking for the creation of the family council shared by mayor ed lee and superintendant. we have several goals to consider. strengthening the existing children's fund and the public education enrichment fund and flrsdz resources and allow for more flexibility toe meet additional children and you and increased efficiency and provided better oversight. and highlights of the children

and families initiative includes many things the creation of the children and families land that puts children first in providing city services and infrastructure including housing and number 2 the creation of the community advisory committee for the office of early chair and education and 3 the creation of the oversight and advisory committee for the department of children youth and their families and number 4 allow for original free school for all children serving children zoo to 5 with priority on the four years old and expanding the definition of transitsal age youth. number of increasing the set aside for children's services by 33.3 percent over a four-year period. number 7 increasing the amount

of fund to our public schools by at least 6 million and 8 rainy day rules that provides san francisco school district to allow the district to have oethd for this allocation. the children between zero and 18 in san francisco is only 18.4 percent of our population making it the lowest in the united states. the city must do better for your children and families this legislation will get us closer to doing a better job. first, i want to bring up mayor ed lee to kickoff today's program i'd like to visit him up and thank you for being here today to support this crucial measure mayor ed lee >> thank you supervisor yee.

hello even e everybody happy summer in san francisco. this is to introduce something that the board has been working on and soberly supervisor yee and city leaders a lot of family and neighborhood advocates people that have been working on this for a very, very long time and you tell result is we say a united front in the city it's children and families first in the november ballot and thanks to the entire board amazing voting their work is reflected in the hard work our offices do together to have a shared policy agenda for the entire city focused on our children, our youth and families. you know, we have one of the best public schools systems in the nation thanks to this

incredible school board and the staff we have and we've been making record nichlts north e never letting the episodes that the state or national government effect us two negatively but we've attempted to recover that's why we have one of the best schools not only in the classroom what happens before and after that's with the families and in our neighborhood. and that's both of these incredible sources has come together to support but the backdrop of a school that's improving and, in fact, not only do we enjoy record niechlts from the city but the private investments for the foundations that are putting their money together like the benny harassing foundation with their contributions to the middle

school initiative but it climates all the foundations that are working with us they believe that early education and sustained support at the school system will help all the families improve and give the skills we need for the 21st century. this children and families first initiative brings together the children's fund and the public enrichment fund those are incredible fund and need to be renewed but we have not only renewed them in this initiative we've adding for conflict of interests and creating accountability we've heard parents throughout the city they've never heard a lot of our programs they don't know where to enroll we want them to be provided with all the

contributions that our city has been given but all the great programs and want to make sure that all the families that deserve our support get it in a way in which to in fact, and here heard from parent to have a more efficient system and let's not have me find out when my kids are in the teens there are so many great programs we've got to get a system that i think this is reflected in this initiative to have families analyst it easier and to increase it at the time not only when the city is plentiful but when the city wants to enjoy more investments and i'm happy to join the entire board of supervisors the elected officials and tom who started a

lot of this back in the days when he was supervisor i give him credit along with applicant working together they're pushing hard to make sure we have the best programs and we have the opportunity to have this conversation with the public this november. we're going to have the best children enrichment programs in the world here in san francisco. raids our families here and get our kids in the public schools? going to be the best city for the families here >> thank you, mayor ed lee he did a pretty good job introducing assembly speaker tom he's also going to be considered an educator and the only reason we're talking re30 years

anything is because of tom. thank you very much (clapping.) very kind words this is so cool i was going to photo bomb the mayor we'll wait on this. i was talking to commissioner 1915 (i) state plan hcbc about 24 or 25 years ago this women and men came in and presented this no idea and i said well, i like it i've taught school i say this was many, many deficiency on resources so sometimes under the reagan bush years they'll take all the money away from the school district and have a skeleton crew but we needed to prioritize well kids are worth it we've got push back you, you know, it's a carve out but to me it was a compensation for all

the years there were no money nor education and parks and libraries this was quite gifrt i'm glad to be here to start the engines on our school district system the business community has the criticism but superintendant co-sponsor random has done a good job so when businesses is this this and that when you want a worldwide school system to produce world-class folks we need you to be helpful and to understand that that's why i want to say a big thank you to warren around the k3wrish9 program prop h, you know, (clapping) i was the lion tamper the guy